The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-02-05
SAVED BY A SANDSTONE.
An Adventure in New Mexico.

An Adventure in New Mexico.
The incident am about to relate took
place on the Jornada Desert, the route
across which is called, in the language
of the country, JOurnada del Meurte-
journey of death.
1t is n barren, treeless waste, stretch
ing for 80 miles along the Rio Grande
River, and extending eastward to the
White Mountains, unwatered by a sin
gle stream, and only one spot for OBJ
tanning n supply of natures precious
beverage-known also by the ominous
title OF OiO del Meurte (spring of death)
is found in the whole length of the
passage.
Scant vegetation exists in a few fa-
vored localities, but the greater part is
grassless plain, alternating with vast
fields OF white sand, which, blown hith-
er and thither by the fierce winds that
in summer sweep over the torrid eX-
panse, look like bi'lowy seas on the hOr-
iZon This tract would also be devoid
of all animal life, but for the ceaseless-
ly roaming red man, and the occasional
herds of antelope that speed feetly from
range to range of the widely separated
mountains.
# was on an occasion such as | have
Just noted, that | was led into the per
NlluullOH.
which one of Natures Wild and sin
gular phenomena interpOsed to save
me. Wearied by the inactivities of g
halt made early in the day, Bob and
had wandered forth TO stretch our legs,
and look for antelope. The quest prov
ing fruitleSs, we now stood for mo.
ment looking over the dreary prospect
within whose desert sweep we seemed
to be the only living creatures. The
sun, still some hours high, beat dowT
with uuabated zeal upon the cleaning
waste, and not a breath of air stirred tC
fan our heated brows. Long, filmy
spiral like clouds stood high in the azur,
heavens, an indication of a whirlwinC
in those attitudes, we both knew; anC
Bob, cycling them, remarked:
"a good day for whirlwinds; there goe
one now," pointing out to me Sigh
cloud of dust rising above swell of tn,
plain far to our right. Z" No, there
something moving there" he added, a
several dark objects became visible
bobbing up and down beyond the rise
''Our antelope, perhaps" 1 sug
gested.
"Antelope! not they Antelop
would show more white. BY George
we are in for it! l believe those ar
Indians" returned my friend, steadil
watching the distant objects.
" Yes, and there a lot of them, toe
Let's be off out of this before they Sc
u.s. | exclaimed, as a dozen or NOR
savage forms clustered together on tn
mound, left no further room for dOut
rs to what species of animal they bt
longed.
s'They are bound to see us any how
They see us now, but wem give 'em
long chase. Come on,' cried Bob, lol
ing off ut great rate as he spoke.
Taking one more look ut the Indian
saw that they were still there; an
something more l saw, that which pO
tended yet greater danger to us.
slender column of smoke was slow
making its way into the still air. A si
nal smokeP Then there were more
the red fiends around, whom these we
notifying of the discovery of our pre-
ence, and how much more l could on
conjecture.
Being a good runner in those days,
was soon alongside of Bob, shoutiT
what | had seen to him as we ran.
al know the game. They have BET
watching our train and have seen us
the time. They have set trap for us
divided us-and l reckon we are in
tiX,' yelled Bob, glancing suspicious
about, rs II expecting to see an enen
spring out of the very sand at our Gee
Having nothing TO 10 but run, he
my peace and did my best at that. r
course was an excellent one, Just yiel
ing enough not TO hurt the feet, and '
were in good condition for the rae
having been under diet and training
Uncle Sans hands for many montl
Still, rs we were some ten miles frC
camp, to distance the trained runners
these wilds in trial of SO great a leng
would, felt, test our powers of endl
ance to their utmost. But l felt cor
dent of being able TO reach posiu
whence the sound of our rifles shot
be heard in camp and quickly bri
some of our comrades to our assistar
ere the party we had seen could ov
take US.
My thoughts would dwell on the 5
nal smoke / had seen, and | war
watched and avoided, so far as possib
the occasional shallow riffs, left by sol
former deluge, that might serve
places of ambuscade to our implaca
ioeS.