The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1889-10-19
WATER IN DEATH VALLEY.
Good Prospects for the Place Where
80 Many Have Perished.

Few are there who have not read
or heard of the train Of emigrants
who, in the year 1850, left the beaten
route known as the old Mormon
trail and sought to reach the cool
water and green lands beyond the
desert by the way of sandy plain
breaking through the mountain
range. On either side rise precip-
itous and blackened walls of noun
tains like palisades, and for sixty
miles wide the sand lane extends
without vegetation and without
water. The eighty-seven souls who
entered there in 1850, lured by the
mirage which ever pictured fair
lakes of water just before them, all
perished Of thirst. The bones of
eighty-three Of the unfortunate en-
igrants were gathered together by
the Panamint Indians, and the
mound in which the savages buried
them is still to be seen in what is
called Emigrant canyon. The des-
ert about has since been known as
Death Valley.
The desert place of deserts is in
Inyo county, 125 miles north by
east of Orc Grande, the nearest
railroad point. From the railroad
station the valley is reached with
horses or mules, and all materials
or provisions have to be packed on
burros. The valley has a trend
from the west to the southeast, and
is bounded on the southern line by
the Funeral mountains which de-
bouch into the Ivawatch range
which runs nearly north and south
The Panamint range extends west
erly from the southwestern portion
of the valley, and intercepts the
State range, which runs north and
south with and easterly trend. The
plain enclosed by these mountain
ranges is entirely destitute of wa
ter, and is rarely ventured upon
save by the Indians of the Pana
mint country.
From early times it has beer
known that Death Valley was rich
in precious minerals-that its lal
of death was a treasury of yellow
gold and sparkling silver. In late
years prospector after prospecto
has dared to explore this region o.
death, only to leave his bones t'
bleach on the hot sands, or to re
turn, after hardship and suffering
hopeless of gaining the coveted
wealth he found there. "No water
no water anywhere" was the de
spairing cry of every prospecto
who returned. The miners who arr
now developing the newly opened
mines report that within two months
they have found the bodies of 81,
prospectors who had perished or
the desert from thirst. Some three
weeks ago, as a party of them were
passing through Wind Gate pass
they heard the faint Hello ! Hello
of a voice in the distance. They
followed the sound, but could no
find the dying man. After severa
hours, as their water had nearly
given out, they abandoned tn
search. They did not hear a or,
of help after the first time. Th
following day an exploring part,
which followed them came upol
the body of man but few hour
dead. Although his last despairinI
cry had reached the ears OF tn
miners, it had failed to save him
and he had perished miserably witt
help within stones throw. Blu
water has now been found.
A few months since, K. b. Taylor
the banker of South Riverside, tit
ted out an exploring expedition am
put himself at the head of it. Afte
| locating several mines, the part.
explored for water. Directed by tn
friendly Indians, they found it afte
many days search. And strange t.
tell they found it in abundance, bu
high up in the mountains-so hlg
that it is distributed and absorbe
by the dry hills before it reache
the burning plaine, or perhaps now
away through some subterranea
passage as the Humboldt and Cal
son rivers sink out of sight in tn
deserts of Nevada. The constan
supply of water which has bee
found will have to be piped Q
Aumed down the mountain side t
the mines, but in whatever way 1t b
utilized, the finding of it will ope
one of the richest mining district
in California and make grandl
wealth producing the most sterll
portion of the state.
The Death Valley Mining Con
pany has been Incorporated wit
Mr.. TAYLOR as president and mar
ager, and is developing the elgh
mines that have been located b
the company as rapidly as possible
and they will be worked for leglt
mate returns. The ore so far take
out is of a high grade, free milling
and assays from 5000 to $1,000 pc
ton, with large percentage OF gol'
Pure galena and sulphurets al