Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Desert Magazine 1975 October
Desert Magazine 1975 October
iICD 08256
PLUS
ART NOTES
PRINTS MAPS
GREETING CARDS
GOLD PANS
11 I AND A LARGE
ASSORTMENT OF
CURRENT AND OLD
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CONTENTS
F E A T U R E S
D E P A R T M E N T S
EDITORIAL, CIRCULATION AND ADVERTISING OFFICES: 74-425 Highway 111, Palm Desert, California 92260. Telephone Area Code 714 346-8144.
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both new and old addresses with zip codes. DESERT Magazine is published monthly. Second class postage paid at Palm Desert, California and at addi-
tional mailing offices under Act of March 3, 1879. Contents copyrighted 1975 by DESERT Magazine and permission to reproduce any or all contents must
be secured in writing. Manuscripts and photographs will not De returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Desert/Octnher 1975
ffi HIS MONTH Desert is pleased to jn-
Publishers
Invitational Show which is a special fea-
ture of the '49er Encampment held each
November. Andy works in several medi-
ums and a select group of watercolors,
the West.
October also heralds the Eighth Annual National Prospectors and Treasure
Hunters Convention being held this year in Pioneertown, California on October 4th
and 5th. This fun-filled weekend is the result of a lot of hard work by the members of
the Prospector's Club of Southern California. Metal detector contests (in four differ-
ent classes), gold panning for young and old, dry washing contest plus the latest in
prospecting and treasure hunting equipment make this a great time for the whole
family in an old western town setting. Make it a must on your calendar and we'll
Complete look forward to seeing you there.
'66, '67, '68 The Orange County Chapter Associated Blazers of California has chosen the
70, 7 1 , 72, 73
Volumes restoration of the Marshal South adobe on Ghost Mountain (see Desert, May '75) as
a conservation project. The plan is to clean up the area, repair the roof, place a com-
memorative marker and put the house in a state of "arrested decay." This will take
many man-hours and considerable expenditure. The above non-profit four-wheel-
drive group is providing all the labor, but they are soliciting donations to cover the
cost of materials.
For those interested in contributing to this worthwhile cause, address all dona-
tions and queries to:
YAQUITEPEC RESTORATION FUND
c/o Jack Masheeco
5643 Lakia Drive
Cypress, California 90630
Marshall South was a major contributor to Desert Magazine in the early '40s,
and had a huge following. We are delighted about the enthusiasm for this project
and will keep the readers informed on its progress, with a feature article scheduled
on its completion.
Received a note from our friend, Nell
Murbarger, author of "Ghosts of the
Lowest Photo Print Prices Glory Trail," Ghosts of the Adobe
Highest Quality Walls," and others, that she has donat-
"Rain Barrel" KODACOLOR FILM ed her entire collection of materials to
Assorted Issues DEVELOPED & PRINTED
the Nevada State Historical Society in
1959 to 1965 Standard 12 J urn bo Prints .1.93
Reno. Included in the 94 cases of
Standard 12 Jumbo Prints and
New Roll of KODACOLOR 2.84 material was a complete set of Desert
Kodacolor Neg. Standard reprints. .14 Magazines from Volume 1, Number 1, to
SEND FOR PRICE SHEETS date.
& ENVELOPES. AM Photo
For ghost town enthusiasts, as well as
Prices are Comparably low.
No gimmicks. western history scholars, the Murbarger
No lies. Collection represents an invaluable
More than 50 years of con- source of information, according to His-
tinuous photo service guar-
antees your quality and our torical Society sources.
integrity.
Desert/October 1975
WESTERN CHRISTMAS CARDS
The Breathtaking Beauty of the Outdoor West
REALISTIC FINE ART REPRODUCTIONS
You and your friends will treasure these fine quality 5 " x 7 " cards.
Featuring colorful reproductions of paintings by America's foremost
western and outdoor artists. Greetings thoughtfully matched to designs.
We can imprint your name inside in red, also your address on the bright
white envelopes. FAST, IMMEDIATE shipment now 'til Christmas.
OUR 26TH YEAR OF HAPPY CUSTOMERS BY MAIL
1 1 5 8 "May the Great Spirit watch over you, etc."
1154 Gift of Love- May the gilt of Love be yours at
- Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
ORDER FROM THIS AD OR SEND FOR FREE SAMPLE AND CATALOG Christmas
1812 "The grass is short, the range is d r y . . . " - T h i s 1239 Yucca Rings-May you and yours this 1220 Bicentennial- At Christmas comes this wish 1 0 9 1 Sign of the Season- Glad Tidings along the
verse ain't clever. But Merry Christmas same as ever! Christmas...be blessed with health and happiness ... may 1976 oveitlow with health, happiness, etc. trail and Good Prospects... Merry Christmas
1203 Yucca Candles- May the Peace and Happiness 1145 "A prayer this Christmas...leave no little one 1 2 2 1 "Season's Greetings"— Happy Holidays and 1238 God's Candlesticks- May you have the Spirit
of the Christmas Season abide with you.. all the Year alone."- Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Best Wishes for the Coming Year of Christmas which is Peace... Hope... Love
1147 Mother's Pride It's Christmas again! May 1123 "May...the rainbow always touch your 1351 Take Time to See 24 line nature p o e m - May 1115 "And a Merry Christmas to you, too."
