The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-10
a DESERT DRAMA.
BY NJ. Quad.

Looking north. south or west from
the lonely military post on the edge of
the Mohave desert. you saw nothing
but sand and scrub and cactus No
living things were to be found out there
except the serpent and the lizard.
Only the vulture spread his wings to
fly over it. 1t was always the same.
no matter whether the rest of the
earth was parching with heat or cool
ing under refreshing rains-sand and
scrub cactus. The sight was full of
fear and awe to the soldier sentinel
pacing the ramparts. Had he been told
that there were chests of gold on the
far border he would not have been
tempted. He knew that out there was
broiling heat terrible thirst. fierce
hunger and such lonesomeness that he
who wandered over the sands lost his
reason after day.
In the rank and file of the army this
lonely frontier post was called the
Death Post. Not that there was more
sickness there than elsewhere, but that
an average of four men per year went
out from 1t and were heard of no more.
They were always private soldiers. and
they were always men who had acted
queerly for days before. They had been
found brOoding or weeping. They had
ceased to laugh or smile. There was
fear in their eyes. One by one at in
tervals they had quietly gone forth at
night. and when their absence had been
reported the surgeon had gently said
to the commandant:
"It is not deserti0n. The men have
been awed and terrorfzed by the pres
ence of the desert. It has drawn them
to itself Out there on its bosom there
well be another skeleton"
FEle eonmandant may have agreed.
but he could not so state In his Of
fetal reports. It must be missing
or sdesertion.' In time his superiors
demanded explanations and limited at
laxity of discipline. They even sent
him to a new field and sent an iron
man to replace nina colonel who
laughed at the desert and felt no awe
when he looked up at the rugged cliffs
which the brawling river had cut its
way through when the world was
younger by million years. His pam
acea for lOneSomeneSs, for homesIck-
ness and for sentiment was drill and
plenty of it. He would give the men
no time to think When they told him
that Private Parker was acting Queerly
he had the man before him and cursed
and threatened and ridieuled Two
nights later when the midnight relief
came around to Parker's post it found
his musket lying on the ground, but
the man himself was missing.
'tHe heard the call of the desert and
he has gone to his death" whispered
his comrades.
ssThe man is a deserter. and I will
have him back here within two days
or resign my commission" exclaimed
the man of iron
Squads were sent out, and the search
continued for three days without sue
cess. Then the eommandant deter
mined to put the post to shame and
kill sentiment and superstition at q
blow. He mounted his horse and
rode away over the desert. He would
find the deserter and bring him in. He
believed the man had taken food and
drink with him and pushed for the
mining towns on the other edge of the
sea of sand. He should be overhauled
and an example made of him. They
watched the colonel take straight
course over the sands. which were just
beginning to heat up under the morn
ing sun Of a summers day. He was
strongly mounted and carried water
and provisions. and at his watch-chain
was a COMPASS. In an hour he was
out of sight, and from that moment
to this no human eye has rested upon
him living or dead. AS he rode away
men shook their heads and whispered
to each other AS the days and nights
passed and he did net return men
crossed the parade ground on bp-toe.
as we enter the room of the dead
When six days had dragged their
length away and a skeleton of horse
came limping into the post and stood
for moment before the sentinel at
the gate and gazed at him with sunken
eyes and tottered on its weak legs. most
Of the men were awed into silence.