American Experience (1988–…): Season 5, Episode 3 - The Donner Party - full transcript

Reader: "IT IS ODD TO WATCH WITH WHAT FEVERISH ARDOR

"AMERICANS PURSUE PROSPERITY

"EVER TORMENTED BY THE SHADOWY SUSPICION

"THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE CHOSEN THE SHORTEST ROUTE TO GET IT.

"THEY CLEAVE TO THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD

"AS IF ASSURED THAT THEY WILL NEVER DIE

"AND YET RUSH TO SNATCH ANY THAT COMES WITHIN THEIR REACH

"AS IF THEY EXPECTED TO STOP LIVING

"BEFORE THEY HAD RELISHED THEM.

"DEATH STEPS IN IN THE END AND STOPS THEM

"BEFORE THEY HAVE GROWN TIRED OF THIS FUTILE PURSUIT



OF THAT COMPLETE FELICITY WHICH ALWAYS ESCAPES THEM."

ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE.

Narrator: IT BEGAN IN THE 1840s

SPURRED ON BY FINANCIAL PANIC IN THE EAST

BY OUTBREAKS OF CHOLERA AND MALARIA

AND BY THE CEASELESS AMERICAN HANKERING TO MOVE WEST.

WHEN THE PIONEER MOVEMENT BEGAN

FEWER THAN 20,000 WHITE AMERICANS

LIVED WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

TEN YEARS LATER, THE EMIGRATIONHAD SWELLED TO A FLOOD

AND BEFORE IT WAS OVER

MORE THAN HALF A MILLION MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN

HAD STEPPED OFF INTO THE WILDERNESS

AT PLACES LIKE INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI



AND HEADED OUT OVER THE LONG ROAD TO OREGON AND CALIFORNIA.

IN PLACES, THEIR WAGON WHEELS CARVED RUTS SHOULDER-DEEP

IN THE ROCKY ROAD.

THE SETTLERS THEMSELVES KNEW THEY WERE MAKING HISTORY.

"IT WILL BE RECEIVED," ONE EMIGRANT WROTE

"AS A LEGEND ON THE BORDERLAND OF MYTH."

BUT OF ALL THE STORIES TO COME OUT OF THE WEST

NONE HAS CUT MORE DEEPLY INTO THE IMAGINATION

OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

THAN THE TALE OF THE DONNER PARTY

HIGH IN THE SIERRA NEVADA IN THE WINTER OF 1846.

Man: HUMAN ENDEAVOR AND FAILURE, BLUNDERS, MISTAKES

AMBITION, GREED-- ALL THE ELEMENTS.

AND IF YOU CALL THE RESCUE OF THE SURVIVING PARTIES

A HAPPY ENDING, IT'S A HAPPY ENDING.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT?

THAT... TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE.

I THINK WE'RE CURIOUS, YOU KNOW

ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HARDSHIP

WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH TERRIBLE ORDEALS

AND CERTAINLY THE DONNER PARTY, YOU KNOW

87 PEOPLE WENT THROUGH A CRISIS

THE LIKE OF WHICH FEW HUMAN BEINGS HAVE EVER FACED.

AND WE'RE CURIOUS ABOUT THAT.

IT CAN TELL US SOMETHING, I THINK, ABOUT OURSELVES

AND ABOUT THE LIMITS OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

Reader: "MARCH 3, 1846.

"THE TIDE OF EMIGRATION IS UNPARALLELED

"IN THE ANNALS OF HISTORY.

"THE EYES OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLEARE NOW TURNED WESTWARD

"AND THOUSANDS ARE GAZING

"WITH A MOST INTENSE INTEREST AND ANXIETY

"UPON THE PACIFIC SHORES

"WITH A FULL DETERMINATION TO MAKE ONE MORE

ONE LAST MOVE MORE TO THE FAR WEST."

LANSFORD W. HASTINGS.

Narrator: AS 1846 BEGAN, THOUSANDS OFAMERICANS WERE ON THE MOVE WEST

EAGER TO BRING OREGON, TEXAS, NEW MEXICO AND CALIFORNIA

INTO THE AMERICAN SPHERE.

NO ONE WAS KEENER TO POSSESS CALIFORNIA

THAN LANSFORD W. HASTINGS

AN AMBITIOUS 27-YEAR-OLD LAWYERFROM MOUNT VERNON, OHIO

WHOSE VISIONS OF EMPIRE WOULD BE THE DONNER PARTY'S DOOM.

IN 1842, HE WANDERED WEST TO CALIFORNIA

WHAT HE SAW THERE AMAZED HIM.

HE DREAMED OF TAKING CALIFORNIA FROM MEXICO

AND OF ESTABLISHING AN INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC

WITH HIMSELF AT ITS HEAD.

HOPING TO SEND A TIDE OF AMERICANS FLOODING WEST

TO OCCUPY THE PROVINCE

HE PUBLISHED THE EMIGRANTS'
GUIDE TO OREGON AND CALIFORNIA.

IT PAINTED CALIFORNIA AS A SECOND EDEN

AND ADVERTISED A NEW AND FASTERROUTE ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN

A SHORTCUT NO ONE HAD EVER SEEN

INCLUDING HASTINGS HIMSELF.

Schindler: LANSFORD HASTINGS IS PROBABLY AMBITIOUS

PROBABLY VERY SURE OF HIMSELF

AND HE SAYS, "COME WITH ME,I'LL TAKE YOU, I'VE BEEN THERE."

AND THAT IS NOT QUITE THE TRUTH.

IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR HIM

BUT IT KILLED PEOPLE.

IT'S A SIREN CALL

AND IT WAS BAD NEWS...

BAD NEWS.

Man: IT'S ALL MIXED UP

WITH THE ROMANCE AND THE SO-CALLED HEROISM

OF THE WESTWARD MIGRATION AND THE BIG AMERICAN DREAM.

THE AMERICAN DREAM HAS SOME NIGHTMARES ATTACHED TO IT

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS THE AMERICAN DREAM COULD GO.

THE AMERICAN DREAM PROBABLY RESULTED IN...

FOR MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED IT

LIKE A MARSH LIGHT

IN... DISASTER.

Narrator: ON APRIL 16, 1846, NINE BRAND-NEW COVERED WAGONS

RATTLED SLOWLY OUT OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS

AND HEADED WEST.

THE FAMILIES OF GEORGE AND JACOB DONNER

AND JAMES FRAZIER REED WERE OFF

TO MAKE A NEW LIFE FOR THEMSELVES

IN THE VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA.

GEORGE DONNER WAS A 62-YEAR-OLD FARMER

WHO HAD MIGRATED FIVE TIMES BEFORE SETTLING IN SPRINGFIELD

WHERE HE AND HIS OLDER BROTHER JACOB

HAD MADE ENOUGH MONEY NEVER TO HAVE TO MOVE AGAIN.

THEN LAND FEVER SWEPT ILLINOIS

AND KINDLED THE URGE TO MOVE ONE LAST TIME.

THE ORIGINATOR OF THE SPRINGFIELD PARTY

WAS AN INTELLIGENT, HEADSTRONG BUSINESSMAN

NAMED JAMES FRAZIER REED

WHO WAS PROUD OF THE FORTUNE HE'D MADE IN ILLINOIS

BUT CONVINCED HE COULD DO EVEN BETTER OUT WEST.

HIS WIFE MARGARET SUFFERED FROM TERRIBLE SICK HEADACHES

THEY HOPED WOULD IMPROVE IN A BETTER CLIMATE.

WITH THEM WERE THEIR FOUR CHILDREN:

VIRGINIA, PATTY, JAMES AND LITTLE THOMAS.

MARGARET'S ELDERLY MOTHER, SARAH KEYES, CAME, TOO

SO SICK WITH CONSUMPTION SHE COULD BARELY WALK

BUT UNWILLING TO BE SEPARATED FROM HER ONLY DAUGHTER.

THE DONNERS AND THE REEDS MADE A LAVISH ENTOURAGE

32 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN ALL

COUNTING THE REEDS' TWO HIRED SERVANTS

AND THE SEVEN TEAMSTERS WHOHAD ANSWERED GEORGE DONNER'S AD

TO DRIVE THE BIG WAGONS.

BUT THE MOST EXTRAVAGANT LUXURYWAS THE REED'S FAMILY WAGON

A TWO-STORY AFFAIR WITH A BUILT-IN IRON STOVE

SPRING-CUSHIONED SEATS AND BUNKS FOR SLEEPING.

IT TOOK EIGHT OXEN TO PULL THE MAMMOTH ARK

THAT 12-YEAR-OLD VIRGINIA REEDCALLED "THE PIONEER PALACE CAR."

NO ONE HAD EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

Reader: "MY FATHER, WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES, TRIED TO SMILE

"AS ONE FRIEND AFTER ANOTHER GRASPED HIS HAND

"IN A LAST FAREWELL.

"MAMA WAS OVERCOME WITH GRIEF.

"AT LAST WE WERE ALL IN THE WAGONS

"THE DRIVERS CRACKED THEIR WHIPS

"THE OXEN MOVED SLOWLY FORWARD

AND THE LONG JOURNEY HAD BEGUN."

VIRGINIA REED.

Narrator: THEIR IMMEDIATE DESTINATION WAS INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI

THE MAIN JUMPING OFF POINT

FOR THE OREGON AND CALIFORNIA TRAILS.

ONCE BEYOND INDEPENDENCE, HOWEVER

THEY WERE STEPPING OFF INTO THE UNKNOWN.

