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in MOUNT AIRY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1008 NO. 'J 0L. XXIX J0ttllJi IN THE WAY OF BUSINESS. Youths Companion. In the winter of 1892, so said the superintendent, who had been asked to tell fully a story to which some of us had heard allusions, 'I was sent to New Mexico by an irrigation company to look up some water rights near Itoswell, and at the last I found it necess ary to obtain the signature of a rancher who lived one hundred miles west of Roswcll. There were no means of reaching him except by riding across the plains -not a very hard ride as rides go in that country. An old aban doned cattle-trail went to his place from Roswell. About half way there was water, not very good, but it was wet. I feared he dry plain, but my business reipjired me to cross it, and I made ready. 'Long before sunrise one morn ing my guide and I were in the saddle, expecting to reach the water-lrvi by night, camp there, and make the rancher's house by the following night. Consequent ly we travelled light. We put a little grubinoursaddle-bag3, and .'ach of us carried a two-quart canteen with water. At fir&t sight you would think there was no life in these dried up sands, but as we rode, I noted cactus, mesquit, greasewood, sage and wormwood, all flourish ing in their way, every plant hoarding its scant supply of wa ter and giving up as little as pos sible to the air, the small, bright leaves looking green and succu lent, but crumbling to dust in your hands and stinging your nos trils with their acrid gums. Prairie-dogs barked in fancied secur ity from their holes. Rattle snaksaJay coiled on the ground, ana solemn-looking little uwis blinked in the sun. Gophers and squirrels, jack-rabbits and cotton tails scampered over the ground, as if from under our horses' feet; thousands of bright-eyed lizards skittered from under the bushes, and horned toads buried them selves in the sand. 'Toward night my guide point ed out a little sink about a mile ahead of us. 'There are the springs,' he said. We had been sparing of our canteens, which were still half-full. The fagged ponies seemed to scent water, and started up of their own accord. My guide was somewhat in ad vance, and as he pulled up, he gave a short exclamation and pointed to the springs. There was not a drcp of water there. 'Well,' he saia, 'water or no water, we've got to stop here to r.ight.' The poor ponies snuffed round the cracked mud, and even tried to lick up a little water, but the bitter alka i stopped that. We unsaddled and tethered them. They picked at the scanty, dried up grass, but didn't seem to rel ish it much. Dozens of parched carcasses lay round the spring, many stan ding upright in the dry mud. The animals had come in from the plains, crazed with thirst. Some had drunk their fill and crawled out and died; others had simply killed themselves drink ing, or had not had the strength to crawl out. Round the spring were great piles of bones those of cattle that had died in the springs and had been roped and dragged out by the cowboys when this was the principal cattle-trail. I tell you, it looked pretty ghostly. Early the next morning we were up and saddled. During the right we had barely moistened our lips. The ponies certainly could not carry us through the next day without a taste of wat er, and we could probably endure the torture. Each of us took a swallow or two from his canteen, and gave the rest to his horse in an old tin pail. They took it down at a gulp, and licked up the last drop. Then we were off. The early morning wai chilly, but as the sun rose the heat prom ised to be intense. The air seem ed to be filled with a strange cop pery light, and my guide looked anxious. Soon the usual wind began to blow, but instead of a steady breeze, it seemed to come in short, spiteful puffs that sent the sand and dust scurrying a mong the shrubbery. 'Well, pardner, we're in for it,' said my guide, 'In for what?' I asked. 'You never wa3 out in a sand storm, I reckon?' and he looked at me with a queer anxious smile. Before night you are going to know what a rip-roaring old sand storm is like; and if you get out of it alive, you'll have something to tell your grandchildren. Keep close now, and don't lose sight of me. He laid on with his quirt, and galloping off along the trail, I keeping close to his heels. Before long it settled down to a steadier blow. The intervals between the puffs grew shorter and the wind increased to a hur ricane. Greasewood, mesquit and cactus were hidden in eddy ing clouds of sand, and a fine, stinging dust was rising, through which the sun grew dull and sharply defined, like a great cop per ball. Its light grew dimmer, until at last we were in a lurid twilight, with only a dull yellow j suggestion of light overhead. The wind shifted and eddhd strangely. Great sheets of sai d were dashed in "my face, then 'on my side, and then at my back. Once, in a lull, my guide held one end of his lariat to me. 