Desert Magazine 1967 February
Desert Magazine 1967 February
Desert Magazine 1967 February
THE SEA OF CORTEZ by Sunset Staff. Explores MINES OF THE EASTERN SIERRA by Mary De-
the Gulf of California, Baja California, and Decker. Facts about the mines on the eastern
Mexico's Mainland Coast. Fine illustrations.
Send for FREE Catalog of our slope of the Sierra Nevada and Inyo Mountains.
$1 1.75. Recommended Books Paper. $1.95.
ART TREASURES IN THE WEST by Sunset Staff. TERRIBLE TRAIL: the Meek Cutoff, 1845 by Clark
Descriptions and discussions of paintings, sculp- Dept. BC, Desert Magazine and Tiller. Narrates the tragic tale of the Meek
tures and artists displayed in Western museums Palm Desert, California 92260 emigrant train and lays the groundwork for a
and public places. Hardcover $11.75. solution to the Blue Bucket lost gold. $4.00.
THE COLORFUL BUTTERFIELD OVERLAND STAGE LOST DESERT BONANZAS by Eugene Conrotto.
by Richard Pourade and Marjorie Reed. With 20 HERE IS NEVADA by Effie Mack and Byrd Saw- Brief resumes of lost mine articles printed in
stage coach paintings by Miss Reed, the text yer. A complete picture of every facet of Nevada back issues of DESERT Magazine, by a former
concentrates on Ihe Fort Yuma to San Francisco in textbook manner. $12.50. editor. Hardcover, 278 pages. $6.75.
run of the tough Butterfield route. Album For-
mat, heavy art paper, $6.75. PAPIER MACHE by Mildred Anderson. Instruc- MINES OF DEATH VALLEY by L. Burr Belden.
tions and ideas for distinctive objets d' art. Nice About fabulous bonanzas, prospectors and lost
IT ALL HAPPENED IN TOMBSTONE by John gift for hobbyists. $3.95. mines. Paperback. $1.95.
Clum. Eye-witness account of famous gun battle
DESERT PLANTS AND PEOPLE by Sam Hicks. Tells TIN-CAN CRAFTING by Sylvia Howard. Patterns
between Earps, Doc Holliday and the Clantons
how primitive desert dwellers find sustenance, and instructions for making figures, ornaments,
and McLaurys by publisher of Tombstone
shelter, beverages and healing medicines in and useful objects with tin cans. $3.95.
Epitaph. Margin notes by John Gilchriese.
nature. Hardcover. $5.95.
Hardcover, 45 pages, $4.00.
RARE MAP REPRODUCTIONS from the year 1886.
DESERT GEM TRAILS by Mary Frances Strong. ON DESERT TRAILS by Randall Henderson, foun- Series I includes three maps, Arizona, California
Field guide to gems and minerals of the Mo- der and publisher of Desert Magazine for 23 and Nevada. Series II includes New Mexico,
have and Colorado deserts and adjacent areas. years. One of the first good writers to reveal Utah and Colorado. Reproduced on fine paper.
Paperback, $2.00 the beauty of the mysterious desert areas. Hen- They show old towns, mines, springs and trails
derson's experiences, combined with his com- now extinct. Each set of three, $3.75. Be sure to
GOLD IN THE SUN by Richard Pourade. Fifth in ments on the desert of yesterday and today, state series number with order.
series of historical books about Southern Cali- make this a MUST for those who really want
fornia. Covers Salton Sea, reclamation of Im- of understand the desert. 375 pages, illustrated. BOTTLE COLLECTOR'S BOOK by Pat and Bob
perial Valley and gem mining in San Diego and Hardcover. $5.00. Ferraro. Gives history, descriptions and pr.ice
Riverside counties. Large format, beautiful color lists. Profusely illustrated, 107-pages. Paper-
illustrations. $9.50. STANDING UP COUNTRY by C. Gregory Cramp- back, $3.00.
ton. Best book ever written about Utah-Arizona
THE SILVER DONS by Richard Pourade recounts canyon country. Superb color. $15. EARLY USES OF CALIFORNIA PLANTS by Edward
the wresting of the Franciscan Missionary land K. Balls. Tells how native Indians used plants
by Spanish Dons and then lost to them by WARNER, THE MAN AND THE RANCH by Lorrin for subsistence. Checklist contains both popular
American pioneers. Covers Mormon Battlion and Morrison. Tells the story of the colorful trading and scientific names. $1.75.
filibusters and war in Baja California. Beauti- post, stage stop, historical battleground and
fully illustrated. $9.50. life that took place on the famous Warner PIMAS, DEAD PADRES AND GOLD by Paul V.
