The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1912-12-27
Gunrnen and Leader Are
Dumped on Alkali Plain
Threats to Make Auto
Driver Proceed Fail When
Trona Managers and De
tectives Appear on Scene
RAIDERS STRANDED
IN BLEAK DESERT
SSecond Party With Laborers
Is Unable to Get Beyond
Searles in Time to Work
Claims-Third Expedition
Likely to Be Abandoned
by Attorney Claimant

Started with grim determination to
force entry upon disputed potash
claims at searIes lake, the third armed
expedition financed by San Francisco
capitalists and directed by Los Angeles
and San Francisco attorneys came to an
ignominious and almost farcical end in
the Mojave desert yesterday.
Before the raiders had sighted the
great Slate range bordering the south
eastern shore OF the American Dead
sea the gunner and their leader. Lou
Rasor, civil engineer Of Los Angeles,
we're dumped unceremoniously from
their big touring car and were left on
the chilly aIkali in the early morning
with their maps, utensils and supplies.
Searles lake lay II miles to the north
ward and the nearest railroad station
was 25 miles away.
The coup, which was conceived by
Joseph X. Hutchinson, San Francisco
attorney and director OF the California
Trona company, and by w. A Mundell.
Pacific coast superintendent of the
Burns detective agency. went through
with greater precision and dispatch
than its originators dared hope.
CHAUFFEUR BALKs
The hero" Of the affair was NJ. A.
fTarney, automobile man OF Los An
seles. who was Hired By Attorney
Henry E Lee of this city. varney
drove the five gunner and Rasor into
the heart of the Mojave sink and upon
the border of the alkali nat called Lake
Elizabeth the chauffeur. who owns the
machine. informed his employers that
lie had decided to turn back.
Vainly the men I'm the machine cx-
rostuIated and threatened. For rea-
sons which he did not deem necessary
to reveal varney decided that the
peaceful boulevards of Los Angeles
were more attractive than the bleak
desert and the surveillance of armed
men. While Varney's passengers were
clustering two automobiles containing
detectives Los Angeles and San Ber-
nardino deputy sherifs and Hutchinson
whirled up and varney's revolt received
firm and adequate support.
GUNMEN PILE OUT
Slowly the gunner and their leader
piled out The detectives sprang into
the stalled touring car and dumped
out maps. camp supplies and cooking
gear. The detectives remained in the
machine and with all three cars started
toward Garden station, the rendezvous
of the Trona company's men,
A man named Ambrose announced
that he was going to hike back to
Searles station. 25 miles away. and he
departed, leaving the others sitting be-
side the roadway Meanwhile a second
party, headed by Ed Rasor. had left
Los Angeles by train for Searles sta
ton. The program of the claimants
was to send the gunner to the lake
and then return to Searles and pick UP
the 1aborers.
The second party. deprived Of its
automobile. faces a stay at Searles.
This town consists Of a platform for
loading freight and a vacant restaurant.
LEE STILL sHADOwED
The Trona people were eIated at the
outcome OF the third Lee raid the first
Of which resulted in location of the
claims. the second in the death of
Charles Davidson, civil engineer and
graduate Of the University of Califor-
MIA. That the third raid ended peace
ably is due to the careful plans of the
Trona people. who. from the moment
they learned that Lee again was active
to revive his interests. had his steps
watched night and day by detectives.
Lee was under surveillance yesterday
and will be kept so until all danger of
his attempting TO revive title to the
disputed claims has been eliminated
Considerable excitement occurred at
the Mills building when Lees photo
graph was sought