The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-01
DEATH VALLEY MUMMY.
pEsICCATED. HUMAN BoD.4 RE-
STORED TO LIFE. ..

Of IA Piece of Fiction Strange
enough to Be Tr,Ae.
s,bsyt D. Min E IN the. San francisco Ecnmtner
Not bres.th of air, the sky Of stesly
blue, the pAtjiezs sun which had been all
6sy long betting Gown upon the desert now
Frsduslly sppry aching the horizon on the
,srsted ridge OF the Panamint and Tele-
scope ranga in Iyno county. Such was the
physical a. poet of Death valley in Septem-
Der, 1891. Aparty of Eve msn, mounted
on " lry Mexican ponies and driving two
burros in front OF them, were ambling
kkurely westward across the crunching
land, TO all appearances making their way
SoWard little knot of white tents that
shons out from the canyon in the hills that
bound the valley. The tents appeared to be
cot more than mile away, yet, SO dscep-
tive are the optical effects produced by
looking across q heated atmosphere, they
we're really six. The horsemen were dressed
in flannel shirts, blue overalls, slouched hats
and top boots, and one might have taken
them for prospectors-or miners but for one
thing-the burros that they drove in front
Of them were packed with a Heterogeneous
collection of baggage, among which survey
held prominent place. The party In fact,
consisted of the members OF thu Tnited
states survey commission sent out in the
latter part of 1890 to exnlore and
survey almost the only portion. of the state
OF California which had beeyI neglected in
this matter, owing TO the di 6iculties attend
ing the work and the general worthlessness
Of this particular region N the northeastern
portion or Inyo county IN which is situated
the alkali fiat commonly known as Death
valley, but geographi .cally as the sink of the
Amargoza, river which like many OF the
interior streams of Che far western states
and territories, &C Is as q feeder for an In
land lake. Such however, is the terrific
beat OF THIS seer ion that the bitter waters
Of the Amarge Aa never reach their natural
deitlaaaon. # you could imagine the Dead
iea OF Palesf Ine to be dried up. the surface
conhgurati On that was left would be a
ysritaoie reproduction of Death valley,
lnyo cou sly, California.
Inc u Gee horsemen who brought up in
the rec r of the cavsicade were Lemuel F.
Dfape &, surveyor and civil engineer; George
Mir ~, surveyor and civil engineer, and
fro 4. Franz Herzog, Phi, D., of the Univer-
o. q of Giessen, who accompanied the expe-
r ttion for the purpose Of procuring scientific
data regarding the fora and fauna of this
unexplored region, aud making collection
worthy. The party had been proceeding in
silence for several minutes when DIR. Herzog,
blsck-Dearded man of 40 who wor specta-
clss and had been watobfully scrutinizing
ths level expanse of sand on this side and
that as they rode along, suddenly refined in
his horse and took field-glass from the
holster of his saddle. This he leveled at a
point IN the distance, somewhat to the left
OF their line of travel, and said;
sand. 1t may be only brown alkaIi heap,
hut to me it looks like the body of a man or
enimaL"
The whole party stopped and Mr.. Draper
also raised his glass to inspect the object
pointed out by the doctor.
YES" said he after few seconds soru-
tiny, " don't think it's natural blot. It's
a good milo out OF our way, though, and
we're late now"
Dr. derzog, however, was very perth
nacious in his discrimination to ascertain the
Oature OF the peculiar object which had at
,racted their attention, and in consideration
that the party wss shifting camp next day
some fifteen miles to the north, it was agreed
to make the unUoalcome detour. A quarter
Of an hours, pfIcinR brought them near
enough to see tftat it was the body of man
lying on his back on the sand, and, their
interest now thoroughly aroused, a cou-
pie of minutS more served to bring them
TO tho spot. DR.. Herzog jumped from
his saddle, knelt down and examined the
body.
Come herep' he cried excitedly 90 his
compani ons. This is one of the finest and
most Extraordinary specimens that have
ever cen discovered. Admirable Mar
velou ~ he went on enthusiastically,
wra pped up in his own ideas and utterly
nm nindful Of the presence of the rest of
ire party.
A mummy went on the doctor in rapt-
ore. "A perfect mummy! A beauty! This
alone is worth the expedition
Come, Doctor" said Draper presently,
touching him on the shoulder, "what do
you make of this body! Some poor devil
that's got lost on the desert. like many a
dozen more. no doubt. We can't do him
any good that eau see by turying him.
There isn't a coyote or vulture between here
cow
Coyote vulturem exclaimed DIR. Her
'og, ekcitedly. why. man. that's the
very reason that makes this body valuable
Not a hy--not fy, sir. dye hear mel-let
ale ne coyote or a vulture, has approached
tbs body. It is q case of pure desicca-
hon-pure and complete. The work of the
sun, pure aud simple. Your Egyptian
mummies are nothing to this"
WELL returned Draper, with tinge of
impatienoe, what do you propose doing
with itl We must get back to camp. It'll
be dark now before we get there"
Do with it!" replied The doctor. with en-
ergy. Pack it along with US, of course
Draper shrugged bis shoulders.
Our beasts are burdened enough
already" he said. We've got good four
miles before us yet. don't think We can
manage it.h
we must manage It," returned the doc
Sor. This is the opportunity OF lifetime.
III strap the body on my horse and walk.
Lend hand here.n
In less than three minutes the body was
strapped crosswise on DR.. Herzog's horse,
and the party proceeded on their way.
Ihose who handled it we're surprised at its
lghtneSs. Including shirt, trousers. boots,
nat, revolver and canteen-all that the poor
lelLow had when be died-the body did not
weigh forty pounds.
That night as they sat in Diapers tent
smoking after supper good deal OF badin-
age passed around at DR.. Herzog's expense
mat renowned scientist, however, was in
moody frame OF mind and in no humor to
respond tothe remarks, however well meant
tney we're, of his comrades of the commits
sion, whose joys and sorrows, mirth and
nsrdshlps he had shared for the past six
months. They we're not, however, pre-
pared Tor the announcement made by the
uoctor next morning, that he considered it
necessary to leave them, in order to better
olasslfy and save the botanical, geological
s euu other specimens he had already &C