ALL THEY KNEW WAS THAT THE LONGAND DANGEROUS JOURNEY

WOULD TAKE THEM 2,500 MILES

ACROSS A HUGE WINDSWEPT PLAIN, THREE GREAT MOUNTAIN RANGES

AND HALF A DOZEN SCORCHING DESERTS.

TIME WAS EVERYTHING.

THE GRUELING JOURNEY COULDN'T BEGIN

UNTIL THE SPRING RAINS HAD SUBSIDED

AND HAD TO BE OVER

BEFORE SNOW BLOCKED THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS.

THAT SPRING TALK WAS EVERYWHEREOF A NEW AND FASTER WAY.

IN THE BOTTOM OF JACOB DONNER'S SADDLEBAG

WAS A COPY OF LANSFORD HASTINGS' EMIGRANTS' GUIDE

WITH ITS TANTALIZING TALK OF A FASTER ROUTE

TO "THE GARDEN OF THE EARTH."

THE SAME DAY THE DONNERS AND THE REEDS

ROLLED WEST OUT OF SPRINGFIELD

LANSFORD HASTINGS PREPARED TO HEAD EAST FROM CALIFORNIA

TO SEE WHAT THE SHORTCUT HE WAS PROMOTING WAS REALLY LIKE.

Schindler: HE'D HEARD THAT YOU COULD GO SOUTH OF THE LAKE.

THE IDEA WAS THAT THE PART JUSTBEFORE YOU GOT TO FORT BRIDGER

GOING THROUGH THE WASATCH, SOUTH OF THE LAKE

ACROSS THE SALT DESERT, THROUGHTHE RUBIES, INTO CALIFORNIA.

PROBLEM WAS, HE HAD NEVER REALLY DONE IT

HAD NEVER DONE IT WITH A WAGON

AND YET IT WAS HIS AMBITION TO LEAD WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT TO BE

7,000 WAGONS HEADING WEST THAT YEAR AND...

LANSFORD HASTINGS WAS GOINGTO TRY AND LEAD HIS SHARE BACK.

Reader: "INDEPENDENCE, MAY 11, 1846.

"MY DEAREST ONLY SISTER:

"I CAN GIVE YOU NO IDEA

"OF THE HURRY OF THIS PLACE AT THIS TIME.

"IT IS SUPPOSED THERE BE 7,000 WAGONS THIS SEASON.

"WE GO TO CALIFORNIA, TO THE BAY OF SAN FRANCISCO

"A FOUR MONTHS' TRIP.

"I AM WILLING TO GO, AND HAVE NO DOUBT

"IT WILL BE AN ADVANTAGE TO OUR CHILDREN AND TO US.

"FAREWELL, MY SISTER.

YOU SHALL HEAR FROM ME AS SOON AS I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY."

TAMSEN DONNER.

Narrator: THE DONNERS AND THE REEDS REACHED INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI

IN THE SECOND WEEK OF MAY.

HEAVY SPRING RAINS HAD TURNED THE UNPAVED STREETS TO MUD.

WAGONS BOGGED TO THE HUBS;

DRIVERS CURSED AND WHIPPED THE STRAINING OXEN;

EMIGRANTS HURRIED FROM STORE TO STORE, PURCHASING SUPPLIES

AND ANXIOUSLY INQUIRING AFTER THE LATEST NEWS.

Reader: "SINGULAR AS IT MAY APPEAR

"THERE IS AS MUCH ELECTIONEERING HERE

"FOR THE CAPTAINCY OF THIS EXPEDITION

AS THERE IS FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES."

EDWIN BRYANT.

Reader:"WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLEIN OUR COMPANY

AND SOME, TOO, THAT ARE NOT SO GOOD."

TAMSEN DONNER.

Narrator: DAY BY DAY, WEEK AFTER WEEK

WAGONS ROLLED OUT OF INDEPENDENCE.

THE DONNERS AND THE REEDS GOT STARTED ON MAY 12.

Reader: "NOT A LIVING OR A MOVING OBJECT OF ANY KIND

"APPEARS UPON THE FACE OF THE VAST EXPANSE.

"THE WHITE-TOPPED WAGONS

"AND THE MEN AND ANIMALS BELONGING TO THEM

"ARE THE ONLY RELIEF

TO THE TOMBLIKE STILLNESS OF THE LANDSCAPE."

"A LOVELIER SCENE WAS NEVER GAZED UPON

NOR ONE OF MORE PROFOUND SOLITUDE."

Narrator: A FEW DAYS OUT, TWO RIDERS OVERTOOK THEM.

THEY BROUGHT MAIL FROM INDEPENDENCE

AND NEWS THAT HOSTILITIES HAD BROKEN OUT

BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO ON THE RIO GRANDE.

EACH NIGHT VIOLENT THUNDERSTORMSBROKE OVER THE WAGON TRAIN

SCATTERING CATTLE AND DRENCHING THE ENCAMPMENTS.

EACH MORNING THE SKIES CLEARED,BUT THE TRAIL HAD TURNED TO MUD.

THE REED'S PALACE WAGON HAD TO BE LABORIOUSLY DOUBLE-TEAMED

OVER EVEN MODERATE INCLINES

TO THE IMMENSE IRRITATION

OF THOSE FORCED TO CRAWL ALONG BEHIND.

ON MAY 27, THE WAGON TRAIN CAME TO A STANDSTILL

ON THE EAST BANK OF THE BIG BLUE RIVER

TOO SWOLLEN BY RAIN TO BE FORDED.

THE COMPANY WENT INTO CAMP TO BUILD A MAKESHIFT FERRY.

BY THEN, THE JOURNEY HAD BECOME TOO MUCH

FOR MARGARET REED'S MOTHER.

Reader: "GRANDMA BECAME SPEECHLESS THE DAY BEFORE SHE DIED.

"WE MADE A NEAT COFFIN AND BURIED HER UNDER A TREE.

"WE MISS HER VERY MUCH.

"EVERY TIME WE COME INTO THE WAGON

WE LOOK AT THE BED FOR HER."

VIRGINIA REED.

Narrator: ON MAY 31,

TWO DAYS AFTER THE BURIAL OF SARAH KEYES

THE LAST OF THE WAGONS WAS FERRIED SAFELY

OVER THE BIG BLUE.

[ thunder ]

Reader: "JUNE 16.

"WE ARE NOW ON THE PLATTE, 200 MILES FROM FORT LARAMIE.

"I NEVER COULD HAVE BELIEVED

"WE COULD HAVE TRAVELED SO FAR WITH SO LITTLE DIFFICULTY.

"INDEED, IF I DO NOT EXPERIENCE

"SOMETHING FAR WORSE THAN I HAVE YET DONE

I SHALL SAY THE TROUBLE IS ALL IN GETTING STARTED."

TAMSEN DONNER.

Narrator: ONE JUNE 27, JUST ONE WEEK BEHIND SCHEDULE

THE DONNERS AND THE REEDS REACHED FORT LARAMIE

AN ISOLATED TRADING POST

IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

THERE, JAMES REED FOUND AN OLD FRIEND FROM ILLINOIS

A 54-YEAR-OLD MOUNTAIN MAN NAMED JAMES CLYMAN

WHO HAD JUST COME EAST FROM CALIFORNIA

USING HASTINGS' CUTOFF.

"WE CAMPED WITH THEM," CLYMAN REMEMBERED

"AND CONTINUED THE CONVERSATIONUNTIL A LATE HOUR."

REED, ANXIOUS TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME

ASKED CLYMAN WHAT HE THOUGHT OF HASTINGS' NEW ROUTE.

Reader: "I TOLD HIM ABOUT THE GREAT DESERT

"AND THE ROUGHNESS OF THE SIERRAS

"AND THAT A STRAIGHT ROUTE MIGHTTURN OUT TO BE IMPRACTICABLE.

"I TOLD HIM TO TAKE THE REGULAR WAGON TRACK

"AND NEVER LEAVE IT.

"IT IS BARELY POSSIBLE TO GET THROUGH IF YOU FOLLOW IT

AND IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE IF YOU DON'T."

CLYMAN, WHO HAS JUST BEEN SOUTH OF THE LAKE ON HORSEBACK

COMING EAST WITH LANSFORD HASTINGS

SAYS, "DON'T DO IT."

"DON'T DO IT, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TAKE WAGONS THAT WAY.

GO THE OLD ROUTE, BE SAFE-- YOU'LL PERISH."

AND REED SAYS, "THERE'S A NIGHER ROUTE

AND WE MIGHT AS WELL TAKE IT."

Man:WHY REED DIDN'T TAKE THE ADVICEHE GOT AT FORT LARAMIE IS...

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

HE WAS AN INTELLIGENT MAN, DECISIVE...

I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S ALWAYS, I GUESS, OUR INSATIABLE DESIRE

TO TAKE A SHORTCUT IN LIFE, THINKING IT'LL GET US THERE.

AND INVARIABLY IT DOESN'T.

Narrator: THE NEXT DAY, CLYMAN BID REED GOOD-BYE

AND CONTINUED EAST, MOVING FAST DOWN THE PLATTE.

ON JULY 15, HE CROSSED THE BIG BLUE RIVER

AND CAME TO THE GRAVE OF MARGARET REED'S MOTHER.

FOR A LONG TIME, HE STOODLOOKING DOWN AT THE INSCRIPTION

WONDERING WHAT DROVE HIS COUNTRYMEN WEST.

Reader: "THIS STONE SHOWS US THAT ALL AGES AND ALL SECTS

"ARE FOUND TO UNDERTAKE THIS LONG, TEDIOUS

"AND EVEN DANGEROUS JOURNEY FOR SOME UNKNOWN OBJECT

"NEVER TO BE REALIZED EVEN BY THOSE THE MOST FORTUNATE.

