EIvDORADO 77 



missioned Colonel and remained in the employ of the 

 government until his death, which sad event occurred 

 at Fort Lyons, Colo., where he was in command. As 

 one writer remarked, when his death was announced : 

 "To one who knew him, no formal eulogy is needed 

 upon the man who was the most perfect specimen of a 

 hunter, a scout and a skillful, loyal soldier that ever 

 wore moccasins or filled the stirrups of a trooper." I 

 have knowledge of the death of only three other noted 

 guides, hunters and trappers whom I have mentioned 

 in these papers. .All were among the most trusted of 

 Fremont's men during his explorations. Godey died a 

 few years ago at liakersfield. Cal. The circumstances 

 of the death of two others were related hy Carson him- 

 self. At the time hostilities commenced in California 

 and just hefore the raising of the Bear flag, Fremont 

 and his party were on their way to make some explora- 

 tions in Oregon, and were camped on Klamath lake, 

 near its southern boundary. Car.son says : "Colonel 

 Fremont remained up and kept a large fire burning 

 until after midnight ; the rest of us were tired out, and 

 all went to sleep. This was the only night in all our 

 travels — except the one night on the island in the Salt 

 lake — that we failed to keep guard ; and as the men 

 were so tired, and we expected no attack now that we 

 had t6 in the party, the Colonel didn't like to ask it of 

 them, but sat up late himself. Owens and T were 

 sleeping together and we were awakened at the same 

 time by the sound of blows of the ax that killed our 

 n-:cn. At first I didn't know it was that; but I called 

 to Basil (Basil was, like Fremont, a scientist), who 

 was on that side. 'What's the matter there? What's 

 the fuss about?' He never answered, for he was dead 



