The San Francisco call., 1896-08-03
GIittering Ore Uncovered by q
Man Half Dead From the
Heat.
DEATH BRAvED FOR RICHES
A Mining Camp Springs Up at Once
in the Vicinity of the Dis.
covery.

BAKERSFIELD, CAL, Aug. 2.-The
story has already been told briefly of the
latest wonderful discovery of gold on the
Mojaye Desert; but only the bare bones o
the romance (for il is a veritable romance
have been presented to the public. The
account as previously telegraphed was thai
two prospectors, wandering far from set
tlement or habitation on the superheated
sands of the desert during the recent hot
spell, when in the settled valleys deaths
from heat were numerous, and even that
tabled individual, the "oldest inhabitant, u
could not call TO mind such another "spell
of weather." had by merest accident stun
bled upon fortune in the shape of ledge
of gold bearing rock of almost incredible
richness.
These men, Drouillard and Pyle by
name, being practically without means,
naturally looked about for some method
of recuperating their fortunes. Stories OF
the good luck that had befallen other men
situated like themselves, and who had
gone to the desert mining camps, reached
their ears, and they decided that what
Others had done they also could do.
Neither had even the small amount of
wherewithal to obtain the outfit, without
which it were worse than useless to ven-
ture desertward. A brother of one of the
partners was consulted, and promptly
volunteered TO do what is known as the
"grub-stake act" In other words he
agreed to furnish what was necessary for
the trip, in return for an equal share in
whatever discoveries might be made.
Equipped then for the hardships and
dangers for desert trip in July the TWO
partners started for the Mojave, with de-
termination to exhaust every effort in the
search for paying mine. As luck would
have it they started just at the commence
ment of that hot wave which for three
long, weary weeks held the interior val
leys in its fiery grasp and sent to death
more human beings and animals than the
newspapers have cared to publish.
But such drawback as 125 degrees,
more or less, in the shade and up to $50 in
the sun, could not daunt these two pros
pectors. They pushed their way out on to
the Moiave Desert to the recently estab-
lished camps fifty to sixty miles northeast
of Moiave. Then they began their in
quiries. Had such and such locality
been prospected? Yes. and some good
mines found. Well, we don't want to go
there. Another locality? The same
answer. Another? Still the same reply.
Finally, How about that region? Oh,
that's been prospected high and low and
never sign or color found. That's the
place for US. That's what we are looking
for-and toward it they headed. They
made camp at the only water in the region
and then started to prospect the entire
locality thoroughly.
Each day they filled their canteens and
with prospector's pick in hand started
out, hopeful that ere the thrice heated sun
fell below the blue hills in the west some
discovery would reward their efforts. The
heat was something awful. Nothing like
it had ever been known in that region,
and all who could fled TO the mountains or
the seashore.
But the partners persevered. Two weeks
in this earthly inferno passed and still no
discovery to reward them. But this did
not cause them to lose heart. They had
gone to the desert with a definite object
and they proposed to accomplish that OBJ
iect Or die in the attempt.
On the first day OF the third week Drouil-
lard started out alone and in different
direction from any in which be had previ-
ously gone. Some one who claimed to be
acquainted with the country told him
where there was spring In the direction
in which he proposed gong where he
could find abundance of water. Very care
lessly, but quite naturally, he put faith in
these instructions, took the bearings OF
the presumed spring carefully and started
out with what he supposed was water
enough in his canteen TO suffice until the
spring could be reached. Having full faitn
in the directions given, he did not hus-
band his supply CT water as he might
otherwise have done, but drank freely
whenever thirsty. The result was that his
canteen was empty long before he reached
the spot where he expected to obtain a
fresh supply of water. Some time passed
after the last drink had been taken before
he reached the spot where the spring was
supposed to be. When DrouiIlard arrived
at the hoped-for locality at last he found
where the spring had been, but not drop
of water was there. 1t had vanished,
eVaporated completely, and not so much
as sign of moisture remained. The un-
usually hot weather had dried up every
drop of what had been a fairly abundant
supply.
Now the pangs of thirst which had as
sailed the prOspector for the last two hours
were redoubled. The very knowledge that
there was no water to be had made him
all the more thirsty. His parched mouth
became still more parched, and he would
have given anything in the world for a
draught even of the most brackish water.
He sought in every direction for another
spring, but in vain. Not sign of water
could be found anywhere.
While looking for the precious fluid,
hall blinded with the heat and glare and
half mad with the torments of thirst, he
stumbled over some float" which his ex-
perience6 eye told HIM at glance was
good indication of the proximity OF q
ledge OF quartz. Even his thirst did not
deprive him of the desire which had
prompted the trip, and, half uncon-
sclously almost, he abandoned the search
for water and followed up the float, deter.
mined to find its source, even if it were the
last thing he did. He had not far to go
Perhaps 500 yards he travelled, led on al
the while by the increasing quantities o.
float, and then suddenly he came to the
ledge which was its origin. At the point
where he struck it the soil was nearly
level and the quartz projected perhaps
couple OF feet above the surface. A glance
showed him that it was beautiful live
rock. Then blow with his pick and
piece was broken off and picked UP fol
examination. That was enough; he haC
found what be sought.
All across the fracture the bright yellow
metal glittered in the sun, mass of wire
work held together by a spongy formation