"AND WHY?

"BECAUSE THE HUMAN MIND CAN NEVER BE SATISFIED

"NEVER AT REST, ALWAYS ON THE STRETCH FOR SOMETHING NEW

SOME STRANGE NOVELTY."

Narrator: SARAH KEYES HAD BEEN A MEMBER

OF WHAT WOULD SOON BE CALLED "THE DONNER PARTY."

SHE WAS THE FIRST TO DIE.

ON JULY 17, AS THE REEDS AND THE DONNERS

TOILED SLOWLY UP TOWARDS THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

A LONE HORSEMAN CAME RIDING DOWNFROM SOUTH PASS

BEARING AN OPEN LETTER FROM LANSFORD HASTINGS

ADDRESSED TO ALL EMIGRANTS NOW ON THE ROAD.

IT URGED THEM TO PRESS ON IN ONE GROUP TO FORT BRIDGER

WHERE HASTINGS HIMSELF WOULD BE WAITING

TO ESCORT THEM OVER THE NEW TRAIL.

ON JULY 18, THEY CROSSED THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE.

THEY WERE IN WHAT THE MOUNTAINMEN CALLED "OREGON COUNTRY" NOW

A THOUSAND MILES FROM INDEPENDENCE

WITH MORE THAN A THOUSAND MILESSTILL TO GO.

THEY MOVED ON, SPELLBOUND BY THE ALTITUDE AND THE LANDSCAPE

AND THE ENDLESS SEA OF SAGE.

ONCE YOU GOT BEYOND FORT LARAMIE

THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK.

A LOT OF EMIGRANTS TURNED BACK

BY THE TIME THEY GOT TO FORT LARAMIE

REALIZING THEY WERE INTOSOMETHING THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT.

BUT AFTER THAT, YOU WERE PRETTY MUCH COMMITTED ALL THE WAY.

EVEN THOUGH YOU MIGHT LIKE TO BE ABLE TO

THERE WAS HARDLY A CHANCE OR OPPORTUNITY.

IT JUST... WOULDN'T WORK.

Narrator: ON JULY 20, THE WAGON TRAINREACHED THE LITTLE SANDY RIVER.

IT WAS THE PARTING OF THE WAYS.

MOST OF THE EMIGRANTS HEEDED JAMES CLYMAN'S WARNING

AND TURNED RIGHT.

BUT 20 WAGONS, INCLUDING THE NINE

BELONGING TO THE DONNERS AND THE REEDS

TURNED LEFT TOWARDS FORT BRIDGER

AND THE ENTRANCE TO HASTINGS' CUTOFF.

THE NEXT DAY, THE NEW PARTY METTO ELECT A CAPTAIN.

JAMES REED WAS THE OBVIOUS CHOICE

BUT HIS ARISTOCRATIC MANNER AND HIS WEALTH

HAD RUBBED TOO MANY FAMILIES THE WRONG WAY.

THEY CHOSE GEORGE DONNER INSTEAD.

ONE WEEK LATER, THE DONNER PARTYROLLED INTO FORT BRIDGER

TWO LOG CABINS AND A CORRAL RUN AS A TRADING POST

BY A CELEBRATED MOUNTAIN MAN NAMED JIM BRIDGER.

LANSFORD HASTINGS WASN'T THERE.

THE PROMOTER HAD STARTED WEST A WEEK EARLIER

AT THE HEAD OF ANOTHER GROUP OF WAGONS

LEAVING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ANY EMIGRANTS WHO WISHED

TO FOLLOW ALONG BEHIND.

THEY SPENT FOUR DAYS RESTING THEIR OXEN AND MAKING REPAIRS.

Reader: "JULY 31, 1846.

"HASTINGS' CUTOFF IS SAID TO BEA SAVING OF 350 OR 400 MILES

AND A BETTER ROUTE."

"THE REST OF THE CALIFORNIANS WENT THE LONG ROUTE

"FEELING AFRAID OF HASTINGS' CUTOFF.

"BUT MR. BRIDGER INFORMS ME THAT IT IS A FINE, LEVEL ROAD

WITH PLENTY OF WATER AND GRASS."

"IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 700 MILES

"WILL TAKE US TO CAPTAIN SUTTER'S FORT

WHICH WE HOPE TO MAKE IN SEVEN WEEKS FROM THIS DAY."

JAMES REED.

Narrator: ON JULY 31, THE NINE FAMILIES

AND 16 SINGLE MEN OF THE DONNER PARTY

LEFT FORT BRIDGER AND ENTERED HASTINGS' CUTOFF.

FOR A WEEK THEY MADE GOOD TIME--TEN, SOMETIMES 12 MILES A DAY

WORKING THEIR WAY DEEPER INTO THE RUGGED MOUNTAINS

FOLLOWING THE TRACK OF HASTINGS' WAGONS.

THEN, ON AUGUST 6, AT THE BOTTOM OF ECHO CANYON

THE PARTY CAME TO A HALT.

STUCK IN THE TOP OF SOME SAGE NEAR THE TRAIL WAS A NOTE.

IT WAS FROM LANSFORD HASTINGS.

IT STATED THAT THE ROAD AHEAD WAS VIRTUALLY IMPASSABLE

AND ADVISED THEM TO WAIT UNTILHE COULD SHOW THEM A BETTER WAY.

IT TOOK JAMES REED FIVE DAYS TO FIND HASTINGS.

WHEN HE DID, THE PROMOTER REFUSED TO COME BACK

TO LEAD THE COMPANY HIMSELF

POINTING OUT WHAT HE THOUGHTMIGHT BE A MORE MANAGEABLE ROUTE

FROM A HIGH PEAK INSTEAD.

THE NEXT DAY, WITH JAMES REED AS THEIR PILOT

THE PARTY TURNED OFF THE TRACK INTO THE TANGLED WILDERNESS.

WHEN THEY COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO CROSS THE WASATCH

WHEN THEY DECIDED LEGITIMATELY TO ENTER THE GREAT BASIN

TO TACKLE EMIGRATION CANYON, AS WE KNOW IT

AND ECHO CANYON, AS WE KNOW IT

THEY WERE EATING UP DAYS THAT WERE VITAL TO THEM

AND THEY HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING IT.

Narrator: THEY CRAWLED ALONG, MAKING SCARCELY TWO MILES A DAY

FIGHTING THEIR WAY THROUGH A CHAOS OF CANYONS

CHOKED WITH WILLOW TREES, COTTONWOODS AND ASPEN.

TIME AND AGAIN

THE HOSTILE TERRAIN BROUGHT THEM TO A STANDSTILL

WHILE THE MEN CURSED AND TOILED

AND HACKED A ROAD THROUGH THE DENSE UNDERGROWTH.

IT TOOK SIX DAYS ALONE

TO CHOP THEIR WAY EIGHT MILES UP BIG MOUNTAIN.

NmNmzNarrator: ON AUGUST 22, THE 87 MEMBERS OF THE DONNER PARTY

SPILLED OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS, EXHAUSTED AND SHAKEN.

SOME BLAMED REED FOR THE DELAY

BUT THERE WAS LITTLE TIME FOR RECRIMINATION.

SUMMER WAS UNRAVELING FAST

AND THERE WERE STILL 600 MILES TO GO.

Reader: "TUESDAY, AUGUST 25.

"LUKE HALLORAN DIED OF CONSUMPTION THIS EVENING.

"WE MADE HIM A COFFIN AND BURIEDHIM AT THE FORKS OF THE ROAD

IN A BEAUTIFUL PLACE."

JAMES REED.

Narrator: THE WORRIED EMIGRANTS HURRIED ON

FOLLOWING THE TRACK OF HASTINGS' WAGONS--

WEST, THEN SHARPLY SOUTH FOR A FEW MILES

TO A CLUSTER OF CLEAR, FRESH SPRINGS.

THERE, THEY FOUND THE TATTERED REMNANTS OF ANOTHER NOTE.

Reader: "MOTHER KNELT DOWN AND BEGAN THOUGHTFULLY FITTING

"THE RAGGED EDGES OF PAPER TOGETHER.

"THE PROCESS WAS WATCHED WITH SPELLBOUND INTEREST

"BY THE ANXIOUS GROUP AROUND HER.

"THE WRITING WAS THAT OF HASTINGS

"AND HER PATCHWORK BROUGHT OUT THE FOLLOWING WORDS:

"'TWO DAYS, TWO NIGHTS

"'HARD DRIVING, CROSS DESERT

REACH WATER.'"

ELIZA DONNER.

Narrator: TAKING ON AS MUCH WATER AND GRASS AS THEY COULD

THE EMIGRANTS CLIMBED THROUGH A RANGE OF GNARLED HILLS.

BEYOND THEM, TO THE WEST

STRETCHED A GLITTERING PLAIN OF SALT.

ON AUGUST 30, THEY STARTED ACROSS.

Schindler: WELL, YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO GET CAUGHT OUT ON A SALT DESERT.

EVEN TODAY, IT'S A MAN-KILLER.

BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT THEYCOULD GO THROUGH IN TWO DAYS

AND EQUIP A WAGON WITH GRASS AND WATER-- FOOLISHNESS.

IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY

THE MOISTURE UNDER THE SURFACE BUBBLES TO THE TOP--

TURNS IT INTO A GUMBO.

IF YOU'RE IN A WAGON, YOU CAN COUNT ON GOING DOWN

A COUPLE OF FEET IN SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

I'M NOT SAYING A FEW INCHES

BUT YOU COULD GO RIGHT UP TO THE HUBS.

