East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1921-09-23
THRILLING STORY OF ADVENTUROUS EXPEDITION BY MEN BAHD WAY FOR SHROD'

As we stood on the Sierra ridge, we
surveyed the vast desert plains to the
eastward OF Surprise Valley. appar-
entity without grass or trees, and
marked by numerous high rocky
ridges running north and south. After
deciding on our course, we descended
the mountain and soon came to a little
lstream, the banks of which were lined
with plum bushes completely loaded
with fruit, There was a grove of pines
at hand, and there we decided to noon.
as the day was extremely hot. Game
seemed plentiful about this rich vail
ley. and while we were incoming large
band of antelope grazed in sight of us,
Spending about two hours among the
pines, which were the last we saw dur
ing our long and weary march on the
desert, we packed up and moved
across the valley eastward, After
crossing the valley we entered very
sandy district, where the travelling
was laborious. and next ascended to a
table land, the surface of which was
covered with small gravel, BY this
time most OF our horses were b9re-
footed and our progress through the
rocky country was consequently very
slow. The country was so desert like
that we had about despaired of find
ing water that night. but just at dark
/ we Unexpectedly came to a little
suring. There was but little water
/ by digging some we were able to
Get quite enough for ourselves and
{ horses. though it kept us busy until
about midnight to get the horses wa
tered. Although we had met with
singularlv good fortune in thus find
ing water at the close of the first days
march on the desert we could not al
ways expect such good luck in the fu-
tire: and as We lay down in our blan-
kets among the sagebrush that night
we could not help having some gloomy
fhrebodineS in regard to the future Of
our expedition.
From the Little Spring ON the Desert
\ TO Black Rock.
on the morning of the 10th of July,
we found an abundance Of water in
the basin we had scraped out at the
little spring early in the night so that
we were able to start out on the desert
much refreshed. our horses. however,
1 looked very gaunt as there was
great scarcity of grass about the
spring. The landscape before MS. as
we made our start this morning was
lanything but inviting. 1t was a vast
sand plain. No trees or mountains
were in sight. Far in the distance
were some dark looking ridges. TherN
was no vegetation excepting dwarf
sage and grease wood growing in the
'sand and gravel At about three
o'clock in the afternoon we came to a
huge volcanic wall. varying in height
from twenty or thirty to several hun
dred feet, extending north and south
tho owe could reach and ap-
parently without any gap through ii
We divided at the wall so as to explore
= Nn-h -'avs. The marty going south
ward. after proceeding few miles
came to little stream. forming q
: beautiful meadow at the base OF tho
wall. and flowing through narrow
: gateway into the ridge. They imme-
1iately dispatched one of their party
! n pursuit of us with the good news
! md we returned to the meadows early
: n the afternoon. and decided TO turn
out our horses and give them chance
I to feed and rest while we explored the
defiIe on foot We foundsit very re-
: markable chasm, extending nearly
due east. The gateway was about six