The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-08
SAILS OVER SAND WASTES.
Land Yacht Used by Miners in MOjave
Desert, California.
New York Tribune.

new 1OTR tribune.
Out on the grim sand wastes of the Mo-
jave desert, in Southern California, sails
land yacht. Desert Queen is its name, and II
has triumphed over distance in a place
where lonely prospectors have heretofore
made their weary way on foot.
Two miners, Charles s. and Carl II. Hoyt,
who went to the Pacific coast from Cleve-
land, built the sailing vehicle. They had a
gold mine in the butteS near ROSamond,
and were living nine miles away, at the
other end of a dried-up lake. The surface
of this lake is hard and smooth, worn so
by the sandstorms that constantly pre-
vail. owing their origin to the winds that
sweep through Tehachepi pass. While
crossing the level tract one day Carl HOyt
suggested 10 his brother that they might
possibly escape much needless drudgery
by building a wagon and putting sails on
to carry them over the lake on their way
to the mines.
the Desert Queen followed Their only
tools were axe, saw and hammer, and
the only materials the odds and ends they
could pick up about the camp.
The front support was made of an old
buggy axle, to which were attached two
iron wheels, thirty inches in diameter.
which had done service for an agricultural
implement. Other parts were similarly i'm
provised, and the result was a stanch YES
sci. For steering a continuance similar TO
those on hook and ladder trucks was used,
and the craft answers her helm perfectly,
sailing about as close to the wind as the
ordinary water craft, though there is more
danger of capsizing.
When the trial trip was made there was
a wreck, for the Queen developed such
speed that she could not be controlled by
her navigatOrs, and came TO grief with
crash that sent the pieces flying in every di-
rectiOn. After rebuilding and perfecting
the desert yacht came out again, and has
been in use for the last six months. She
has carried her owners and their supplies
from camp TO mine and back almost every
day, and has travelled many hundreds Of
miles. The Hoyt brothers have just sold
their property, however, and she will be
taken elsewhere.
The Desert Queen has often covered for
ty miles hour under a favorable wind,
and her owners say they could sail fifty
or even seventy-five miles with ease, were
wide attention, and many persons have
gone to Rosamond to see her sail. Some
times she carries excursion parties of half
a dozen persons. On the level desert fast
time is made, and the Hoyts have startled
many of the lonely prOspectorS who tramp
over the fOrbidding region in search of the
gold that frequently lures them to death
Once they sailed near a band of Piute
Indians gathered at their campfire near
Mojave, just at dusk, and caused the
widest CONSERVATION. The frightened ma
tives with wild whoops of alarm, made
frantic rush to get away, the braves
trampling squaws and papooses under foot
in the excitement. Time after time pros
peCtOrs have come from the desert to the
Southern California towns and asserted
that they saw the phantom ship" that has
for years been said to haunt the desola-
lation that only the mirage can make beau
tiful, but it was doubtless the Desert
Queen that crossed their paths.