Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-10
A DAKOTA MIRAGE.
EXPERIENCE OF A PARTY OF HUN
TIERS IN TIE ARID PLAINS.

Thirst, and Then the Illusion Disap-
pears-One of Their Number Loses His
Life, the Others Are Rescued.
Has the reader ever been so fortunate or
unfortunate as to witness Dakota mirage
an eye witness, in fact7
The recollections of one autumn week will
last me to my dying day. 1t was one Of
I those calm, sunshiny days, and | was num-
bered in company with a quartet of sport
loving young fellows who went forth, eager
to scour the grand, boundless prairies in
search of the toothsome duck or hen, ante
lope, or, perhaps a stray buffalo, which are
now very scarce.
THREE DAYS WITHOUT WATER.
We started out without taking the precau-
ton of preparing for any emergencies what
ever, as we placed explicit confidence in our
ability as good spcrtsiaen to supply the needs
of the body. We sorely regretted not doing
50 the next day. That whole day we wan
dered aimlessly about over the endless
prairies, and not SO much as an insignificant
gopher made its appearance to fall before
our shotguns. The cravings of hunger and
thirst now began to assert themselves, and in
our frenzied wanderings the truth dawned
upon US that we were lost. Lostl Lost, in
deed, upon a scorching prairie that seemed to
have no outlet, 10 trees, 70 water, no green
grass, and not fowl or animal in sight.
The situation was horrible to contemplate.
Our faithful horses tongues were loliing
from their mouths, and we were so weak
from hunger that it was with great difficulty
we remained in the saddles.
Two days without water is harder on q
human being than gong without food for a
week, and we saw starvation and death
gauntly staring us in the face How we man
aged TO drag through the hours of that awful
night can never relate It was well on to
noon before we considered ourselves sufi-
GENTLY rested to resume the hunt for a sign
of civilization. The suns burning rays
seemed to be hotter and more relentless than
ever. We soon stopped, as we were too
fatigued to proceed any farther. Simultane-
ously it dawned upon US all that this was to
be our last day upon earth, and with a
brotherly shake of the hand we lay prone
upon the ground awaiting the now welcome
coming of death.
Harry Hale suddenly sprung upon his feet,
grabbed his shotgun, placed the muZzle to
his brain, and would have pulled the trigger
and ended his earthly troubles but for my
timely interference.
POOR HARRY'S FATE.
He then rushed to one of the horses and shot
it dead. Hardly had the animal fallen before
Hale, with childish gee, bounced upon the
PROSTATE body, slashed its throat with his
hunting knife, and applied his mouth to the
hot, gushing blood, drinking i down with a
gluttonous appetite
The sight of flowing blood nerved us to
almost desperation, and we crowded to the
yet dying horse, roughly pus..cd Hale aside,
and eagerly sucked the ebbing ifes blood
l believe to this day that nothing has ever
tasted better in my life. Our existence was
prolonged now for at least a short period,
and our lips moved in grateful prayer.
a wild, nlaniacal shout from Hale at
tracJed my attention. Great heavensl The
mailman was mounted on one OF the horses
and tearing away. He was CHANGING back
and pointing ahead and screaming at the top
of has lungs: water! Waterr One of us
must be left behind One horse was dead,
and three persons could not ride upon the
two animals, that were now very weak. I
looked in the direction of Hale, and, sure
enough, what appeared to be water was seen
in the distance. l FASTENED to acquaiut NY
companions Of the joyful discovery. Halo
kept gailoping madiy on, looking neither
way, but furiously lashing his horse. A steep
precipice doomed before the rider, but he
needed it not, and spurred his exhausted
animal to still greater speed. The poor horse
attempted to swerve from its course and
avoid the yawning chasm, but Hale noticed
nothing but the fascinating dance of water
on the horizon. They were now but few
rods from the precipice
Still the horse was sDureed on Fe
neighed piteously, plunged forward, and
just at its brink stopped stock still and the
rider flew over his head into the bottomlcss
pit. To say that we were Mortified would be
putting it rather mild. We FASTENED to the
scene of tho catastrophe. The horse stood
on the edge, trembling in terror from head
to foot. | carefully approached the brink
and peered into the black pit. Nothing
could be discerned, all was pitchy darkness
l seized a large rock and hurled it to the bot
TOM Presently l heard faint sound
deep, deep down into the very bowels of the
earth. Poor Haie's death came very easy,
though terribly unexpected, and no human
being could make that descent without death
ensuing half way down.
TIE DANCING WATERS
With heavy hearts we once more saGdled
our tired horses and followed the alluring
lake An hour passed but it seemed as if we
were just as tar away as on the start.
Another hour, another and another. and
still the waters kept dancing and glistening
IN the sunlight an apparently short distance
ahead. We continued the tedious trip, and
happening 10 lock up we discovered to our dis
may that the supposed lake had entirely van
ished. Bat more welcome sight greeted
US. Not many miles 10 the east the city from
which we started doomed up. All. some /
thing strange about this. We could see the
streets, familiar buildings. and even racog- /
nlZe men walking up and Gown-hterally /.
before our startled vision.
We Travelled and Travelled, but it was i'm /
possible TO approach tie town Then, as if /
by magic, the whole scene disappeared from /
view. We were mystifed beyond compre-
hension and unable TO solve the problem. /
The tired, faithful steeds refused to bulge I
an inch and lay down, and we rolled OF and 4
sank by their sides exhausted.
The pangs Of hunger knew no bounds, 50 4
resolved TO STAY another horse got up and, /
10 my horror, the animals had strayed away, /
probably In search Of folder Ny companions !
groaued feebly, but we were all too weak 70 .
follow them. Deaths awful presence was /
now almost felt. and with prayer upon our
lips we reeled to the ground and hoped that 4
the grim destroyer would soon come and re-
heve Us. Well, be did not come, or l would /
never have written this sketch. While in a
conatose condition was shaken gently. ard /
friendly hands applied cooling flask TO my
heated lips. THIS same Office was also admin
ister-d 10 my suffering companions. Our
good Samaritan, who proved TO be a farmer,