Desert Magazine of the Southwest

OCTOBER, 1960 40 Cents . . . . magazine of the OUTDOOR SOUTHWEST To the Dutch, October is Wyn- maaml or "Wine-month." Makes sense. * * * The Chipewa Indians called Oc- tober .Vtcliitainon — "Squirrel Month.1' Also "Head-First" month, referring to the squirrel's habit of descending trees head-first—not backwards like a lineman coming down a telephone pole.

Despite Harvest Moon, Apple Cider. Black Cat, Orange- Yellow Pumpkins, Jack-O-Lanterns, Glossy Black Havens and Owls, I believe the spry bushy-tailed squirrel is the most Hallowe'en is for the Octoberish of all symbols. (Up in the nut country, these animals, first, and the squirrels fill the hollow trees with so many nuts the owls kids second — not lor don't have any place to sleep day-times.) grown folks at all. 1 wish 1 could invite all of you to Old Fort Oliver on To promote my "Make Squirrels the Symbol of October" October 31st for our campaign. I put one of the critters in a box and mailed it annual Spook Party, across the valley to Desert Magazine at Palm Desert, Calif.— but 1 can't because a new town which takes pride in calling itself "The Smartest people take up too Address on the American Desert." The postman delivering much room. the package reports that the squirrel jumped out and ran away. Last year I "Why don't you chase it?" asked an excited real estate man. showed the visiting "Why should I?" replied the postman. "He doesn't know animals my extra- where he's going. I've got the address right here on the box." ordinary new lightning bug. I reasoned that by crossing m o t h s (which always fly toward a light) with lightning bugs (which give light) t h e o u t c o m e would be moths with lights on their tails. In theory, these 1'inwheel Hugs, as I call them, would fly around in Quarter New Moon First Quarter circles, chasing their Oct. 12 Oct. 20 Oct. 27 tails. It worked, too. 1 turned my boxful of Pinwheel Hugs loose at the witching hour, AH, OCTOBER . .. and the sky around Ft. Oliver was filled October in the Great Southwestern Desert—refreshing as an with "fireworks." ocean voyage. In fact, the high-wide Mojave Desert's isolated mountain ranges and buttes resemble great ships putting into OCTOBER AIR harbor. Cool winds and a horizon as wide as the sea—no . . . and wishful thinking wonder my Trot Opinion I'oil (slower than Gallup, but more The old Indian stood at the sure-footed) reports that more ex-sailors decide to retire to the top of a mesa with his son, desert in October than at any other time of the year. (Another looking over the beautiful des- interesting Trot fact: ex-submarine commanders prefer the ert valley. Said the old chief: Salton Sea area for retirement, probably because it is below "Some day, my son, all this sea level.) land will belong to the Indians Up in the high-high Desert October is followed by Wiscon- again. Paleface all go to the sin weather—but down here in the Low Desert we have five moon." months of glorious October.

Enjoy yourselves, friends! Remember—in 20 years you'll be sighing for the "good old days." (Oee whiz—1 first used this line more than 20 years ago.) Volume Number Publisher's 23 10 Notes For the Desert Magazine staff the October issue always marks the -magazine of the Outdoor Southwest- end of the summer season and the start of the Christmas season. In CHARLES E. SHELTON the desert country there are two basic climatic periods: Summer and publisher The-Rest-Of-The-Year. We are now going into the latter. EUGENE L. CONROTTO EVONNE RIDDELL At this point on the calendar we editor circulation manager remind our readers that December 25th is not far away, and NOW is the time to start ordering gift subscriptions as Christmas presents for Contents for October, I960 friends who share your enjoyment of the great Southwest. A Postage-paid order envelope COVER The Colorado River below Parker Dam. Photograph is enclosed with this issue of Desert for the use of those who would by Harry Vroman of Prescott, Ariz. order gift subscriptions. TRANSPORTATION 8 Power Scooters Sam Hicks GHOST TOWN 12 Bodie Today Nell Murbarger A listing of Southwestern and EXPLORATION 17 Side-Trip to Aurora Madison Devlin desert books is also carried in this REMINISCENCE 19 issue of the magazine (see page 36). Bodie Yesterday Lillian Ninnis This catalog will be of assistance INDIANS 22 The Night Chant Laura Adams Armer to those who like to give books as NATURE 29 Edmund C. Jaeger Christmas gifts. Again, please or- Cottonwood Trees der early, for many of the book OTHER DESERTS 31 Oasis at Cashmeh Ali William E. Warne publishers are slow in delivering TRAVEL 33 Around the White Mountains Lucile Weight "rush" orders during the autumn TRAVEL 40 months. The Nogales Environs Thomas Lesure * * * PERSONALITY 42 Wildlife Photographer LeRoi Russel Stewart Cassidy Our friends are once again in- —also— vited to visit the Desert Magazine Art Gallery (largest all-desert gal- Harry Oliver's Almanac: 2 lery in the nation), and the Desert Letters from our Readers: 4 28: Hard Rock Shorty Craft Shop and Bookstore, all located in the Desert Magazine Build- Southwest New Briefs: 7 35: New Desertland Books ing in Palm Desert, midway between Poem of the Month: 21 41: Editorial Palm Springs and Indio. Starting October 15 the Gallery and Craft Shop will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 The Desert Magazine, founded in 1937 by Randall Henderson, is published monthly by Desert Magazine, Inc., Palm Desert, California. Re-entered as second class p.m. seven days a week. There is matter July 17, 1948, at the postoffice at Palm Desert, California, under the Act no entrance fee. of March 3, 1879. Title registered No. 358865 in U.S. Patent Office, and contents copyrighted 1960 by Desert Magazine, Inc. Permission to reproduce contents must Many of our readers would like be secured from the editor in writing. to see our extensive printing plant while they are visiting the Desert Unsolicited manuscripts and SUBSCRIBE or let us pueblo. Ask the Gallery Director photographs submitted can- for a guide to take you through not be returned or acknowl- TO send it to a friend edged unless full return the printing plant. postage is enclosed. Desert Magazine assumes no re- Cordially, sponsibility for damage or • One Year—$4 • Three Years—$10.50 loss of manuscripts or photographs although due care (Canadian subscriptions 25c extra, foreign 50c extra per year) CHUCK SHELTON will be exercised. Subscribers Publisher should send notice of change SEND DESERT MAGAZINE TO: of address by the first of the month preceding issue.

PHOTO and ART credits (Unless otherwise specified below or in text, Address all editorial and (mailing address) photographs and art work are by authors of circulation correspondence to features in which they appear.) Desert Magazine, Palm Des- ert, California. Page 6: art work by Harry Oliver. 12: (city, state) Madison Devlin. 13: Map by Norton If this is a gift, indicate how gift card should be signed: Allen. 16: Madison Devlin. 19: A. A. Forbes. 20-21: Frasher's of Pomona. 33: Address all advertising Harold O. Weight. 34: Map by Norton correspondence to Going - Allen. 40: Map by Norton Allen. 43 Wright Advertising, 560 N. Mail this information and your remittance to: Desert Magazine, and Back Cover: LeRoi Russel. Larchmont, Los Angeles, Palm Desert, California. Calif.

October, 1960 / Desert Magazine / 3 change for the better. More of the material your subscribers asked for, and less—much less—of the Indians. Fine! I am re-sub- LETTERS scribing. The four covers by Clyde Forsythe are FROM OUR READERS the finest bit of Americana West that I have seen in years. If I owned the originals 1 Last Choice: Indians . . . incredible issue came out in which 34 of would not trade them for all of the insane the 44 pages of Desert were devoted en- smears with which Picasso has ruined good To the Editor: Several months ago you con- tirely to Indians, I let my subscription run canvas. ducted a poll to ascertain your readers' out. Don't remember the exact date of this Incidentally, should you wonder: I know tastes in the various types of desertana issue, but it was one in which a lot of space my Indians. I have spent most of my life which you serve up. If my memory is still was wasted on a museum of Indian artifacts in Indian country. 1 shared my blankets good, results favored travel, field trips, and so on in Flagstaff. with some of the Apache Scouts who were ghost towns, exploration — and running a I got in the habit of going to my news- tracking Pancho Villa in 1916. I mined in poor fifth or sixth was Indians and related stand and scanning the magazine, and if northern Chihuahua. Indiana. the particular issue was top-heavy with In- If you would like to see Indians as they Desert Magazine had been running far dian rot I would buy another publication. really are, go up to Parker, Arizona, any too much drivel re Poor Lo, and after an However, lately there has been a marked weekend and hang around the beer joints. Parker is a real Indian town. WILL T. SCOTT st Choice of ROCKHOUNDS Santee, Calif. 1 fctMM 7ttt6neOJ&4&le Rock Picks Salute from an Indian . . . Forged One-Piece Head-Handle of Finest Tool Steel — Unsurpassed To the Editor: It has been very seldom Temper — Head Can't Loosen or Come Off — Choice of Genuine that I have had the time (or the desire) to Leather or Nylon-Vinyl Deep Cushion Grip — write congratulating a publication for the wonderful job it is doing to help acquaint the American public with the American I Indian. Unfortunately, too many publica- tions still seem to subscribe to the belief Pointed Tip that the Indian is an underfed and unedu- E3-22P —22 oz. $5.25 Pointed Tip cated ward of the public—absolutely without pride or ambition. i E3-14P —14 ox. $4.98 E30 — 22 oz. $4.98 On the other hand, Desert Magazine has done much to help inform the public as to the true stature of my people. I salute you Genuine Leather Grip for your policy, and urge you to continue Tough, Durable Sole Leather Washers — the fine work. Chisel Edge Withstands All Exposures and Climates. DAVID CHETHLAHE (TURTLE) PALADIN E3-20PC —20 oz. $5.50 Prescott. Arizona E3-12PC — 12 oz. $4.98 SUPREME • New Crack Hammer Everlasting Nylon-Vinyl Deep Cushion Household Fixture . . . Grip — Molded On. Will Never Loosen, Come Off or Wear Out. Absorbs All B3-2LB — 32 oz. — $5.25 To the Editor: The quality of your maga- Shock. B3-3LB — 48 oz. — $5.50 zine has improved so steadily it is now a necessity in our home. LEATHER BELT SHEATH Ideal for Rock Breaking, Cracking and All JOAN L. MAHER for Pointed Tip Heavy Pounding. Same Supreme Con- Gabbs, Nevada _r>— $1.00 struction as Estwing Rock Picks.

Sportsmen's Axes Trouble at the Border . . . To the Editor: During a recent trip to Baja World Famous Along The Trail, Camping, Scouting, etc. California, I ran into a rather odd situation. I had "been rock hunting around the various washes on the east-slope of the mountains west of Mexicali, and when it was time to call it a day I had a few interesting rocks which I put in a small box. New! * I checked out at the border, and the New! Light Weight Length— 12" Supreme with Original Leather Grip Width of Cut2y " FIND BURIED TREASURE! Nylon-Vinyl Deep 4 One-Piece Head-Handle El 4A — List $5.50 GOLD, silver, coins, Finest Tool Steel jewelry, strongboxes, Cushion Grip — battle relics! M-SCOPE Lenth l3'/2" Length \i'/2" transistorized electronic Width of Cut W Treasure-Metal Locators Width of Cut 3'/4" detect them all. Used E3-24A List $6.50 E24A List $5.85 world-wide by successful explorers. Exciting! Re- warding! Super-sensitive, lightweight M-SCOPE offers greater depth pen- etration, no ground in- terference, over 200 treasure-hunting days of Send For battery life. Indestruc- Camp In Comfort Book Estwing. tible fiberglass cases. Guaranteed. From Contains 40 photos of actual camp Mfg. Co. $59.50, Easy Terms. Write today for FREE making and practical tips on use of catalog. picks and axe. Read it... make camp- Dept. D-10 ing more fun. Pocket size — 44 pages. FISHER RESEARCH LAB., INC. Only 25c. Send coin, no stamps. Rockford, Illinois Dept. O-2. I'ulo Alto. Calif

4 / Desert Magazine / October, 1960 Mexican officials waved me through. But full-color photographs—available. These I was flagged over by the U.S. Customs, would be lithographed with the same and they proceeded to search my truck high standards as the "Gold Strike" and ask all kinds of questions. They took prints, on comparable high-quality stock. my rocks and looked them over carefully, Cost per print would be modest. To help then stating that it was against the law to us in our planning, we would appreciate HAVE FUN PANNING GOLD IN THE bring gem stones or minerals out of Mexico hearing the opinion of our readers on MANNER OF THE '49ERS to the United States they confiscated the this matter. What desert scenes appeal specimens. most to you? What artists or photogra- 8 oz. of ready-to-pan ore from the famous phers are your favorites? Address your Rose Quartz Mine, pan, panning instruc- This is the first time I ever ran into this cards to: Reprints, Desert Magazine, tions and booklet, "How to Prospect for law or even heard of it. Is it an established Palm Desert, Calif.—Ed.) Gold." Only $2 postpaid. rule or is it something new that has come up? I would like a bit of information on ORDER FROM: this. JOHN MAXON ROSE QUARTZ D Upland, California P.O. Box 5006 That Indefinable "Something" . . . San Diego 5, Calif. (There are no Customs laws prohibiting To the Editor: We truly enjoy good pho- the exportation from Mexico or importa- tography, but artists like Clyde Forsythe tion into the United States of mineral and John Hilton add that indefinable "some- specimens. However, gem material must thing" that makes the desert so fascinating. Out of the past . . . be free from soil of any kind in order Let's have more of them. to pass a Department of Agriculture re- MRS. PAT LoCASCIO ARROWHEAD JEWELRY! quirement—and all merchandise or ma- Earrings: Large, me- terial must be declared to a Customs offi- Lubbock, Texas dium, small..$2 pr. cer upon entry into the United States. Necklace: Arrowhead on 18" chain— Failure to declare can result in seizure $1.50 ea. and forfeiture of the articles to Customs. Bola Tie: Large -Ed.) Arrowhead..$1.50 ea. Episode at Lee's Ferry . . . Stone Arrowhead Making Instructions. To the Editor: Laura Armer's picture of Illustrated Ancient Lee's Ferry in 1925 (August Desert) also Method $1 brought back memories to me. I went to Order from: A Black-Light Discovery . . . Lee's in the summer of '25 to survey for BLACKHAWK bridge sites. I fell off the side of the ferry Box 143-D To the Editor: My copies of Clyde For- Umatilla, Oregon sythe's "Gold Strike" reprints arrived today, and was carried up-stream by the under- C.O.D.s Accepted and I feel I must let you know how pleased current. The old-timers told me I was very I am to have them. The paintings are not lucky to have escaped the river with my only brilliantly conceived, but the lithograph life. job is perfect. We crossed the Colorado each day, sur- May I suggest that perhaps you have veying for four or five bridge sites. The overlooked an important selling point. With Navajo Bridge later was built on one of the use of my black-light (ultra violet Min- our sites. eralight) I discovered that the reprints re- G. G. BURN veal an entirely different aspect, especially Prescott, Ariz. the Ghost Town. Of course, they do not fluoresce, but under black-light a certain phosphorescence appears, and the deserted scene projects an aura of brilliant desert moonlight, clear clean air, and restful his- Fascinating Owyhee . . . tory. To the Editor: My brother and I were FRANK W. SMITHERAM born in Owyhee County, Idaho, of which Santa Barbara, Calif. Prof. Larrison writes in the August Desert Magazine. Having in my lifetime of 65 years covered Owyhee quite thoroughly on horseback—which to my way of thinking is the only way to really "see" a country— Wanted: More Reprints . . . I can testify to its immense proportion and HICKORY FARMS OF OHIO To the Editor: I have ordered the Clyde fascinating character. Forsythe "Gold Strike" painting reprints, Covering Owyhee County on horseback "BEEF STICK" and I'm wondering if other suitable-for- was done mainly in line of work—bucka- No Pepper framing reprints are available from Desert No Garlic rooing cattle, gathering and branding wild No Vinegar Magazine. horses, going on what passed for vacation No Pork ROY HOELKE trips, visiting distant neighbors, exploring Claremont, Calif. • FOR SPORTSMEN • canyons and remote areas and otherwise A MUST for Fishing, Hunting, (The Forsythe reprints have proven so becoming acquainted with our own corner Camping, Picnics, Boating, Pack- popular that we are considering making of the earth. ing Trips — Because of its long other desert scenes—both paintings and lasting freshness—will keep with- Four-wheel-drive vehicles, airplanes and out refrigeration. autos now whisk people to these remote scenes in minutes, where our movements Guarantee of Satisfaction in the past were measured in days and and Safe Delivery Gun Holsters even weeks. No Charge for Mailing DAISY E. CHRISTENSEN 100% Pure Beef GUN BELTS Reno Hickory Farms of Ohio Make your own Gun Western Division Belt and Holsters with P. O. Box 3306, Van Nuys, Cal. Tandy s "Easy-to-Follow Pat Approx. 4 Ib, beef sticks are $5.98 ea. includ- terns! SAVE MONEY with ing all packing and mailing. Send check or "Ready-Cut" Beit & Holster Kits. Owyhee Road Is Paved . . . money order. Our FREE Catalog illustrates 6 Please ship me Beef Sticks at $5.98 ea. complete Kits including Fast To the Editor: The Owyhee Desert map New Customer Old Customer draw Champion, Dee Woolem. on page 11 of the August issue shows dirt ORDER a set of 6 Holster patterns and 3 Belt road from Murphy via Grand View to Bru- To: ructions < • * . all for only neau. This road is now paved. MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE $1.00 ppd. TANDY LEATHER CO. (Since 1919 ARTHUR C. DAVIS OX 791- FORT WORTH TEXAS Reseda, Calif.

October, 1960 / Desert Magazine / 5 Now In Its 4th Printing LIE. Ghosts of the Glory TraL Intimate glimpses into the past and • i present of 275 Western ghost towns ]'

Ghosts of the Glory Trail is fast becoming one of the classics of the Southwest. . . Here are the exciting stories of early-day mining stampedes, of cities sprung from the sage, and of earth-given treasure so amazing as to be almost beyond belief... if During years of travel and research, Miss Murbarger has dug deep into the records of the Old West. Her information comes from the old-timers, from yellowed newspapers and long-forgotten reports. if Ghosts of the Glory Trail tells the stories of 275 former boomcamps of the Great Basin region, of fortunes made and lost overnight, of courage and cowardice on the raw frontier. . . In gathering material for this book, the author sought especially for the human interest angle, and she has given vivid word-portraits of many of the most colorful Westerners of the bonanza period. if Ghosts of the Glory Trail contains 328 pages; 24 pages of rare halftone photographs . . . PLUS a GHOST TOWN DIRECTORY of Nevada, eastern California and western Utah, and MAPS of some of the best known mining camps.

(plus 15c for postage and handling; California $5.75 residents also add 23c state sales tax) ORDER BY MAIL FROM: Desert Magazine Book Store Palm Desert California

6 / Desert Magazine / October, 1960 •I Members of the Sierra Club, assisted by persons from other civic Four Tons ^ouPf; havf clea^fd SOUTHWEST NEWS BRIEFS the litter along the of Litter route from Bishop Pass to the John Muir Trail in the

October, 1960 / Desert Magazine / 7

TESTING SCOOTERS IN DESERT SAND Jak each have the power and traction or requires so much pushing and lift- necessary to carry one rider and a ing that travel soon becomes a stren- the mountains in the early mornings considerable amount of cargo through uous ordeal instead of a pleasurable and late afternoons. We first experi- rough country at a somewhat greater experience. mented with the scooters on the sandy speed than that which can be attained Neither of the two scooters with floor of the desert and found that by by an exceptionally good walker. which I am familiar will go into the turning them carefully they worked Where prominent trails exist through really rugged places where a horse can fine. Sharp turns, however, usually foothill country and along major water- be ridden. However, these faithful caused the front wheel to dig-in, and sheds or divides in the mountains, little machines will do some amazing then anything could happen, particu- power scooters have a definite advan- things, and I'm confident that they are larly if a person was riding with an tage over the foot traveler and, in many destined to bring tremendous changes open throttle. We next took them over instances, they are faster and more to the desert because there are so many narrow rocky trails in the mountains, comfortable to ride than a saddle places that a person can go with a and finally rode them on cross-country horse. power scooter where he can't go with trips where there were no signs of a a four-wheel drive vehicle. These trail at all. With each performance But, away from the trails in rugged we became more pleased with the man- mountains, where there is a combina- scooters are ideal transportation where distances are too great to walk and ner in which the machines handled tion of rock slides, steep terrain cov- their loads in rough terrain. ered with heavy brush, down timber, where, as is usually the case, horses soft earth or an occasional stream to are unavailable. At night the moon was full and the be crossed, power scooters can in no THE WEATHER HAD suddenly turned most exhilarating moments of the en- way be likened to even a disreputable hot and daytime temperatures in the tire trip came as we rode the scooters specimen of a saddle horse. Under Chuckawallas soared to 120 degrees. with wide open throttles in the cool these travel conditions old Dobbin still Riding the scooters in the heat of the night air, skimming across miles of performs marvelously, while the power day became something of a chore, so level land marred only by the old par- scooter either cannot navigate at all, we began making our test runs into allel tank tracks left by General Pat- ton's armored columns during the early days of World War II maneuvers. We outlined a theoretical route taken by Peg Leg Smith on his famous trip westward from the Colorado River, and followed this on our scooters in the hope that we might find the black wind-swept ridge where Peg Leg re- portedly scooped up his corroded nuggets of solid gold. Next we moved camp into the area north of Rice and made some explorations into the Turtle Mountains, tentatively searching for clues to the Lost Arch Mine. The midday heat by this time was becoming more and more unbearable, although the nights still remained cool. With each passing day the hours that we could travel with any degree of comfort on the scooters became increasingly shorter. We made a swing from Rice past

ERLE STANLEY GARDNER VISITS WITH A YOUNG CHUCKAWALLA IN A REMOTE CORNER OF THE CHUCKAWAUA MTS. NOTE BANDED TAIL, CHIEF CHARACTERISTIC OF JUVENILES OF THIS SPECIES

