In the midst of their devotions the hundred-…
source date: 1891
availability: public-domain

an upright position. Jumping down from his horse he found the earth somewhat unsteady, and in a moment discovered that he had straddled a first- class earthquake, and with the ejaculation of “tremblor," suddenly sat down and devoutly prayed. His workmen rapidly followed suit. In the midst of their devotions the hundred- foot tidal wave showed up. Prayers were cut short, and jumping over cracks and crevasses in the roadway, the Andrade hill was reached. From that peak, Perez states that the sight was grandly sublime. Across the Colorado the angry turbulent volcanoes could be seen in the height of activity and brilliant eruption. On the bed of the river and some distance beyond its banks could be seen the reddish-colored, foam-covered water, rushing ahead at a height of fully 100 feet. Below Lerdo could be seen a side river of bluish purple fire flowing down into the Colo- rado near the gulf, where it steamed, sputtered and added more to the general confusion. The river of fire is undoubtedly from the sulphur mountain, which it is feared, has been set on fire from the volume of burning and inflam- mable material thrown out from the volcanoes, which heretofore have never been known to be guilty of anything worse than an occasional spit of hot water.