FullReads

“Later.–I think Idaho is dying. It seems he was hit a second time when he stood up to fire. Estorijo is still breathing; I thought him dead long since.

“Four-ten.–Idaho gone. Twelve cartridges left. Am all alone now.

“Four-twenty-five.–I am very weak.” [Karslake was evidently wounded sometime between ten and twenty-five minutes after four. His notes make no mention of the fact.] “Eight cartridges remain. I leave my library to my brother, Walter Patterson Karslake; all my personal effects to my parents, except the picture of myself taken in Baltimore in 1897, which I direct to be” [the next lines are undecipherable] “…at Washington, D. C., as soon as possible. I appoint as my literary–

“Four forty-five.–Seven cartridges. Very weak and unable to move lower part of my body. Am in no pain. They rode in very close. The Red One is—- An intolerable thirst—-

“I appoint as my literary executor my brother, Patterson Karslake. The notes on ‘Coronado in New Mexico’ should be revised.

“My death occurred in western Arizona, April 15th, at the hands of a roving band of Hunt-in-the-Morning’s bucks. They have—-

“Five o’clock.–The last cartridge gone.

“Estorijo still breathing. I cover his face with my hat. Their fire is incessant. Am much weaker. Convey news of death to Patterson Karslake, care of Corn Exchange Bank, New York City.

“Five-fifteen–about.–They have ceased firing, and draw together in a bunch. I have four cartridges left” [see conflicting note dated five o’clock], “but am extremely weak. Idaho was the best friend I had in all the Southwest. I wish it to be known that he was a generous, open-hearted fellow, a kindly man, clean of speech, and absolutely unselfish. He may be known as follows: Sandy beard, long sandy hair, scar on forehead, about six feet one inch in height. His real name is James Monroe Herndon; his profession that of government scout. Notify Mrs. Herndon, Trinidad, New Mexico.

“The writer is Arthur Staples Karslake, dark hair, height five feet eleven, body will be found near that of Herndon.

“Luis Estorijo, Mexican—-

“Later.–Two more cartridges.

“Five-thirty.–Estorijo dead.

“It is half-past five in the afternoon of April fifteenth. They followed us from the eleventh–Friday–till to-day. It will

[The MS. ends here.]