Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-06-22
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they Furnish q Desert indian Wlth
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An old Indian, known to prospec-
tors as " Figtree john" has for many
years lived alone beside large spring
In the Colorado desert In San Diego
county. His home lie one Of the most
desolate and inaccessible spots on
the earth's surface and the last place
one would expect to find human
being living In contentment. 1t 10
close to the Mexican line and about
fifty miles east OF the hills that form
the western boundary to the waste Of
white sand.
At oil seasons Of the year the heat
10 intolerable and the awful hot
wind blows day and night. Five
yards from the spring In any direc-
tlon there is not living green thing
In sight-only the binding glare Of
the sandy plain stretching for miles
on all sides until IL joins the foot.
hills In Q slmmering purple hue.
Figtree Johns place, however, 10
Q tiny oasis OF about 2OU square feet.
The spring 10 o large one and the.
water pure and fresh when II bubbles.
from the earth. But 1t evaporates
during the day almost as fast as IL
comes from the ground, so that the
surface 10 only molstened for small
extent. On the edge OF the spring
grasses and weeds grow, and one
large fig tree spreads Its branches
over the whole spot.
The tree bears fruit almost the
year around and also serves % .
shelter for John. Blankets are
spread on tho ground and camp
utensils scattered around. But there
are always plenty Of things to eat
and drink that have been brought
from the markets Of civilization, and
the way John obtained these was .
puzzle to the prospectors for long.
time. He never did any work and
certainly could not raise nor find any.
thing to sell anywhere near his
place. Bnt IL seems Johns money
has always came to him without an
effort. He simply lay down and
waited.
1t IL horrible to think about, but
he waited for the pack burros
Of prospectors who had been over.
come by thirst and died IN the desert.
Johns place IL several miles of the
trail Of prospectors going to and
from the gold country, and hundreds
OF bleaching bones have been found
In the vicinity.
Most Of these men have several
burros and good outfits when they
start, but somehow they lose the trail
or are overtaken by sandstorms. All
share the same fate-a few days OF
horrible suffering and then death.
The burros, being moro hardy than
the men, IRE more able 10 stand the
hardships, and when their masters
lie down and die In the burning sand
they find wator by instinct. Since
old John has been Mt the spring
large number have come to his place
crazy for water. OF course he takes
care OF them and makes search for
their owners, or holds them for iden.
tification.
Sometimes they have expensive
outfits, showing the owner to have
been o tenderfoot that expected to
find mountain OF gold. The pro.
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appropriated after o certain time,
and the burros he hos sold to people
In the foothills to whom he makes
periodical trips. On one occasion .
whole train OF burros came to his
place. and the owners were never
found, 90 that John cleared several
dollars just by waiting under his fig
tree.
! Old John Is perfectly happy In HE
desert home. and IL well pleased to
have prospectors die In the desert, 80
long 40 their burros come to his
spring. He takes good care Of the
animals and becomes very friendly
with them. He never sells any OF
them or the contents OF their packs
for at least o year. but keeps them
In case any one calls to claim them.
But nobody ever calls to claim stray
burros that are driven by thirst to
Figtree Johns place.