The morning call., 1892-07-31
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q PITIFUL STORY.

The annals of travel contain lew more
| thrilling tales than the narrative Oh '"e "u-
! ventures and death of the BreeuioVe parry
! in the Colorado Desert. Late IN May Iast
| the two Breedloves, father anu sud- m"o
- .,i,,rs of experience, together with
1oo-,,,e,,l,-opiap named Fish, resolved TO
So, tba srories Of incredibly rich gold
,,a;ns in the Cocopah Mountains. on the
bordsr between the United States ana Mex
| ico To reach the spot 1t was necessary 10
/ cross the Colorado Desert, and this at the
The worst time of the year-mldsnmmer'
! But the rage for gold was stronger thap tue
ssar of death. The three prospectors start
/ I'd from San Diego on June IN wagon
drawn by three mules. They took provlS-
lions for 50 days. bat by some unaccountabie
.oversipbt they neglected to provide them
selves with an adequate supply of water.
! |Tbev probably expected TO obtain this at
! Campo. their first stopping place. some 90
miles from San Diego.
! On June d, nine days after their de-
parture they We're In the desert, looking
.or water From a fragment OF diary
which has been found it appears that they
/ found a little in a hole at 4 place called
! Palm Springs, bat not enough Tor their
! wants. Near the Palm Springs stretches
dry laCuna. near one corner OF which there
! is hole which sometimes contains ram
water. The prospectors made for this. but
found it empty. The nearest point at which
/ = ~ then knew that water could be had
was So miles distant They resolved to
! make for it. Throwing the harness off the
mules they undertook to ride the 30 miles
! over a burning sand, under sun which
was so Scorching that they had ceased TO
| perspre. They actually covered So OF the
! 50 miles, but then nature gave way; they
! hitched the mules and lay down on the
I sand. The Sagacious animals, served by
| their instinct broke their fastenlngs and
/ made for gorge in the mountains. The
I BreedioVes followed, staggering in their
| weakness; Fish WAS unable to walk. After
a little while the younger Breedlove fell
! out and lay down. The father persevered,
/ throwing off article after article of his cloth
ing to tighten the weight he had to carry.
| He got within half mile of the spring.
where the mules were drinking, then he lay
/ down and died.
A rescue party. fitted ont at San Diego,
followed the prospecJors by their trail in
the sand and found all their bodies, which
the sun was rapidly desiccating. Every
article they had taken with them was re-
covered. II seems that that torrid region
is too fOrbdding. even for beasts or birds OF
prey II is reckoned that the three pros
peetors must have died of Thirst and eX
haustion very shortly after the memor.
andum of June - was written. and that
they had been dead nearly month Whe1
their bodies were found.
Stories like this have been told Of
the deaths Of travellers who have at
tempted TO cross the desert of Sahara
On a spot where a gallant Frencl
officer persisted of thirst on the burnini
sands of Africa his comrades erected
memorial column. 1t stands within half
mile OF a copious spring. The traveller
strength gave cut just IS ne approached
? place Of relief Ii was 50 with the Breed
, loves. IL they could nave held GU hal
az hour longer tS5y might How have pee
alive.
~ the eariy days OF Southern immigrs
ton to California The Government dug
: number of wells in and about the Colorad
I Desert, and so saved tia lives OF many In
n grants. The sites OF some OF them ca
sen ser to tlsg E But xSrs2aic disturb
onces and sandstoFms have illsd most 0
the holes aud obliterated the springs. N
enc needs 10 cross the desert on foot or il
wagon to-day. st convenient distance
The railroad company has sunk artesiaI
Eelis. which supply the stations and en-
gines it'll water. Wherever these well
ara flowing patches of vegetation hay
sprung q o around tnen. Il would not COS
muCh 20 org d few more sala wells. II
, land n their vicinity would become salabl
, and might defray part Of The expense. Blu
the true way of dealing with the desert /
: TO help nature TO restore the Salton LAX
and TO maintain its connection unbrokeI
! with the Colorado RIVER