The herald., 1893-10-25
SAVED FROM THE DESERT DEATH.
Narrow Escape From Death Of
Two PrOspect0rs.
A Consequence of Travelling on the
Desert Without Guides.
They Missed the Water Holes and
Nearly Perished From Thirst and
Were Discovered Whom In Almost
aDying Condition.

braved the desert, wrestled with the
spectre of thirst to the brink of death,
and live, thanks to the sharp eyes of
trailers. That they did not die Is hardly
their fault. They seemed to have done
everything to tempt death to draw nigh
in his most hideous aspect. They left
water and started with empty canteens
across the worst stretch of desert. Be-
fore night, finding themselves in the
presence and abode OF death, one raved
until exhausted, and was left under q
mesquite bush to die, while the other
pushed on three miles further, tied his
animals, and for three days roamed
through the sands, finally lying down
and waiting for the end.
Their names are John Pulzer. young
miner, and Conrad Limerick, an old
German. Neither had ever been on the
desert, and yet with unaccountable fool
hardness, attempted to cross it without
guide and with almost no provision
for water. They were passed between
Coyote Wells and Laguna station by
Jos. A. Allison, OF Strong, Arms & Co.,
and L. HI. Silsby, both OF this city, who
were on their way to Mr.. Allison's cattle
ranch in Lower California. Pulzer and
Limerick had four burros, and asked
the way to Yuma. Mr.. Allison gave
them directions to Laguna, Is miles far
ther on, and proceeded. This was on
the morning OF October 4th. At Up. m.
that day the men arrived at Laguna,
and stayed there three daye.
Before going south to his ranch on
the 9th, Mr.. Allison told the men b ow
to reach Yuma, and gave the location of
water, the first being at Indian Wells
station. The next day the men struck
out, not taking any water in their can
teens, as it was brackish, and they
wanted better they said. They passed
by Indian Wells station without seeing
it, and before night old Limerick be-
came light-headed from heat and thirst,
becoming alternately delirio1s, and al
most unconscious. His strength rapid
ly lessened, and Pulzer was forced to
leave him under mesquite.
The young man pushed on with the
four burros until nightfall, finding no
sign of water. He made camp in lit
tie opening in thicket of mesquite and
tied his burros. The next day he struck
out afoot, and followed an arroyo for
cCNCiEi Auiibb, tlCA dClObb tllC Quu6b hnu
sand ridges, and finally back to camp,
thirst. The cooler night allowed him
a little rest and sleep, and the next
morning he took shovel from his pack
and began to dig in the sand.
He stuck to the work all day, resting
often, but by night had dug only six
feet and found no sign of water, nor even
moisture. He was almost spent, and
was delirious when night came. Some
how he passed the night, but did not
arise in the morning. He lay facing
death, and in rational moments racking
his brain for some plan to escape. The
only thing he could think Of was to place
flag at the side of the Yuma road"
over which he had come, and he at
tempted to do this. He saddled and
mounted one of the burros and etarted
out, but before going 100 yards in the
blazing sun he became light-headed
and almost fell from the saddle. In
despair he turned to camp again, tied
the animal, and fell on his blankets. He
had tried before to extract moisture from
the food, but again he took an onion
and strived to soften his tongue and
palate.
On the morning of the 10th Messrs.
Allison and Silsby, accompanied by
Castro, one of the vaqueros, were re-
turning to Laguna station from the Alli-
son ranch. In the starkest, dryest part
of the great waste. in an arroyo, the
party spied a footprint in the sand and
stopped, fully as startled "a Crusoe was.
They marveled over the thing and came
to the conclusion that somebody was
lost and hunting for water. This decis-
ion saved the life of the young miner,
who was gasping for breath ten miles
away.
"Boys. we must follow this TRAIL"
said Joe Allison. Castro's eyes assumed
the peculiar intensity noticed in those
to whom story is revealed in tribes.
They hurried up the arroyo, over the
sand and along wind-swept places where
the trail was lost and found again.
Eight or ten miles were thus covered.
The trail led into the thicket, and at the
edge of the little clear space the party
was stopped by the sight of man ris-
ing and hoarsely crying, my God,
give me drink Pm choking to
death ~
The rescuers hurried to his side and
poured out cupful of water. He Tapped
it up like dog and begged for more
At intervals he was allowed little, and
in the space of four hours he had abb
sorbed canteenful. His strength came
back slowly and he was asked where
his partner was.
He told them as nearly as he could,
and eaid, Take shovel along and bury
him."
Mr.. Allison was 10th to leave, being
apprehensive that he would stray away
from camp in delirum if left without
water, or drink too much if provided
with canteen. Pulzer, however, swore
by all that was holy to remain in the
little clearing, and his rescuers deter
mined to take him at his word.
Taking up the shovel that Pulzer had
dropped at the we'll, with which to bury
old Limerick If they should find him,
they took the back track and with the
assistance of Castro's trained eyes found
the mesquite bush under which the old
German had given up the march. But
he was not there, and they noted his
tracks leading back towards Lsguna sta
tion.
1t was arranged that Silsby should
follow the trail. while Allison and Castro
returned to Pulzer's camp. Silsby
tracked the old man back past Indian
Wells station, within few yards OF the
pond OF water, and on to Laguna station,
where the old man was found, safe in
the possession OF the precious brackish
a,,tA ba had cn4~-.l Lof~.e II. l-l