yours be a |oyful one and your New Year happy! shoulder"- Merry Christmas and Happy New Year the Peace and Joy of Christmas be with you, etc. - Wishing you the special joy that Christmas brings
* - • - * - * - • - * - * - * • - * - • - * - • - * - * - • - •
I HOW TO ORDER: Use coupon or letter and Quan. of Without With Name AND Extra lor
cards name name brand OR address on
* mail with payment. Order all of one kind and envs. imprinted imprinted brand only env. flaps
1
or as many of each as desired. Include fee
* for postage and handling in total payment. 12 $ 2 85 $ 4 35 $ 6 10 $ 1 / 5
1 25 4 95 6 70 8 45 2 00
Colorado residents add 3% sales tax. Cali- 37 7 45 9 45 11 30 2 25
* fornia residents add 6% use tax. Canadian 50 9 90 12 15 13 90 2 50
75 14 60 17 10 18 85 2 75
i customs duty charged at border. No CO. D. 100 18 80 21 55 23 30 3 00
125 23 25 26 25 28 00 3 25
Postage and Handling Fee 150 27 70 30 95 32 70 3 50
1
Orders to $8 00 add 70t 200 36 60 40.35 42 10 4 00
it $8 01 to 518 00 add 90* 300 54 40 59 15 60 90 5 00
1110 "If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb" 1205 A Memory of Christmas- Come join a dream I $18 01 and up add $1.00 500 88 50 95 25 97 00 7 00
- Wishing you the special joy that Christmas brings of...Christmas in an oldtime western home, etc.
*
1033 1123 1203 1238
I Fill in quantity
I Cit)
Rush free
sample and
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED OR YOUR MONEY BACK
byJOEKRAUS
Desert/October 1975
Left: The Camp Verde Cavalry
returns every year during the
annual Camp Verde Day
celebration held every October.
A barbecue, Indian and can can
dancing, a rodeo and a
melodrama performance are
also included in the public
celebration at the fort.
Bodie, California
LOCATION: Bodie is located 13 miles east ing" for a rabbit, for dinner. He winged his prey, but
of Highway 395, near the Nevada border, 21 miles the animal was not cooperative. The wounded rabbit
southeast of Bridgeport, California. went down its hole. Bodey, not to be denied, dug for
his dinner, and he came up with much more than a
meal. The ground was rich with gold.
BRIEF HISTORY: Winter can be harsh on For more than a decade the small mining
the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. camp named in Bodey's honor languished in the
The sentiment "Goodbye, God, I'm going to Bodie" shadow of Aurora, center of the richer Esmaralda
says it all. In those mountains north of California's mining district, a few miles to the east. But, another
Mono Lake, the frigid winds boil down from the High twist of fate was to cause a boom at Bodie.
Sierra and the snow piles deep on the barren The ore at Bodie was low grade. Produc-
highlands. tion was modest. Among the mines operating on a
If the winter of 1860 was an exception, it shoestring was the Standard. Its owners did not even
was because it was colder than most. It was in have enough money for proper shoring. One morn-
March of that year that Bill Bodey died. He froze to ing, in 1874, when workers arrived, they discovered
death, buried deep in a snow drift, just a few miles a cave-in. Bonanza! A rich chamber of ore was ex-
from the site of the gold discovery that would make posed. The word flashed across California and
his incorrectly spelled name famous for two Nevada, and the gold rush was on!
generations. Four years later, in 1878, another fabulous
Legend tells us that Bodey's gold discovery strike was made at another mine. A rich vein of gold
was, like many, the result of pure chance. The story and silver was discovered on the property of the
says that, in July of 1859, Bodey was out "prospect- Bodie Mining Company.
Desert/October 1975
Bodie's old Methodist Church
was built in 1878
at the peak of the town's boom.
The only Protestant church
ever erected in Bodie,
it is the only church
still standing among the dozens
of historic buildings
being protected by
the State of California.
Production boomed, and the population of of the old business district was destroyed and a town
Bodie soared. The community that a few years before once described as " a sea of sin, lashed by the tem-
had been a sleepy little mining camp with a few hun- pests of lust and passion," went finally to its last
dred residents became a city with a population of resting place and became another ghost of the
more than 10,000. More than $10 million was ex- American west.
tracted from the Bodie hills between 1874 and 1881.
Mining towns seem to boom and bust. BODIE TODAY: The 13 miles of dirt road
Bodie was no exception. The boom was quick and it from Highway 395 are rough, and the trip takes
was fantastic. The decline, orchestrated with mini- nearly an hour. The journey is worth the effort,
booms during a 30 year period, was slow and pain- though. Bodie is a classic among ghost towns. A
ful. In Bodie, a wooden town, the major pain was in- State Historic Park since 1962, Bodie is maintained
flicted by fire. Both the population and the mine pro- by the few rangers who live in the community in what
duction dropped, except during short periods of is called a state of "arrested decay." Dozens of
prosperity, during the three decades from Bodie's buildings remain in various stages of disrepair pro-
peak until the start of its final decline in 1910. Fire tected against vandals by the rangers. Self-guiding
though, was deadly. In July of 1892 there was a dis- tour books make the history of Bodie come alive for
astrous conflagration. And, in June of 1932, fire visitors, but commercialism has been avoided. Bodie
again struck. This time it was the final blow to a is a protected ghost, but it is a true ghost . . . the
nearly abandoned city of the past. More than half must ghost for every true ghost towner.
Desert/October 1975
WESTERN ART
Desert/October 1975
HoRSEbAck
• I OU WON'T see Andy Dagosta's art-
cf istry in the Sistine Chapel. Or the
4 Louvre, although it might well be
should they have an exhibit of fine art on
the American Old West. At least if his le-
gion of fans, who have enshrined his
paintings on their walls, have anything
to say about it.
Although his techniques and style dif-
fer from that of the famous Florentine,
Andy, too, is a meticulous craftsman of
romantic realism. Before his brushes
touch the canvas there are days, weeks,
even longer, of patient and painstaking
research for the authenticity that identi-
fies a "Dagosta western."
If the picture is that of a boots 'n sad-
dle cavalryman, you know that the uni-
form is authentic, right down to the ker-
chief, the equipment, the sweat-stained
hat. If it is a desperado with rifle in
hand, waiting in ambush, you can bet
that the rifle model belonged to the
scene and the time. The borderland can-
tina that he pictures may not be any
specific one, but you will recognize it
from countless counterparts right down
to the aged, weather-beaten adobe, the
unpainted and heat-cracked door, the
very air of refuge from storm and lone-
liness.