'Put that over the horn of your saddle' he said. Then we can't get sep arated. Our broncos were now walking slowly, staggering painfully a gainst the fierce blasts of wind and sand. At first I was only conscious of the stinging grains hurled against my face and hands and the finer dust penetrating my clothes and settling on my body; but later my smarting eyes and aching throat and mouth showed me that the alkali was doing its work. My nostrils became so clogged with dust that breathing that way was scarcely possible, and when I opened my mouth, it seem ed to fill with sand and dust. I spat it out, to have it refillen; then I covered my head with my blanket. That af forded me a little relief from the sand, but still the scorching, stinging alkali dust sifted through or swirled up under the edges of the blanket. My eyes, throat and nostrils burned, and my lungs seemed to be filling, so that I breathed with great difficulty. M y mouth, through constant effort to free it, had become dry and parched, and my throat felt cracked with burn ing thirst. How long we rode this wav I don't know. I was only con scious pf the horrible present. Gradually I became aware of a lessening pressure. I threw my ! blanket from my head and looked j around. The wind had died down '. almost wholly. There was no , .. . , . . .. i more arming sana, Due the air was still thick with fine dust. The lurid light was rapidly fading, an 1 it was soon almost dark. My guide halted, dismounted, and motioned me to do the same. I was surprised that it was niiit, for, as I said, I had lost ccnacious- ness of time. After dismounting, my guide took his lariat, picketed his horse to a clump of mesquit, and then took off both saddle and bridle. I followed his , example. 'What next?' I asked, looking at him. 'He turned slowly to me. and said, with difficulty. 'Now mind what I tell you. We're near to death, and all that'll keep us from it is the broncos. We're lost. We must let the horses rest till day light, and then hea 1 east. They'll find the ranch if they can hold out. We may hit it to-morrow. If we do'nt ' He moved hi3 hand toward a brown mass. It was a cow with a cracked hide drawn over a bleached skeleton. The night parsed away, as the longest nights must. With the first light we rose, saddled, and were off. The poor brutes made a brave show. They stepped off pretty lively, and when we came to a bit of hard ground, they even broke into an easy lope. We headed straight for the rising sun. The storm was over. There were light, hazy clouds in the sky, and I never saw a more beau tiful sight than their changing to every hue of the rainbow with the fiist rays of light. It's strange how one will take note of such things even in intense suffering. As the sun mounted higher in the heavens, there was a death ly calm. On each hand I saw sights which often drive men crazy. I don't know but that I was a little out of my head, Great lakes seemed to stretch for miles. Wooded islands were mirrored in the still blue waters. Occasion ly a band of antelope would dash into one of these lakes. A cloud of dust would rise beneath their feet, and in an instant the lake would become" burTnngeseVtT The slight current of air caused by their movnig bodies had been enough to disturb the equilibrium and dispel the mirage. At the disappearance of one of those mockeries, I burst into a loud, inarticulate cry which soun ded like a laugh. My companion looked lound at me anxiously, but said nothing. I recalled how men had been found on the des erc trying to swim, while their lips were cracked and swollen tongues were protruding from the mouths. The absurdity of the thing excited me to wild laughter. Then I sobered down, and wondered if I were losing my mind. No, I was simply watch ing a blank screen, on which changing fancies appeared and melted away. Some were amus ing and I laughed; others were grand and stately; but all were things apart from me. On looking at my companion's face I felt like laughing at that, it was so dismal. Then still in same burning, aching, horrible thirst, I became conscious of growing chilly. The sun had gone