CHAPTER II 



DISASTER IN THE VALLEY OF THE RIO GRANDE 



March 13th, l84g. Daylight came in beauti- 

 ful and calm, but we were enveloped in a dense 

 fog, so heavy that though the clear sky could be 

 seen over head, not more than fifty yards could 

 be distinguished about us, and the tents looked as 

 if we had had a heavy rain in the night. 



Col. Webb went over to Camargo to report 

 himself and the company to the Alcalde and 

 returned at night with a Mr. Nimons, and it was 

 arranged that they should go next day to China^ 

 to purchase mules. Rob Benson was sergeant of 

 the guard that night, and I took a few turns around 

 our camp with him and turned in, but about eleven 

 was called to see J. Booth Lambert, who was very 

 sick. Dr. Trask began to fear his illness might 

 be cholera, but it was not in every respect like what 

 he had seen of that disease in the north. At three 

 o'clock, however, he seemed much easier and more 

 composed, alas, the composure of cholera. What 

 does it foretell? But in this instance to me "igno- 

 rance was bliss." At five I was up again, mustard 

 plasters, rubbing and a tablespoonful of brandy 

 every half hour, with camphor, etc., were faithfully 



^ China is located on the Rio San Juan about fifty miles from 

 the Rio Grande. 



