Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-07-23

Death from Thirst.

/ he Gcdln OF TWO young men was recent
ly announced on the plains of Colorado near
Carson's Creek, fifty miles south of Los
Animas. The young men, :. Mactier Win
chester and Samuel johnson, together with
three Others, left Medary's surveying party
Ia join the main camp. 4 misunderstood
I ing occurred between the line and camp
parties, and the two drifted apart. The
surveyors wandered around for several DAYS,
in hopes of help being sent to their aid. A
correspondent writing from Trinidad, June
l6 gives the following graphic account Of
the country, and the unfortunate fate of the
Baltimoreans ''Our party from the main
camp went in search of the lost men.
Searching south from the Santa Fe track,
and east from this point, we found sterile
plains, noticeable principally on account of
the absence of that much abused fluid,
water. \ few petty streams, strongly i'm
pregnated with alkali, and situated at great
distances apart, furnish water for a large
amount of stock, and redeem from absolute
worthlessness vast domain, which at first
sight would impress the the stranger with
the belief that its only mission was to pro-
duce cactus and TattlesnakeS. Without
some guide il is dangerous work TO track
across these desolate plains, and even ''old
timers" calculate their chances very care
fully before trusting themselves to the ten
der mercies of land where instruction
may mean death. In the light of these
statements it is not hard to realize that the
non-appearance of our belated party caused
serious apprchensiOns in camp, and that an
immediate search for the missing men was
commenced as soon as it was coniectured
that they were drifting The five left our
main camp on June ), intending to survey
north eighteen miles to the sixth correction
line. From the point they reached they
proposed to walk six miles east expecting
by that time to find the camp moved ahead,
and waiting for them. In the event of this
failing, an over jealous informant had as
sured them that they would at least reach
water: and without a thought of the awful
experience which awaited them, the men
started out for DAYS labor Of unusual
severity. cheering themselves with the pros
pect of rest on the morrow. Alas, for two
of their number. that rest has been a long
one. Night found the weary men tortured
by thirst, and completely at sea as to the
whereabouts Of the camp. The nearest
water was over twenty miles distant, and
the prospect of trudging back over that long
stretch was disheartening and demoralizing
TO men already weakened by privation and
worn out by oyerwork. Three struggled
bravelv on and reached the Cariso, and were
safe, after being forty to sixty hours with
out food or water. The other two toiled On
five or six miles and waited in the vain hope
of being found by the searchers they knew
would be sent out after them, until il was
too late for further effort. They rested
under a 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 un-
fortunate men had passed before the weak
ness of our frail humanity succumbed to
suffering, and death eased pain. Relief did
indeed come finally to one, but it was too
late Mac Winchester was found the after
noon of June 9th, just as he was breathing
his last. We buried him the following
dav on a sunny hillside, whose base Is
washed by the precious water he failed TO
reach. As stated, Johnson's body has not
been found, but of the fate we can only CON
lecture one thing. After the long and faith
full search which was vainly made for him,
it is hardly possible that he can he alive.
Both young men originally came from Bal
timore. No blame can he attached to any
one for this unfortunate affair. The line
and camp parties misunderstood each
other and drifted apart. The men
became demoralized and trusted in a for
lorn hope, rather than make an effort TO
save themselves, until effort was unavailing.
1t has been many years since the plains of
Colorado offered grave to those who per
ished of thirst, and let us hope that it will
be many, very many more before they Will
offer another"