New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-28
Lieutenant GOrrell Forced
TO Abandon Plane in
Mexican Sands.
WANDERS TWO DAYS
TORTURED BY THIRST
Reaches Water Hole. Then Com.
handlers Mexican's Horse
and Gets 10 Camp.
LRy re!es-.ph 10 nc r-.hun.1

Columbus, y. ", March o. Faint
from thirst on the arid desert. Keeling
and cropping for a solitary alkali water
hole in the parched sands forty mile.
below the border here, one Of the army.
best 1iers, almost died before A cooling
nightfall brought him 10 his senses
within fifty feet OF the bitter, brackish
fluid which saved his life.
Lieutenant Edgar J Gorrell, Of the
aero corps with the Pershing column
reached camp this morning. He gave
a vivid account Of his suferings on a
mesa and barren mountainsIde east of
Ascension. which for two days and
nights threatned 10 kill him.
The lieutenant. flying in machine
which was too feeble and too poorly
constructed 70 meet the requirements
Of the treacherous air currents Of this
country. circled in the half darknes a
Of night week ago on his way down
20 Casas Grandes 20 report TO Gen
eral Pershlng for scout duty, trying
TO find a suitable landing place. When
he finally descended on a level place
he was out OF gasolene and oil.
With less than pint of water in the
NoAANNtA lt AAA AAAAfA dk a UEAN hl- n
water hole, he set out for the military
highway he knew 70 be somewhere 10
the west Of him.
Feared TO Walk Erect.
lie had heard dogs barking in the
night, and knew Mexicans were near,
so he circled 70 the north, crawling on
his hands and knees 20 reach the
mountain from the fiat He was afraid
TO walk erect, for he feared discovery
by Mexicans.
In the morning he continued with
out rest. He had walked fifteen miles,
and his canteen was dry when the sun
got in its work. He was forced 20
stop and shield himself from the glare
and heat Of the desert by burrowing
into a greasewood bush and lying there
till evening Then he turned back
He could not make il, and the only
water hole he knew kept calling him.
His throat was scorched and his
tongue swollen. lie tramped all the
second night. When day broke and
the dreaded desert sun came up again
TO torture him, Gorrell was staggering,
his arms hanging limp. his head rock
ing. Commissions caused by the alkali
water Of the day before gripped him,
and he fell time and again.
Drops Near Water Hole.
He fought doggedly on, falling, ~
ing prone few minutes, gasplng and
then dragging himself once more TO
his uncertain feet. He dropped IN
conscious three times within fifty feet
Of the little brakish water hole when
he finally found 1t. At last he reached
II and gulped down great drafts of the
bitter liquid.
Later he tried TO steal horse from
a corral he had made out in the dis
lance. making for IL weakly with his
canteen filled again from the oasis
pool. A Mexican advanced on him and
the sirman pulled his automatic and
covered him. He made the Mexican
get = saddle and bride for him. Then
he forced him 70 ride ahead Of him
into the town Of Ascension. miles away.
where Lieutenant Hodges. Of the 9th
Infantry, came TO his assistance.
A gallon Of oil and eight gallons Of
gasolene were shipped back 20 the
stranded plane on an automobile truck
with Gorrell, who then continued his
fight.