Ranch. Paper, $2.00. Lease. The author provides fodder to the idea
THE GLORY YEARS by Richard Pourade covers that the Black Robes hid amazing amounts of
the early boom period of Southern California REMNANTS OF THE OLD WEST by Harriett treasure in Pimeria, which is now Arizona.
when San Diego's population exploded, then Farnsworth. The old West's last living characters Paperback. $3.
collapsed overnight. Beautifully illustrated. Part were interviewed by this author and the book
of above series. $9.50. is filled with never-before published tidbits that COOKING AND CAMPING ON THE DESERT by
deserve recording. An attractive book that makes Choral Pepper. Also useful in your own back
BOOT HILL by Lambert Florin. Sixth in his series a surprisingly inexpensive and worthwhile gift. yard. Contains chapter by Jack Pepper on driv-
of Western ghost town books. Dramatic photos Hardcover. $2.95. ing and surviving in back country. Recipes are
with epitaphs and true tales out of the tragic, named for ghost towns and lost mines and sug-
comic and scandalous West. Large format. DESERT ANIMALS IN JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL gest places to go and things to do. Hardcover,
$12.95. MONUMENT by Miller and Stebbins. Excellent $3.95.
hook and first of its kind with thorough text
GHOST TOWNS AND MINING CAMPS OF CALI- and good illustrations. Color plates. $10. SONORA SKETCHBOOK by John Hilton. Revised
FORNIA by Remi Nadeau. The only good, hard- edition. Artist Hilton writes of his years of resi-
cover book on the California ghost towns. We NAVAHO NEIGHBORS by Franc Johnson New- dent in Alamos, the ancient silver capital of Son-
recommend it highly. $5.95. comb. One of the better books about Navaho
ora, Mexico. Interesting, colorfully written.
Indians by an author who lived intimately with
OLD FORTS OF THE FAR WEST by Herbert Hart. Hardcover, $5.95.
them for over 30 years. $5.95.
Maps are included with remarkably lively and
accurate accounts of Western forts back to Civil TREASURY OF FRONTIER RELICS by Les Beitz. A THE ANCIENT PAST OF MEXICO by Alma Reed.
War times. This volume covers the Southwest. collectors guide to western frontier relics with Art and architecture of pre-Conquest civilizations
Large format, good photos. $12.95. descriptions, uses and prices. Hardcover. $6.95. with up-to-date archeological information. Well-
illustrated and written with easy-to-read style.
HUNTING LOST MINES BY HELICOPTER by Erie $7.50.
Stanley Gardner. As fascinating as one of his
Perry Mason mysteries, the author takes you VISITING AMERICAN CAVES by Howard Sloan
into Arizona s Superstition Mountains looking
WHEN ORDERING BOOKS and Russell Gurnee. A travel book of caves
for the Lost Dutchman mine and into the Trigo throughout the U.S. with information about
Mountains in search of Nummel's lost bonanza. PLEASE history, seasons open, facilities for accommoda-
Hardcover, color photos. $7.50. tion etc. $4.95.
Add 25 cents PER ORDER
JEEP TRAILS TO COLORADO GHOST TOWNS by HOW TO RETIRE IN MEXICO on $2.47 a Day by
Robert L. Brown. An illustrated, detailed, infor- (Not Each Book) Eugene Woods. Presents an enticing pre-retire-
mal history of life in the mining camps deep in ment plan that's workable. Also, good travel in-
Colorado Rockies. Fifty-eight towns are included
for handling and mailing formation. Paperback, $1.95.
the almost inaccessible mountain fastness of the
as examples of the vigorous struggle for exist- California residents add 4 percent ANCIENT HUNTERS OF THE FAR WEST based
ence in the mining camps of the West. 239 sales tax, regardless of whether you upon forty years of research by the late Mal-
pages, illustrated, end sheet map. Hardcover. colm Rogers. Brings together what is known of
are a Republican or Democrat.
$5.50. Early Man in North America. Illustrated in full
color. Large format. $9.50.
CONTENTS
Volume 30 Number 2
As soon as available we are adding more color photographs to
FEBRUARY, 1967 DESERT Magazine. We like to use material from our readers. Color
transparencies must be either 2^4 X 2y4 or 4 X 5 vertical. We
pay $35.00 for each transparency used. Please enclose stamped
This Months' Cover return envelope. Send to Photo Editor, Desert Magazine, Palm
Desert Scene
By RALPH PAYTON Desert, California 92260.
