Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-03
CAUGHT IN DESERT
Surveying Party Finds 80 Bodies
in the Nevada
Waste.
NEAR DEAD MANS" WELL
Railway Laborers Attempted TO
Cross Barren Tract Spite
OF Warnings.

Los Vegas, New, Feb. 3.-Thirty
bodies of men who persisted on the
Nevada desert from thirst and hun
ger have been found by party of
| surveyors who are in advance of the
new San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt
Lake railroad.
The victims of the desert met death
within the last few weeks. according
to all evidence obtainable and the con-
ditiOn Of the bodies when discovered.
The men persisted in attempting to
cross the waste area that stretches
a distance of so miles from Las Vegas
to the California line.
The 30 bodies were all found within
radius of quarter of mile around
Dead Mans Well, the only water in
the entire desert and that a delusion
which lures men to insanity and
death.
Several bodies were nude, showing
that the crazed men had cast off their
clothing before dropping down to die
on the sage bush plains. One hun
dred feet from this well the survey
| ing party came across six bodies ly-
ing few yards apart. They had been
frightfully torn and half eaten by
desert beasts and birds of prey.
Had Buried a Victim.
| One body was partially buried in
shallow grave, evidently having been
found by another wanderer who
buried the unfortunate as best he
could, then himself fell a victim in
the terrible desert.
This Dead Mans Well' is about
| h.l . ba l,nr
! that divides the little settlements of
southern Nevada from the hills of
| California. 1t was sunk many years
ago to provide water for the people
who attempted to cross the desert on
foot in spite of warnings. Wafer.
which was struck at depth of 125
feet, proved to he brackish with salt
and unfit for use. To drink the water
means madness. Hundreds, probably
have drunk it. only to become raving
mad AMI aimlessly wander about
| until heat added to other sufferings
brought Death as a relief.
/ Men who have tried this tramp
\ across the desert lately were laborers
formerly employed on the Clark road
who desired to go to California. and
tramps who took this road instead
Of that along the South Pacific. Near
I1y all were warned not to attempt the
journey. but persisted in taking moth
| ing but a bottle of water and a pock-
| etfuI of food to sustain them on the
/ trip.
II Died In 200 Feet of River
\ short time ago a laborer started
Il across with Il bottle of water. One
week later his body was found with
II in 200 yards of the MOapa river. He
Il evidently had become insane from
thirst and persisted within Il stones
II throw of fresh water. which he was
L unable To see on account of the dark
ness.
Two days prior to this incident two
tramps were picked up near Dead
Mans Well'' by a stage driver. Both
men were insane. and were wandering
around in nude condition. They at
tempted to resist rescue, but were
too weak. They died before the stage
reached Moapa.
\ few days ago railroad laborer
was found by a party of prospectors
in the middle of the desert. He imag-
ined he could hear water trucking.
and CROPPED bindly about searching
/ for it. He was taken 10 Las Vegas,
where he is slowly recovering his
senses.
Many instances of this sort have
been reported, but no one believed
that such large number had perish
ell recently as is proved by the party
of surveyors.