The herald., 1894-09-23
TERRoRs OF DEATH VALLEY.

experience in Death valley. Some are
true and some are told with the evident
idea that anything can be told without
fear of the falsity being capable of
proof.
But the most horrible OF all stories
are those whose truth is beyond ques-
ton.
1t is not possible to point to any one
experience as the most horrible that ia
known, but surely that of e. B. Waite
spd Ralph Kimball of this city, on the
4th and 9th of last July is typical OF the
trials OF those who take their lives in
their hands by visiting the Death valley
country.
San Bernardino county. as Ia generally
known, paid bounty for coyote scalps.
under the etate law, and every conceiv-
able scheme was resorted to. to catch
coyotes, and among the schemes was the
placing of strychnine in some OF the
springs on the desert. and in one csse
especially mum bsr Of people came near
losing their lives.
Messrs. Wade and Kimball found
themselves at this particular spring on
the fourth Of July, ready for o start
across Death valley. They had some
water, but decided to fill another cam
teen from the spring before starting.
This canteen full of water was laid aside
for use after the other water waa gone.
Early on the morning Of the fourth
they started across the valley. and after
travelling several hours, when down in
the heart OF the valley, they were over
taken by hot winds against which their
burros could make no headway, and
though they had no thermometer they
were satisfied the mercury would have
registered over $50 degrees. They are
both experienced prospectors, and know
what hot weather is, but they had
never before experienced auch terrific
heat. When their hssh was exposed TO
the hot wind, the skin was. blietered as
though il had been in flame.
The burros dug little holes in the sand
with their hoofs and lay down with their
noses In the holes. They were covered
with blankets and then the men lay
down under blankets and spent the ma.
tion's natal dey awaiting the coming OF
night while the blistering wind made
life almost uncomfortable.
Their thirst wac almost unqueDchable,
and when night came at last they were
reduced to the one canteen OF water,
and that, although they did not know
Iney unlKeu the matter over and de-
cided that it would not be safe to con-
tinue the trip across the valley, NOT
knowing where they could renew the
aupply of water, and they dscided that
in the morning they would start early
for return to the spring where they
hsd filed the cantsen.
At, s O'Clock on the evening OF the
fourth they were stirring around prepar-
ing for their return trip. They both
drank from the canteeD. and Waite
went about getting supper while Kim
ball packed the burroa.
Suddenly Waite was taken sick, hav-
ing cramps, in his atomach, finally re-
lieved by vomiting. When be had re-.
covered partially, he cast his oyes about
Tor himbail, who was not in sight. He
found him stretched upon the ground in
a convulsion. He pried his partners
teeth open with a knife and poured
come ginger into his mouth, which
brought him to his senees.
Not mistrueting that the water was
poisoned, they made coffee OF is and
drank again. This brought on a repeti-
| ton of the sickness and cramps.
Finally, however. they got started,
Waite leading and kimbal following the
burros. They had gone no great dig
tance before Kimball disappeared. Waite
tied his burros and went back on the
trail. hnding Kimball ia another convul-
zion. Klmball came to finally, but camp
was made until B Il. M, when. after
travelling TOR two hours, Kimball was
again taken with commissions. Waite
discovered little brandy, which he ad.
ministered, and stopped to make a auan-
tity OF tea, of which they both drank
freely. This set them to vomiting.
throwing off the poison, and consider
ably relieved, they oacs more started on
their trip.
Again kimball's strength gave way
and he sank upon the ground. evidently
with every muscle paralyzed, and he
begged of Waite to 60 on and save him
self and leave him to die. Instead OF
this, Waite placed him on ono OF the
burros, and started on again.
During all this time their thirst had
grown upon them until thoy were nearly
crazed, and now the truth dawned upon
them that they had lost their way. They
were in section OF Dsath Valley they
had never seen before.
The case was desperate. Before them
they saw a caflon leading into the mount
eine. Thoy pressed forward toward il.
1uWhtu thin pusub tHty travelled over
mile after mile of bleached, blieteriup
sand. with the hot waves OF wind scorch.
ing them and their throats burning ss
with FIRE.
Waite became uneteady upon his feet.
and the burros were scErcely able to
walk.
Their Waite heard an unearthly yell
"Watsr, water, watern
u WAS Kimball, who fancied he could
see evidence OF water up q little side
caiion.
Waite investigated and found no
water. They proceeded up the little
valley. which was gradually closing into
canon form. A mile or two further
thoy came to pile OF stones, formed 80
point up the eaton.
Kimball Gays Waite started on a run |
for the water-as for Kinball, he was
unable to move.
The spring was at the ranches of Pan
amiht Tom, an Indian. and Tom saws
that Waite cane running up with his
face cut and covered with blood. He
made for tho pool Of wetsr, and then
rushed back toward Kimball and fell to
the ground overcome for the momsnt.
The burros had scentc9 the water and |
they came in on Jump, plungns into
the pool, and all KimbaIl hed 10 do was
to tumble of into the wiser and 20 to