Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-26
Exploring Party Africa En@ud by Sand Waves of the Sahar
hNtrFaM Them, NhmhmA rOhd by Tower ~
Seas of Sand, Swept on by HOwling Wind

ish, the palms are carried under the
sand If. In time. the sand can en-
gulf cities and suhmerge oases. ID Ia
easy to realize how quickly a travel
ing caravan can he wiped out when
the desert really wakes to Its fury.
We had halted for luncheon. when
7 felt a sudden gust NJ wind fan my
face II was an unusually sudden
gust. and came from an unexpected
quarter. SO that I turned round 10
zee what il betokened.
Racing toward us was black
wall. liquid. swirling wall. an i'm
venerable curtain Of sand. There
was no need To ask questions. NO
need TO give orders Everybody
sensed the threat instantly.
With the utmost rapidity the cars
were made ready and we We're
aboard, plunging forward In mad
effort to race the approaching storm
There was little hope of outdistancinH
i, hut there was chance that we
might find a place which would give
,,s sufficient shelter so that we couid
line up the cars as sand-break an"
stand some sort Of chance OF com
ing through.
THE whole surface of the desert was
i'm Aux. We rode on sea OF sa
Amid tempestlous. bowling. ana al
wavs the main body OF the storm
was drawing nearer. the MACK M
swirled after us. at heignt nNucn
greater than our cars. The wind grew
stronger and stronger.
Two Of the cars were sepa 'a'en
from us. hut we were unan'e euner
to signal or to call to tnem I" Esp
tocether. And then the storm MI ns.
Faster than can tell 1t. tho covers
were ripped off the cars. the fun fore"
~ tho Storm struck like green sea
shipped on tiny boat. and the car
tremhled as though II had neen snVe'
The engine ground and stopped. We
could GO no farther. The sand tore
orr clothing. dashed our faces. ann
c,,t our hands. We watched me sann
| flowing nv. on the surface o' tH'
earth river of sand several incnes
deep swept ahead. and we wal,eo ,".
| the wall-like body If the drtft Y" cease
n1mmeling and heating us. hut Vt
never passed.
We wore constantly In the cloud.
The sun became a dim moon seen
| through fog. the cars we're covered.
| 7 doubt II any Of us expected that We
should escape being buried. Yet sanh-
storms have lulls. though they may
| last for days once they begin.
There was nothing to do hut wait
! wait ont of reach Of assistance IN
car that was probably completely dls-
| abled. in country where our 'rsckS
were oblit erated and our presence I'M
known. One can think or manE
things at such a time. The slmp'es'
| thing to say is that II was near
thing.
Caravans have been wiped out more
asily. Yet our luck held. We were
buried. il is true. hut the storm left
us ultimately, and we could soc lnst
what manner Of luck had been with
us We had been brought to stand
still. without any intention on our
mart. where the only hit NJ shelter
was to he found
Bad as it was. the fun force of the
storm had been tempered ny me
| formation Of the very dunes them
selves As il was. we found an So-
foot sand mountain blocking our path.
and we had to dig tO get out. That
SO-foot mound might inst as easily
have had us for it's base.
| Fortunately the other cars had kept
their engines running. and had heen
able TO make for shelter. some dis
lance on We Joined mp again some
four DAYS later. and when we reach
! ed civilizations we took time to
hrea the. and TO PIT on little weight
again. We all lost weight on the
homeward Journey. My loss was 3s
pounds. still. one might even have
lost more. hut for luck
CCopvrisht 1879