The Author was with the party that came up in the rear, which had started later but traveled faster on account of having a road broken for them.

He visited the leaders in camp when they were discussing the necessity of forming a new travelling compact to help and protect each other on the road.

Those who had no families were objecting to being bound to those who had women and children with them.

They argued that the road would be hard and difficult and those wagons with women and children would require more assistance than they would be able to render in return.

They said they could go back and follow Hunt who was on a better road and they could proceed with more safely.
Among those with this train was Rev.J.W.Brier, his wife and three children.