One J.W.Brier, a preacher, was the principal blower.

'You are going wrong!' said he, We should go west, and in six weeks we will be loaded with gold!' Hunt got a little confused at a place called Beaver Meadows, or Mountain Meadows, and thought perhaps he could find a new road.

Several men were sent out to look, and some of us in camp played ball for amusement while we were waiting.

Hunt's men came back and said there were no prospects of a new road, and he said he knew the southern route and believed it would be safe to go that way.
He told us that we must decide the next day.

When we came to the road where we were to separate he filed off on his road and the others filed off on their road and then came back with their whips in their hands.