Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-08-06


the desert again. There was a line of
mountains twenty-five miles away, and
expected to find water in some of the
cannons. The horses began to groan
after bit. / never heard as pitifu q
sound before, and / hope it is the last
time | ever hear it.
| "Then one of the horses held back. |
tried to lead him, but he dropped to his
knees and then lay over on his side. l
was terrified, but worked aud got him
up. A hundred yards further on the
other horse lay down. 50 it went.
Then night came, but I did not dare to
stop. There was no question of grit at
all, only knew that 1t was either push
on or lie down and die. | reached the
mountains before daybreak, but could
find no water. When the sun came up
l could not travel, for the heat made me
so dizzy that / could not walk. lay
under a bush all day.
"God, how l wanted water; Just a
spoonful, drop. Several times during
the day tried to travel, but could not,
for the desert aud the sky whirled before
me, and down I'd go. About shutdown
blood began to ooze from the nostriIs of
one of the horses, and he soon died
Then the other one went the same way,
and | was alone in the desert.
fortunately, the lay of the land was
familiar to me. | knew the ella River
was not more than forty miles from me,
and as [ had travelled nearly that far from
Van Horn, | determined to make the
river. If | went back to him without
water knew it would be all up with
both of both. He might live until got
help. So away went: my head was
| light, and things swan before me, but |
made good progress. removed every
stitch of my clothing, with the exception
of my shoes, and started out. did not
stop one moment, but kept right on.
did not think of getting tired. l was
crazy for water. 1t was two o'clock in
the morning when reached the river.
drank and thanked God. 1t was the
sweetest water that ever touched my lips.
"After drinking all dared, though [
felt as if could drink the river dry, |
put on my clothes, filled my canteen, and
started for ranch house a little way up
the river. 1t belonged to Mexican.
asked him for the use of horses and
wagon to go for Van Horn. He told
me that his horses were not fit for the
trip, that they would die before they
had gone half way, but that there was
ranch about eight miles further on, and
the man there might assist me-
81 ran as fast as could, for | knew
that every moment counted Iii: fellow
would not GO anything, but pointed out
another rauch house about three miles
up the road, and told me that be thought
the Mexicans living there would help me-
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 hitc ned
two mules to wagon and also saddlei
two horses. Two of lis code the ami
mails while one drove the mule; attached
to the wagon. 1t was the filth day after
/ left Van Horn. We started N the
morning aud reached the wagon at
o'clock. Ga, 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
traver3ed dfoot the day before it seemed
impossible that | had been SO long an1
suffered 50 much.
Evan Horn vas not there. On the
wagon seat were two notes written by
Van Horn. One was addresse to me,
stating that he had come to the con
c'usion that l hal perisiel aai that he
had decided to try to reach the last
place where he had got water. The
other one directed what should be
done with the wagon, Ole of the
Mexicans stayed with the wagon. With
the other | took up Vda Horns
trail. For twelve miles we followed it
without finding any trace but his foot
prints in the sand 1t was awful. Un'ess
Van Horn had reached water he had been
without anything to drink for FIVE days.
dreaded to look ahead, lest [ should
see him dead there. At last we found
his blanket, Fifteen miles further on
night overlook US. We did not dare 60
on for fear of losing the trail The moon
rose in couple of hours and we pushed
on. We did not speak much as we went
along. My mind was full of my unfor-
tunate partner, and the Mexican respected
my silence.
"We were plodding along at 2 o'clock
IN the morning when l heard a noise
1t sounded like the report of rife away
off. l fred two shots from my revolver
and an answering shot came back, and |
heard a bullet whistle over our heads
ave found Van Horn lying III an
arroyo under a mesquite bush When l
reached him he whispered; 'Oa, God,
did not expect to see you alive;
, thought you were dead He asked for
water. gave him little at a time.
built fire and made him some coffee
He drank no less than six cupfuls and a
gallon aud half of water. He then
began to feel better
"He could not have lasted over six
hours longer. His feet an / han Is were
/ full of cIctus thornS, AMI were cold,
/ while his head was burning hot
''NNe made him as comfortable as cir
cumstances would permit, and then took
him back to the CHA River, and later to
1 Tucson.
! Van Horn was not the frst who sought
the shelter of the mesquite brush that
shaded the arroyo. Near where he was
found was a broken down wagon with
the skeletons of four horses. In the
shade of the brush were four human
skeletons Van Horns story was their
story-only no rescuer 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 an1iously for Waer's return
the first day." said Van Horn. "At last
night came and l was thoroughly
alarmed. When daylight broke and he
had not returned l made up my mind
that he had persisted, but l decided to
wait little While longer for him. l had
no water, but fortunately there was
+ plenty of canned fruit in the wagon and
[ 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. l wrote two
notes and left them on the seat of the