The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-14

The sun had heated them to such degree
that some zen having stepped out of their
tents barefooted, quickly retraced trer
steps with blistered feet. Here consul,
tation took place between the colonel
doctor and guides the result of which was
the sending of one OF our guides to Chel-
lalIa. This Arab rode q camel called in
Arabic "djemel balek," so denominated
for being especially trained for the race
and able to run nearly whole day with
out stopping. Besides their stride is con-
siderably longer than that of a horse. This
messenger, star ing at / O'Clock, assured
he would be there by night. He was the
bearer of an order for the caid, Arab chief
OF tribe, to hire fifty camels forthwith,
load them with water and come to meet Us
at the next stage.
The water we drank from the barrels
was as If taken from the hre, We reckoned
1t was at least 90 deg. Reaumur, that is 100
deg. Fahrenheit; nevertheless it brought
US sensation OF pleasure and relief All
the men were advised TO reserve part Of 1t
TO make some coffee next morning, as We
did every day before starting; but our
Threats were so parched that the two pints
given to each were drained in a few
minutes, reserving only a little Tor cooking
food. Next morning we were obliged to
start fasting and without drop of water
in our canteens-each soldier while travel
ing carries q small can filled with water for
his own use. We were naturally very
anxious, under the circumstances, as to
the issue of that journey during which q
trial of great magnitude attended US.
The men kept on the march bravely IN
til O'Clock, Flooding along an unvarying
plain of weary and reverberating surface
Now not green leaf around, gauZy
cloud above or a slight breeze would afford
Us the least sensation of freshness. Soon
the men began falling from exhaustion.
The heat, fatigue. thirst and want of nour-
ishment worked SO terribly upon Us that
IN about an hour fifty men had fallen half
an hour later almost all the mules and
camels were loaded with men scarcely
showing signs of life The officers and
even the colonel came down from their
horses and put them at the disposal of the
sufferers, two OF whom could be placed
upon each animal. We were still about
ten miles from the spot designated by the
guides as the next stopping place and
where the carriers of water were TO meet
US. Another consultation took place be-
tween the colonel. doctor and guide; the
doctor said, "If no water is found | fear
no man will reach the hating place"
Questioned, the guide replied he was not
well acquainted with the surroundings. so
the colonel gave orders to five or six riding
officers to explore all the section for two
miles around.
l can hardly find words to portray our
situation at that moment While con-
stantly some men dropped from exhaus-
ton, slowly and drearily the others were
treading under the glowing sun. their
heads cast down, their feet blistered and
painful, their strength exhausted, eyes
closed to avoid the reverberation of the
sunshine, bent by fatigue, with mouth
open gasping for breath. Some tried TO
suck small pebbles to produce saliva to
molsten the throat, but in vain; thirst
had dried up even our lungs, causing US
acute pain in the side and back
While thus dispirited, scarcely progress
ing, from time 10 time our eyes anxiously
sought the direction of the horsemen
prospecting for water. Finally, one of
them perceiving an Arab riding on a dom
key, ran to him and asked whether he
could saycwhere water could be found.
The Bedouin directed him to spot about
half q mile further on, where he indeed
found . sheet of shallow water. Putting
his horses to the greatest speed, he returned
and went straight to the head of the COL
umn, shouting to the clarion-man to
sound the halt. At seeing him returning
so fast, we all surmised that water had
been found. Then followed pltiful spec
tace. Without waiting for any order the
poor fellows. who in their exhausted con-
dition could but one minute before adj
vance only at snail's pace, all, even the
sick, as if struck by magical force, gained
supernatural strength. Throwing down
their knapsacks and guns they ran
frantically in the direction whence the
horsemen had come, like men routed in
the tight and fleeing from death. How
powerful was the incentive of such sud-
den change. We ran nearly mile to
reach the shallow pond, which was about
sixty feet long, twenty feet wide, and
from two to four feet deep. The men
arrived in a rush and threw themselves
down, their heads bent in the water, but
the edge not having sufficient length to
afford place for all, they heaped them
selves one upon another, and as there was
still not room for all. the last in coming
jumped into the midst of the shallow
pond, though being ignorant OF its depth,
and sat down in the water. nothing visible
but their heads.
The officers having followed their men.
had TO witness most affecting tableaux.
On seeing that thick border of men around
the shallow water and about 200 heads
emerging therefrom, their emotion became
quite visible and the severity of discipline
took the form of demonstrative kindness
The doctor calling the men as MY
friends" begged of them not to drink be-
yond necessity 10 avoid Ill consequences
The colonel, addressing them as "My
children" repeated with paternal words
what the doctor had said.
AT lasN when the men had satisfied
their thirst, those on the edge rose, but
they who were in the water seemed loath
or unable to leave it. The officers went TO
their assistance and pulled them out,
their feet and clothing covered with mire
For time they all sat around, looking
from one to another with dazed eyes and
speechless. as II being astonished at see
ing one another alive after such an expert
enc. As for me, though carrying no
knapsack or gun, was not less wrought
up than The others and had suffered quite
as much. not being used, as the zouaves
were. 10 tramp in that deadly climate.
Then the mules and horses were taken
to the spot 10 drink. There the spectacle.
which had been piteous with the men. was
lamentable with the animals, that had not
suffered less than We. As soon as they
perceived the water they became unman-
ageable and their drivers were obliged 10
let them go. They plunged into the
water and their feet sank into the slime.
from which the men had much difficulty
IN extricatlng them. After all had been
refreshed We returned slowly To the spot
where the knapsacks had been left and
sat down there again under the deadly
hot sun. suffering complete depression Of
vital force. Soon we perceived two Arabs
on horseback coming toward US; il was
the caid of Chelalla with one Of his men.
Our colonel went TO meet him, asking
whether be had come with water. He
answered that his carriers had stopped
four niles distant, whereupon he was
asked u have them come TO our hating
place So We encamped without moving
further, and at last we ENJOYED the rest
that We needed so much. We were now
perspirinS freely, and not one of US had
desire 10 eat until late in the evening, after
q sleep. the most blessed rest l ever felt in
nv life
The next day the men, being worn out,
u