Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-04-04
THE PHANTOM CAVALRY.


Atlanta Constitution
THE PHANTOM CAVALRY.
Several years ago the writer was one Of
party of seven formed for the purpose of
exploring that portion Of Northern Arizona
designated on the map as the 'Painted Des-
ert." 1t is part of the tablelands constitut-
ing the great Colorado plateau, which has an
altitude of from 5000 to 1900 feet above sea
level, the western edge of which is marked
by the grand canyon of the Colorado, and
extends north and south from the Atlantic
and Pacific railroad to the Utah line. This
vast section is wild and desolate waste, cut
in all directions by great chasms hundreds,
and even thousands, of feet in depth, and as
the existence of these mighty assures is not
apparent at any considerable distance, travel
is rendered SO tedious and uncertain that it
remained till the present day comparatively
In it's wildness and peculiar abb
sence of vegetation the region seemed to at
ford fertile fields for adventure, which was
the controlling object of the expedition.
When we left the Atlantic and Pacific rail-
road our outfit consisted of stout team and
a strong blackboard, three saddle horses and
three burros-the latter selected for the pur-
pose of carrying supplies of food and water
when we should undertake ascents of noun
tains, doecents into canyons, or should make
excursions into regions that were particularly
rugged and forbidding. We were well sup
piled with food, guns, ammunition and other
necessaries for such trip, but after getting
well out on the desert and wandering aim
lessly about for over week, owing to the diff
fculty experienced in finding points at which
it was possible to cross the deep gorges which
we encountered daily, it became evident that
the horses as well as the wagons, were i'm
peding our progress. Then it was agreed that
four of the men, with the horses and buck
board, should return south and make campin
spur on the northeast side of San Francisco
while Eugene Ackley, Fred Waite
and the writer should continue the investiga-
ton SO discouragingly begun.
Freed from the engineering difficulties Of
getting the wagon over the country, the re-
mainder of the party moved much more rap
idly, and on the evening of the fifth day
made a 'dry camp" some sixty or seventy
miles from where we separated with our
companions, and on the edge of an abyss
500 or 600 feet in depth, along which we
had Travelled for several hours in a vain en-
deavor to locate crossing place. The
progress we were then making was more
satisfactory, and on that particular day we
had met with our first adventure on the
trip, if adventure it could be called. Ack-
1,,, bod haor ca fortunate aS fO Sacl1ra a
chance shot at and to kill a magnificent
specimen of the mountain sheep or ibex, and
our delight over the achievement was but
little greater than our relish of change
from antelope meat, of which we had already
had a surfeit. This subject afforded our
theme of conversation as we sat till late
hour around our little camp fire in that
wierd and isolated spot, where most prob
ably the foot of white man had never be-
fore trod, disposing of the rich and juicy
steaks which we cut from our prize.
While engaged in this highly satisfactory
pastime thought heard, arising from the
bowels Of the earth through the dark and
dismal gorge, the sound of human voice,
aud upon abiding to the matter was surpris-
ed when both my companions stated that
they bad labored under similar impressions
or hasiucinations several times during our
camp fire chat. Deciding at last that it
must have been the sound of a distant and
hungry coyote or an seolian note issuing
from the abyss, we shortly afterward rolled
I'D in our blankets and went to sleep.
A. walk of something like mile next
morning brought US to place where it ap-
peared possible to make descent of the
canyon, and Fred Waite, after prospecting
the rugged wash, shouted back to us to
come along with the burros. For half an
hour we had been carefully picking our way
down the treacherous and dizzy sides of the
precipices, when the little caravan was
brought to sudden halt with start by
sharp exclamation of surprise from QUIZ path
finder He was not long in answering our
blank looks Of inquiry, by saying:
"Boys, I'll be blessed if there amt two men
down below here, and it looks to me as if
they're in distress. Come and see."
Ackley and myself carefully passed the bur-
ros, and upon reaching the ledge of rock upon
which Waite was standing, and which formed
an angle in the walls of the cliffs, obtained
good view Of the bottom Of the canyon. Be-
low us several hundred feet, and little dis
lance from the gulch, a camp was to be seen,
near which three burros were standing. Near
them was the form of a man lying on the
ground, and by his side, in sitting posture,
sat companion. No fire was burning and
there was no sign of smoke, which, taken into
with the inactivity of the men
at that hour of the day, in place so lonely
and unattractive for camping purposes, at
once led us to believe that they were in a
helpless condition. Two or three lusty shouts
brought to our ears no further response than
a prolonged and dismal bray from one of the
doukeys in the sequestered dell, but in the
course of a few minutes we saw a red hand
kerchief flutter in the hands of the man who
was sitting up. That was sufficient. Two
fellow beings were ip serious trouble in that
dreary, desolate region, and with haste rather
dangerous, considering the hazardous path,
we pushed on to their rescue.
a pitiful and shocking sight met our gaze
when we reached the little camp. 1t was
plain to be seen from their outfit that the
two men were prospeetors, and that they had
built no fire since reaching the spot, and had
been unable to otherwise attend their Own
needs. They had almost completely stripped
their bodies of all clothing, and from their
black and bloated faces, blurred and blood
shot eyes, and horribly sWoolen and protrud-
ing tongues, we realized that they were per-
ishing from thirst. One could barely whisp-
or, while the power of speech had entirely
left his companion. A few drops of water
little at time, bAt at frequent intervals
together with very small quantity OF
brandy, served to revive the two nnfertuR
ate sufferers sufficiently that in the course OF
a few hours they were able to drink some
tea and taste little broth--prepared from
the meat of our mountain sheep-after which
both men fell into the deep, lethargic sleep Of
utter exhaustion.
We attended to the burros and straight
ened up the camp and awaited the awaken
ing of the prospectors to learn the manner
in which they had been placed in such
strange predicament and distressing condi-
zion. They awoke late in the afternoon and
Joined heartily in the evening neal. They
gave the names of Jerry Rooney and David
Briggs. and after supper Briggs felapsed
into slumber, while his more sturdy compan-
ion proceeded to relate the circumstances Of
their strange and painful experience, which
was, in purport, as follows. --..,---