Not only do Andy's paintings with-
stand the close scrutiny of Western buffs
who tend to rate an artist by his western
expertise as well as artistry, they reflect
a feeling, a flair that comes only with a
love of the land and its history.
Although the plains of Nebraska may
now seem more midwest than one time
frontier, it was back in his hometown of
Omaha that the roots of Andy's fondness
for the West took hold. But shortly after
graduation from Omaha Tech, he wound
"Cavalry Scout'
THE GILA
prehistory — in the Southwest. The knoll
was on the western rim of the ancient
Hokokam (pronounced "Ho-ho-KAM")
domain. The modern Pimas and Papagos
may be descended, in part, from this
gifted race of canal builders, whose
name means "that which has vanished."
That tireless missionary-explorer, Padre
P
ROM ITS SOURCE in the timbered graphs painted on the surface, but petro-
heights of New Mexico to its conflu- glyphs cut into the rock. Thousands of Eusebio Kino, passed the glyphs in 1700
ence with the Colorado near Yuma, markings cover a small blackish hillock while on a horseback journey from
Arizona, the Gila River penetrates the on the edge of Dendora Valley near the Sonora to the Colorado River. He was
very heart of the Southwest. Gila Cliff Painted Rock Mountains. A few familiar then 56 years old and averaged 40 miles
Dwellings, the San Carlos Apache reser- shapes stand out, evidently portraying per day on the expedition. In 1775 Juan
vation and the Casa Grande ruins are men, horses, bighorn sheep, lizards and Bautista de Anza led 240 California-
some of the better-known places of snakes, but the significance of these bound settlers and large herds of live-
interest along or near its course; the San glyphs and of the myriad abstract forms stock down the banks of the lower Gila;
Simon, San Pedro, Santa Cruz, Hassay-
ampa, and Salt are among its tributaries. by
From prehistoric times down through the DICK
days of Kino, Anza, American mountain BLOOMQUIST
men, and the Butterfield Overland Mail,
human activity has flowed along this
storied stream.
One of the Gila's lesser-known at-
tractions is located in western Maricopa
County, Arizona, not far from Gila Bend.
Here, about three miles from the river,
are the Painted Rocks, aboriginal glyphs
now protected as a state historic park.
The paved Painted Rock Road breaks
north from Interstate Highway 8 some 14
miles west of Gila Bend. For 11 miles it
works its way toward, and through, the
low Painted Rock Mountains. Then a Right: "Painted"
side road forks to the left, leading to the Rocks is really a
petroglyphs a fraction of a mile away; misnomer, since
the main road continues on for another the markings are
five miles to Painted Rock Dam on the not pictographs
Gila, an earth-fill barrier completed by painted on the
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in surface, but
1959. Because of dam building along the petroglyphs cut
Cila and its tributaries, and the needs of into the rock.
Arizona's expanding industry, agricul- Opposite Page:
ture, and population, the river is normal- Strange symbols,
ly dry near Painted Rocks today. labyrinthine
"Painted" Rocks is really a mis- designs at
nomer, since the symbols are not picto- Painted Rocks.
16 Desert/ October 1975
•
"
J
they became the first colonists to reach children. On the south side of the river,
California by an overland route. and some eight to 10 miles west of
The first half of the nineteenth cen- Painted Rocks, Apaches attacked the
tury saw American mountain men trap- party, killing the parents and four of the
ping beaver along the river. With the children.
outbreak of the Mexican War in 1846 and Fifteen-year-old Lorenzo Oatman was
the discovery of gold in California in left for dead, and his two young sisters,
1848, soldiers, settlers, and forty-niners Olive (about 14 years old) and Mary Ann
began moving west past Painted Rocks. (7 years old), were taken captive. Lor-
General Kearny, Kit Carson, and the enzo recovered and reached civilization,
Army of the West came through in '46, then tried without success to find the
followed later that year by the wagons of girls, who before long were traded by the
the Mormon Battalion. The Mormons Apaches to the Mohaves. Mary Ann died
tried to float part of their supplies down among the Mohaves, but Olive survived.
the lower Cila, but the two wagon bodies Finally, in 1856, she was brought in to
they had fashioned into a boat frequently Fort Yuma by a friendly Yuma Indian
ran aground on sand bars in the shallow and reunited with her brother.
channel. By lightening the load, how- In the late 1850's and early '60's the
ever, the desert sailors eventually did coaches of the Butterfield Overland Mail
reach the river's mouth. rolled past Painted Rocks, but the onset
The land north of the Cila, in what is of the Civil War soon ended the career of
now Arizona, passed from Mexico to the this celebrated stage line.
United States in 1848, but the territory The coming of the railroad and the
south of the river, including the Painted building of U.S. Highway 80 and Inter-
Rocks, did not become American soil state 8 caused history to bypass the old
until the Gadsden Purchase of 1853. One Gila trail and its Painted Rocks.-Now,
year before the Purchase, a lone covered however, with the creation of the state
wagon was working its way westward park and the nearby dam, travel is on the
along the Gila. In the emigrant family increase once again in this rewarding
were Boyce Oatman, his wife, and seven corner of the Southwest. •
17
Black
Widow by JIM CORNETT
OWYHEE TRAILS by Mike Hanley and Ellis HOW AND WHERE TO PAN GOLD by Wayne
Lucia. The authors have teamed to present the DESERT, The American Southwest by Ruth Winters. Convenient paperback handbook with
boisterous past and intriguing present of this still Kirk. Combining her knowledge of the physical information on staking claims, panning and re-
wild corner of the West sometimes called the characteristics of the land, and man's relation to covering placer gold. Maps and drawings. $2.50.
