Atwell Mill
Cauldwell had already requested clarification on this issue from the secretary, when he first reported the potential conflict. Two weeks later the commissioner of the General Land Office told the secretary's office that, as private land, Atwell's Tract was not subject to the rules promulgated for Sequoia National Park. The problem, however, was that like most other officials in pre-air-conditioned Washington, D.C., the secretary had left the city for a prolonged summer vacation. Hence, the commissioner's recommendation did not receive immediate attention. The secretary's office did warn Cauldwell, however, to take no action at Atwell's until the secretary returned. Though the interior secretary was on vacation, the Kaweah colonists were not. After Dorst found several trees freshly cut at Atwell's Mill on June 18, he sought the foreman, a Mr. Purdy, and told him that until he received answers to the questions he had sent to Washington, Purdy was not to cut any trees in Sequoia National Park, even on patented land. Purdy strongly objected both to the order and to the fact that it was coming from a military officer. Dorst explained that the order was based on a cautious reading of the secretary's rules for the new park and that he was serving as acting superintendent of Sequoia National Park, a civilian office, not as an agent of the War Department. Purdy politely thanked him for the explanation and told him that he did not intend to comply. Alone and unarmed, Dorst left the scene, heading for Visalia where he hoped to find Cauldwell and make some sense of the escalating situation. The following day, June 19, at Dorst's request, Lieutenant J. E. Nolan visited Atwell's Mill. Nolan found Purdy, and Purdy denied being told by Dorst not to log; for spite he added that if he had been told such a thing he would not obey.
