Page:California Historical Society Quarterly vol 22.djvu/70

 sionally showing disposition to mortification— a little stimulating ointment had been used which generally caused the hand to assume a healthy appear- ance— The man had been much reduced by the long confinement— though he was still quite corpulent— he had been improving very fast up to the night of the 3'^'^ of June— only complaining of wandering pains— over his body and in the abdomen— This he attributed to Rheumatism— which he had been subject to— during the night he was seized with a desire to drink water— which he found it imposible for him to do in consequence as he described it, of a ball rising in his throat— When I saw him which was about ^Yz A M he was sane, but seemed to be in great distress suffering from the want of sleep— he was extremely sleepy, and thirsty— it seemed to produce violent agitation through out his whole system to even look upon water— I urged him to take some water— he attempted it several times— it seemed a violent effort for him to take the cup— when he brought it to his mouth, it seemed to produce the most violent convulsive movements of the muscles of his throat— abdomen and chest— He did take with a great effort a little thin corn meal gruel— This aversion to fluids increased until he could not bear to hear the word water mentioned— The mention of it causing him the most terrible fright and convulsions— he vomited and strained constantly in efforts to vomit— until he ruptured some small blood vessel— his mind about 1 2 M became flighty but upon speaking he gave a rational answer— his pulse was at each examination gradually weaker and more rapid. The saliva viscid and hard to expectorate— The hand looked as if mortification had taken place to a considerable extent— his eyes blood shot— he gradually grew worse, his mind wandering and confused— A short time before death he became sane— At this time he took a little attole [atole]— mixed with 3 V of Tinct opii— it produced no effect— he died about 8 A.M. on the morning of the

There was no news in the country everything seems quiet— though so far as I can see no particular good feeling among the men— the women seem better contented—

9 July. Since I last wrote, nothing of public importance in the vicinity has taken place, rumors of revolution are constantly afloat, a flagstaff has been erected on the hill, within the Fort. The flag was first hoisted on the 4*^ July, salutes fired, and the work christened Fort Moor. This ceremony seems to have given our friends the Californians great offence— during the time the staff was being erected various threats were made that it would be burned or cut down and supplanted by a better looking one with the Mexican colors— from the tone of feeHng throughout the country, I have no doubt the slight- est cause, would light up another revolution. The arrival of a single hundred men from Sonora would produce this effect— particularly at this time as the Mormon Battalion will be discharged in a few days— and Colonel [Henry S.] Burton of the 7*^ N. Y.R. V. and his companies leave for the South, to occupy