Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 2.djvu/167

Rh all the sense he has." Yet Clark had been the most efficient of any man of the train in passing the swollen streams.

It must have been the result of a family council, the way the general was let down off of his high horse. Our camp fires were near together the second morning after these threats were made. Breakfast was about ready when the general came out of his tent. There was then a man with a rifle on his shoulder in plain sight about half a mile away, making for the foothills. The general's eye caught the movement, and he roared out "Who are you? Going hunting without leave? I'll ——" "Now, Neal, be careful," interjected Mrs. Gilliam in a low, trembling voice. I stood nearer to her than he did, but he heard, and what he would do to the culprit was never said. He flung his body around towards the camp fires and said: "They may all get to Oregon as they can, without me. I'll have nothing more to do with them." The hunter was Louis Crawford, his brother-in-law. Rev. Mr. Parrish's remarks about the general's conduct (cantankerousness) that day I suppose is a moderate statement of a disagreeable family trouble, which I heard nothing of. However, his action or virtual resignation, gave great relief to others. His close friend, B. F. Nichols, also resigned at the same time.

The original organization was thus broken up, but the three divisions proceeded each on its own account. That of Capt. William Shaw, the general's brother-in-law, and that of Captain Morrison, in whose service I was, and who cautioned me to say nothing to increase the trouble, kept within supporting distance of each other. Mr. Rees fell sick, and I did duty of keeping the records and placing guards until we crossed the South Pass of the Rockies. The train broke up, so that from this date forward Mr. Parrish's notes are of value chiefly