Washington telegraph., 1855-11-21
Deatl, i'm the Desert.

4 i
have read of the wild wastes which Cal;ar.
MA or Utah emigrants are obliged to mass
In order to reach thei- destination. will re-
cognize the scene of the following affecting
incident. which we copy from Mrs Ward 5
Female Life among the Mormons -
In few days we entered a sandy and
barren region, where. to our other ills and
lnconvenlences. that most intolerable of all.
the want OF water, was added The streams
were all dried up-the rivers disappeared
from their channels there was reither rain
nor dew
But, though the air seemed intensely hot
and the sky exhibited not trace of clouds,
there was softness in the atmosphere at
night. resplendent glory in the stars al
together lncomprehensible aud most delight
ful. And this region, otherwise so sterile,
was filled with flowers of the richest perfume
and the brightest colors- In many places,
where it would seem, from the gravelly
sandy nature of the soil, that no plant what
ever could take root, cactuses literally cov-
cred with profusion of large crimson flow
ers. thrived luxuri antly, thus presenting
remarkable contrast to the surrounding des-
Olation. For ole of the remarkable char
acteristics of this place was the utter alb
sence of animal life Not bird visited
these resplendent blossoms-not butterfly
or insect enlivened the solitude. Neither
hares nor pheasants lurked beneath their
coverts. Even The Indians seemed to avoid
the country. Once. and once only, we
caught the glimpse of a troop of wild horses,
skirting the horizon. 1t was only glimpse.
and yet shall ever remember the graceful
agility of their motions, and the sleek spar
kle of their glossy sides But sadder sights
than these awaited us. l had descended
from the wagon to walk. in order that |
might examine the beautiful flowers was
particularly charmed by two or three huge
plants of the cactus species, which had
grown SO close together that they appeared
They were at least ninety feet |
IN circumference. and large scarlet blossoms |
depended from the branches But while |
STOPPING to gather boquet my fingers in
advertantly touched relic, the sight of |
which filed me with horror. 1t was a bu-
man skeleton; but the skin. instead of fall
ing away, still clung to the bones showing
the VEINS the muscles, and sinews, in hor-
rible state of preservation. yet with strict
fidelity to nature. The long. lank, bony
fingers yet held paper clutched tightly be-
tween them. Curiosity was stronger than
fear. and | removed it, There were . few
lines written with pencil. which l had
much difficulty in making out They ran
hus:
I'VE can go no further. My wife and
i've children-all dying Cor want of water,
n God . tL,, joatb I,-r-11,
The poor fellow had evidently sought the
shelter of the cactus to shield himself from
he burning sun, and there died from burn
ing. intolerable thirst. But the wife and
were they? A little fur
her on. In the state of horrible attenuation
without decay. the mother yet clasped her
infant in her bony arms, and the thin, tight
y drawn lips of the infant were pressed to
her cadaverous breast. Two of the chill
lren-a boy and girl-had their fingers
while the other two were twined
IN each others arms, as if they sought to So
ace the agonies of that horrible death by
he sweets of congenial affection And who
shall say that they were not happier, dying
hus, than multitudes have been who depart
ed this life surrounded by all the comforts
Of wealth and luxury. but with hatred gnaw-
ing Prometheus-like. at their hearts,
But the best of US were in no condition
10 speculate or philosophize. Thirst, intol-
erable thirst, was burning our tongues and
cur brains. Oar poor animals
suffered as much, or even more than our
selves; and l half forgot my own miseries
in witnessing theirs.