The Washington times., 1901-07-07

| June 7.-Severe dust storm. Understand
/ they are common at this time of year
/ Curious to watch sand columns.
| An awkward contretemps. Several col
umns have fallen at base of rocks, cutting
/ us off from plain. Brinkman. in spite OF
! Carter's warning, tried to ride his horse
| through the drift Only rescued him with
| difficulty; had 10 destroy horse, which had
broken fOrelegs. Plenty of food and wa
| ter, but hope our men viii send for us
l when they find we have not arrived.
June S.-Sand ridge immensely Increased
K in size. Easily accounted for, as it must
| intercept all particles driven this way by
/ wind which is singularly constant in di-
| rectIon.
( Horrible position. Find drift is slowly
| and regularly advancing. Escape by can
yon impossible. At present rate, in three
days we must either be smothered or
swept over precipice.
Have tried to dig our way along the
side No perceptible impression made IN
six hours. Completely exhausted. Lord,
have mercy upon us
June 9. a. m.-Sand has reached us.
Rrinkman and / have climbed rocks.
Heads well above highest point Of ridge,
so we may escape, If pressure does not
kill US. Carter, staying at LOOT OF rocks,
saws sand will flow on each side Of him.
10 a. m.-More hopeful. Sand only up to
ankles. Carter quite comfortable. sand
has flowed round rocks, just like water.
Ridge as high as his head on each side of
him.
is quite safe, though, having scaled rocks
behind us. Sand up 10 my knees All
the animals gone.
I'd. m-Awful thing has happened. Car
ter was caught by sand eddy and swept
from rocks Went over waist at once
and sunk steadily. Tried 70 help him, but
no use When ne found there was no nope
he drew revolver and shot Brlnktn3n dead
Am writing, crouched behind rock
Carter has started laughing and sing
ing. Fear he has gone mad.
Carter has stopped.
D. m-Sand up-to waist. Pressure very
severe, but can hold out, If no worse.
Think now at highest point OF ridge More
hopeful.
heaved itself far above head. Up to arm
pits now. God help me. The end is near.
For some moments there was cold 81
lence. Then Berstein got up. His face
was very white, but his voice was calm
and even.
ITS as well to know the worst at once"
he said. Let us go and see"
Alasi there could be no doubt The drift
was perceptibly higher and appreciably
closer. Every now and then Il small
quantity of sand would detach itself from
the crest and trickle down toward the
prisoners, while all along the base We're
little, overlapping trianslcs, Ike the
foam-marks which are the forerUnucrs of
the incoming tide.
'Wa-al, Prof" said Hiram. gloOmiiy
II LOOKS TO me rs IL ti4t game we're up
Il am afraid so. No earthly power can
save us. Heaven forgive me for bringing
you here"
And they returned silently to the camp
They found their companions seated in
such shade as the rocks afforded. There
was no need for speech, the truth was
evident, even on EIiTam's immOvable
CUuntenancc. He md Bernstein seated
themselves with the rest. but Mainwaring
continued to pace uE and down.
He was obviously uncomfortable and
nervous. fdgeting and biting his nails.
and coloring continually. No one sus-
pected him Of unmanly fear; nevertheless
his actions were a source of some anxiety
to his comrades At length Bernstein got
up and Joined him.
well, Mainwaring. what is it?'
"Wen," replied the young man. nery--
ously. its this way. Oh. confound it all.
Bernstein. can't you see? You said just
now that no earthly power could save us;
but-well-there is a Power that can save
us-and-don't il seem rather absurd not
to ask Him?" he concluded, with an in
tensely red face.
There is a great deal in what you say,
my boy, and Pm glad you think as l do.
l meant to pray for help tonight.