Heppner gazette., August 31, 1905, Image 3

THE PLAINS OF YUHA ! arboreal courtship.
SOME OF THE CURIOSITIES OF THE
COLORADO DESERT.
Graves Each of Which Tells a Story
of a Tragedy of Heat, Tblrat and
Death Odtl Stones and Sheila That
Strew the Barren Reg-Ion.
There is a section of the Colorado
desert where nature has left some re
markable records. She has visited the
region alternately with fire and water
Antiea of the Rooka When the Mat
Ins Seaaon Hegrina.
"It Is always amusing to watch the
rooks in the period of their courtship,"
Bays an English writer. "When the
male bird first begins to seek a mate
the fact is soon nuvle known to the
world at large by a curious hoarsening
of his voice. There is no accouutg for
tastes, according to an old proverb,
and to the female rook there is no mu
sic equal to the hoarseness that her
and has left it with neither. It is the j lord begins to show about the middle
most desolate, wild, barren, forbidding : of January. Then begin the violent
part of the desert, says the Los Ange- tournaments of which she is a passive
les Times, and it is shunned a 'ke by spectator. The two claimants for her
man and beast. That there is good favor often begin pecking at one an-
and sufficient reason for avoiding this
locality is attested by numbers of
graves, nameless for the most part,
found in the terrible region.
These graves are simple affairs,
merely mounds of earth with a border
of stones about each and a pile of
rocks two or three feet high at the
head. Each tells the story of a
tragedy of heat, thirst and death.
Those items are about all that is ever
known of the stories of those who
perish. Their mummified bodies or
bleached bones are found long after I
the struggle is over, and the finder, re
specting; the memory of the unknown,
scoops a hole in the earth, lays the
ghastly relic within and piles up the
only monument available in that wild
region.
The plain now lies nearly a hundred
feet below the level of the sea, and the
rocks of the plain and the bases of the
mountains are washed and eroded in a
wonderful manner. Mingling with the
burnt stones and volcanic debris are
rocks worn by the waves and shaped
into hundreds of fantastic forms. There
are many acres of these stone curiosi
ties, and certain sections of the field
seem devoted to certain shapes and
figures.
For instance, one passes through a
region which he at once names the cab
bage patch, for it presents the appear
ance of a field of those vegetables
which have turned to 6tone. The waves
have worn the rocks into round bowl
ders about the size of the vegetable
which they so much resemble and have
cut into the globes, laminating them in
perfect imitation of the leafy layers of
the garden vegetable.
Another locality is devoted almost ex
clusively to dinner plates. Thousands
of rounded, thin disks are scattered
over the plain or are piled scores deep
in singular piles, each piece shaped ex
actly like the crockery which adorns
our tables and quite as thin and sym
metrical. Another section of this truly wonder
ful region is given almost wholly to
dumbbells. These vary in size from
pieces weighing one or two pounds up
to those seemingly calculated for exer
cising the muscles of a giant and
weighing thirty or forty pounds each.
In almost every instance these natural
dumbbells are well balanced, the balls
nt either end of the connecting piece
being of tl.o same size nndwelght.
There is in this plain airirsonal also, j
Wln'le guns and swords and bayonets j
and powder were not there to be found, '
there are thousands of cannon balls j
varying in size from two and three inch
balls to those fit for the big thirteen !
Inch guns of modern warfare. And all
are of stone, all formed in nature's
workshop.
There are other objects innumerable.
There are stone roses, stone lilies, stone
tulips, stone leaves, stone birds, stone
animals, stone quoits, stone ornaments
In varied and unique designs, stone
canes in fact, almost everything con
ceivable in nature or art imitated in
stone on the plain of Yuba.
In one portion of Yuha rise two hills
or small mountains. One might mis
take them in the distance for ancient
craters, but when he approaches the
eminences he discovers them to be
monuments to an ancient life the rec
ords of species now extinct. They are
shell mountains, great beds of prehis
toric bivalves which were left stranded
when that ancient sea swept back from
the region and left a dry and desolate
land.
One of these mountains, the large
one, Is composed wholly of large rough
shells, much larger, but less elongated,
than the shells of the modern oyster,
which In some respects they so much
resemble as to lead to the suspicion
that they are the remains of the ances
tors of our much prized bivalve.
The lesser hill Is composed of tiny
shells of a prehistoric type of brachio
poda. Like the larger shells, they are
found except on the surface In an un
disturbed state, both valves of nearly
every shell being found In iositlon.
Although the mollusk dwellers of these
shells vanished several centuries ago,
so perfect are the shells one almost ex
pects when he open the valve of the
shell to find the living creature within.
other at the very tops of the trees, and
as in the fury of their onslaught they
lose foothold they drop and drop and
drop till they bump against the ground,
often at the very feet of some human
onlooker who has been watching their
proceedings with Interested curiosity.
