The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-07-05

there was a great hustling and bus
Ting about. The camels were ordered
to kneel and Arab riders and drivers
buried themselves underneath the
folds 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 COW
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
whirlng and twisting sand, each sur
rounded by nlmbus of dust through
which the sun shot its rays making
various tints all Of which we're sad and
lifeless. 1t is really difficult thing,
l suppose, to get much beauty out OF a
dust cloud. The storm swept nearer
and nearer. The camels grumbled but
laid their long necks straight on the
ground ready to meet the storm.
AS soon as the dust began to swirl
about us, we were enveloped in the
huge cloths covering the automobilei
and we remained under cover until
the storm had swept past. Luckily,
1t was not a severe storm. II lasted
only about ten minutes, and we could
see it swirling and twisting In the dis
tance as 1t passed on over the DESERT
The men of the party rode here and
there always keeping within sight of
the caravan and they brought back for
our inspection those ugly little horned
toads, an amazing collection CT lizards,
while they reported the conquest of
several rattle-snakes. 4
We passed an old miner--a typical
'49er, dressed in gray woolen shirt,
corduroy trousers and long heavy
boots. He was camped by the way
side, his only companion being q 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 big tent
which we used as a drawing room and
there in the evening, we sat about
with music sometimes, giving a 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-
nation of our bedding before retiring
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 especially |
for his comfort
Day by day the picture making went
on. There was mad riding on horse
back and camelback. There was shoot
ing, and ! will never forget the day
Of the fierce combat which was so
realistic that we all shuddered, and |
felt that we had witnessed tragedy, |
indeed OF course, during the action
Of the piece, other fights were pic
-ured, but the big fight in the desert,
S surely one that will fascinate every |
one who sees the picture.
One particular thing about our des-
e-t journey, at least the fact was Pc
,uliar to US, occidentals, was the close
application Of the Arabs and other Mo-
lammedans in our train, to their re-
igious duties. They had a muezzin,
Who was also whirling dervish, and
le called the devotees of Mohammed
o prayers as strictly as though they
we're in their own home country.
Enjoyable Feature. ~
An exceptionally enjoyable feature
n connection with cur trip, was the
privilege OF taking bath-somethine
lever before done in the desert. Mr.
'elig had an eye to the comfort of tht
nembers of his troupe, and instructed
hat arrangements should be made for
plentiful supply of water to be used
or bathing purposes. ! don't suppose
hat ever before in the history of a
esert caravan, were daily baths in
ulged in by members of party.
ont mean to intimate that everybody
ook baths, but some of us did, and 1t
lade life less difficult u. der the
readful and mournful surroundings.
1t took us long time in the desert,
nd the work was hard, but we knew
lat 1t must be accomplished and we
Il did our best So that when you see
The Carpet From Bagdad" produced
| q great Selig photoplay, those of
gu who read this article, will recall
lie substance of my writing. We did
ot move about much and we were
lirly comfortable during the weeks
1ent in the desert.
/ can realize how a man, alone amid
le trackless waste of sands, can be-
)me hopeless and helpless especially
hen without water. will never for.
1t one day when we had ridden sew
al miles from camp, that we discov-
.ad fbat tha aapfanpa Ls - =.