100 RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 



said that, for the space of thirty years, nothing in comparison 

 has been felt in this country, and, we doubt, in any other. 

 The sun rose like a ball of fire on that day ; but though quite 

 warm, no inconvenience was caused thereby until two o'clock 

 p. M., when suddenly a blast of heated air swept through our 

 streets, followed quickly by others; and shortly afterward 

 the atmosphere became so intensely heated, that no human 

 being could withstand its force : all sought their dwellings, 

 and had to shut doors and windows, and remain for hours con- 

 fined to their houses. The effect of such intense and unparal- 

 leled heat was demonstrated by the death of calves, rabbits, 

 birds, etc. The trees were all blasted ; and the fruit, such as 

 pears and apples, literally roasted on the trees ere they fell to 

 the ground, and the same as if they had been cast on live 

 coals. But, strange to say, they were only burned on one side, 

 the direction whence came^the wind. All kinds of metal became 

 so heated, that for hours nothing of the kind could be touched 

 with the naked hands. The thermometer rose to nearly fever- 

 heat in the shade. Near an open door, and during the prev- 

 alence of this properly-called sirocco, the streets were filled 

 with impenetrable clouds of fine dust, or pulverized clay. 

 Speculation has been rife since to ascertain the cause of such 

 a terrible phenomenon ; but, though we have heard of many 

 plausible theories thereon, we have not been fully con- 

 vinced yet; however that might be, we see its (terrible effects 

 all around us, in blighted trees, ruined gardens, blasted fruit, 

 and almost a general destruction of the vegetable kingdom 

 here." 



A correspondent of a San Francisco paper wrote thus : " At 

 one o'clock in the afternoon of the 17th instant, a burning 

 wind came upon us from the northwest, and smote us with 

 terror. At two o'clock, the thermometer exposed to this 

 wind rose to 133 of Fahrenheit ; at five o'clock, it had fallen 

 to 122; and at seven o'clock, it stood at 77, where it had 

 been in the morning. During the whole time of this visita- 