10 / Desert Magazine / October, 1960 the Old Woman Mountains into the Devil's Playground country and there with the aid of our scooters located an ancient Indian campground of tremendous size which from all appear- ances had never before been visited by white men. There were metates and pottery shards in every granite overhang we explored, and obsidian chips from a nearby field of Apache Tears were liberally strewn over the area. The tests concluded, we reluctantly turned our caravan back toward the Gardner Ranch at Temecula. On the way we arrived at Amboy where the thermometer stood at 115 degrees in the shade. In spite of the tdrrific heat we had subjected the scooters to in making our tests, we were happy to note that it had in no way affected their small air-cooled engines. We had not experienced a single mechanical malfunction during any of our runs, and we returned home in full agree- ment that these machines will bring interesting changes to the desert. Folks who purchase power scooters should become thoroughly familiar with their little eccentricities before starting out into isolated areas. No person should ever embark alone on long trips into the desert on these A POWER-SCOOTER NEGOTIATES A ROCK SHELF machines. They are a reliable piece of recreational equipment that can bring their owner years of enjoyment—pro- in the field they can climb straight up tain in back of the ranch. Riding a vided he does not underestimate the a 40 percent grade. They have ade- scooter is a lot of fun, and it's also whims of the desert. quate brakes for making a safe descent good exercise. In fact, I think the man A new belt should be carried on on a similarly steep hill, and they are who invented the bicycle exercise ma- each machine, along with a handful easily transported long distances in a chine years ago was on the right track, of tools consisting of a screwdriver, a pickup or trailer. They weigh from but he stopped a little too soon. In- pair of pliers, a small crescent wrench 125 to 140 pounds and require very steading of perching his creation on and a one-half by nine-sixteenths box- little storage space in the garage. four immovable cast iron feet, he should have put two wheels under it end wrench. Each power scooter used The Tote-Gote sells for around in the desert also should be equipped $325. Selling price of the Pak-Jak is and then inserted a small air-cooled with a pint of motor oil, at least one just under $400. gas engine geared sufficiently low to gallon of gas and a large canteen of drive the contrivance through rough water. Gardner purchased two of the Pak- country. With these two or three added Jaks and he and I enjoy riding them features the inventor could have These power scooters are tough and around the fence lines or cruising up claimed a better exercise machine than powerful in use, and on firm footing and down the horse trails on the moun- the one he settled for, and a new world of outdoor enthusiasts would have CLOSE-UP VIEW OF THE TOTE-GOTE, LEFT, AND THE HEAVIER, MORE STURDY PAK-JAK made him their hero. ///

October, 1960 / Desert Magazine / 11 "CALIFORNIA'S BEST GHOST TOWN": remote, unpro- moted, and with the barest of tourist facilities, the sleeping ghost of Bodie attracts thousands of visitors every NELL MURBARGER year—people from all parts of the world who come to see the tough mining camp which produced "THE BAD MAN FROM BODIE"— a Wild West catch phrase. BODIE TODAY

HAT DEVOTEE of Western his- canyon. Another 10 miles brought me close to $100,000,000 worth of gold tory has not heard — through out on a wide dry mesa from which bullion. W fact or fiction—of "The Bad Man I looked down upon the old town. Its present population isn't large. From Bodie?" Who this hombre malo From this vantage point 1 could see The watchman, Clarence Birks, and may have been, whence he came, and Bodie's narrow unpaved streets snak- his wife have made their year-around precisely what he did to gain so unsa- ing through sagebrush, and flanking home here since 1958. Summer vory a reputation, no one seems to those streets are a hundred time- months find the resident population know. But, whoever he was and what- weathered wooden buildings. Spatter- increased by four other persons who ever he may have done in the course ing the brown hillside to the east of take to their heels a little before win- of a misspent life, one thing is sure: town are as many mine dumps as there ter's first snow comes flickering over he put Bodie on the map, and even if are buildings on the flat; and on the the sagelands. For several summers the 80-year-old town never attains hillside to the west rise the white stones past the old town has had two active California state park status (currently and splintered paling fences of the old business houses. One, an art studio, is under consideration), America's most graveyard. From my hilltop perch no operated by Mr. and Mrs. Matthew famous ghost town is doing very well life was visible in the town—not a hu- Beaton of Carmel (summer residents by herself, thank you ma'am! man being, barking dog, or curling of Bodie since 1956). Their studio Any time a decrepit old mining wisp of smoke. occupies the lower floor of the two- story-and-cupola schoolhouse on Green camp far removed from large centers But Bodie isn't completely deserted. of habitation, 8300 feet about sea- Street, built in the late 1870s when Neither is it that most obnoxious of Bodie was a roaring town of some level, and 10 miles from the nearest all tourist traps, a "professional" ghost paved road, can lure to its shrunken 10,000 inhabitants, with a main street town. Here are no phony gun-battles more than a mile long built solidly on bosom visitors from every state in the staged in the street every hour on the Union and half the countries of Eur- both sides with one- and two-story hour; no "Old Original Something-or- frame structures. ope—50 to 60 automobile loads of Other Saloons" (built after World them every day during the summer— War II); no catchpenny hawkers, no The old school building is furnished you may be sure that such a place is guided tours to one-time homes of the much as it was for Bodie's last term known the world over. Especially is great and not-so-great. In short, Bodie of school. Dog-eared maps decorate this true when you consider the fact is just a quiet respectable old mining the walls, crayon-colored Easter rab- that not one penny is spent to publicize camp with a lot more past than future bits parade across the blackboards, Bodie as a tourist mecca. —a place that produced in its day and rain-stained window blinds hang Three roads lead to Bodie, the best of them turning off U.S. 395 at a point just past Mono Lake. The road-sign here reads "Hawthorne Nevada" and a painted arrow points to the right down a black-topped road. Another road to Bodie starts at a point seven AN AUTO APPROACHES miles south of Bridgeport; and the BODIE - ONE OF 50 third route—a rather rugged grade— THAT COME HERE ON A TYPICAL SUMMER comes in from the Nevada side. DAY. AT THE RIGHT On my most recent visit to Bodie IS THE CAIN MUSEUM. I chose the first mentioned road. After following the blacktop for six miles, I turned left on a gravelled road that winds up the bottom of a long shallow askew. A few old jackknife-initialed benches and a rusty wood-burning stove still are functional. In the midst of this departed glory, as it were, Elise deCelles Beaton offers for sale her delightful water colors of desert scenes —and of Bodie—as well as other gift items appropriate to the locale. The other business house, if it may be so called, is the Cain Museum (admission 50c) located in the old Miners' Union Hall erected in 1878 and sub- sequently used for meetings, dances, shows, sociables and even funerals. Here Mrs. Birks is custodian of a fascinating collection of Bodie memen- toes owned by Mr. and Mrs. Victor

"Goodby, God! I'm going to Bodie," a Truckee, California, newspaper quoted a local girl as saying on the eve of her family's departure for the camp with the bad reputation. "Not so," retorted the Bodie paper. AURORA : "A simple case of misplacing a com- ma. The little girl actually had said: <

Cain of Bridgeport, about whom more will be said later. In glass cases and on the interior walls of the museum are exhibited hundreds of articles almost unknown today but thoroughly commonplace in the life of a 19th Century mining camp. Relics from Bodie's once - flourishing Chinatown, gold scales large enough to weigh a beef, guns, household trivia, old hats, pictures—even the two black-plumed horsedrawn hearses in which Bodie's departed were hauled to the cemetery at a fee of $20 for the one-way ride. Bodie's burying ground, incidentally, is one of the most visited spots in the town—but its tallest and most impressive tombstone honors a man who never saw Bodie, probably never even heard of the camp, and is buried some 3000 miles away. Originally the stone was intended for William S. Bodey, who, in the suitable music, and local luminaries crumbling inscription still may be de- summer of 1859, made the first dis- making speeches. A sizable purse ciphered: covery of placer gold in this area. was raised to pay for a monument, To the Memory of That same winter Bodey froze to death and a sculptor was commissioned to James A. Garfield in a blizzard. When his body was chisel a tall shaft topped by an urn. Prs. of U.S. located the following spring he was But, before the inscription was cut Died Sept. 19, 1881. buried where death had overtaken him, word reached Bodie of the assassina- Erected January, 1882. and the boom town that sprang up tion of President Garfield. By this No one, presumably, knows the ex- as a result of his discovery was named time the fervor for honoring the camp's act location of Bill Bodey's grave, but in his honor—with corrupted spelling. discoverer had begun to wane a bit— so that his name might not be for- Some years later, in a burst of civic and inasmuch as Garfield had been a gotten, two years ago the Snowshoe pride, it was decided that Bodey's good Mason and the Masonic lodge Thompson Chapter of E. Clampus bones should be removed from their was then one of the strongest organi- Vitus installed in the cemetery a large lonely resting spot to a place of honor zations in the town, it came about that granite boulder bearing a bronze plate in the city cemetery; and in November, Bill Bodey's granite shaft was dedi- with the inscription: "This marker 1879—the 20th anniversary of Bodey's cated to a martyred president. Eighty placed in memory of William S. Bodey, death — the removal was performed years of buffeting by wind and weather discoverer of the Bodie mines who lies with the Bodie Brass Band providing has taken its toll but, with care, the buried on this hillside. Let him repose

October, 1960 / Desert Magazine / 13 someone had decorated Lottie's gate with two attractive wreaths of ferns and artificial flowers. Not far from the cemetery stands the old Methodist Church with its high belfry pointing heavenward. First time I visited Bodie, about a dozen years ago, the wall behind the pulpit was half-covered with a large wooden plaque on which was lettered the Ten Commandments. Later some vandal made off with part of this sign, and to preserve the remaining portion a former watchman stored it in an old building which could be locked. Eventually this watchman left Bodie

"Quarrels in the (Bodie) saloons were frequent, and often accompanied by gun play, but these were not taken seriously by the community which had grown accustomed to 'having a man for breakfast' every morning."—THE STORY OF BODIE

and, thus far, none of his successors have been able to locate the missing five or so Commandments! Along Main Street, or closely adja- cent, stands the firehouse, sundry restaurants and stores, the land office building, Oddfellows Hall, and the Miners' Union Hall; and up at the north-end of town is a big brick-and- steel walk-in vault—all that remains of the Bodie Bank after the disastrous fire of 1932 swept away most of the business buildings on North Main Street. (Bodie, in the course of her 80 years, has survived two major fires. At the time of the first big blaze, in July, 1892, in which most of the struc- EARL BELL STANDS IN THE DOORWAY OF BODIE tures on North Main were destroyed, CABIN IN WHICH HE WAS BORN 69 YEARS AGO the camp was still active enough that cessive Bad Men from Bodie, murder- the devastated section was quickly re- in peace amid these everlasting hills." ers, horsethieves and, particularly, "fal- built. When the second major fire, 40 len" women. Elsewhere on the slope are the years later, destroyed the same part graves of Rosa May and Lottie Johl, Rosa May, pert, pretty and popular of town, Bodie's economy was totter- two women from the redlight district. —at least with the men—was given ing and the burned area was never Doubting, perhaps, the ability of Saint a reasonably good position outside the rebuilt.) fence, while Lottie, a "fallen" woman Peter to distinguish the fine line exist- Across the street north of the bank ing between Bodie's saints and sinners, who had later married Eli Johl, Bodie butcher, and lived with him respecta- glowers the old jail with its three the strait-laced element of the town cramped, dismal and heavily-barred assisted him by pre-judgment, in which bly for many years, won a place inside the fence—but only after a hassle that cells, in which have briefly reposed not threatened to split the town. Those a few stage robbers and other male- seated in judgment at last grudgingly factors. Up the ravine back of the Bodie claimed four world records: jail are the ruins marking the site of (1) The wildest mining camp (10,000 agreed to her burial in hallowed citizens, 7 breweries, 60 saloons); ground, but only if she were buried Chinatown. (2) The wickedest men; (3) The in the farthest-out grave of the "re- It was Earl Bell who told me of worst climate; (4) The best drinking spectable" section. water. Chinatown. Soft-spoken and white- Thousands of tourists have visited haired, Mr. Bell lives on the street these two graves—Rosa May's lonely formerly known as Park Avenue, in it was decided whether a deceased per- little mound outside the fence, and the house in which he was born 69 son had been sufficiently righteous to Lottie's, far up in the weedy southwest years ago. His nephew, Bob Bell, win a spot in the "hallowed ground" corner of the cemetery. Enclosing the comes up from Hawthorne each sum- of the cemetery, or whether his moral latter grave is a fine wrought-iron fence mer to live with his uncle. Together fiber had been such that he must be erected those many years ago by her they prospect the surrounding hills for buried outside the fence, in Boot Hill. sorrowing husband . . . and this sum- minerals. Doomed to this category were the suc- mer I was rebelliously glad to see that Chinatown, according to Mr. Bell,

14 / Desert Magazine / October, 1960 was a lively place with some 1500 inhabitants amply supplied with gam- bling and opium dens, saloons, and a big Joss Temple, as well as many stores — one of them occupying a three-story building. None of the local Chinese labored in the mines or mills —Bodie's militant Miners' Union saw to that—but a few of them did placer mining for themselves, or joined the Indian squaws in reworking the tailings. Mostly they operated restaurants and wash houses, and small shops. Other members of the colony kept the

Bottle, at 8300 feet above sea level, has seen some wicked winter weather. At one time the West chuckled at this description of Bodie weather: "Eleven months of winter and one month of hell." town supplied with pinyon wood which they cut in the hills eight miles distant and hauled to Bodie on pack burros. Still others peddled fish shipped in salt brine from San Francisco, and one old Chinaman had a big greenhouse and raised vegetables. "The greenhouse was made entirely of glass and was nice and warm inside even when it was cold and snowy outside," recalled Mr. Bell. "The old man would plant his seeds inside in the late winter—turnips and radishes and beets and lettuce—and after the season was far enough advanced he would move the plants into the open ground. Later he peddled the vegetables from house to house and everyone was glad to get them because fresh garden produce was scarce in Bodie, and a real luxury . . ."

Scattered over the vacant lots of MATTHEW AND ELISE DE CELLES BEATON, WITH the town are many vehicles in various Bodie's Labor Day celebrations. What SOME OF MRS. BEATON'S WATER COLOR SCENES stages of delapidation—dray wagons, especially attracted my attention was a tree tall as the two-story building freight wagons, carts, buggies and evening of my recent three-day visit, others. Many of these were equipped beside which it stood. I had been told that no trees had ever grown in Bodie. after the sun had slipped behind the with runners where wheels normally rounded hills to the west, the last tour- would have been. When I asked Mr. Bell about it he grinned sheepishly, almost like a kid ist of the day had taken his departure "Winters in Bodie were lots harder caught in his neighbor's melon patch. back to super-markets and neon lights, in the old days," Mr. Bell explained. and Bodie's half-dozen citizens had "Mail, freight, passengers, everything "That's right," he admitted. "Trees repaired to their homes to light oil had to be carried on sledges. There won't grow in Bodie—too much min- lamps and start preparations for sup- were even a few dog-sled teams. Sev- eral in the soil, 1 suppose. This tree eral families owned fancy cutters lined in the picture was only a Labor Day with plush. When you took your best tree. Each Fourth of July and Labor "While Bodie has met with one disastrous fire after another all girl out in one of those plush-lined Day we would go out into the canyons through its history, this is of minor cutters, behind a high-stepping team in and cut a lot of young quaking aspen consequence compared to the shutting fancy harness, and the snow sparkling and bring them back to town and down of the mines."—THE STORY QF and sleigh bells ringing, even a very "plant" them along the street. They BODIE common sort of fellow could cut quite provided shade for folks watching the parade and contests, and as long as a dashing figure!" per, I sat for a long while on the worn In support of his statement that past they stayed green the old town looked real nice." wooden steps of the old church in the winters had been harder, Mr. Bell dis- soft twilight. The bevy of swallows played faded photographs showing Due, chiefly, to the high fire hazard, nesting under the eaves at last grew Bodie with only the roofs of the houses camping within the town limits of silent. A yellow moon climbed into protruding from the snow drifts. An- Bodie is forbidden. Folks are permit- the sky to cast its soft light over the other picture showed the decorated ted to camp near a spring of water a empty streets and the silent graveyard, street and part of the crowd at one of short distance below town. The last and to throw strange dark shadows

October, 1960 / Desert Magazine / 15 around the looming hulk of the old erally speaking, had been conducted Standard Mill. A little breeze began in the spirit of good clean mining camp playing with the old church building, fun—but at one point relations grew running its fingertips over the high so strained that it became necessary leaded windows, and whispering to station two companies of soldiers through the gaunt belfry where no bell at the point where the Aurora-Bodie tolls. road crosses the state line. With the summer night closing in Just as the fortunes of Aurora and upon me, I was thinking of my pleas- Bodie have been inseparably linked, ant sojourn at Bodie and the wealth so have the fortunes of both towns of stories I had been told. Stories of been linked with the Cain family. the little narrow-gauge railroad built James Stuart Cain, mine and mill in 1881 from Mono Mills to Bodie— operator, banker, and major property owner, emigrated to Bodie from Car- One of Bodie's newspapers won- son City in 1879. Here he built one dered why the reported lack of water of the finest dwellings in town, still should disturb the Nevada mining standing today on the lot east of the camp of Candelaria—it being charged church. In this home, with its high that not more than a dozen citizens of that place ever used the commod- glass windows and gingerbread trim, ity, either for personal ablution or as he and Martha Delilah Cain reared a beverage.—GHOSTS OF THE GLORY three children, Victor, Stuart and TRAIL Dolly. In 1904 Victor Cain married Ella Cody, born at Bodie in 1882 and who had begun teaching the inter- a railroad only 32 miles long but in- mediate grades in the Bodie school in corporated at a million dollars . . . 1900. After their marriage they set stories of the seven breweries in opera- up housekeeping in the once-fine home tion in Bodie at a single time, and of across the street from the church, and the several newspapers that had flour- here they lived many years. ished here. But of all the stories, none had To Victor and Ella Cain, now prom- thrilled me so much as that of the inent merchants in Bridgeport, belongs world's first long-distance transmission almost the entire credit for the fact of electrical power. It wasn't a great that Bodie is still an interesting place distance—only 13 miles—but electri- for folks to visit, rather than only a cal energy had never been carried so shambles of caving cellars and crum- far before and most folks said it bling foundations. The Cains have ac- couldn't be done, that the electricity quired Bodie properties one after an- would "jump off" into the air. other until today they own virtually the entire town. Nor have they done Tom Legett, superintendent of the this with any expectation of profiting Standard Mill, was convinced it could thereby. They simply want to pre- be done—and proved his point! When serve this old mining camp in which the power was turned into the system their respective forebears played such at its source on Green Creek, above active roles. Bridgeport, and lights began to glow in the Standard Mill and machinery One example of their protective in- began operating smoothly, it was an fluence is the schoolhouse where the event that made news in engineering youthful Ella tackled the formidable journals around the world and signal- job of teaching a flock of Bodie young- ized an entire new approach to world sters, some of them almost as large as progress and development. herself. Years after Bodie became a ghost town the county put the old And, of course, there had been building up for sale for scrap lumber. stories of Aurora, Bodie's Nevada That this fine old structure should be neighbor, six miles down the canyon. destroyed was quite unthinkable to Bodie and Aurora had not always Victor and Ella Cain, so they bought seen eye to eye—but what rival min- the schoolhouse; and instead of razing ing camps ever did? Aurora was the older by several years. It had come So lawless was Bodie in its early into being in 1860 when the California days that people from far and near camp was still just "the place where referred to it as "Shooters' Town." Bill Bodey froze to death." In other ways, too, Aurora had Bodie licked it for salvage, they began repairing and 40 ways from Sunday. During the maintaining it, and paying taxes on it. California - Nevada boundary dispute In the same manner have other build- she had served simultaneously as the ings come under their protection, and governmental seat of Esmeralda Coun- for many years the Cains have hired ty, Nevada, and of Mono County, Cal- a paid watchman to guard Bodie ifornia; and she had once lynched four against fire, looting and vandalism. ISN'T THIS FUN? BODIE VISITOR TRIES TO GET men all in the space of 30 minutes! Mrs. Cain also made an important A PEEK INTO INTERIOR OF A VACATED HOME. Rivalry between the two towns, gen- contribution to public knowledge when

16 / Desert Magazine / October, 1960 she assembled Bodie's fascinating history in a delightfully written 200-page illustrated book, The Story of Bodie, first published in 1956 and now in its fourth printing (available from Desert Magazine Book Store, Palm Desert, Calif. For $4.31, cloth cover, and $2.75, paper cover, post- and tax- paid). In view of the Cain's long-time association with the welfare of this old camp, it goes without saying that no one is more interested than they in the acceptance of Bodie as a state park. Four years ago such action seemed imminent; but things have lagged, as things sometimes do, and at this writing the town's fate and future still hang in the balance. I regard Bodie as the best desert ghost town in California, and one of the finest in the West. I believe it AUTHOR TAKES DRIVER'S SEAT OF DRAY WAGON is important that our present ease- be left standing picturesquely askew; loving generation, and other genera- the old broken down sleighs and tions to follow, should have the oppor- freight wagons should be left sprawl- grass roots than have it turned into tunity to see what life must have been ing on the vacant lots, exactly as they another honky-tonk tourist trap! like in the barren, bleak, isolated, hard- have stood since the last time they Preserve Bodie, yes, either with ship-ridden, pneumonia-scourged min- were used — wheels missing, bolsters state funds or private means. But keep ing camps of the 19th Century. broken, brake rods forever immobile. it looking as it does today, faded and Conversely, I would not wish to see Heaven forbid that the beautifully splintered and battered and buffeted; Bodie "preserved" or "restored" at the weathered pine lumber in Bodie's but, withal, as completely honest and cost of its weather-beaten charm. buildings should be desecrated with a down-to-earth as the miners' brogans Every one of its old cabins, every out- coat of paint, or her streets paved!— that once echoed through these now house, to my way of thinking, should and better the town be leveled to the silent streets. ///

AURORA—GOLDEN CITY OF THE DAWN: a few rugged miles east of Bodie lies the site of deserted Aurora. Little remains to suggest that this town was once Bodie's "bet- MADISON DEVLIN ter." Aurora's main claim to fame stems from its having been the local seat of government for two counties at the same time—one of them in Nevada, the other in California.

