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

on. For Gods sakeP he cried, let us
get out of this, and was on the point
of jumping up and running off into the
desert when all of q sudden the light
disappeared and was seen no more that
night.
"Buck finally quieted down, though
I could see by his nervousness and FREE
quent quick glances in the direction in
which the light had appeared that he
was still in dread Of its reappearance.
II discussed the matter with him for
hours, trying to explain the real nature
Of the phenomenon, and that no posi-
BILE harm could come Of it, But he
would not have it that way, and all
that I could say did not influence his
superstitious dread of the strange ap-
pearance.
"'Colonel,' he said, it's hoodoo
This railroad scheme and its promoters
will die suddenly. Sure!'
II laughed at his fears, and we lay
down to rather restless night. The
work in this section was not completed
next day in time to return to the main
camp, and half dozen times in the
course of the work Buck spoke about
the ghosts, as he persisted in calling
the phenomenon, and he was even more
muddled than usual in his manipulation
Of the transit. Finally his slowness
caused night to come on before our task
was completed, and we therefore return
ed at dusk to the same camping place
as the night before.
"After we had eaten supper Buck
said: Colonel, I never want to see that
internal light again. Ghosts or no
ghosts, it's no good, and no luck will
come Of it.
1.-THE words were scarcely out of his
mouth when, apparently not more than
hundred yards away, the huge ball Of
fire appeared like flash, dancing up
and down and seemingly coming dead
toward US. Now Buck became almost
beside himself with terror. Let's 60,
and the quicker the better shouted my
now thoroughly alarmed companion, but
suddenly, as on the previous night, the
light vanished. Buck then recovered
some portion Of his equanimity. and
though he was still anxious to return to
camp finally persuaded him that there
was danger that we would lose our way
if we ventured out on the desert after
dark, while if we remained there was
nothing to be afraid of. Neither of us
slept much, however, for must confess
that I had sort of creepy sensation
myself, and we were up early next
morning, completed our work and got
an early start back to camp
while we were on the road Buck
said: Colonel, I don't want to discour-
age you, but the people who are at the
head of this scheme to build competing
railroad will die suddenly, and this
work will stop. In fact, wouldn't
wonder if you and both went over the
range with them to keep them company.
But they are going, sure'
How little you know! I replied,
and could say no more, as my hackers
were then unknown.
Nov let me tell you the strange Sc
quel. The very same week that Buck
made his prediction the Earrings failed.
Early in November Henry D. Minot,
the leading spirit and financial head Of
the enterprise, was killed in railroad
accident while returning from Washing
ton, where he had concluded the pur-
chase of General Beale's ranches i'll ev-
cry detail save the passing of the papers
and paying the money, the intention
having been to subdivide that immense
estate of 1854, 900 acres.
con Thanksgiving day Of the same
month came orders to close the work,
discharge everybody and break camp
The following year Allan Marvel, presi-
dent of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa
Fe road, died after brief illness, he
having been the second hacker of this
great enterprise, and soon followed the
death Of Mr.. Magoun Of the great bank
ing house of Barring, Magoun & Co., the
third and last of the promoters Of a
rival railroad to the Southern Pacific
system. :"
"What became of Buck?" l asked as
tho colonel paused.
"Buck? Just read that clipping, and
the colonel took from his pocketbook a
worn bit Of newspaper and handed it
to me. 1t read as follows:
BAGDAD, Colorado Desert, Jan. 15 1899.
An old inspector and surveyor known as
Buck Pomeroy disappeared mysteriously from
his camp at this point three days ago, and no
trace Of him has been found. He was in com
pany with two friends and was apparently in
good health and spirits. They all retired as
customary early in the evening, but in the
morning Buck was missing, and diligent
search has failed to find him. He went away
just as he was rolled in his NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ed and half dressed. One Of the men said HI
thought he heard Bucks voice in the night
saying something about some ghosts being aft,
err him, but he thought it was a dream and 60
paid no attention to it, Buck has evidently
joined that innumerable caravan Of men whose
bones whiten the remote sections of the desert
and will doubtless remain forever without
burial.
folded up the clipping and returned
it to the colonel. He put it back in his
pocketbook without word.-San Fran
cisco Call.