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Su
ger and endurance, and their territory is the deceptive expanse of the Mojave desert.
NOT long ago, an 84'year'old woman was lost in the wastes of the Mojave not far from Apple Val' ley. The desert sun was a ball of fire, and there was no water. If the woman was on the desert, certain death was in the offing unless she were found quickly.
"Call the Posse!" the word went around. In a matter of minutes the members had ridden into the rendezvous point. Action began. No maps were needed; these men knew the desert as you know your back-yard flower garden. Under orders from Capt. L. L. Eblen, who leads the posse, they fanned out to meet at a phase line. In a short while, the woman was found and brought back to her home.
Five-year'old twins wandered off recently and were swallowed up by the frightening desert expanse where wild animals, Gila monsters and venomous rattlers lurk. Any delay courted disaster; unsuspecting children are easy prey for vicious wildlife.
The posse made systematic haste. It was estimated how much ground the children could cover in a given time, taking into account the nature of the terrain, the heat of the day, probable resting points and direction of travel. Then by a careful crosscheck, the posse decided the children would reach one of several places at a certain time.
The men rode out, found the twins at one of the spots discussed, and de
August, 1951
livered them to the anxious arms of their parents.
One of the most difficult cases was that of capturing a suspected murderess during a big snow. The woman, wanted for questioning in the slaying of her husband, had a long start on the posse. The wind worked with her, too, driving snow over her tracks. But the posse members read the trailsigns and caught the woman after a four-day search.
NOR did cattle rustling go out with the Old West. There's still an aggravating amount of it. When the posse rides for thieves following a report from the ranchers in the area, the old methods of the plainsmen are replaced.
Instead of riding all the way on horseback, the members of the group put their horses in trailers and tow them to a specified point. Thus, when the actual search begins, the horses are fresh. In the strange and rugged country, much depends on the stamina and surefootedness of the horses.
Often, cattle thieves have gained valuable time before the posse is called and have had a chance to get the livestock out of the area. In that case, Capt. Eblen takes over the investigation on a fuUtime basis. When he's not riding at the head of the posse, he's deputy sheriff of San Bernardino County.
Don't wait for a parade to get a glimpse of this stalwart volunteer group. Parades aren't a part of the program. The horses have been trained for work on the desert and do not