Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-10-11
me omar coLoNAoo pCsGRT.

rng oagAr COLORADO pGsGRr.
TIE great Colorado desert which forms
part Of Ban Dlego County, allured
three prospectors IN their death recently.
These men, who were seeking gold, tiled
sithin . few thousand yards Of an
abundant water supply, simply because
they made sllght iniscalculati6u ~ 10
what Was needed 10 carry them safely
over the hot, dry, trracherous desert
plains. One Of their stampcsici mules
died at the edge Of the water pool. The
other mules were found alive. The
bodies Of the men were found not Tar
apart, ~ they had fallen when overcome
by the death weakness. This II only
one Of thousands of Instances Of the ter
rible possibilities Of . death from thirst
In these western deserts. During the
summer their average daily temperature
IL over 10 degrees. The air IL absolute
ly dry, aud n strong man cannot count
on living unless be gets water at least
every slx hours. Cloth covered can
teens containing several gallons Of
water are the usual rrccptacles used In
desert marching. aud i've quarts day
~lll keep q man feeling very comforta-
bic. A great danger In desert marching
IL the liability of finding water holes,
where the nights encampment j. To lie
made, dried up. Years ago General
Candy marched . brigade or 81 across =
forty-five mile stretch of desert In Colo
RADIO. The water holes along the route
were dry, aud for many hours the troops
we're without water. A number Ut the
men died EN- route, aud many Others
were carried along In army wagons at
deaths door physically. The utmost
exertions of the officers were needed to
keep the men from lying down aud dy-
Ing. All the dogs Of the command died
on this awful trip, their bodies swelling
To twice the natural sirc before death
ensued. Upon reaching the Grand
River after an all-day march, the thirst
stricken troops were allowed to drink all
the water they desired.
The symptoms Of approaching death
from thirst are an overwhelming LASH
tade which rapidly Increases. Aklnd Of
iilm forms over the eye aud partially
ob. ures the vision. The mouth, tongue
aud throat become parched, the tongue
feeling like . corn cob, ne u grows dry
aud hard, Authorizations flt through
the brain until the weakness becomes .o
great that unconsciousness follows and
death soon .nsu~., a. the unwatered
blood thlckens aud interf.rrs with the
functions of the heart. Men have been
known to 20 without water for forty
eight hours, hut the conditions we're
different from those of the desert. A
san Francisco sailor, Who was taken
from . wsterlogged chip, had been
without water for fourteen days, ave
such scanty supply ss he could lick from
the spar. In the form ~ accumulated
dew. when found, this mans throat
Was actually closed up, aud befor. an
entrance "a hi. stomach VAS obtained by
proper medical aid, the poor casta~ay
died.
When II come. Ia o question between
the dangers of desert or sea, the natives
In these part. much prefer the sea, ss
being safer than the desert. Wind. on
the desert can be as fatal In effect .. the
,.rie.t hurricane on record. A long
continued ssnd-.torm deal. death all
along II. route. Til. sand I. so OPP
prr..lye Ia section hands ~ tran.-con.
iinentsi railroads, that they Wear Cog
gle. for the protection % their eyes.
The side. 10 Telegraph pole. exposed "a
the prevailing desert winds are literally
eaten out by the constant friction. and
IN. station windows on the windy side
are quickly turned Into ground glss. by
these sand bursts. In crossing the
desert . freight trsin containing supple
mentsry water tanks I. attached Ia the
locomotive. Stationary water tanks are
IN unknown quantity on the desert. en-.
crpt Ia rar, in.tsncc..-N. y. Tribune.