A side-trip to Bodie's rival camp: AURORA

//||OW FAR IS Aurora?" I asked the man tending one beautiful desert highland without visiting the site of famed of Bodie's still active "business houses." Aurora where $30,000,000 in gold had been taken out of H the ground; a town whose two newspapers helped keep the "Why do you want to go there?" he asked in turn. rivalry with Bodie at a high pitch; and whose opera house "Just to see what it's like. How many miles do you attracted the best talent of the era. figure?" The gravel road leading east from Bodie winds gently The man scratched his head and thought a moment. "About 10 or 15," he answered. through sagebrush country featuring occasional outcrop- pings of rock and gnarled trees. It leaves the canyon a "How's the road?" few times to top some hills—and to treat the traveler to "Don't know," the man answered, "I've never been enormous desert vistas. there." I had the road to myself that summer day until I Neither had I, but I wasn't about to leave this wildly rounded a turn and saw a car parked off the trail, and

October, 1960 / Desert Magazine / 17 til A

aj?> /I FOUR AMATEUR __«« V PROSPECTORS FROM MAINE WHO SPENT THEIR SUMMER VACATION LOOKING FOR GOLD AND URANIUM IN THE AURORA ENVIRONS

two women and two girls walking through the brush. The The town had mushroomed in a saucer-like depression car had Maine license plates. at the juncture of three canyons. On the sides of these I stopped and offered my assistance. canyons are mounds of tailings. Trail-like streets and a few sunburnt buildings are all that remain of the town "No thanks,'" came the reply. "Everything is all right itself—scanty evidence that hundreds of miners once lived —we're just prospecting." here. "Gold?" I asked. Everything that could be moved from the buildings "Mercy no!" one of the women said. "Uranium!" had been done so years before. There was little rubble because many of the building had been taken away board The ladies had a portable Geiger counter and a metal by board and brick by brick—common practice in those locator, while the youngsters carried canvas bags in which parts of the West where building materials were scarce. ore samples were deposited. Blue skies, fresh air tinged with a hint of sage, a challenging game (despite the odds Today the only Aurora structure that looks like it is against monetary success)—what better way to spend a in good condition is the brick schoolhouse perched on the day or a month? side of one of the canyons. Inside though, its interior has been stripped to the bare walls. The short side-road to Aurora joins the main gravel road at a sharp "V" angle. At this fork I found a low My Aurora trip was not quite over. Returning to my homemade sign which reads: "Kesco Mine 4 Mi." Under car I saw my Maine friends walking up the hill, their eyes this—almost as an afterthought—were the words: "Aurora and ears glued to the instruments on their detectors. 4V2 Mi." We greeted again, and they scanned the buildings below. The first mile of the AV2 is much like the "main" road, "That's all that's left of Aurora," I told them. "About but then things begin to change. Instead of winding around $30,000,000 in gold was taken out of those hills. Why the hills, the road goes directly up and over them. The don't you try your luck? You might find uranium there." boulders become larger, the road narrower, the ruts deeper. Five miles an hour is top speed on this stretch. "Do you really think so?" one of the ladies asked excitedly. "Come on! Let's go down and see." On the last up-pitch before Aurora, the road is full of loose rocks. These last few hundred yards had been I watched as they scrambled down the hill. Maybe rugged and the path ahead looked no better, so I left my they'll make the big strike that brings Aurora back to life, car on the hill and walked into Aurora. I mused. Who knows? ///

18 / Desert Magazine / October, 1960 "SWEET CHILDISH DAYS, that were as long / As twenty days are now": When Lillian Ninnis of Reno read Har- rison Doyle's three-part "Boy's Eyeview of the Wild West" in this publication, she wrote in to say that girls brought- LILLIAN NINMIS up in mining towns had fond memories, too. In this story she remembers how it was in Bodie where she spent part of her childhood. BODIE YESTERDAY

E WERE Bodie kids, and for us of its day. Unpaved Main Street was sleep to the lullaby of the pounding of the rough and ready camp was lined with business houses and wooden the mill stamps. Whome. Dad worked a 10-hour sidewalks. There was a schoolhouse, But, if the sleeping town was startled shift in the Standard Mine for $4 a a couple of churches and many small awake by heavy boots grinding on the day. He carried a tin lunch pail to wooden houses. Few miners spent road from the tunnel, no one needed work with him. much money on a house, for wings an explanation. The distant yelp of Some of the ore from the Standard sprout on a miner's feet when news coyotes joined the clamor of aroused was a beautiful white quartz streaked of a new strike leaks out. The town dogs, lights came on and doors popped with free gold—an irresistible tempta- was dominated by the Standard Mine open to frame anxious faces. If Dad tion to highgraders. The women who and Mill. The mill, a big rambling was on shift, Mother's breath was a lived along the mine road insisted that wooden building with side-sheds filled smothered sob as she struggled with a they could tell by the way a miner with cord-wood for the steam boilers, shawl or coat to cover her night dress, coming off shift carried his lunch pail was a constant fire menace. If the mill and hurried down the steps to the whether it was heavy with highgrade, whistle shreiked and the fire bell road. Afraid to look at the dirt- or, jauntily a-swing, empty. And when clamored, everyone's first thought was, smeared figure on the stretcher, she'd a suspected highgrader decided to "Not The Mill! If it catches fire the quietly question the bearers, then sag move his family to a newly acquired whole town will go!" with relief when told: "Tom's alright,

HORSE-DRAWN f\ FLOATS IN <-/ BODIE'S 1903 FOURTH OF JULY PARADE

home or ranch, the women folks would Because of the 9300-foot altitude Mrs. Mac, it's Jim . . ." or Jack or knowingly nod at each other and re- and the sterile soil, Bodie had few Bill or whoever the unfortunate might mark, "It was about time he had 'er gardens. When evening came candles be. made." and lamps were lit. The right coal "It's Tommy's father, children," oil lamp to own was a Rochester mother would tell us. "He was caved Sometimes late on a summer after- lamp. Ours had a beautiful round noon we kids would walk to the en- on." bowl base decorated with vivid pink trance of the Standard tunnel to wait "Is he dead?" for the men to come off shift. We'd roses, and a matching bowl hugging hike in and press an ear against the the clear glass chimney. This chimney "Yes." was the cause of constant wrangling in car tracks to listen. When we heard Already friends were hurrying to our home. No one wanted the daily a click of movement on the tracks, comfort the distressed wife. Always we'd peer into the distant darkness job of scouring and polishing away the when a miner died, each working miner until a bobbing far-away light would soot. We bought these chimneys by donated one day's pay to the bereaved be seen. If it stayed just one light it the dozen from Weinstock & Lubin of family. would be an ore car drawn by a little Sacramento for 15c each. When my Pa felt like indulging donkey with a lantern hanging from Bodie was a snug little town, and at himself he fished a plug of Horseshoe his neck. If many twinkling lights bedtime the gentle lights behind drawn chewin' tobacco from his jeans. Then bobbed about like fireflies in the black- window shades went out one by one. he was ready for some real he-man ness we'd soon hear the miners talking, Then the only illumination came from enjoyment — but, not in the house! each bearing his candle-stick. the mill or from the peaceful stars Mother was a gentle soul who believed Bodie was a typical mining camp above, and the town went softly to our home was for the pleasure of all

October, 1960 / Desert Magazine / 19 who called it home—except when that cache, and start the bargaining all over Later, after the fireworks display, it person was chewing tobacco. Dad and again. This went on for several trips was bedtime, but Mother and Dad his chew would head for the backyard to the wood-shed. Finally Maggie and all the other grown-ups got ready where he'd sit on the sawbuck and would dump the nuts into a lard-can for the Grand Ball, there to polka and chat and spit with his next door neigh- and Mother would fill the sack with waltz until it was time for the men to bor. We girls would call "dibsies" on sugar and put several cups of freshly go on shift the morning of the fifth. the little tin horseshoes which were ground coffee into a kerchief. While this was going on Maggie's eyes would Bodie winters were severe. Before on every plug of tobacco. They made the first snow fell the cellar was filled decorations for picture frames, or we wander over the kitchen, and a bar or two of laundry soap or a half-filled with firkens of butter, sacks of pota- hammered them onto the ends of our toes, boxes of apples, cases of canned hair ribbons. bottle of vanilla would be added to her bundle. When the limit of Mother's vegetables, jars of home-canned fruit, Some Bodie women had their wash- patience was reached, back Maggie glasses of jelly and jam, and several ing done by Paiute squaws, and Paiute would go to the wood-shed, to fetch big "Our Taste" hams. men sawed and split the cords of fine another sack of nuts. Then the two We had no hospital, and sometimes nut-pine wood. Maggie and Gesso did women would laugh together at their no doctor. For a chest cold Mother these chores for us. hard bargaining and soft hearts. rubbed us with camphorated oil and Mother and Maggie were old friends. turpentine or set us on fire with a On Monday morning, come rain or Bodie's Fourth of July celebration mustard plaster, all the while pouring shine, Maggie showed up to do the was a blood-tingling event — new hot flaxseed tea into us. A bandage washing — unless it was pine-nutting dresses, a parade, a band, a Goddess for a skinned knee was torn from an time. Somehow Mother always sensed of Liberty float. I never reached the old bed-sheet or pillow case, and if when Maggie wouldn't show up. On pinnacle of being the Goddess—but we got a toothache the tooth was the morning Maggie reappeared she I did ride on a float and wave a flag pulled the first time Doc Southworth would stop at the wood-shed on her with the name of a state printed on it. came to town. If there was serious sickness or a new baby in a home, way to the kitchen. From out the folds There was free ice cream at the of her skirt she'd lift a grimy 10-pound neighbors took the kids home and fed firehouse after the parade, and a kid sugar sack half-full of pine-nuts. and bedded them down with their own, could win a dollar in a foot-race down or "scooted" into the house with bread, "Well, for goodness sakes, have you Main Street. Once a miner who had pot roast or soup. They'd even take been pine-nutting?" Mother would ask bet on me gave me a $5 gold piece the washing home and do it with their innocently. for coming in first. own. "You gimme sugar?" Maggie would As the dusty and happy day wore If a child came down with scarlet ask as she held out the nuts. Mother on, we were treated to our one dinner would push the sack aside. fever, diphtheria or some other con- of the year at the dining room in tagious disease, the schoolroom reeked "Give you sugar for that little dab Boyd's Hotel. With eager expectancy of nuts? I should say not!" Then and our company manners we trooped BODIE IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THIS CENTURY Maggie would make a trip back to the into the dining room to sit with other -MIDWAY BETWEEN BOOM AND BUST. FIRES wood-shed, add a few nuts from her families at long tables. HAVE DESTROYED HALF THE BUILD- INGS SHOWN IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH.

20 / Desert Magazine / October, 1960 of asafetida. Every child hung a bag in stood in quiet peace, enjoying their of the fetid drug around his neck. undisturbed memories. Make no mistake, a self-respecting POEM OF THE MONTH germ would not come near a school- We parked on Main Street—where room smelling like ours. we, as children, had run foot races. Boyd's Hotel was gone. Reading's One day Dad came home with ex- Store and Burkham's were gone. The Desert citing news. A man named Jim Butler Bank was gone. had found rich ore on the desert in Nevada. Wings were sprouting on We found Spence Gregory at a Paradox Dad's feet, and in May, 1902, he hit house near the school. Spence and I the road for the new strike. By Sep- had been in the first grade together. tember our chickens had all been eaten, The three of us sat down on some By our house sold and some of our furni- boxes outside, and "remembered" EUNICE M. ROBINSON ture shipped to the new mining camp aloud. He told us about the dreadful Santa Ana, California of Tonopah. Mother hired a buck- time the Standard Mill burned to the board to take us over Lucky Boy ground; how the families had moved on to other camps; how the sidewalks Grade to Hawthorne. O desert, golden child of the sagged here and there as if weary from Our good-bys had been said to dear the many years of busy moving feet. sun, friends and relatives and there were He told of the disappointment when Jeweled at the dawn with still traces of tears on our cheeks when new people came in to rework the cool night-scented dews; we took our last look at the Old mines and then moved away, leaving Bright beauty basking in the Syndicate Mill. Its soft brick walls a new corrugated iron mill to stand were old friends. Many times, tired like a stranger in the midst of the warmth of noon, from a long walk over the hills, we mellowness of age. Or washed at eventide with had rested in their shade and enjoyed sunset hues; the sweet fragrance of the myriads of I rediscovered childhood spots and wild roses clinging to the crumbling I longed to give the old fire bell a tap. Here air is sweet with sage bricks. We examined a granite block which and cactus bloom, had been used in some by-gone drill- Here life unfettered roams, Last October Fred and I revisted Bodie after an exile of 57 years! At ing match. In the holes cut by long- and winds are free. first I could hardly believe it — the departed hands, small plants have Treasure - laden mountains taken root, and bits of grass and twigs most perfect ghost town we had ever touch the clouds speak of the nesting places of tiny seen in all our wanderings over Cali- Above your calm expanse of fornia and Nevada. The church, the insects, happily unaware that the pure schoolhouse, the Miners' Hall — all blessed peace surrounding them had sandy sea. painted a soft brown by the hand of as its beginning The Bad Man from time. The small houses we had lived Bodie. /// O desert, furtive child of mystery, Secret and silent in the gray of dawn; Athirst in the bleak and soli- tary noon, With mystic shadows formed when day is gone. Windswept and wild; forever fraught with change; Here grim and brooding mountain backdrops stand. Life pays with life; and hiss- ing danger lies Coiled in camouflage against the sand.

O child of nature's whims! O ancient youth! Vessel of Earth's deception . . . and its truth!

Desert Magazine pays $5 each month for the poem chosen by the judges to appear in the magazine. To enter this contest simply mail your type- written poem (must be on a desert subject) to Poetry Contest, Desert Magazine, Palm Desert, Calif. Please include a stamped return envelope.

October, 1960 / Desert Magazine / 21

drawn on the chest of a naked boy "Big Star, I am your child. Give I allowed the tears to blur my eyes. who stood upon a blanket. One yay me the light of your mind that my Being blurred, they saw as in a mirage struck him twice with the yucca leaves. mind may be light." the generations of priest-poets pouring The blows were gentle, causing no colored sands in patterns of hope as The masks used at the Night Chant pain. An ear of corn with short spruce they chanted the songs of the House had a most romantic history. They boughs was applied to the feet, the of Dawn and of Evening Twilight. I were owned by a medicine man who palms of hands, back, shoulders and did not remain for the ceremonies of was the uncle of the shaman who pre- heads of the girls. After this the rep- the ninth night. I felt that I could sided at the ceremony I witnessed at resentatives of the yays removed their absorb no more. There was much to Pinyon. Very old, handed down from masks. The children were supposed think about. to be surprised, but no change of ex- uncle to nephew through many gen- pression showed on their faces. They erations, they were hidden in a cave I sent the films home to be devel- accepted whatever came their way, in Canyon de Chelly at the time of the oped, and worked for a few days in unquestionably and in faith. They Navajo exile to Fort Sumner in 1862. Oraibi with Ashi, who wished to give were a serious group of young people, Years later the medicine man and his me more sand paintings. We sat on learning something of the great need nephew returned for the precious deer- the floor of my room, painting cactus of human beings to keep in touch with skin masks. They were repainted for people and the four winds. Ashi Mother Nature, to know the ways of every ceremony and finally came into seemed impressed by my ability to growing corn, beans and squash. After the possession of the nephew. When work, so much so that he named me initiation they could look upon the I showed him the Ethnological Report the Hard-working Woman. I liked marvelous sand paintings and learn to containing James Stevenson's account the name. It was neither flowery nor pour the sand themselves in patterns of the Night Chant with reproductions false. The Hard-working Woman had of beauty, symmetry and symbolic of sand paintings and masks used at little time for frivolity. Its nearest ap- verity. Thus are artists made among Keam's Canyon in October, 1885, the proach came on Thanksgiving Day the Navajos, artists who feel the shaman-nephew was moved almost to when Hubbell asked me to witness rhythm of the universe and the won- tears. He said to Hubbell: the doings of the ninth night of another Yeibichai Dance. /// der of all things animate or inanimate. "It was my uncle who gave the They learn to sing when the Morning ceremony 42 years ago. I helped him Next installment: "The Unfinished Star arises at dawn: at that time." Ceremony"

THE YAYS PRESS INSTRUMENTS OF CORN AND SPRUCE TO THE GIRL CANDIDATES DURING THE 1927 INITIATION CEREMONY

24 / Desert Magazine / October, 1960 TRADING POST CLASSIFIEDS • How to Place an Ad: BOOKS: "PANNING Gold for Beginners," 50c. • GEMS, CUT-POLISHED • Mail your copy and first-insertion remit- "Gold in Placer," $3. Frank J. Harnagy, 701 Vi E. Edgeware, Los Angeles 26, California. tance to: Trading Post, Desert Magazine, AUSTRALIAN TUMBLED gemstones, 8 different Palm Desert, Calif. polished baroques, identified, suitable for 10 VOLUMES Desert Magazine, binders, 1947- necklace or chain bracelet. $1.10 postpaid. • Classified rates are 20c per word, $4 1956 inclusive. Excellent condition. Make Or 10 different polished baroques, identified, minimum per insertion. offer. Lorenz G. Trost, 1400 E. Chapman, from around the world. $1.25 postpaid. Orange, California, Bensusan, 8615 Columbus Avenue, Sepulveda, • BOOKS - MAGAZINES HARD-TO-find books located. Millions available California. through world-wide contacts. Book Land, Box GENUINE TURQUOISE: Natural color, blue and 74561L, Los Angeles 4, California. READ THE Prospector's Guide. Tells how and bluish green, cut and polished cabochons—25 where to prospect for minerals, etc. Send carats (5 to 10 stones according to size) $3.50 for application to United Prospectors, 701 Vi WESTERN AMERICANA; send stamp for free list including tax, postpaid. 50 carats (10 to 20 East Edgeware, Los Angeles 26, California. of old and rare books on the West. M. V. cabochons) $6.15 including tax, postpaid in Denny, Box 1, Norris, Tennessee. U.S.A. Write for folder. Elliott Gem & Mineral OUT-OF-print books at lowest prices! You name Shop, 235 E. Seaside Blvd., Long Beach 2, Cal. it—we find it! Western Americana, desert and "BLACK SAND and Gold"-$3.95. Authentic Indian books a specialty. Send us your wants. book on Alaska-Klondike goldrush — years CALIFORNIA DESERT rocks. Gem quality. Pol- No obligation. International Bookfinders, Box 1897-'98. 419 pages with photographs. Auto- ished. Large assortment. One dollar postpaid. 3003-D, Beverly Hills, California.o graphed. Ella L. Martinsen, 30 East Victoria, Pollard, 12719 Laurel Street, Lakeside, Calif. Santa Barbara, California. M.O. or C.O.D. BEAUTIFULLY POLISHED apache tears $3 pound, PINE CONES booklet pictures tiny cones to foot agate or jasper $2 pound, pure tin oxide long. Unusual all-cone wreaths, December $1.95 pound, plus postage. 2039 East Buckeye evergreens. Western Tree Cones, Corvallis, • EQUIPMENT-SUPPLIES Road, Phoenix, Arizona. Oregon. CAMPING EQUIPMENT: Personally selected scout, FIRE AGATE, tumbled, polished, will cut a 13x18 "GEMS & Minerals Magazine," largest rock hobby trail, family tents. Best quality United States mm. cabochon. $3 each tax included, postpaid. monthly. Field trips, "how" articles, pictures, manufacturers. European pack equipment. Sat- Fire guaranteed or money refunded. Dimick ads. $3 year. Sample 25c. Box 687J, Mentone, isfaction guaranteed. Send 25c for catalog. Mining Co., P.O. Box 1795, Clifton, Arizona. California. Don Gleason's Campers' Supply, Northampton, Massachusetts. Good practical equipment at OPAL, AMETHYST, etc. 10 ringsize stones, ground sensible prices. and polished ready to set, $5. Opals, deep GEM HUNTERS Atlas. Three great books for the red, blue, green, golden flashing in all colors rock collector, covering the eleven western of the rainbov/, direct from the mine, 15 for states. Each atlas has 32 full page maps with FREE CATALOG—World's finest lightweight camp- $5. Kendall, San Miguel d'Allende, Guanaju- gem hunting areas spotted in color. Type of ing and mountaineering equipment. Used on ato, Mexico. material, mileages and all highways are shown. Mt. Everest, Himalayas, Andes, etc. It's ex- pensive but absolutely unsurpassed! Gerry, Northwest $1, California—Nevada $1, South- GOOD QUALITY polished opalite baroques, as- Dept. 107, Ward, Colorado. west $1, postpaid. Write for our selected list sorted sizes, fine for all types jewelry, $3.50 of books on mineralogy, wildlife, Americana, pound, postpaid. Cody Inn Curio Shop, RR 3, and travel. Scenic Guides, Box 288, Susan- MICROSCOPES, NEW and used, for professionals Golden, Colorado. ville, California. and hobbyists. Slides, accessories, books. Write for price list. Peninsula Scientific, 2421 TUMBLE POLISHED Arizona fire agates, $2.50 DEATH VALLEY valuable guide. The secrets of El Camino, Palo Alto, California. each. Agates, jaspers, $3.50 pound, plus Death Valley bared. Beautiful illustrations. postage. Apacheland Agate Co., 501 North $3.50 postpaid. Travel Writer's Passport, NEW TYPE tumbler rough grinds, polishes, one 17th, Phoenix, Arizona. unique handbook for travel writers and pho- operation, no changing belts or pulleys. Six OPALS AND sapphires direct from Australia. tographers, tells you how to sell your stories polished Lake Superior agates from Mississippi This month's best buy: cut and polished solid and pictures, $1 postpaid. Special Offer: both River, postpaid $1. Scoop Advertising Service, opals ready for mounting. Two ovals each books for only $4 postpaid. Order today Stockton, Illinois. from: Martin Gross, P.O. Box 3021, Grand 6x8, 8x10, 10x12 mm. All six for $15, free Central Station, New York 17, N.Y. airmailed. Send personal check, international SPECTACULAR FLUORESCENCE. Ultraviolet lamps money order, bank draft. Free 16 page list of all types for field, home and laboratory. of all Australian gemstones. Australian Gem WILL BUY books, pamphlets on the West, Indians, Locate tungsten and zirconium. Make colorful Trading Co., 294 Little Collins Street, Mel- Outlaws, Cattle. Top price paid for any Texas displays. Catalog D free. Mineral Equipment bourne, C.I., Australia. History published before 1895. Please state Co., Hampden Road, Somers, Conn. asking price or send for appraisal. Price Daniel, P.O. Drawer 2450-DM, Waco, Texas. • GEMS, DEALERS FOR WOMEN LOCATE ANY book. No obligation. We search; VISIT GOLD Pan Rock Shop. Beautiful sphere quote price. Specializing Western Americana. LADY GODIVA "The World's Finest Beautifier." material, mineral specimens, choice crystals, Aardvarks Desert Bookhunters, Box 734-D, La Your whole beauty treatment in one jar. Pro- cutting materials, jewelry, bolo ties, baroques, Mesa, California. tect skin against sun, wind. For free brochure spheres, bookends, paperweights, cabochons, write: Lola Barnes, 963 North Oakland, Pasa- faceted stones, fluorescents, jewelry findings, SO YOU Want to Start a Rock Shop, new book dena 6, California. lapidary equipment and supplies, Navajo rugs, by Arthur E. and Lila Mae Victor, 52 pages, custom sawing—by the inch or shares. Saws, price $2. Invaluable information for the be- DRY SKIN conditions solved with daily applica- up to 30-inch diameters. John and Etta James, ginning rock shop, or any "thumb-nail" sized tion of G'Bye Dry. Large jar prepaid for only proprietors, 2020 North Carson Street on High- retail business. Interesting reading for any $1. Try it now and be desert happy. Nevada way 395 north end of town. Carson City, Nev. one. By the same authors, Gem Tumbling and RX Drug, Boulder City, Nevada. Baroque Jewelry Making, sixth edition, autho- CHOICE MINERAL specimens, rough and cut gem material, lapidary and jewelry equipment and ritative and recognized book of complete in- SOUR DOUGH biscuit recipe and full directions supplies, mountings, fluorescent lamps, books. structions. At your dealers or order direct, $2 $1. Dutchoven or modern baking. Revive the Valley Art Shoppe, 21108 Devonshire Street, each, postpaid from Victor Agate Shop, South lost art. Franks Murdock, Dalhart, Texas. 1709 Cedar, Spokane 41, Washington. 8c tax Chatsworth, California. Washington delivery. RETURN GREY hair to youthful color, in privacy NATIONALLY KNOW and noted for large choice your bedroom. Guaranteed. Details free. Mary varieties of gemstone, minerals, Indian arti- LOST MINES, buried or sunken treasure, bibliog- Reid, Box 68, Hackensack City 2, New Jersey. facts, fossils, handcrafted jewelry, etc., includ- raphy. Our research has 41 books, articles, ing unusual gifts. Retail and wholesale. Deal- maps covering this fascinating subject. Com- ENJOY DELICIOUS salt rising bread. Send $1 ers inquiries and suppliers offering invited. plete list $2. Earth Science Enterprises, Park- for complete recipe to: A'Della Whitmore, The Coles', 551 S.W. Coast Hiway, Newport, wood Drive, Madisonville, Kentucky. 808 31st Street, Bakersfield, Calif. Oregon. MORE CLASSIFIEDS I TRADING POST CLASSIFIEDS continued