4 New Books for Desert Readers
6 Lost Ledge of the Sheephole JACK PEPPER, Publisher CHORAL PEPPER, Editor
Mountain Elta Shively Al Merryman Rose Holly Marvel Barrett
By JOHN D. MITCHELL Executive Secretary Staff Artist Circulation Business
7 Whatever Happened to Hell Desert Magazine, Palm Desert, Calif. 92260 Telephone 346-8144
By JAMES WALLACE
DESERT is published monthly by Desert Magazine, Palm Desert, Calif. Second Class Postage paid at
8 Tempest in Silver Palm Desert, Calif., and at additional mailing offices under Act of March 3, 1879. Title registered
By STANLEY DEMES NO. 358865 in U. S. Patent Office, and contents copyrighted 1967 by Desert Magazine. Unsolicited
manuscripts and photographs cannot be returned or acknowledged unless full return postage is
12 A Lost Corner of Sonora enclosed. Permission to reproduce contents must be secured from the editor in writing. SUBSCRIPTION
By Spencer Murray PRICE: $5.00 per year in U.S., Canada and Mexico. $5.75 elsewhere. Allow five weeks for change
of address. Be sure to send both old and new address.
15 The Wheel Estate Way
By JACK DELANEY
42 Letters From Readers • ALSO SEND DESERT'S 12-ISSUE HANDSOME BROWN VINYL BINDER FOR $3.50
(includes tax and postage)
43 National Date Festival Date Binder(s) with Year(s) . • Undated
VIRGINIA DAL
OST LOST mine stories leave the By the time Hermit had reached the west- Dale, operated by some Armenians from
M reader with the impression that
the richest mines were found and lost in
ern edge of the mirage his outfit was
down on the ground again and he was
Los Angeles, but it was an entirely dif-
ferent kind of ore. While it showed con-
wild Indian country by old prospectors heading for the Santa Fe depot. siderable free gold, it was nothing to be
with long whiskers. The wilder the In- "W hile the Hermit was very secretive compared with that brought in by the
dians and the longer the prospector's or about his business, he was by no means Hermit.
Desert Rat's whiskers, the richer the a total stranger to the few residents of After watering his five burros and sad-
mines seem to be. Western lore is replete the little desert railroad station. This was dle mule at the tank car on the Santa Fe
with lost mine and buried treasure stories, the third time he had shown up at the tracks, the old prospector went into camp
some of which, no doubt, have grown in store and railroad station. Despite the just behind the little grocery store and
magnitude as time elapsed. Most tradi- fact that the tall white whiskered man rode near the railroad tracks. We all naturally
tions become distorted in time. The Lost a large mule, his feet almost dragged the wanted to know where the ore came
Ledge in the Sheep Hole Mountains desert sands. The heat waves had made from, but the old man was secretive and
seems to be an exception to the rule. The him look much taller as he rode across did not volunteer the information. In
old prospector had plenty of whiskers, I he dry lake bed. After unloading six those days it was not considered good
but there were no wild Indians. r.acks of ore on the depot platform Bill etiquette to inquire too closely into a
Early one summer morning about 50 Pine, the station agent, told him that one stranger's personal affairs—especially if
years ago old Pete Ring, John Lock, of the sacks was badly torn and that he he happened to have a large six shooter
storekeeper; Jim Walsh, section foreman; could not receive it for shipment in that handy.
Bill Pine, Santa Fe station agent; and the condition. The old man returned to his The Armenian freighter told us the
writer were standing on the depot plat- pack outfit and brought another sack. old prospector had been seen around
form at Amboy, California. A group of When the torn sack was emptied out on their camp on several occasions and that
strange objects were seen bobbing up and the depot platform it almost started a they understood he was prospecting some-
down on top of the heat waves that hung stampede. The ore was a light gray iron- where in that part of the desert. Later
over the dry lake northeast of the station. stained quartz literally plastered and mat- that evening the writer visited the old
The lake bed had filled with clear water ted together with bright yellow gold. fellow around his campfire and found
and the dancing heat waves had lifted Everyone crowded around to see the ore. him reading the Psalms of David aloud
everything high into the warm air above Pete Ring exclaimed, "Jumping John D. from a large leather-covered bible which
the ground. Even old Pete Ring's mine Rockefeller, that's the richest ore that he carried in his outfit.
that stood on a small brown hill near the ever came out of the California desert." He was worried because the other Des-
eastern edge of the lake seemed to be The old man gathered the ore up ert Rats had seen his rich ore. He was
high up in the clouds with fairy palaces quickly, putting it in the new sack, afraid they would try to follow him to
all around it. As we stood looking at the weighed it and had the agent bill it to a his mine.
