A. LIFE AND DEATH TOSS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 706, 4 January 1910, Page 6

A. LIFE AND DEATH TOSS.

;'A.: weird '.story of ; how ; a: prospector, named Eldrege. ;>vlio • disappeared; somo weeks ago,, was left to die in/the Death Valley, desert, ; near Calgary;, isipublished in a Canadian journal:; .In company with a' man. known: as.Malapai'Mike;- Mdrege set. out /from ;Green.Water.-to-Telescope Peak, 40 miles .across' 'Death .Valley, 'r in order to investigate a proposed power site on behalf of ; a Boston. company: - The place having been duly inspected, the men started on the Teturntrip. Irithemiddlo of the' valley,, 250 ft. .below ..the level of. tho sea, Eldrege's pony collapsed, arid for days he and his companion plodded under' tho. burning: desert sun "in search, of a h'ail to: civifisatibn. ; The latter, "who reached Greon Water in a'semWelirious .condition;/gave Itlio ■ following account of what 'followed:—"Wβ were/lost,';and we knew it; , were ; .alinbst_,*ithout'food,' and. had /but ■ five canteens' of water' left. Wo were both' so 'weak; that'''we know Vβ never could laet. : .One .'night, while we were lying half-dead after' walkiiig all day.Eldrego made me a'/propositibii. Ho had a dollar in his'pocket," and he proposed that wo should toss' it,' the winner to take tho pouy' and water and leave tho other to die; I didn't'care.what' happened, 60 I said: 'Go' on.' ,'Eldrege got out: his dollar. We..both got -down on our bands and knees in the ; sand and waited. Bldrego tossed the coin,' and.l yelled 'Heads! ■ The coin ; fell in the sands, and we. had to scrapo' the -grains awaybefore we. could see-who'had. wbni It- was : hoads, arid .L got the pony." .The men divided the water;. Mike taking one canteen and. leaving' four:- to: -.Eldrege. Then tho former mounted and rode may, leaving.his partner to make his , way as best he could' to Telescope Peak/ ;Mikb is certain.he perisHed beforo'he had-cov-ered .five miles. :■: ;-.- :•,'■'_-. / : ':■■.,..,./;."/.';