Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-13

ties unfavorable to the appearance of gentiles.
When this train Of ox teams entered Death val
ley on its disastrous journey, man named
Hunt who, it is said, had been dispatched from
Salt Lake. caught up with the travellers to
SHOW them across the desert"
DECEIVED By MIRAGE.
The distance across the valley at that point
was about thirty miles, without sign Of water,
but when the party had gotten about half way
over the distance they beheld the common illu-
sionary effects OF a mirage. They saw groves
OF cottonwood and green meadows and every
indication OF fertile. well-watered land. Hunt
saw his opportunity and urged them forward,
end he would 60 on his way.
Twelve miles day is the ordinary distance
to be made under favorable circumstances in
that portion Of the country, and the animals
had now gone two days without water. We can
readily imagine, therefore, that their speed
was greatly reduced by suffering and weak
ness. Three Of the party. who were mounted
on horses, started out in advance to investigate
but when they arrived at the place where the
imaginary groves ought to be they beheld
nothing but another wide stretch OF desert and
beyond 1t the desolate foothills Of the Telescope
range. They pushed forward, however, and
finally entered one Of the canons where the dry
grass indicated moisture, ut least part of the
year. Following up this canon We found more
grass and brush, and ultimately o small stream
VI WAFER coming oOWu from t0o mountain
summit.
On account Of the approach Of night and the
wornout condition Of their horses they were
compelled to wait until the next morning be-
fore attempting to return to the train.
In the meantime tho oxen had given out and
persisted one by one, while the people compos-
ing the party were unable to push forward on
foot, not having the means of transportation
nor the inclination to desert the dead and
dying. What length Of time had elapsed be-
fore the three mounted comrades we're enabled
to md and rejoin the caravan it is impossible
to learn, but it is known that not one Of the
party was found alive, and until only few
years ago the wagon tires and other odds and
ends OF the wrecked party were still visible OPP
posite the mouth of Cottonwood canon and
about twelve miles north Of the trail made by
our own party.
GOLD STORY.
The three horsemen returned to the canon,
and it is related that one of them, Capt.
Doughty, found native gold in such abundance
that he put a gold sight upon his rife, from
which circumstance the locality was given the
name of the ''Gun-sight ledge" This, like many
other tales of lost gold mines, was the reason OF
many a fruitless prospecting trip, and mar
velOus stories were afiOat at the time of Onr
visit. Maj. Wheeler made personal inspection
of the locality. but found only silver-bearing
rock, which, at that time of high freight and
trouble. but would now return handsome in
come on judiciOus investment and working.
In conclusion, l may add that since 1871
bOrax and probably soda works have been es-
tablished in Death valley, and it is no longer
the dreaded region it was once considered.
w. J. HOFFMAN, Md,
Surgeon and Naturalist to Expedition Of 1912.