The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-04
SAVED BY A FORGOTTEN RACE
MYSTERIOUS WELLS AMID THE
MOJAVE DESERTS WASTE.

MVVAtL DESEh1'O " hSA Es
They Were Built with Skill Centuries Age
by an Unknown People. and To-day
They Frequently Prevent Travellers
Lost in the Desert From DyinE Of Thirst
Numbers of men owe their lives to the
providence of race which has passed
away and been forgotten. Neither history
nor tradition tells aught OF it, and it Ia known
only by few OF it's works which survive.
This forgotten race was the desert jewellers
Of a prehistoric period. Their home was
in the great desert region Of eastern Cali
although it has been divided by tho
geographer into two, known as the Eoiavs
Desert and the Colorado Desert.
In these deserts are found several water
holes known as Indian wells. They have
been walled in to protect the water from
the encroaching sands Of the desert, which
otherwise would. ages ago, have buried
the water many feet deep, and the wells
would have been lost.
The walls are built with skill and perfect
knowledge of the action of the winds which
sweep the plains. They are 80 arranged
and constructed as efectually to protect
the precious water from the drifting sand.
and they have withstood the elements and
warded of the sands for more than three
centuries since white men began to traverse
those desert wastes, andSit is not possible
to state how many centuries previous to
that time.
The walls guard three sides OF the we'll.
the fourth side being graded and leading
gradually down to the water Some OF
the wells are deep in the earth, In
which case the grade extends some con.
siderable distance back. In such cases
steps lead. down from one Of the walls for
convenience Of the human visitors.
The known instances in which these
wells have proved life savers are many.
into the Colorado Desert, bound for Yuma.
They had canvas top wagon and a span
Of mules, and in the wagon was a supply
of water.
One OF the men had made the trip several
times and was supposed to be familiar
with the route. The mirage often confusee
the most expert Of desert guides, and the
man became bewidered and got on the
course.
pected to replenish their supply was
missed, and they ran out Of water. The
men and the beasts began to suffer the
fortunes of thirst. They became utterly
bewildered and knew not in which direction
to turn.
When despair was settling down upon
the men one Of the mules began to tug
vigorously at the bit in frantic endeavor
to turn from the course they were pursuing.
The driver tried to keep him on the old
way, but the mule was obstinate and con.r
tinued to pull at the reins. Finally the
drivers companion demonstrated.
Let him have his head he said. These
animals often smell water q long ways.
Maybe he will take us to a spring"
The animal pulled away to the r!ighe
so strongly and persistently that he drew
his mate along with him. The course was.
changed to right angles with the one they
had been pursuing. Two hours laters
when the men had begun to lose faith n
an old Indian WE'LL deep and walled.
Another Mojave Desert experience did
not have so happy all ending. Two desers
prospectors, running short Of supplies al
their mine up in the Death Valley countrys,
started for Daggett to replenish their stock
They watered up for the first stage OF the
oasis which they were due to reach about
noon OF the second day out.
Early in the morning Of the second day
they were overtaken by one Of the moss'
dreaded Of desert visitations, sand storm.
For a time they struggled bravely on,
before the storm got too bad for travel.
This they were unable to do.
The animals became frantic and un-,
manageable and they were Obliged to unS
hitch them and tie them to the sheltered
side of the wagon with burlap over their
heads to keep them from stampeding1
Then the prospectors crawled into tho
wagon and waited for the storm to cease.
Long before the storm abated their sup:
DIV of water gave out, and when the wind
died down and they could again proceed tho
mules showed signs Of collapse. Before
they had made ten miles one Of the animals
dropped down and expired.
Then the men knew that 1t was to be q.
battle for life. The wagon was abandoned.
A pack Of the provisions was hastily pre-
pared and strapped to the remaining mule
and the men trudged on afoot, leading the
animal. They went some miles out OF their
course, and had to retrace their steps, bus
before they got back upon the trai! again
one of the men gave out and sank faintin8
to the earth.
The provision pack was then thrown on
and the unconscious man was thrown acroso
the mule and strapped to the saddle. Be-
fore water was reached he died. His COM
panion finally reached an OLD lnolah Well
and he and the mule were refreshed.
When he had somewhat recuperated ho
led his mule back to the abandoned pro.
vision pack, the journey was resumed
and Daggett was finally reached in safety;
Peterson and Kelley. two Los Angeles
prospectors, started across the desert on
foot, with their water and provisions
strapped to burro. 1t was the oft re-
peated story over again. The water gave
out, Peterson was seized with the desert
madness, broke away from his COM
Kelley tethered the burro and took after
Peterson, lost trace Of him and returned in
time to see the burro strain at his rope.
break it, and start on over the desert. He
followed the beast more than dozen miles.
and the animal took him to water. II was
another of the old Indian wells His life
was saved, but when he retraced his steps
to look for his partner he found his dead
body upon the burning sands.