The Washington herald., 1912-06-02
FLANDERS 20" TO
PENETRATE DESERT
L. W. Beck, Desert Explorer, and
His Faithful Canine on an
Errand of Mercy.

To lessen the dangers Of the Great
American Desert and its annual toll OF
human life Is the mission on which a
Flanders 20 motor car has begun an
all-summer trip from Pasadena, Cal. At
its wheel is Lou Weston Beck, former
| prospector, but now philanthroplst. who
| has dedicated his life TO the chartering
and posting Of the indefinite trails which
traverse the great Intermountain region,
and the indication to travellers by plain
and effective means Of the spots where
water may be obtained.
Mr.. Beck's mission has been made pos
sible by generous citizens OF Pasadena
acquainted with his work. who have sub
scribed the sum necessary to purchase
the car. Mr.. Beck has chrIstened II the
"Chuckwalla Flanders 20 " in honor Of
the famous bloated lizard which is the
only creature able to live in many parts
| " the terrible waste.
An annual tribute Of twenty-five VIC
tins Is, II Is estimated, exacted each
year by the grim region which lies i'm
mediately east Of the Coast Range
Practically all OF these are prospectors
who, ignorant Of the nature OF the coun-
try leave civilization with c scant sup
ply OF water and fail TO hnd more
Months, perhaps years, after their bones
are found. picked clean by the vuItures.
under the struggling shade Of some
mesquite bush. where their misera BILE
fate had finally overtaken them. Desert
rats they are dubbed by those In the
towns bordering on the vast expanse
To penetrate the desert in a motor car
has been tried several times, but with
uniform failure. Two years ago a party
OF seven in a high-powered car attempted
the trip. Two weeks later a searching
party came upon the car apparently
nk M
showed black huddle beneath the car.
To the horror OF the searching party this
was found to be a pile OF corpses. Near
by was a poisoned spring, from which
all had apparently drank.
Mr.. Beck knows the desert better, in
all probability, than any living man. not
even excepting ''Scotty" Of transconti-
mental fame. He expects to post his
signs In a way that will not only direct
the Rats" TO good water. but will also
warn them away from that which Is bad.
His signs are already painted and repre-
sent his labors Of the winter.
The "Chuckwalla Flanders 20" will
penetrate this summer as far as the no
torious Death Valley" and will be the
first motor car to essay this arid region.
Its itinerary has been arranged to cover
about 600 miles, touching the railroad
once to take on a second supply Of gaso-
llDE anu OlA- MI bECh uOpto 10
his work until the entire desert Is as well
charted as a main travelled highway. In
the completion Of his task, he is trying
TO enlist the services Of the United States
government, which by installing large
signs on buttss and mountain tops could
fulfill a purpose very similar to that per-
formed by the lighthouse and lifesaving
departments on the coasts and Great
Lakes.
In his work Mr.. Beck will be greatly
helped by Rufus a big red dog OF
mixed breeding, in which st. Bernard
blood is apparently dominant RUFUS"
goes into the desert with a canteen
strapped to each side, and shod with
buckslEin nearly to the knee as a pro-
lection against the hot sand. thorns and
deadly sidewinders.
Rufus has a record OF saving a round |
dozen lives. He has uncanny ability to |
fnd men lost in the desert. and has on |
three occasions located a lost trail. which |
enabled his master to return safely, after
hope had been abandoned.
1T is hard for the average man to |
the fascination the desert has |
for one who has once braved II. and /
come back" say Mr.. Beck. He may |
hold out against its call as long as the |
nardships and sufferings he endured are |
fresh In his mind. But. sooner or later. |
he finds himself signing for the heat. the |
lands, the mountains, the solitude, and |
he wind that sweeps along at rate OF
100 or more miles an hour, scorching his
lace as It passes. Then with pick on his |
back. and canteen at his side, he leads his
,aithful mule. laden with a months pro-
risions, out on the trail.
Some times he comes out, haggard,
md bronzed from thirst and privatiou.
,ut with his animal loaded down with
hat precious metal which will. when
urned into coin. make him and his
amily rich beyond their widest dreams.
Far more often, though, his ghastly re-
mains are found beside some dry spring.
" where, crazed by thirst, he had drank
rom a pool poisoned with slkan or
,orarV