The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-07-25
DEATH Q THE DESERT.

We commenced crossing the slough
about dusk. and by twelve o'clock had
completed the job. While some of the
men guarded the cattle on the sand
hills. the balance wrapped themselves
in their blankets. ard were done with
toll dropped asleep beside the wagons.
One man alone moved around, putting
his things to rights. and preparing for
the journey across the desert before us.
He had joined our train this side of
Salt Lake. with single team, accom-
panied by his wife and three small chill
dren. She was Il frail, delicate woman,
and seemed broken down either with
disease or mental suffering Often
watched her totering around the camp
fire, the children holding on to the
skirts of her dress, scarcely speaking q
word, and in the morning when the
train started we saw no more of her
until camping time. Day by day she
grew weaker, and finally was unable
to leave the wagon. In this situation
she accompanied the train for days,
and when we crossed the slough four
men placed her, bed and all. on the
boat. and cheered her all they could
for the journey before her.
Her husband seemed either incapable
of feeling for her, or managed to con-
ceal the semblance of feeling. Me-
chanically he brought the water and
made the fire, and did something to.
wards the cooking. l often thought
Poor man! perhaps, after ALL he is one
of those who bear without making CON-
plant at every trial. silently and man
" But / think now he was worn
until he had lost all care for himself or
for her. and thought only of the time
when he should reach the end of that
toilsome journey.
At three o'clock In the morning the
train moved on. Like q half-frwzen
serpent it wound around among the
hillocks of sand. and nothing could be
seen but one vast plain. destituted OF
the least vegetation or water. The cat.
tie were pushed as much as they could
bear to reach the point at which we
wished to rest a few hours. Towards
evening they began TO droop. and now
and then one would give out and lay
down. He was Immediately unyoked
and dropped behind with the loose
cattle. Bravely they bore it, however.
aud camping time finally came. Draw
ing around the wagons in circle the
cattle were unyoked and Immediately
laid down. The supper was eaten in
silence, for all felt gloomy. felt that
! death was In that train--snd soft was.
The women gathered in knot aud
seemed discussing the best way To do
something. A sweet little woman,
whom never wish to forget. was busy
soothing the pillow of the dying moth
er. Silently she glided from wagon to
wagon. asking for something necessary
and giving directions TO the others.
The husband, with his head resting on
his hands, and the children around him,
sat upon the wsgou-tongue. nor lifted
his eyes. The men in whisper inqulr-
cd the cause OF this gloom. and each
manfully a asked if he could do anything
to assist. The ministering angel at
her pillow was whispering peace TO her.
ana listening to her broken thoughts.
She spoke of her little ones-what
would hecome OF them now-how she
had loved them-and then she would
pray. She spoke of him-she did not
want to perhaps he bad doLe
/ all he could-she wished that he had
loved her more-how awful it was TO
die on the Desert-She did not wish to
b. buried there. And then she blessed
the little woman again--her breath
grew short-hev~ and relaxed its grasp
and one piercing shrek broke on
that Desert air-pny God ! may never
hear the like again--snd the spirit OF
the heartbroken woman was locsed.
All through the gloomy night was
heard the trsmn of cattle, as they swept
by, almost mad for water; the cursing