Fresno-Tulare-Kern County CA Archives History - Books .....The Donner Party 1892
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 10, 2007, 2:49 am

Book Title: Memorial And Biographical History Of The Counties Of Fresno, Tulare, And Kern, California

THE DONNER PARTY.

  The most tragic affair in the history of immigration to this State was the sad
experience of a company of immigrants from Illinois called the Donner party,
numbering eighty persons. They reached the eastern slope of the Sierras October
31, 1846, and, owing to lack of provisions, were compelled to push forward
regardless of the falling snow which threatened to bury them. Finally finding
themselves snowbound, and hemmed in on every side, they built cabins to pass the
winter there. In a few weeks starvation stared them in the face, and a party of
fifteen was organized to make their way to Sutter's fort for assistance. Only
one of the miserable party survived to reach William Johnson's ranch on Bear
river, and he carried the sad news to Sutter's fort and San Francisco. Relief
parties were immediately organized and started to the rescue of the sufferers.
The first party of rescue arrived at the camp near Donner lake, February 19,
1847. Of the eighty persons who composed the party, thirty-six had perished from
cold and hunger, Donner and his wife among the number. The latter it is said,
was murdered by a man of the party named Keseberg, for the valuables she
possessed. The sufferers, in order to preserve life, fed upon the corpses of
their late companions, several went insane, and others subsequently died from
the hardships they had endured. Details of the sufferings of this unfortunate
party are heart-rending.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Memorial and Biographical History
OF THE COUNTIES OF
Fresno, Tulare, and Kern, California

Illustrated
Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Prospective Future: with Profuse Illustrations of its Beautiful Scenery,
Full-page Portraits of Some of its most Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of
Many of its Pioneers, and also of Prominent Citizens of to-day.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants." -Macaulay.

CHICAGO:
The Lewis Publishing Company.
Undated, but OCLC lists a publication date of 1892

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