The herald., 1897-02-23
Identity Of the Death Valley
Victims Unknown
THE MISSING ONES RETURN
Both 0lIIlngham and Lawrence Are Very
Much Alive
Delayed In Getting Home BY Snow Storms In
the nountaIns-The Story Of
Their Trip

The identity Of the unfortunate pros
pectors whose bodies are reported to
have been found on the desert about
thirty miles from Garlock near the
Death Valley region. is still a mystery,
the supposition that they were the re-
mains of John w. Gillingham and Ma
than Lawrence. two Los Angeles boys
who were known to be in that vicinity,
having proved untenable. From the
circumstances attending the discovery
of the bodies, the fact that letters bear
ing the name of John Gillingham were
found In the clothing Of one Of them, and
further that Gillingham and Lawrence
had not returned home as expected Sat-
urday night. it appeared as though there
was likelihood that they were the un-
fortunates who had perished for want
of water, but all apprehension was dis
PEELED yesterday afternoon when GIL
lingham arrived in the city safe and
sound, having been delayed by being
snowbound in the mountains, and re-
ported that Lawrence was also home
ward bound and would reach here PROB
ably this morning
LOST LETTERS.
Gillingham arrived just in time to pre-
vent the departure Of his brother and
Mr.. Lawrence, who were so far con-
vinced that the bodies were those of
John and Nat that they intended taking
the evening train and proceeding to the
spot to ascertain the truth. While the
timely arrival of Gillingham dispelle0
the fears of two anxious families it did
not throw any light on the identity Of
the unfortunate prospectors and their
shallow graves will proba bly, remain un-
marked and unknown. He was at loss
to imagine who the men could be or
how his address came to be found upon
their persons. BY only one supposition
could he explain 1t. About seven or
eight weeks ago while in the vicinity Of
were never recovered and 1t is possible
that they were found and carried by one
of the dead men.
A STRING OF HARDSHIPS.
At his residence, No. 332 South John
son street, Gillingham was seen last
night and gave an account of the move
ments Of himself and Lawrence during
the past few weeks. The boys have
been prospecting about the Death VAL
ley, Panamint and Garlock region for
nearly six months and had located q
which they did development work until
the mill and cyanide plant at the latter
place shut down and they could get no
more ore crushed, when they set out on
a prospecting trip In the north end Of
the Argus range of mountains near Pan
amint. A span of mules and a buck
board carried them and their camp out
fit and camp was established from
which they made short trips in all di-
rections. They endured many hard
ships, on one trip being two days with
out water, and on another occasion get
ting lost and going four days with moth
ing to eat before finding their camp
again.
A little over two weeks ago they had
another streak of hard luck, one Of their
mules dying from drinking water from
a poisonous spring and the other stray
ing away, being lost In the foothills.
There was nothing to do but start back
to Garlock afoot. which they did after
packing their outfit securely, leaving
everything at the camp. The fifty-six
miles back were covered after great suf-
fering, the town being reached two
weeks ago yesterday. On the following
Friday both started back with a team
to recover their outfit, being two days
on the outward trip. When they reach
ed the camp they found everything in
tact and the missing mule returned from
his wanderings.
HEAVY SNOW.
A heavy fall of snow impeded travel
on the return trip, which took three
days, Garlock being reached on Tuesday
last. At the postoffice Lawrence found
money waiting for him, while Gilling-
ham wrote to his brother for funds with
which to come back to Los Angeles. 1t
was their intention to leave in time to
reach Los Angeles Saturday night, but
the stage road between Garlock and Mo-
jave was so blocked by snow that freight
teams could not get through and not un-
til Sunday could they get their stuff
hauled to the railroad. They started
Sunday morning, Gillingham coming
straight through, reaching this city at =
p. M, Lawrence remaining at Mojave 10
attend to the shipping of their outfit by
freight. He was to follow as soon as
possible and will undoubtedly reach the
city this morning.
Dillingham; was unaware of the recep-
ton awaiting him and was greeted as
one risen from the dead. AS soon as
he had explained matters a messenger
was sent to allay the fears Of Mr. Law
renee and all. was well.
ONE MAN MISSING.
Gillingham says that there Is man
missing frork Garlock whose name he
does not remember, but that he drop
ped out of sight several weeks ago.
Neither does he know anything about
the men whose names were signed to
the letter announcing the finding of the
bodies. Their residence is given as
Borax Lake. which is a little hamlet,
not even boasting of postoff1ce, awav
out on the desert. That the bodies, will
ever be identified he doubts, as the Sec
ton is so isolated, miles from the rail-
road, that stranger is seldom met, and
if man becomes sick and dies he is
simply wrapped in his blankets, placed
in a shallow grave and left for his lorg
sleep without any questions being asked
When Lawrence arrives today he NAV
be able to throw some light on the mat
ter, but it is doubtful. That the letter
was possibly hoax can hardly be be-
lieved. There would be no object to be
gained by such a heartless proceeding.
The dead men were Undoubtedly found
as described, but who they are as yet.
remains mystery.