The St. Johns herald., 1895-04-18
FATE OF GOLD HUNTERS.
Driven Ias.nn by Thirst While Seeking Fortunes or, tho Colorado Desert.


 Fortunes on tho Colorado Desert.
 Nisfortunes that have overtaken SC many wrctched desert gold hunters seems to have no effect on other seek CTS after fortune, says the Palm Springs tCol.) correspondent of the New Yori; Telegram. Perhaps 10 fate has been so sad as that Of the unknown pros pector who was carried into Yuma re. gently insane for the want of water and food. The unhappy man put in an appearance with his nurse at the romantic village of Durmid on the Southern Pacific track. Dul1nid is an the heart of the desert, and a few miles from S2lton. This ana Volcano are the droariest spots in the world. For many miles in the vicinity of Volcano Springs nothing grows. The ground is treacl- erous, for under its seemingly firm ex- terior are boiling mud wells. There IS shelter for neither beast nor bird. Even the miserable sage brush gets 10 hospitality from tfe Jean soil. 4 pitt Hess sun by day and . hot wind by night greet the travellers who cross the desert in their hunt for gold deposits. Here the prospector first brought him self to notice by asking for shovel.
 i've got 9 dead burro out wonder" he remarked, gazing to the west, ''and want to bury it."
 The shovel was given him and away he started. He came back some time after and said he had buried the car cass some six feet under the ground. IL vas considered strange at the time, as no one here ever thinks of burying an animal. The dry air desicates the body as completely as if 1t had been subjected to the heat of an oven. He hung about the section house for few hours and then left for Durnlid, where he mentioac d his loss. There he stc val, refusing all offers Of food, bat picking up his su5si8tcnce from such food as he could find about the placc-dry bits of bread, which even a coyote would have scorned, he ate greedily. Then he asked for q shovel and announced his intention to dig up his donkey, as he had found a sovereign raneliy against death. The shovel was given him, and, though the beast had been inferred three CT four days, the crazy man dis inferred the remains. He came back, saying that tho donkey refused to get up and live. The section men sent word that they had an insane man on their hands and feared he wolld die. as he refused foo3. The con iuctor of freight train was ordered to take him into Yuma, and e5sayed tho task. The wretchcd man would run like a deer from his captors, offering violence to anyone who came near him. Finally one man moro astute than the rest said
 Look here, the superintendent wants to see you in Ios Angeles and pay you for tho donkey you lost.'
 If that is what you want me for I'll come" he answered, "snd if you prom. ise not to tie me up I'll be quiet"
 He was taken into Yuma, bat all ef> forts to discover his identity proved un- availing, 4 short time previously another man came into Durnid raving mad. His tongue was black, his eyes rolled and gli5tered and he was in the direst extremity. Water and faod jiI- diciously administered saved his life. Though his new found friends begged him not to follow the fluctuations of gold hunting he refused to listen to reason, scCrnel the kindness of section men, upbraided them for being slaves and working for wages. and continued lis hopeless quest Of ilusive gold Scl5c