Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-02-25

Feature Of the Great American Desert
An California.

In S4ttAefnia.
The most fatally famous part of
the Great American Desert is Death
Valley, in California. There is on
oil the globe no other spot more for
bidding, more desolate, more deadly.
1t is a concentration OF the horrors
of that whole hideous area; and it
has bitter history.
One of the most interesting and
graphic stories i ever listened TO
was that related to me several years
ago, by one Of the survivors of the
famous Death Valley party of 1S49--
the Rev. J. w, Brier, an aged Meth
odist clergyman now living In Cali
fornia. A party of five hundred emil
grants started OH the last day OF Sep
| TENDER, 1849, from the southern end
of Utah to cross the desert to the
(then new mines of California. There
were one hundred and five canvas
topped wagons, drawn by sturdy
oxen, beside which trudged the
shaggy men, rifle in hand, while
under the canvas awnings rode the
women and children. In short
time there was division OF opinion as
to the proper route across that path
less waste In front; and next day five
wagons and their people went east to
Santa Fe (whence there were dim
Mexican trails TO Los Angeles), and
the rest plunged boldly into the des-
ert. The party which went by way OF
Santa Fe reached California in De-
cember, after vast sufferings. The
larger company travelled in comfort
for few days until they reached
about where Phoebe now Is. Then
they entered the Land OF Thirst; and
for more than three months wandered
lost in that realm of horror. 1t was
almost impossible to get wagons
through country furrowed with
canyons; so they soon abandoned their
vehicles, packing what they could
upon the backs Of the oxen. They
struggled on to glittering lakes, only
to find them deadly poison, or but d
mirage on barren sands. Now and
then a wee spring In the mountains
gave them new life. One by one the
oxen dropped, day by day the scanty
flour ran lower. Nine young men
|
stalwart and unencumbered with
families, reached Death Valley ahead
of the others, and were lost. Theil
bones were found many years later by
Governor Blaisdell and his surveyors,
who gave Death Valley its name.
The valley lies in Inyo County, and
is about one hundred and fifty miles
long. In width it tapers from
three miles at its southern end to
thirty at the northern. 1t is ovel
two hundred feet below the level Of
the sea. The main party crossed II
at about the middle, where it is but
few miles wide, but suffered
frightfully there. Day by day some
of their number sank upon the burn
ing sands never to rise. The surviv
ors were to weak too help the fallen
The strongest of the whole part!
was nervous little Mrs Brier, wh'
had come to Colorado an invalid, anC
who shared with her boys Of 4, I, ant
0 years of age that indescribabl
tramp of 900 miles. For the las
three weeks she had had to lift he
athletic husband from the ground ey
cry morning, and steady him fey
moments before he could stand. Sh
gave help to wasted giants any one o
whom, a few months before, coul'
have lifted her with one hand.
At last the few survivors crosses
the range which shuts off that mos
|, dreadful of deserts from the garde
\ of the world, and were tenderl
I nursed to health at the hacienda, 0
ranch house, of courtly Spaniard
Mr.. Brier had lost one hundred pound
! in weight, and the Others were thi
J in proportion. When / saw him las
he was hale old man Of seventy-fvt
cheerful and active, but with strang
burrows in his face to tell OF those b!
gone sufferngs. His heroic littl
wife was still living. and the boy'
" who had had such bitter experienc
y as perhaps no other boys ever su
q vived, are now stalwart men.-S
: Nicholas.