strange objects dancing around in the San Francisco smelter. Some very rich He told me that while prospecting in
shimmering mirage, Pete Ring remarked, gold ore was being hauled into Amboy the Sheep Hole Mountains northeast of
"Hell, that's Hermit John and his outfit." at that time from a gold mine at Virginia Dale dry lake and southwest of Cadiz
hy Staniey Demes
left Panamint for Darwin in 1875; Doc L">ct Mines . . . and other items of fun for
Top Guarantee . . Gold
Easy to Operate
Bicknell followed soon after. Before the entire family. For information just write
t i or call:
From Old Coins
$75.00 to
Harris packed his wagon for Darwin he $165.00 Treasures
advanced his notion why Panamint died—
the lack of road and rail transportation. COMPTON ROCK SHOP
Harris genuinely felt that a railroad could Ph. 6 3 2 - 9 0 9 6 1405 South Long Beach Blvd. Compton, California 90221
the discovery of these silver mines in the Easy terms available Send today for FREE literature
i
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ALASKAN CAMPERS NORTHWEST, INC., 6 4 1 0 South 143rd Street, R. D. HALL MFG., INC., Texas Division, 5671 Culler. Blvd., Houston,
(Tukwila), Seattle, Washington 98168, Dept. D. Texas 77021, Dept. D.
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The imposing edifice of the mission at Tnbutama is visible atop its hill from a great distance.
4 4 X / ' O U CAN'T get there from here." Sasabe, Arizona, with a population of prised when our headlights suddenly
X That, in essence, was what the 24, faces across the border to Sasabe, picked up what once constituted El
grizzled Mexican had told us the year Sonora with about 1,000 inhabitants. The Plomo's main street. Gaunt doorways, un-
before as we stood in the dusty main two Sasabes lie 46 miles southward from seeing windows and old walls in every
street of Saric, Sonora. VC e had attemptedRobles Junction, Arizona, 19 miles of state of decline line the avenue, but no
to pass through Saric on our way north- which are dirt but which are regularly feet padded along the stone sidewalks
ward to the border crossing at Sasabe at maintained. Another 26 miles to Tucson and we could find no one to direct us to
Arizona's edge, and several maps showed make the sister border towns 72 miles the modest hut of Joaquin Oros, the rela-
that a road did, indeed, go through. But from a city of any size. The Sasabes exist tive of our friend back home. Jouncing
our new-found friend in Saric was ada- solely as a port of entry for cattle driven ahead a mile or more, passing more crum-
mant; there was no road northward out to the U.S. by vaqneros from the sizeable bling remains of miner's houses, we
of the backwater village and, moreover, ranches that dot Sonora to the west and finally spied a dimly lit window in the
if there had been no one would have :;outh of Nogales. distance and soon found ourselves at the
wanted to drive it! San Luis, south of Yuma, had been our Casa Jaquez, the only sort-of hostelry in
Twelve months later we set out again crossing point, and from there we had town and the headquarters of the wealthy
to find the questionable Sasabe-Saric followed paved Highway #2 some 200 Jaquez family who own three extensive
road; this time pushing southward from miles southeast to the roadside settlement cattle ranches in the area. Someone ran
Sasabe itself. of Los Tajitos, not far from Caborca (see to summon Joaquin Oros and over a din-
ner of chorizo we talked of the boom that
"We" were John Lawlor, past editor accompanying map). We had been asked
El Plomo had enjoyed during the 1930s
of several national magazines, book au- to look in on a relative by a Mexican
and the "road" that continued northeast-
thor, and my companion in the monumen- friend in Los Angeles. The relative lived
ward toward Sasabe.
tal task of assembling the first complete in El Plomo, north of Los Tajitos, a once-
and accurate guidebook to Sonora, Mexi- extensive mining town, but now with only We set out the next morning, follow-
co's largest state. The third member of 200 inhabitants. ing the directions given us by a member
the party was Bob Thomas, auto editor Twenty-four miles separate El Plomo of the Jaquez family, rather than the
of the Los Angeles Times who was con- and Los Tajitos, the bumpy dirt road al- dotted line that the U.S. Air Force chart
ducting a roadtest of a 4-wheel drive ternately crossing dry arroyos and jolting indicates is the only route.
International Scout for his paper. Bob over earthen dikes built by ranchers to Sasabe lies in the Altar River Valley,
had asked us where we thought he might stave off the sheets of water which occa- a scar running from near Tucson down
best put the Scout through its paces, and sionally engulf the table-like desert dur- toward the Gulf of California and along
we had suggested the Saric-Sasabe region, ing flash floods. Night had fallen before which Padre Kino had developed many
for it was the one area we hadn't covered. we reached El Plomo and we were sur- missions and visitas around the turn of the
1 Pride of Ownership
Combined with
Mobile Home
Country-Club
Living
THIS CAH BE YOUR LIFE...
