Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-07-02
LOST IN THE DESERT.
DR.. D. 3. Wylie, Formerly OF Wausac,
Near Losing His Life in
Arizona

The Arizona Republican, published
at Phoenix, Ariz., gives a long des-
cription of the hunt for DIR. Dan. b.
Wylie, who became lost in the desert,
near Arizona. Dr. Wylie, it seems,
had gone in search of horse he
wished to purchase, and not returning
when expected, friends went in search
of him. The following is taken from
the Republican of Tuesday, June 18th,
viz:
"Dr. d. B. Wylie, brother of Dr.
Win Wylie of this city, whose prob
able wandering and possible death on
the desert was recited in yesterdays
Republican, was found yesterday af-
ternoon about $50 O'Clock, eight miles
northwest of Wickenburg, by Sheriff
jeff Adams, other members of the
same search party being in the near
vicinity at the time. He had been
all but succumbed to thirst and Starv-
alton and was mixed in his direction
and rapidly approaching the inevitable
insanity that comes upon men in
such predicament; nevertheless reason
was not dethroned and doubtless his
life was protected until help arrived,
through his knowledge of what to do
under such circumstances. When a
canteen was placed at his disposal he
told the men they need have no fear;
he knew just what TO do, and there
upon he slipped the water, a teaspoon
full at time, and this too when he
was so far over the brink of self con-
troll that he had lost his hat and
spectacles. He was hustled to Wick
enburg in an automobile as quickly as
possible where he was placed under
the care of physician and given
nourishment. There is no doubt but
that he will make good recovery,
though last night. he was so i'll it was
thought better to leave him in Wick
enburg until today, rather than to
make the journey TO Phoenix on the
train.
This information was brought to
Phoenix last night by John r. Norton
who had charge of search party that
left here at 1l:35 Sunday night in an
automobile, Mr.. Norton returning
from Wickenburg on last nights
1O:45 train, leaving the others in the
party to come down in the machine.
Mr.. Norton did not see ID. B. Wylie
until he reached Wickenbarg and be-
tween that time and the departure of
the train he had little opportunity to
learn details of what happened to the
man during his wandering, for he was
not in a condition to be worried
great deal by talking. 1t was not
learned by Mr.. Norton, whether the
horse threw him or how he came to
be separated from his mount; how
ever he saw no indication of any in
juries other than the fatigue of starv-
alton and thirst. 1t was learned
however as early as yesterday noon
when the Phoenix party reached Hot
Springs Junction, that Wylie did not
leave Wickenburg until Friday night
about 10 o'clock instead of Friday
morning, and that instead of starting
for Gila Bend, he had started north
west in the direction of Aguila on
the A. & G. railIoad, for the purpose
of securing horse he desired to take
to Gila Bend. The earlier search of
the lower country he was supposed to
have headed for was therefore lost
time. However from Friday night to
Monday night is good long pull on
the desert without food, and with the
small water supply he started with.
How long the water lasted Mr.. Nor
ton did not learn and as for food all
that Wylie had was some chollas or
| prickly pears he had eaten after build
| ing a fire and roasting off the thorns.
The finding of the lost man was
just a chance, q fool trick of JEFF
Adams, as Mr.. Norton puts it. Every
body in the party had despaired of
finding him except jeff and he was
about to give up the search when he
decided to shoot his revolver few
times anyway, in the hope of attract
ing attention. He did SO and re-
sponsive to the shots came feeble
cry for help from the man they had
searched for so diligently which
chanced to be no great distance away
from the officer"
DIR. Wylie was born in Wausau and
grew to manhood here, and his old
friends will rejoice that he was saved.