The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1905-07-26
WERE DECEIVED BY
THE WONDERFUL MIRAGE

brought to light by George L.. Hunter,
mine owner of Ivanpah valley. who
contributed a wagon and horse to assist
while other miners were equally gsnsr-
Gus, according to the extent of their
possessions.
Manuel Espulviada,s his wife and three
children, one a child of years, had set
olt from Uvada, Utah. to journey by
wagon to Searchiight ALL went wei.
until after the family left Moapoa. Then
heavy winds and rains surrounded them
and IN seeking shelter they lost their
road
For two days the family searched,
whea,-sust at sunset on the second day,
their hopes arose by Espuiviada imagin-
ing that he had just made out the out
Inc of train far of on the hor zon.
II they cou.d get back TO the rai.road
they knew they would be saved. and
assured that their dilemma was past.
they urged on their jaded horses, cal
culating to reacn the railreea before
morning and ffnti nearby shelter from the
days heat.
Mile after mile they drove. The OBJ
ject Espulviada- had described as q train
had been swa lowed up in the night.
He wondered why he did not reach the
rails, bit only when the flush of morn
lsx Of
less sand on all sides would he admit
that he had been deceived and was in
worse plight than ever.
He found himself ara farn44y out
on scorching desert. the sun already
above the eastern horizon, and not a
sign of shelter in sight. How they
pulled through that day. which was
blistering hot. the man cannot explain
He and his wife endured the pangs OF
hunger and suffocation without a muir
muir. nott1 -fcaring@-te touch g. drop o.
the precious sapp.ys OF water for fear
the children might need it.
Late In the afternoon their hopes were
again raised by the sight of a ump Of
trees and a lake. They could see the
surface of the blue sheet OF water ruff
fling beneath breath of wind. and -
almost seemed that they could feel the
For fear that they were deceived. h
haId the four-year-o.d child in his arms,
and. pointing toward the picture. aske-:
What is over there?" Water" was
the reply. But the peaceful lake WIS
too ethereal to last. and had soon faueu
away in rolling biliows OF heat. which a
few minutes afterward looked much lik
an immense drove OF sheep and Espulvl-
ada. in horror. realized that these fas-
cinating pictures before them were but
the deceptive work of the heat and that
probab the train which had led him
SO far was of this same character.
That night they were again caught IN
a violent storm which soaked them
through. but replenished their watel
supply. and undoubtedly saved them
from perishing of thirst. Next day tAey
kept the children wrapped in rain-soak-
ed blankets as protection from tie
heat and that afternoon another elec-
trical storm arose, and when at its
height the horses became frenzied with
fear. and. running away. wrecked their
wa gon.
broken and one horse had been so bad y
injured that it was useless did the run
aways stop, and then II was found that
the smallest chi was missing. Dis
tracted with grief the father set back
afoot to find ii and after wandering
amlessly was found by two miners.
They guided Espulvlada back TO his
wrecked wagon and assisted the family
to camp. and were preparing to take up
the search for the missing child when
another Mexican arrived.
He was worked to high pitch OF ex-
citement and told how he had been
chased by a wild animal. He explained
tnat just AT DUSK soihe siahse shu
frightful object had suddenly sprang up
from the sand and rearing upon its hind
feet had started toward him, uttering
a Wild cry, while its forelegs We're out
stretched in his direction. He wou'd
Ii, We shot the creature. but was too
scared.
Espulviada grew excited when he heard