ONLY AT DESERT CREST CAN YOU FIND THESE FEATURES—Huge Clubhouse with 24,000 square feet
under one roof . . . All utilities underground . . . Paved streets with curbs and gutters . . . Complete
sewer system . . . Large lots . . . Golf Course . . . Inside and out shuffleboard . . . Complete recrea-
tional and social gathering facilities . . . Art and crafts classes . . . Equipped hobby shops.
FASCINATING ANZA-BORREGO
by Kay Ramsey
SHEEP "•?...
CANY0K- p " o '••.
• ' Sonta "'••
Cotoerino \
Emigrant Trail, and the Butterfield Stage at the canyon walls, enlarging the passage
Road. enough to permit the wagons to move
The American soldiers who crossed the forward. In so doing, the battalion had
Anza-Borrego Desert on one of the long- opened the first wagon road through the
est infantry marches in history left behind southwest to California. Box Canyon is
a permanent memorial of their resource- located in Blair Valley, a few miles south
fulness. In January, 1847, the Mormon of U.S. Highway 78. The site, now a his- El Cer
Battalion, under Lt. Colonel Philip St. torical monument, is often overlooked by
George Cooke, was en route to the coast visitors unaware of its significance.
to assist General Kearny's troops in the The terrible hardships that General
war against Mexico. They were following Kearny's "Army of the West" suffered
Kearny's approximate route, bringing up crossing the desert were a major factor
several large wagons he had been forced in their subsequent defeat at the Battle
to leave behind. One morning, three of San Pasqual. The troops arrived at
months after they had left Santa Fe, the Warner's Ranch on December 2, 1846, JACUMBA
battalion stood at the entrance to Box after a harrowing, two-month desert
Canyon. Advancing slowly, they soon crossing. Their animals had sometimes
found themselves hemmed in by a verti- been without water for two or three days
cal wall of granite 15 feet high. Un- and many had died. Ragged and exhaust-
daunted, the soldiers produced picks and ed from the ordeal seven men finished
axe's and crowbars and hammered away off a whole sheep at a single meal. Four
T ONE TIME Perris Valley was part engineer. The rustic two story Southern
A of the vast San Jacinto plains where
sheep of Mission San Luis Rey de Fran-
Hotel, built two years later by the Barnes-
coni family, is now an official landmark.
cia were put to range and where Indians Although Perris dates back to gold min-
roamed in quest of edible seeds. Today ing days, it found its permanent wealth
it is still an individualistic sort of country in agriculture. SEE AMERICA'S MOST
surrounded with reminders of yesterday, The Orange Empire Trolley Museum UNUSUAL EXPOSITION
but the most unique of these reminders was organized by a group of California Join Queen Scheherazade and see ONE
is not a product of nature, but one of THONSAND SIGHTS AND ONE. Riotous camel
electric rail fans interested in preserving and ostrich races, beautiful Arabian Nights
man. It is the Orange Empire Trolley the fast vanishing rail cars. Incorporated Pageant, National Horse Show, Gem and
Museum situated on a siding of the old in 1956, the organization purchased the Mineral Show, many others at Riverside
County's world famed . . .
California Southern Railroad in the small old railroad site in Perris two years later.
town of Perris. The collection includes cabooses, interur- National
bans, and early wooden cars as well as
Dating back to 1881 the line linked
Perris, in those days called Pinacate, with
San Diego. An old rock arsenal which
later models. Anyone who can remember
the cling-clang of a streetcar bell will en-
Date Festival
still stands on the grounds is believed to joy a nostalgic visit here. FEB 17-26 INDIO
have been the first post office and a Located on U.S. Highway 395 in River-
white frame house a few yards away was
the general store.
Although miners picked up mail there
earlier, the train stop hardly existed as a
side County, California, the museum is
open daily from 10:00 am until sunset.
On Sundays and holidays, the trolleys
roll down the tracks with passengers, but
WATER
for the West, for the Nation, and for
town until 1885, when its undignified the most exciting event is the rail excur- the World.
name, which meant "stink bug" was sions they sponsor from Los Angeles Where is it, and where is it needed?
changed to honor Fred Perris, an early and intermediate points to the Ramona How can it be delivered? Are dams
Pageant held each spring in the Hemet necessary adjacent to Grand Canyon
foothills. Be sure to make an early reser- National Park? What are the facts
surrounding the controversy?
vation for this one. •
Our Winter Issue, available now,
examines this crucial problem, and
includes many other interesting
stories, photos, and maps.
WESTERN
GATEWAYS
Magazine of the Golden Circle
The desert can be a beautiful sight to the traveler, but to a person stranded without water it can mean a quick and tragic death.
by Joe Kraus
HE HISTORY of the desert records gallon. If he does his walking in the day- with your hands or with a sharp rock.
T thousands of lives lost due to thirst.
