Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-12-26
SHIPS THAT BURN LEGEND Of DESERT
Once Civilized Indian Tribe Lived
With Gold God.
Recedine Of the Waters Which Left
Sandy Basin 10 Explained by story
Told Twenty Years. Ago by
an Aged Indian.

In the early pioneer days many
persons who crossed the great desert
Of southern California, which 10
known to have at one time been the
bed Of the sea, swore that they
plainly saw the hull of an old ship
at 4 certain point, and from that
1t waA argued that not many CEN
turtles could have passed since the
vast basin Of sand had been sea.
w. II. Ward Of III Centre, Imperial
county. In connection with an old In
dian legend, which he heard over 20
years ago, says that as late as ten
years back the mythical ship has been
heard Of, but since the desert has
come to be SO much less Of terra In
cognita" one hears no more Of the
stranded hull
According to Mr.. Ward there are
many fine mirages to be seen show
ing ships at full sail over placid
waters at different times of the days,
and in that connection he tells of
a legend which came indirectly to
him from an old Indian who claimed
to be one hundred and twenty-five
years old. The Indian stated that the
legend had been In his family for 500
years, long sntedating the Spanish &C.
cupation of the country.
Ages ago, SO the story runs, the
desert was sea. The waters OF
the Colorado emptied into it far
north Of where they reach the gulf.
1t was wide and placid sea, rarely
vexed by storms, owing to the noun
tains that hemmed' 1t around. The
north and east shores of the sea
were peopled by tribe noted for their
high civilization. thrift and prosper
ity, but they were exclusive, having
very little intercourse with other peo-
pie. So fertile were the shores Of the
sea that almost everything desired
grew with very little cultivation; the
near mountains were rich in minerals,
and the wealth of the civilized people
constantly tempted the poorer tribes OF
the country.
In one of these battles two young
men Of a savage tribe inhabiting
the mountains were taken prisoners.
but won the love Of two dusky maid
ems of their captors. A boat was
built and the four escaped to the home
Of the young men.
There such tales were told of
wealth and prosperity that the saw
age tribe was stirred to great energy
and made preparations to invade the
~ nh, rtr,y nf tho 0N1h
god and temple Of their more favored
neighbors. After a furious battle the
savage tribe won, took most of the
Inhabitants captives, including the
priests Of the gold god. and the god
himself
1t was almost sunset Of sum-
mer's evening when the victorious feet
set sail. The waters of the sea lay
placid beneath clear sky. The aged
priest of the god lifted his hand In
supplication and implored heaven to
intervene and save his tribe from
slavery and captivity.
Suddenly the winds began to sigh
in the trees; the bosom of the sea
began to heave; the face Of nature
became as dark as eternal night; the
tempest gathered strength; the winds
increased in fury and the waves rolled
and fell like vast mountains All
night long the storm ragged and when
the sun rose IN the morning 1t looked
down on a scene Of desolation. The.
fleet had been driven ashore. The
golden image Of the god lay upon
the shore near his own ruined tenn
pie; he lay on his face, his hands
clutching inward as If to hold onto
the land At his feet lay the dead
bodies of the two faithful women who
had helped the captives to escape.
The strand was strewn with the dead
bodies of the foe--and the waters of
the sea were receding. They kept
receding until vast, desolate basin
of muck and sand was disclosed.
On certain days, so the legend runs,
the god revisits the scenes where once
his people lived so happily. Then
the days are peaceful; phantom wa
tiers fill the ola basin; the lightest
breezes swing over the valley. and
phantom ships with sails spread 60
skimming over the surface of the
waters