Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-06-03

| to kneel and Arab riders and drivers
buried themselves underneath the
| Odds of their capacious burnouses, SC
| that the sand could cover them com
/ pletely without injury.
Storm Approaches.
Those of us in the automobiles
huddled in our seats and were GOV.
cred with large cloths which complete
ly enveloped machine and occupant
They did not cover us up until the last
minute, so that we could see the storm
approaching. We could see pillars OF
whirling and twisting sand, each sur.
] rounded by nimbus of dust through
1 which the sun shot it's rays making
various tints all of which were sad and
lifeless. 1t is really difficult thing,
suppose, to get much beauty out of q
/ dust cloud. The storm swept nearer
| and nearer. The cameis grumbled but
laid their long necks straight on the
ground ready to meet the storm.
AS soon as the dust began to swirl
about u.s. we were enveloped in the
huge cloths covering the automobile
and we remained under cover until
! the storm had swept past. Luckily
1t was not severe storm. 1t lasted
| only about ten minutes, and we could
see 1t swirling and twisting in the dis.
lance as 1T passed OH over the desert
The men of the party rode here and
there always keeping within sight OF
/ h o1,
our inspection those ugly little horned
toads, an amazing collection of lizards
while they reported the conquest OF
several rattle-snakes.
We passed an old miner-a typical
'49er, dressed in gray wooden shirt
corduroy trousers and long heavy
boots. He was camped by the way.
side, his only companion being a tiny
burro. dressed in an enormous pack
saddle. The old man had his pick and
shovel and gold-pan strapped to the
/ pack saddle and evidently had hopes
of finding some place to use them. Our
party greeted him jovially and wished
him good luck. but he sat by his little
camp fire unmoved and with no more
! expression on his features than his
companion, the burro.
In the desert, one day is just about
the same as another day, while the
nights offer no change from the mon
otony. OF course. we had a big tent
which we used as drawing-room and
there IN the evening, we sat about
with music sometimes, giving bridge
party, and enjoying ourselves in vari
Gus ways. Several in the party had
good Voices, so we had some singing
of excellent quality.
one thing we We're always careful
about, was to make thorough exami
4 nation of our bedding before retirine
for the night. More than one member
OF the party gave vent to calculations
OF horror upon the discovery of scor
pion or centipede, which evidently
thought the bed had been especial,
prepared for his comfort.
Day by day the picture making wen,
on. There was mad riding on horse
back and camelback There was shoot
ing, and | will never forget the da,
OF the fierce combat which was sc
realistic that we all shuddered, anl
felt that we had witnessed tragedy
indeed. OF course, during the actor
OF the piece, other fights were pic
tured but the big fight in the desert
is surely one that will fascinate every
one who sees the picture.
One particular thing about our des
nrf
culiar to us, occidentals, was the close
application of the Arabs and other Mo
hammedans in our train, to their re
ligious duties. They had a muezzin
who was also whirling dervish, anf
he called the devotees oil Mohammec
to prayers as strictly as though they
We're in their own home country. :
Enjoyable Feature.
An exceptionally enjoyable feature
in connection with our trip, was the
privilege of taking bath-somethine
never before done in the desert. Mr.
Selig had an eye to the comfort of the
members of his troupe, and instructed
that arrangements should be made fol
plentiful supply of water to be uset
for bathing purposes. | don't suppose
that ever before in the history of
desert caravan, were daily baths in
dulged in by members Of party.
don't mean to intimate that everybody
took baths. but some of us did, and il
made life less difficult under tn,
dreadful and mournful surroundings.
1t took us a long time in the desert
and the work was hard, but we knew
that it must be accomplished and w,
all did our best. So that when you Sc,
THE Carpet From Bagdad" produced
in a great Selig photoplay, those O
you who read this article, will recall
the substance of my writing. We dit
!, not move about much and we wer,
fairly comfortable during the week
spent in the desert.
can realize how man, alone ami,
the trackless waste of sands, can be
come hopeless and helpless especial,
when without water | will never for
get one day when we had ridden sew
eral miles from camp, that we discoy
. cred that the canteens had been lef
behind. There was no water to drink
!, OF course, we We're without water 70
only few hours, but the very fac
! that we could not have it when w
wanted it. made us desire it all tn
> more.
: l have experienced more pleasan
occasions than our trip through tn
: n. 10 r o1n
> perienced occasions that were NOR