The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-12-11
n DESERT TRAIN.

THE DESERT TRAIN.
Years since, Twas, as o child, one OF
3 party that met with sore Distress in
northern Mexico. Our train, COM
prising Of tw%enty-one souls, was sent
t-sr q false trail into a desert region.
Ghe springs reported as being along
the way were not; the few existing
water-holes were all, save one, dried
up. and when we camped, after trav-
cling four nights and the cooler part
of 40 many days. it was where a bra
ron sun looked down upon q parched
land that held no sign Of animal hab-
t~tation. save ono gaunt panther, which
nen scouting for water found dead
half aleague from the roadside. In all
the desolate plain. stretching miles
away to iron-bound mountain ranges
On either hand, there was no break
ave a fcw shriv6led bushes and the
Windiass Of a we'll q few rods from tho
roadside. The protector Of the road
had assured our leader of finding here
. we'll Of water, pure and never-fail-
ing. II now contained perhaps ten
feet Of water. salt as the sea-, and inn
pregnated with some, acrid mineral
element. The stock was now too ex-
hausted to drag the heavy wagons
farther. Every drop OF water was
gone from u kegs and canteens.
A hurried council was held, and our
n possible plan Of escape arranged.
My uncle and another young man Sc
lected tho two least jaded mules.
frightened their bolts about them, and.
with bullets in their mouths to chew
to stimulate the salivary glands. they
started a. night.fall upon the back
track, IN a desperate attempt to drive
the stock to water and bring us re-
lief.
My father, who had some little skill
% an amateur chemist, improvised
from the camp equipage and utensils a
still-afterward . second one. For
%tunately we had a pair of camp-stoyes,
and by distilling the salt water with
imperfect apparatus, nineteen lives
were preserved. Three men and five
women stood in watches of two at the
still, two hours ct a turn. The little
cnmp-stoves were kept red hot. and
drop, drop. drop, tho priceless water
fell slowly-so fr%ightfully slowly
into the cups. Our rations were two
teaspoonfuls every two hours.
Of course, cooking was out Of the
question. nor could our dry and
stitfened mouths bear ever such food
as was available from the stores. Tho
first day the attempt was made to pre-
pare coffee with the salt water, bu. the
experiment was not repeated, for the
reason that one Mrs. B.-the sixth
woman of the ~party--had persisted in
drinking the clear, cool-looklng 7.ater,
and she became insane almost imme-
diately. Her seven children, forlorn
little creatures that they were, had all
the attention possible, and bore their
suferings with touching patience.
I will not dwell on the five days sue
.ceed.ng the departure of the young
men. 10 this day-even as 1 write
fall into 8 nervous chill Mt thought
of our extremity. There was the
baking sand, the glazing sky, tho tri-
nmphant. knocking sun, the little,
lonely camp, with its added degrees
Of heat from the glowing stoves; the
feverish faces and trembling forms.
stretched about beneath the wagon
wherever u spot OF shade blessed the
earth. The horses. that had heen too
far spent to drive back, lay dead be-
fore us, none having strength to drag
them away. anda splendid Newfound-
land dog moaned out his life in ac-
compartment to the insane woman's
yells. Misery in every moment and
agonies Of suspense for the fate of our
two gallant boys. Had they ridden
safely to their succo and ours. or were
they lying, swollen, CHASTITY, stark
shapes. in some lone defle OF the
mountain We had come through? Then
the fifth day the salt water gave
out! That night the rat;ons were re-
duced one-half, the stills being sup
piled by wringing semi-liquid mud il
a strainer Of linen. While two ladie.
were tending the still, Thompson. thu
driver of our family travelling coach
came to them, and with threats com
PEELED them to give up to him NOR
than q half pint of distilled water
They complied, to avoid Weakening t.
collision the two gentlemen who were
to take the next tlrn, but one Who'll
ration was thus sacriuced to one per
son. The ordeal passed.
On the sixth morning one of on
rescuers came in camp, bowed an
staggered under the weight of a NOR
trous Mexican gourd that lie ha
strapped upon his shoulders, t o for,
stall the slow moving ox-carts, lade
with water-barrels, following farthe
back. The young men, spurred by til
thought OF loved ones dying benin
them. had pushed the stock to the
utmost efforts, and had reached Glen
gas in some eighteen OF twenty 6onr
Not = moment had been wasted in o
ganizing the relief party, and he,
came rumbling, grooming, creaking i
to camp the great carretas. with wfee
Of solid wood, and fastenings OF ra,
hide thongs, driven by swart tea,
sters, rough and f,rocions OF aspet
who nevertheless wept like childr,
at the sight OF the wretched. vast
beings who hailed them with hlac