Narrator: ON THE THIRD DAY, THE WATER RAN OUT.

THAT NIGHT, CRAZED WITH THIRST

THE REEDS' OXEN BOLTED INTO THE DESERT

AND COULD NOT BE FOUND.

THE FAMILY TOOK WHAT BELONGINGSTHEY COULD CARRY

AND STARTED OUT.

Reader: "PAPA CARRIED THOMAS

"AND ALL THE REST OF US WALKED.

"WE GOT TO THE DONNERS' WAGON AND THEY WERE ALL ASLEEP

"SO WE LAID DOWN ON THE GROUND.

"WE SPREAD ONE SHAWL DOWN AND SPREAD ANOTHER OVER US

"AND THEN PUT THE DOGS ON TOP.

"THE WIND BLEW VERY HARD

"AND IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE DOGS

WE WOULD HAVE FROZEN."

Narrator: THE NEXT DAY

THE SHATTERED IMMIGRANTSSTUMBLED OUT OF THE SALT DESERT.

IT HAD BEEN A DISASTER.

IT HAD TAKEN THEM FIVE DAYS TO CROSS THE 80-MILE DESERT

HASTINGS HAD ASSURED THEM WAS ONLY HALF AS WIDE.

SEVERAL EMIGRANTS HAD ALMOST DIED OF THIRST.

36 OXEN WERE LOST.

WAGONS WOULD HAVE TO BE ABANDONED--

THE REEDS' PIONEER PALACE CAR AMONG THEM.

Reader: "ANGUISH AND DISMAY NOW FILLED ALL HEARTS.

"HUSBANDS BOWED THEIR HEADS

"APPALLED AT THE SITUATION OF THEIR FAMILIES.

"SOME CURSED HASTINGS

"FOR THE FALSE STATEMENTS IN HIS OPEN LETTER

"AND FOR HIS BROKEN PLEDGE AT FORT BRIDGER.

"THEY CURSED HIM ALSO FOR HIS MISREPRESENTATION

"OF THE DISTANCE ACROSS THIS CRUEL DESERT.

"MOTHERS, IN TEARLESS AGONY

"CLASPED THEIR CHILDREN TO THEIR BOSOMS

"WITH THE OLD, OLD CRY

"'FATHER, THY WILL, NOT MINE, BE DONE.'

"IT WAS PLAIN THAT TRY AS WE MIGHT

"WE COULD NOT GET BACK TO FORT BRIDGER.

WE MUST PROCEED, REGARDLESS OF THE FEARFUL OUTLOOK."

ELIZA DONNER.

Reader: "AN INVENTORY OF PROVISIONS WAS TAKEN

"AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SUPPLY WAS NOT SUFFICIENT

"TO LAST US THROUGH TO CALIFORNIA.

"AS IF TO RENDER THE SITUATION MORE TERRIBLE

"A STORM CAME ON DURING THE NIGHT

AND THE HILLTOPS BECAME WHITE WITH SNOW."

Narrator: SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO RIDE AHEAD TO CALIFORNIA

AND BRING BACK RELIEF.

A BIG MISSOURI FARMER NAMED WILLIAM McCUTCHEON

AND CHARLES STANTON, A BACHELOR FROM NEW YORK

VOLUNTEERED.

FINALLY, ON SEPTEMBER 26

THE DONNER PARTY REACHED THE HUMBOLDT RIVER

WHERE THE SHORTCUT REJOINED THE OLD TRAIL.

HASTINGS' CUTOFF HAD PROVED

NOT ONLY MORE TREACHEROUS THAN THE OLDER ROUTE;

IT WAS 125 MILES LONGER, AS WELL.

Stegner: THEY DID SEEM TO BE DOOMED.

EVERYTHING WENT WRONG FOR THEM.

AND THEY HAD STARTED SO BLITHELY

WITH SUCH BIG EXPECTATIONS AND SUCH LOADS OF POSSESSIONS.

THEY WERE GOING INTO THENEW COUNTRY AND WIN IT BY STORM.

BUT THEY MADE THE GREAT MISTAKE

OF LISTENING TO LANSFORD HASTINGS.

HE CAUSED ALL THEIR TROUBLE

BECAUSE THEY LOST THEIR WAY IN THE WASATCH

AND THEY LOST HALF OF THEIRANIMALS AND A LOT OF THEIR HOPE

CROSSING THE DESERT SOUTH OF GREAT SALT LAKE.

Narrator: IN EARLY SEPTEMBER, LANSFORDHASTINGS RODE INTO SUTTER'S FORT

AT THE HEAD OF A BATTERED TRAIN OF 80 WAGONS.

EXCEPT FOR THE DONNER PARTY, ALL THE EMIGRANTS OF 1846

HAD MADE IT SAFELY THROUGH TO CALIFORNIA.

BY THE TIME THEY GET, CERTAINLY,INTO THE HUMBOLDT RIVER

TEMPERS ARE PRETTY FRAYED, VERY EASY TO TRIGGER OFF

AND THERE'S A LOT OF INCIDENTS, ANGER.

AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S A HUMAN CONDITION.

WHEN WE'RE UNDER AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF STRESS

VERY OFTEN THAT CAN BRING OUT THE MOST HEROIC IN US

AND IT CAN ALSO BRING OUT, YOU KNOW, THE WORST IN US.

Narrator: ON OCTOBER 5, THE EMIGRANTS WERE DOUBLING THEIR TEAMS

UP A STEEP, SANDY HILL

WHEN THE GRAVES FAMILY WAGON BECAME ENTANGLED

WITH THE REED WAGON.

TEMPERS FLARED, AND THE GRAVES' DRIVER, JOHN SNYDER

BEGAN BEATING THE OXEN WITH THE BUTT OF HIS BULLWHIP.

JAMES REED HURRIED OVER TO STOP IT

BUT ONLY ENRAGED SNYDER FURTHER

WHO STRUCK HIM SAVAGELY ON THE HEAD WITH HIS WHIP.

REED DREW HIS HUNTING KNIFE

AND AS SNYDER RAISED HIS ARM TO STRIKE AGAIN

DROVE IT INTO THE TEAMSTER'S CHEST

JUST BELOW THE COLLARBONE.

SNYDER STAGGERED A FEW YARDS UP THE HILL AND DIED.

Reader: "MR. REED AND FAMILY WERE TAKEN TO THEIR TENT

"AND GUARDED BY THEIR FRIENDS.

"AN ASSEMBLY WAS CONVENED TO DECIDE WHAT SHOULD BE DONE.

"THE MAJORITY DECLARED THE DEED MURDER

AND DEMANDED RETRIBUTION."

Narrator: A GERMAN EMIGRANT NAMED LEWIS KIESBURG

PROPPED HIS WAGON TONGUE ON END

AND DEMANDED THAT REED BE HANGED FROM IT.

WHEN MARGARET REED BEGGED FOR MERCY

THE COMPANY CHOSE BANISHMENT INSTEAD.

AT FIRST, REED REFUSED TO GO, BUT THERE WAS NO CHOICE.

THE NEXT DAY, HE HELPED BURY JOHN SNYDER

THEN RODE WEST, OUT OF CAMP.

Reader: "WE TRAVELED ON, BUTTHE HOURS DRAGGED SLOWLY ALONG.

"EVERY DAY WE WOULD SEARCH FOR SOME SIGN OF PAPA

"WHO WOULD LEAVE A LETTER BY THE WAYSIDE.

BUT A TIME CAME WHEN WE FOUNDNO LETTER AND NO TRACE OF HIM."

VIRGINIA REED.

Narrator:THE DONNER PARTY LIMPED DOWN THEHUMBOLDT AS FAST AS IT COULD GO.

EVERYONE WHO STILL COULD, WALKED BESIDE THE WAGONS NOW

TO SPARE THE EXHAUSTED OXEN.

THEY WERE RACING AGAINST TIME AND THE WEATHER

DESPERATE TO GET OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND INTO CALIFORNIA

BEFORE SNOW BLOCKED THE HEIGHTS.

THERE WAS NO SIGN OF STANTON OR McCUTCHEON

OR OF THE RELIEF THEY PROMISED TO BRING FROM SUTTER'S FORT.

WITH THE DEATH OF SNYDERAND THE BANISHMENT OF JAMES REED

THE DONNER PARTY WAS COMING APART.

ON OCTOBER 7, LEWIS KIESBURG

TURNED AN AGING BELGIAN EMIGRANTNAMED HARDKOOP OUT OF HIS WAGON.

NO ONE ELSE WOULD TAKE HIM IN.

THE OLD MAN FELL FARTHER AND FARTHER BEHIND

AND WAS LAST SEEN SITTING BY THE ROAD, UNABLE TO WALK.

ON THE NIGHT OF OCTOBER 12

PAIUTE INDIANS KILLED 21 OXEN WITH POISONED ARROWS.

THE COMPANY HAD NOW LOST MORE THAN A HUNDRED HEAD OF CATTLE.

FROM THE BLUFFS ABOVE THE RIVER

THEY COULD HEAR THE PAIUTES LAUGHING AT THEIR PLIGHT.

ON OCTOBER 16

THE BATTERED PARTY FINALLY REACHED THE TRUCKEE--

THE NARROW, RUSHING RIVER THATSERVED AS GATEWAY TO THE SIERRA.

Reader: "THE WEATHER WAS ALREADY VERY COLD

"AND THE HEAVY CLOUDS HANGING OVER THE MOUNTAINS TO THE WEST

"WERE STRONG INDICATIONS OF AN APPROACHING WINTER.

