The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1922-11-27

MITES AMI htsMlNiSNENtcsS VI
LAYING OUT AND ESTABLISH
ING THE OLD EMlGRAN'
ROAD INTO SOUTHERN ORE
CON IN THE YEAR iS46.
by Lindsay Applcsate
on the morning OF July ieth. We
proceeded along the ridge for fouI
or five miles and came to quite q
large spring. but so strongly impreg'
mated with alkali that We could only
use Il in making coffee. Here We
rested an hour or so while the
horses ErazGd. This morning we
passed over a country ahounding In
quartz. At this spring our granite
ridge terminated. and before us was
vast desert plain, without a spear
OF vegetation. and covered with an
alkaline etforcsence which glittered
beneath the sccrching rays OF the
sun. Tho heat was intense rs we
rode slowly out to the eastward up
on the great plain. After We had
travelled a few miles, We observed
what was supposed to be a lake,
even fancying that we could see the
waves upon its surface, but after
riding in that direction awhile, We
discovered that II was only one OF
those optical illusions so often ex-
pericneed on the desert. Next we
saw what We supposed TO be clump
OF willows TO the eastward and rode
In that direction with all possible
dispatch. but. on nearing the place,
We discovered. to our intense disap.
pointment. that IL was only pile OF
black volcanic rocks. fifteea or twcn.
~ feet high. The sun was now get
ting quite low. and the heat was
somewhat abating. yet it remained
quite hot as we rode a few miles 10
the BASTARD on the desert. As night
closed In upon us we selected our
camping place in little sag where
there were some strong SAGE bushes
growing. To these We tied our
horses securely. for, as there was
not a blade Of grass and they were
suffering for water. we know they
would leave us. should they break
away from their fas;enings. The
only camp duty We had TO perform
that night was to spread our blank
cts down upon the loose sand. Then
We stretched ourselves upon them.
with little hope OF rest, for our
thirst had by that time become in
tense: worse. no doubt, from reason
of our having drank the strong al
kali water in the morning. Our re-
Elections that night were gloomy In
the extreme. Even II we could have
heard the cry OF a night bird or the
familiar note OF coyote. II would
have given US Encouragement, for 1t
would have indicated the presence
OF water somewhere in the vicinity:
but not a sound was heard during
the live long night except our own
voices and the restless tramp OF the
half famished horses.
Parties are Reunited
As We started out on tas morning
OF July 18th 10 the eastward We
could see only short distance on
account OF the dense clouds OF smoke
which enveloped the country. We
spent much OF the day In searching
in various places for water and At
about 4 o'clock in the afternoon we
came TO some lodges OF rock. They
afforded a shelter from the scoEch-
ing rays OF the sun. and We halted TO
rest fer 4 while. as some OF the party
were now so exhausted that they
could scarcely ride. From the top
OF the rocks we could discern n
small greenish spot on the desert
five or six miles distant, and. hoping
% find water there. we decided to
-Ide towards Il although ROber,
Smith was now suffering severely
rom a pain In the head, and, as he
was not able to ride. we were COM
,elled TO leave him under the rocks, |
With the understanding that he
would follow US as soon as he felt
,ble TO ride. After going four or
I've miles, we beheld horseman
approaching US. This soon proved
o be John Jones. one OF the party |
Who left US at Black Rock on the
morning OF the i4th. He had found
rater at the place We were making
or. and, In searching for the rest
4. his party, had accidentally fallsn