TWENTY YEARS IN THE ROCKIES. 39 



have tested the ability of a certain man in this company to 

 lead this train to its destination. We have tried him on Red 

 Water and on Hay Creek, and I move that W. A. Allen be 

 elected by this train as general, to have full control, each 

 member bearing his part of what ever befalls." 



The vote was taken and was almost unanimous in my 

 favor, women also were allowed to vote. I arose, thanked 

 the members of the party for the honor, told them I would 

 willingly share the fate of my brave comrades, but that 

 there were old plainsmen in the company, one of whom, I 

 felt, should have the honor conferred upon him. Besides this, 

 I had no suitable horse on which to look after the duties of a 

 company such as ours. Thomas Nickelson led forward a 

 superb saddle-horse and said that it was mine for the trip. 

 Thus the matter ended and work began. 



In our party two secret organizations existed, both of 

 which I knew. One was designed to look after Indians and 

 to deal with them according to the standard of the West. 

 The other was an organized band of horse thieves. This last 

 organization was the more difficult to watch, but, as I had 

 taken place in command, I intended to control these masters 

 so long as I acted in the capacity of leader. Organization 

 and discipline were the two principles which must be en- 

 forced to the letter. 



My first move was to cut our train into four divisions, 

 the first one, captained by John Wustun, of Chicago, a gen- 

 eral favorite, and a man already tried and found to be 

 staunch and trustworthy. The second division was placed 

 under Captain J. Patton, of Sioux City. Mr. Patton was a 

 shrewd person, keen of observation, always jolly, who under- 

 stood his men well. Hiram Bishoff, who was placed in 

 charge of the third division, was brave and courageous, al- 

 ways watchful of his trust. Division four was a splendid 