"SOME WANTED TO STOP AND REST THEIR CATTLE.

"OTHERS, IN FEAR OF THE SNOW

WERE IN FAVOR OF PUSHING AHEAD AS FAST AS POSSIBLE."

JOHN BREEN.

Narrator: ON OCTOBER 19, THEIR FOOD WAS NEARLY ALL GONE

WHEN CHARLES STANTON FINALLY RETURNED FROM SUTTER'S FORT

THE SEVEN MULES LOADED WITH FOOD, TWO INDIAN GUIDES

AND NEWS THAT THE HIGH PASS OF THE SIERRA

WOULDN'T BE BLOCKED BY SNOW FOR ANOTHER MONTH.

THE EMIGRANTS' HOPES ROSE.

THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE IT AFTER ALL.

THEY CAMPED FOR FIVE DAYS, 50 MILES FROM THE SUMMIT

RESTING THEIR OXEN FOR THE FINAL PUSH.

THE PARTY STARTED UP THE RIVER AGAIN.

ON OCTOBER 31

THE FRONT AXLE OF GEORGE DONNER'S FAMILY WAGON BROKE.

CUTTING TIMBER FOR A NEW ONE, GEORGE GASHED HIS HAND

AND THE FAMILY FELL FURTHER BEHIND.

THE REST OF THE PARTY HURRIED ON TOWARDS THE SUMMIT.

Man: "WE PUSHED ON AS FAST AS OUR FAILING CATTLE COULD HAUL

"OUR ALMOST EMPTY WAGONS.

"AT LAST WE REACHED THE FOOT OF THE MAIN RIDGE

"NEAR TRUCKEE LAKE.

"IT WAS SUNDOWN.

"THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, BUT A LARGE CIRCLE AROUND THE MOON

INDICATED AN APPROACHING STORM."

JOHN BREEN.

Narrator: THAT NIGHT, THEY CAMPED

A THOUSAND FEET BENEATH THE DARK GRANITE SUMMIT

WAITING ANXIOUSLY FOR THE DONNER WAGONS TO CATCH UP

PRAYING THAT THE WEATHER WOULD HOLD.

THE DONNERS DIDN'T COME

AND UP ON THE SUMMIT, DURING THE NIGHT, IT BEGAN TO SNOW.

THE NEXT MORNING, THE PARTYMADE A FRANTIC DASH FOR THE PASS

BUT FIVE FEET HAD ALREADY FALLEN HIGHER UP

AND THE WAGONS BEGAN TO SLIP ON THE STEEP, ROCKY ASCENT.

Reader: "DESPAIR DROVE MANY NEARLY FRANTIC.

"THE FARTHER WE WENT UP, THE DEEPER THE SNOW GOT.

"THE WAGONS COULD NOT GO.

"THE MULES KEPT FALLING DOWN IN THE SNOW, HEADFOREMOST

"AND THE INDIAN SAID HE COULD NOT FIND THE ROAD.

"THE WOMEN WERE SO TIRED CARRYING THEIR CHILDREN

THAT THEY COULD NOT GO OVER THAT NIGHT."

Narrator: STANTON AND ONE OF THE INDIANS MADE IT AS FAR AS THE SUMMIT

Narrator: STANTON AND ONE OF THE INDIANS MADE IT AS FAR AS THE SUMMIT

A FIREAND GOT SOMETHING TO EAT.

"MA SPREAD A BUFFALO ROBE AND SAT UP BY THE FIRE.

"THE INDIANS KNEW WE WERE DOOMED

"AND ONE OF THEM WRAPPED HIS BLANKET ABOUT HIM

AND STOOD ALL NIGHT UNDER A TREE."

Narrator: WHEN THEY AWOKE NEXT MORNINGTHE PASS WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKED.

THEY HAD COME 2,500 MILES IN SEVEN MONTHS

TO LOSE THEIR RACE WITH THE WEATHER BY ONE DAY

ONLY 150 MILES FROM SAFETYAT SUTTER'S FORT IN CALIFORNIA.

THEY RETRACED THEIR STEPS TO THE LAKE

AND STARTED BUILDING A WINTER CAMP.

DOWN BY THE LAKE

AND UP ON THE DARK SUMMIT ABOVE THEM IT SNOWED...

AND IT SNOWED...

AND IT SNOWED.

Reader: "NOVEMBER 6, SUTTER'S FORT.

"ALL THINGS REMAIN QUIET HERE.

"THE WEATHER IS BAD.

"I AM FEARFUL THE SNOW IS TOO DEEP

"FOR THE LAST COMPANY OF EMIGRANTS

TO CROSS THE MOUNTAINS."

GEORGE McKINSTRY.

Narrator: FOR WEEKS, THE AMERICANS AT SUTTER'S FORT

HAD WAITED ANXIOUSLYFOR THE DONNER PARTY TO COME IN.

THEY WERE SHOCKED WHEN, IN LATE OCTOBER

JAMES REED STUMBLED OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS

MORE DEAD THAN ALIVE.

DESPERATE TO SAVE HIS FAMILY

REED PRESSED JOHN SUTTER FOR HORSES AND SUPPLIES

AND RUSHED BACK UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS.

TWO DAYS OUT, IT STARTED TO RAIN.

HIGHER UP, THE RAIN TURNED TO SNOW.

12 MILES FROM THE SUMMIT, REED COULD GO NO FURTHER

AND TURNED BACK AGAIN TO SUTTER'S FORT FOR HELP.

THIS TIME SUTTER HAD NONE TO GIVE.

EVERY ABLE-BODIED MAN IN THE VALLEY HAD GONE SOUTH

TO FIGHT THE MEXICANS.

THE RELIEF EFFORT WOULD HAVE TO WAIT.

ON NOVEMBER 20, 1846

AN IRISH EMIGRANT NAMED PATRICKBREEN BEGAN TO KEEP A DIARY.

Reader: "FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1846.

CAME TO THIS PLACE ON THE 31st OF LAST MONTH THAT IT SNOWED."

"WE WENT ON TO THE PASS;

"THE SNOW SO DEEP WE WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE ROAD

"THEN TURNED BACK TO THE SHANTY ON THE LAKE.

"WE NOW HAVE KILLED MOST OF OUR CATTLE

"HAVING TO STAY HERE UNTIL NEXT SPRING.

"IT SNOWED DURING THE SPACE OF EIGHT DAYS

WITH LITTLE INTERMISSION."

Narrator: THE 81 MEMBERS OF THE DONNER PARTY--

25 MEN, 15 WOMEN AND 41 CHILDRENINCLUDING SIX NURSING INFANTS--

WERE NOW HUDDLED MISERABLY IN TWO MAKESHIFT WINTER CAMPS.

THE BREENS AND THEIR SEVEN CHILDREN TOOK OVER

AN ABANDONED SHACK, NOT FAR FROM TRUCKEE LAKE.

PEGGY BREEN DID WHAT SHE COULD TO CALM THE YOUNGER CHILDREN.

LEWIS KIESBURG BUILT A ROUGH LEAN-TO FOR HIS FAMILY

AGAINST ONE SIDE OF THE BREENS' SHACK.

NEARBY, THE EDDYS CROWDED INTOA HASTILY CONSTRUCTED LOG CABIN

WITH THE MURPHYS, THE FOSTERS AND THE PIKES.

A SECOND DRAFTY CABIN HOUSED

THE FAMILY OF FRANKLIN GRAVES AT ONE END

AND MARGARET REED ANDHER FOUR CHILDREN AT THE OTHER.

SIX MILES AWAY, ON ALDER CREEK

THE TWO DONNER FAMILIES HUDDLED IN TENTS

WHERE THE STORM HAD CAUGHT THEM.

Reader: "WE HAD NOT THE FIRST THING TO EAT.

"WE SELDOM THOUGHT OF BREAD

"FOR WE HAD NOT ANY SINCE I REMEMBER.

"MA MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SOME CATTLE

"AND THE CATTLE WAS SO POOR

THEY COULD NOT GET UP WHEN THEY LAID DOWN."

Narrator: DURING BREAKS IN THE STORM, THEY SCANNED THE SUMMIT

HOPING TO SEE A RELIEF PARTY INCHING ITS WAY DOWN.

NO ONE CAME.

TWO MORE ATTEMPTS TO GET OVER THE PASS ENDED IN FAILURE;

THE EMIGRANTS FLOUNDERING IN THE 20-FOOT DRIFTS.

THIN AND PALE WITH HUNGER

THREE-YEAR-OLD ELIZA DONNER WHILED AWAY

THE SHORT WINTER DAYS.

Reader:"AFTER THE FIRST STORM, A LITTLESUNBEAM STOLE DOWN THE STEPS

"AND MADE A BRIGHT SPOT UPON OUR FLOOR.

"I SAT DOWN UNDER IT, HELD IT ON MY LAP

"PASSED MY HAND UP AND DOWN IN ITS BRIGHTNESS.

"I GATHERED UP A PIECE OF IT IN MY APRON

"AND RAN TO MY MOTHER.

"GREAT WAS MY SURPRISE WHEN I CAREFULLY OPENED THE FOLDS

AND FOUND THAT I HAD NOTHING TO SHOW."

Narrator: ON THANKSGIVING, IT BEGAN SNOWING AGAIN.

Reader: "SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29.

"STILL SNOWING.

"NOW ABOUT THREE FEET DEEP.

"KILLED MY LAST OXEN TODAY.

"MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30.

"SNOWING FAST, ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE FEET DEEP.