down. I was surprised, for the last thing I remembered was get ting into the saddle. My guide clambered down, pull ed oft' his saddle, and tethered his horse. I did the same. The poor beasts fell down with a groan. I turned to my guide and tried to speak, but could not. My lips were baked; there was no moisture in my mouth. I sat down and tried to think, 'if I only had a little water jus,t a wine-glass full! Just a teaspoon ful!' I was pleading with some one for it. Then it occurred to me where I was. j caught : 'Oh, yes. we had been in a sandstorm! Yes, I remem ber. To-day or the next day we would die. Or had we another chance? I started to my feet, staggered and fell. I remember striking the ground. I felt elas- Majorities of the States in the Last Six Presidential Elections Here is a a table showing the majorities of the several states of the Union in presidential elec tions since 1881. Republican ma jorities are indicated by the let ter "R," Democratic majorities by the letter "D," and Populist majorities by the letter "P." In 1892, 18 and 1900 the elec toral vote of California was di vided, the Republicans, however, receiving a majority of the elec Vote. State. 1881. 11. Alabama D. 33,829 9. Arkansas I). 22.0152 10. California R. 13.128 5. Colorado R. 8.567 7. Conneticut D. 1,28-4 3. Delaware D. 3,923 5. Florida I). 3,738 13. Georgia D. 48,964 3." Idaho - 27. Illinois R. 25.118 15. Indiana D. 6,512 13. Iowa R. 19.773 10. Kansas R. 04,274 13. Kentucky D. 34,198 9. Louisiana D. 16.182 6. Maine R. 20,000 8. Maryland D. 11,118 16. Massacusetts R. 24.372 14. Michigan R. 3,308 11. Minnesota R. 41.620 10. Mississippi D. 33,001 18. Missouri D. 33,059 3. Montana 8. Nebraska R. 22,512 3. Nevada R. 1,615 4. New Hampshire R. 4,063 12. New Jersey D. 4,412 39. New York D. 1,047 12. North Carolina D. 17,884 4. North Dakota - 23. Ohio R. 31,802 7. Oklahoma 4. Oregon R. 2,256 34. Pennsylvania R. 81,019 4. Rhode Island R. 6,639 9. South Carolina D. 48,112 4. South Dakota 12. Tennessee D. 9,180 18. Texas D. 132,168 4. Vermont R. 12. Virginia D. 5. Washington 7. West Virginia D. 13. Wisconsin R. 3. Wyoming 22,183 6,141 4,221 14,698 tic, and seemed to rebound like a football. To-day or to-morrow? Oh, well, it does not matter. One day more or less never matters. That night there was a heavy fog. That is wny I'm telling this story to you now. Perhaps we gained moisture through the pores; at least, we didn't lose any. In the morning our clothes were damp. With the first light we were up. We hadn't slept any during the night, or at least I was conscious all night of my horrible thirst. The horses, standing with their legs wide apart, hardly moved as we saddled them. How long it took us I don't know. I would start to do something, and after a little would become conscious that I wasn't doing it. We were off after a while. Our brave little ponies seemed to know that it was water or death soon. They tried to step off briskly, but I could feel mine tremble with every step. The sua again come up blind ing and burning. Again the cool lakes and ponds gleamed in the distance. I felt as if I half-floated in the air, and everything seemed far off. There were mur- murings in my head, and I was again in my New England home. I saw green trees and waving fields watered by cool brooks. The sky was overcast, and then a heavy rain seemed falling on everything but me. When I held out mv hand the drops changed to molten sunbeams. I could see nght through thehotsands, with the hidious life that throve on them, and behind them were wa ter and green fields. I heard a groan beside, and my guide's horse staggered and fell. toral votes. Kentucky's vote was divided in 1896, the Repub licans getting a majority of the electoral votes. In 1904 the De mocrats got all but one of Mary land's electoral vote. Michigan divided her electoral vote in 1892, while in the same year North Dakota divided her vote between the Republicans, Democrats and Populists. Ohio divided between 1888 1892 1896 D. 61.123 D. 52.937 I). 75,579 I). 27.210 I). 40,950 I). 72.591 R. 7,037 I). 141 R. . 2.797 R. 13,207 P. 14.964 I). 134.882 I). 336 I). 5,305 I). 53.545 I). 3.441 D. 497 R. 3,630 I). 12,904 I). 23,300 I). 21.444 D. 60,203 I). 81,056 I). 34,141 P. 1.921 D. 16.868 R. 22.102 D. 20.993 R. 142.498 R. 2,348 D. 7,125 R. 18.181 R. 31.711 R. 23.42 R. 65,552 R. 80.156 P. 5.874 1). 12,209 I). 28.665 D. 40,020 R. 281 D. 54.548 D. 61.355 D. 55,138 R. 23.253 R. 14.979 R. 45.777 D. 6.182 D. 21,130 R. 32.224 R. 32.037 R. 26.001 R. 173.265 R. 22,023 R. 20.412 R. 56.868 R. 38,100 R. 12.367 R. 53.768 I). 