During the 1860s, more than 400 gold
time heat, he will be lucky to get half
that. But whether he sits out his desert
This project should be abandoned, how-
ever, if you don't hit wet sand in a hurry.
seekers along the Devil's Highway in survival or walks home to mother, he still If you do hit wet sand, stop digging and
northern Mexico died for lack of water. needs water. allow the water to seep into the hole. If
In World War II, an American army de- According to survival experts, your you dig deeper, you may strike alkali
tachment of 800 failed to reach their des- chances of finding water in the deserts water.
tination because of no water. Lack of are slim. However, a number of guide- Water is also found in dry stream beds.
water also stopped a German advance to- lines will enhance those chances. Hike down stream until you find a bend;
ward the British in North Africa. There are three basic characteristics of then dig on the low side of the bend.
On finding yourself stranded in a hot water you should always keep in mind. Because water grooves the face of the
desert, your prime concern is not how to Water always flows downhill; it grooves earth, look for canyons and hills. A likely
reach civilization, how to obtain food or the face of the earth, making creek beds, place to locate water will be at their bases.
shelter. It is water. A healthy human can canyons and washes. And it encourages Reed grass, willows, cottonwoods and
get along entirely without food for a vegetation. Considering the first point, palm trees usually mark permanent water
month; two under favorable conditions. remember that water seeks the lowest sources. Desert willows, mesquite, palo-
But a man would do well to stay alive levels available. On the desert, the water verde, and tesota line drier and deeper
for more than a week, if he did not have you need may be underground. waterbeds.
water. Fortunately, there are many dry lake Even in the driest desert, there is a
In hot deserts a man needs a gallon of beds in the desert. Go to the area which certain amount of wildlife. Where ani-
water a day. If he walks in the cool night, appears the lowest, where rainwater might mals are present, there are trails. When
he can get about 20 miles from his daily possibly collect. Then dig into the ground you come across one, keep in mind that
your equipment, it won't blend well in a of all aforementioned. Then stay on the
Western movie. obvious trails unless your vehicle is
DESERT NOTES by JOHN Red Rock Canyon is best in the fall, equipped to leave them, and your first
Exquisite, full color scenes by Americas fore- winter or spring. During those periods visit to Red Rock will be only the begin-
most desert painter. Generous pack of 18 it is always pleasant. Summer, however,
beautiful notes in a handsome gift box. ning. Bisected by Interstate Highway 14
is something else. Although there are gas
Handy 4 x 5 size. Only $1.25 per box. and only 35 miles from Mojave, Califor-
Order "HILTON NOTES" today or send 10c stations a few miles away, from which
for sample and catalog showing notes, you may obtain prepared meals, gas, and nia, it is as "remote" and splendidly
prints, stationery and our famous Christmas scenic an area as you'll find close to a
cards. Dealer inquiries invited. Our 17th year
oil—and they will usually give water—I
of same day service. Money-back Guarantee would suggest carrying an ample supply highway. •
and postage free from the Leanin' Treel
The LEANIN' TREE Ranch
Box 1500 Boulder, Colorado
Philtron Electronics
T.V. & Radio Tubes Vi Price
Mail Orders Accepted
We Honor BankAmericards
Stratford Square Center 1 blk no. of McFadden
10056 Cunningham Ave. off Brookhurst
Westminster, Calif. Area Code 714 839-1810
O O
BUZZTAIL
LOOT
I He S*id Sie Ititth/ref Whs a "s
by Kenneth Marquiss Cross ~ J Hk Sh
loads of highgrade gleanings brought saddle sacks, with rope slings, and dis- The overloaded burro took this insult
enough to buy another couple of good carded his wooden panniers. Into these for about an hour, then set his brakes.
burros, a big stock of groceries, boots, sacks he packed about 230 pounds of his The heat, the ominous turn of events, and
shells, dynamite, a tight snow proof tent, richest remaining ore, carefully hand now this rebellion was too much. The
and more tools. He then holed up for the sorted. These he then loaded onto his two prospector lost his temper. Jerking off his
winter to follow his find. best burros, turned the others loose, and belt, he beat the burro over the head with
It soon pinched tortilla thin, but he had started south toward the railroad at Bar- the buckle end. To escape the onslaught,
plenty of grub, was working in the under- stow. His only other baggage consisted the surprised animal jumped backwards
ground warmth and had nothing better of a canvas wrapped blanket, canteens, into a large bush—the shelter of a big
to do, so he kept drilling and mucking. a sawed-off .410 shotgun made into a desert buzztail!
