The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-04
RISK LIFE FOR DESERT GOLD,
STAMPEDE FOR THE NEW MINES
IN DEATH VALLEY,

= IN DEATH VALLEY.
Very Rich Ore Found by Two Prospect or
nj Furnace Creek-The Trail, Thourh
: Lined With Skeletons--Peril OF Deaf
or Madness In Crossing the Desert
B SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 3O.-The new dis
coverIes OF gold near Furnace Creek in tn,
. heart OF the famous Death Valley are ex
citing much attention, but only experienced
desert prospectors have had the nerve :,
go into the district in the fierce heat OF mid
summer.
} The first discovery was made at a place
only fourteen miles from the ranch OF tbs
Pacific Coast Borax Company in Inyo
county. Jack Keane Of Balla rat, on thu
desert, was the first to find rich vein in
this part Of Death Valley
In December, 1908, he went into the region
to prospect with Mexican partner named
Domingo Etoharren. They found ledge
over twenty feet wide which assays 500 10
the ton across the whole width OF the out.
crop. and without doing any work on the
ledge they sold the claim to Capt De la Mar
for 5000, 900.
Last June John Sidi and Mike Sullivan ~
Ballarat went out toward Furnace Creek
in the height of the great heat and in one
week found what is thought to be a con.
tinuation Of Keane's ledge. They sold their
claim to Gaylord OF Los Angeles. This
second find set all the prospectors on the
Mojave desert wild
They packed up and hit the trail for Fur
mace Creek, and the lonely cafons which
are deserted even by coyotes In the summer
heat have seen men scrambling through
| them in eager search for gold. II many
| lives are not lost it will be wonder, for the
heat is over 120 degrees in the shade and
| water is infrequent on the trails.
| Only the experienced desert prospector
! can endure the heat which seems to dry up
| the tissue and to causean intolerable thirst
| 1t will surprise any one who is unfamiliar
with the desert to see the results Of this
heat on men, animals and even on inaminate
things like wagons and harness.
All through Death Valley as well as along
the fringe Of both the Mojave and the
Colorado desert the atmosphere is 80 devoid
Of moisture that everything Is as dry as
bone. The new arrival finds that all super
huous fat and flesh appear to melt away
from him. He has to take up several holes
in his belt and he has to drink gallons Of
water every day where he.ordinarily drank
glasses.
In fact the system Graves 50 much water
that when it cannot be procured the mans
strength fails rapidly, and to be without 1t,
even in the shade, Is sure death after a
day or two. To run out OF water on the
trail and to be forced to travel over the
desert in the fierce glare of the sun means
insanity in a few minutes and death In a
few hours.
Not even the seasoned resident.can resist
this heat for long. The only recourse OF
the old resident who loses his water supply
in any way Is to seek shelter under a mes
quite bush and to wait until the sun goes
down. Then he must hit the trail and reach
well before sunrise, or, unless he has won
derful vitality. his skeleton will be added to
the large collection that lines all the roads
through Death Valley.
Nothing else puts the terror OF the desert
into the tenderfoot like coming upon ono
OF these skeletons, usually with no trace
Of clothing near by. II search 10 made
where the poor victim, orazed by the heat,
has cast it. The tendency Of every ons
who goes insane on the desert from heat
s to strip and then travel in circle till he
drops from weakness
By many Of these skeletons will be found
holes which despairing hands have dug
IN the hot desert sands in'the vain search for
The life-giving water.
OF course, the tenderfoot has no show
when he gets lost or his water gives out
On the desert; but even the seasoned desert
'esident frequently gives up the ghost.
LAST April James Littlefeld of Ballarat
started on foot from the Borax ranch on
FURNACE Craak n yO IN pollarot
hour journey and he took
IN ample supply Of water.
In his haste to reach the end of his journey
he tried to make short cut and lost the
rail. His water gave out and forfour days
nd three nights he wandered over the
lesert.
He was without water after tho first
lay and without any food after the second.
n his half-crazed condition, seasoned as
10 was to the heat, he tried to kill himself,
ut failed.
He finally reached an Indian camp at
migrant Springs and the natives took
i'm by team to Ballarat. There he was
I'LL month before he recovered from his
offerings on the desert without water.
All the papers printed near the Mojave
,esert are trying to discourage miners,
specially OF the tenderfoot class, from
lshing into Death Valley during the hot
Gather. The only big company In the
hole region Is the Borax company on
urnace Creek. The managers have string
Mt orders not to sell hay or horse feed
, any one, and several prospectors have
cen compelled to return after reaching
he new mining district, as their horse feed
ave out and they couldn't buy any. The
ompany has given water, food and horse
'ed to several prospectors who would
ave perished except for such aid, but it is
angerous to venture into country where
oney will not buy the neoessaries Of life
BY October the heat is lessened in Death
alley and then there will probably be
-eat stampede to this new mining dis.
let. The business Of furnishing food and
lpplies for man and beast promises to
as lucrative as mining, as hay Is now
ling at the nearest town for $50 a ton.
PATERSON'S OLDEST HOUSE.
IA Av,