The Newtown bee., 1904-06-03

on it's northward course to finally lose itself in the thirsty desert sands. In all the country through which it flows there has not been a drop of rain in 10 months, and only an average of one- This was told by the conductor. So, on a river bottom as wide as that of our Housatonic at Sandy Hook, there was stream flowing to all appear ance about the size of a mans arm, and it proved to be the only running water we saw until we reached Needles, 225 miles eastward. We are now on the southeastern part of the MOjave desert. For quite stretch we pass over barren sands, with here ana there rugged rocky peaks standing out in their bar renness. At Barstow we were trans ferred from the car we had been riding which we would reach Williams on the following day: At Barstow we had our dinner. When we moved out from there at 1.35 a. m., we were to run on comparatively easy grade un- til night fall. We here leave the ut terly barren district, to find some growth such as Nature sometimes gives to temper the heat as it pours down upon the burning earth. Were we to leave the train and search for animal life, we would find the lizard and horned toad, both of which revels in scorching sun. Stations are fre- quent enough in name on the folders, but most of them are passed by, un- we will see box attached to a tele- graph pole between stations, that contains an outfit by which a train man may send message over the wire in case of emergency, and not have to reach station, for there are plenty of chances when train might be held up in the night on the desert, as we'll as in the rocky mountain passes.
 Our train speeds on, and we pass over miles of desert where the tree yucca grows in a multitude of gro- tesque and shideous forms, sometimes to height of 12 or 15 feet, throwing out it's blossoms in June, then to shrink back into inactive life until Sage brush struggles here for life, prickly pear turns up it's thorny leaves to be kissed by the burning sun, throwing out now and then pink blossom as if in gratitude to the giver of the sunlight.
 Barren as the desert looks, travellers tell us there are many areas where drinkable water lies within few feet of the surface. About such places mesquite, bunch grass and stunted willow brush will gather. But the desert is a voiceless land. As our train sped on, we had pointed out in the distance "Death Valley" that takes it's toll of death from hapless parties who every year attempt to cross it, too imperfectly equipped to tiOn, and, dropping in their tracks be- come sun dried mummies of whom no trace or recollection is preserved. The spreading, scraggly branches of the wren cactus overshadow beautiful, tiny flowers that bud and blossom in undiSturbed existence, with never a kiss from the dewlesS air. They seem | to waste their sweetness, die unseen and unknown, and yet fulfill their mission just as truly, just as perfectly | in Natures realm, as those of us who l in the plainest walks of life do faith, fully the work: however obscure il would have us do. On we go, across what seems a hopeless waste, dreary stretch of sand, alkali, and black patches of lava with hardly single ha abitatio outside the lonely path of the locomotive All day our eyes have scanned mountain, hill, valley anC plain to take in all of the sights pos. sible, until night closed in upon us as our train drew into Needles, on the eastern boundary of Southern Califor mia. There we had 25 minutes for sup per. As Yuma was the most interest | ing place for us to see Indians on Oul outward trip on the Southern Pacific so we found Needles the most interest ing place to see the Indians on thi
 trip to the Grand Canyon. The rem
 nant of the once powerful and warlik'
 Mojave tribe have their abiding plac'
 near here, and they cOngregate at tn
 station when the trains are due. w
 counted 75 squaws and 15 men mixed in with as many more of our passengers
 on the long stretch of platform, tn
 squaws with long strings of beads an'
 men with bows and arrows. We wer
 told they drove quite trade with tn
 passengers of the trans-continenta
 trains. Stoically picturesque the
 move about, and if they can spea
 English they do not any further tha
 to answer about prices, then it is 'tw
 bits," -four bitS,'' "tOllar," and tn like. Time was and that not lon ago, when word was given "The Mt javeS are on the warpath!" it struc terror to the hearts of settlers, and tf r arm of the government was stretche out for protection.