SANTA ORUZ. 305 
rain: the river dried up; their fields could not be 
irrigated; and their labor, time, and money were lost. 
They abandoned the place, and, although reduced to 
the greatest extremities, succeeded in reaching Santa 
Isabel, in California, where we fell in with them. 
We had got but a mile from Tubac, when one of 
the wagons broke down and became a total wreck. 
We were travelling on level ground at the time, and 
the accident was wholly unexpected. On examina- 
tion, it was found that the rim and spokes of one of 
the wheels had become loose, and giving way simul- 
taneously, the wheel was crushed. This let the axle- 
tree down with such force as to break off the end. A 
new fore-wheel and axle-tree were now necessary, to- 
gether with some blacksmith’s work, without which 
the wagon would be useless. I accordingly sent to 
Captain Gomez, to learn if he could render us any aid; 
but to my regret he sent me word that there was not a 
mechanic in the town, nor tools of any description. 
As there was no prospect of moving further until some 
change was made in our transportation, and perhaps 
some articles left, I gave orders to pitch the tents and 
turn out the mules, there being plenty of grass and 
wood near, with the Santa Cruz River, now full of 
water, within a hundred yards of us. 
In the midst of our dilemma, and while we were 
pondering what to do, a train of some twelve or fifteen 
emigrant wagons hove in sight, and in a few minutes 
reached our camp. It was a pleasant event to meet a 
party from home once more; although they had no 
news to tell us, as they had left their homes in Arkan- 
sas in May, and had now been nearly three months on 
VOL. I1.—20 
