New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-24
Dash for Rich Deposits at
SearIeS Lake Stopped When
Armed Trucks Are Smashed.
ENEMIES FIXED" ENGINES
English Holders of the Property
Equip Scout Ship" with a
Force Headed by Oar
ing Nevada Sleuth.
IN TcIeeraph % The TrLbune-

! san Francisco. Dec. 23-Balked in an
| effort to send supplies and provisions to
Seares Lake. where deposits Of borax
and potash worth many millions lie, FIVE
men and two automobile trucks are held
| AT Bakersfield, where the engines OF the
| trucks were wrecked and the tires cut and
destroyed. The misfortune of the van
guard Of the Los Angeles expedition gives
a slight victory TO the men who are de-
! Tending the California Trona Company 5
works from invasion, az the repairing OF
the trucks will occupy several days and
may not be completed until after the time
limit-December 31-in which assessment
work on the disputed claims must be done
shall have passed.
=, Meanwhile IT. T.. Lee. an attorney
whose footsteps are being followed con-
stantly by Burns detectives in the en-
pIoy Of the Foreign Mines Development
COMPANY. the English syndicate holding
the Trona property at the lake, is jour
neying to Los Angeles. There ne Will
consult with Judge T. .. Toland, the le-
gal adviser of the claimants and who is
alleged 10 hold one-eighth interest In the
property.
Among the developments OF the day
was A meeting between Joseph Is. Hutch-
juson. an attorney, representing the Eng
uSb syndicate. and Lee aboard the Coast
Line train bound for Los Angeles. Le,
assured Hutchinson that the fight Woulo
be. "on the square" and without trlcKerE'
Hutchinson retorted that the claimants
had only seven days in which to win.
The automobiles left Los Angeles las'
Friday night under cover Of darkness
their armed occupants hoping to elude
the men of the Trona Company BotH
machines were hllcd with supplies SUM-
ci.ot to last a small army for several
DAYS. The trucks also carried poN %.
repeating rifles. several reviewers an"
many rounds OF ammunition.
The run to Bakersfield was made with
ont incident. when Sunday night fell
and the party again prepared to take ad-
vantage OF friendly darkness trouble de-
yeloped with the engines. Bits OF IRON
had been placed in them, parts had been
removed and when the trucks started the
machinery became scrap iron.
The representatives OF the Foreign
Mines Development Company have ike
wise equipped high powered machine 10
act as scout ship" and carry warning to
fine men at the Trona Works.
This automobile force IS captained by a
man known a. Little Cherry Kelly.
with CHERRY" Is Robert Lord. assistant
manager of the Burns agency In Los An
peles. and three deputy sheriffs Of Los
Angeles County. These men are now on
tho Ntoiaye desert in the vicinity OF kra-
NOR. awaiting instructions from thei
legal advisers in Los Angeles.
"The people of California said Lee to-
day. twill learn that those who are inter
,sted in this attempt 10 perfect just
claims are relying solely upon the courts
I have nv own hand to play and cannot
toll Won who are financially Interested In
los Angeles except Judge T. o. Toand,
and he will have to speak for himself"
r. s. Minot. en- attorney, who shares
7 o.'a offices. asserts that none OF the par
tics nj the lake has any legal rights there
,bot the lake still can be located by any
one and that the Department OF JUSTICE
al Washington is about to make an IN
Vestiration of the situation.
A limited states deputy marshal was
1isratrhed to-day To Searles Lake from
+ 80 Angeles i'm response to a warning
iTat armed claim jumpers might attempt
to take possession OF the potash deposits