Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-10-10
A TRIP OYER an
ARIZONA DESERT
Forest Superintendent l. B. Hanna
Had a Thrilling Experience on
His Recent Trip.
HE WAS AT IEATH'S DOOR
The Team in Which He and His Com
panions We're Driving Ran Away and
They Walked Forty Miles Over
Burning SANDS

! Hon. l. b. Hanna, superintendent of
forest reserves in New Mexico and Ari,
zona, on his recent trip through ncsi tn
ern Arizona, had a thrilling experience,
which came nigh causing his death, and
! it seemed almost like a miracle to him
that he escaped that fate. Mr.. Hanna
says:
| ThurSday morning two weeks ago l
left Flagstaff, together with A. B. Her.
mann, relative of Land Commissioner
Binger Hermann, and supervisor of the
Grand Canon reserve, and w. H. Pierce,
| a driver. We were bound for q place
$50 miles distant on the Colorado river,
the way being through nothing but
sand. Thursday we drove forty miles,
| Friday only twenty-five miles, it being
so sandy. Saturday the road was good.
and we made forty-five miles. All Of
this was over the Painted desert, and
we saw not living thing except an oc-
casional bird trying to get out. The des-
ert is so called owing to the different
colors Of the stones, bat never want to
see it again.
Sunday morning Pierce, the driver,
let the team loose to feed, and without
leave they started back for Flagstaff on
the run. Pierce tried to catch them, but
could not; he came back to camp nearly
dead, having been out all day without
food or drink, which means death in
that country. l saw him fall when a
quarter of mile away, and hastened
to him with the canteen.
I'VE had grub and water to last
week, but did not dare to stay there. All
that remained to do was to go back and
get the team or go forward to the river.
Pierce was unable to go. The ferry was
forty miles, Flagstaff 10 miles, SO we
decided to take the short end. At
o'clock Monday morning Hermann and
| started with gallon of water, a loaf
of bread, a can of peaches and toma-
toes. We walked fast and steady until
9 o'clock, and made about three miles
an hour. We intended to cover the dis
tance in one day. The roads became
rougher and my game knee began to
The heat was something awful, and 1
suffered terribly with my feet; they
were blistered, and there We're two nails
in the heel Of my shoe that l stepped on
every step. l feared to stop on account
of getting stiff, and kept going until
O'Clock, when my knee gave out and
fell down. l tried to get up. but could
not stand. Hermann did not want to
leave me, but l insisted. intending to
follow as soon as / could. We divided
what little food and water we had left,
my share being half a cup of water and
can of tomatoes. I lay all night on
the rocks. 1t turned cold as the sun
went down, and was in constant tre-
NOR from the cold
There was nothing to make a fire
with. At 2 in the morning the moon
rose. 1 tried to get up but could not
and began to think my name was Den
MIS-
Il need not tell of all I though about
but made up my mind I'd shoot myself
before l lost my senses, but intended
W HoIu Jul DIS lOIlS DIS ppsSiDlt. L SdNcu
the little water 1 had, though my thirst
was intense. At 3 o'clock | tried to get
up again, and fell and hurt myself; at
l tried it again and could stand. /
determined to go forward, as the river
could not be many miles away. I took
my two swallows of water reluctantly,
saving the tomatoes for future use. At
4:30 1 was considerably limbered up,
but got along slowly. After going about
three miles I saw Hermann coming. He
waved his arms, and I knew we were
safe. He had been to the river and
filled his canteen. The water was mud
dy, but I never tasted better. We were
only three miles from the river, and by
great effort we got to the ferry at
o'clock. I was completely exhausted
when I found the journey over"
The horses We're not recovered. and
perished in the desert. The driver was
found still alive, and was brought to the
river. where he speedily recovered
FROG LEGS"
Yes or any other old thing in the eating
line at the Bon-Ton.