I-O-N, where Idaho, Oregon and Nevadacome to- the desert from the prehistoric past to the prob-
gether. Hardcover, 225 pages, $7.95. able future, with her photographer's eye and her
enthusiasm for a strange and beautiful country,
the result of Ruth Kirk's work is an extraordinar-
ily perceptive account of the living desert. High-
ly recommended. Hardcover, beautifully illus-
trated, 334 pages, $10.00.
DEATH VALLEY SCOTTY TOLD ME by Elea- CALIFORNIA-NEVADA GHOST TOWN ATLAS CALIFORNIA by David Muench and Ray Atke-
nor Jordan Houston. A fascinating and unusual andSOUTHWESTERN GHOST TOWN ATLAS son. Two of the West's greatest color photo-
recount of famous Death Valley Scotty's adven- by Robert Neil Johnson. These atlases are excel- graphers have presented their finest works to cre-
tures as told to the author while she and her lent do-it-yourself guides to lead you back to atethe vibrationsof the oceans, lakes, mountains
ranger husband were Scotty's nearest neighbors scenes and places of the early West. Some pho- and deserts of California. Their photographic
in 1948. Some of these escapades have never tos and many detailed maps with legends and presentations, combined with the moving text of
been told before. Illustrated, 116 pages, $1.75. bright, detailed descriptions of what you will David Toll, makes this a classic in Western Amer-
see; also mileage and highway designations. icana. Large11x14format, hardcover, 186 pages,
Heavy paperback, each contains 48 pages, each $25.00.
MINES OF DEATH VALLEY by L. Burr Belden. $2.00.
About fabulous bonanzas, prospectors and lost
mines. Paperback, $1.95.
THE CALIFORNIA DESERTS by Edmund C. THE SALTON SEAYesterday and Today by
Mildred de Stanley. Includes geological history,
THE OREGON DESERT by E. R. Jackman and Jaeger. Revised 4th edition is a standard guide
photographs and maps, early exploration and
R. A. Long. Filled with both facts and anecdotes, to Mohave and Colorado deserts with new chap-
development of the area up to the present.
this is the only book on the little but fascinating ters on desert conservation an aborigines. Hard-
Paperback, 125 pages, $1.50.
deserts of Oregon. Anyone who reads this book cover, $4.95.
will want to visit the areas—or wish they could.
Hardcover, illustrated, 407 pages, $8.95.
r
gold seeker too!
Living on the northern slopes of
the San Gabriel Mountains, we are
1 * «*^
within close proximity to several
placer gold deposits. However, *
a
outside of a little gold panning, we
haven't exploited our local areas. I r " 'illP
guess the old saying, "The grass is 0
always greener on the other side of
the fence,'' holds true. We always
seem to head for distant horizons. Fj
A good metal detector and gold 1 Jr .1" ia
pan have been our gold hunting
tools. This is mainly because there
isn't any space left to carry
| -
I
additional gear when we travel.
What with camera equipment, managed to obtain a little vial of
mineralight, rock hunting tools, color. Initially, we have only spent
several pets and their a couple of hours at a location.
paraphernalia—our camper shell However, as soon as time permits,
and trailer are weighted down. We we plan to do some serious sluicing
have to move several items in order in several areas which seemed
to reach any object we may need. promising.
Jerry now carefully scrutinizes and California's first gold discovery
generally says " N O " to any new was made in the southern part of
item I deem absolutely essential. the state seven years before the
It was with considerable Great Gold Rush of 1849. It was a
trepidation that I announced we small placer deposit located in the
would be taking along a sluice box mountains separating the coastal
on our fall trip. ' 'Where in the devil basin from the Mojave Desert.
are we going to put it?" my better Aptly named Placerita Canyon,
half roared. When shown the these low-grade deposits were
small, compact box, the roar worked for many years by Mexican
reduced to a grumbling, "Well, laborers from Sonoran placer
O.K., I guess." We were headed for regions. Only six to eight thousand
the High Sierras and I planned to dollars in gold was mined
sluice while Jerry fished. annually—mainly fine grain and
Unfortunately, rain, then snow were small nuggets.
encountered in Owens Valley. The Placer gold was also discovered
next day, the locale we had in San Francisquito, Castaicand
planned to visit had two feet of Santa Felicia Canyons in the early
white stuff on the ground! 1840s. Very primitive mining
Above: The "Forty Niner" Early this spring, Jerry methods were used, yet over
sluice box consists of nine parts. suggested we try a little sluicing at $100,000 in gold was recovered
It is easily stored our local gold fields. By this time, during the first two years. All of
and can be set up in a he had taken the box out and these deposits have been worked
very few minutes. assembled it remarking, "By golly, intermittently down through the
Below: Placer alluvium has been this is a compact little unit. We will years. However, most of the land is
placed in the top section of the have to see how well it works." now private property and the
sluice box. Water is bucketed into Work it did. Weighing only six hobbyist must obtain permission to
the top to carry the fines through the pounds, the two-story sluice box work the ground.
grizzly and over the riffles to called "The Fortyniner" is a sturdy, A historical marker
a padded screen where any easily assembled, hard working commemorates the gold discovery
coarse or fine gold is caught. piece of equipment. We visited in Placerita Canyon—now a Los
several nearby locales and while Angeles County Park. Gold
we didn't strike it rich, we panning is permitted but no other
I PHOTOGRAPHER BY profession, I town, and expecting the near equivalent the little town of Schurz, on Nevada
eg occasionally take off on dust-choked of a Hollywood movie set, far too often route 95, at the north end of Walker
I I safaris through the West, seeking upon arrival I find practically nothing left Lake. My information had indicated that
out the remnants of the gold and silver of substance. Rawhide is a case in point. the turn-off I was looking for was at the
rushes of the late 1800s and early 1900s. In the various pieces of literature I sifted north edge of town. In actuality, it was
It's a literal race against time to preserve through, there were several photos of an east turn, three miles north of town.
the last tottering remains of the boom quite photogenic groups of old false- Local inquiry produced three different
towns and mining camps on film before fronted wooden buildings. Unfortunate- sets of instructions, and I had embarked
the elements, fires and vandals erase ly, the photos weren't dated, and some on and completed a grand tour of the
them from the land completely and there authors get their information second- local sagebrush before extracting the
is nothing left to photograph. hand. At any rate, I decided to track it correct route from a railroad track crew.