DESERT ROCKS, woods, jewelry. Residence rear COLORFUL AUSTRALIAN Fire Opal; rough or AUTHENTIC INDIAN jewelry, Navajo rugs, Chi- of shop. Rockhounds welcome. Mile west on cut. No deposit, approvals sent on request. mayo blankets, squaw boots. Collector's items. U.S. 66. McShan's Gem Shop and Desert See before you buy. We deal in "Opal Ex- Closed Tuesdays. Pow-Wow Indian Trading Museum. P.O. Box 22, Needles, California. clusively." Free list. Western Rock & Gem, Post, 19967 Ventura Blvd., East Woodland 20385 Stanton Avenue, Castro Valley, Calif. Hills, Calif. Open Sundays. RED ROCK Shop has minerals, slabs, petrified wood, gifts, curios. Will trade. 2Vi miles TRINIDAD JASPER 10 pounds $8.50, postpaid. THREE FINE prehistoric Indian war arrowheads southwest on U.S. 89A, Sedona, Arizona. Dealers write for prices on baroques. Roy's $1. Flint scalping knife $1. Rare flint thunder- Rock Shop, P. O. Box 133, Trinidad, Calif. bird $3. All $4. Catalog free. Arrowhead, RIVERSIDE CALIFORNIA. We have everything Glenwood, Arkansas. for the rock hound, pebble pups, interesting GEM ROUGH; mineral specimens, quality guaran- gifts for those who are not rock hounds. teed. Special this month—blue topaz specimen, INDIAN PHONOGRAPH records, authentic songs Minerals, slabs, rough materials, lapidary sup- 25c postpaid. Free list. The Vellor Co., P.O. and dances, all speeds. Write for latest list: plies, mountings, equipment, black lights. Why Box 44(D), Overland, St. Louis 14, Missouri. Canyon Records, 834 No. 7th Avenue, Phoenix, not stop and browse? Shamrock Rock Shop, 1, Arizona. 593 West La Cadena Drive, Riverside, Calif. WILL TRADE mixed obsidians for agate, or sell OVerland 6-3956. gold sheen, silver sheen, olive green banded, INDIAN ARTIFACTS, mounted horns, buffalo spider web, feather, ambers, etc., 60c pound skulls, pottery, Navajo rugs, curios, list free. postpaid. Blacks for doublets, etc., 25c pound Thunderbird Trading Post, highway 80 at • GEMS, MINERALS-FOSSILS postpaid. Colorful commons, 35c pound post- Brazos River, Millsap, Texas. paid. Ashby's, Route 2, Box 92, Redmond, Oregon. GUARANTEED FINEST birdpoints, 30-$8.50, 100 FOSSILS. 12 different for $2. Other prices on —$26.50. Priced for resale or serious collect- request. Will buy, sell or trade. Museum of INDIA IMPORTER has star ruby crystals for ors. -Prompt delivery. William Hardy, Box 547, Fossils. Clifford H. Earl, P. O. Box 188, specimens from 75c to $1.25 per piece and Englewood City 18, New Jersey. Sedona, Arizona. also this same material for practice cutting at $1.45 per ounce, with instructions included. NAVAJO RUGS, genuine, direct from trading FINE DOMESTIC and foreign crystals and mas- Inspect these crystals for either purpose and posts. Large selection. From $11 to $660. sive minerals. Please ask for free list. Con- your money will be refunded if you simply Crystals, Two Grey Hills, Yeis; single, double tinental Minerals, P.O. Box 1206, Anaconda, send them back. E. D. Skinner, Box 4252, saddle blankets. Vegetable dyes and anilines. Montana. Station K, Milwaukee 10, Wisconsin. Perfect Christmas gift for man's room, den, or children's room. Desert Magazine Craft BEGINNERS ILLUSTRATED catalog. Specialized Shop, Desert Magazine Building, Palm Desert, mineral, gem, crystal, fossil study collections; • INDIAN GOODS California. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days chemical, blowpipe, ultraviolet test kits, man- a week after October 15. uals, field guides, other beginner accessories. FINE RESERVATION-MADE Navajo, Zuni, Hopi 25c. Mineral Lore, 3004 Park Avenue, San jewelry. Old pawn. Hundreds of fine old bas- WANTED: INDIAN baskets, pottery, kachinas Bernardino 2, California. kets, moderately priced, in excellent condition. and rugs for Indian craft center. Write: John Navajo rugs, Yei blankets, Chimayo homespuns, Skinner, 6172 West San Vicente, Los Angeles, FOUR NATURAL staurolites, cross on both sides, pottery. A collector's paradise! Open daily California. for $1 postpaid. "Animals" assembled from 10 to 5:30, closed Mondays. Buffalo Trading uncut quartz crystals — "Rockhound," $1.25 Post, Highway 18, Apple Valley, California. APACHE TRADING Post, specializing in fine In- each. Five assorted animals, $5.50 postpaid. dian pre-Columbian artifacts, pottery, beads, Reasoner Rock Originals, Crown King Highway, ARROWHEADS TWO ancient obsidian, illustrated baskets, stone implements, fetishes, etc. No Bumble Bee, Arizona. catalog plus jumbo picture $1. Catalog 50c. lists. George W. Stuttle, Route 3, Box 94, Indian wampum, very old. Cut shell, tur- Angeles Forest Highway, Palmdale, California. quoise, bone, Spanish and Hudson Bay Trade Windsor 7-2743. Open Sundays only. • GEMS, ROUGH MATERIAL Beads. List 10c. Worcester, 1229B University Avenue, Berkeley 2, California. TURQUOISE FOR sale. Turquoise in the rough • LODGES, MOTELS priced at from $5 to $50 a pound. Royal Blue ARROWHEAD COLLECTION: 15 mounted 21x31" Mines Co., Tonopah, Nevada. frames, containing over 2500 superb artifacts, MELODY LANE Apartment Motel, 6259 Adobe mostly large blades, spears and knives. 90% Road, P.O. Box 66, Twentynine Palms, Cali- GEM QUALITY golden tigereye $1 pound, Mo- Nevada, balance eastern Oregon, northern fornia. All electric, air-cooled, trees and patio, jave Desert agate, howlite, jaspers 75c pound. California and Colorado. Museum material. opposite post office, near super-market. Day, Australian rhodonite, aventurine, rainbow ob- Write for complete information. Worcester, week or monthly rates. sidian $\ pound. Summer special: 10 pounds 1229B University Ave., Berkeley 2, California. California mixed rough $5. Highly polished ROCK HOUND headquarters: Moqui Motel, Es- calante, Utah — on Highway U. 54, phone mixed baroques $2.50 pound. Postage and SELLING 20,000 Indian relics. 100 nice ancient MArket 4-4210, Dyna and Mohr Christensen. tax extra. Tubby's Rock Shop, 3329 Mayfield arrowheads $25. Indian skull $25. List free. Pack and Jeep Trips by appointment. Ave., La Crescenta, California. Lear's, Glenwood, Arkansas.

MINNESOTA SUPERIOR agates Vi to 1 inch AMERICAN INDIAN color slides. Superb mu- • JEWELRY $1.35 pound postpaid; 1 to 2 inch $2.50 seum specimens covering archeology and eth- pound postpaid. 3 polished Thompsonites $1 nology of Western Hemisphere. Excellent for postpaid. Frank Engstrom, Grey Eagle, Minn. teachers, artists, collectors. Free list. American UNIQUE LOVELY bracelets of ten different Indian Museum, Broadway and 155th, N.Y. 32. identified gems set flat on untarnishable gilt H.P. mounting. Choice of "Gems of the GEM MATERIAL from the Mojave Desert. Your World" or "Western Gems/' $3 each. Also choice: Mojave agate, lavic jasper, verde an- FOUR ARROWHEADS $1. Three birdpoints $1. choker-style necklaces to match, $3.75 each. tique, palmwood, travertine (green), chapenite, Three flint knives $2. Three spearheads $2. Tax, postage included. Bensusan, 8615 Co- onyx, opalite, jasp-agate, buds eye, and mixed Grooved net sinker $1. Drill, scraper and lumbia Ave., Sepulveda, California. jasper. 100 pounds — $22.50; 100 pounds blunt $1. Strand trade beads $1.25. Zuni mixed $12.50. Sample $3.50. All material fetish $3.75. Navajo wedding basket $5. ALUMINUM CHAINS! Dealers, write for whole- F.O.B. Barstow. Morton Minerals and Mining, Atlatl spearhead (classified) $1. Paul Summers, sale price list on our fabulous line of non- 21423 (Old) Highway 66, R.F.D. 1, Barstow, Canyon, Texas. tarnishing aluminum chains. Include $1 for California. Phone 8551. samples postpaid. Please use letterhead or FINEST RESERVATION-made Zuni, Navajo, Hopi state tax number. R. B. Berry & Company, VIRGIN VALLEY opal: Recognized world's most jewelry. Old Pawn, Navajo rugs, Chimayo 5040 Corby Street, Omaha 4, Nebraska. colorful specimens, a must for all rockhounds, blankets, baskets, pottery, squaw boots. We from our own mine in the Silicon Range, Ne- appraise, buy and sell Indian jewelry, Navajo LADIES! WEAR with pride the stone of legend. vada. 4-inch vial $3. Money back if not as rugs and basket collections. Send for bro- Apache tear bracelet $2.98, necklace $2.98, represented. Jade Rocks & Shells, Box 87, chure. The Indian Room, 1440 South Coast earrings $1.98. Hobbies Unlimited, Box 145D, Shell Beach, California. Highway, Laguna Beach, California. Sun land, California.

26 / Desert Magazine / October, 1960 TRADING POST CLASSIFIEDS LADY'S SOLITAIRE birthstone ring, 6V2—7 mm, $1 FOR gold areas, 25 California counties. 10 ORIGINAL Kodachrome slides, Southwestern round brilliant synthetic stone in sterling silver Geology, elevations. Pans $3, $2.50. Poke $1. ghost towns, $2. List, sample, 30c. Joe Smith, mounting. This elegant ring is perfect for all Fred Mark, Box 801, O|ai, California. 304 Picker Avenue, Wood River, Illinois. occasions. State month and size (whole sizes 5-9). Only $7.50, tax, postage included. Sat- WESTERN MINING News, monthly, for miners, WILL TRADE new Kodak 8 mm. F 1.9 scope sight isfaction guaranteed. Worldwide Gems & Min- prospectors, claim owners, $2 per year. Sam- movie camera with case for used detectron erals, 1628 11th Street, Sacramento 14, Calif. ple copy 25c. Box 787, Sonora, Calif. metal locator. Model 27 or 711. Arthur Guion, 3306 Barhite, Pasadena, California. MIXED GENUINE ruby, sapphire and spinels GOLD. HAVE fun panning gold in the manner from Burma. 12 set flat on small heart-shape of the forty-niners. Eight ounces of ready to link bracelet, $2.50 each. Choker-style neck- pan ore from the famous Rose Quartz mine, • REAL ESTATE lace to match, $3.75 each. Matching earrings pan, panning instructions and booklet, "How $1.50 pair. Gift box, tax, postage included. to Prospect for Gold." Only $2 postpaid. FOR SALE: Two-bedroom furnished home, one- Russell's Gem Shop, 404 West Chevy Chase Order from Rose Quartz D, P.O. Box 5006, bedroom furnished rental, both air condi- Drive, Glendale 4, California. San Diego 5, California. tioned. Five 30x100-foot lots, choice location. Edward G. Robinson, Box 183, Beatty, Nevada. BIG STOCK of new and used treasure and min- • MAPS eral detectors, geiger and scintillation counters, ultra violet lights. Free list. Easy terms. All 40 ACRES: Lanfair Valley, San Barnardino Coun- SECTIONIZED COUNTY maps — San Bernardino makes serviced. White's Electronics, 1218 Main ty, California. Section 23-13N-16E, level, many $3; Riverside $1; Imperial, small $1, large $2; Street, Sweet Home, Oregon. Joshua trees. Bargain at $2995. $50 down, San Diego $1.25; Inyo $2.50; Kern $1.25; $40 month. Owner, Henion, P.O. Box 5216, other California counties $1.25 each. Nevada GOLD & SILVER assays. Special high precision Pasadena, California. counties $1 each. Include 4 percent sales tax. test. Better accuracy guaranteed. $4. Reed Topographic maps of all mapped western Engineering, 620-R South Inglewood Avenue, FOR SALE: 120 acres in Rio Grande National areas. Westwide Maps Co., 114 West Third Inglewood 1, California. Forest, Colorado. Good location for hunting- Street, Los Angeles 13, California. fishing lodge, elk, deer, bear country, good trout stream, and timber on property. If in- GHOST TOWN map: big 3x2 feet. California, • PLANTS, SEEDS terested, write: Mrs. E. Wetherill, Creede, Arizona and Nevada, with roads marked. Plus Colorado. Treasure catalogue 100 items. $1, or American WILDFLOWERS SEEDS: New catalog offers over Treasure Hunter's Guide $2. Foul Anchor 600 different kinds of wildflower and wild 50 ACRES only three miles from city of Coa- Archives, DM, Rye, New York. tree seeds. Catalog 50c. Clyde Robin, Carmel chella in Coachella Valley. Sacrifice at $5000. Valley, California. Write to: Don Bleitz, 1001 N. McCadden, Los TREASURE MAPS: Texas treasures in color, show- Angeles 38, Calif. ing locations of mines, sunken ships buried ROSSO'S CACTUS Nursery, 25399 Highway 99, Loma Linda, California, between Colton and treasures and old trails. 17"x22", suitable for LAND LIQUIDATION. Write for complete list of framing. $2 postpaid. Rem Productions, P.O. Redlands. See the largest variety in the world. parcels to be liquidated in San Bernardino, Box 1893, Fort Worth, Texas. Kern, Imperial counties. Five acres to section. Robert L. Shaw, Wholesale land broker, 5034 GROW GIANT Saguaro Cactus in your home in ROUTE MAP Pacific Crest Trail, 2153 miles Can- Verdun Avenue, Los Angeles 43. ada to Mexico through 22 National Forests 7 days, planter soil, seeds, $1.25, guaranteed, and 6 National Parks in Washington, Oregon prepaid. 1914 East 18th Street, Tucson, Ariz. CHOICE 626 acres on Dillon Road, few miles and California. 20-page folder $1. W. Rogers, 2123 South Park Drive, Santa Ana, California. CACTUS AND succulents from the deserts of the from Desert Hot Springs, California; $275 per Southwest. Free illustrated catalog. Davis acre. Write Ronald L. Johnson, Thermal, Cal. BURIED TREASURE and lost mine map, 72 authen- Cactus Garden, 1522 Jefferson Street, Kerr- tic California locations, 19x24, beautiful four- ville, Texas. 80 ACRES near Lockhart, level, $125 acre, 25% color with free gold nugget, $2 postpaid. down. 20 acres Highway 395, level, north of 100-years-old Indian trade beads, approxi- THANK YOU for your interest in Chia. No more Adelanto, $150 acre, 10% down. 2V2 acres mately 24" strand, $4, 40" $6.50 postpaid. this year. Another exploring trip down Baja, west of Adelanto, level, $1495, 10% down. See famous old Gold Rush Museum, P.O. will pick up mail in six months. B. W. Greg- 2'/2 acres Lancaster on paved highway, shal- Box 46, Amador City, California. ory, Box 147, French Camp, California. low water, level, $2495, 10% down. Dr. Dodge, 1804 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, Calif. TREASURE LETTER written by pirate in 1750, SPECTACULAR DESERT Poinciana, beautiful giving location of 10 chests of bars of gold, blooming desert shrub. Plant now, easy di- NEAR LAKE Isabella, 2V2 acre lots in scenic, silver, diamonds, jewels in United States. rections, guaranteed. Seeds $1 postpaid. Box green, fertile, tranquil Kelso Valley, $2950 at Letter came from London. For treasure-hunt- 585, Las Vegas, Nevada. $50 down, $35 per month, or $2500 for cash. ers, collectors. Copy $2. Gene Wimbrow, Call or write for free brochure. Salesman on 634 West 36th, Norfolk 8, Virginia. premises on weekends. Weldon Valley • PHOTO SUPPLIES Ranchos, 2441 E. Locust Ave., Orange, Calif. Kellogg 2-1361. • MINING WILDLIFE OF Alaska, color, 16 or 18 mm. movies, 35 mm. slides, walrus, sheep, caribou, moose, CHOICE 207 acres, six miles north of Inyokern FIND BORON, lithium, tungsten, strontium and goat, bear, glaciers, Lake George Breakup, on old Highway 395. 160 acres fenced, 110 other valuable minerals with the new always wildflowers, small animals, birds, sport fishing acres in alfalfa, yield 1V2 to 2 ton per acre, ready fluorescent mineral detector. Detector & Eskimo dances. Elmer & Lupe King, Alaska seven cuttings year. 1200 gpm well. Com- operates in daylight, uses no batteries, fits in Film, Box 5621, Mt. View, Alaska. pletely equipped. Also nice home. Make offer. shirt pocket and eliminates dark box. Price L. P. Soulsburg, Dueieburg Farms, Route 1, only $12.50. Free brochure. Essington Prod- MOVIE TITLES 8-16 mm., glowing sunset, "The Box 20, Inyokern, California. ucts & Engineering, Box 4174, Coronado Sta- Ends" 96c. Stock shots bought-sold. Walt tion, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Foster, Box 2977, San Diego, Calif. FOR INFORMATION on desert acreage and. parcels for sale in or near Twentynine Palms, FOR SALE: Limestone deposit good for white BEAUTIFUL COLOR photos of minerals, crystals please write Silas S. Stanley, Realtor, 73644 cement or ornamental run. If interested, write: and fossils, 3'/2x5'/2 postcards, 25 different Twentynine Palms Highway, Twentynine Palms, 112 East Bishop, Santa Ana, California. kinds. Set of 25 different cards $1.25 plus 16c postage. R. Pickens, 610 North Martin Avenue, California. NEW! METALS and Minerals Buyers Guide for Waukegan, Illinois. 1960. Market values—who buys what and ROSAMOND, FIVE acres ideal retreat cabin site where. A must for every serious miner or COLOR SLIDES. Re-live your vacation trips. 3000 secluded in foothills, panoramic view of green prospector. Price only $2 postpaid. Compre- travel Kodachromes, parks, U.S., foreign, na- alfalfa fields, desert, and mountains, $2500 hensive Chemical Co., Box 4ID, Rancho Cor- ture, etc. Free list (sample 30c). Send today. full price, $500 down, $25 month. Edward dova, California. Kelly D. Choda, Box 15, Palmer Lake, Colo. Anania, 38351 Jeanette Street, Palmdale, Calif. MORE CLASSIFIEDS I TRADING POST CLASSIFIEDS continued TWENTYNINE PALMS: Five acres on Mesquite DESERT TREASURES, primitive relics, purple glass, MISCELLANEOUS Springs Road; $2000. $500 down, $25 month. gem stones, paintings, rock trips, information on Last Chance Canyon. Visit Roberta's in the Owner, 724 North Crescent Heights Blvd., BOOKKEEPING SIMPLIFIED: Conforms to all fed- ghost town of Garlock, 12 miles east of Red Hollywood 46, California. eral and state tax law requirements. Complete Rock Canyon Highway 6, via Randsburg road, with instructions, $4.95. Mott Distributors, 36 ACRES between Rosamond and Willow or 8 miles west of Randsburg and Highway P.O. Box 602, Lovelock, Nevada. Springs, 134 hours from Los Angeles. Beauti- 395. Mail inquiries answered. Roberta's, Box ful level land in secluded valley at foot of C, Randsburg, California. Tejon Mts. Electricity, roads. Highly mineral- SIMULATED ENGRAVED business cards $3.95 ized area and all mineral rights go. In center and $4.95 per thousand. Write for samples. GHOST TOWN items: Sun-colored glass, amethyst of historical, colorful desert and mountain Tumble polished baroques $2.50 per pound to royal purple; ghost railroads materials, vistas. Only $7900. $1000 down, $70 per postpaid. Doney's Printing & Rock Shop, Box tickets; limited odd items from camps of the month. Owner: R. Whaley, 13446 Contour 246, Lucerne, Lake County, California. '60s. Write your interest—Box 64-D, Smith, Drive, Sherman Oaks, California. TR 3-2043. Nevada. SENIOR CITZENS discount drug service—due to IDEAL TRAILER sites or homesites five minutes popular demand—is extending its service to from Redlands. One-half acre and up on MAC'S ORIGINAL timberline weathered wood. include medications and vitamins plus pre- paved road. From $1195. $100 down, $19 Finished table or what-not shelf pieces, 6 scriptions. Our bulk purchases save you monthly. Write today for details. Pon 8. Co., for $10 postpaid. Write for prices on patio money. Orders sent prepaid daily. SC Dept., Box 546D, Azusa, California. pieces. Cody Inn Curio Shop, RR 3, Golden, Nevada RX Drug, Boulder City, Nevada. Colorado. • WESTERN MERCHANDISE MAKE YOUR own shampoo: costs $1 gallon, leaves hair soft and silky. Buy chemicals from WELLS FARGO relics wanted, signs, boxes, guns, drugstore. Send $2.50 for formula to: E. L. FOR SALE: My collection of sun colored glass, etc., first 40 issues Desert Rat Scrap Book. Sliger, 8505 San Fernando Road, Sun Valley, antiques and unusual pieces. Mrs. A. E. Wy- Also Death Valley chuckawalla. Tom G. Mur- California. ckoff, 11501 Davenport Road, Auga Duke, Cal. ray, 2435 A Oak Street, Santa Monica, Calif. PLASTIC EMBEDDING for fun and profit, no oven. Make beautiful jewelry, decorative panels, science specimens castings. Catalog 25c, Natcol Plastics, Box 444, Yucaipa, Calif.

