Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-08-09

| Around the breakfast table that morn
ing told my experience of quarter of a
century before. No one questioned it,
though SOME believed it partook of the SUI
pernatural, and saw one rough teamster
cross himself piously every time he touched
the water.
Last year, having regained my fortune
and retired from practice, | started east
ward In the old way, with company in
wagons One night we sat about our camp
fire smoking and talking, when ut once
strange voice said;
Gentlemen, you are in danger as long as
you stay in the Salton basin"
We all looked up, and there stood before
us an old man, who in spite of his age was
still erect and commanding in appearance
His eyes were still clear and bright and
black as sloes His hair which hung in
wavy folds on his shoulders, was as white
as driven snow, and his clothing was made
of the skin of wild beasts
| Pointing at me with his long, bony fin
ger for, without knowing it, | had risen
and was staring at HIM, he said: 'There
is one among you who knows that what |
say is true, no matter what the danger,
nor what my reason for warning you.
Having passed nearly Il century upon this
earth, there remains for me little reason to
harm my fellow men, from whom | must
so soon part forever, and as there are 9th
ers whom | must warn, | cannot stop to
explain the reason for the danger. Suffice
1t to say, that tomorrow this basin will be
lake. and those who would escape drown
ing have no time to lose, as it is many a
mile to the edge of the basin, and your
horses are jaded and time is flying"
! Turning to me he continued: II have
| been looking for this overflow to come for
years. There is an immense subterranean
/ river under the hills up there, and its bed
is higher than this basin. 1t will break
through its thin crust of earth within q
few hours-in fact it is already too thin to
bear my weight. There are still others to
see, SO must go. Half a century ago you
saved my life; a quarter of ii century age
| saved yours and now am enabled to dc
so once more. We shall never meet again,
and an old man whose race is run leaves
his blessing with you"
| When his voice ceased, the old man was
gone. Coming back to the camp fire, |
found things in commotion. My friends
thought 1t best to 20, and at once. The
transfers fatty refused. 1t was finally
agreed that we who wished should take
the light spring wagon and go, and after
getting outside the basin should wait for
the others At daylight we reached the
bluffs. When we woke at noon and look ed
back over the road we had come, nothing
was to he seen save broad expause OF
water. The Salton basin was IA lake Oul
companions have never been heard of te
this day. We soon got the daily papers
and saw the accounts of the overflow OF
the Salton basin and the many wide con
lectures rs to its cause.
In both eases told my companions the
experience had in ls40 and they tried tc
account for it in various ways, but none Of
them believed my ''hydroscope" could be
altogether human. As for myself, | love
60 sit here ON the veranda and picture tho
scenes over again to myself in the tobacco
smoke. but ] offer no theories; | simply
;.ive she facts.
HARRY w. CoCKERIII