Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-07-30

prOspecturs, always on the go; no dis trict appears to suit them, nor does the society, geology or whisky come mp to thelr standard, and Tn consequence they migrate forthwith.
 After inquirIng how far had to go and few minor questions, l asked the man for a drink of water, for l was very thirsty.
 "I never carry no water, young feller, unless I make dry camp and mean to make some coffee. 1 tell you drinking water is all humbug, and ths is how learned it." continued the stranger, who appeared to be quite intelligent, and grew mighty familiar on such brief ac- quaintance. "I learned 1t from a big blacksmith back in '63 on the MaricOpa desert, when the California column was marching into Arizona. We were what they call 'do- -bOys'--had to hoof #. you know, and the blacksmith told me not to eat much breakfast, and no meat at all, in preparing for the long journey, and not to fill my canteen with water, al- though We would not get any for at least twenty-four hours. He told me that about 10 o'clock when I would imagine 1 Was thirsty, to banish such thoughts
  The blacksmith also told me that the first effort would be painful, but after a little the desire for water would pass away, and I would be relieved ot the necessity of carrying the water either in my canteen or my stomach. l found II 10 be the case. and never since have l carried water for the purpose of drink ing, except to make a cup of coffee now and then, as l said"
 During the recital of this strange tale I was of course interested, but 1t did not allsy my thirst in the least, and told my friend was too late to take the ad- vice about the water, for 1t was nearly two o'clock.
 He told me We were quite near the river, and proposed leading me there, where I gladly followed him.
 Myself and horse drank heartily, and when I came back on the bank, my partner had built fire and was re lev ing the burro of hIs heterogeneous load. One part of the cargo was bottle OI suspicious looking fluid, which the own CT gent rously offered me to sample. 1 took a drink and as 1t burned its way down the channels to it's depository could compare 1t to nothing of prevlous experience; it was sort of a cross be- tween q buzz saw and wildcat.
 We sat down to the fire and talked inl smoked for an hour more.
 Iy friend asked me if I was ac- luainted with Lieu. c and ] told him was and that he was then stationed ai Grant not fifty miles away. He then related me his bosom friendship of C. -,, 4Ia F,,,,r,- nalfFnr,,ia .,l,,rnD vvhfai rroved false. for some months later when told Mr. G. about the strange man Le lad no recollection of him. He was probably a soldier Tn G.'s company.
 Finally I took my leave and arrived ai Goodwin after daylight. l treasured my secret of no water drinking, except % a chosen few. I told 1t to Lieut.. G., [ am sure, in connection with the strange man. l kept 1t a secret partially because l considered 1t a false theory, and did not want any cf my friends tn sry it for fear of the worst practical results. I myself was never fool enough to start on journey without good supply of water.
 PRACTICAL APPLICATION AND RESULT.
 Less than two months ago I drove 3 pair of mules with light wagon into ' village in Sonora, Mexico, about ". . o'clock at night. bavi--- stac11:,SS .'-u, 's
 .. -, ;I,., l,, II. a,s...s 1ifg rraVeled OFeI 'i1'i iii,'S ',S,.'.-lfing the day.
 -aau business to attend and did not retire before midnight, instructing the Chinaman to wake me at half past thret and feed my animals at the same time
 l left the village about four in tn, morning and, about two miles out where the roads separated I took the wrong one, it being still quite dark and bOtl roads well beaten.
 l continued until after sunrise for It was an excellent road and went my way
 After 1t became light l knew l was wrong, but according to the mountains, l was going all right.
 About s o'clock 1 overlook an Indian on horseback, from whom I learned by following tue road Twas or would reach my destination, but travel nearly twenty miles out of my way.
 He, however. volunteered to say that the road We were on was parallel with the main one some two leagues off and, m ahead l would see tracks turning t6 he left that would take me to the stage road.
 l followed his advice and also the tracks.
 The road was Qneit plain for about 'Our miles, when the tracks commenced branching of, and came to a standstil finally without any track; 1t was only wood road after all.
 I was in plight. To go back would mean the loss of much time and decided onward at any risk, always keeping the point of the mountain, m, destination, in view. I enc unterd ar- rOyos, chollas and barrancas, aud as the sun went higher the heat became in- 'ense, l became thirsty and looked for my canteen.
 IL was not to be found. The China nan had neglected to put it in the wagon.
 For once lear grew upon me of the most terrible of all deaths.
 I Lad been considerate of my animals, Tor upon leaving tie town had given them all the water they would drink, but I was actually beginning to suffer.
 l turned directly toward where the road ought to be, but brought up sud lenly. The ground was impossible, leep arroyos and washouts prevented further progress in that line.
 1 reverted to my water philosopher and made futile attempt to practice nis dogma.
 Every attempt to divest my thoughts into pleasanter channels only appeared to aggravate and bring back the burn ing thirst in a worse form.
 tried berries and the pulp of the which IS recommended to allay thirst, but they nauseated my stomach.
 I came tu good ground and used the whip mercilessly, but kept strait along, being unable to get the road.
 About 3 o'clock I came near a small hill and climed up and into a tree, although l was scarcely able to dc so, for the purpose of taking observa- tiOns.
 I saw only a wilderness on all sides; nothlug but mesquite trees, sahuara- and chollas. The horizon was distinctly marked everywhere by hills ani noun tain ranges. I was right all the time and was headed directly for my objective point, but 1t appeared an immense dis .ance to a man furnishing for want of water.
 Physically I was debilitated to an ex- tremity, but in the peril of my life | could distinguish objects with my eyes | alone almost with the power sf glass. l
 Iscanned every bush near and far; 1 l saw something move; something white. 1 Hooked at it intently until l satisfied n.y. self that 1t was a man, a man on horse back. and most certainly on the road, 1 but a great distance away.
 I headed the team directly for the object had seen, and in about three l hours reached the road had left over | twelve hours before to wander through l the most desolate neck of woods have | ever travelled. I had ten miles 10 reach | the first house, and I used the whip l with all my remaining strength. But I soon became weak and drOwsy, and l thInk was very nearly delIrious I must have dreamed a moment, for I thought I saw lake just ahead that was nothing