description: John and Barbara Marnell have brought back to life the wonderful story of the life of Lou Wescott Beck, and his faithful dog, Rufus who became known as the Good Samaritans of Death Valley in the early 1900’s. Beck and Rufus had a near-death experience while prospecting in the desert, and nearly died of thirst. From that point forward, he vowed to help those who traveled the desert by placing signs for the sparse water holes in Death Valley and much of the vast Mojave Desert. Beck’s hard work undoubtedly saved many desert travelers lives, well before the land was marked by the Auto Club or government signs. The exploits of Beck and Rufus caught the attention of the newspapers, and stories of their work entertained the reading public. Beck’s work was so revered, that he and Rufus were invited to march in several Tournament of Roses Parades in Pasadena, from 1911 to 1916. The team became celebrities and Beck began presenting “illustrated talks.” The Marnell’s have done a fine job of researching and illustrating this wonderful, and nearly forgotten tale. 104 page paperback with illustrations and well-documented appendices.
language: English
title: Good Samaritans of Death Valley: Lou Westcott Beck and Rufus
titlecomplete: Good Samaritans of Death Valley: Lou Westcott Beck and Rufus (Tales of the Mojave Road)
ratings_count: 2
publisher: Mojave Desert Heritage & Cultural Association