Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1879-07-16
NUMBER 35.
DEATH FROM THIRST.

DEATH FROM THIRST.
Tragic End Of Two Baltimore Engineer
in Colorado.
There appeared in . recent number o
the Baltimore american q dispatch an
nouncing the death of two Baltimorean
on the plains in Colorado, near Carson
Greek, and fifty miles south of Los Ami
mas. The young men, s. Mactier Win
chester and Samuel johnson, togethe
with three Others, left Medary's survey
ing party to join the main camp.
Misunderstanding occurred between th,
line and camp parties, and the two drift
ed apart. The surveyors wanderet
around for several days, In hopes Of helr
being sent to their aid. A correspond
emit writing from Trinidad, June Is
gives the following graphical aooount d
the country, and the unfortunate fat
of the Baltimoreans: "Our party from
the main camp went in search Of the lost
men. Searching south from the SAINTS
Fe track, and east from this point, We
found sterile plains, noticeable princi-
pally on the account of the absence Of
that much-ab:sed fluid, water. A few
petty streams, strongly impregnated
with alkali, and situated at great dis
tance apart, furnish water for q large
amount of stock, and redeem from
absolute worthlessness large domain,
which at first sight would impress the
stranger with the belief that its only mis-
sion was to produce cactus and rattle
snakes. Without some guide it il
dangerous work to cross these desolate
plains, and even cold timers'' calculate
their chances very carefully before
trusting themselves to the tender mercis ]
OF land where misdirection may mean
death. In the light of these state
ments it is not hard to realize that the
non-appearance of our belated party
caused serious apprehensions in camp;
and that an immediate search for the
missing meE was commenced % soon as
it was conjectured that they were drift
ing. The five left our main camp on
June s, intending to survey north
eighteen miles to the sixth correction
line. From the point they reached they
proposed to walk six miles east; expect
ing by that time to find the camp
moved ahead, and waiting for them.
In the evcat of this failing, an over
jealous informant had assured them
that they would at least reach water
and without thought of the awful OK
perience which awaited them, the men
started out for q days labor Of unusual
severity, cheering themselves with the
prospect of rest on the morrow. Alas
for two of their number, that rest hal
been = long one. Night found the
weary men tortured BY thirs:, and
completely to sea as to the whereabouts
of the camp. The nearest water waa
over twenty miles distant, and the
prospect of trudging back over that long
stretch was dishearteniDg and demoraliz.
ing to men already weakened BY priva.
tion and worn out by overwork. Three
struggled bravely ON and reached the
Cariso, and were safe, after being from
forty to sixty hours without food OF
water. The other two toiled on i've o.
six miles, and waited in vain hope ol
found by the searchers they knew would
be sent out after them, until It was too
late for further efforts. They rested under
q huge rock, which offered them the poor
mockery of shade, to chase away the
awful delirium of thirst. All around
its base the brush was torn, and the
ground clawed and tramped In mute
witness of the agonized struggles through
which the unfortunate men had passed
before the weakness of our frail humanity
succumhed to suffering, and death
eased pain. Relief did indeed come
gnally to one, but 1t came too late
Mac. Winchester was found on the
afternoon of June 8. just ~ he VA
breathing his last. We buried him thu
following day or . sunny hillside, whost
base is washed by the precious water ht
failed to reach. As stated, Johnson'i
body has not been found, but of his fat<
We can only conjecture one thing
After the long and faithful search
which was -ainly made for him, it il
hardly possible that he can be alive
Both young men originally came from
Baltimore. No blame can ba attached
to any one for this unfortunate affair
The line and camp parties misunder
stood each other and driftcd apart
The men became demoralised and trust
ed in forlorn hope, rather than maxi
an effort to save themselves, until efor'
was unavailing. IthAs been many year
since the plains of Colorado offered .
grave to those who perished Of thirst
and let US kope that it will be many
very many moro before they will one
another"