By late spring he was about to call it "game-getter' pistol, a few shells, salt, There's an old adage that a rattlesnake
quits when the stringer suddenly widened matches, and the last of his flour. always buzzes before he strikes, but this
out into a beautiful vein pocket of high- Scrambling diagonally down the south- is simply not so; particularly in very hot
grade; the quartz so thickly peppered with west side of the mountains past the weather or if the snake is sudenly sur-
yellow it fit the old-timer's definition of mouth of Redlands Canyon, he camped prised. In this case, the burro took the
"dream rock." at Lone Willow Spring. The next day he rap.
Early in the operation the prospector headed south along the old Granite The setting sun and the death of his
had rigged a "Mormon Mill" adjacent Spring (now known as Granite Wells) last pack animal brought back glimmer-
to the nearby seep where he got his water. post road to the turn-off canyon that leads ings of cold reason to the prospector. He
These mills are simply a sand-weighted, south-east to the seep at Robber's Roost knew he had to cache his gold and come
6 ISSUES back for it later. With a stick and bare gave a blank check to Whitey, drew a
(JUNE to DEC. 1966)
hands, he buried the big poke and the map, and asked him to buy a new car, go
Containing Choral Pepper's four sacks of highgrade in the nearest recover the cache—and keep the car for
soft, high ground where it would be safe his trouble.
Exclusive Report on
from wind and water. According to the By then it was the height of the pack-
Baja California waybill, it was on the easy slope of the ing season, the desert was hot, and
ONLY $3.00 nose of a little smooth ridge a short dis- Whitey already had a new car. So he tore
SEND CHECK or M O N E Y ORDER t o tance from the road and about seven miles up the check, gave the map back to the
DESERT Magazine south of Indian Spring. It was not deep, prospector, and told him as soon as the
but covered with just enough dirt to hide desert cooled and work slacked off, he'd
Dept. MB, Palm Desert, Calif. 92260
it. With some head-sized rocks nearby, take him back to get his gold and ore—
he made a marker cross on the ground by and the only charge would be gas.
placing a dozen or so side-by-side. To dis- The next thing Whitey heard about it
DESERT Magazine Bookshop tract a chance passerby, he threw his pack was from the hospital. The prospector
it * saddle and blanket into a gully in the had died and named Whitey his heir.
opposite direction from the dead burro After Whitey paid the bills, there was
Since 1937 The World's Largest
p.nd carrying only the small poke and a less than $100 left, but the map was with
Selection of Books on The West canteen, he headed for Barstow. the old man's things.
He made the railroad all right, but at Whitey's search proved fruitless and in
a price.
FREE!
19 6 7
/ tried all kinds of combinations. This is
CATALOG By the time the train arrived in Los
Angeles, he was delirious. When he re- seventeen miles south of Indian Spring.
shortcut their trips to the Gulf of Cali- SEND FOR FREE CATALOG
many of the film Capitol's finest. Aided
fornia, its fishing and boating. We had by Vice President and Comedian Ben GRIEGER'S, INC.
come 83.7 miles from the border at Sa- 30 -1633 E. Walnut— Pa.ad.na, Calif.
Blue, the silver-tongued promoter suc-
sabe within five hours' travel time, or ceeded in raising $1,000,000. With this
155.1 miles since we had last seen High- money Panamint mines were deepened. Send for FREE Catalog of our
way #2 at Los Tajitos. Time spent log- But Elliott's hopes for a bonanza never
ging the roads for our guidebook, check- materialized. To the wonder and rage of Recommended Books
ing the names of ranches and the facili- the movie world, the great developer
ties of the towns, the location of water- vanished into protective oblivion.
holes and wells, had caused Bob Thomas, Today Panamint is deserted except for
John Lawlor and me to spend three days the Thompson sisters who live up Sur-
on the trek, but there is no reason why prise Canyon a few miles north of the old Magazine Bookshop
even the casual traveler could not make mill. They are old-time residents of the
it in an easy weekend. The whole circle PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA 92260
area and their residence, Thompson camp,
can be made on a single tankful of gas is a soothing backdrop of green poised
and if the mode of transportation is a against bitter desolation. The Thompson
few years old, with rugged tires and ade- home is encircled by tall trees; a fenced
quate ground clearance, the curious wan-
derer bent on exploring or fishing the
yard secures a well-watered lawn which
always has the appearance of being freshly
MAPS
Gulf should experience no auto trouble. mowed.' This is due to the wonderful
For the Gulf-bound down from Arizona,
either of the routes south out of Sasabe
"automatic mower" owned by these ladies,
a dusky well-fed burro.
