The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-28
DEATHS VALLEY.
A Graphic Description of One of the
Most Dreaded Spots of the West.

Graphic Description of One of the
Most Dreaded Spots of the West.
Sidney Herbert Blan of Troy, Ala,
is writing a story of a recent trip to
California. In speaking of riding on an
oil engine on the Santa Fe road across
the California plains, before reaching
the ideal portion of California, he says:
"Since leaving Bagdad we had been
climbing a grade, as the heavy putting
of the engine evidenced. Several lit
tie telegraph stations were passed, but
they always turned the white light on
the semaphore, giving up clearance
past; thus we clipped miles off at
lively gait
You see all that country to your
right" asked Engineer Davis. (You
could see as far as the eye could reach.)
well, ten miles over the plain is the
noted Death Valley. OF course, every
body in the Union knows of that place.
1t IS composed of white broiling sands
and skeletons. The way it acquired
that name was thus: Quite a long time
back party of United States regular
soldiers with outfit and camping para
phernalia were going from Utah over
on the California coast to locate. They
were under the leadership of an old
scout, who was said to know all this
country. In due time they came TO
Death Valley, which is longer than it
is wide, but it is a great distance both
ways. They wandered in this place
for several days and the food and
water supply was getting shorter and
shorter, and the broilng sun hotter
and hotter, and the men becoming
more anxious and dissatisfied. So
when they stopped for camp one night
they had a general discussion of af-
fairs. There were three factions; the
guide claimed to know where he was
and begged them to stay with him,
promising to lead them safely through,
but only a few remained. Next morn
ing two parties of troops left in oppo-
site directions, while the third went
with the guide. The guide led his
party through in due time, as history
shows but the bleached bones of the
men and horses and the shattered
fragments of the old wagons of the
two rebellious parties are still scattered
on the face of the desert, and that's
how it got its name"
Continuing he said: There are one
or two little streams in the valley, but
they are so poisoned with alkali and
arsenic that to drink the water pro-
duceS almost instant death. People and
animals getting in there are fooled by
the mirage. (rhe reflection of the sun
and sky upon the earth, which looks
like water. We have seen il many times
and it looks exactly like a river or
lake, Seeing this mirage they try to
hurry to it for a cool drink, but when
they get to where they thought it was,
it is still ahead, seemingly about a
quarter of a mile away, and will be I'M
til the sun goes down. But poor crea-
lures, they are in dire distress and are
willing to trust anything, so they plod
on an on over the broiling sands in
pursuit of the ever-fleeing mirage, I'M
til they are about crazed from heat and
thirst Soon they begin to wander
around and around almost in the same
circle, the radius growing smaller each
time, until in sheer exhaustion and
crazed by the fiery blood that pulses
their veins and the demon thirst which
gnaws at their vitals, they fall uncon-
sciouS upon the ground. In most in
stances when they arrive at this stage,
they claw themselves and dig great
holes in the earth with their fingers,
numbers of them digging in the hot
sands until the first joints of their fin
gers are burned and worn away. They
| then die, and in the course of time,
| their bones too, are numbered with the
| rest, white and bleaching upon the VAL
| ley of Death. Every year finds new
bones there. The valley can be crossed,
but a party certainly has to know it's
business to ever get through"
Our engine was putting freer and
| gaining speed. I'VE are going over
| the hill and now have miles of down
grade" said Davis, as he pushed in the
| throttle and cut off steam" ut would
never do TO let her get away from you
| here. so l always keep a sure hand for
| the air." (air brake.) Just ease her
| down on the oil bit. Bill" he yelled
| at the fireman across the cab. I'VE
turn a curve down here" Davis con-
| tinued. that it seems just like going
around the corner of a house. I al
ways slow her down a bit for safety,
| and though some fellows fly around
there. I never would" We soon felt
the al" take the curve, which we
could tell was indeed sharp by the
rocking of the engine. We had an
easy. steady ride while climbing the
grade, but going down was not so
comfortable. The big locomotive
would strike a curve and reel and
lurch. and the mellow-toned bell would
voluntarily begin it's Ginning. and we