As it is, after researching a particular down, come what may. I proceeded to Having found the right turn-off, it's a
32
' <mn KSS S "
»«
•y!» I
Jat; ft
• •••« a m if M )«*
• III!
• lilt c:is
urn
IIIII
IIIII
• • • ••
• III
•\~—**i&^ .» „. :
: • • " • • :
•••If
Right: Sunlight plays •••I
through holes in metal roof
of the Rawhide jail.
Vandals have removed cell doors,
but old mattress springs and,
in right cell, wrist manacles,
still remain intact.
by DAVE HOWARD
long, lonely 26 miles (each way) across you simply couldn't live with the sight of had driven 26 miles to see. But after
the flats to Rawhide. Make sure there's dusty white sidewalls on the family seeing the road disappear over a far
air in your spare; it's a long walk to the limousine. Only when you actually enter horizon, and a search with binoculars re-
nearest petrol emporium. The road isn't the town does the road get rough, due vealed no further evidence of a town, I
bad at all, although washboard in several mainly to the flash floods that over the had no choice but to admit that I had ar-
spots during the last few miles. There years have roared through Stingaree rived. The thought occured to me that it
are a few modern mining operations Gulch, which forms the main street. was a shame that lynchings were out of
going on in the vicinity, so the road oc- There is so much less left than the old style now, because I would liked to have
casionally feels the leveling influence of photos had led me to expect, that I drove considered conducting one, with the
a road grader. I negotiated it unevent- a couple of miles past the townsite, re- author of a certain guidebook as the
fully with a 14-year-old-Thunderbird, so fusing to believe that the few scattered lynch-ee. However, I was determined to
you shouldn't have any problems unless structures beside the road were what I salvage something from the long drive,
Desert/October 1975 33
HANDY BOOK ORDER FORM
NAME
ADDREESS_
ZIP CODE __
TOTAL
expensive form of habitation for a pros- floors, and one cell is still complete with
pector still waiting to make a strike. It wrist manacles. Over in a corner stands a
m-.
also had the benefit of being well in- pot-bellied stove, the inmates only de-
sulated against the searing heat of fense against the rugged Rawhide HACKWORTH
summer and the biting cold winds of winters. REALTY
winter. Sunlight plays through holes in the THE KEY TO YOUR NEEDS
Headframes of many mine shafts be- roof, and birds nest in the rafters. Van-
gin to materialize in the surrounding dals have managed to cart off the doors
hills, outlined against the stark blue sky, to the cells, but the rest is intact. After
standing guard over the glory-holes that the general let-down of the rest of the 2 Offices to Serve You
once drew men from far and wide. Here town, this find is a relief, and somehow
and there a few modest frame structures seems to make it all worthwhile again. Pine Grove Sutter Creek
still stand, having been spared the On the long drive back to the highway, P.O. Box 97 37 Main Street
209-296-7464 209-267-5600
ravages of fire and flood that finished I enjoyed the total solitude of the area,
their former neighbors, but final collapse wishing there was some way to bottle it
is not far off. A doorless safe or two lie and take some back to the noisy world Tom Hackwortti, Realtor
rusting in the open, no longer needed to Res: 209-296-7275
that most of us have to endure. •
Desert/October 1975
35
BANDELIER NATIONAL MONUMENT
WINDOW
TO THE PAST
N NORTH-CENTRAL New Mexico, a several hundred feet into the sky on
pleasant hour's drive from historic either side. It was in this canyon that the
! Santa Fe, lies Bandelier National original inhabitants carved their homes
Monument. Within the confines of this into the sides of the cliffs and construct-
beautiful park can be found some of the ed community dwellings on the canyon
most colorful and fascinating artifacts of floor.
the Keres-speaking Pueblo Indians who Called Pueblos because of their habit
inhabited crude cave dwellings carved of living in closely-clustered communi-
by into the sheer cliff walls some 700 years ties resembling the pueblos, or villages,
CHARLES D. HALE ago. of Spain, these simple people maintain-
Located in the picturesque Jernes ed a compact form of social organization.
(HAY-mes) Mountains, the park consists The manner in which the Pueblos con-
of 29,600 acres in which have been pre- structed their homes and living quarters
served several centuries of Indian cul- is evidence of their fondness for intimate
ture and history. The major feature of social contact. The ruins that have been
the park is the long narrow canyon, preserved in the parksite provide a
formed by towering cliff walls that rise glimpse of the community life of the Pue-
blos centuries ago.
Archeological evidence suggests that
the Pajarito Plateau, in which Bandelier
National Monument is located, was first
settled during the 12th century A.D. The
area probably reached its population
peak sometime between the 14th and
16th centuries. The evidence is not
clear, but it appears that a series of mis-
fortunes—crop failure, disease, attacks
from warring neighbors —forced the
original inhabitants to seek a more favor-
able location in which to live. By the lat-
ter part of the 16th century, only a
handful of the original inhabitants re-
Left: Tyuoni was mained in the area.
once a large pueblo. Today the descendants of these peace-
Opposite Page: ful farming people reside in the Cochiti
Cave kiva in Frijoles (KOH-chee-tee) Pueblo, located on the
Canyon. Color photo west bank of the Rio Grande River, mid-
by Robert F. Campbell, way between Santa Fe and Albuquer-
Concord, California. que. Despite the effect of modern con-
36 Desert/October 1975
1/
t
Left: Kiva
which was
used primarily
for religious
purposes.