Darwin tells us of similar Incidents In
the life history of deer and cites as
somewhat of an argument against Jhe
doctrine of the survival of the fittest
that while two lordly and robust stags
are fighting for the hind it will often
happen that a timid and feeble third
stag will come in and carry off the
prize.
"But no such capriciousness as that
is allowed the female rook. Probably
before the battle begins he who aspires
to be her future lord and master has
selected the home in which they are to
live, and should any other rook at
tempt to share it with her he will fight
him to the death. In this case the sur
vival of the fittest is Insured.
"When once they are mated the rooks
seem to stick together and be subject
to little further molestation, though oc
casionally, I think, a gay Lothario will
attempt to make love where he ought
not to. But in that case the whole col
ony of rooks unite agains't him and
peck and beat him with their wings till
he is at the point of death."
Pub ic is Aroused
The ( u'i io i- a'ouW to b knowledge
of the o.ir tiv Twits of hit great med-
lCirv..l tome. EtiHrin Hltrra fnr aitk
slonwh, liv-r nd kidneys. Mary H
Walter., of 5t(5 S'. QUr Ave., Colum
bus, U , writes: "For several month,
i was gi.-ea up to dn. lb. I fev?r and
ague, my norvoa were wrecked; I omld
ut sleep, ail ry stotnicb whs so weak
fmm useless doctor's drags, that I could
not eat. Hron after beginning to take
Electric Bitters, I obtained relief, and
in a short time I was eotirely oared."
Guaranteed at 81toam's drag store
prioe 50c.
WHY INDIANS PAINT.
An Apache Lea-end Which Accounts
For the Grotesque Custom.
Once an old Apache Indian, when
asked the question why the people
painted their faces, told this little leg
end:
"Long ago, when men were weak and
animals were big and strong, a chief
of the red men who lived in these
mountains went out to get a deer, for
his people were hungry.
"After walking all day he saw a
deer and shot at it, but the arrow was
turned aside and wounded a mountain
lion, which was also after the deer.
When the lion felt the sting of the ar
row he Jumped up and bounded after
the man, who ran for his life.
"He was almost exhausted, and when
he felt his strength giving way he fel
to the ground, calling on the big bear,
who, you know, is the grandfather of
men, to save him.
"The big bear heard the call and saw
rhat to save the man he had to act
quickly, so he scratched his foot and
sprinkled his blood over the man.
"Now, you kfjow that no animal will
eat of the bear or taste of his blood,
ivi when the lion approached the man
he sii'elled of the blood and turned
away, but as lie did so his foot scraped
the face of the man, leaving the marks
of his claws on the Mood smeared
face.
"When the m.m found that he was
uninjured he was so thankful that he
left the Mood to dry on his face and
never washed it ht all, but loft it until
it peeled off.
"Where the claws of the lion scraped
It off there were marks that turned
brown in the sun, and where the blood
stayed on it was lighter. Now all men
paint their faces that way with blood
and scrape it off In streaks when they
hunt or go to war.
Decliim In Ilirthrate.
Washington, 4ug 16 "That there
has been a persistent decline ol the
birthrate in the United States since
18G0," is the conclusion reached in a
bullotin issued by the Census Bureau.
The buJetin was prepared by Prof.
Walter F. Wilcox, of Cornell Univer
sity, and it is explained that, although
an analysis made offers many sugges
tions as to the probable tendencies in
the birth-rate of the United States, it is
primarily not a study in birth-rates but
a study in the proportion of children to
the total population, or total number of
women of child-bearing age.
The result of the study shows that at
the beginning of the nineteenth century,
the children under ten year of age con
stituted one-!hird and at the end less
than one-fourth of the total population.
Tu . J :
iUOuCaD01u u,0 proportion oegan year September 27. It is expected the
as early as the decade 1810 to 1820 and attendance will exceed that of any
continued uninterruptedly, though at
varying rates in each successive decade.
Between 1850 and 18G0, the proportion
Glared for Action.
Whpn the body is cleared for notion,
by Dr. King's New Life Pills you can
tell it by the bloom of Lea'th on tf
oheeks; rh hritfhtneH of the eyes; the
firmnes-i of the fJeh and mutcles; th&
buoynrjoy of the mind. Tiy thtnj. At
SJocum Drug Co.'s drug store, 25 cents.
J wenty-five ships now loading off
Aberdeen, Wash., will carry from that
port 17,500,000 feet of Inmber.
lhirtv five cases of typhoid fever
have developed in Seattle during the
past two weeks and more are on the
way.
The State university will open this
of children to women between 15 and
49 years, the child-bearing age, in
creaseu, but since 1860 it has constantly
decreased. It is stated that the de
crease has been unequal from decade to
decade, but that, if the computation is
made upon the basis of 20-year periods,
it has been regu'ar. In 1800 the nnm
brr of children under five years of age
to 1000 women 15 to 49 years of age was
634; in 1900 it was only 474. The pro
portion of children to potential mothers
in 1900 was only three-fourths as large.
as in 1800.
previous year.
