Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-03
AN OLD DESERT MANS VIEWS,
Some Good Advice to PrOspec-
tive Prospect0rs.
Plenty of Water Where the Breed.
love Party Was Lost
Numerous Springs and Streams to Be
Found II One Knows Where to
Look for Them-Guides
and Water Needed.


region, the Colorado desert, is wellqual-
ifed to speak. Yesterday he made to
the HERALD the following statement
about the region in which recent trag-
edy occurred:
"The perishing for the want of water
of J. g. and W. @. Breedlove and ]. 7.
Fish, the party that went from San
Diego few days ago to examine rich
silver mine in the Cocopah mountains,
is simply another illustration of the SUI
preme folly of trying to travel over the
supposed dry regions of the west in the
extreme heat of midsummer without an
abundant supply Of water or good guide
to show where it can be found. There
is not spot in the valley of Lake Ma
quota, which is ninety miles in length
by twenty in width, where their re-
mains were found, that is more than
twelve miles to good water.
According to Mr.. JewelPs statement,
who made two trips in search of them,
they went through Signal pass, through
which they could not go without passing
within 1000 yards of a never-failing
tinajs of good water. Within two miles
of where they are reported to have left
their wagon there is another and much
larger tinaja of water that was never
known to be dry. Six miles east is Palm
spring, where they spent several days,
according to their diary. Four miles
canon of Pesos de las Mujeres,
there is another excellent spring.
One mile west of this spring
is Beltran's tank, deep well in
the solid granite, that is never dry.
Four miles southeast. and in the very
silver belt which they wanted to exam
inc, there is another fine spring of
water. In San David canon, four miles
further east. there is large spring, full
of fieh, and near by large tinaja of
water which never fails. All of these
are on the east side of the valley, and
not one OF them is twelve miles from the
wagon. Seven miles southwest of their
wagon, midway across the valley, there ia
water hole where water can always be
found. Only few rods from where the
elder Breedlove's body was found there
is always running water in Rock creek.
Less than two miles to the west is that
beauty of streams, Palm or Cantillea
creek, with it's lofty palm trees, toward
| which he was wandering his way, but
worn out and famished, he fell down
and died in the shadows OF the great
cantilles. Four miles to the north OF
where he died is Deer spring. Six miles
further northwest are the famous soda
and sulphur springs. Four miles still
! further north are the springs of the
Blue Cross. All of these are on the
west side of the valley, and within easy
reach of the party at any time on their
trip, had they known where they were.
"Here, within fourteen miles to the
north of where they perished, are three
never-failing springs OF water. 1t is
only ten miles from the springs of the
Blue Cross to Coyote Wells, where the
party left the old Yuma and San Diego
stage road. Almost any Cocopah, Mis-
sion or Mountain Indian could have
shown the party any of these places,
where supply of water could have
been had. So far as learned, the party
| only had one small canteen and some
small kegs, the carrying capacity OF all
of which did not exceed twenty gal
Ions, for three men and three animals
One man alone in such weather, under
such circumstances, will consume from
four to five gallons of water per day.
"The warning to prospectors should be,
not to start on such q trip without an
abundant supply of water for three or
four days, or a guide TO show them
where water can be found. Writers
blame the country when it is not to
blame, when it has an abundance OF
water, for all who travel over it, pro-
| vided they know where it is. Had the
Breedlove party had such man as
d. III. Adams, who found their bodies,
or Col. d. X. Allen of Yuma, who has
travelled over every square mile of the
valley where they were lost, and whose
maps show every spring, stream and
water hole that have mentioned; or
had they even, secured an Indian to
have shown them wherewater could be
/ found, today they would be alive and
might be rejoicing in the ownership oil
one of the richest silver mines on the
coast. ,., a,i,.t.
| "There is no doubt but that the coun-
try to which they were going is one OF
the richest in gold and silver of the un-
explored sections of the mountain re-
gions. Two things are very plain; first
that no man or men should attempt to
explore that section in midsummer
second, that no one should attempt tc
cross any of our arid plains without an
abundant supply of water. All of south
eastern California, southern Arizona
western Sonora and Lower California
are just as bad. Parties on the plains
perished always for want of water
never from hunger. have been there