Right:
Youngsters
exploring the
cave rooms
carved into
sheer cliff
walls.
veniences, these people still enjoy a The early Pueblos who lived in Bande- after whom the park is named, an inten-
simple style of living, much as their an- lier left behind them a veritable treasure sive study of the Pajarito Plateau and the
cestors did before them. Renowned as chest of artifacts and remnants from Frijoles Canyon area was initiated in
outstanding artists, craftsmen, and pot- which the story of their life has been 1880. Today, the scenic grandeur of the
ters, these descendants of the original carefully constructed. Thanks largely to landscape, combined with the historic
Bandelier settlers continue to cling to the work of a distinguished Swiss-Amer- significance of the canyon, make the trip
many of the ways of their ancestors. ican anthropologist, Adolphe Bandelier, to Bandelier an unforgettable exper-
ience.
Among the main points of interest to
Enjoy Our be found in the park are the following:
New Modern Motel Big Kiva [KEE-va] — This under-
Kitchenettes ground structure was used by the Pue-
New Camper Park blos primarily for religious purposes.
Complete Utilities Kivas also served as training centers for
Relax in Our boys and young men, and were
Hot Mineral Baths occasionally used for healing and curing
Hydro Therapy Massage rites.
Tyuonyi [Tyoo-OWN-yee] — Once a
are located within an easy drive of Ban- California Traveler A Stitch in Time
delier. Juniper Campground, with nearly Book Publisher Fred S. Cook Handmade Gifts Diana Mitchell
100 trailer and tent sites, is located
within the park itself. A $2.00 camping The Bandstand Little Shamrock Lapidary
fee is required. Muriel Thebaut Hank Varley
Desert/October 1975 39
Noic . .
Good things
.'"•'•"
''•'•yi'•
are happening at . . .
D eser byJIMCORNETT
©1975
DeathValley
Junction
ff Stay at the historic
AMARGOSA HOTEL
T
must while you're in this area. HE FORGET-ME-NOT, of the genus ed, through bulldozing, reflected some
See Marta Becket's fabulous Cryptantha, is a common plant found need of Cryptantha. Careful attention to
murals inside the Opera House.
at a wide variety of elevations from roadsides seems to support this observa-
Performances on Friday, Satur-
day and Monday evenings at below sea-level in Death Valley to over tion as many species in this genus
8:15; doors open at 7:45. 8,000 feet in Utah. abound along the shoulders of desert
Telephone Death Valley Junc- Other plants are also called forget-me- highways.
tion #8 for reservations. Tours nots (Myosotis), and I will discuss these Popcorn flower, which members of
welcomed.
at a later date. It seems important to this genus are often called, is a member
stress that common names can be con- of the plant family known to botanists as
fusing as the same designation is often Boraginaceae, but lets junk this mon-
I The AMARGOSA GENERAL given to plants or animals that are very strous creation for the time being. Bor-
STORE, Death Valley Junction dissimilar. Such is the case with the for- age Family is much more pronounceable
Service Station and AMAR-1
get-me-nots which can be one of several and refers to the same grouping. Bor-
GOSA POTTERY are open.
Space is available for develop- different genera. age, bugloss, heliotrope, and coldenia
ment. Watch this space each Our subject this month generally are just a few flowers also found in this
month for more news as the re- tends to be small and slender with plant family, one of which may help you
! storation of Death Valley Junc- many greenish stems arising from a put Cryptantha into proper perspective.
5 tion continues. branched root crown. Normally annual, Apparently this plant group has not
the forget-me-not remains under two been used as a source of food by man.
feet tall with many species such as the Ants and small rodents frequently dine
lor further information about Sulphur-throated Forget-me not, Cryp- upon the seeds, but the stems and leaves
DEATH VALLEY JUNCTION tantha flavoculata, often only four inches are usually left to wilt under the intense
please write:
high at its tallest. summer sun.
Death Valley Junction. Inc.
P.O.Box 675 This spring our yard was covered with Spring is the season to look for these
Death Valley Junction, hundreds of this herb which blooms for multi-flowered annuals. Dry, disturbed
California 92328 one or two months. Oddly, there were far areas seem favored by the erect herbs
more plants within the perimeters of our where competition is lessened and the
property than outside it. Perhaps the fact forget-me-nots may often dominate
that the plot we live on had been disturb- along our desert trails. •
Desert/October 1975
" A Lonely Desert W a s h " . Photo by George Service
F
OR OUR next few columns, we will
KEENE ENGINEERING, Inc. Dept. D
9330 Corbin Avenue discuss some of the many things that The metal portion of the assay is much
Northridge, CA 91324
• Send me your FREE 1976 Catalog
may be used to imitate gems. Some heavier than the molten rock, and settles
• Enclosed is $7.95. Send me your of these are simple materials made by to the bottom of the crucible as a small
240 page "Dredging For Gold,"
the book that tells everything man, others are more elaborate. Some ball. After cooling, the small mass of
about underwater gold-dredging.
are other minerals, perhaps being good glass-like molten rock is broken away,
Name _
enough to be a gem in their own right. freeing the ball of metal. The metal is
Address
To introduce the series, we would like weighed, and the assayer can now tell
City State Zip
to recount some of our experiences with the percentage of metal in the sample.
a material that very few would suspect of The small mass of previously molten
occasions, and a large number have been money and/or time on something that is
brought to us for identification. They Deluxe Gem Tumbler
probably worthless.
