404 EL PASO 
attend the wagons, both in descending and ascending 
the steep banks, as well as in crossing the river, I 
hired a Mexican to take a note back to Mr. Thurber, 
who was with the train, advising him to send men for- 
ward with spades and pickaxes, to cut down the banks 
before the wagons should attempt to pass. I then rode 
on to Guadalupe, three miles ahead, for the purpose of 
procuring sheep, as well as to notify the Mexican escort, 
who were to join us here, of the approach of the train. 
Colonel Langberg had promised me ten men, if I 
could wait a few days for their return from Chihuahua ; 
but this I could not do, and was therefore obliged to take 
up with five, as but few now remained in the garrison. 
These men soon reported themselves. 
After procuring the sheep, and while we were 
quietly waiting for the train to come up, a messenger 
arrived with the disagreeable news that the ambulance 
which contained the personal baggage of Dr. Webb, 
Mr. Jacobs, and myself, had been upset in crossing 
the river, and that every thing had been immersed in 
the water. I hastened back to the scene of the disaster, 
and found things worse than I had expected. Besides 
our baggage, a trunk filled with papers, maps, my 
account books, and the official records of the Joint 
Commission, had been wet. Some choice stationery 
was utterly ruined. 
We at once set to work, and spread every thing 
out on the patches of grass that were near and on the 
branches of trees; but although the sun was hot, there 
was not sufficient time to dry all before night. 
October 11th. The forenoon was spent in drying 
our effects and packing them away again. At noon the 
