The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-09-12
AGED HERMIT SAVES
WOMAN IN THE
DESERT
HUSBAND FALLS DEAD WHEN
WITHIN SIGHT OF RESCUE
WIFE AND CHILD RESCUED
AFTER AWFUL SUFFERING.

related by Charles 5. Wilson, younG
attorney OF this city. who has just re
| turned from the Imperial valley coun
try. The account OF the tragic death
OF Robert Pulley and the thrilling 60
cape OF his wife with her Two little
children is wildly narrated by Mr.
Wilson.
Pulley traded his home in Riverside
for melon ranch ~ FL Centre, but
the seasons crop nettei him little
profit and, disheartened and money
less, he managed to trade of some
OF his ranch belongings FOR "A wagon
and two horses. Equipping the outfit
with barely enough food hay and
water to last him across the desert
he started back 10 Riverside where
he hoped again to recuperate his van
ished possessions OF water Pulley
could carry only enough TO last him
from one desert well To another, or
what could be held in two barrels, one
strapped on, each side of his covered
wagon.
1T was O'Clock in the morning
when the Inflated Pulley family left Ii
Centre" said Mr.. Wilson. They trav'
elcd until a. IN, when. they arrived
at a sort OF oasis, where their water
barrels were filled. and they were com
PEELED 10 rest until the fierce heat had
subsidized Then they continued on
their journey.
Pulley was strong man and MS
horses were big and powerful, SO
there was no fear concerning his safe
! ~. Settlers at his last stop begged
him to take extra water and warned
him OF what might follow. but he re
fused confidently. They directed him
to Coyote Wells as clearly as they
could. but directions on the desert
especially when one has no compass
are merely bewildering.
Horses Drop Exhausted.
From the time Pulley replenished
his water barrels at the last stop until
death overlook him, the suns heat
seemed TO pursue him with added ven
geance The horses, within few
hours. according TO the subsequent
story of the wife, became but skin
and bones, emaciated to an almost
incredible degree by the intensity OF
the heat, and several times fell down
in their harness. so Pulley was com
PEELED frequently-much too frequently
to give them water. They were
strengthened for a short time and
managed to pull their load little fur
Their. but, with the family. they had
consumed the last OF the water. The
father believed he was much closer
TO the wells than was the case.
HE was off his course several
miles.
In the, heart of this deathlike land,
about a mile from where Pulley's wa
gon stopped for the last time, and ad-
Joining the little oasis known as Coy
ote Wells. lives one of the most inter
esting characters of the desert, her
init homesteador named Charles ID.
Hampton, who knows the region like
book, from years OF residence there.
He has a most picturesque homestead
and cabin, and enjoys the distinction
of. having saved probably more human
lives than any other man In the world.
His only company is a team OF horses.
the rowing bands OF coyotes which
haunt the vicinity of the wells and
the desert reptiles.
"Peering from the door Of his cabin,
In such a position that Ii was not seen
by the Pulley family, the hermit home
steader sighted this last misguided
traveller, leading his staggering team
from the wagon in quest OF water. AS
he had done thousands OF times be-
fore, the old hermit mounted horse
and started toward him. He found the
man almost famished and hail blind
and the horses all but dead, but he
guided them quickly back to the wells
where the Horses and their owner
drank to their FIJI Of the warm but
refreshing fluid Then Pulley filled
his canteen and started back with his
team to Join his family and hitch up
and haul them to the wells. Hampton
the homesteader, believing Pulley was
safe. returned to his own cabin, happy
in the fact that he had saved another
life and possibly the lives OF ALL
But Pulley never reached the wa.
gon. Within 200 yards Of It. while his
wife and children were sitting on the
front seat eagerly waiting for his ar
rival with the canteep. one OF the
horses dropped dead. probably from
having drank too much.
when the horse dropped and Pull.
ley had made sure there was no
chance of saving Il, he started To lead
the other horse forward. Suddenly
within a few feet Of the dead animal
his wife saw him clasp his hand to
his heart and drop over, face down
ward, In the hot sand She staggered
from her seat, almost famished and
weak from suffering. and hurried TO
his side. He was dead when she got
there. but the water in his canteen
undoubtedly saved her life as we'll as
the lives of her little ones.
"All that day. not knowing where
the wells were and fearing to venture
out into the hot void in quest OF them,
the woman stood guard over the dead
body of her husband. clasping her sob.
bling children to her breast, and until
late in the night fighting of the coy.
otes that as soon as dark came. at.
tempted TO get at the body.
1.-THE coyotes undoubtedly were
nearly starved, for their efforts TO
reach the corpse were al times threat.
enng. and when Hampton. the hermit
misunderstanding strange noises
and unusual bowling in the desert dis.
tancc--ventured out in quest of the
wagon he found the woman almost a
maniac. with hair dishevelled. eyes
haggard. face and hands emaciated
wringing' her hands and waving them
frantically at the band OF hungry de
sort dogs The younQpct rhfid Wae