The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-02-26
THE ELECTRIC HAND.

While I am not disposed to ques-
Gion the dogma that man possesses
but five senses, l am never surprised
at the abnormal development Of any
particular one, or at the expansion
of muscular strength to such a high
degree as to surpass the understand
ing OF that stage of psychological
science which has yet been obtained.
In future ages, such powers as were
possessed. by the late Washington
Irving Bishop and other prodigies OF
this era may befar from phenomenal,
and exercised as generally as we now
do those Of determining between col
ors or the notes of a musical instru-
ment. | am certainly entitled to
this belief, for an apparently super
natural power possessed by an in
dividual undoubtedly saved my life
upon one occasion.
Early in the summer of1S66, I was
sent out from Yuma with dispatches
for the commanding officer at Pres
colt, Arizona, being at that time in
the employment Of the government
as courier and scout. This was short
ly after George H. Leighy, Indian
superintendent, had been ambushed
and massacred, and all the tribes in
the Territory, except the Pimas
and Papagoes, were, hostile, and
most OF them were on the warpath.
L decided, therefore, that it would be
less dangerous for me to cut across
the country than it would to follow
the usual roads or trails on which
travellers were being daily killed. and
as heavy rains had fallen during the
preceding two weeks and filled the
isolated water tanks, it would not be
difficult to cross the deserts. Istruck
out in a northeast course, and fol-
lowed that direction as nearly as the
configuration of the country would
permit
The weather was hot-scorching
and boiling hot. Even the lizards
sought protection from the SUMS
rays during the middle of the day
and the rattlesnakes took shelter
under cactus or MESQUITE bush and
did not move till after the ardent orb
sunk in the west. The gaunt, giant
cactus on the mountain-side and
desert plain seemed to give forth
waves of heat, while the scant foliage
OF the palo verde and the prlckly
branches ofthe mesquite-tree afforded
but little shelter for myself or horse.
4 was necessarily compelled to take
the full force of the suns rays, as it
was impracticable to travel at
night, tor the reason that I had
never crossed the country that way.
and besides were somewhat likely to
ride into an Indian camp unawares.
Consequently, my speed was not
great.
On the afternoon OF the third day.
shortly before shutdown, I struck the
trail from Woolsey's Aqua Caliente
Ranch to Wickenburg, and, following
it for two miles or more, came to
some watert tanks. | was then about
twenty miles west of the Vulture
Mine, and, by way of travel, more
than one hundred and thirty from
Yuma. AS [ was getting into the
Indian country, | resolved to be
very cautious, as in two days more,
if nothing happened, would be at
the end ofmy journey. After pre-.
pairing and eating my supper,
carefully extinguished the small fire ]
had made and scattered the embers
and ashes about so as to leave nc
trace OF it, After having given nv
pony good drink at the tank,
resorted to tactics with which every
scout and mountaineer is familiar
Having ridden forward on the trai
until found rocky ground where the
hoofs of my pony would make nc
impression, l dismounted and put the
mufflers on his feet. l then turned
round and rode back, and passed thu
water about half a mile, where, at {
point some five or six hundred yards
from the trail I found gooC
galletta grass for the horse and mad,
camp. l was on the east side of thu
trail and safe from observation from
it or the tanks, through the fac
that / was behind a thick clump O
lnesquite-trees. AS these mannuvre.
were executed after dark, I felt sur,
Bhat they could have been witnessed
ny no one, and that it would be a.