The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-07-16
MET MANY DANGERS.
EXCITING ADVENTURES OF TWO 81
CYCLISTS IN THE MOHAvE DESERT.

snakes and ella Monsters - Narrowly
Escaped Death Mt the Hands of Banditti.
j. ID. Maxfield of Los Angeles, cross
ing the continent on bicycle, reached
Denver recently. He plugged across the
Arizona deserts and through the New
Mexican mountains, taking the railroad
tracks for nearly the entire distance.
When he started from Los Angeles, he
was accompanied by ID. V. Hearn, but
the latter stopped at Trinidad to go on
down into Kansas and work. Maxfield
is nephew of President Bates, the
we'll known writer of bicycle stories.
He left Los Angeles April 10 and has
taken his time TO the trip He crossed
the Mohave desert from end 10 end on
his wheel When he left Los Angeles,
he had claimed records of four men who
said they had ridden across the desert.
but when he got out in the sands at ev-
cry section house they told him the 9th
er fellows had crossed it in the cars. He
then provided himself with little book
and took the affidavits of every section
man he passed that he had ridden the
whole way.
The bane of the ride was rattlesnakes
and ella monsters. One night the two
tried to SO after dark, and, while work
ing along the track. heard the ominous
rattle of "A snake ahead. They came to
dead halt and peered into the darkness.
The rattle could be heard, but the source
whence il came could only be con-
jectured. The boys slipped down the
bank and around where he lay, listen
ing intently at every step for another
warning signal from another direction,
but that was the last night they tried
to ride after dark.
Another tremor was sent through
their frames when in another camp two
hoboes who had been sleeping on the
ground awoke in the morning to find
their blankets shared by ella monster.
Thereafter the boys would take their
blankets in the recesses beneath water
tanks, in outbuildings and anywhere
but the hot ground.
Three weeks were occupied in cross
ing the desert, meals being taken ut Sec
ton houses, Not many years ago Sec
tion house people in the desert refused
to feed travellers, but orders were issued
compelling them to do so. Since that
time high tariff has prevailed, but it
has been possible to procure meals. The
usual price is 80 cents and in some in
stances 81 is demanded Near the bound
airy line between Arizona and New
Mexico the travellers espied large
mountain lion sneaking along hill.
He was in pursuit of several cows and
paid no attention 10 the bicyclists. Sew
eral wildcats were seen i'll rocky places,
but they always sneaked out of sight.
The terrors of the ride were varied in
New Mexico Near San Jose, at little
place called Rio Perco, Oh river of
the same name, "a large herd of cattle
were spread ont on both sides of the
track. The ordinary cow or steer would
eye the travellers for a time and then
bolt as if shot out of gun. The only
danger was when the herd was on both
sides of the track. The minute one
started all started, and they ran in the
same direction If the cattle ON the
wrong side of the track did not have
proper room to get by the wheels, there
might be damage.
But at this particular place mon
strous old bull was willing to stand for
his rights. The boys had been chased
several times by bulls of like temper,
but had each time sprinted from dan
ger Here they were caught on rough
track with long way to safe place.
Mr. Bull scraped several times in the
dirt to work up his mad and then
charged. He was about 800 yards away
when he started, and half vanished in
a little draw OH the way over, but he
rolling and his tail flashing. Half the
distance done. he fell to trot and
threw up his head to take another view
of his prey Then he ducked his head
and started on business drive Max
field met him as he came the last 90
yards with Il bullet square in the head.
The old fellow stopped, staggered and
fell The boys mounted their wheels
and resumed their ride without ascer-
tanning the extent of his wounds.
In the Glorietta canyon they met an
other species of danger Ii Is the cOun-
try infested by gang of Mexican ban
ditti, who rob and then kill that the
robbery may not be traced to them. The
boys noticed two Mexicans on horseback
following them, who were afterward
joined by two others. The Mexicans
then rode on ahead and came down by
the railroad. The boys avoided them by
detour and duck past some low
hills to the next station. They slept in
| little station house and piled up every
| available article of furniture against the
door. Neither slept during the night and
near midnight they heard some one try
ing to push the door open. In the morn
| ing they made haste 10 get out of the
country. In the last year or two eight
men have been robbed and murdered in
| the San Miguel canyon near Glorietta
pass and the boys firmly believe the
gang were after them
Mr.. Maxfield. after remaining in Den
yer few days. proceeded to Michigan.
his old home Denver Daily News.