Page:Recovery from the passage of an iron bar through the head.djvu/15

Rh the precise nature of which, I have never been able to learn. Not recovering fully, he decided to try a change of climate, and in June, 1860, left Valparaiso for San Francisco, where his mother and sister resided. The former writes that "he arrived in San Francisco on or about July 1st, in a feeble condition, having failed very much since he left New Hampshire. He suffered much from seasickness on his passage out from Boston to Chili. Had many ill turns while in Valparaiso, especially during the last year, and suffered much from hardship and exposure."

After leaving South America I lost all trace of him, and had well nigh abandoned all expectation of ever hearing from him again. As good fortune would have it, however, in July, 1866, I was able to learn the address of his mother and very soon commenced a correspondence with her and her excellent son-in-law, D. D. Shattuck, Esq., a leading merchant in San Francisco. From them I learned that Gage was dead—that after he arrived in San Francisco his health improved, and being anxious to work, he engaged with a farmer at Santa Clara, but did not remain there long. In February, 1861, while sitting at dinner, he fell in a fit, and soon after had two or three fits in succession. He had no premonition of these attacks, or any subsequent ill feeling. "Had been ploughing the day before he had his first attack; got better in a few days, and continued to work in various places," could not do much, changing often, "and always finding something which did not suit him in every place he tried." On the 18th of May, 1861, three days before his death, he left Santa Clara and went home to his mother. At 5 o’clock, A.M., on the 20th, he had a severe convulsion. The family physician was called in, and bled him. The convulsions were repeated frequently during the succeeding day and night, and he expired at 10, P.M., May 21, 1861—twelve years, six months and eight days after the date of his