The morning call., 1893-06-04

miles directly northeast of Daggett, across
the desert. The mines have been the
means of sinking hundreds OF thousands
of dollars. They lie in a group, ami many
years ago were operated by a number of
wealthy Los Ange enos. The venture
never paid. although there is any guam
tity of ore and expensive machinery on the
ground. Some day, when the long prom
ised railroad line from Nevada through to
Daggett, on the Atlantic and Pacific, is built,
so tina. ore can be taken out chea ply to
smelter, the Resting Springs properties will
be worked and fortunes will be made.
They have been for mary years practi-
cally Standardization present owner, J.
=. Osborne, keeping himself poor in trying
to interest mining men in their operation
or purchase.
Some years ago it was the fortune of the
writer to be one of a party OF four which
left Daggett for Resting Springs, for the
twofold purpose of investigating the prop
critics, and, making them the base of
operations. thoroughly exploring the ada
cent mountain ranges, lying to the north
east and southeast, for gold.
The mines are we'll named Resting
Springs" for there is little strip of fer
tile land in their immediate vicinity, and
water developed twenty years ago when
the mines were first opened, brought two
miles in pipes. forms two little lakes at
the foot of the mountains. In all the
wretched loneliness and solitude of that
country here alone are TO be found a few
acres of grass. few stunted willows and
few tall rank weeds.
Our party consisted of George Apple
waith. Adam Grant. freeman Colburn and
the writer a mule team attached to
light wagon, several barrels of water, the
usual supplies of ''grub," a couple of rifles
and four revolvers made uD the outfit.
Colburn was an old prospector, knew all
about the desert and had for months
camped, trudged and prospected alone
through the Panamints and the adjoining
ranges.
Grant hailed from New England, and
Applewaith's home no one knew. II was
the very spirit OF frankness on everything
pertaining to the present, but as to where
he came from, what his future intentions
were, whether he was rich or poor, no one
knew. He simply sought adventure. and
! often thought forgetfulness OF the past.
AS for myself l went into the desert in the
hope Of winning back some of the money
which had been lost in unfortunate real
estate speculatiOns in the boomland OF the
Golden State.
Feur days were consumed in reaching
the springs from Daggett. Readers of
The CALL need not be told that the heat
in that part of the State in the spring is at
times intense, and that travelling must be
done early in the morning and at night
No living thing can stand the intense, ex-
hausling strain of midday activity on the
desert in June. The water in our barrels
was replenished at Coyote Holes. Garlic
Springs and Saratoga Springs, so that we
met no particular inconvenience beyond
the very brackiSh and unwholeSome quail
ity of the fluid.
After visiting the springs and seeing the
properties there. including mill of
twenty stamps and $40. 600 worth OF ore on
the dump, we made preparations for fur
Their explorations, and 1t was here that one
kha loo lie 20 ,i0t,,
many-to the deception of the desert and
the exhaustion of its terrible heat, and an
other narrowly escaped a similar fate.
Grant and Applewaith determined to
make a trip to Deaths Head. some fifteen
miles distant from Resting Springs. This
mountain spur marks the entrance on the
southeast to Death Valley. 1t had been
reported that there were excellent pros
poets in that section and the boys hoped,
by preliminary investigation, to demo u
strate whether we should move our camp
from the mines and if water was avala bic
establish headquarters nearer our work.
Taking with them enc of the mules,
which was loaded To the guards with water,
few pounds Of bacon, coffee. salt, flour
and some miners tools. the boys set out.
They hoped 10 find otter, and had provis-
ions sufficient for four days stay. For
the first two days nothing was heard from
them. We visited Coleman's old deserted
borax works. shot a coyote or two and
speculated on the success of the pros
pectors, Tor Grant as well as Colburn was a
practical miner. and had had extensive
experience in Colorado and old Mexico.
and was but little less familiar with the
desert than Colburn himself.
Early on the morning of thu third day
we were awakened by the braying of the
remaining animal in the corral near The
house. which music was answered from a
distance. BY the time we were out of our
hia l-nts the mack animal had cd ba
pond near by and plunged its nose in the
water.
1t was stripped of everything excepting