Show hidden alny jl curious but dangerous freaks of nature frequently found in alic deserts of arizona are called by the mexicans and indians they are mask d pitfalls of quicksand that occur in tho dry plains and arc covered with a crust of clay that lias been over them in line particles by hie wind and baked dry by the sun tho peculiar properties of alie soil retain all the moisture drained into alie infrequent rains and allow hito be to unknown depths 60 that a man or a horse or a cow or a that once steps upon that deceptive crust instantly sinks out of sight beyond jioie of rescue alie su are on a level the surface ot the desert there is no danger signal to mark them and surface cannot be distinguished by alio ordinary eye from lie hard clay eliat surrounds klicin they occur most frequently in the alkali covered flats and are often 13 or 20 feet in diameter sometimes they are only pockets or wells that a man can leap across but he longest pole has never found their bottom A itono stono through tho crust sinks to unknown and no man who ever fell into one of was rescued they account for iho mysterious disappearance of many cincu noi cattle chicago record |