East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1921-09-23

SeSLitu " eHltT. anu VII cAdin hiib lhS
place closely we found a small hole in
the top of the mound, in which lit
tie puddle of water stood within few
inches of the surface. This was a
happy discovery for we we're already
suffering considerably for want of wa
ter and our horses were well nigh ex-
hausted. The day had been an ex-
ceedfngly hot one and the heat reflect
ed from the shining beds of alkali.
had been very oppressive. The alkali
water at Black Rock had only given
US temporary relef-our thirst was
really more intense from having used
it. Unpacking our horses, we staked
them in the bunch grass about the
granite ledge, and began digging down
after the little vein Of water which
formed the puddle in the rabbit hole.
The water seemed to be confined to a
tough clay or muck which came near
the surface in the center Of the mound,
thus preventing 1t from washing away
in the sand. Digging down in this
clay we made a basin large enough to
hold several gallons and by dark We
had quite supply of good pure water.
We then began issuing 1t to our horses.
a little at time, and by morning men
and horses were considerably refresh
ed. Great numbers OF rabbits came
around us and we killed all we wanted
of them. This is the place always
since known as the Rabbit Hole
Springs.
Looking eastward, on the morning
of July 18th, from the elevated table
lands upon which We then were, we
saw vast clouds of smoke, completely
shutting out the distant landscape.
The wind blowing almost constantly
from the southwest, kept the smoke
blown away so that we could get toll
erably good view towards the south.
Our wish was to continue our course
eastward, but the country, as far as
we could see in that direction, being
a barren plain, we concluded to follow
the granite ledge. which extended in
a southeasterly direction from the
spring, believing the chance of finding
water would be better by following
that route. The smoke. as we after
wards learned, was caused by the
burning of peat beds along the Hum
boldt river, the stream we were now
wishing to find, though we had no cor
rect idea of the distance we would
have to travel in order to reach it. nor
of the difficulties to be encountered.
Pursuing our way along the ridge,
searching everywhere carefully for
water, at about eleven o'clock A. NJ.
We observed the rabbit trails all lead
ing in the same direction, and follow
ing the course indicated we found q
basin in the side of rock large
enough to hold a few gallons of water.
Into this basin the water oozed from a
crevice in the rock, very slowly, so
that when the basin was emptied it
was a long time filling. There was no
way of improving this spring. for
whenever the basin was full and the
water running over,it would waste in
the loose gravel and sand, and we did
not get sufficiency Of it for ourselves
and horses until late at night. APP
pearances indicated that it was great
resort for Indians, though there did
not seem to be any in the vicinity while
We were there. During the afternoon
! and evening, great numbers of little
birds came for water and We're so
tame that we could almost put our
hands on them.
On the morning of July 10th. we
| proceeded along the ridge for four or
five miles and came to quite large
| spring, but so strongly impregnated
| with alkali that we could only use it
| In making coffee. Here we rested an
| hour or so while our horses grazed.
This morning we passed over coun-
try abounding In quartz. At this spring
our granite ridge terminated, and be-
fore us was a vast desert plain, with
out a spear of vegetation, and COW
cred with an alkalian effloresence
/ which glittered beneath the scorching
rays of the sun. The heat was intense
/ as we rode slowly out to the eastward
| upon the great plain, After we had
Travelled few miles, we observed
l what was supposed to be lake, ever
i fancying that we could see the waves
upon its surface, but after riding In
that direction awhile, we discovered
that 1t was only one of those optical
illusions so often experienced on the
desert. Next, we saw what we suppos'
ed to be a clump of willows to the
eastward and rode in that direction
with all possible dispatch. but, on
nearing the place, we discovered. tC
our intense disappointment that it was
only pile of black volcanic rocks
fifteen or twenty feet high. The sur