"LOOKS AS LIKELY TO CONTINUE AS WHEN IT COMMENCED.

"NO LIVING THING WITHOUT WINGS CAN GET ABOUT.

"DECEMBER 1, TUESDAY.

"OUR CATTLE ALL KILLED BUT THREE OR FOUR OF THEM.

"THE HORSES AND STANTON'S MULES GONE

"SUPPOSED LOST IN THE SNOW.

NO HOPES OF FINDING THEM ALIVE."

Narrator: THEY BEGAN TO MIX WHAT LITTLE MEAT REMAINED

WITH ANYTHING THEY COULD CHEW AND SWALLOW:

BOILED HIDES, CHARRED BONES, TWIGS, BARK, LEAVES.

ON DECEMBER 15

ONE OF THE REEDS' HIRED MEN, BALIS WILLIAMS

DIED OF MALNUTRITION.

IN MID-DECEMBER15 OF THE STRONGEST EMIGRANTS--

FIVE WOMEN, NINE MEN AND A BOY OF 12--

RESOLVED TO MAKE ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO BREAK OUT.

AN OLD VERMONT FARMER, FRANKLIN GRAVES

FASHIONED CRUDE SNOWSHOES FROM OXBOWS AND RAWHIDE.

ON DECEMBER 16, WITH WILLIAM EDDY

AND THE INDIANSLEWIS AND SALVADORE IN THE LEAD

THEY STARTED OUT FOR THE SUMMIT.

THEY TOOK SIX DAYS' STARVATION RATIONS A PIECE.

THEY CALLED THEMSELVES "THE FORLORN HOPE."

WITH EACH STEP, THEY SANK A FEWINCHES INTO THE 20-FOOT DRIFTS

BUT THE CRUDE SNOWSHOES BUOYED THEM UP.

IT TOOK TWO GRUELING DAYS TO SCALE THE SUMMIT.

ONCE OVER THE PASS, THE SUN BEGAN TO BLIND THEM.

ON THE SIXTH DAY, THEIR FOOD RAN OUT.

CHARLES STANTON, TOO BLIND AND WEAK TO CARRY ON

URGED HIS EXHAUSTED FRIENDS TO GO ON WITHOUT HIM.

HE WAS LAST SEEN SITTING IN THESNOW, CALMLY SMOKING HIS PIPE.

BY THE NINTH DAY OUT THEY WERE HOPELESSLY LOST

HIGH IN THE CALIFORNIA MOUNTAINS.

ON CHRISTMAS EVE, IT BEGAN TO SNOW AGAIN.

Reader: "WHAT TO DO WE DID NOT KNOW.

"SOME OF THOSE WHO HAD CHILDRENAND FAMILIES WISHED TO GO BACK

"BUT THE TWO INDIANS SAID THEY WOULD GO ON.

"I TOLD THEM I WOULD GO, TOO

"FOR TO GO BACK AND HEAR

"THE CRIES OF HUNGER FROM MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS

"WAS MORE THAN I COULD STAND.

"I WOULD GO AS FAR AS I COULD

LET THE CONSEQUENCES BE WHAT THEY MIGHT."

MARY GRAVES.

Narrator: DARKNESS CAME, AND SOMEHOW THEY MANAGED TO LIGHT A FIRE.

THEY HAD BEEN THREE DAYS WITHOUT FOOD OF ANY KIND

AND MOST OF THEM WERE FAR GONE.

EVEN IN THEIR DELIRIUM, THEY KNEW THEY WERE DYING.

Reader: "EVEN THE WIND SEEMED TO HOLD ITS BREATH

"AS THE SUGGESTION WAS MADE

"THAT: WERE ONE TO DIE, THE REST MIGHT LIVE.

"THEN THE SUGGESTION WAS MADE THAT LOTS BE CAST

"AND WHOEVER DREW THE LONGEST SLIP SHOULD BE THE SACRIFICE.

"THE SLIPS OF PAPER WERE PREPARED

AND PATRICK DOLAN DREW THE FATAL SLIP."

Narrator: NO ONE HAD THE HEART TO KILL HIM.

Reader: "ABOUT 11:00, THE STORM INCREASED TO A PERFECT TORNADO

"AND IN AN INSTANT BLEW AWAY EVERY SPARK OF FIRE.

"THE COMPANY WERE NOW ENGAGED IN IMPLORING GOD

"FOR MERCY AND RELIEF.

"THAT NIGHT'S BITTER CRIES, ANGUISH AND DESPAIR

NEVER CAN BE FORGOTTEN."

Narrator: SOMEHOW, WILLIAM EDDY GOT HIS DYING COMPANIONS

TO SIT TOGETHER IN A RING, AND PULLED BLANKETS OVER THEM.

A CANOPY OF SNOW QUICKLY COVEREDTHE STARVING GROUP.

ANTONIO, A MEXICAN TEAMSTER, DIED.

FRANKLIN GRAVES WAS NEXT.

HE DIED IN THE ARMS OF HIS DAUGHTERS, MARY AND SARAH.

PATRICK DOLAN WENT INSANE

AND HAD TO BE HELD DOWN BY HIS COMPANIONS.

AT LAST HE SLIPPED INTO A COMA AND DIED.

12-YEAR-OLD LEM MURPHY LAY SHUDDERING, ALL BUT DEAD.

IT STOPPED SNOWING.

WILLIAM EDDY CRAWLED OUT OF THE WHITE TOMB

WHERE THE DEAD AND DYING EMIGRANTS LAY

AND MANAGED TO RELIGHT THE FIRE.

SOMEONE CUT THE FLESH FROM THEARMS AND LEGS OF PATRICK DOLAN.

THEY ROASTED THE MEAT AND ATE IT

AVERTING THEIR FACES FROM EACH OTHER AND WEEPING.

ONLY THE TWO INDIANS, LEWIS AND SALVADORE, REFUSED TO EAT.

THE HIDEOUS FOOD REVIVED THEM.

THE TEN SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE FORLORN HOPE

BUTCHERED WHAT REMAINED OF THEIR FOUR DEAD FRIENDS

WRAPPED AND CAREFULLY LABELED THE PIECES

SO THAT NO ONE HAD TO EAT THEIR KIN

AND STAGGERED ON THROUGH THE WILDERNESS

CURSING LANSFORD HASTINGS.

THREE DAYS LATER, THERE WAS AGAIN NOTHING LEFT TO EAT.

WILLIAM FOSTER PROPOSEDMURDERING THE INDIANS FOR FOOD.

WILLIAM EDDY TRIED TO TALK HIM OUT OF IT

THEN TOLD LEWIS AND SALVADORE OF THE WHITE MAN'S PLAN.

THE INDIANS STOOD DISBELIEVING FOR A MOMENT

THEN SILENTLY DISAPPEARED INTO THE SNOWY WOODS.

Reader: "MONDAY, DECEMBER 21."

"MILT GOT BACK LAST NIGHT FROM THE DONNERS' CAMP.

"SAD NEWS:

"JACOB DONNER, SAM SHOEMAKER, JOSEPH RHINEHART

"AND JAMES SMITH ARE DEAD;

"THE REST OF THEM IN A LOW SITUATION.

SNOWED ALL NIGHT."

"THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, LAST OF THE YEAR.

"SPEND THE COMING YEAR BETTER THAN THE PAST

"MAY WE, WITH GOD'S HELP

"WHICH WE PROPOSE TO DOIF ALMIGHTY GOD WILL DELIVER US

"FROM OUR PRESENT DREADFUL SITUATION

"WHICH IS OUR PRAYER IF THE WILLOF GOD SEES IT FITTING FOR US.

AMEN."

"FREEZING HARD EVERY NIGHT.

"LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER STORM.

SNOWSTORMS ARE DREADFUL TO US."

PATRICK BREEN.

Narrator:ON JANUARY 10, 1847, THE UNITEDSTATES MARINES TOOK LOS ANGELES

FROM THE MEXICANS.

IN ALL BUT NAME, CALIFORNIA NOWBELONGED TO THE UNITED STATES.

WITH THE FIGHTING OVER, JAMES REED RUSHED TO SAN FRANCISCO

TO RAISE MONEY AND MEN

FOR THE RELIEF OF HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

AT SUNSET ON JANUARY 17

IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SIERRA NEVADA

HARRIET RITCHIE HEARD A KNOCK ONTHE DOOR OF HER FAMILY'S CABIN.

IN THE DOORWAY STOOD A BLEEDING SKELETON OF A MAN.

IN A FAINT VOICE, HE ASKED IF HE COULD HAVE SOME BREAD.

HARRIET BURST INTO TEARS AND HELPED WILLIAM EDDY INTO BED.

THE SIX OTHER SURVIVORS OF THE FORLORN HOPE LAY

A SHORT WAY UP THE TRAIL.

ONLY TWO OF THE TEN MEN HAD MADE IT THROUGH.

ALL FIVE WOMEN HAD SURVIVED.

CQ3tó/q

"THEY GAVE THE ALARM THAT THE PEOPLE WOULD ALL DIE

"WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.

"IT WAS TWO WEEKS BEFOREANY PERSON WOULD CONSENT TO GO.

"FINALLY, WE CONCLUDED WE WOULD GO OR DIE TRYING

"FOR NOT TO MAKE ANY ATTEMPTTO SAVE THEM WOULD BE A DISGRACE

TO US, AND CALIFORNIA, AS LONG AS TIME LASTED."

DANIEL RHOADS.

Narrator: ON FEBRUARY 5, THE FIRST SMALL RELIEF PARTY

LEFT JOHNSON'S RANCH AND STRUGGLED SLOWLY UP

INTO THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS.

