New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-10
DYING OF THIRST IN CALIFORNIA.
,ur prRIrs OF THE GREAT COLORADO DESERT.

,-ur pTRII.S OF THE GREAT COLORADO DESERT.
san Diego Cal. Aug 3.-The great Colorado
Desert. which forms part of san Diego County,
ouured three prospectors TO their death, as
as recently reported hi the Geographic columns
=, The Tribune These men, who were seeking
-, died within few thousand yards Of an
hundant water supply, simply because they made
q slight characterization as TO what was needed 10 carry
,tom safely over the hot, dry, treacherous desert
lains one Of their stampcded mules died Mt the
edge of the water pool The other mules were FOUND
alive The bodies OF the men found not far
r.rt As they had fallen when overcome by the death
~eakness This is only Of thousands Of instances
81 the terrible possibilities OF n death from thirst In
these Western deserts. During the summer Their
average daily temperature is over 40 degrees The
cir is absolutely dry, aud strong man cannot count
ON living unless he gets water at least every SIX
hours Cloth covered cantecns containing several
gallons of water are usual receptacles used IN
desert marching and five quarts day will keep II
man feeling pretty comfortable great danger IN
desert marching Is the liability of finding water holes
where the nights encampment IS to be made, dried
ND Years ago General Candy marched brigade or
40 across forty five mile stretch OF desert in Colorado
The water holes along the route were dry, and for
many hours the trospS without water. A num-
Der OF the men died route. and many others were
carried along in army wagons at deaths door phys
cav The utmost cXertiOns OF the officers were
needed to keep the from lying down and dying
All the dogs of the command died on this awful trip,
their bodies swelling to the natural size before
death ensued. Upon reaching the Grand River after
an all-day march, the thirststricken troops were
allowed TO drink all the water they desired.
The symptoms OF approaching death from thirst are
an overwhelming lasstude which rapidly increases.
A kind OF film forms the eye and partially
obscurcs the vision. The mouth, tongue and throat
become parched. the tongue feeling like cob.
as it grows dry and hard. 1laucnstions fit through
the brain until the weakness becomes great That
Inconsistencies follows and death ensues, as
the unwatced blood tckens and interfcres with the
functions OF the heart. Men have been known TO
60 without water for fOryeght hours, but the CON
ditiOns were different from those OF the desert.
san Francisco sailor, who taken from water
logged ship, had been without water for fourteen
days save such scanty supply as lie could Hex from
the spars In the form OF accumulated dew. When
found, this mans throat actually closed up, and
before entrance to his stomach was obtained by
proper medical means. the poor castaway died.
When IL comes TO question between the dangers
Of desert the natives In these parts much prefer
the sea as being safer than the desert. Winds on
the desert be fatal In effect rs the veriest
hurricane on record. 4 long continued sand-storm
deals death all along It's route. This sand is OPP
pressivc section hands Of sentimental railroads,
that they goggles for the protection OF their
eyes. The sides of telegraph poles exposed TO the
constant friction, and the station windows on the
windy side quickly turned Into ground glass by
these sand blasts. In crossing the desert freight
car containing supplementary water tanks Is attached
unknown quantity the deserts except In rare In
stance1