Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-03-25
A DESERT MYSTERY.

from way back and has reputation as
raconteur that spreads over dozen
western states and territories and from
the waters of the Atlantic to those Of
the Pacific. He has had innumerable
thrilling adventures, both in war and in
peace, and when in the proper humor
he will spin yarns Of the most absorb
ing interest by the hour;
One story that he related as we were
jogging along behind the mules on re-
cent trip to the undoubted gateway Of
sheol-i. c., the sulphur banks Of Kern
county-is so uncanny and strange that
will venture to repeat it,
"Somo three years ago, said the
colonel, ~ was engaged in making a
survey from Rogers, OH tho Mojave des
ert, to Antioch. We made rapid prog
ress toward Fort TETON pass, and it be-
came necessary to check up the line,
measuring distances from government
corners, that the road might be accur-
ately located upon the filing map This
work was assigned to an odd genius
whom will call Buck, man past IS,
tough as a knot and as wicked as pi-
rate. Frequently he would set his rick
ETY. old transit with the lens wrong end
to, and after trying to locate the flag for
Is or 20 minutes he would discover his
error, and then such swearing as he in
dulged in is rarely heard outside the
forecastle of man -of-war. sometimes
think the strange manifestation which
I am about to relate to you might have
been due to Bucks profanity. Certain
ly if man can ever have power to sum-
mon spirits, evil Or good, from the Meth
er world, Buck ought to have had that
power in no small measure.
II began the inspection Of the survey
preparatory to the right Of way work,
starting at Rogers, desolate station on
the A. and P. road, on the borders of an
immense dry lake. We made our first
camp some Is miles west of that point
The regular survey camp was at this
time near Germans Station, under the
shadows of Mount Frazier. Our camp
was rude settlers cabin, and near it
was shack barn with little hay stored
in it. A well of fairly good water close
by made comfortable camp possibil-
ity. 1t was late in October, and the wa
ter had risen near the surface in the bed
Of the dry lake. We had eaten our sup
per the first night out and were having
quiet smoke, looking out over the DESC
late expanse Of desert toward Lancaster,
station on the Southern Pacific road,
some rs or 80 miles to the southwest
Buck had been entertaining us with
yarns about ghosts that he insisted
haunted an old mining camp near
Owens lake and was inclined to feel
hurt because I laughed at his tales.
"When darkness came on and only
the outlines Of the gaunt mountains
across the desert were discernible in the
starlight, Buck Of asudden said, Colo
mel, I never thought an engine head
light could be seen SO plainly at Lanoas-
ter.
Nor did I, was my reply, as I saw
close to the ground at distance diff
cult to estimate round, strange col
ored light or ball Of fire, very like a
locomotive headlight. A moments
watching, however, soon convinced me
that the light was erratic in its move
ments and was nothing more or less
than grand display Of the 'ignis fatuus'
or will O. the wisp, something I had
rseen many times at the ends Of the spars
or mastheads Of ship at sea, but never
on land or in such magnitude. I said
to Buck: IT'S no headlight. It's one Of
your ghosts come to convince me Of the
truth Of your stories. He turned white
as a sheet and grasped me by the arm,
saying, It's coming dead for US, sure as
we live.
"And 80 it was. Dancing up and
down, 1t came nearer and nearer. I
must confess it made even me trifle
nervous, while as for Buck he evidently
took my joke about the ghost in dead
earnest and was completely panic striok.