A SECOND PARTY LED BY JAMES REEDWAS TWO DAYS BEHIND THEM.

Reader: "FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5.

PEGGY VERY UNEASY FOR FEAR WE SHALL ALL PERISH WITH HUNGER."

"WE HAVE BUT A LITTLE MEAT LEFT,AND ONLY PART OF THREE HIDES."

"MRS. REED HAS NOTHING LEFT BUT ONE HIDE

AND IT IS ON GRAVES' SHANTY."

"EDDY'S CHILD, MARGARET, DIED LAST NIGHT."

"MONDAY, THE EIGHTH.

"SPITZER DIED LAST NIGHT ABOUT 3:00.

WE WILL BURY HIM IN THE SNOW."

"MRS. EDDY DIED ON THE NIGHT OF THE SEVENTH."

"WEDNESDAY, THE TENTH.

"MILT ELLIOT DIED LAST NIGHT AT MURPHY'S SHANTY.

"MRS. REED WENT THERE THIS MORNING

TO SEE AFTER HIS EFFECTS."

PATRICK BREEN.

Reader: "EVERYONE HAD GONE TO BED, BUT I COULD NOT SLEEP.

"LOOKING UP THROUGH THE DARKNESSWITH MY HANDS CLASPED

"I MADE A VOW THAT IF GOD WOULD SEND US RELIEF

AND LET ME SEE MY FATHER AGAIN,I WOULD BE A CATHOLIC."

VIRGINIA REED.

Narrator: ONE AFTERNOON, PEGGY BREEN MOTIONED MARGARET REED OUTSIDE

TO TELL HER THATHER DAUGHTER VIRGINIA WAS DYING.

THEY WERE ALL DYING.

ON FEBRUARY 19, 1847, SEVEN FREEZING, EXHAUSTED MEN

OF THE FIRST RELIEF PARTY STRUGGLED OVER THE SUMMIT

AND CAME WITHIN SIGHT OF THE LAKE.

Reader: "AT SUNSET WE CROSSED TRUCKEE LAKE ON THE ICE

"AND CAME TO THE SPOT WHERE WE HAD BEEN TOLD

"WE SHOULD FIND THE EMIGRANTS.

"WE LOOKED ALL AROUND

"BUT NO LIVING THING EXCEPT OURSELVES WAS IN SIGHT.

"WE RAISED A LOUD 'HELLO'

"AND THEN WE SAW A WOMAN EMERGEFROM A HOLE IN THE SNOW.

"AS WE APPROACHED HER, SEVERAL OTHERS MADE THEIR APPEARANCE

"IN LIKE MANNER, COMING OUT OF THE SNOW.

"THEY WERE GAUNT WITH FAMINE

"AND I NEVER CAN FORGET

"THE HORRIBLE, GHASTLY SIGHT THEY PRESENTED.

"THE FIRST WOMAN SPOKE IN AHOLLOW VOICE VERY MUCH AGITATED

"AND SAID, 'ARE YOU MEN FROM CALIFORNIA

OR DO YOU COME FROM HEAVEN?'"

Narrator: THE RESCUERS WERE SHOCKED BY WHAT THEY FOUND.

12 EMIGRANTS HAD DIED, AND BODIES LAY EVERYWHERE

ON TOP OF THE SNOW COVERED WITH QUILTS.

48 STILL CLUNG TO LIFE, BUT SOME HAD GONE MAD

AND OTHERS WERE TOO FAR GONE TO BE REVIVED.

SOMEHOW, MARGARET REED HAD MANAGED

TO KEEP ALL HER CHILDREN ALIVE.

SO HAD PEGGY BREEN AND TAMSEN DONNER.

SO FAR, NONE OF THE SURVIVORS AT THE LAKE

HAD BEEN FORCED TO EAT HUMAN FLESH.

THERE WAS NO TIME TO WASTE.

THE RESCUERS COULD TAKE ONLY 24 OF THE STARVING EMIGRANTS

OUT WITH THEM.

THE BREENS AGREED TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT RELIEF PARTY;

SO DID THE DONNERS.

GEORGE WAS TOO SICK TO MOVE, ANDTAMSEN WOULD NOT LEAVE HIS SIDE.

ON FEBRUARY 22, THE FIRST RELIEF PARTY STARTED BACK.

THERE WAS ALMOST NO FOOD TO SPARE

FOR THE 31 DESPERATE PEOPLE LEFT BEHIND.

Reader: "FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26.

HUNGRY TIMES IN CAMP."

"MRS. MURPHY SAID SHE THOUGHT SHE WOULD COMMENCE ON MILT

AND EAT HIM."

"I DON'T THINK SHE HAS DONE SO YET.

IT IS DISTRESSING."

PATRICK BREEN.

Narrator: THE ORDEAL OF THE DONNER PARTY WAS FAR FROM OVER.

FOR TWO MORE MONTHS, FOUR RELIEF PARTIES BATTLED

THE TERRIBLE SNOW AND COLD OF THE SIERRA NEVADA

TO TRY TO SAVE THE STARVING EMIGRANTS.

THE SCENES ENACTED IN THE MOUNTAINS

DURING THOSE TWO MONTHS WOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

WHEN THE FIRST RELIEF PARTY LEFT THE LAKE

EIGHT-YEAR-OLD PATTY REED VOLUNTEERED TO STAY BEHIND

TO CARE FOR HER THREE-YEAR-OLD BROTHER THOMAS

WHO WAS TOO SMALL TO WALK THROUGH THE HUGE DRIFTS.

"WELL, MA," SHE TOLD HER ANGUISHED MOTHER

"IF YOU NEVER SEE ME AGAIN, DO THE BEST THAT YOU CAN."

Reader: "WE WENT OVER THE GREAT HIGHMOUNTAIN AS STEEP AS STAIR STEPS

"IN SNOW UP TO OUR KNEES.

"LITTLE JAMES WALKED THE WHOLE WAY OVER

"IN SNOW UP TO HIS WAIST.

"HE SAID EVERY STEP HE TOOK HE WAS GETTING NIGHER PA

AND SOMETHING TO EAT."

Narrator: TWO CHILDREN HAD DIED, AND MORE WERE FAILING FAST

WHEN THE FIRST RELIEF PARTY CAUGHT SIGHT OF SOMETHING

MOVING TOWARDS THEM THROUGH THE TREES.

IT WAS THE SECOND RELIEF PARTY.

JAMES REED WAS LEADING IT.

Reader: "HERE I MET MY OWN WIFE AND TWO OF MY LITTLE CHILDREN.

"TWO, STILL IN THE MOUNTAINS.

"I CANNOT DESCRIBE THE DEATHLIKE LOOK OF THEM.

"'BREAD, BREAD, BREAD, BREAD'

WAS THE BEGGING OF EVERY CHILD AND GROWN PERSON."

Narrator: WHEN SHE HEARD HER HUSBAND'S VOICE

MARGARET REED STUMBLEDIN THE SNOW AND ALMOST FAINTED.

THEY HAD BEEN SEPARATED FOR FIVE MONTHS.

REED WAS CERTAIN HIS FAMILY HAD PERISHED.

WHEN JAMES REED AND THE SECOND RELIEF PARTY REACHED THE LAKE

PATTY AND THOMAS WERE STILL ALIVE.

THE REST OF THE CAMP WAS A SHAMBLES.

TEN MORE EMIGRANTS HAD DIED

AND THE SURVIVORS HAD BEGUN TO EAT THE DEAD.

Reader: "AMONG THE CABINS LAY THE FLESHLESS BONES

"AND HALF-EATEN BODIES OF THE VICTIMS OF THE FAMINE.

"THERE LAY THE LIMBS, THE SKULLS AND THE HAIR

"OF THE POOR BEINGS WHO HAD DIED FROM WANT

"AND WHOSE FLESH PRESERVED THE LIVES

"OF THEIR SURVIVING COMRADES

"WHO, SHIVERING BENEATH THEIR FILTHY RAGS

"AND SURROUNDED BY THE REMAINS OF THEIR UNHOLY FEAST

"LOOKED MORE LIKE DEMONS THAN HUMAN BEINGS.

"THEY HAD FALLEN FROM THEIR HIGH ESTATE

THOUGH COMPELLED BY THE FELL HAND OF DIRE NECESSITY."

Narrator:THE FIERCEST STORM OF THE WINTER

BROKE OVER THE SECOND RELIEF PARTY

AS THEY STRUGGLED TO CROSS THE MOUNTAINS.

FOR TWO DAYS, THE EMIGRANTS AND RESCUERS

HUDDLED AROUND A FIRE THAT SANK SLOWLY INTO THE SNOW.

IT WAS THERE THAT THE THIRD RELIEF PARTY FOUND THEM

TEN DAYS LATER.

Reader: "THE PICTURE OF DISTRESS WAS SHOCKING INDEED.

"THEY HAD CONSUMED TWO CHILDREN OF JACOB DONNER.

"MRS. GRAVES' BODY WAS LYING THERE

"WITH ALMOST ALL THE FLESH CUT AWAY FROM HER ARMS AND LIMBS.

"HER BREASTS WERE CUT OFF, AND HER HEART AND LIVER TAKEN OUT.

"HER LITTLE CHILD, ABOUT 13 MONTHS OLD, SAT AT HER SIDE

"WITH ONE ARM UPON THE BODY OF ITS MANGLED MOTHER

"SOBBING BITTERLY

CRYING, 'MA... MA... MA...'"

Narrator: WHEN THE THIRD RELIEF PARTY REACHED THE LAKE

ONLY SEVEN EMIGRANTS REMAINED ALIVE.

