Evening star., 1934-08-19

BY the Associated Press.
~ AKERSFIELD, Calf, August 18.
- When Jesus J. Lopez reads
about the drought and how
IL dust storms enveloped whole
cities he smiles and thinks
how nice it would have been to have
several thousand water plugs be-
tween here and Green River, Wyo., in
1879, when he drove 10000 sheep
1900 miles through heat, desert and
nightmarish ill-fortune.
Lopez, for half century the fore
man OF the noted TETON Rancho, is
the last man alive of the adventurous
group which set out IS years ago for
an eight-month desert odyssey to de-
liver California sheep to the plains
area.
Lopez undertook the venture for the
TETON Ranches owner, Gen. z. F.
Beale He started north in May, 1879.
through the Owens River Valley, with
16 herders, 2 chuck wagons and his
bookkeeper, for Summer grazing for
the sheep. At Bishop Greek Lopez
was ordered to turn east and cross
Nevada and Utah to Green River,
wyo., 1900 miles away, where the
sheep had been sold.
Tried 10 Quit His Job.
Lopez sent q message back to the
general assuring him the task was
impossible. He said he might find
water and grazing in desert country
for a small herd Of sheep, but not
for 10000 head in Summer, and asked
to be relieved Of his job.
Ordered to proceed anyway, he did
so, and ran into trouble OF which
Job probably never dreamed.
"It was a nightmare" said Lopez
today. THE heat was terrific. I
sent men ahead to hunt water and
grazing. If water holes were not dry
when we came they were dust when
half the sheep had passed"
They pounded on more than 100
miles, past Ida, Pigeon Springs and
Piper's Ranch, until 1t was evident
the sheep must reach water or die.
On the fourth dry day John Hudson
arrived as guide sent by Beale.
1.-THE next four days I will never
forget" said Lopez.
Flock Breaks Wildly.
"They nearly finished both the sheep
and me. Travel was almost impos-
sible and the flock broke in every
direction, frantic for water. The foot
sore dogs could barely hold them back
and the men were exhausted.
II cut out the strongest sheep and
sent them on ahead with Hudson to
Stone Cabin, where there was water,
to wait for me with the drag
Hudson later rode back to tell me
the water was plentiful. While we
spoke a herder from the last band
rushed in to report 5000 head had
broken away into the desert. I told
Hudson to go in with the main herd
of 10000 and famed my horse down
the trail.
"On track Of the lost sheep, miles
out In the desert, met the herder
from the lead bunch, who told me
that when Hudson had ridden on
ahead his sheep had gone wild and
run for the desert before they could
reach water. tracked the drag for
hours, frantic from worry and heat;
found them, turned them over to the
herders. Promising to send back
water and food, I raced forward to
trace my first band
II reached Stonewan Greek at dusk.
I saw sheep, watered and grazing in
the meadow-but there were only
about 1000. Almost out of my head,
rushed on to camp.
my God, Hudson yelled
where are all my sheep?
"'Aren't they all there?' he asked.
Then my herders came to me wild
with indignation. Hudson had gone
on ahead again with the horses, water |
and chuck wagon and 5000 of the |
main band had broken for the |
mountains.
Just then a man on a mule split |
the wind down on the hills.
"'Are those your sheep IN my !