Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1895 — DEATH VALLEY. [ARTICLE]

DEATH VALLEY.

Stories of the Noted Region in Southern California. Mr. Edward Thompson, of Santa Barbara, Cal., who is now in this city, says that one of the last authentic attempts to cross Death Valley was made by a party of prospectors, with a wagon train, in 1854. The story of this wagon train and the horrors of Death Valley has been told many times and in many ways. But it is doubtful if anything which has yet been printed tells half the story of the journey. The remains of this train are yet to be seen in Musquite Valley, one of the canons of Death Valley. The last of the party perished here while trying to make Towns Pass and Tule Canon with his burden of dead bodies, the remains bf his companions who had perished one by one during the journey across the desert. Mr. Thompson and the party accompanied by him found the wagon beds, tires and other remains of the trains. A party of Mormons tried to cross the valley a year or so before that. Only one of the party lived to tell the tale. He escaped most miracu* ously. He managed to save his gun, but found on reaching a land where he could sit down and breathe that the sight had been lost. He looked around for something out of which to make another sight, and noticed that the rock on which he was sitting was filled with a soft, metal like substance. He carved out a bit of this and made a gun sight with it. He then made his way to Los Angeles, shooting game to live upon on the way. In Los Angeles a man saw the strange gunsight and asked where he got it. He told, ‘‘Why, you fool,” said the man, “that sight is of pure gold. The rock you sat upon would make you rich for life.” A party was organized and tried to locate the rock, but they suffered much and could not find it. The spot, which was not found, has been called the “Lost Sight Mine,” Mr. Thompson has some little hope of finding this rock. If he does, he will be repaid for all his trouble. It is said that an army captain coming upon Death Valley from the Arizona side and npt recognizing it, ordered his men to cross. The distance looked to be not more than a mile. An Indian refused to cross and said that it was the Valley of Death. Two scouts were picked out to lead the way . They did not want to go, but were forced by pointed muskets. They had not gone more than 500 feet before one of them fell dead. The other started back on a run. When he reached the party blood was gushing from his mouth and nostrils. He did not die, but was a maniac for life. These are all stories told by Mr. Thompson in explanation of the dangers of Death Valley. He expects to return from the Valley in October. He will then return to New York and prepare his stuff for print.