GHOST I 0 W B
"CALIFORNIA GHOST TOWN TRAILS"
should appear no worse than an extended These soft-spoken daughters of the Contains 36 full page maps showing the way to 90
detour and he's saved himself the bother Mojave own a number of mining claims
ghost towns in California's deserts and mountains with
mileage to the tenth of a mile. 36 photographs show
of going through Nogales, Sonoyta or in the area. From time to time they hire the old town sites as they appear today, not as they
did 50 or 100 years ago. Collect old bottles, western
San Luis. At the same time, he has pro- miners to sample ores from neighboring relics, antiques, buried treasure.
jected himself back at least a century in hills or to repair rickety scaffolding. Al-
Satisfaction guaranteed or money back
Ord.r New! Only $2.95
time, seen the vestiges of Padre Kino's though, the Thompson sisters run a re- A. L. ABBOTT
New World, and mingled with affable, Dept. D-12
laxed operation now, their mining activi- 1513 West Romneya Drive — Anaheim, Calif.
tourist-shy folks who still speak of dis- ties would be greatly accelerated by an
tances in Spanish leagues instead of kilo- increase in the price of silver. You can be FUN & PROFIT
meters or miles. assured of this not only from what they WITH METAL & MINERAL
Moreover, it's all there; right on Ari- say, but also from the silvery sparkle that DETECTORS
zona's southern doorstep. • sometimes dances in their eyes. • Dealer for
White's, Goldak, Detectron, Fisher
DESERT BACK ISSUE SALE "TREASURE HUNTERS MANUAL" by Karl
von Mueller, 7th edition, PP. $6.00.
ENTIRE 1964 Volume ENTIRE 1965 Volume
FREE—Indexes for Topo Maps, stock Western
Only $3.50 Only $4.00 states, each state has index.
Send Check or Money Order to
DESERT MAGAZINE, Dept. B.I.D.
JACOBSEN SUPPLIERS
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PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA 92260 Store Hours: 9:30 to 5:30, closed Sunday
ROCKHOUNDS
TURQUOISE nugget key chain plus 175 page
rockhound catalog $1.00. Many pages in full
color showing thousands of cut gemstones,
mountings, gemstone rough from around the
world and all supplies necessary to make
jewelry for profit or fun. It's easy! Gemex
NEW-
ENLARGED
BOOK OF
FLOWSHEETS
New, enlarged Second Edition includes 170
flowsheets, 315 pages packed with thousands
of ideas for more profitable processing of
minerals from Alumina to Zincl Articles on
marketing, chemical smelting, electrolytic re-
fining. Recognized, endorsed by leaders of
industry, hard-bound copy costs only $10.00.
Unconditional money-back guarantee. Book
sent postpaid anywhere in the world, if pay-
ment accompanies order. Mail order to:
Technical Publications Dept.,
Denver Equipment Company
1400 17th St., Denver, Colorado 80217
D.V.C.OOAIBS
• PHOTO SUPPLIES
CUSTOM FILM finishing by mail since 1932.
Morgan Camera Shop "The complete photo-
graphic store, " 6262 Sunset Blvd., Holly-
wood, California 90028.
• PLANTS, SEEDS
CHIA SEED, with story: 12 ounces, $1.50; 3'/,
pound $5.00; 18 pound $21.00. Pollen Chia
Commerce, Box 215 ID, Prescott, Arizona.
RANCHO ENVIRONMENTAL EMPHASIS: An ar-
boretum nursery with hi-speed hi-desert na-
tive trees. Twentynine Palms. (Call 367-6124
for directions.
CACTUS PLANTS from the Southwest, in assort-
ments of 5 and 10 different varieties. Five
plants—$1. Ten plants—$2. Postpaid in
U.S.A. Cactus, 2528 E. Madison, Phoenix,
Arizona 85034.
EL RANCHO Galapagos Cactus Growers. You
are invited to visit our greenhouses and cactus
gardens on the east slope of Copper Moun-
tain. Star Route 1, Box 710, Twentynine
Palms, California. Phone 362-4329.
• REAL ESTATE
400,000,000 ACRES government public land in
25 states. Some low as $1.00 acre. 1967
report. Details $1.00. Public Land, 422DM
Washinqton BuilHina, Washinnton. DC.
40 ACRES in Newberry, Calif. The land of lakes. WHY" YOU rVIOVlNGr
Total price $2950. Raw land $100 down,
$35 per month. Owner, Box 304, Hesperia,
Calif. 92345.
Dear Jack,
Congratulations on the new section,
cT R.EA1>r- TO «O«/E ACAIM THE MEW INTEK-ST/^TE SuPEFt. It's something I have missed in your
S COMIN& RIGHT THR.OU&H otherwise fine magazine.
Dick Cepek,
South Gate, California.
ome in an rowSe
WHEN IN PALM DESERT VISIT OUR BOOK AND GIFT SHOP IN THE DESERT MAGAZINE BUILDING,
JUST ONE BLOCK SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 111, ON LANTANA AND LARREA STREETS. COME IN
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