The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-31
THE DESERT TRAIN.

". H. Addis. in San Francisco Argonaut.l
 Years since, was. as child, one of a party that met with sore distress in north- ern Mexico Our train, comprising of twenty-one souls, was sent over a false trail into desert region. The 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 travelling four nights and the cooler part of as many days, it was where a brazen sun looked down upon parched land that held no sign of animal habita- tion, save one gaunt panther, which men scouting for water found dead half a league from the road. In all the desolate plain, stretching miles away to iron bound mountain ranges on either hand, there was no break save few shriveled bushes and the windlass of we'll few rods from the roadside. The projector of the road had assured our leader of finding here a well of water, pure and never failing. It now contained perhaps ten feet of water, salt as the sea, and impregnated with some aciid mineral element. The stock was now too exhausted to drag the heavy wagons farther. Every drop of water was gone from our kegs and canteens.
 A hurried council was held, and our one possible plan of escape arranged. My uncle and another young man selected the two least jaded mules, tightehed their belts about them, and, with bullets in their mouths to chew to stimulate the sal ivary glands, they started at night-fall upon the back track, in desperate at tempt to drive the stock to water and bring us relief
 My father, who had some little skill as an amateur chemist, imp ovised from the camp equipage and utensils still-atter ward second one. Fortunately we had a p 1T of camp-stove:, and by distilling the salt water with this imperfect appa- ratus, nineteen lives were preserved Three men and five women stood in watches of two at the still, two hours at turn. The little camp-stoses were kept red hot, and drop, drop, crop, the price less water fell slowly so frigh,fully slowly into the cups. Oar ratons were two teaspoonfuls every two hours
 Of course, cooking was out of the aues- tion, nor could our dry and stiffened mouths bear even such food as was avail able from the stores. The first day the attempt was made to prepare coffee with the salt water, but the experiment. was not repeated, for the reason that one Mrs. B.-the sixth woman of he party-had persisted in drinking the clear, cookbook ing water, and she became insane almost immediately. Her seven children, for Torn little creatures that they were, had all the attention possible, and bore their sufferings with touching patience.
 l will not dwell on the five days sue ceecing the departure of the young men, To this day-even as l w'ite- tall into a nervous chill at though of our extIem. ity There was the baking sand, the Rlar- ing sky, the triumphant, mocking sun, the little, lonely camp, with its added degrees of heat from the glowing stoves the few erish faces and trembling forms stretched about beneath the wagons, wherever a spot of shade blessed the earth. The horses, that had been too far spent to drive back, lay dead before us, none hav- ing strength to drag them away, and splendid Newfoundland dog moaned out hls lite ID accom- p Animent 10 the insane woman's yells. Misery io every moment and agonies of suspense for the fate of ourtwo gallant boys. Had they ridden safely to their succor and ours, or were they lying, swollen, ghastly, stark shapes, In some lone dehle of the mountain we had come through2 Then-the ii hh dag the salt water gave out! That night the rations were reduced one half the stills being supplied by wringng semtliquid mud in a strainer of linen. While two mA fsv he the driver of our family travelling coach, came to them, and with thu eats compelled them to give up to hum more than ha pint of distilled water. They complied to avoid widening to collision the two gentlemen who were to take the next turn, but one whole ration was thus sacr,- feed to one person. The ordeal passed
 On the sixth morning one of our res- cuers came in camp, bowed and stagger. ing under the weight of a monstrous Mexican gourd that he had strapped upon his shoulders. to forestall the slow moving ox.carts, laden with wa,er. barrels, following farther back, The young men, spurred by the thought of loved ones dy- ing behind them, had pushed the stock to their utmost effoits, aud had reached Cienegas in some eighteen or twenty hours. Not moment had been wasted in organizing the relief party; and here came rumoling, groaning, creaking into camp the great cArretas, with wheels of solid woed, and fastenings of rawhide thongs, driven by swart teamsters, rough and fero cious of aspect, who nevertheless wept like children at the sight of the wretched, wasted beings who hailed them with black, swollen lips and tongues all cracked and bleeding. They were but just in time. The insane woman and two of her childsen appeared then dying, and surely could not have lived halt.
 day longer. Water was doled out with
 due precaution. congratulations and thanhsgivings offered hasty but suffi
 cient breakfast was cooked, and all pre- paration made for abandoning the scene of SO much wretchedness.
 Then very nearly came about miser-
 able mishap. Thompson, the driver be-
 A-- f