Rugged, compact for pros
have masqueraded as other gem mater- Very recently, one of our students & beginners. Mod. 250D,
ials, as well as tektites. Quite commonly visited a gem show where he observed Sh.Wt.18lbs.
they have been called obsidian, which is the workings of the mineral and gem
not very different from a tektite. How- identification booth. The person that was 8" & 10" Koolerant Kontrolled
ever, we have never seen green obsidian operating the booth was well trained, but T r i m Saws Heavy duty
throughout Complete with Power
and do not believe it exists. We shall dis- as events showed, had never seen a Feed & Cut-Out. Switch & Motor.
Mod.157d.10'. •
cuss "green obsidian" stories in our crucible button. Sh. W t . 45 lbs.
next column. One was brought in for identification,
Diamond Drill,
A very logical gem material for cruci- being hopefully represented as green
Carver & Buffer
ble buttons to imitate is the popular gem opal. We had never heard of it imitating Special design saves dia-
peridot. This has evidently happened on opal before! It was identified as a tektite, mond drills. Ideal for Tur-
quoise & other valuable
a number of occasions. One of our most which we can readily understand under stones. Mod. 605D. Sh. Wt.
interesting experiences with crucible the circumstances. Our student sensed 10 lbs $54.90
buttons concerned its being called something wrong, but could not be sure.
peridot. Later, he described the incident to us. 'COVINGTON .
I Box 35, Dept. D., Redlands, CA 92373
At a gem show in the fairly recent During his description of the material, J Please
Plpase accept
acnpnt my
mv order
nrriflr for the
thn following
follnwinn i1
items,
past, we were introduced to a man in which was perfect, we went to our supply nd ship at once:
order that he might show us the very of crucible buttons and showed him one. I Enclosed is my:
r
Check
Gem Tumbler
Drill
Trim Saw
Free-
Catalog
MOVING?
SO YOU WILL NOT MISS A N ISSUE Sign Gift Card: "From
NOTIFY US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. One Year $6.00 D PAYMENT ENCLOSED D BILL ME LATER
Be sure to include old address Two Years $11.00 • ALSO SEND DESERT'S 12-ISSUE
(Or 2 One Years) HANDSOME BROWN VINYL BINDER FOR
as well as the new
$4.50 (Includes tax and postage)
Three Years $16.00
AND BOTH ZIP CODES! (Or Three One Years) Date Binder(s) with Year(s) • Undated
Desert/October 1975 45
THE BLACK WIDOW helplessly tied up and ready (but not wil-
owners
Continued from Page 19 ling) to receive the fatal nip from the
Display your INSULATORS in many different-
attractive-functional ways. Send ony $1.75 widow's fangs or chelicera as they are
for plan No. 1-TABLE TOP INSULATOR LAMP. fully as he came. Any misstep could cost called by scientists. She then backs off,
Large complete easy to follow plan and
photo . Plus a listing of our many other unique
him his life. waiting for the venom to take effect.
INSULATOR DISPLAY PLANS - KITS and price As the male approaches the silken When movement has ceased she returns
list of our large INSULATOR COLLECTION. threads of his prospective bride, he to suck out the fluid content of the
( 50 * refundable with second order) gently tugs them. This seems a special lifeless animal.
insulator king signal which lets the female know a The body moisture of the widow's vic-
groom is coming aboard. Mating is brief, tims provides sufficient water for her
P.O. Box 17416 San Diego, CA 92117
the male fertilizing the female, then fol- survival in the dryness of her desert
MEMBER of NATIONAL INSULATOR ASSOCIATION
lows his treacherous tightrope walk to home. When times are tough, there not
safety. If he isn't too taken with the being any insects about, she will retire
whole affair, he'll make it off the web. deeper into her home and fast for several
Occasionally, however, he makes a mis- weeks or even months if necessary.
step, alarming the female who hastily During this period, her health deterior-
gobbles him up. Some honeymoon! ates, the abdomen shrinking consider-
The female subsequently deposits ably, but she is still able to capture food
from 300-500 eggs wrapped in a silken should things pick up. A summer cloud-
STOP THAT cocoon. The cocoon forms a protective burst or the onset of spring usually
THIEF WITH covering around the eggs, preventing brings relief.
IOCKSTRAP predation upon the maturing young. The All forms of wildlife have enemies and
A revolutionary new design silk used in cocoon making is amazingly the black widow is no exception. Modern
attaches to front and rear strong, having a tensile strength greater man, of course, does not hesitate in rid-
slot. For all G.I. cans and
all 6 " high rear panels. than steel. The youngsters emerge in ding his dwelling of this dangerous spi-
All steel construction and about 30 days, striking out on their own der. However, primitive man saw the
electric welded.
Type E Only immediately. They look nothing like black widow as a useful object. Dr. C.
their parents, often being brightly color- Hart Merriman, chief of the U. S. Biolog-
DEALER
INQUIRIES S" 11 * f o r FREE Brochure Showing
ed and marked. They are poisonous, but ical Survey from 1885-1910, discovered
INVITF.D. Other Models to Fit Any Vehicle^ because of their small size and even that certain southwestern Indian tribes
S 1141 Wiltsey Rd. S.E., Salem, OR 9 7 3 0 ^ T smaller fangs, are of no danger at this used the venom of the black widow to
point in their lives. It is at this time when poison arrow tips. The spiders would be
the spiders move about looking for a collected, then mashed together, the ar-
DR. K. D. REYNOLDS suitable home. They are so small they row being rubbed in the messy concoc-
CHIROPRACTOR have little difficulty in squeezing under tion. Needless to say, it worked.
doorways or crawling through insect
Southwestern Indians making poison-
Five Years at Miller's screens. In most instances black widows
ed arrows are certainly not the only pre-
Tecopa Hot Springs enter homes when they are small, matur-
dators of the black widow. She must con-
ing in about six months to larger adult
tend with a host of lizard species that
General Practice size.
would like nothing better than to add a
The Natural Way The black widow web is certainly noth- relatively large, juicy spider to their
ing for any self-respecting spider to be menu. Most notable of the lizard pre-
Tecopa, California
proud. It's a messy, low-to-the-ground dators are the large alligator lizards
714-852-4343
affair, one thread going off in one direc- (Gerrhonotus sp.) which especially relish
tion and a second leading off in another. the widows. Biologist Sherman Minton
TREASURE HUNTERS The widow isn't picky, however, and be- has found some evidence to suggest that
— PROSPECTORS — sides, the cross-hatched structure works. lizards may be immune to the venom's
Metal-Mineral Detectors Insects always litter the webbing, all of effects.
