Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 25.djvu/43

THE CALIFORNIA AND OREGON TRAIL 33 and every now and then a wagon upsetting, tongues break- ing, and teams getting loose on the prairie." 48 By nine o'clock in the evening they had succeeded in getting some of the wagons a distance of two miles from the starting point. The rest were strung over the prairie with broken wheels or broken tongues or else were upset. Repairs had to be sent for and new teamsters hired— for with this initiation, over half of them had deserted. On the second attempt the day's journey was lengthened to four miles, with more mishaps. In six days the train managed to cover forty miles. 49 Yet in spite of such provocation the teamsters were expected to live an exemplary life. The following code of rules for employees was drawn up by Alexander Majors, first when he was in business alone and later as a member of the firm of Russell, Majors and Waddell. "While in the employ of A. Majors, I agree not to use profane language, not to get drunk, not to gamble, not to treat animals cruelly, and not to do anything else that is incompatible with the conduct of a gentleman, and I agree if I violate any of the above conditions, to accept my discharge without any pay for my services." 50 Sunday travel was avoided unless it was absolutely necessary to obtain grass and water. Bibles were even distributed to the men. 51 Mr. Majors seemed to live under the illusion that all these rules were faithfully obeyed, but Mr. Burton gives a rather different picture. He says: "I scarcely ever saw a sober driver; as for profanity, the Western equivalent for hard swearing—they would make the blush of shame crimson the cheek of the old Isis bargee." 52 One of the drivers themselves states that his comrades, with few ex- ceptions, "swore like pirates and stole what little there 48 Clark, op. cit., p. 3 . ±»Ibid., pp. 3 -5 . 50 Majors, op. cit., p. 72. 51 Burton, op. cit., p. 5 . 52 Ibid. , p. 5.