Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-09
Close Range View Of One
of the Most Picturesque
Figures Of Modern
Western Life.

n his native heath with "Scotty, the
mysterious gold miner of the Bull
~ frog district in Lower California, ana
one of the most picturesque figures OF MOD
ern western life is an experience sufncleht-
II, forceful to please even the President OF
the United States.
In close proximity to Schwab's Mont
eomery- Shoshone Nine" where twenty-five
millions of ore is blocked out, is Death
valley the most treacherous and fascinat-
ing region, perhaps, that prospectors for
gold have yet invaded.
Mai. Clifford s. Walton Of this city has
lately returned from his annual vacation
trip through the Bullfrog district, where
he has prospected to advantage, and what
he reports of that curious land of death
and gold Is as graphically romantic as a
Belasco play setting.
'.Scotty," with whom Maj. Walton recent
" parted company near Death valley, will
be remembered having achieved wide
notoriety some time ago by hiring spe-
cial train from the Sante Fe to come east
across the continent to try life as 1t is lived
at the Waldorf-Astoria- He broke all rec
ords as well as the windows of his car,
on this sensational ride, and set New York
by the ears II not with six-shooters, at
least with heavy discharges Of obligation
along Broadway.
~
"Scotty" represents a country where men
sleep In the open with only blanket for
shelter; where 1t is necessary to depend
upon a well-flled canteen in order to avoid
the occasional arsenic springs; where the
rocks are so hot at monday that they are
used for frying eggs; where the borax de-
post bubbles and boils in the sun so that
travellers wait until the cool Of night to
pick their way across the quicksand
marshes; and, finally, where there are no
women.
Instead, and for the perpetual Turing of
mankind, there Is earth-bound treasure
which shows upon the surface and offsets
all discomforts of climate and condition.
As In medieval tales, the treasure Is beset
by dangers and perils, through which the
conqueror must press 10 win the prize,
and Death valley Is far more perilous than
old-ttme dragon.
A man must understand and glory in the
rough and ready life before he ventures
into this region. Otherwise he may not
appreciate the hold gold fever takes upon
the brain. the fatal bite Of rattle
snake, or the ease and dispatch with Whlch
men lose their way and perish in the
washes or small canyons which every
where confuse the memory.
Former Senator Clark once said: TT is
a country of Hell and Blazes,' and If you
fall to observe the latter, goodbye to any
trail in life
Sand and wind storms sweep across the
arid wastes and reason totters when a man
and the horse he rides are mired in boraX
or threatened with death from thirst.
Yet Death Valley, imminent as are its
present dangers beckons with the hand of
wealth and men respond to the summons.
In another half dozen years adventurous
tourists as wen prospectors. will visit
the valley in search of new sensations
Already there is a spot near Beatty
-'.Chloride Cliff" the brink Of Death
valley--where a traveller stands to look
upon the lowest ground in the United
States. He has merely to turn his head to
behold the highest point in the United
States proper-Mount Whitney 40 miles
away.
Life in and around Death valley Ia
little strenuous" admitted Maj Walton in