The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-05
NI1ll}fsl Eagle
THE PHANTOM CAVALRY.

Several years ago the writer was one of a
party of seven formed for the purpose Of
exploring that portion of Northern Arizona
designated on the map as the Painted Des-
ert.p 1t is a part Of the tablelands constitut-
ing the great Colorado plateau, which has an
altitude Of from 5000 to 1000 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 a 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
unexplored- In its wildness and peculiar alb
sence Of vegetation the region seemed to af-
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
pose Of carrying supplies of food and water
when we should undertake ascents Of noun
tains, descents 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
Iessly about for over a week, owing to the diff
il 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
a spur on the northeast side Of San Francisco
mountains, while Eugene Ackley, Fred Waite
and the writer should continue the investiga-
ton 50 discouragingly begun.
Freed from the engineering difficulties of
getting the wagon over tire country, the re-
mainder Of the party moved much more rap
idly, and on the evening of the fifth day
made dry camp" some sixty or seventy
miles from where we separated with our
companions, and On the edge Of an abyss
800 or GOO feet in depth, along which we
had Travelled for several hours in a vain en-
deavor to locate a 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-
ley had been so fortunate as to secure a
chance shot at and to kill q magnificent
specimen of the mountain sheep or ibex, and
our delight over the achievement was but
little greater than our relish of a 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 a human voice,
and upon abiding to the matter was surpris-
ed when both my companions stated that
they had labored under similar impressions
or Authorizations 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 8olian noto issuing
from the abyss, we shortly afterward rolled
up in our blankets and went to sleep.
A walk of something like a mile next
morning brought US to place where it APP
peared possible 10 make a 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
preciDices, when the little caravan was
brought to a sudden halt with a start by a
sharp exclamation of surprise from our path
finder. He was not long in answering our
blank looks of inquiry, by saying:
Boys, III be blessed if there amt two men
down below here, and it looks to me as il
they're in distress. Come and see"
Ackley and myself carefully passed the bur
Tos, and upon reaching the ledge Of rock upon
which Waite was standing, and which formed
IN angle in the walls of the cliffs, obtained
good view of the bottom of the CANYON Be-
low US several hundred feet, and a little dis
tance from the gulch, a camp was to be seen,
near which three burros were standing. Near
them was the form Of man lying on the
ground, and by his side, in a sitting posture.
sat a companion. No fire was burning and
there was no sign of smoke, which, taken into
consideration 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
prolonged and dismal bray from one of the
donkeys in the sequestered dell but in the
course of a few minutes we saw red hand
kerchief hUtter in the hands of the man who
was sitting up That was sufficient Two
fellow beings were III serious trouble in that
dreary, desolate region, ana with haste rather /
dangerous, considering tbs hazardous path /
we pushed on to their rescue.
a piUiful 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 prospectors, 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 I
their bodies of all clothing, ana from their |
black ana bloated faces. blurred and blood /
shot ewes, and horribly swcolen and protrud- /
Ing tongues. we realized that uhov were per
fishing from thirst One could barely whlsn- /
er. while the power of speech had entirely /
left his companion. A few drops of water
little at a time, but at frequent intervals /
together with a very small quantity OF I
brandy sa~r-.l o.. rnr-lva -..- rv-.l 1rrfar-F,r-