FALL AND WINTER trail trips: Havasu Canyon and Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona; Barranca Hv4 Rock Shorty del Cobre and holiday back country and peak climbing trip in Old Mexico. All are unusual and rewarding, each has a charm of its own. of Death Valley Details: Wampler Trail Trips, Box 45, Berkeley 1, California.

The following Hard Rock Shorty epi- GOLD COINS for profitable safe investment. sode is reprinted from the first issue of Bags knowed enough to get out Desert Magazine—November, 1937. They make good gifts, too. Buy any amount, o' the wind an' cover up his $5.75 to $10,000. I import U.S. $5, $10, $20 head, but he hadn't rightly fig- and English and Swiss coins, and deliver to "Shucks, I must be gettin' old," gered on the pilgrim with the your bank before you pay. For details write: gloomed Hard Rock Shorty, as load o' popcorn. This newcomer Loyd Parker, 4606 Austin, Houston 4, Texas. he asphyxiated a passing bug was headin' into the town of In- EARTHWORMS, LUSH gardens, fine lawns, good with a cloud of pipe smoke and ferno with this little dab of corn, bait, Send $1 for instructions and 200 PA.X then leaned back on the porch figgerin' to sell it to us boys to garden and bait worms. Large California na- bench waiting for more victims. while away the long winter eve- tive crawlers $3.50 per 100. Patton Worm nin's with, when this storm Farms, Highland, California. "I was just thinkin' about it catched 'im. today, an' it's twenty-five years FOR SALE: Romer Camper, excellent condition, priced to sell. Orville Johnson, 163 North A ago this July that old Bags Ba- "He dumb out under the St., Tustin, California. Phone LI 4-6740. goon froze to death over on wagon all right, but the sun was Freeze Up Gulch. Seems just like so hot she popped all the dang YOU MAY have a penny worth $100 in your last week! Old Bags was an old- corn an' the wind blowed 'er pocket change right now. Thousands are in away. Old Bags woke up an' circulation. Learn which coins are valuable and timer in the Panamints, but he'd where to sell them. Send only $1 for Coin been gettin' kind o' childish, found himself buried about seven Guide to: James North Co., Box 191 -D, dreamin' about Minnysota or foot deep in the stuff an' them Georgetown, Mass. some heathen place. Then one dreams o' Minnysota blizzards Fourth of July as he was hikin' got 'im. He froze to death! We SEARLES LAKE Gem and Mineral Society of Trona, California invites you to attend their into town, why a regular buster like to never got 'im thawed out Annual Gem and Mineral Show, October 15 of a windstorm come up. Old enough to bury proper." and 16, 1960. No admission charge. Swap tables, grab bags, field trips; $1 registration ATTENTION HARD ROCK SHORTY FANS: fee for camping.

Now available: a 16-page paper-back booklet RUBBER STAMPS, knob handle, cushioned, in- containing 21 of Shorty's best yarns . . . dexed. Three 1ines up to 2'/2 inches length. $1.25 postpaid Two stamps (different) $2. "HARD ROCK SHORTY AT HIS WORST" George Jonas, Box 484, Rolla, Missouri.

... a handsome book that is sure to become a collector's item . . . SWISS SERVANT couple seek position anywhere 6"x9" page size, printed on quality book stock . . . only $1 plus 15c in California. Have knowledge of hotel busi- for mailing and handling (California residents also add 4c sales tax) ness. Husband all-around man, machinist, carpenter, bricklayer, blacksmith, gardener; wife Don't miss out . . . order your copy today from: does housework, cooks, experienced in office Desert Magazine Book Store, Palm Desert, California work, good English. Excellent US references. Mrs. Husner, Interpreter, American Express, Zurich, Bahnhofstr., Switzerland. Cottonwood THEDESERT' S 'TREE OF MANY PLEASURES'

By EDMUND C. JAEGER, D.Sc.

author of "DESERT WILDFLOWERS," "THE CALIFORNIA DESERTS," "OUR DESERT NEIGHBORS," "THE NORTH AMERICAN DESERTS"

y^OTTONWOODS are cheerful sun- leafy crown of green, fully 60 feet Florida and its tributaries on the ( loving trees familiar to every des- across and 50 feet high. A sight al- northern plateau of Mexico. Cotton- ert traveler; and the cotton wood ways to marvel at because of its rare woods also are familiar sights, along most common on the far southwestern beauty of form, this veteran of scores with Lombardy Poplars, about Mor- desert is Fremont's Cottonwood (Pop- of years has witnessed much of inter- man villages and ranches in Nevada, ulus jremontii) described long ago by esting and tragic history, from Indian Utah and Arizona. Sereno Watson (assistant to Asa Gray) massacres to peaceful wanderings of Along the lower Colorado River from specimens collected by John C. primitive peoples and immigrants. It and its delta in Baja California, and Fremont, the explorer, botanist and should be visited, revered and made greatly enhancing the beauty of its soldier, while on his famous western into a shrine by tree lovers far and winding mid-desert course, is another travels of the mid 1800s. near. cottonwood, the Macdougal Cotton- One of the finest and most pictur- Given a plentiful supply of mois- wood (Populus macdougalii) with esque Fremont Cottonwoods I have ture, cottonwoods grow rapidly. bluish-green foliage. It was named seen in all of my wide and varied Planted as seedlings or as posts, they after Dr. T. D. Macdougal of the wanderings afoot and by auto is found will yield considerable shade by the Carnegie Institution, whose name is on the old Las Flores Ranch on the second year. As a rule they are not irretrievably linked with his painstak- Mojave Desert at the north base of long-lived trees, but sometimes weather ing study of the root systems and the San Bernardino Mountains (see drouths and storms for nearly a hun- growth habits of desert trees and illustration above). Its great gnarled dred years. Such old trees, with their shrubs. This tree was widely planted main trunk, covered with gray deeply- battered and angled trunks and mas- in the Imperial and Coachella valleys furrowed bark, lies somewhat prostrate sive crowns of green, offer a most ap- in early days. In contrast to the and twisted like the form of a writh- pealing sight, especially when seen spreading-limbed broad-crowned Fre- ing serpent. The tree is at least five standing singly or in small groups mont Cottonwood, it grows more up- feet through at the base. Twice it has about isolated springs. Hundreds and right and has less furrowed bark. raised itself, only to rest on the ground hundreds of old cottonwoods line the The ovate round-notched leaves of again where it has taken root; then, banks and mark the meandering course all the cottonwoods are almost con- twisting upward a third time, it of the Rio Grande and San Juan River stantly in motion, and if the breezes branches to form a huge hemispherical in New Mexico, and the long Rio are strong the leaf blades striking one

October, 1960 / Desert Magazine / 29 another cause very characteristic and "chiselled" their tunnels. All day long cuts down young trees and sometimes pleasing rustling and clattering sounds. the big black workers were noisily older ones of considerable size to make "The ripple of the foliage," says Lib- going in and out of their holes. up the foundation of its dams. More- erty Hyde Bailey, "recalls the play of over, cottonwood bark comprises one I decided to see what was going of the beaver's principal foods. These wavelets on a pebbly beach." The on inside the galleries, and cut into long leaf-stems or petioles are much animals were very plentiful along the one of the limbs. Within the half- Rio Colorado a century ago, but over- flattened sidewise and allow the leaf decayed wood I found many finger- blades to turn readily in every wind. trapping almost exterminated them. sized burrows eight to 10 inches in It's the old story of man not looking In the summer the leaves are a length. At first they went straight in, to the future. cheerful yellowish green, but with the then turned upwards. Within each I first frosts of autumn they take on could see rather thick partitions divid- Two of our orioles—Bullock and rich colors of yellow, making the trees ing thimble-sized compartments, each the Arizona Hooded—use fine grasses, appear like domes of gold. Early of which held masses of bee-bread horse hair or the fibers of nearby falling to the ground, these leaves made of a kind of honey and pollen. palm leaves and yuccas to weave their form a colorful carpet appealing in pendant nests in cottonwoods. The both odor and color to every saunterer On each store of bee-bread a single colorful male birds are always fine and of stream banks and moist arroyo bot- egg had been layed. In some of the spirited singers, and we are glad to toms of desert lands. Later in the year "cubicles" the eggs had hatched and associate them with our beloved trees. these yellow leaves turn brown, and the larval bees were greedily feeding. As a rule, old cottonwood trees are remain unrotted for a long time. Not wishing to further disturb them and my bee artisans busy with tunnel- infested with a big-leafed mistletoe In early spring, before the new making, I "boarded up" the scar with {Phoradendron flavescens), yellowish leaves appear, the trees "hang heavy" hopes that no damage had been done green in color. The numerous big with numerous flower catkins, those to the strange bee domiciles. bunches of semi-parasitic plants are on a particular tree being either male especially evident in winter when the or female. The strings of male flowers Extensive burrows in cottonwood trees are leafless. The mistletoe ber- are two to four inches long, and are are also made by the feeding larvae ries are a favorite food for many birds, especially appealing because of the of clear-winged moths. One of these and the voided seeds are widely scat- numerous - stammened red - anthered is called the Cottonwood Crown Borer. tered, resulting in contant new infes- flowerlets, each subtended by a fim- These creatures also attacks willows. tations. briate scale-like bract. The female The puss moth larva of Cerura The soft white wood of this com- flowers are borne along a two-inch nivea, so called because of its curious mon tree is of little use except as fuel. stem. These are less prominent than cat-like "face," eats cottonwood It gives off an unusually sweet bal- the male variety until they develop leaves. The last segment of the larva's samic odor when burned, and for this their numerous large green capsular tapering greenish brown abdomen reason is much prized by the senti- fruits. ends in two long and slender caudal mental camper. The twigs give off an When these pea-size fruiting "pods" processes or horns which it lashes especially hot flame and pleasant break open, they release myriads of whip-like over its back. From these smelling smoke due to the large amount seeds. The number of seeds produced it projects short thread-like extensions of resins they contain. by a single large tree is astonishing. which emit an odor to ward off the attack of parasitic wasps. When ready Since cottonwoods grow so often in Witness the fluffy feltlike mass of fuz- deep sandy soils, they are easily washed zy-tipped seeds under any large female to pupate, the strong-jawed cottonwood-green larva actually chews up out by winter floods and summer cottonwood tree. The germinating rate cloudbursts. Often we see the num- is very high and little wonder it is that wood of the tree trunk or branches to make a smooth trough-like depression erous old logs and snags of uprooted we often see thousands of seedling trees floating downstream or cast up plants springing up on damp sand bars in which to lie. Then using its tiny wood chips and a gluey secretion, it on the banks and bars to bleach in or along the moist edges of streams the summer sun—especially on streams and springs. Most of them die, but constructs a coffin-like lid to seal itself in and protect it while those of some size such as the Rio Colorado sufficient numbers live to start a dense and Rio Grande. If the logs early thicket, or later a fine grove of older strange transformations that change it into an adult take place. lose their bark they do not decay trees. rapidly nor are they readily eaten by The exceedingly small seeds, with The enormous poplar sphinx insects. Such debarked logs make their cottonlike end-tufts of white (Pachysphinx modesta), largest of the fairly good timber for use as roof hairs, are borne aloft and distributed western sphingids, is commonly found supports and posts in lands devoid of far by every wind. Thus do we ac- wherever cottonwood grows. The fore- more hardy trees. wings are a soft cream tan with faint count for the presence of trees at lone Cottonwoods arc the most common springs in the desert arroyos. It is the mottled patterns; the underwings have much magenta on them. The larvae shade trees in many parts of Nevada, green of these cottonwoods and per- Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. Only haps a Washingtonia palm or two that are huge (finger-sized) and green with seven lateral stripes. those trees which bear the male flowers often marks the site of some tiny seep should be used in propagation since or streamlet that signals from a dis- The green pea-like lumps on the they bear no "cotton." Cuttings placed tance help to the thirsty wayfarer stems of cottonwood leaves are caused in moist sandy soil take root almost along desert trails. by aphids. Break open one of these immediately. Some years ago I camped under a galls and you will see the numerous gray winged and unwinged insects Our Mexican neighbors called all massive Fremont Cottonwood located kinds of cottonwoods alamo (pro- in back of the picturesque Judge Mc- resting or crawling around in the spa- cious inside cavity. nounced ah-lah-mo) a name whose Callum adobe in old Palm Springs. plural alamos is familiar to us in sev- There were several dead branches of Along the Colorado River the pres- eral place names of towns in Texas considerable size, and into these a host ence of cottonwoods is directly related and Mexico where the trees were once of large blue-black carpenter bees had to the welfare of the beaver which prominently grown. ///

30 / Desert Magazine / October, 1960 RUG WASHERS IN THE CASHMEH ALI POOL

By WILLIAM E. WARM

The author is a former administrator of this nation's Point 4 program in Iran where he obtained information for this and five previous stories in Desert Magazine. At present Mr. Warne is Director of the California State Department of Agriculture.

ECENTLY A filler item in a newspaper caused me to recall a R host of memories and vivid scenes in far-off Iran—and in our own desert, as well. The item was headed, "Spring is Thought to Brighten Rugs," and read: Teheran — The mineral rich OASIS CASHMEH ALI waters of a spring at Cashmeh Ali in Iran, believed to brighten and preserve the colors of Per- sian rugs, are so famous that owners send their rugs to it for washing from as far away as Germany. "when I was traveling west from Fort tain above Cashmeh Ali is a gigantic There are watering places in all Yuma, before the canals were built, relief carving of the Sassanian era— deserts, of course. An oasis 350 miles there used to be dependable water at huge figures in majestic poses. One south of Algiers in the Sahara has more Gray's Well near the sand hills. Might guesses that the spring was the central than a million date palms. In our own call that an oasis. There used to be feature of a royal garden, and that desert, several oases have become so water at Alamo Mocho in the wash there once flowed from it a coursing highly developed and famous that near where Holtville is today. And power down to the lands below, in many who visit them are unaware that there's Coyote Wells near the moun- addition to the clean cold stream that once their local fame came from the tains on the West Mesa." still fills the channel and waters the fields. water they provided. A case in point "Ah, Gray's Well is no oasis," I is Palm Springs, which everybody protested. The others were not worth Just when it was that a wily rug knows, even in Iran. And long before noting. merchant concocted the story of the the hotel and race track were built at special propensities of the water of the "There is water at Gray's Well," Agua Caliente, Baja California, that spring, I do not know. Whether the said old Mr. Benton with finality. place was noted as an oasis and spa. waters are better than others when "That is what counts." Even before the white man came, the used for the purpose of washing fine Indians trekked to the springs there, Yes—there are many oases in the carpets makes little difference now, as they did to Palm Springs. world's arid stretches — but none, I because the rug washers have gained How many recall that Las Vegas warrant, is as unique arid charming as full possessory rights to the unique used to be called "The Springs," or the Spring of Cashmeh Ali which watering place, and undeniably it pro- know an old-timer who still speaks "brightens and preserves the colors of vides the best place to wash and dry thusly of this thriving Nevada city? Persian rugs . . ." rugs out-of-doors in all Iran, if not the world. Oases have always interested desert Teheran is an old city, near which dwellers. As a boy in the Imperial is the even older site of Rey, dating The spring is deep enough to sub- Valley of California I kept imagining back to Sassanian times. Rey was merge a great many rugs, but shallow oases with tall waving palms and deep famed in the days of Omar Khayyam. enough for men to work in. The limpid pools. It was captured by the forces of Gen- spring is edged by flat-topped rocks ghis Khan, and today it is ruined even that once may have been used by Old Mr. Benton, the prospector, set to its great, mud wall, from which princesses and ladies of the royal me straight. "In the desert," he said, crumble the burial pots with their harem to sun themselves, but now are "you're glad for any water you can pitiful trinkets and fragments of bones ideal platforms on which to spread a find." —all that remain of a golden yester- royal bokhara, a sistan, or a ghashgai "Is there an oasis around here, Mr. day. The spring where rugs are for a shampoo and a rinse. washed is close by. Benton?" I had asked. The higher reaches of the rocky "Well," the old prospector said, On the face of the great stone moun- slope above the spring could not be

October, 1960 / Desert Magazine / 31 improved upon for the purpose of dry- to packing them back to Teheran. them for long periods without any ing rugs. This steep slope has a south- Gradually the rug-stamps are peeled question. Almost at a glance experts ern exposure, and when the day's off, until by evening the rocks are bare recognize rugs, and they know valuable washing is nearly done, the whole again. rugs individually. There is little dan- mountainside facing the sun is plast- ger, therefore, of getting rugs mixed- The spring is open to a great guild up or ownership confused by scatter- ered with rugs—like stamps of differ- of rug washers. Some big merchants ent patterns, shapes and color dis- ing them helter-skelter over the face send out cartloads in a single day. of a mountain. played on a card. The men then begin Some washers go up and down the to roll up the dry ones, preparatory streets soliciting individual rugs to Most Iranian rugs are tied, not wash. No rug, apparently, is too fine woven, and in the old days every great to be entrusted to the spring, for on family had its own factory in its vil- THE LAPIDARY'S the drying slopes the best from far lage, using its own design. Tribal rugs STANDARD OF VALUE and near can be seen. are never perfect, but always contain BUY THE BEST Rugs in Iran are wealth, as gold or faults in the design, which increase FOR LESS Congo Dia Blades diamonds might be elsewhere. They their charm. The tribes, of which there Sizes range from move in and out of houses as fortunes 4 to 24" are several important ones, each have wax and wane. In the bazaars rugs their individual type of rug. With a are among the most prominent dis- little practice, one can readily displays. Many merchants will bring tinguish the tribal rugs. rugs to a prospective buyer, and leave There are a few of the family fac- A LEADER IN ITS FIELD tories still in operation, but commer- Highland Park cial carpet factories have for the most Power-feed Slab Saws pick up and go part taken their place. Each geo- Sizes range from 12" to 24". Metal or Lu- .1 i & J-3 graphical area has its specialty, and a cite hood. Slab Saw rug can be determined to be from VagaBondia! Qum or Kashan or elsewhere from its appearance. To some extent, this also applies to the rugs woven on the Navajo Reservation in our own desert country—color of the wool and general pattern used by the weavers have become localized and therefore iden- tifiable. Highland Park Combination Unit Gel a ay from it all and carry the comforts of Available in all sizes. Perfect combina- home ith you! Fishing, hunting, camping, travel- tion unit for Lapidary work. Handles sawing, rela ing life's more fun with a Vaga- Many dream of the luxury of deep- ing, grinding, sanding, and polishing. Ex- Bondial ceptionally quiet operation. • Sleeps 4 to 6! Beautiful interior! napped Persian rugs, and speak fa- Arbors of All Sizes—Tumblers, Belt Sanders, • Fits any pickup! Completely outfitted! cetiously of someone who lives osten- Trim Saws — 41 Models to Choose From • 6'1" headroom! 25% more quality! The most complete line of lapidary ma- tatiously as walking "ankle deep in chinery offered by any manufacturer. See • Cab-aver models from $1127.50 these at your local Highland Park dealer Persian carpets;" but the Iranians prize or write for free literature. FREE BROCHURE! Write Dept. D most highly the thinnest rug with the HIGHLAND PARK MANUFACTURING CO. 25 323 S. NORMANOIE AVE. finest knot. They like patterns, not 1009-1011 MISSION STREET VaqaBtmdia HARBOR CITY, CALIF. SOUTH PASADENA, CALIFORNIA plain spaces. Owing to the Moslem prohibition against representation of the face, designs seldom include people '//////A ^^ or animals. "SPECIALISTS IN SOUTHWESTERN PRESSWORK' New rugs are not considered as good as older ones. The latter are more pliant and somehow more comfortable to live with. For this reason, now and then a new rug will be spread before — Printers of the Desert Magazine — the door so that the traffic of the lane will speed-up its aging process. 00 ks But, old or new, fine or ordinary, pleasing to the Iranian or to the for- Pamphlets eigner, from a tribal loom or the newest factory, any Persian carpet is apt to Brochures find its way to the laundry at Cashmeh Ali if it remains around Teheran for Resort Folders a time. Most rugs are washed between Color Production ownership, and before great occasions a householder is apt to send its carpets to the spring for freshening. Write for free estimates Cashmeh Ali is an oasis extraordin- DESERT PRINTERS, INC. ary. How nice to see it again, even PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA through so small a window as a newspaper filler. ///

