The St. Johns herald., 1895-05-16
FATE OF GOLD HUNTERS.
Driven Insane by Thirst Whilo Seeking
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Driven Insane by Thirst Whilo Seeking Fortunes on the Colorado Desert. Misfortunes that have overtalzen SC many wrctched desert gold hunters seems to have no effect on other seek CTS after fortune, says the Palm Springs (Col.) correspondent of the New York Telegram. Perhaps no 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. Durmid is in the heart of the desert, and few miles from Salt0n. This and Volcano are the dreariest spots in the world. For many miles in the vicinity of Volcano Springs nothing grows. The ground is treach- erous, for under it's seemingly firm ex- terior are boiling mud wells. There is shelter for neither beast nor bird. Even the miserable sage brush gets no hospitality from the lean soil. A pitt Hess sun by day and Q 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 dead burro out wonder" he remarked, gazing to the west, land 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 It vas considered strange at the time, as no one here ever thinks of buryinc an animal. The dry air desicates the body as completely as if it had been subjected to the heat of an oven. He hung about the section house for few hours and then left for Durmid, where he mentioned his loss. There he stayed, refusing all offers of food, but picking up his subsistence from such food as he could find about the place-dry bits of bread, which even a coyote would have scorned, he ate greedily. Then he asked for shovel and announced his intention to dig up his donkey, as he had found sovereign remedy against death. The shovel was given him, and. though the beast had been inferred three or four days, the crazy man dis inferred the remains. He came back. saying that the donkey refused to get up and live. The section men sent word that they had an insane man on their hands and feared he would die, as he refused food. The conductor of freight train was ordered to take him into Yuma, and essayed the task. The wretched man would run like a deer from his captors, offering violence to anyone who came near him. Finally one man more astute than the rest said:
 Look here, the superintendent wants to see you in Los Angeles and pay you for the donkey you lost"
 If that is what you want me for I'll come he answered, ''and if you prom ise not to'tie me up I'll be quiet"
 He was taken into Yuma, but ali ef- forts to discover his identity proved un- availing. A short time previously another man came into Durmid raving mad. His tongue was black, his eyes rolled and glittered and he was in the direst extremity. Water and food iu- diciously administered saved his life Though his new found friends begged him not to follow the fascinations of gold hunting he refused to listen to reason, scorned the kindness of section men, upbraided them for being slaves and working for wages, and continued his hopeless quest of iIlusiye gold fields