The Yale expositor., 1894-12-07
THE BURROS DIED.
But tho Prospectors Who Crossed the
Desert Managed to Survive.

Desert Managed to Survive.
A man can stand more hardships
than a burro. That is the conclusion
that Henry Freeman and Jacob Gester
have reached, and their story bearing
on tho subject indicates that the point
is well taken.
prospectors whose habits are migra-
tory. They arrived in San Francisco
recently after a long and winding
SCOUT for precious metals in the noun
tains of San Bernardino and lnyo-
counties. Mr.. Freeman volunteered
the information that no had passed
through an experience which, in SUI
fering, outdid anything that he could
expect to find in the Internal regions
during twice the length OF time.
"Gester and / had baen knocking
around the mountains and canyons for
several weeks" said Mr.. Freeman
1--WE had four burros, two TO ride and
two to carry our packs Of tools and
provisions. The burros are dead
Gester and / are alive, but mighty
shaky. We had poor luck and struck
nothing with color in it for a long
time. Finally, we decided TO strike
out for locality where few, il any,
white men had ever gone before. We
crossed the desert country south OF
Death Valley about can't remem-
Der dates, because l didn't know
Wednesday from Sunday.
"Well, then We headed for the
| Funeral mountains, east of the borax
beds There was some game to DO
had, and our supply OF provisions held
! out very well, but tho further east we
went the scaycer the water became,
and what there was of il was rank
poison. In one of the gulches of the
Funeral range VIC found running
spring with water as clear as crystal
Gester and / drank with great gulps,
and so did the burros. This was
about two hours before sunset on q
day that was as hot as ha1es. Well,
sir, five minutes after we drank that
water my partner and and the bur-
ros began to suffer agonies worse than
death. My insides seemed to be on
fire, and / felt as. if some lusty fire.
man was dragging out my intestines
|
between Gester and me and the burros-
as to which could squirm and kick and
make the most horrible noise. Before
the sun set two of the animals were
dead. The other two partially re-
covered
"After couple OF days rest-hav-
ing in the meantime discovered @
scant quantity of dirty, but less poison
Gus water-we set to work again, and
very soon discovered some very rich
collaborating quartz. IL carried free
gold, at least $500 TO the ton, and we
drove stakes on the claims. But wo
might as well have saved ourselves the
trouble, because, so far as | am con-
cerned-and | know Gestor is of the
same mind wouldn't go back to that
accused region for million. No, siri
It's death, death everywhere. Poison
in the water, burning death in the
sunlight, humiliation in the scorching
winds. There is no water with which
to work the ore or quench the thirst OF
man or beast. 1t would DO next to an,
impossibility TO cart the ore to o place,
where life could be sustained for any
length of time. | am satisfied there
are thousands of great fortunes in
those hills and gulches, bet it's my
opinion they will remain there a long,
time"
Mr.. Freeman then gave q graphic
account of the retreat toward civiliza-
ton and habitable regions. For near
ly two days and nights he and Gester
and the two burros had not one drop
of water. The men were on the verge
of madness, because tho heat was In
tense. The mules tottered and
groaned, and hung their tongues out
of the corners of their mouths
When almost within sight of a little
mountain stream of pure water, not
far from the Santa Fe railroad, the
burros lay down ana died, almost i'm
the same breath. But Freeman and
Gester reached the railroad, tagged
freight train, and left the land OF
horrors; with pledge to each other
never TO return. Freeman says he
win seek cooler climate and better
slter in South Africa.