TAMSEN DONNER WAS AMONG THEM

STILL REMARKABLY STRONG FOR ALL SHE'D BEEN THROUGH.

GEORGE, WHO WAS DYING, BEGGED HER TO LEAVE.

TAMSEN REFUSED.

SHE WOULD NOT LET HER HUSBAND DIE ALONE.

THE FOURTH RELIEF PARTY WAS DELAYED ONE FULL MONTH

BY THE NINTH AND FINAL BLIZZARD

OF WHAT WAS THE WORST WINTER EVER RECORDED

IN THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS.

THEY FOUND LEWIS KIESBURG IN HIS CABIN

DELIRIOUS, SURROUNDED BY THE HALF-EATEN DEAD.

NO ONE ELSE WAS ALIVE.

TAMSEN DONNER'S BODY WAS NEVER FOUND.

KIESBURG CONFESSED TO EATING HER REMAINS.

ON APRIL 21, THE LAST RELIEF PARTY LEFT THE LAKE.

ON APRIL 25, THEY REACHED BEAR VALLEY.

ALL OF THE SURVIVORS OF THE DONNER PARTY

HAD NOW COME OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS.

IT HAD BEEN ONE YEAR ALMOST TO THE DAY

SINCE THE DONNERS AND THE REEDSHAD LEFT THEIR HOMES

IN SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

Reader: "IT WAS LONG AFTER DARK WHEN WE GOT TO JOHNSON'S RANCH

"SO THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING.

"THE WEATHER WAS FINE

"THE GROUND WAS COVERED WITH GREEN GRASS

"THE BIRDS WERE SINGING FROM THE TOPS OF THE TREES

"AND THE JOURNEY WAS OVER.

"I COULD SCARCELY BELIEVE THAT I WAS ALIVE.

"THE SCENE THAT I SAW THAT MORNING

"SEEMS TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED ON MY MIND.

"MOST OF THE INCIDENTS ARE GONE FROM MEMORY

BUT I CAN ALWAYS SEE THE CAMP NEAR JOHNSON'S RANCH."

JOHN BREEN.

Reader: "CALIFORNIA, MAY 16, 1847.

"MY DEAR COUSIN:

"I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE TO YOU

"TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL WELL AT PRESENT.

"I AM GOING TO WRITE TO YOU ABOUT OUR TROUBLES

"IN GETTING TO CALIFORNIA.

"WE HAD GOOD LUCK TILL WE COME TO BIG SANDY.

"WE HAD TO STAY IN THE CALIFORNIA MOUNTAINS

"ALL WINTER WITHOUT PA.

WE HAD NOT THE FIRST THING TO EAT."

Narrator: OF THE 87 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE DONNER PARTY

46 SURVIVED.

41 DIED: FIVE WOMEN, 14 CHILDREN AND 22 MEN

COUNTING JOHN SUTTER'S INDIANS LEWIS AND SALVADORE

WHO HAD RISKED THEIR LIVES TO SAVE THE EMIGRANTS.

TWO-THIRDS OF THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN MADE IT THROUGH.

TWO-THIRDS OF THE MEN PERISHED.

OF ALL THE FAMILIES, THE DONNERS SUFFERED THE MOST.

ALL FOUR ADULTS AND FOUR OF THE CHILDREN DIED.

ALL OF THE REEDS SURVIVED.

SO DID ALL OF THE BREENS.

THE STORY OF THE DONNER DISASTER

QUICKLY SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

NEWSPAPERS PRINTED EVERY WORD OF ALL THE LETTERS AND DIARIES

ALONG WITH WILD TALES

OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAD GOTTENTO ENJOY EATING HUMAN FLESH.

EMIGRATION TO CALIFORNIA FELL OFF SHARPLY

AND HASTINGS' CUTOFF WAS ALL BUT ABANDONED.

THEN, IN JANUARY 1848, GOLD WAS DISCOVERED

IN JOHN SUTTER'S CREEK.

BY LATE 1849, MORE THAN 100,000PEOPLE HAD RUSHED TO CALIFORNIA

TO DIG AND SIFT NEAR THE STREAMS AND CANYONS

WHERE THE DONNER PARTY HAD SUFFERED SO MUCH.

IN 1850, CALIFORNIA ENTERED THE UNION AS THE 31st STATE.

YEAR BY YEAR

TRAFFIC OVER WHAT WAS NOW CALLED DONNER PASS INCREASED.

THE LAKE BECAME A TOURIST ATTRACTION

AND A FAVORITE VACATION SPOT YEAR ROUND.

THE TERRIBLE ORDEALS OF THE DONNER PARTY

PASSED INTO HISTORY AND LEGEND.

RELICS FROM THE CAMPS

BITS OF CHINA, BUTTONS AND NAILS

WOOD SHAVINGS FROM THE CABINS

BECAME POPULAR SOUVENIRS.

ALMOST A CENTURY LATER

TREES THE EMIGRANTS HAD SHORN OFF AT SNOW LEVEL STILL STOOD

AS A VIVID REMINDER OF THE FIERCE WINTER OF 1846.

Stegner: OH, IT'S GOT EVERYTHING.

IT'S A GREEK TRAGEDY.

IT'S A GREAT TEST OF HUMAN CHARACTER.

SOME PEOPLE CAME THROUGH IT HEROICALLY

AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT PARTY WERE FAR FROM HEROES

AND THEY GOT WORSE AS THE CONDITIONS GOT WORSE.

SO IT WAS AS IF THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS

THE BLESSED AND THE UNBLESSED SORTED THEMSELVES OUT

AGAINST A BACKGROUND OF TERRIBLE HARDSHIP AND TRAGEDY.

Narrator: MOST OF THE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF THE DONNER PARTY

WERE RAPIDLY ABSORBED INTO THE POPULATION OF CALIFORNIA.

MARY GRAVES, SURVIVOR OF THE FORLORN HOPE

WAS MARRIED IN MAY, BEFORE THE SNOWS HAD EVEN MELTED.

THE BREENS SETTLED IN SAN JUAN BAUTISTA

WHERE PATRICK BECAME A PROMINENT RANCHER.

ALONE AMONG THE SURVIVORS

LEWIS KIESBURG SPOKE OPENLY OF EATING HUMAN FLESH

AND WAS REVILED AS A MAN-EATER AND GHOUL.

DURING THE GOLD RUSH HE MADE HIS FORTUNE

AND IN 1851, OPENED A RESTAURANT IN SACRAMENTO.

GEORGE AND TAMSEN DONNER'S ORPHANED CHILDREN

WERE SOON SPLIT UP.

ELIZA AND GEORGIA WERE ADOPTED BY A SWISS COUPLE

WHO LIVED NEAR SUTTER'S FORT.

Reader: "MY DEAR COUSIN:

"WE ARE ALL VERY WELL PLEASED WITH CALIFORNIA.

"IT IS A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.

"IT OUGHT TO BE A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY

"TO PAY US FOR OUR TROUBLE GETTING THERE.

"TELL HENRIETTA IF SHE WANTS TO GET MARRIED

"TO COME TO CALIFORNIA.

SHE CAN GET A SPANIARD ANYTIME."

Narrator: TO HER FATHER'S DISMAY

VIRGINIA REED KEPT THE VOW SHE'D MADE

IN THE CABIN BY THE LAKE

AND CONVERTED TO CATHOLICISM.

WHEN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD PATTY REED ARRIVED IN CALIFORNIA

SHE PULLED FROM HER RAGGED DRESS A LITTLE BUNDLE.

IN IT WAS A LOCK OF HER GRANDMOTHER'S HAIR

AND A TINY DOLL SHE HAD CARRIED WITH HER

ALL THE WAY FROM SPRINGFIELD.

SHE DIED IN 1931, AT THE AGE OF 93.

JAMES REED NEVER SPOKE IN PUBLICOF THE KILLING OF JOHN SNYDER.

HE SETTLED HIS FAMILY IN SAN JOSE

MADE MONEY IN REAL ESTATE AND GOLD

AND BECAME ONE OF THE TOWN'S LEADING CITIZENS.

MARGARET REED'S SICK HEADACHESDISAPPEARED AND NEVER RETURNED.

LANSFORD HASTINGS MOVED TO SANFRANCISCO AND WENT BACK INTO LAW

BUT WAS TOO RESTLESS TO MAKE A GO OF IT.

DURING THE CIVIL WAR, HE PROPOSED LEADING AN ARMY WEST

TO SEIZE ARIZONA FOR THE CONFEDERACY.

AFTER THE WAR, HE PUBLISHED THE EMIGRANTS' GUIDE TO BRAZIL

AND DIED IN 1870, TRYING TO ESTABLISH

A COLONY OF EX-CONFEDERATES IN SOUTH AMERICA.

Reader:"OH, MARY, I HAVE NOT WROTE YOUHALF OF THE TROUBLE WE HAVE HAD

"BUT I HAVE WROTE YOU ENOUGHTO LET YOU KNOW WHAT TROUBLE IS.

"BUT THANK GOD.

"WE ARE THE ONLY FAMILY THAT DID NOT EAT HUMAN FLESH.

"WE HAVE LEFT EVERYTHING BUT I DON'T CARE FOR THAT.

"WE HAVE GOT THROUGH WITH OUR LIVES.

"DON'T LET THIS LETTER DISHEARTEN ANYBODY.

"REMEMBER: NEVER TAKE NO CUTOFFS

AND HURRY ALONG AS FAST AS YOU CAN."

VIRGINIA REED.