ACROSS TUE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC. 223 



July Ath. — This morning was ushered in by the firing of can- 

 non on board our brig, and we had made pi*eparations for spend- 

 ing the day in festivity, when, at about 9 o'clock, a letter was 

 received from Mr. Walker, who has charge of the fort on Wap- 

 patoo island, stating that the tailor, Thornburg, had been killed 

 this morning by Hubbard, the gunsmith, and requesting our pre- 

 sence immediately, to investigate the case, and direct him how 

 to act. 



Our boat was manned without loss of time, and Captain L. 

 and myself repaired to the fort, where we found every thing in 

 confusion. Poor Thornburg, whom I had seen but two days 

 previously, full of health and vigor, was now a lifeless corpse; and 

 Hubbard, who was more to be pitied, was walking up and down 

 the beach, with a countenance pale and haggard, from the feel- 

 ings at war within. 



We held an inquest over the body, and examined all the men 

 of the fort severally, for the purpose of eliciting the facts of the 

 case, and, if warranted by the evidence, to exculpate Hubbard 

 from blame in the commission of the act. It appeared that, 

 several weeks since, a dispute arose between Hubbard and Thorn- 

 burg, and the latter menaced the life of the former, and had since 

 been frequently heard to declare that he would carry the threat 

 into effect on the first favorable opportunity. This morning, be- 

 fore daylight, he entered the apartment of Hubbard, armed with 

 a loaded gun, and a large knife, and after making the most 

 deliberate preparations for an instant departure from the room, 

 as soon as the deed should be committed, cocked his gun, and 

 prepared to shoot at his victim. Hubbard, who was awakened 

 by the noise of Thornburg's entrance, and was therefore on the 

 alert, waited quietly until this crisis, when cocking his pistol, 

 without noise, he took deliberate aim at the assassin, and fired. 

 Thornburg staggered back, his gun fell from his grasp, and the two 

 combatants struggled hand to hand. The tailor, being wounded, 



