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On Board Newhern, April 6th, 1878. My dear Muir: I was so sorry to leave San Francisco without seeing you again, but
the last few days were such busy ones that I had some difficulty in getting through all my business. The ship company kindly
delayed the departure of the steamer for three hours so as to enable me to get the Fort Yuma mail, as 1 expected Kerr's letter.
Kerr himself got out of -the fray unhurt, but had one of his men killed and another wounded - the whole loss amounted to 8500.
The Apaches attacked them about noon and the firing lasted till sundown, by which time all the mules had stampeded. It is
rather a serious loss in more ways than one, as it will throw the whole work back and give me an infinity of trouble. We
have had most singular weather; at this period of the year it never rains in Lower California, but this afternoon an excessively
heavy rain set in, accompanied by squalls and there appears no immediate prospects of its clearing up. I have plenty of work
in store for me for some months to come, and I shall be thankful indeed when I see all the machinery on the spot and the mill
started to work, and still more so when I am beginning to send the proceeds of the bullion to Scotland. I really hope you
will keep a Mexican trip in view, but. as soon as I get up to the Sierra Madres and am able to judge more definitely as to
the future prospects I will write you again. All through the district I am in you could roam at will without danger, and I
might be able to make a trip with you as far as the Yosemite Valley I spoke about. I am sure all that portion of the country
would interest you very much. If you should change your plans in any way or wander far from California I hope you will let
me know. So trusting we may meet before long, believe me, Very truly yours, B. Buchanan Hepburn On folder Muir has
written, Lord Hepburn, Killed in Mexico or Lower Cal?