The morning call., 1894-09-07
THE BURROS DIED.
But the Men With Them
Still Survive.
Terrible Sufferings of Two Prospec-
tOrs-DeadIy Water and Mil
lions in Free Gold.

man can stand more hardships than q
burro. That is the conclusion that Henry
Freeman and Jacob GeSter have reached, and
their story bearing on the subject indicates that
the point is well taken.
Freeman and Gester are mining prospectors
whose habits are migratory. They arrived in
this city yesterday after a long and winding
scout for precious metals in the mountains OF
San BeTnaTdino and InyO counties. Mr. Free
man, when seen yesterday In front of d Kearny-
street hotel volunteered the information that
he had passed through an experience which In
suffering outdd anything that he could expect
to find in the Internal regions during twice the
length OF time.
"Gester and had been knocking around the
mountains and canyons for several weeks"
TO ride and two to carry our packs of tools and
provisions. The burros are dead; Eester and
| are alive but mighty shaky. We had poor
luck and struck nothing with color in il for a
long time Finally we decided to strike out for
locality where few, if any, white men had ever
gone before. We crossed the desert country
Juy-I can't remember dates because didn't
know Wednesday from Sunday.
Well, then we headed for the Funeral
Mountains, east of the borax beds. There was
some game TO be had, and our supply OF pro-
visions held out very WELL but the further east
we went the scarcer the water became; and
Wnat Lnere was or II was rank poison. In one
OF the gulches of the Funeral range we found
running spring, with water as clear as crys-
tai. Gester and drank with great gulps, and
so Cid the burrOs. This was about TWO hours
before sunset on day that was hot as Hades
We'll. sir, hVe minutes after we drank that
water my partner and and the burros began
to suffer asonies worse than death. My lnsides
seemed to be on fire, and l felt as If some
lusiy fireman was dragging out my intestineS
with fire hook. II was nip and tuck between
Gester and ME and the burrOs as to which could
squrm and kick and make the most horrible
noise. Before the sun set two of the animals
were dead. The other two partially recov-
cred.
AFTER a couple of days rest-having in the
meantime discovered a scant quantity OF dirt,
but less poisonous water-we set to work
again and very soon discovered some very rich
goldbearing quartz. 1t carried free gOld,at least
$500 TO the ton, and We drove stakes on tho
claims. But we might as well have saved our
selves the trouble, because, so far as | am con-
ceTned-and | know GeSter is of the same mind
for million. No. sir! It's death, death every
where. 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 queDch the thirst OF man Or beast.
1t would be next TO an tmpOSsibility 10 cart the
ore to a place where life could be sustained for
any length of time. l am satisfied there are
thousands OF great fortunes in those hills and
gulches, but it's my opinion they will remain
there long time"
Mr.. Freeman then gave a graphic account of
the retreat toward civilization and habit able
regions. For nearly two days aud nights he
and Gester and the two burros had not one
drop of water. The men were on the verge of
madness, because the heat was intense. The
mules tottered and gfoaned, and hung their
tongues out OF the corners OF their mouths
When almost within sight OF little mountain
stream of pure water. not far from the Santa
Fe Railroad, the burros lay down aud died
almost in the same breath But Freeman and
Gester reached the railroad, tagged a freight
train ana left the land Of horrors with pledge
to each other Dever 10 return. Freeman says
he will seek a cooler climate and better water
in South Africa