The herald., 1897-02-22
VICTIMS OF DEATH VALLEY
The Bodies of Two Young Pros
pectOrs Found
BOTH LOS ANGELES LADS
Believed to Be John Gillingham and Nat
Lawrence
They Had Played In Hard Luck and the
Desert Claimed Them for Its

That two Los Angeles boys have met
a horrible death on the desert near
Death Valley, while out on a prospect
ing trip, is indicated by the following
letter, dated .aarlock, Cal, February 19,
received at The Herald office last even
ing:
mains of two young men dead on the des-
ert near Death valley. From letters on
one of them it appears they are from Los
Angeles as the envelopes are addressed
to John Gillngham. The other had a
large canteen, which was empty. II ap-
pears they have been dead for a couple Of
days. No trace of any animal or food
could be found near them-only pair or
blankets. They must have been prospect
ing and got out of water.
1--WE covered UP the remains, after
wrapping them up with the blankets.
"Please publish this, so II they are known
in Los Angeles their friends might trace
them.
"HENRY WARNER and
JAMES MCDONALD.
"Borax Lake, Inyo county, Ca"
From an investigation 1t would ap-
pear that the remains must have been
those of John W. Gillingham, "a years
of age, who resided with his widowed
mother and his brother Charles at 322
South Johnson street. East Los Angeles,
mad Nathan Lawrence, 27 or 2S years old,
living at the corner of Thirty--fifth
street and Hough avenue, University.
The young men were formerly engaged
together in the bicycle business under
the firm name of Lawrence & Gilling-
ham, at 51S South Broadway, but last
September concluded that they would
try their luck at prospecting and left
the city for the region about Death val
ley and Randsburg.
Gillingham had formerly been en-
p1oyed as a clerk in Jevne's establish
ment, while Lawrence had been engaged
with his father, who runs small gro
Gerry at University. Neither of the boys
had had any experience in mining, but
started out full of the hope of making
rich strike. They met with Indifferent
success, but finally located claim near
Garlock and worked it for some time,
being forced to stop because of the clos
ing down of the mill at Garlock, where
they had been getting their ore crushed
Then the boys started out prospecting
in Death valley. Three times since their
first departure they have returned to the
city, the first time during the Christ
mas holidays. On January I'd both went
back.
Letters have been regularly received
from them, and about two weeks ago
Gillingham wrote to his mother that
they had hard luck. While out in Death
Valley their pack animals had strayed
or been stolen, and they found them
selves in a serious plight. Concealing
nearly all of their outfit, they started
back to Garlock on foot and reached
there safely after hard trip. In con-
clusion, the writer asked that a little
money be sent him, as both he and Law
renee were fat broke This was done,
and in his next letter. which was re-
ceived a week ago today, Gillinghan
said he had hired a buggy, driven out
to where they had left their outfit, and
had brought everything to Garlock, bu.
had been unable to locate their missing
animals. He said that Lawrence had
written home for money, which had
been received, and that both were worn