DREDGES which are neatly bound up, waiting their The praying mantis will also consume
DRY WASHERS MAPS turn to be drained of their body fluids. her if she's not careful. Apparently, the
BOOKS TOOLS ASSAY KIT Even though the female spider posses- mantis is protected from her deadly bite
SLUICE BOXES MINERAL LIGHTS
LAPIDARY EQUIPMENT ses a highly neurotoxic venom, most ef- by his thick exoskeleton.
Send 25c for catalog to: fective in subduing prey, she prefers to All in all, it seems our lady friend has
AURORA tie up her victims before giving the lethal few redeeming qualities. She does
6286 BEACH BLVD. dose. When a meal becomes tangled in consume about 2000 pesky insects in her
BUENA PARK, CALIF. 90620
the lines, she quickly begins throwing brief life, but then so do many other less
(714] 521-6321
loops of thread around and around the dangerous spiders. When it comes down
COE PROSPECTOR SUPPLY
9264KATELLA struggling morsel. Tiny "combs" at the to it, she really hasn't many friends. In
ANAHEIM, CALIF. 92804 end of her fourth pair of legs facilitates fact, she's about as unpopular as a girl
[714]995-1703 this flinging of thread. The insect is soon can get! •
46 Desert/October 1975
i have often wondered what it might have
Letters Calendar
been used for. One suggestion has been that
it is a "salute" cannon. Maybe one of your
readers can tell more about it.
TERRY CRAFFAM,
of
Editor
Letters requesting answers must
include stamped self-addressed envelope
We enjoyed your article of the desert
willow being a catalpa, as we have always
called it a desert willow. Enclosed is a picture
of our tree which blooms constantly from May
Events
through September. This tree has beans just
as the catalpa trees do. SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 20, Saddeback
Western Art Gallery presents an exhibit of
1
Some of the paintings were abstract, some
had an Indian motif, and one large mural
pictured the "Destruction of Chloride!" All
r Kings Canyon Rd., Fresno, Calif. Chairman:
Montie Wheat, 1565 No. Pacific Avenue,
Fresno, Calif. 93728.
beautiful.
The murals have been there for several One side note of interest. We have a turtle OCTOBER 10-12, 3rd Annual Tucson Lapi-
years. Our trip was in 1969. that lives in a low juniper at the foot of the dary and Gem Show, sponsored by the Old
FOREST M. BROWN, tree where it finds the blossoms wonderful Pueblo Lapidary Club, Inc., Tucson Commun-
Sacramento, California. food. ity Center Exhibition Hall, 350 South Church
J. D. SHARP, M.D., St., Tucson, Arizona. Dealers. Chairman:
Twentynine Palms, California. Marion Poulson, P. O. Box 2163, Tucson,
Arizona 85702.
Query for Old Gun Buffs . . .
Enclosed is a picture of what appears to be Enjoyed August C o v e r . . . OCTOBER 11 & 12, Annual Meeting of the
a small cannon I found in the desert 15 years World-of-Rockhounds Association, at camp-
I was very interested to find Quanah site located about 2 miles east of Clay Mine
ago, south of Desert Hot Springs, California.
Parker's picture on the August, 1975 Desert Road near Boron, California. Displays, even-
It is six inches long with a half-inch bore. It
Magazine. ing campfire, entertainment, field trips. Con-
appears very old and is a rough casted iron.
A friend of mine, Grace M. Jackson (Mrs. tact: Mrs. Carol Mahr, 27419 Fawnskin
Clyde J ackson), has written a book on Quanah Drive, Palos Verdes, California.
Parker's mother, Cynthia Ann Parker. The
book is titled, "Cynthia Ann Parker", and is OCTOBER 18 & 19, 26th Annual Gem Show
published by Naylor Press of San Antonio, presented by the Whittier Gem & Mineral
Texas. Society, Palm Park, 5703 S. Palm Avenue,
It contains the life story of Cynthia Ann, Whittier, California 90608.
her early childhood, her capture, her life with OCTOBER 19, Cactus and Succulent Show
the Comanche, her return to civilization and sponsored by the Sunset Succulent Society,
death. There are pictures of Quanah, his Marine Park Center, 1406 Marine St., Santa
children and three wives, and other pictures Monica, California. Admission free. Call
of him including one where he is standing Shirley Coss, 213-822-7081.
beside his mother's picture, the only picture
ever made of her. OCTOBER 25 & 26, 7th Annual Fall Photo-
I enjoyed this book very much, and with the history Fair featuring antique and classic
fall cover in color of Quanah Parker, it will cameras, sponsored by the Western Photo-
mean even more to me. graphic Collectors Assoc, Pasadena City
NANCY LEE CARMICHAEL, College, 1570 Colorado Blvd., Pasadena,
Fullerton, California. Calif. Admission $1.50, students $1.00.
Desert/ October 1975 47
CLYDE FORSYTHE'S
14"x17" with white margins, on Send your name, address, zip code
high quality paper stock. No letter-
ing or folds. The artist's personal
account of how each phase of the
series came to be painted is litho- I W r (POSTAGE AND TAX PAID)
graphed on the back of each one. DESERT Magazine,
Ready for framing. Great for the den P.O. Box 1318, Palm Desert,
or game room! California 92260