The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-04-13
DESERT PHANTOMS.
Wierd Visions That Lead Trav-
eIers Astray in New Mexico.
Vast Dry Stretches of Territory Where
Even the Wild Beasts Go Mad from
Lack of Wa ter-Strauge Stories
of the Plains.

One Of the wlerdest OF desert scenes
is the mirage, and no more curious
stories have been told of them in recent
years than by Dean Duke, of San Fran
cisco, who, as superintendent of great
cattle range in New Mexico, has been
much in the saddle during the last few
months, and has seen many of them.
Mr.. Duke, who, according to San
Francisco exchange, lately arrived IN
that city, tells of quaint towns beyond
the American border being refracted in
the skies and made to appear as actually
existing on the New Mexico deserts.
The towns vary in size, and the domes
of churches and of government build
ings. the stores, and ali the outlines
stand out N clear view. The air is so
thin and pure that real object fifty
miles away does not appear to be more
than five.
''In riding over the plains have seen
many of these strange mirages of
towns of Old Mexico" said he. The
spires of the churches. with their white
crosses, the adobe buildings and every
thing about them are complete. Riding
at distance one takes them for real
towns, and it is only after learning
that there can be no such cities in the
vicinity that he gives up his idea of go
ing TO them. Many men have been de-
ceived by them, as they have been by
the mirages roam bling lakes.
Not long ago an American named
Frank Seybold was iourDeying from the
old town of ,juareZ, Mexico, to Los Pa
Tomas, in New Mexico, with a lot of
merchandise. About forty miles south
of Derning. in chihuahua, he saw a
beautiful lake and pulled over the plains
TO get water for himself and team, as
both were very thirsty. He drove for
quite distance and still didn' t appear
TO get any closer. Still! the lake was
there before him in such beauty and
naturalness that he never thought but
it was genuine. and kept on He conld
feel. as he thought. the cool breeze
from the lake, and was encouraged 70
push ahead.
AT length after going several miles
and getting no closer the fact of its be-
ing a mirage of the desert dswned on
him and he wheeled his team around 20
get back BUT night came on before
he reached the road. lie pushed ahead,
thinking TO reach IL anyway, and thus
got lost and wandered around till lie
could not reach the road
He had, therefore, 20 stay where he
was, and in the morning he renewed his
search. Il vas no use however. He
could not fnd IL, and after wandering
around good while longer he m
hitehed his teams. left his goods. and
proceeded IN the direction he supposed
Los PsloInas was 1t was four days in
all before he got back, and IN that time
he had 10 water and Suffered greatly.
II was wonder he get through al all
@.tno;aer ease know Of occurred last
summer. = Mexican got lost on the
plains, vas deceived b.T tlse H.irages,
and y en-. A.ther and tk5ther in qaesi u
water. Inally re Vvas deceived BY this
50 much and had gore 80 long without
ANYTHING 10 drink tat he became de-
lirioas, and. whipping oat his revolver
shot himself 70 get -id q has suf:sr-Hgs
Ills hand vas uns.e25g. and sBst.sGi
of i-s1.ic,i-.z fatal aart he sAot hszn-
self n the lcg. lie saw she blood po1-
ing from Il, and IN his rase-i condition
drank i - Is came frsza the wound
strange % say. - revived bin 81 that
he partially recovered bls -cAso-- and a.
last Eei bs-l. 20 where h-- rga.d ges
sgat@~ All bc treals5 He sTeufa.l'y
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