Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-10-17

prepared by The National Geographic So
cietJ, Washington. D. c.
Lower California, across a part of
which the path of the recent total
eclipse of the sun passed, and to
which parties of scientists journeyed
to make observations seldom comes
In for share of the worlds interest.
While its neighbor above the United
| States border-of which it was once
indeed a parts famed throughout
the world and visited by scores of
thousands of tourists, the Mexican
land of the same name with a record
ed history which goes back almost four
centuries and is crammed with varied
events, still remains one of the least
known parts of North America
Lower California-or Baja Califor-
MIA, to give it it's Mexican name-is
the long, narrow peninsula that pro-
| jects about 800 miles southeasterly
from the southern border of Califor-
MIA. Its width varies from about 80
to over 100 miles, and it's regular
coastline, over 1000 miles long, is bor-
mainly mountainous desert region
1t is thinly peopled and presents many
sharply contrasting conditions. Here
| low, sun-scorched plains, where death
by thirst awaits the unwary traveller,
! lie close to the bases of towering
| granite peaks, belted with waving pine
forests and capped in winter by gleam-
Ing snow.
Vast desolate plateaus of ragged
black lava embOsom gem-like valleys,
where verdure-bordered streams and
the spreading frOnds of date palms
recall the mysterious hidden wales Of
the arabian Nights" Its western
coast is bathed by cool waters and
| abundant fogs, while the eastern shore
is laved by the waves Of a warm in
| land sea, sparkling under almost con-
| tinIOuS sunshine.
The early chronicles tell of it's dis
covery in 1888, by an expedition sent
out by COrtes in search of fabulous
! ly rich island said to have been in
habtted by Amazons.
It has been estimated that at the
time of it's discovery the peninsula, in
GLIDING many of the bordering islands,
was peopled by about $4,000 Indians.
The inhabitants vigorously resented
the intrusion of newcomers, and for
more than a century efforts to estab-
| lish military colonies in the new la2d
resulted in disastrous failures.
Jesuits Opened 1t Up.
Then the occupation of Lower Cal
Jesuits, and their missionaries were
wonderfully successful. They ex-
! plored all parts of the peninsula and
established missions throughout most
of it's extent, at the same time in
Producing many of the crops and
fruits of the Old world.
In addition they established the
three main trails, which extend prac-
tically the entire length of the PENN
sula, and to this day serve as the reg
ular routes of travel. One leads along
each coast and the third down the
mountainous interior. The coast trails
| are easier to travel, because less
broken: but the middle one is most
used, owing to it's better grazing and
more numerous water holes.
The records Of the dangers and OBJ
stacles met and overcome by such men
as Padres Salvatierra, KinO, and
Ugarte in their peaceable conquest of
the peninsula excite ones deepest ad
miration. The work they accom-
plished and their resourcefulness and
steadfast courage entitie them to
place in the front ranks of those
stout-hearted pioneer explorers who
first made known the widest parts
of America.
Resorted To by Freebooters.
During one period in it's history the
southern shores of the peninsula
Francis Drake and other freebooters
lying in wait for the treasure-laden
Spanish galleons on their annual voy
ages from Manila to Mexico.
Afterwards, during the first two
thirds of the last century, those shores
were visited by numerous half-pirate
smugglers and by fleets of whalers
and sealers, drawn there by the swarm
Ing abundance of whales, fur seal, sea
elephants, and sea otter. So ruthless
was the pursuit of these animals that
In a few decades they were on the
verge of determination. and the bust
ness ended, apparently forever.
The pearl fisheries of the Gulf coast
were extremely productive at first and
|
| sf its richest jewels. Pearl fishing