The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-05-03
A DAKOTA MIRAGE.
Terrible Experience on the Track
less Plains.
4 Small Party OF Hunters Lose Their
Way and Almost Perish-DeceptIve
Visions Of Cities and
Lakes.

or unfortunate as to witness = Dakota
mirage-an eyewitness, in fact? No,
and il you have been 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 shudder OF awful dread. 1t must be
first understood that Dakota Is not the
only CLINE whore this strange prairie
phenomenon Is scon. Its appearance
is sometimes noted in the States and in
Europe. but very rare, and Dakota
mirage is the grandest and most mag
nihcent in the world. Eastern tourists,
new settlers and the unsophisticated
element OF this Territory are the ones
who as "A rule fall victims to its bane-
ful influence, and many tales OF suffer-
ing and distress could be related. OF
course tho older residents are cogniZant
OF this prairie freak of nature, but
they too are oftontimes deluded into
following it FOR many days with parched
lips and lolling tongue. All, it is u
grand but terrible sight!.
The recollection or an autumn week
last year will last til my dying hours.
At--NN fNtA AAO % L NIllt Allt tOAu SlllN-
ers course up and down through my
veins; the blood seems to entirely de-
scrt tho body for painful second and
then rushes back into its countless in
tricate channels, mounting TO the head
and stopping there as if clamoring for
cgrcss into the outside world 1t was
one OF those calm. sunshiny days, and
was numbered in company with a
quartet OF sport-loving young fellows
eager to scoUr the grand, boundless
pralrles in search OF the tOothsome
duck or hen, antelope, or perhaps a
stray buffalo, which are now very
scarce The antelope, however, still
plentifully abounds, and the local
markets in winter are overstocked
with its palatable carcass. We started
out without taking the precaution OF
preparing for any emergencies what
ever, as We placed explicit confidence
IN our ability as good sportsmcn TO sup
ply the needs Of the body. We sorelv
regretted not doing 50 tho next dav.
That whole day we wandered aimlcss-
ly about over tho endless prairics. and
not so much as an insignificant gopher
made its appearance TO fall before our
shot-guns. The cravings OF hunger
and thirst now began 60 assert
themselves, and in our frenzied
wanderings the truth dawued upon
US that we were lost. LOST Lost.
indeed. upon a scorching prairie that
seemed to have no outlet, no trees. no
water, no green grass, and not a fowl
or animal in sight. The situation
was horrible TO contemplate. Our
70 faithful horses tongues were lollinr
from their mouths, and we were so
weak from hunger that il was with
great difficulty we remained in the
saddles. Two days without water Is
harder on human being than going
without food for a week. and we saw
starvation and death gauntly staring
US In the face. How we managed TO
drag through the hours of that awful
night / can never relate, but we
awokc next morning hoping to find
the grass ladened with the welcome
dew. But no. The blades were dry
as ever, and groan of abject distress
issued from our parchcd throats. 1t
was well onto noon before we con-
sidered ourselves sufficiently rested TO
resume the hunt for a sign of civilian
ton The suns burning rays seemed
to be hotter and more relentless than
ever We soon stopped, as We were
too fatigucd to proceed any farther.
simultaneously it dawncd 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 endod his
earthly troubles but for my timely in
terfercnce- There was a wild. demo-
niacal glow in his eye, and | saw at
once that his reason was quickly flee
ing. My feeble strength was nothing
compared with his almost superhuman
power, and in a twinkle he wrcsted
the gun from my hands. He then
rushed 20 one Of the horses and shot il
dead Hardly had the animal fallen
before Hale, with childish rlee.
pounced upon the PROSTATE body.
slashed its throat with his huntino-
knife, and applied his mouth To the
hot gushing blood, drinking it down
with gluttonous appetite. Hale had
a deed which we also
contemplated doing, but it was left as
a last resort, for we knew that ii de-
prived of one of our horses we would
be left in more sorry plight than
ever. The sight OF flowing blood
neryed ps 10 almost desperation, and