The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-02-08
A DAKOTA MIRAGE.
Ferrible Experience on the Track
less Plains.
A Small Party Of Hunters Lose Their
Wsy and Almost Perish-Deceptivs
Visions of Cities sud
Lakes

has the reader ever o6ep so fOrtunRls
OF unfortunate as to witness a Dakota
mirage-au eyewitness. in fact? No.
and if you have besu enticed far
away towards its mystic shores by
the alluring and apparently close prox-
unity OF cool, inviting waters, YOU will
doubtless look back upon that day with
a shuddcr OF awful dread. 1t must bs
first understood that Dakota is not the
only climo where this strange prairie
phenomenon il seen lis appearance
II sometimes noted in the States and Ia
Europe. but very rare, and q Dakota
mirage - the grandest and most mag
niticent in the world. Eastorn tourists.
new settlers and the unsophisticated
element Of this Territory are the one.
ghO rs a rule fall victims 20 its bans-
tul influence. and many tales OF sufTor-
ing and distress could be related. or
course the older residents are cognizant
Of this prairie freak Of nature, but
they too arc oftentimes dcluded into
following it for many days with parched
lips ind Io.ling tongue All, il IL
grand but terrible sightl
The recollection of an autumn woeIs
last year viii last till my dying hours.
and even now as | write tho cold shiv-
srs course up and down through my
veins; the blood seems to entirely de-
sert the body for . painful second and
then PUSHES back into its countless in
fricate channels, mounting 10 the head
and stopping the-o - If clamoring for
esyresS into the outside world. II was
one OF those calm, suushiny DAYS, ana
] vas numbered in company with
quartet Oi sport-lovirg young fello-s
eager TO scOur the grand, boundlesS
pr5liries in search OF the toothsone
duck or hen, antelope. or perhaps
stray buTa.o, which are now very
ecarce. The antelope. however, still
plentifuily abounds, and the local
markets in winter are overstucked
with its palatable carcass. We started
cat without taking the precaution Ci
prepa-lnE for any emergencies what
over. - VIC placed explicit confdencs
in our Guiiity as good sportsmen to sup
ply the Ueeds of the body. We sorely
regretted not doing so the next day.
That whole day We wandered aimless-
not so much as an Insignificant gopher
made its appearance to fall before our
shot-gUn-. Tho cravings OF hunger
sud thirst now began to assert
theUsc- yes, and N our frenzfed
vaEd-rins.s the truth dawncd upoH
Us tina. we wcro cost. Lost Lost.
iodCel. upon a Scorching prairie sha,
seemed t. have no outlet, no trees. ne
v2tcr, no green grass, and not a fowl
sr animal in sight The situation
TaS horrible to contemplate. Our
faithful horses tongues were lollins
from their mouths, aud We were 50
weak from hungor that il was with
great difficulty VIC remained in the
-addles. Two days without water is
harder on . human being thar going
without food FOR a week. and ws saw
starvation and death gaunt staring
us in the face. How We aaaEed to
drag tilr i tho hours OF that awful
night / en- never relate, but we
swokc I..- morning hoping 10 find
the e -adened with taa welcome
dew. T.. 10. Tho blades were dry
as cy aaI L groan of sb5ca, distress
issucG --.a eu- parchod th.o;tts. 1t
Vas y il onto noon before we con-
sidcrcd car elves sufficiently rested "a
resume IA. huRt for sign OF civiliZa-
ton The suns burning rays seemcd
to be hotter and moro relentless than
-vcr- We soon stopped, IS we were
100 fatigued 10 proceed any farther.
sirnU. - aeuUSly il dawned upon US all
fhni taiS wa5 to DO our last day upon
earth. arl, with n brothcrly sha6o OF
the hand. We lay promo upon tn.
ground awaiting the now welcous
coming ni death.
H-r"y Ha.o suddenly .prune upes
his fcc-, grabbed his shotgun, placed
the E4l.z.c TO his brain. aud would
have Pai-cd the trigger and endod his
earthly troubles but for my timely in
te:fcvcucc. There was q III ]. demo
riacal g.ow in his eye. and ! saw al
once that his reason was quickly fec-
ing. Ny focblo strength WAS nothing
compared with his almost supcrhunar
pow. ald II r twinkle he Trestod
thc gun from my hands. He thcr
rushed 10 one of the horses aud SHOT i
dead. Hardly had the animal lallcr
before Hale. with Chi dish Clee
ppuneed upon The prostrate body
slashed les throat With his huur!nC
knlle. and app44ed ID E.ou.h - 80.
hot. gushing blood. drinking il dowi
with . SlAt,onous appetite. Hale hat
accomp.i ned deed which we ais,
contcnD ,ated doing, but it was left Z
a last GO Z, for we knew tn Il il dc
prired # oue OF our horses We woul,
be left in a moro sorry plight thai
ever. Tho sight Of flowing bloo,
nerVed US to almost desperation, an,