32 / Desert Magazine / October, 1960 White Mountain

buckwheat and, very likely, rabbitbrush. THE WHITE MOUNTAIN RANGE Circle Tour Some of the shrubs such as cliff rose and lycium bloom earlier. You may glimpse artemisia-juniper-pinyon, and from time to other stragglers, but late May thru July are time you will whiff their wonderful fra- By LUCILE WEIGHT best bets for flowers. Some beauties are grance. several species of pentstemons and purple Desert Magazine's bird's peak. During most of this mountain Westgard Pass is 12.9 miles from Bigpine, California Travel Correspondent passage you are in the country of ephedra- and just over a mile farther is a left branch

LITTLE KNOWN road that climbs over a major California mountain A range and gives access to the oldest MAGNIFIER that we known living things is part of an autumn dare you to compare trip on which motorists will stay between four and seven thousand feet. It also takes 10 Beautifully polished Baroque Gems of Citrin the traveler past a unique school, through Amethyst. Rock Crystal. historic Indian and mining country, a re- .] Nickel plated metal folding frame. Many thousands) Morgan Ue^and Aquamari mote valley of surprises, past gem and min- in uae —everyone likes It! Equivalent to other $6 mag- eral areas, and includes two interesting gate- nifi.r., fiet one FREE on our "new customer" offer! ways to Nevada. This high summer route starts at 4000- foot Bigpine in Owens Valley, climbs east over the 7200-foot Westgard Pass, cuts the west edge of Nevada, and loops back to Bigpine via almost-7200-foot Montgomery Pass. There is snow in winter, but it usually causes little travel inconvenience. West- gard formerly was an obscure, questionable mountain route for the ordinary traveler, but just this past year paving was completed to Highway 95 between Goldfield and Scotty's Junction. Highway 3A from Oasis Ranch up the west-side of Fish Lake Valley v 1 hmn you neeld — irH'lud handcut faceted jjenu to Highway 6 also is paved. Brazilian Rock Crystal sparkling stars; 2 sterling silve pair sterling silver • The pass name honors a pioneer in auto ready for mounting. A mam value. Now yours on our "Let's travel, A. L. Westgard, who started his Get Acquainted" offer. publicizing trips in 1903, and wore out 18 Z-21 C now only $1.45 cars by the time he worked his way over the route now bearing his name. This trip occurred during the laying out of a route for the Midland Trail, also called the Roosevelt National Highway. Thrilled by the breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada as he dropped down the steep western slope of the Inyo-White mountain range, he asked SPARKLING — SUPERB the waiting Bishop delegation in Owens SPECIMEN CARDS.' Valley the name of the beautiful pass. It 10 different specimens on card — had no name, he was told. This was rem- all tumbled and polished — many edied a year later when Westgard, with a of gem quality! caravan of 20 cars, drove west to east to Bi« value . . . terrific buy —ord meet a Bishop road committee at Oasis. Reaching the summit he discovered a tablet had been erected, with the name "Westgard Pass" in recognition of his "distinguished service." After stocking up with food and a full 1 '•'.'...'"'"••'"' *«*" '•3!!;I'||»«-I--2L'" -"" gas tank, drive east from the north-end of Bigpine. You cross what remains of Owens River at 1.7 miles, soon pass the right branch to Waucoba and Saline Valley, then quickly start up a canyon cut into the WKd TRIPOO l^iiii^ W()ndi'"-fufvalul!'l''t K'Oss """stones White-Inyo range. This once was a toll- Nlf OR road, and remains of the tollhouse station ^^1 WAG \ °ffi AS- 2 9 are marked by the brilliant green of cottonwoods and willows, at 8.5 miles, making this a popular lunch or supper stop. From here, and to about the same elevation on the east-side, if summer rain has prolonged the bloom, you may see some of the elegant desert plume and the large white thistle poppy. Also in early autumn there still may be blue gilias, lavender aster, apricot mallow, cleomella, lupine, sulfur Prices include Taxes and Postage!

October, 1960 / Desert Magazine / 33 to Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. Whether For 20 years he had been searching for you decide to drive the seven miles to the "oldest" trees, to continue the work of Dr. forest, or beyond to other pine groups, will A. E. Douglass of the University of Arizona depend upon your experience and car. This in studying growth rings. These, when narrow twisting dirt road has high rough worked into a master plan of ring patterns, centers, and one visitor who had negotiated give clues to past climate and to age and it in a new Ford pickup was very unhappy correlation of prehistoric ruins in the over scraping the center and having his Southwest. Checking on a large pine re- tires "chewed to pieces." If you don't get ported by Forest Ranger A. E. Noren, Dr. into trouble, these pines are worthy of a Schulman found it to be 1500 years old. pilgrimage. For many years we have been By 1956 he and Prof. Frits Went of Cal- told that Sequoia redwoods were the oldest tech, had found Bristlecones 4000 years old. living things. If we could wait around for Finally, the oldest was found at over 10,- 2000 years or so, we may find that the 000 feet elevation, on the California side redwoods really were the longest lived, for of the state boundary. The men didn't cut the Bristlecones are so weathered and down these prehistoric relics to count their eroded compared with the redwoods they rings, but took cores by use of a thread- may not survive as long as the better pre- tipped device. Bristlecones are not impos- served redwoods. ing in size but the storm-weathered ancients are awe inspiring subjects for the camera— While the Bristlecones were described and the imagination. about 100 years ago, the most ancient one, over 4600 years old, was discovered in This pass area is Cedar Flats, named for 1957 in this area by Dr. Edmund Schulman. the great junipers here. If your time is limited, you may decide on a cool day's outing up here, returning to the valley and a comfortable motel at night. Campers will find it invigorating at this altitude and some may decide to hike to the Bristlecone area beyond the lake. The valley, in fact, is WYO. IADE —not forgetting cameras, lunches and can- bounded by fault scarps, which probably Crushed for tumbling teens. But remember you are in the Inyo accounts for these springs. Don't try to W to %" — Clean drive to the springs; instead continue up No Waste—Black, Mottled National Forest, so be strict in obeying fire rules. the valley toward the emerald oasis of Deep and dark green mixed. Springs Ranch. Only inhabitants of the 12- 5 lbs. $20.00 Four miles down the east-side, you enter mile-long valley are at the ranch and the 10 lbs. $30.00 dark basalt narrows which match those you maintenance station a mile beyond. Postpaid U.S. passed through on the west-side. Leaving NO C.O.D.'s Inyo National Forest, 23.45 miles from The ranch was an early stopping place Bigpine, you also leave Payson Canyon between Owens Valley and Oasis. Before and suddenly look down on Deep Springs that it was Indian country, then in 1861 a SAGEBRUSH GEMS Valley. To the right, a glistening white- party from Aurora came prospecting. This P.O. BOX 26 crusted dry lake is edged with pink and was in the early days of the Owens Valley FT. COLLINS, COLO. marsh green. Artesian water issues at sev- Indian Wars. Both whites and Indians were eral places from the base of a vertical wall killed in the Deep Springs area. But more miners came, Deep Springs voting precinct was established, and in 1871, 18 votes were cast here. Most of the mines were in the Antelope Spring area southwest of the THE RUSH IS ON! . folks from all ranch. over are buying reprints of artist Clyde Forsythe's "Gold Strike" Today the surrounding green fields and paintings . . . full-color . . . perfect for framing ... a quality towering trees are facades — not for old gift to give at Christmas time . . . and only $2.85 per set of four ranch headquarters, but for an unusual paintings: "The Gold Rush," "The Mining Camp," "The Mining school. This is a three-year liberal arts Town," "The Ghost Town" . . . order by mail from: Reprint junior college, with but 18 students and Dept., Desert Magazine, Palm Desert, Calif. four instructors. It is operated by the Tell- uride Association, and the young men are chosen from those who make individual application. Regular term is September to the end of May. A summer session started July 5, 1960. You climb out of the little valley over Gilbert Pass, 6374 feet, and soon see the green spread of Oasis Ranch, near the south-end of Fish Lake Valley. With both wells and springs, this was an important early outfitting point for prospectors, but today nearest supplies are at Mann's Gen- eral Store, 16Vi miles north; also, 7.7 miles north is a gas and oil sign "1 mi." Oasis is at the junction of the Bigpine-Goldfield road with Fish Lake Valley road (Hwy.3A), 45.85 miles from Bigpine. As you angle around the ranch to head north, you get the last sagey odor of artemisia, for this shrub soon is displaced by sarcobatus. The ranch folks of Fish Lake Valley, although living in isolation, do not lack for a varied life. Besides the many facets of ranch work, some have hobbies such as painting, rock collecting and lapidary. There are hunting and fishing in the White Moun- tains just to the west. There is a private landing field at one of the ranches. A group of women in 1937 provided a rammed earth building which served as a center for social, civic, Sunday School and other activities. These women paid for the building by selling their needlework, con-

34 / Desert Magazine / October, 1960 ducting ice cream socials and bazaars. Re- later the Stewart, and today the Alexis that come down from the heights. And ports of Fish Lake hostesses' excellent Ranch. Other old ranches are the McNett rustling gets fast punishment here. One cooking have spread as they vie at get- on Indian Creek, and the Molini. The man not long ago was meted one-to-14 togethers. When families put on a Christ- Circle L, owned by E. L. Cord, is the years in the state penitentiary. mas party for the children, folks have come former pioneer George Leidy Ranch. The At Fish Lake maintenance station, 12.15 over the barren miles from Deep Springs, beautiful Arlemont was owned by Lois miles beyond Mann's store, a branch leads Silver Peak, Goldpoint, Lida, Goldfield and Kellogg. into White Mountain canyons, including Tonopah. Motion pictures are shown at Trail Canyon up which mountain climbers the clubhouse or one of the ranches. Near the northern end of cultivation is the former Chiatovich Ranch, long an im- hike to conquer Nevada's highest peak, While most of the ranches are on the portant social center. The family in 1906 Boundary, and Montgomery on the Cali- Nevada side of the line (the boundary is sported a Pope-Hartford touring car, which fornia side, both over 13,000 feet. crossed 7.9 miles north of Oasis), a good the Smithsonian Institute offered to buy in Nevada 3A now angles away from Fish many of the ranchers are from California. the 1920s. An account of a spring dance Lake, and in three or four miles reaches A dispute, started in 1952 over provisions given at the ranch in 1914 reveals a type low hills where rockhounds will enjoy an of the Taylor Grazing Act, threatened de- of social life which today's tourist might overnight camp to collect obsidianites and velopment. Between 1948-1950, 114 desert never suspect existed here. The program petrified wood — but this will take some land applications were made for Fish Lake included various dance exhibitions and a hiking (see Desert Magazine, Sept. '50 and land. After water surveys were made, U.S. violin solo, "Angel's Serenade," rendered Dec. '52). Highway 6 is reached 10 miles Bureau of Land Management rejected all by Marco Chiatovich, accompanied by farther, west of Coaldale Junction. Turn- but 19 of them, on 4040 acres. The lands sister Lillian at the piano. Fruit punch was ing west, first supply station is Basalt, at had been withdrawn by Executive Order served in the ballroom during dancing, fol- Hwy. 10 junction. You now start the easy and were not subject to entry until they lowed by a sumptuous midnight supper. climb over Montgomery Pass. You'll want could be surveyed. Soon after the BLM Outstanding ball gowns included that of to stop on the western slope for magnifi- clarifying statement, the survey started. One Mrs. A. J. Molini, in blue China silk with cent views of the White Mountains and settler estimated there was enough fertile shadow lace peplum; Miss Ethel McNett the Sierra Nevada, with the Owens Trough land and water for 75,000 acres to be culti- in tango green crepe with gimlet ruffles; between. Also note glimpses of the historic vated. Irrigation is from wells. An example Miss Lillian Chiatovich in canary brocaded Carson & Colorado railroad grade. Then of the settlers' enthusiasm is the sign at chartreuse with shadow lace minaret and pass the California checking station, before Mann's store, "Dyer, pop. 18, future pop. pearl trim; Mrs. Cora Meldrum, brown long reach Bishop, where good accommo- 10,000." Tiny Dyer postoffice, by the way, striped cream satin; Miss Annette McCor- dations are available, and arrive at Bigpine is about 5 miles south of the store. mick, white messaline with silk embroid- starting point 15 miles south. If you're ered tunic; Miss Maude Williams, Copen- leisured enough, and want to keep to the The lush alfalfa fields, vegetables and hagen blue satin with shadow lace. fruit trees of today are no new thing to high elevations, drive west here to Glacier this valley at the eastern foot of the White Besides silver, borax provided impetus Lodge, below Palisades Glacier, and finish Mountains. State officials in 1914 were for early Fish Lake ranching, especially off the autumn High Tour with some checking water potential here, as would-be when in 1875 the Pacific Coast Borax Co. mountain climbing in the 14,000 foot class. settlers flocked in. Thirty locators from moved south into the valley, northeast from Sacramento came here in a single week! October 7, 8 and 9 are dates for the the ranching area. That year what was unique 2nd Annual Pioneer Pass Golf described as "a little village of some 40 Challenge—11 miles of fairway over a total And almost 100 years ago, when silver cheap buildings, chiefly adobe" were around was pouring from the Candelaria hills to the borax flats in the valley, with 200 distance of 28 miles between the desert the north, and Columbus and Belleville people. town of Pioneertown and the mountain mills were dropping stamps on the ore, resort town of Big Bear Lake. /// Fish Lake produce was hauled by teams Cattle and sheep raising are added to to these and other then-important Nevada today's economy — and stockmen do not towns. By 1866 over a dozen ranches here take kindly to gun toters who cripple a were growing hay, barley, wheat and po- steer or wound a lamb while deer hunting tatoes. One of the big ranches then, as in the White Mountain range land. They now, was Oasis, then called Cottonwood, have enough trouble from the predators BOOKS of the SOUTHWEST

. . . WITH A HE SHOT THE RIGHT MAN from fiction in this 286-page book. It won't GOLDAK AT THE WRONG PLACE reverse the unearned roles Billy and Pat have been assigned by the folk, but O'Con- METAL nor had no such delusions. Legend has dealt rather unkindly with LOCATOR Pat Garrett, the "last great sheriff of the Pat Garrett sells for $3.95 from the frontier." Garrett devoted a lifetime to en- Desert Magazine Book Store. Purchase de- forcing the law, but his reputation was made tails can be found in the footnote. on the night he killed Billy the Kid. Things would have been different had ALL ABOUT TRAILER Garrett dispatched Billy in the traditional PARKS, MOBILE HOMES Western showdown: two men facing each - You have heard the many stories of buried other alone on a dusty cow-town street at Folks who would like to know funda- ; treasures, lost mines, and ghost towns throughout the west: the lost Sublett mine near Carls- high noon; townspeople scurrying for cover; mental facts about trailer parks and mobile ,'. bad Caverns, the lost Dutchman mine, Super- the nervous "bad man" drawing first; the homes will find a new paperback publica- •%';.'. stition Mountain, and many more. Using the calm "good guy" responding with what tion All About Parks interesting reading. '"* right kind of modern equipment, treasure hunt- proves to be, after the smoke clears, the Author of the book is Robert Nulsen, and ing can be fun and exciting. fatal volley. publisher is the Trail-R-Club of America. Your next trip to the desert can be excitingly different if you take along a GOLDAK metal r, locator. Using the latest electronic principles, a Instead, Garrett ambushed Billy in a Containing 199 pages and profuse illus- ^GOLDAK locator can detect metals up to 27 darkened bedroom. The snotty-nosed out- tration, the book sells for $2.75. It can be feet below the surface of the ground. law-murderer didn't have a chance. ordered through Desert Magazine's book 5 models include, transistorized instruments, department (see below). underwater metal detectors, geiger and scintil- Western author Richard O'Connor (Bat lation counters. Masterson, Wild Bill Hickok) has written Almost 60 pages are devoted to those a book that takes some giant strides in the interested in buying their own lot in a You may find . .. direction of a defense for Pat. It is en- mobile park. Deed restrictions and other • Indian relics • Western lore • Valu- titled, Pat Garrett—A Biography of the legal forms are suggested. able coins • Gold ore • Buried treasure Famous Marshal and Killer of Billy the Kid. Pat would wince at the subtitle, but Books reviewed on this page can be purchased Write for free literature and information on new by mail from Desert Magazine Book Store, book of known treasuies. the publishers obviously know how to sell Palm Desert, California. Please add 15c for books. postage and handling per book. California The GOLDAK Company residents also add 4% sales tax. Write for free O'Connor does a good job separating fact book catalog. 1559 W. GLENOAKS BLVD. • GLENDALE, CALIF.

October, 1960 / Desert Magazine / 35 BUY t>uJKS BY MAIL...... satisfaction guaranteed by Desert Magazine

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1. List books you want 2. Add 15c per book 3. California residents 4. If book is to be a 5. Please PRINT your 6. Mail orders and re- by title and author. for postage & han- also add 4% sales gift, please mark name and mailing mittance to: DESERT dling. tax. "GIFT" clearly, & in- address legibly. MAGAZINE BOOK dicate how you want STORE, Palm Desert, gift card signed. 1, California.

THE SOUTHWEST TODAY GEMS-MINERALS

ARIZONA PLACE NAMES. Barnes and Granger. Accepted reference CRYSTAL AND MINERAL COLLECTING. William Sanborn. For the to the names of towns, valleys, mountains and streams of Arizona. beginner who is ready to graduate. Profusely illus. 144 pp. $3.50 Beautifully printed. 519 pages. „ $10 GEM TUMBLING. The Victors. A guide for amateur lapidarists. Also ANTHOLOGY OF DESERT POETRY. A collection of 89 poetic interpre- describes baroque jewelry making. Paperback. 55 pages $2 tations of the desertland. Peaceful and inspirational reading for those who would meditate under the spell of verse. Paperbound. . $1.50 LOST MINES OF OLD ARIZONA. Harold O. Weight. This 76-page booklet tells the fascinating tales of nine legendary lost mines. No THE COWBOY AT WORK. Fay E. Ward. 32 chapters of cowboy, one has ever run across these treasure troves in the Arizona hills. horse and cattle lore. Beautifully illustrated, written in cowhand Paperback. With map _. _ _..$2 lingo. Will settle lots of corral caucuses. 288 pages. Indexed. $8.50 THE FIRST BOOK OF STONES. M. B. Cormack. For children. Makes GRAND CANYON DEEPS. Benjamin J. Kimber. A compilation of stone collecting easy and exciting for beginners. Large type and some of the descriptions of the Grand Canyon, written by dozens of plenty of simple illustrations. 90 pages, index. $1.95 well-known authors and travelers. Historic words telling in different ways of the grandeur of Grand Canyon. Paperbound. 64 pages. $1.50 AMONG THE ROCKS. Terry Shannon and Charles Payzant. Just the book to interest the 8 to 12 youngster in collecting rocks. Also in CABINS AND VACATION HOUSES. This Sunset book contains 252 Indian sand painting. Fine sketches in color. 48 pages. $2.50 plans and drawings and 250 photos. Tells how to plan cabins for beach, mountains or desert. Paperback. 128 pages _ $1.95 GEMCRAFT. Quick and Leiper. Tells where and how to collect gemstones, how to slab, cut, polish and engrave them. Many good MEET THE SOUTHWEST DESERTS. Phillip Welles. A well illustrated drawings and photos. Bibliography. 181 pages. _ _ _ _ $7.50 guide book that generalizes the Southwest desert country for the newcomer or for the relatives back east who think that Indians still HOW TO CUT GEMS. Dan O'Brien. Long a popular guide book in ride Model Ts while the squaws walk behind. 110 illustrations. 82 its field, it describes in understandable language the basic steps of pages. Paper-back $1, Hard-bound- $2.25 gem cutting, including slabbing, trim sawing, dopping, polishing, etc. 18 chapters. 50 pages. Paperback _ $1 NEW GUIDE TO MEXICO. Frances Toor. Completely revised, up-to- the-minute edition of this famous guide, including Lower California. MINERALS AND ROCKS. H. W. Ball. Beautiful large color pictures of Over 80 illustrations and an account of new West Coast highways geologic specimens are featured in this 96-page book $4.95 into Mexico City. 277 pages. __ . . $2.95 GEMSTONES OF NORTH AMERICA. John Sinkankas. The largest and LOWER CALIFORNIA GUIDE BOOK. Gerhard and Gulick. Maps, motor finest work on gem rocks of this continent. The author is recognized mileages, supplies—the complete data you will need for a journey as an expert. 675 pages, beautiful illustrations, many in color. into the fascinating land south of the border. Includes information Indexed, plus bibliography and glossary. $15 as to customs, food, passports—everything you will want to know whether you go by auto, boat, plane or burro. Paper, $5.25. Cloth $6 GEM HUNTER'S ATLAS, SOUTHWEST. H. Cyril Johnson. 32 maps of gem fields in Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. . $1 BOUNCING DOWN TO BAJA. Bill and Orv Worrman. Lively account of a husband, a wife and a jeep, and their adventure into Baja Cali- GEM HUNTER'S ATLAS, CALIFORNIA & NEVADA. H. Cyril Johnson. fornia, with notes for travelers. For arm-chair tourists and confirmed A small booklet of 32 maps, showing gem stone areas. $1 jeepsters. Illus., 200 pages ______$3.75 THE ROCK BOOK. Carroll and Mildred Fenion. An authoritative, ANZA-BORREGO DESERT GUIDE BOOK. Horace Parker. First complete usable volume on the rocks of the world. A classic in its field. and authentic guide to California's largest state park. For motorist, Beautiful full color photos, plus 48 pages of black and white, and camper and hiker. Maps and pictures. 108 pages _ $2.50 drawings. 360 pages $7.50

THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST, A GOLDEN REGIONAL GUIDE. N. N. JEWELRY MAKING. Greta Pack. For the beginning craftsman. This is Dodge and H. S. Zim. More than 450 subjects in full color of the heavily illustrated, very clearly written. Goes from simple to ad- wide open spaces: itineraries, maps, information on state parks, forts, vanced silver and gem projects. Hard Cover. $3.75 ghost towns, missions. A guide for both traveler and reader; handy pocket size. 160 pages. Hard cover, $2.50. Paper . $1 FIELD BOOK OF COMMON ROCKS AND MINERALS. F. B. Loomis. Nature Field Book series. For collecting, identification. 144 pages on DEATH VALLEY, THE FACTS. W. A. Chalfant. Standard handbook, minerals, 96 on rocks. Minerals in which color is important for again in print. Geography, climatology, water, geology, mining, plant identification are illustrated in color. Many photos, drawings. Geo- and animal life. Endmaps, photos. Paper cover. . $1.95 logical time chart, biblio., index, 352 pages. Special. $3.50

EXPLORING DEATH VALLEY. Ruth Kirk. An informative guide for TREASURE MAP OF THE GREAT MOJAVE DESERT. Mary Berkholtz. A tourists with maps, pictures. Scores of interesting sidetrips described detailed guide map to gem fields, ghost towns, and recreational spots in detail by a park ranger's wife. 82 pages. Paper cover. $1.95 in the vast Mojave sweep. For all desert travelers. $1

36 / Desert Magazine / October, 1960 HANDBOOK FOR PROSPECTORS. M. W. von Bernewiti. Complete MAMMALS OF THE SOUTHWEST DESERT. G. Olin. One of the series guide for prospectors and operators of small mines, including equip- of the Southwestern Monuments Association; an invaluable book on ment, mining laws, mineralogy and geology, sampling and assaying, the desert-dwelling animals; habits, detailed drawings, charts $1 field tests and measurements, markets and prices. Glossary, index, 547 pages. Limp leatherette binding.- $9 CALIFORNIA DESERTS. Dr. Edmund C. Jaeger. Complete information on the Colorado and Mojave deserts of California. Plant and animal QUARTZ FAMILY MINERALS. Dake, Fleener, Wilson. Description and life, geography, geology, aboriginal life. Drawings, photos and maps. occurrences of one of the most interesting mineral groups. Includes Third edition. 209 pages. Index. $5 quartz crystals, amethyst, sagenite, agate and chalcedony, jasper, bloodstone, carnelian and sard, geodes and thundereggs, petrified NATIVE PLANTS FOR CALIFORNIA GARDENS. Lee W. Lenz. California wood, etc. Reading list, illus., index. 304 pages. _ $5 has a wealth of native flowers and shrubs, many of which make delightful domestic landscaping. Here are the recommended species, HOW TO KNOW THE MINERALS AND ROCKS. Richard M. Pearl. An and how to grow them in your garden. Photo illus. 166 pages. -$3.95 illustrated field guide to more than 125 important minerals and rocks, INTRODUCTION TO DESERT PLANTS. W. Taylor Marshall. If you've with identification keys. For the amateur and beginner; handy pocket wanted to cultivate some of the native desert plants in your home size. 192 pages — $4.25 landscaping, this book will be a most helpful guide. 49 pages. $1.25 COLORADO GEM TRAILS & MINERAL GUIDE. Richard M. Pearl. Maps, mileage logs, collecting information for the rockhounds who want to WILDFOLK IN THE DESERT. Carroll Lane Fenton & Evelyn Carswell. seek new specimens in the many collecting areas of Colorado and For young (10-14) nature lovers who want to know more about the the Rockies. 176 pages..- . — $2.95 animals of the desert. Written in narrative, nicely illustrated. . $3.50

CALIFORNIA GEM TRAILS. Darold J. Henry. An authoritative guide THIS IS THE DESERT. Phil Ault. A broad view of the geology, his- to the more important California gem collecting fields, including many tory and life of the American Desert. Well illustrated. A new book new localities. Maps and detailed information. 101 pages $2.50 for young people (12-15). _ $2.75 PHYSIOLOGY OF MAN ON THE DESERT. E. F. Adolph and Associates. Report of field research into the many factors involved in man's survival on the desert—heat, water, clothing, shelter. Charts, maps, photos. 357 pages, paper bound $3.50 _ .... Cloth $5 NATURE SUBJECTS THE NORTH AMERICAN DESERTS. Edmund C. Jaeger. Published in September '57. The Southwest's great naturalist treats for the first time of the five important deserts of the North American continent. NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SOUTHWEST. A compilation showing the 356 line drawings, 29 pages of maps and photos $5.95 beauty and color of the Southwest by excellent photos, and telling of its trees, shrubs, birds, reptiles and mammals. A general book on DESERT WILD FLOWERS. Edmund C. Jaeger. Fine handbook on desert the area, it has many color pictures. A guide for those who want flora, almost 800 species described and illustrated by line drawing an introduction to the outdoor Southwest. 144 pages $4.95 or photos. Includes material on discovery and naming uses, exploration of botanical names.- — - .... $5 WILDLIFE OF MEXICO. A Starker Leopold. Readable yet highly authoritative, this book contains almost 200 excellent drawings and THE TREES AND SHRUBS OF THE SOUTHWESTERN DESERT. L. Benson photos of Mexican wildlife. For sportsmen and naturalists. Many and R. Darrow. This revised edition has all the information a begin- desert animals included. 568 pages.- $12.50 ner in botany will need for identifying the perennial vegetation in the entire Southwest. Appendix, 115 illustrations, 9 in color. . $8.50 THE SHELTERING DESERT. Henno Martin. A fascinating true story of a desert existence led by two Germans who were hiding from an THE WILD FLOWERS OF CALIFORNIA. Mary Elizabeth Parsons. For Allied detention camp in Africa. The setting is the Namib Desert in the amateur botanist who would gain a more intimate acquaintance 1939-40. The two escapees became modern-day Robinson Crusoes with the strange and interesting plants that grow on mountain, plain in deep Africa. Illustrated. 236 pages. Hard cover - _ -$5 and desert. Excellent pen sketches and some color plates $3.95

CACTUS AND SUCCULENTS AND HOW TO GROW THEM. Scott E. THE VOICE OF THE DESERT. Joseph Wood Krutch. In which a Nat- Haselton. An inexpensive instruction book, written for the beginner. uralist explores the rich, intriguing, unexpected variety of life on the Contains all the essential information for growing a pretty cactus Southwestern desert. 223 pages.- ...... $3.75 garden. 65 illustrations. 64 pages. Paper cover $.50 POISONOUS DWELLERS OF THE DESERT. Natt N. Dodge. " . . .should BOOK OF CACTI AND OTHER SUCCULENTS. Claude Chidamain. For become as much a part of the kit of any desert visitor as his can- those interested in gardening or collecting here is an encyclopedia teen." Description and habitat of giant desert centipede, scorpions, of information as to the nature, propagation and cultivation of the black widow spiders, kissing bug, bees, coral snake, rattlers, Gila great family of drouth-resistant plants. Well illustrated $4.50 Monsters, and others. First aid. Illus., index, paper $.50 FLOWERS OF THE SOUTHWEST DESERT. Natt N. Dodge. Written for BIRDS OF THE SOUTHWESTERN DESERT. Gusse Thomas Smith. To this those who, lacking a scientific knowledge of botany, would still like author, birds are happy friendly neighbors that every desert dweller to learn the names of the more common species of desert flowers and should cultivate. All the more common species are given a delight- shrubs. Both the scientific and common names of 145 species are ful introduction in this book. Excellent pen sketches -..$1.95 given. 110 pages, illustrated. Paper cover. - $1

ROCKS AND MINERALS OF CALIFORNIA. Vinson Brown and David FLOWERS OF THE SOUTHWEST MESAS. Pauline M. Patraw. Identifies Allan. Manual for collectors, with maps showing California field trip by an easy-to-follow color key, the common plants of the Pinyon- location. 48 specimens in color plates. Paper, $2.75 Cloth, $4.50 Juniper Woodland extending from about 4500 to 7500 feet in elevation. Descriptive drawings by Jeanne R. Janish. Paper cover. $1 POPULAR PROSPECTING. H. C. Dake, editor of The Mineralogist. Field guide for the part-time prospector and gem hunter. Where to WILD PALMS OF THE CALIFORNIA DESERT. Randall Henderson. In- prospect, description of minerals, valuable prospecting notes. — $2 teresting and descriptive stories of the wild palms that grow in— Palm Canyon, Andreas Canyon, Fern Canyon, Eagle Canyon. —$.50 GEM CUTTING. John Sinkankas. Most complete book yet written covering the whole field of gemcraft, from gathering in the field to THE DESERT IN PICTURES. Published by the Palm Springs Museum. the fashioning of beautiful jewels. A practical guide for amateur Striking photographs of the geology, geography, flora and fauna. and professional. 413 pages. Illus $8.95 Edited by Edmund Jaeger. Paper _.„ $.50 A NATURALIST'S DEATH VALLEY. Dr. Edmund C. Jaeger. A simpli- ART OF GEM CUTTING. Dake & Pearl. How to saw, grind, sand, dop fied story of the mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, trees, flowers, and polish cabochons and facets; optics, chemical and physical prop- fossils and Indian life in the Death Valley region. A Death Valley erties of gems; testing gems; instruments and equipment; special '49er book. Illustrated. Paper cover. 68 pages — $1.50 lapidary techniques. Illus., paper. ._ $2 OUR DESERT NEIGHBORS. Edmund C. Jaeger. A fascinating book of THE FOSSIL BOOK. Carroll L. Fenton and Mildred A. Fenton. One of a naturalist's experiences with the jackrabbit, the packrat, the coyote, the finest generalized books ever written about fossils. For serious the canyon wren, the sidewinder, and scores of birds and animals and amateurs. Hundreds of photos and drawings, text-book quality. reptiles of the Southwest Desert. Illus. Index, 239 pages $5 Authoritative. 480 pages. First published 1958. . $15 THE CLEVER COYOTE. Stanley Young and Hartley Jackson. Despite FIELD GUIDE TO ROCKS AND MINERALS. Frederick H. Pough. Color heavy warfare aimed at it, the wily coyote is one of the few mam- illustrations. Textbook covering the whole field of minerals for both mals which has been able to extend its range and more than hold student and veteran mineralogist $3.95 its own in historic times. Illustrated $6.50

MORE BOOKS JOURNEY OF THE FLAME. Fierro Blanco. Reprint of the popular historical novel, acclaimed as the greatest collection of desert lore ever SOUTHWEST HISTORY and compiled. A collection of fact and fiction about Baja California..$3.75 FIG TREE JOHN. Edwin Corle. A fine novel of the Southwest by the SOUTHWEST PERSONALITIES late Edwin Corle. Limited edition, illustrated by Don Perceval.-$7.50 ARIZONA'S DARK AND BLOODY GROUND. Earle R. Forrest. This is YOUR DESERT AND MINE. Nina Paul Shumway. A delightful per- the fourth printing of an authenticated account of the ruthless sonal account of a family's early-day experiences in the Coachella Graham-Tewksbury cattle war in Arizona's Pleasant Valley from 1882 Valley, with much valuable history of the date palm industry. Palm to 1892. More than a score of men died in this western feud $5 Springs, Indio, the Salton Sea, sand dunes and the Santa Rosa mountains are all seen through the eyes of a young woman meeting the AUTHENTIC LIFE OF BILLY THE KID. Pal Garrett. This work reads desert for the first time. Illustrated, more than 300 pages $6.75 easily but may not be quite as authentic as Garrett, who shot The Kid, might like us to believe. Part of the Western Frontier Library, PONY EXPRESS-THE GREAT GAMBLE. Roy S. Bloss. A well-researched published by University of Oklahoma Press- ..$2 book that deals with the business and politics of the Pony Express more than with the adventures of the daring riders. An excellent TRUE STORY OF BILLY THE KID. William Lee Hamlin. Hamlin's thesis reference for students of the Pony Express. Excellent historic photos is that The Kid, contrary to general belief, was a loyal and reliable and illustrations. Hardback. 160 pages $4.50 young man, ready to serve the law, but misunderstood $6

TIBURCIO VASQUEZ, THE CALIFORNIA OUTLAW. Compiled by Rob- DEATH VALLEY IN '49. William Lewis Manly. Written in his own ert Greenwood. Includes a reprinting of a rare contemporary account words, the classic of Death Valley crossing; the day-by-day amazing about the noted bandit. Many quotations from newspapers of the account of how Manly and his party survived many hardships.__$6.50 '60s and '70s. Illustrated. 296 pages. Hardback $5.95 THE MANLY MAP AND THE MANLY STORY. Ardis M. Walker. One HARD ROCK SHORTY AT HIS WORST. 21 selections from the famous of the epics of southwestern history: that of the heroic struggle of Hard Rock Shorty series that has been running in Desert Magazine Wm. Lewis Manly and John Rogers and their companions through since 1937. Whimsical yarns containing the wildest stories ever to Death Valley. Reproduction of their map. Paper _ $1 rise on the heat waves of Death Valley. Not a word of truth in the whole passle. Paperbound - $1 DEATH VALLEY TALES. A Death Valley '49er publication. Nine writers have written true chapters from the drama-crammed past of OUTLAW TRAIL. Charles Kelly. The corrected second edition of an the Death Valley region. 59 pages, paper - $1 illustrated classic about western outlaw Butch Cassidy and his "Wild Bunch." Trains and banks were their targets. One of the best outlaw GOODBYE, DEATH VALLEYI L. Burr Belden. A condensed story of reports. Map and index. $6 the tragic trek of the Jayhawker party of the California-bound gold- seekers in 1849. Death Valley '49er publication. Paper bound. $1.25 FRONTIER WORLD OF DOC HOLLIDAY. Pat Jahns. A lively report on the historic dentist—turned faro dealer-gunman. Much use of early- LOAFING ALONG DEATH VALLEY TRAILS. William Caruthers. From w^stern newspaper reports. Footnotes, lengthy bibliography $5 a store of excellent material gained through 25 years on Death Valley Trails, this is "a personal narrative of people and places," of WYATT EARP, FRONTIER MARSHAL. Stuart N. Lake. Thrilling account such people as Shorty Harris, Charles Brown and many others $4.25 of frontier days, and a man who out-shot and out-thought the bad- men of the toughest mining camps and cowtowns of the old South- DEATH VALLEY SCOTTY TOLD ME. Eleanor Jordon Houston. Here is west. Based on Earp's own story - $4.50 Death Valley Scotty as his friends knew him. Reported conversations BILLY KING'S TOMBSTONE. C. L. Sonnichsen. Tombstone's hell- while Mrs. Houston's husband was a Death Valley Park Ranger...$1.50 roarin' days, from 1881 to 1906, are told in this popular and dramatic DEATH VALLEY SCOTTY RIDES AGAIN. Earl C. Driskill. Scotty's story of the people and events that paraded the Southwest in the stories, just as he told them, written by a man who was close to the fabulous late 1800s. Old photographs illustrate liberally- $3 fabulous Death Valley character during his last years. A salty book.. $1 THE LAST WAR TRAIL. Robert Emmitt. An exciting document of the Ute uprising of 1879 in Colorado. The story of the Meeker Massacre, 20 MULE TEAM DAYS IN DEATH VALLEY. Harold O. Weight. Story and Indian-white conflict. Excellent bibliography. 333 pages.—.$4.50 of the most colorful episode in western mining history, as revealed by the old-timers, and from the records of the period $.75 BUTTERFIELD OVERLAND MAIL. Waterman L. Ormsby. The author was the only through passenger on the first Westbound stage in SIXGUNS. Elmer Keith. For the man who wants the last word on 1858. His reports are reprinted, with informative notes, maps, and pistols and revolvers, by one of America's top authorities in the field. index. Lively and exciting reading. 179 pages $4 400 illustrations. Arms design and ammunition information.-- $10 WILLIE BOY. Harry Lawton. Tale of a strange desert manhunt, with JOSEPH REDDEFORD WALKER AND THE ARIZONA ADVENTURE. mounted posses of western lawmen trying to track down a young Daniel Ellis Conner, edited by Bethrong and Davenport. Walker's Indian. Willie Boy, who had murdered two people, outfooted horses amazing Arizona expedition, a hundred years ago, when the South- and bullets for weeks, but finally shot himself. San Bernardino and west could provide adventure for anyone willing to be a leader. Riverside counties in Southern California are the setting for this 1909 Walker lived, trapped and guided in the West for 30 years $5 adventure. 224 pages. Historic photos __ $5.98 A PEEP AT WA5HOE. J. Ross Browne. This is a reprint of a lively JEDEDIAH SMITH. Hal G. Evarts. "Trail Blazer of the West" is the first-hand report of the early days of the Comstock boom. The subtitle for this semi-novel about one of the West's great trappers, author was an illustrator and writer for several Eastern journals. His guides and mountain men. 192 pages _ -$3 book contains interesting wood cuts, done on the scene. A classic YUMA CROSSING. Douglas D. Martin. Tales of four centuries of in its field. 256 pages, hard cover .$5.50 history when the Yuma crossing was once the only safe ford of the Colorado River—of sea captains, Indians, missionaries, scouts $4 MEN TO MATCH MY MOUNTAINS. Irving Stone. A gripping story of the men and events which in 60 years brought the white man's SOVEREIGNS OF THE SAGE. Nell Murbarger. This delightful new civilization to the great western wilderness of United States $5.95 book by the "Roving Reporter of the Desert" is a treasury of true stories about unusual people and places in the vast sagebrush king- PHILIP ST. GEORGE COOKE. Otis E. Young. The west, as seen by dom of western United States. Sparkles with humor and interest—$6 the famous cavalryman, Cooke, in the pre-Civil War days of frontier exploration. His Civil War service. Authoritatively documented...$10 TWENTY-FOUR YEARS A COWBOY AND RANCHMAN. Will Hale. Texas and Old Mexico, as seen through the rough eyes of a cowboy- HOLE-1N-THE-ROCK. David E. Miller. This well-illustrated book by a rancher, in the mid-1800s. First published in '05, long out of print..$2 trained Utah historian, is the best available on the amazing Mormon CORONADO, KNIGHT OF THE PUEBLOS AND PLAINS. Herbert E. Hole-in-the-Rock expedition of 1879-80. Maps, 229 pages- $5.50 Bolton. The most thorough tracing of the Coronado trail ever given. ARIZONA IN THE 50s. James H. Tevis. The breathtaking memoirs of ... As exciting as the trek of the Fortyniners to California $4.50 Captain Tevis on his march through Arizona in 1857, when lawless- THE STORY OF BODIE. Ella M. Cain. A vivid narrative of one of the ness was the order of the day. 237 pages _ $3 wildest, toughest mining camps in the West, told by a woman who was born there. Index. Photos. Paper bound, $2.50 Cloth, $4 APACHE VENGEANCE. Jess G. Hayes. The true story of the Apache Kid, telling what changed him from a trusted scout into one of the I'VE KILLED MEN. Jack Ganzhorn. An autobiography; the author old West's most hunted outlaws. 185 pages $3 was a "briar" from Tombstone to Manila, and believes he killed some 40 men in six-shooter scrapes, plus an uncounted remainder TOMBSTONE. Walter Noble Burns. Story of the "Town too tough to while a U.S. Scout during the Phillipine insurrection. Covers the die." Guntoting, cattle rustling days in Old Arizona. As' history it is 1880-1910 era. Hard cover. 256 pages, some illustrations $5 accurate, as story it holds you spellbound $3.75

38 / Desert Magazine / October, 1960 LET'S GO TO THE DESERT. Harriet E. Huntington. Facts about desert plants and animals written for children up to 9. Each story illustrated LEGENDS AND LOST TREASURE by full-page photograph. 88 pages, 44 photos $2.75 DESERT DWELLERS. Terry Shannon. Art by Charles Payzant. Beauti- fully illustrated book of desert wildlife for ages 8 to 12. Many of LOST MINES AND BURIED TREASURES ALONG THE OLD FRONTIER. the pictures in color. 40 pages $2.75 John D. Mitchell. 51 stories of lost mines and buried treasures, with maps. New edition of a rare out-of-print book. 234 pages $5 BEFORE AND AFTER DINOSAURS. Lois and Louis Darling. A valuable, nicely illustrated guide for junior naturalists, age 10-14. The story GOLD, GUNS AND GHOST TOWNS. W. A. Chalfant. Combines OUT- of the world of reptiles, keystone in the story of evolution. From POSTS OF CIVILIZATION and TALES OF THE PIONEERS in attractive tiny lizards to the huge Brontosaurus. __ _ $2.95 7x10 edition. "All the rough and ready, gold-crazy exuberance of the old West is captured in these stories. The days when men, good and bad, were motivated only by the lust for nuggets and gold dust have been sympathetically yet humorously chronicled." -$3.75 ON THE TRAIL OF PEGLEG SMITH'S LOST GOLD. J. Wilson McKenney. INDIAN LORE Here new clues are added to the fantastic story of Pegleg Smith's fabulous black nuggets of the California desert. Photos. Map $1.50

