The herald., 1894-02-14
| CLEW TO WINSTON At LAST,
He Is Believed to Be on the
Mojave Desert.
4 san Diego County Man Thinks He
Has Located Him.
A Demented Man Found on the Desert
who Answers to Winston's De-
scriptIon = The Latest
Developments.

PASADENA, Feb. 13.-Considerable ex-
element was occssioned today by the
general circulation of report to the ef-
feet that O. L. Winston had been found
on the Mojave desert, wandering about
in demented condition.
The HERALD reporter, upon investi-
eating the matter, found there was some
foundation for the statement, although
at present nothing definite 10 known as
to the identity of the man.
1t will be remembered that several
weeks ago report was telegraphed from
San Diego to the effect that man had
been found wandering about on the des-
ert by man living in that vicinity. On
this slight clew the relatives of Mr.. Win
ston have since been working to discover
if possible who the man was, and nu-
merous letters were written to parties in
San Diego. including the newspapers,
with but little success. Today, how
ever, they were partially rewarded In
their search by receiving letter from
E. P. Cleland of Mesa Grande, San
Diego county, who proves to be the
party who discovered the man on the
desert.
He states that ON December 18th,
about one month after Mr.. Winston was
lost, he found man wandering about
in the Mojave desert in demented con-
dition and almost dead for want of
water.
The mans tongue was 80 swollen from
thirst that he could not have talked had
he been in his right mind.
When Mr.. Cleland ran onto him he
was circling about on the arid plain,
walking round and round with no sign
OF intelligence, and he had considerable
difficulty in getting hold of him. Sue
ceeding finally, he managed to get the
poor fellow to spring, where he bathed
him and at last got some water down
his throat, which was badly swollen.
Afterward he reached an Indian
rancheria, where he was obliged to leave
the man in charge of the Indians, as he
was too i'll to proceed, having severe
attack OF desert fever.
The lost man had Sc in his pockets,
and this, together with some money Of
his own, Mr.. Clelsnd gave tine Indians,
telling them to take good care of the
white man, and that his friends would
come for him and give them a large
reward.
Since then nothing has been heard oil
the man. as Cleland failed to return,
but it is believed that he ia now on his
way back to the desert. The descrip-
ton which he sends of the man tallies
almost exactly with that OF Mr.. Win
ston. He describes him as a man Of
about 40 years old, dark eyes, swarthy
complexion, with light pants, dark coat
and boots, all of which agrees with Mr..
Winston'E appearance, except the boots,
he wearing shoes. Mr.. Cleland. how.
ever, fails to state in his letter at what
point in the desert he left the unknown
man, evidently thinking that it was
known to the relatives here. When
this point has been ascertained it is
likely that a party will be sent from
!. here to investigate the matter il nothing
more definite ia learned.
1t ls possible that Mr.. Winston could
have wandered onto the desert from the
mountains and finally have lost his
mind through exposure and want Of
water. to be picked up in this manner
but the chances are that the man will
turn out to be another party. Should
it prove to be he it would be indeed q
com bination of circumstances such as il
seldom heard of.
The story of how Mr.. Winston became
separated from bis party in the midst Of
binding mountain snowstorm, never
to be seen or heard of again, is one Of
the saddest ever known. For months
afterwards parties secured the noun
tains looking for come trace of him.
Mrs. Winston has offered reward Of
$500 for the discovery of the remains,
but so far without result.