55.375 D. 20,881 I). 58.404 I). 25,717 D. 41,480 D. 58.727 R. 1.270 D. 32.043 R. 27.878 R. 4.093 D. 12.576 R. 1.903 P. 4.453 D. 6.439 R. 2,342 R. 3.547 R. 35.794 D. 7.149 D. 14.974 R. 82,692 R. 13.002 D. 45,518 R. 268,469 D. 13,118 D. 32,600 D. 19.266 P. 281 R. 5,649 R. 19,599 R. 1,072 R. 48,497 R. 6.769 P. 811 R. 2.117 R. 79.452 R. 63 747 R. 295.072 R. 4.438 R. 2,637 R. 22,978 D. 52,089 D. 41,247 D. 49,517 R 8,344 D. 183 D. I). 17.4 R. ' D. D. R. Mi ! f . jfcO, I 1,539 506 21,321 n. D. R. D. D. R. 21,10.) 50,715 6.65S 4,174 6,544 732 n i.. D. D. R. R. D. The man slowly freed himself, slowly rose to his feet, stood a moment, staggered and fell. This too, was a picture on a screen, and I tried to make out what it meant. Then for an instant it all came back tome. 'Played out' I thought 'He ought to have more pluck.' How much farther I rode I don't know, but I became con scious of an effort to keep myself in the saddle. I looked up. Be fore my swimming eyes was a ranch-house and a wind-mill, and men and horses and cattle far, far away. My head dropped on my breast. Another mirage. A lurch, and I nearly fell from my saddle. This was no mirage. My little bronco's head was straight out, with pointing ears and straining sides. Water! Wa ter! I wanted to shriek, but I could make no sound. It seemed an age to me. With feeble strength I struck at my pony Kodol will, in a -ery short time, en able the stomach to do the work it should do, and the work it should do is to digest all the food you eat. When the stomach can't do it Kodol does it for it and in the meantime the stomach is getting stronger and able to take up its regular natural work again. Kodol digests all you eat. It makes the stom ach sweet and it is pleasant to take. It is sold here by J. H. Gwyn. PIGS. I have a fine lot of piers i fifty to select from. le lot. Order at once JOHN the Republicans and Democrats, while Oregan divided between the Republicans and Populists. Total number of electoral votes for the 1908 election is 483, nec cessary to elect, 212. This table gives information that will be of value during the next two monts and is well worth clipping out for the memorandum book. 1900. 1904. D. 41,719 I). 57,38.3 D. 36.312 D. 17,574 R. 39,770 R. 115,822 D. 29.661 R. 34.582 R. 28,558 R. 38,180 R. 3.671 R. 4,365 D. 20,506 I). 18,732 I). 46.665 I). 62.9 I). 2.216 R. 29.303 R. 94.924 R. 305,03'J R. 26.479 R. 93,944 R. 98.543 R. 158.766 R. 23,354 R. 126,093 D. 8.098 D. 11,893 D. 39.438 I). 42,542 R. 28,612 R. 36,791 R. 13,941 R. 51 R. 81.869 R. 92.076 R. 104,584 R. 227,715 R. 77,560 R. 161,464 I). 45.053 D. 50,187 D. 37,830 R. 25,137 D. 11.773 R. 13,159 R. 8,322 R. 86.682 D. 2,498 R. 2,885 R. 19,310 R. 20,185 R. 55,899 R. 80.598 R. 143.606 R. 175.552 I). 2-1,671 D. 41,679 R. 15,368 R. 39,322 R. 69,036 R. 255,421 R. 18.141 R. 42.934 R. 238,433 R. 505,519 R. 13,972 R. 16,766 D. 43,667 I). 50,009 R. 14,986 R. f.0,114 nr.V; '-.n i Jy i ' - i0,682 D. 30,215 D. 32,768 R. 12,623 R. 73,442 R. 21.022 R. 31,753 R. 106.581 R. 156,057 R. 4.318 R. 11,559 19,341 12,493 11,487 102,612 583 with my quirt again and again. Then my horse plunged his head up to his ears in the trough. I was conscious of hands stretch ed out to me, and I pointed to the desert. They understood. Two men leaped into their saddles with canteens of water, and gal loped back over my trail. Then began an awful struggle. There was water sparkling in the sun, and they wouldn't let me have it. I fought and struggled, but I was overpowered and car ried into the house. A wet sponge was put in my mouth, my cloth ing was stripped from me, and I was wrapped in moist sheets. But, oh, how could they torture me so! I was dying with thirst, and they only let the blested wa ter fall drop by drop on my ton gue! At last one of the men poured a teaspoonfu! of water into my mouth. I tried to swallow it, but it burned like fire. In a little Continued on Page 8. Many people suffer a great deal from Kidney and Bladder troubles. During the past few years much of this com plaint has been made unnecessary by the use of DeWitt's Kidney and Blad der Pills. They are antiseptic and are highly recommended for weak back, backache, rheumatic pains, inflamma tion of the bladder and all other annoy ances due to weak kidneys. They arc sold by J. H. Gwvn. a"3 ready to ship. More B I always ship bes and get choice. A. YOUNG, Creensbcro, N. C.
The Mount Airy News (Mount Airy, N.C.)
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Sept. 17, 1908, edition 1
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