Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-07
COVERED WITH VERDURE,
The Colorado Desert a Mass of
Bloom.
wanderer Over the
Sands.
J. 9. Carter Describes His Trip-Grass
Growing-Plenty OF Wa
ter-A Wand ering
Lunatic.

Under date OF May 18th, j. 3. Garter,
the expert on Colorado desert matters,
writes as follows from Hanlon's ranch
On the 10th ult., Will McC. Labron
and left Hall Hanlon's for Indian
Wells, on the old San Diego stage road,
expecting to return with band Of cat
tie, after which we have been looking
for long time and which we have now
ascertained have strayed some fifteen OF
twenty miles north Of Indian Wells and
perhaps further.
I was completely dumbfounded on
viewing the desert. 1t is covered over,
sand dunes and all, with verdure. Grass
is growing only on the line and close to
the banks of the river. Wild peas are
growing in abundance on the sand hills
ten miles this side of Indian Wells. l
can't send you sample, for the old
Mexican have with me says: "What
good are these? They are poison" So
! threw them away. The desert could
now only be called one Of the most beau
tiful valleys on the Pacific coast. It is
almost level for miles, surrounded by
high mountains and with magnificent
stream flowing through immense lakes,
from the Colorado on to Salton. This
10 Carter river. This shows what the
desert will become when irrigated.
THE LOST MAN.
Reaching Lang's camp, we discovered
tracks OF lost man, and followed them
for miles, here, there and everywhere,
sometimes running, sometimes walking,
and part of the time without shoes. We
followed. him in the evening and the
next morning, but found only q pair of
overalls and shirt hanging on bush.
He was at one time within sixty yards
of the Carter river, but retraced his
steps to continue the search for that
which was attainable near by, but per-
haps lost to him forever. have since
heard that there is large American,
crazy and wandering down about Santa
Catarina, Alamo and Rancho de Los
Castillos. He wears only blanket
around bis shoulders and but seldom
partakes Of the hospitality rendered him
by parties living in those localities.
THR INFLOW.
We caught up to Lang with his ITO
cattle from Gila Bend, about four miles
this side of his camp, near Indian Wells.
We ate dinner with him. On the 2lst
he intended moving to large lagoon
several miles further north. His cattle
and horses look fine. He has four va
queros, two Mexicans and two negroes.
The 21st we camped on the mesa where
the telegraph line crosses Carter river.
Az grub was getting very scarce we
headed for home, via Seven Wells and
Alamo MOcho. The water ie now from
six to eight feet deep in Carter river,
north of Indian Wells. and covering many
of the low lands. In coming to the mesa
from Carter river Will and crossed q
fiat mile wide with two to three feet of
water covering it, and found it almost
impossible to get through.
Black summer ducks, white crane,
the white egret and other water fowl
are in abundance. In going out we
crossed the river at Alamo Mocho.
Lang's vaqueros have experienced some
very severe shocks of earthquake. l
found the iron monument, also the Sec
ton stakes. If General Andrade's lines
extend to the boundary line, Tapacott,
Garnett and other parties have missed
seeing some of the finest land on the
Pacific coast. On the night OF the Goth
we slept near four Digueno Indians on
their way to the Yumas, with six horses
from Jacumba. My camp is entirely
surrounded by water, but no danger.
Martinez and Loronio will have to move
out when the water gets q foot higher.
They are almost surrounded by water,
now. Measles and mumps are among
the Yuma Indians here.