Disaster in Rio Grande Valley 6i 



must strike tents and leave the place at once. I 

 met with a decided refusal at first, but on my 

 repeating my request and stating the facts for a 

 second time, he consented. The company was 

 called and told that as previously arranged Col. 

 Webb was going on to China to purchase mules, 

 and that I was in charge of the camp, and would 

 at once make arrangements to remove all the men 

 who were well. 



Providence here sent the steamer "Tom 

 McKenny" passing on her way to Roma. I went 

 on board and made the agreement that for one 

 hundred dollars all who could go should be taken 

 to Roma, and we at once set to work to pack and 

 hurry everything on board, retaining only what I 

 thought necessary for the three, now dying, men I 

 had with me. I called for volunteers who 

 responded instantly, and more than were needed, 

 to remain with me; those who were finally decided 

 upon for the sad duties before us, were Robert 

 Simson, Howard Bakewell, W. H. Harrison, 

 Robert Benson, Leffert Benson, John Stevens, 

 James Clement, Nicholas Walsh, Talman and 

 Follen, with the two Bradys who were friends of 

 Boden, A. T. Shipman, W. H. Liscomb and Justin 

 Ely. 



As Dr. Trask could be of no further use, we 

 insisted on his going on board the boat, as Follen 

 was with us and knows a great deal about medicine, 



