The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1914-03-12
LAND OF MIRAGES
Death Valley and Its Treacherous
Lures of Beauty.
WORK OF A GOOD SAMARITAN.
Beck, tho Prospeetor, Who Has Made
the Desert Bloom With Guideposts
Pointing tho Way to Water and
Saved Many Men From Death.

In the American Magazine is an arti-
clio about Lew Westcott Beck. who is
known rs the good Samaritan of
Death valley" He and his dog, Ru-
fus. have saved many prospectors from
horrible death by making the desert
blossom with guideposts showing the
way to water The following is an ex-
tract from the article:
Time was when Beck was a plain
prospector in the Cripple Creek coun-
try. He was in on the diggings ut
Leadville. and he PANIED around in
Montana awhile. Likewise he rushed
into the Big Horn at the time OF the
mineral strike there. but he never
struck lead that made him rich.
Eventually he drifted down through
Nevada and into Death valley. chasing
rainbows. Wild rumors about Death
Valley Scotty's big find in that section
electrified the country. and scores OF
prospectors rushed into the desert. ex-
pecting TO make their fortune in few
days. Beck was among those pres.
emit
There were several in Beck's party.
They hiked many miles through the
mirage land, finding nothing worth
while and worrying constantly lest
they exhaust their supply OF water.
For two days they sought water holes.
and when out OF water they went for
hours with tongues swollen and lips
parched from want OF moisture Then
when death seemed inevitable they
suddenly discovered tiny stream
trickling out OF canyon at the base
or the Panamlnt mountains.
when Beck returned to civilization
he was changed man. He had seen
sands that were strewn with skulls.
and that sight had put big idea into
his head.
Game spring. and Beck made an
other trip through Death valley. At
his side was n Newfoundland dog.
The prospector carried bundle OF tin
strips. They were signboards to guide
the wanderers steps Alright.
Each summer since then the pros
pector and his dog have made q Jour
ney to the land OF the purple mist. pill
Tag up rocks and sttochiag sieus to
them. searching for lost travellers and
hctpluS II ltOhOul lot
piece OF precious metal. Once or twice
Rufus has led his master to prospectors
who, after long suffering from thirst,
Ind fallen upon the burning sands to
die.
I'm signboarding the desert Beck has
saved number OF thirst mad rain
bow chasers and has also in remote
districts stumbled upon the bleaching
bones OF dead men who may have
found fortunes in the silver sulphuret
district, but who did not live to tell
the world about it. At one time he as.
sisted Mt the burial Of four men who
died Of thirst within two miles OF
spring
The country that Beck traverscs is
the most arid section OF the American
continental dreary stretch of hun.
dreds OF miles OF desert. dotted here
and there with foothills buttes. dry
creek beds. chaparral, prickly pear and
saEebrush. Springs are miles upon
miles apart Most OF them are bitterly
alkali. and some are poison
ION I'M ordinary summer afternoon
the thermometer runs up to about 1874
degrees in the shade out in Death val
ley, and the most unpleasant thing
about II is that there is dearth OF
shade. When man ventures out upon
this trackless eXpanse the shimmering
heat dazes him. the scarcity OF water
crilZes him. and the mirage-trencher.
Gus. lying thing OF beauty that IL is
looms ever before him. flashing upon
tie canvas OF his minds eye verdant
valley. gorgeously green with growing
things fresh with flowers, wet with
water and waiting to welcome him
He can see grassy hill slopes just
ahead. and the mirrored lake appears
TO lie just beyond some Reckoning
meadow He follows on and on and
afterward drains the last drop from
his canteen Then his throat becomes
parched. his tongue cleaves to the roof
OF his mouth. and strange things pass
before Ills eyes. The buzzards begin
to soar over him. and the coyotes sit
upon their hunkers and watch him
chase rninbows until he pitches for.
ward upon his face and closes his eyes
upon world that is too mysterious
and merclIess for him to linger In
/ longer"