The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1894-01-12
MAD RACE ron WATER.
And When Il Was Feund Death Rode Ii
Snrgimg BiilgWE.

5snNesAs Shy Times.
"a mile farther, Only mile farther
10 water!H the gniie had called ont over
and over again that afternoon as we rode
over the plains ON which an August snli
beat iiasvn till every breath seemed 10
bnrt the lungs.
OF the 50 troopers five were dashed 10
their saddles and little better than dead.
or the 90 horses RsHell had dropped in
their tracks since 10 o'clock and been left
behind. Ofthe seven diBmountea troopers
0nly two We're with the eolaEaR. The 9TH
eEs hma fingered along Hntii left far be-
hind. Ne water fBr man nor beast for 80
hours, and we we're pushing ahea& Tar
Lest river. There WAS d selfish spirit III
the looks and actions Of every man.
When the last horse dropped down every
man hurried on, for fear lie would be
asked 10 add Some burden. Now and then
4 man stood ap IN his stirrups to look
ahead Yon ealld read his thaaghEs IN
4 his crafty la0ks. III he discovered signs
/ af water! De was going tp put spurs 10 bis
| iadesl horse and be the first to taste the
precious fluid.
ThesaEgeant On my right had extracted
d bullet from its shell aud was holding IL
ID his month and iBnnibling ab0at lakes
and rivers and springs. The man on my
right MSS smoking al his dry and teyereti
fiageFs antl GuFsimg himself because be
! did not drink more before heleft the fort
As the column tOilsd along, lurehing and
stumbling like an animal seeking ao0Eert
! IN which to die, Iaen cursed each other
without the slightest pF0gpcati0n and re-
fused their sympathy for those still more
distressed. Corporal johnson whispered
/ 10 me that If his horse gave cut he wOHld
stay beside him and drink his blood, but
before had answered word be struck
\ at me and haEahiy shouted:
/ .sNo, Sol tell ystl mo- H0u shall not
have enc single drop! IfyOu try 30 steal
any, I will Kill your
'sI'he river The river! 1t is right
ahead, and we are be saved"
4 A thin fringe Of grass and bushes which
seemed dead fer years extended east ana
wentgaeFOss our course and ran back x
the 1aontains, 20 miles away. There Eas
the bel of Lost river. Men seEellnel
cut instead Of cheering rs they urgeI
their horses forward toward the blesaet
water which WAS to gHeneh their thirst
We looked down from the hank on thu
winding channel Of yellow dirt, so dr.
that the puffs Of wind raised little cloud
efdnst here and tbere. Net a drop of wat
er had ran down that channel for weeks
Despair fell upon the Tnen--silent, hope
less despair--and its effect WAS curious
No enc cursed Or marinuTed,
ON the faE bank were few stunted cot
Z tanwoBds struggling i0r liiesaua furnish
ing scarcely ans shade, One lsy one rs
followed the officer across and pulled Tia
! saddles from our horses and tnrned then
loose. The officer issned no orders; tb
men had 80 words for each other. Fac
oae threw himself down, withthe feeiin
that the end had eeiae.
1t wasn't sleep, hat that dan conscious
nsss one has insr before ehlaF0feTm b'
nansbs his senses We knew whenOne {
: the aismouHfed troopers dragged hlmse
= into camp and fell among ils with gPaai
a We knew when the sun went down. "
q felt the cool night wind of the mOul
> taius, but III aRy enc m0Tedit Naseulyi
/. turn over Night fell aud the canopy
:. heaven SVas studded with stars. Nil
n O'Clock, 10, III, midnight found rs still /
Il ing there. Then eamea curious sound
q sound like gale advancing upon shi
; lover calmsea. ItEFew louder and loul
q or, and with il WAS mingled the neigliil
Il and gafloping of0ur horses Men who La
fallen down to die spTang to their feet !
BAholtla wonderful spectacle. From ban
:, to hank Lost river was full of ruEhin
4 fuamiHg water, sent Down by a el0adbnr
y hi the mountains miles away.
u Mater Water!" shouted a dozen hu
!. Ky voices in chorus, and next momel
/. there WAS q mad rush. Men and hOrs
!. mingled together, MenaAd horses rashs
4 into the flood. to be swept down al
Il drowned together. a quarter Of an no
!, after that rush there were only 1iof ms
a answer to enr names, aad only half ado
4 On horses were aibbling at the PaEcA
y grass aranud as. Back On the trail we
n three or four e0rpseB in uniform. Il
4 rest gf the troop were victims Of the 8lOj
which rolled past MS