Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-08-20

means it, too, He and Blngo, his
faithful little chime companion,
can be seen at all hours Of the day,
going in and out, sometimes sitting
down, sometimes walking around, and
again sleeping in that withering heat.
He can drink less water than any
human being, and often spends an en-
tire day in the valley with only a
quart of water for himself and Bin
go to drink. Bingo seems to think that
he wons a partnership in the Val
ley, for as he trots along contented-
ly besides his master, he wags his tail
and barks at visitors who come
through curiosity to inspect the re-
gion which belongs to them through
possession being nine points of the
law Bingo carries the canteen of
water about, and drinks when his
master does.
Looks To Future
Johnny has been there about 80
years, and owns two gold mines HIM
self, which he guards iealously. When
asked why he spent his life in such
an isolated wilderness, he replied. in
broken English, that the West was
coming back, and Death Valley would
yet be thriving place with thous.
ands of gold-seekers established there
John and | and party of three 9TH
ers spent five hours in the Valley
with Johnny and Bingo. Just as long
as we could stand the heat. We went
in two cars because we were afraid
to trust to the safety of just one.
Often persons are prostrated IRON
the intense heat and have to be taken
to higher place. We had picnic
lunch in the center of the Valley.
The lure Of it will never be complete
ly erased from my. mind. There is
something peculiarly fascinating
about the loneliness, the unreaIity
the deep siIences of such a spot on
the earth's surface.
"From there we visited town cali
ed Rhyolite, in the Bull Frog section
of Nevada. During the gold fever ex-
odus in f907-08 the city was built
| like mushroom overnight. and grew
into nopulous place of 10000 Now
there is only one inhabitant left
whose name is Lorraine. He is A
Frenchman, and says he is 98, al
though he does not look more than
60. Perhaps that hot, dry climate
withers man into a bit of parch-
ment which may be kept in a perfect
state of preservation for century
without decay Lorraine certainly
locks as if he might live to be an
| other hundred. He is very rich. can
| not count his wealth. When asked
| why he lives in Rhyolite alone, nc
makes the same statement as all the
others who made their money III
gold, says there is a comeback.
A Deserted City.
"It was almost pathetic to wander
| through the deserted streets and see
tall, handsome stone and brick build
fngs absolutely without human be-
ing on the interior. In the mad rush
! to leave the city, after the panic
/ came, people deliberately left theit
i homes, pulled the doors behind them
as they fled and the furniture stands
today as it did when they hastily fled
/ Lorraine. being immensely veal
shy, has nothing for which to speno
his noney. He lives alone. He does
his own cooking. and buvs up choice
property as it is offered through lega
i processes. He is absolutely monarch
of all he surveys in Rhyolite. There
/ is no one to contest his claim to pos
session of the deserted city.
1.-THE city is situated about
! miles from the main road and ha'
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