The new PoriUnd fireboat works
3175 feet of hose wiih a preHure of 250
pounds. The crew numbers 18 mer,
atd W. M. Smith is ceptain.
Everybody wants to knoir what Tht
Oregonlan haa to say.
Alweri reliable Tba Weekly Oregoniaa,
A Touching Story.
is the saving from death, of the baby
girl of Geo. A. Eyler, Cumberland, Md
He writes: "At the age of 11 months,
our little girl was in deolining health,
with perious Throat Trouble, and two
physicians gave her up. We were al
most in despair, when we resolved to
try Dr. King's New Discovery for Con
sumption, Coughs and Colds. The first
bottle gave relief; after taking four bot
tles she was cured, and is now in per
fect health." Never fails to relieve and
core a oongh or cold. At Blocum Drug
Co.'s drug store; 5oo and $1 guaran
teed. Trial bottle free.
Before You OiJer
Tombstones, Marble
or Granite Work
You mil do well to sea
Monterastelli Brothers
and get prices. Tftey have
a fine stock on band.
ITl A 1 IV STREET, IIEPPIVEK, ORK,
Oregon
StiOipLlNE
and union Pacific
Onlv Line EAST via
SALT LUKE m DEfflf
Li
TWO TRAINS DAILY.
Domestic Peace
in the family is not to be ex
pected where a poor cook stove
is used. That is only natural.
Secure
DOMESTIC HARMONY
by furnishing your home with
one of those magnificent
Daily TIME SCHEDULES DaiU
Departs Akrivjs .
Heppneb, Or.
Fast Mail-For
9:00 a.m. Kant and West
Fast Mail From
East and West 5:35 p.m.
Express For
9:00 a. m. East and West
Express From
East and West 5:35 p.
STEAMER LINES.
San Francisco Portland Route. 8tex
Bails from Portland 8 p. m. every b days.
Boat servica. between Portland, Astoria
Orosron City, Dayton. Salem, Independence,
CorvalliB and all Columbia and Willamtlie
River points.
SNAKE RIVER ROUTE.
BteamerB between Riparia and Lewipton 1?t
Riparia daily at 10:40 a. m. except Saturday,
returning leave Lew is ton dally at 7 a. m. except
Friday.
J. B. HUDDLESON, Agent, Heppnw.
A. L. CRAIO,
Liberty Meat Market
MATLOCK & KASMU:
s
HINTS
FOR
FARMERS
Hot rllnf Ion.
Millions of yours li:iI passed.
IJinls had succeeded to the suprema
cy formerly held ly man.
"What Is that you arc wearing on
your hat?" asked the flamingo.
"It's the scalp of an almost extinct
Mpcd called a woman." replied the
egret. "A few specimens of the crea
ture still exist, I am told. In the Inac
cessible fastnesses of t'-c everglades.'
-Chicago Tribune.
Feed In a Foal on Cow's Milk.
Pome time ago I had a young grada
coach mare in foal to a German coach
stallion. Kef ore the time for foaling
she had an attack of disease, from the
effects of which she became much run
down and poor, writes a correspondent
of American Cultivator. The foal ap
peared all right on being dropped, but
the dara gave but very little m'Jk It
r.;ade but little growth and was thin
iui 1 pour.
When two months old, somewhere
about the commencement of autumn,
It was taken from the mother and put
In the barn, where it was fed with
fresh green grass. Having a dairy and
a separator, the colt was taught to
drink the skimmed milk while sweet
and warm. It soon became fond of the
milk aud commenced to grow and All
out. It was kept In a mmiy pen all
through the winter and given the skim
med milk along with its other feed. As
a result it grew finely, became round,
smooth coated and handsome, In great
contrast with the poor, small, half
starved animal at the beginning. By
spring there was not a finer looking
colt around and It attracted much at
tention on this account. Where an
tumn colts are raised the skimmed milk
diet might be of advantage along w'-lb
the other feed.
penoror Maiest
Fresh and Salted Alcatn
Fish on Fridays
Dl'lCC
STOVES OR RANGES
Economical in fuel, Satis
factory in Results, and as cheap
and good as a goocl grade of
Stoves can be sold.
FOR SALE ONLY BY
Gilliam if Bista, Hcppner, Ore.
LEADING DEALERS IN
Stoves and Kitchen Outfits
PLUMBING A SPECIALTY
GILLIAM & BIsBEE
Highest market
paid for fat stock
IIKPPISTK R. OK K O ON
Red Front Livery &
Feed Stables
Stewart &. Kirk, Props
FIRST-CLASS:
LIVERY RIGS
Kept constantly on ha.ii
and can be furnishes o:j
short notice to parties
wishing to drive into tfn
interior. First class : :
HacKs and Buoules
CAM. AROUND AND
SKK I'S. WK catki:
TO THK : : : : :
COMMERCIAL:
TRAVELERS
AND CAN l-TKNISif
KK5S AM) DKIVKK ON
SHORT NOTICE : : ;
Heppner. Oreoon