The San Francisco call., 1898-01-29
Lost on the Desert, They Had Given Up the Battle
 for Life.
FOUND JUST IN TIME.
Before Another Sun-Up Death Would Have Claimed Each Member of
 the Little Party.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 2S.-One of the most heartrending discoveries ever made on the desert, which has fur nished many tragedies ere this, was that last night at Mammoth Tank, on the Southern Pacific's line, about fifty miles northwest of Yuma, in San Die go County. E. Adolph of this city, liv- ing at 415 North Broadway, was visit ing his friend, L. s. Putnam, who is stationed at Mammoth Tank as agent of the Norton Drake Company. Put nam had in charge a carload of provi- sions, which he was delivering to the men employed at that point. He and Adolph were surprised to see at short distance from the camp a little bonfire on the mesa, not a hundred yards from the railroad tracks. AS that point is entirely deserted, except by the section hands, the gentlemen concluded to investigate. They could think of no explanation for the pres ence so near by of travellers who had yet not ventured to come into camp, unless it was that the builders were Indians, so they picked up their rifles and proceeded to recOnnOiter.
 Their horror can be imagined when they came upon six human beings, nearly naked, emaciated, swollen with the frightful blackswelling of agoniz ing thirst, and almost frozen in the pitiless desert night. They were mid dle-aged man and five small children, one a baby of years, and the eldest only F. The baby's condition was too pitiful for words. and Adolph in de- scribing the scene was overpowered by the recollection.
 The two men, recognizing the neceS- sity for instant action, If the lives of the poor creatures were to be saved, ran at once for water and blankets. The most urgent need was to relieve the raging thirst, though the entire six were on the verge of starvation as well. Their faces and tongues were so Swoll- en- that it seemed as if they were all ready beyond the reach of reStorativeS.
 Suffice to say, however, that the two men ran to camp and quickly returned with a squad of aroused workmen, car rying food, clothing and blankets. Aft CT satisfying their thirst as far as 1t was safe to do so, little food was given to the sufferers. The man and boys were clothed, the maimed and swollen feet were cared for, and every thing done that could be done under the circumstances.
 When he had recovered sufficiently to talk. Joyce-for that is the name of the unfortunate man-related to Adolph and Putnam the following remarkable story:
 Last fall Joyce was living in Pres colt, Arizona, with his wife and chil- dren. The wife was an invalid. After a long illness Mrs. Joyce died, and when the funeral was over Joyce found himself left with five small boys with out employment, and at his wits ends His wife's illness had necessitated his presence at her side, and he was obliged to quit work for that purpoe. The funeral expenses consumed his last dollar.
 He left Prescott in a wagon in Mo- vember, after the death of his wife. The horses gave out and died near Gila Bend and from that point he and the little ones walked 315 miles to Nam moth Tank.
 There the father finally gave out completely. and the little party would surely have perished if they had not been discovered that night-the morn 1 ing would have been too late.