THE LOST DUTCHMAN MINE. Sims Ely. Latest information on the TRADERS TO THE NAVAJOS. Frances Gillmore & Louisa Wetherill. top mystery among lost mines of the Southwest. Ely attempts to The story of the Wetherills at Kayenta. True information regarding separate facts from fiction. Endmaps, 178 pages $3.50 the Navajos. Archeological and geographical explorations of the Wetherill men. 256 pages.- __ __ $3.50 THE BONANZA TRAIL. Muriel Sibell Wolle. The story of more than 200 old mining towns and camps of the West. Pencil sketches.~$8.50 LAND OF ROOM ENOUGH AND TIME ENOUGH. Richard E. Klink. The story of Monument Valley. Geology, lost mine legend, Indian GHOST TOWNS OF THE OLD WEST. Colorful map on parchment, lore. Hard cover. Many photos. __ $6 18x24. Shows 83 ghost towns in California, Nevada, Arizona $1 INDIAN SIGN LANGUAGE. W. P. Clark. This is a reprint of an LOST DESERT GOLD. Ralph L. Caine. A new edition of a popular authoritative U.S. Army manual that first appeared in 1885. Tells of book on the lost mines of the Southern California Desert, including the hundreds of different hand signs in usage 80 years ago. Hard Pegleg Smith's black nuggets. Maps. Photos. Paper bound $1.50 cover. 443 pages, limited printing ___ $10

DESERT COUNTRY. Edwin Corle. Ghost towns, legends, oases, his- THE CAHUILLA INDIANS. Harry C. James. Full and authentic history tory, Indians—from the Border to Nevada, from the Mojave and of the Indians who lived in the Palm Springs-Salton Sea area. Their Death Valley to the Grand Canyon. 357 pages, index $4.95 life in a desert land makes this study an interesting one for southern Califomians. Halftones, illustrated by Don Perceval. 186 pages. $7.50 GHOSTS OF THE GLORY TRAIL. Nell Murbarger. The old boom mining towns of the Great Basin come to life again in these sparkling FORTY YEARS AMONG THE INDIANS. Daniel W. Jones. Long out of tales of 275 ghost camps. Historically accurate, entertainingly told. print, this rare book is now available in a limited printing. First- Includes Ghost Town Directory. 328 pages. Halftones. Index.... $5.75 hand account of the fascinating '50s and '60s in the Southwest and in Mexico as soldier, frontier scout, and Indian agent. Full of drama LOST MINES AND HIDDEN TREASURE. Leland Lovelace. Fact or leg- and excitement, yet noted for its accuracy and veracity. 380 pp. $8.50 end, the lost treasure tales of the Southwest are always thrilling reading. To the well known Pegleg and Breyfogle are added a score WOVOKA, THE INDIAN MESSIAH. Paul Bailey. The Indians of of other lost mine stories. 252 pages - $4 America paid in blood for their willingness to follow their strange, praying, peace-loving Paiute messiah. 12 full-page illustrations.^$5.50 APACHE GOLD & YAQUI SILVER. J. Frank Dobie. Fascinating lost mine and buried treasure stories by a master story teller. Beautiful I FOUGHT WITH GERONIMO. Jason Berzinez. An amazing first-hand color plates and black-and-whites by Tom Lea $6 chronicle by an Apache who was born in 1860 and went through much of the wild warfare of the latter-day Apache Indians. Adven- THE GREAT DIAMOND HOAX. Asbury Harpending. New edition of ture is mixed with interesting observations about the life and philos- an amazing story long out of print. Two rough prospectors con- ophy of the tribesmen Betzinez knew. 214 pages. Maps $4.95 vinced Tiffany and California's leading bankers they had discovered a great new diamond field in the Southwest. 211 pages - $2 SPIN A SILVER DOLLAR. Alberta Hannum. A desert trading post in Navajoland is the setting for this story about a young Indian artist. Four color illustrations by the Navajo painter, Beatien Yazz $4.50

THE HOPI INDIANS. Harry C. James. An intimate story of life CHILDREN'S BOOKS on the Hopi Mesas by a man adopted into the tribe. 111 us. - $5 PEOPLE OF THE EARTH. Edwin Corle. A Navajo novel, describing the colorful background of the Black Mountains and Painted Desert. The clash of the red men and white men in the railroad towns of the PEETIE THE PACKRAT. Van Clark. A small collection of fanciful ani- American Southwest __ $1.95 mal tales with a Navajo setting. Beautifully illustrated by the famous Indian artist, Andy Tsinajinie. For youngsters 6 to 9. 108 pages...$5 INDIAN USES OF NATIVE PLANTS. Edith Van Allen Murphey. A handy reference booklet about herbs and plants of the Southwest, YOUNG RANCHERS AT OAK VALLEY. Lucille M. Nixon. All about with special guide as to the use the Indians made of these shrubs. life today on a large California ranch. Teaches conservation. Ages An aid for those who enjoy the outdoor Southwest $2.50 8 to 11. Illustrated. 64 pages -_ $2.95 PAINT THE WIND. Alberta Hannum. A Navajo boy, ex-marine, re- WINDING CANYON. Ruby Sanders. A young orphan finds adventure turns to his people after combat years in the Pacific. A story of in Southern California in the 1850s on his uncle's barley ranch. Semi- transition, with a deep view into the heart of the Navajo $4.50 historical. Ages 9 to 12. 166 pages. Illustrated $3.50 DANCING GODS. Erna Ferguson. New edition of a popular book RODEO DAYS. Elizabeth demons. Prepared with the aid of the with detailed information about the dances and ceremonials of South- Rodeo Cowboys Association, it answers all the questions children ask western Indian tribesmen. 16 full-page reproductions of the work about rodeos—why horses buck, why clowns are always on hand in of western artists. 286 pages $5 the arena, how do the cowboys bulldog a steer, etc. Ages 9 to 12. 64 pages. 11 lustrated $2.95 INDIAN SILVERSMITHING. W. Ben Hunt. The adventure of making silver jewelry, at a minimum of expense. How to make tools, step- STORY OF ROCKS. Dorothy Shuttlesworth. For youngsters and be- by-step descriptions of tarnishing, antiquing, heating, soldering, etc. ginners. An illustrated booklet that tells the basic story of rocks, Beautifully illustrated with photographs, sketches. 150 pages. _ $5.50 gems, minerals. Hard Cover.- - - ___ $2.95 KNOW THE NAVAJO. Sandy Hassell. Booklet of hundreds of short, INSECTS IN THEIR WORLD. Su Zan N. Swain. An introduction to the pertinent facts about the customs, beliefs and living habits of the insect world for young nature lovers. Beautifully illustrated, well largest tribe of Indians in the U.S. Illustrated, paper $.50 written. Hard cover, 53 pages .._ _ __ $2.95 RED MAN, WHITE MAN. Harry James. A delightful novel of Hopi SECRETS OF LIFE. A Walt Disney book with 100 beautiful color plates. Indian life, by an author who knows the problems of these stalwart A beginner's book in the study of Nature. Every 12-year old should tribesmen intimately. Portrays the conflict between old traditions and heve this inspiring story. 124 pages $3.50 the white man's influence on the Hopi Mesas. 286 pages $5

October, 1960 / Desert Magazine / 39 Nogales in October: Festive Mexican Mood

By THOMAS LESURE ATIO»AL«OU»0»RY AR IZONA J Desert Magazine's Arizona Travel Correspondent )Nogales"~ SONORA"

NYONE WHO has been to Nogales now is approaching first class qualities. The knows it's one of the nicest commu- Madera Canyon Recreation Area in the A nities along the border; it's not stri- Santa Rita Mountains, known for their dent and brassy like Tijuana or Juarez, but many mines—lost and found, is a piney neither is it so full of manana as to be prac- place for outdoor outings, too. And there tically asleep. The people are friendly— are numerous other spots in Coronado Na- seemingly more so in the autumn (and tional Forest—such as the Border Ghost especially at fiesta time) when gaiety bub- Trail—full of outstanding scenery and fine bles over, shops are filled with bargains and outdoor diversions. an increasingly better array of Mexican In short, Nogales and its surrounding products (as befits Nogales' growing status region are loaded with travel possibilities, as one of the foremost ports of entry), and many of them off-the-beaten-path. Pay par- the so-called "real Mexico" is readily seen ticular attention to the interlaced secondary simply by going along the back streets routes threading the area, link up a few, where the influence of the United States and then start exploring. Combined with is surprisingly small despite its nearness. a Nogales sojourn in October, they spell Nogales is always good for a few hours freedom from boredom—a perfect situation or a few days of fun. But, with its Ameri- for a mid-autumn outing. TUMACACORI NATIONAL MONUMENT can twin, it's also an excellent base for Arizona's October calendar: Oct. 2 to regional exploration—little jaunts into his- Nov. 30—Meteorology exhibit at the Mu- tory, trips filled with scenic vistas, a bit of seum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff; Oct. recreation. Old Mexico, of course, beckons 21-23—annual Helldorado celebration at FABULOUS GEMSTONE AND —and you might want to run down to Tombstone. /// Magdalena or Hermosillo. But there's also MINERAL LOCATIONS plenty to keep you occupied on this side OF MEXICO of the border. NEW . . . NEW . . . NEW A "never before" published Map and Guide History, quite naturally, looms large around this entry point on the Tucson, Tu- TERRY'S Book to the Geology, Gemstones and Mineral bac and Tumacacori road that was gener- locations of Western Mexico and Baja. Tells ally more prosaically known as El Camino 1960 CATALOG of locations — areas for Gold, Gold Placer, Real. A few miles north, Gil Proctor has BIGGER AND BETTER turned the old Pete Kitchen Ranch into a Gemstones, Silver, Mining laws, equipment Unusual mountings and findings. Good selec- pioneer museum full of relics that help one tion of jewelers' tools, equipment, supplies, needed, ways of the people and many other conjure up the days when Apaches roamed silver, books, cut stones, etc. Covington lapi- important things. Send $2.00 cash or M.O. to dary equipment. Top quality merchandise at reasonable prices. MINERAL GUiDE, Box 24232 Los Angeles 24, SEND 50c TODAY FOR YOUR COPY Calif. SPEED DEMON Money refunded on first $5.00 order By FAUN M. SIGLER Sedona, Arizona TERRY'S LAPIDARY 3616 E. GAGE AVE. BELL, CALIF. The road runner races whatever Keep your they are: A galloping horse or a fast- DESERT MAGAZINES moving car. in attractive loose-leaf He challenges all. Did he have A VALUABLE HANDY REFERENCE as much fun Before he was given this highway to run? Wall Chart BINDERS for amateur and advanced gemologists the land, killing, plundering and driving out Gold embossed on Spanish all but such hardy settlers as Kitchen and LISTING Grain Imitation Leather his family. A few more minutes' drive farther north 102 GEMSTONES Space for 12 magazines on U.S. 89 brings you to Tumacacori Na- with 20 characteristics of each stone, tional Monument where the partially re- including mineral family, chemical for- Easily inserted mula, composition, hardness, cleavage, stored mission ruins and the interesting cuts and colors, etc. museum reflect the efforts of Spanish and A BEAUTIFUL AND PRACTICAL ADDITION This handsome 23-37-inch chart is Mexican padres to tame the region. The printed in two colors . . . mailed to TO YOUR HOME BOOK-SHELF site of Old Fort Crittenden up State 82 you in a tube for only: recalls how the U.S. Army tried to curb Mailed Postpaid the Apache menace while Fort Huachuca, $1.25 almost as old, remains militarily important $3 as an electronics proving center. Huachuca (plus 25c tax and mailing charge) Send orders to: also has some nice picnic spots on the Order by mail from: military reservation. DESERT MAGAZINE DESERT MAGAZINE BOOK STORE Speaking of recreation, Pena Blanca Lake Palm Desert Calif. PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA now is enticing more and more fishermen since angling at this relatively new lake

40 / Desert Magazine / October, 1960 By RANDALL HENDERSON

CTOBER IS A special month on my calendar for white man's virtues, they also have acquired some of his it marks two important milestones in my desert vices. O experience. It was in October 1911, when, just When human beings toss their garbage along the out of school in Los Angeles, I came to the desert and landscape, when we contaminate the atmosphere and the got my first job—as axeman on the U.S. Land Office streams with poison, when we mine the soil and pay taxes survey crew engaged in establishing the boundaries and for the storage of great surpluses of food we cannot con- the section corners on the Colorado River Indian reserva- sume, and mine the rocks for metals with which to tion at Parker, Arizona. And it was 26 years later, in slaughter both the wildlife and other humans, I am sure October 1937, when Wilson McKenney and I put the first we have drifted far away from the concept of beauty and issue of Desert Magazine on the press. natural law which the Creator designed for the universe. It was during those winter months with the surveying * * * party along the Colorado River that I gained my first During its 23 years of publication I am sure the impressions of the desert—of the fascinating little-known Desert Magazine has made a contribution to the correct region of strange plant life and hardy creatures which spelling of words which belong essentially to the desert, had adapted themselves to the rigors of extreme heat and and especially to the corrections of disputed place names. little rainfall long before the human species arrived on Most writers now spell ocotillo with two l's and three o's. the scene. And although Webster still insists on spelling one of our It was during those days spent in hewing section lines most common lizards "chuckwalla," the folks who live through the mesquite and arrowweed jungles of that fer- on the desert continue to spell the word as Edmund tile valley that I gained my first knowledge of the fine Jaeger and I agree is proper—that is, the way it is pro- balance which nature, undisturbed by the tools of man, nounced, chuckawalla. maintains in the complex world of God's creation. One of the words we've tried to popularize is bajada. In that primitive environment the parasitic mistletoe It is a pretty Spanish term pronounced "bahatha" and drew its vitality and was the most destructive enemy of its one for which there is no exact equivalent in English. host plant, the mesquite tree. But the mistletoe was kept This is the alluvial slope at the base of nearly all desert in check by great flocks of quail which during much of mountains. Also we have encouraged the use of the the year depended on its berry-like seeds for sustenance. Spanish word arroyo. It is a prettier word than "wash" The quail in turn were the main source of food for the or "gully," and since writers constantly are in need of coyotes, of which there were great numbers. If the coyotes synonyms, we frequently use the Arabic word "wadi." became too numerous starvation removed the excess. Thus But there are two spelling problems we have never did natural law operate in a virgin desert wilderness. solved. Perhaps Navaho is proper English, but here in If the world is in turmoil today and human beings in the Southwest where we inherited a rich vocabulary of some degree have lost their sense of security, perhaps it Spanish words from the pioneers who first settled this is because man is less adept than the Creator in maintain- land, we prefer Navajo. The spelling Mojave is generally ing the balance that is necessary for survival. Where the preferred by Californians, but in Arizona it is officially lower species killed only for food or in the protection of Mohave. But since California and Arizona have more the young—in other words, for perpetuation of the spe- critical issues to argue about than the spelling of words cies—the superior animal, man, has sought to justify the you'll probably see it spelled both ways in Desert, accord- destruction of life for sport, for personal aggrandizement, ing to the locale. or for monetary profit. At the Smoki ceremonials in Prescott in August I While we Christians are inclined to regard the religions learned that it is unpardonable to refer to the white tribes- of the Hopi and Navajo Indians as mere superstition, I men as Smoky Indians. They pronounce it Smokeye, and have found in their faith an element of virtue which we woe to any outlander who tries to change it. And if any self-styled "civilized humans" have lost. These tribesmen tenderfoot ever wants to change the spelling of the Gila have a reverent affection for the Good Earth which is River to "Heela" I will take up arms in defense of the the source of all life, and for the creatures which share Arizonans. After all, I learned my printing trade in this planet with man. They are hunters, yes, but they kill Arizona. only for their own sustenance—not for sport or for profit. * * * I am referring of course to the tribesmen as they lived From my scrapbook: "The world is now too danger- when the white man first invaded this continent. While ous for anything but the truth, too small for anything but the missionaries have been teaching them some of the brotherhood.—A. Powell Davies.

October, 1960 / Desert Magazine / 41 Wildlife Photographer A Prescott auto mechanic's masterful camera technique has won him an international reputation for excellence

STEWART CASSIDY

O MOST folks in Prescott, Ari- ^-rft-lt i ,»*» fox in a set-up like this is that they zona, lanky good-natured LeRoi always head for the highest perch away TRussel, an auto mechanic by trade, from you," LeRoi said as the animal is known only as a good "car-fixer." hopped from his hands into the pho- Few are aware that in his after-work tographic cage. Sure enough, Mr. Fox hours and on Sundays Russel has went straight for the rock and stretched earned for himself an international out on it with tail neatly curled in reputation as an outstanding wildlife front and watchful eyes surveying us. photographer. His work has been ex- "Go ahead and get some pictures," hibited in photo salons throughout the my host invited, "while I load my world, and for the past two years he camera. Just do everything slow and has been ranked seventh-best nature the fox will stay there all day for you." photographer in the world by The Photographic Society of America. This was rare opportunity, and I Russel is 46. He lives with his wife shot the entire roll in five minutes. and three children in a small house When my film was processed I was just outside the Prescott city limits. It proud of every picture I took that day. is here that his "studio" is located— To take pictures of rodents and an elaborate series of chicken-wire other small animals, he uses a boxlike pens in the backyard built by the pho- cage with a glass side-panel. This tographer himself. panel is slightly tilted to eliminate re- His method of photographing wild flections. After the scenery is ar- animals is admittedly controversial. ranged, two flood-lights are turned on He captures the animals alive and the subject, one usually pointing down unharmed, transfers them to one of from above, the other straight at the his pens, and then proceeds to "tame" animal through the glass wall. One them enough so that they can be used or more spot-lights are also used to as models. As soon as Russel gets the avoid background shadows. When the quality picture he is after, the animal animal is in place, LeRoi snaps the is released. picture right through the glass. When Russel decides an animal is LeRoi has an outstanding collection ready to be photographed, he builds of salon prints, most of which are an appropriate setting in one of his LE RO1 RUSSEL AND A DE-ODORIZED FRIEND covered on the back with stickers and "photography cages," the largest of awards received in photo contests. which is nearly four feet high, six feet 10 miles to round up "props" to make Yet he is never satisfied with his past the photo as authentic as possible. wide and 10 feet long. accomplishments. A true perfection- He has an arterial system of wire ist, when not engaged in photographing Recently I had my first opportunity tunnels leading to the large photo- a new animal subject, he spends his to watch Russel in action. He was graphic cage from pens where the ani- time trying to find a better way to re- preparing to shoot pictures of a gray mals are kept. With sliding doors at take old ones. fox, and the first step was to spread three-foot intervals along this passage- pine needles and cones around a large way, it is a simple procedure to prod His equipment is far from elaborate rock at the far end of the cage. Then an animal to the main cage or back or costly. The camera he now uses he planted some pine branches at the to its pen. most frequently is a Minolta Autocord. sides and behind the rock. A light- His darkroom is small and kept to blue cardboard was placed behind all On the day I was with him, however, utmost simplicity. He likes medium- LeRoi put on a pair of heavy leather of this to conceal the cage's chicken- soft focus pictures, and is satisfied to gloves and crawled into a pen where use a small Federal enlarger. He de- wire back wall and to act as a neutral a fox was reposing. The animal greeted sky background in the photo. liberately underexposes his photos in him with snarls and suspicious glares, order to get a "thin" negative which Time and patience are of utmost but after it was secured and had been requires little if any dodging (reducing importance in setting such a stage. petted a few times, the animal became the intensity of a portion of a photo- almost affectionate. Preparations often take several hours, graph by shading it during printing). and Russel thinks nothing of driving "Nice thing about photographing a Then, by using Ansco Cykora No. 3

42 / Desert Magazine / October, 1960 See back cover for Russet's photo of an Arizona gray fox

"FAWNS," SAYS PHOTOGRAPHER RUSSEL, "MAKE GOOD MODELS-AND THEY HAVE UNIVERSAL AP- PEAL. A PICTURE OF A BABY DEER IS USUALLY GREETED WITH A LOT OF 'OH'S' AND 'AH'S'."

said, "can be detected by a good naturalist. And even if I could get away with it, I wouldn't try. Sometimes, though, I get a picture that's real enough, but it looks like a phony. Take that shot of a mountain lion over there, for instance. I had to scrape some of the emulsion off so his rump would be rounded instead of square, because that's the way most everyone would think it should be— at least those who will be judging the print. If I left it as it was they'd say it wasn't a live animal, so I have to keep one jump ahead." When it was time for me to return to Tucson the next day, 1 dropped by and No. 4 he is able to get outstanding what on earth the animal is. Now, in the garage to say good-by to LeRoi. quality in his prints. my case, I know what I have. I can He rolled out on a dolly from under a car, and peering up with a grit- But, when the print is dry his work study the animal's feeding habits and learn lots of other things about it. covered face, said, "So long, Stew, as a creative artist has only begun. He and come on up again real soon. I makes liberal gouges in the emulsion If I don't like the results of my first or second attempts, I'll put the critter should have a dandy spotted skunk by with a scalpel to eliminate defects then. Jack Willis caught one a few (and seemingly create new ones). back in and take the shots all over again until I get what 1 want. Then days ago, and boy, does it stink. We He is equally free with the spotting should have lots of fun with it." ink. When the retouching is com- I let him go, unless it's a bad one to pleted, Russel is proud to say he has have around, like a rattlesnake or a With that, he slid under the car the worst-looking prints in the busi- wildcat." again, as intent on his work there as ness—until a good coat of car paste LeRoi never fakes his pictures by he would be in a darkroom at home. has been smeared on the picture using stuffed animals. "That," he and buffed with a soft cloth. Then no in trace of his doctoring remains. The finished picture is truly a thing of art. LeRoi makes a small duplicate of each salon print and pastes it in his photo album, one to a sheet. On the page opposite go the ribbon awards and ratings the picture receives in competition. LeRoi's unusual methods have brought expected criticism — mostly from people who spend thousands of dollars on lenses and technical equipment, and who often do not have results that would come even close to a Russel photo in a comparison. These critics claim that a wild animal should be photographed in the wild. LeRoi usually laughs this off. "Look at it this way," he explains. "Suppose this guy hunts for an animal for two or three days and finally lo- cates one over on the other side of a canyon some place. He slaps his huge telephoto lens on, takes his picture, and goes home and prints it. Chances are that after he makes his print he has to look in a field manual to see

THE WILDCAT IS A TEMPERAMENTAL ANIMAL, AND RUSSEL TOOK THIS PICTURE FROM OUTSIDE THE CAGE BY PASSING HIS CAMERA LENS THROUGH ENLARGED OPENING IN CAGE WALL'S WIRE SCREEN •"*-* -. J>

ARIZONA GRAY FOX. For a story en v. photographer LeRoi Russel, see preceding pages.

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