The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-15

desert and the SKY whirled before me, and
down I'd 20. About shutdown blood began
20 ooZe from the nostrils Of one of the
horses, and he soon died. Then the other
one went the same way, and l was alone In
Lhedesert.
Fortunately, the lay Of the land was ia
miliar to me. / knew the ella river was
not more than forty miles from me, and as
Travelled near that far from Van Horn. l
determined to make the river. II l went
back TO him without water knew it would
be all up with both of us. He might live
until got help. So away went; my head
was light, and things swan before me, but
mode good progress. / removed every
stitch OF my clothing, with the exception OF
my shoes, and started out. l did not stop
| one moment, but kept right on. did not
think of getting tired. I was crazy for
water. 1t was 2 o'clock in the morning
when / reached the river. drank and
thanked God. 1t was the sweetest water
that ever touched nay lips.
After drinking all dared, though felt
as If / could drink the river dry, put on
my clothes, filed my canteen, and started
for a ranch house little way up the river.
Il belonged to a Mexican. asked him for
the use of horses aud a wagon 60 go for
Van Horn. He told ms that his horses
die before they had gone half way. but
that there was a ranch about eight miles
further on, and the man there might
assist me.
~ ran as fast as could, for 1 knew that
every moment counted. The fellow would
not do anything. but pointed out another
ranch house about three miles up the road,
and told me that he thought the Mexicsns
living there would help me. l saw that
this man, after hearing about Van Horn,
was sure he was dead, but did not like TO
tell me so.
"When they heard my story at this last
place, however, they at once hitched two
mules to a wagon and also saddled two
horses. Two Of us rode the animals while
one drove the mules attached to the wagon.
1t was the fifth day after I left Van Horn.
We started in the morning and reached the
wagon at / o'clock. O.! the luxury of that
ride 1t was hot and dusty, and my horses
gait was not the easiest in the world, but
the awful thirst was not there and ! was
not alone. AS we rode over patch had
traversed afoot the day before it seemed
suffered 80 much.
"Van Horn was not there. On the
wagon seat were two notes written by Van
Horn. One was addressed to me, stating
that he had decided to try to reach the last
place wheIe we had got water. The other
one directed what should be done with the
wagon. One of the Mexicans stayed with
Horns trail. For twelve miles we fol-
lowed it without finding any trace but his
footprints in the sand. It was awful. I'm
less Van Horn had reached water he had
been without anything to drink for five
days. l dreaded to look ahead lest should
see him dead there. At last we found his
blanket Fifteen miles further on night
overlook U.s. We did not dare go on for
fear of losing the trail. The moon rose in a
couplesof hours and we pushed on. We did
not speak much as we went along. My
| mind was full of my unfortunate partner
and the Mexicans respected my silence.
eve were plodding along at 2 o'clock in
| the morning when l heard a noise. 1t
sounded like the report of rife away off.
/ fired two Shots from my revolver, and az
answering shot came back, and heard a
| bullet whistle over our headL
eve found Van Horn lying In an arroyo
under a mosquito bush. When | reached
him he he whispered: %, God, l did not
expect to see you alive; / thought you were
dead He asked for water u gave him
little at time. built q fire and made him
some coffee. He drank no less than six cup
fuls and gallon and half Of water. He
then began TO feel better
HE could not have lasted over six hours
longer. His feet and hands we're full of
cactus thorns and were cold, while bis
head was burning hot. ..
stances would permit. and then took him
back 10 the ella river, and later to Tucson"
Van Horn was not the first who sought
the shelter Of the mesquite brush that
shaded the arroyo. Near where he was
found was broken down wagon, with the
| skeletons of four horses. In th8u shade of
the brush were four human skeletons. Van
Horns story was their story-oniy no res
cuer came to them in time. 1t was days
before Van Horn could tell the story of
those days he waited for Waer. To-day for
the first time he narrated his experiences.
He was eight days without water.
! 81 waited auxiously for Waer's return
the first day." said Van Horn. AT last
night came and was thoroughly alarmed.
When daylight broke and he had not re-
turned l made up my mind that he had
persisted, but l decided to wait a little
while longer for him. had no water, but
| fortunately there was plenty of canned fruit
in the wagon and l used that. At the end
! of two days came to the conclusion that
| Waer was dead, and decided to return to
| the Last Watering place we had left.
wrote two notes and left them on the seat
of the wagon and then started out. l car
ried too many things along, and could not
travel fast.
''rhe first day made twelve miles. I
| Travelled at night, for the sun made me
dizzy. The next night was beginning to
| ReG WEAK, huu Wu0u bbdTJ6Q leu my
blanket under a bush in order tighten my
| burden.
''That night was a terrible one. My sup
ply of canned fruit gave out. and toward
morning l crawled no less than four miles
on my hands and knees, dragging my things
along with me. 1 was searching for mig
ger head the leaf of the cactus plant.
About daybreak / found one. l shot
several holes throughit. and with the barrel
of my rifle broke the leaf off. cut pieces
out with my knife and chewed them. l got
my hands full Of thorns, but did not mind
that. There was moisture IN the fesby
leaf, and it seemed to allay my thirst.
During the day l remained near the
niger head. Toward evening l dragged
myself upright with the help of the mes
quite bush, and looked all round hoping to
see something living. My gaze was arrested
by a line Of low hills on the southern hori-
| Zon.
81 was started by their resemblance to a
mans face. 1t seemed TO be turned directly
toward the sun. was weak and dizzy, and
I almost tainted when l saw the features
change before my eyes. The corner of the
mouth seemed to turn up and the eyes
|