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he¡¡prime¡¡and¡¡vigor¡¡of¡¡manhood£»¡¡maidens¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡sweetness¡¡and¡¡freshness¡¡of¡¡budding¡¡womanhood£»¡¡children¡¡full¡¡of¡¡glee¡¡and¡¡mirthfulness£»¡¡and¡¡babes¡¡nestling¡¡on¡¡maternal¡¡breasts¡£¡¡Lovers¡¡there¡¡were£»¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡journey¡¡was¡¡tinged¡¡with¡¡rainbow¡¡hues¡¡of¡¡joy¡¡and¡¡happiness£»¡¡and¡¡strong£»¡¡manly¡¡hearts¡¡whose¡¡constant¡¡support¡¡and¡¡encouragement¡¡was¡¡the¡¡memory¡¡of¡¡dear¡¡ones¡¡left¡¡behind¡¡in¡¡homeland¡£
¡¨The¡¡wonderment¡¡which¡¡all¡¡experience¡¡in¡¡viewing¡¡the¡¡scenery¡¡along¡¡the¡¡line¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡emigrant¡¡road¡¡was¡¡peculiarly¡¡vivid¡¡to¡¡these¡¡people¡£¡¡Few¡¡descriptions¡¡had¡¡been¡¡given¡¡of¡¡the¡¡route£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡was¡¡novel¡¡and¡¡unexpected¡£¡¡In¡¡later¡¡years¡¡the¡¡road¡¡was¡¡broadly¡¡and¡¡deeply¡¡marked£»¡¡and¡¡good¡¡camping¡¡grounds¡¡were¡¡distinctly¡¡indicated¡£¡¡The¡¡bleaching¡¡bones¡¡of¡¡cattle¡¡that¡¡had¡¡perished£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡broken¡¡fragments¡¡of¡¡wagons¡¡or¡¡castaway¡¡articles£»¡¡were¡¡thickly¡¡strewn¡¡on¡¡either¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡highway¡£¡¡But¡¡in¡¡1846¡¡the¡¡way¡¡was¡¡through¡¡almost¡¡trackless¡¡valleys¡¡waving¡¡with¡¡grass£»¡¡along¡¡rivers¡¡where¡¡few¡¡paths¡¡were¡¡visible£»¡¡save¡¡those¡¡made¡¡by¡¡the¡¡feet¡¡of¡¡buffalo¡¡and¡¡antelope£»¡¡and¡¡over¡¡mountains¡¡and¡¡plains¡¡where¡¡little¡¡more¡¡than¡¡the¡¡westward¡¡course¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡guided¡¡the¡¡travelers¡£¡¡Trading¡posts¡¡were¡¡stationed¡¡at¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡widely¡¡distant¡¡points£»¡¡and¡¡rarely¡¡did¡¡the¡¡party¡¡meet¡¡with¡¡any¡¡human¡¡beings£»¡¡save¡¡wandering¡¡bands¡¡of¡¡Indians¡£¡¡Yet¡¡these¡¡first¡¡days¡¡are¡¡spoken¡¡of¡¡by¡¡all¡¡of¡¡the¡¡survivors¡¡as¡¡being¡¡crowned¡¡with¡¡peaceful¡¡enjoyment¡¡and¡¡pleasant¡¡anticipations¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡beautiful¡¡flowers¡¡by¡¡the¡¡roadside£»¡¡an¡¡abundance¡¡of¡¡game¡¡in¡¡the¡¡meadows¡¡and¡¡mountains£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡night¡¡there¡¡were¡¡singing£»¡¡dancing£»¡¡and¡¡innocent¡¡plays¡£¡¡Several¡¡musical¡¡instruments£»¡¡and¡¡many¡¡excellent¡¡voices£»¡¡were¡¡in¡¡the¡¡party£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡kindliest¡¡feeling¡¡and¡¡goodfellowship¡¡prevailed¡¡among¡¡the¡¡members¡£
¡¨The¡¡formation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡company¡¡known¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Donner¡¡Party¡¡was¡¡purely¡¡accidental¡£¡¡The¡¡union¡¡of¡¡so¡¡many¡¡emigrants¡¡into¡¡one¡¡train¡¡was¡¡not¡¡occasioned¡¡by¡¡any¡¡preconcerted¡¡arrangement¡£¡¡Many¡¡composing¡¡the¡¡Donner¡¡Party¡¡were¡¡not¡¡aware£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡outset£»¡¡that¡¡such¡¡a¡¡tide¡¡of¡¡emigration¡¡was¡¡sweeping¡¡to¡¡California¡£¡¡In¡¡many¡¡instances¡¡small¡¡parties¡¡would¡¡hear¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mammoth¡¡train¡¡just¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡them¡¡or¡¡just¡¡behind¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡hastening¡¡their¡¡pace£»¡¡or¡¡halting¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡days£»¡¡joined¡¡themselves¡¡to¡¡the¡¡party¡£¡¡Many¡¡were¡¡with¡¡the¡¡train¡¡during¡¡a¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡journey£»¡¡but¡¡from¡¡some¡¡cause¡¡or¡¡other¡¡became¡¡parted¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Donner¡¡company¡¡before¡¡reaching¡¡Donner¡¡Lake¡£¡¡Soon¡¡after¡¡the¡¡train¡¡left¡¡Independence¡¡it¡¡contained¡¡between¡¡two¡¡and¡¡three¡¡hundred¡¡wagons£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡in¡¡motion¡¡was¡¡two¡¡miles¡¡in¡¡length¡£¡¡The¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡party¡¡proper¡¡numbered¡¡ninety¡£¡¨
This¡¡caravan£»¡¡like¡¡many¡¡others¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡assemblage¡¡westbound¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time£»¡¡had¡¡great¡¡extremes¡¡in¡¡personnel¡£¡¡Some¡¡were¡¡out¡¡for¡¡mere¡¡adventure£»¡¡some¡¡were¡¡single¡¡men¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡a¡¡location¡£¡¡Most¡¡of¡¡them¡¡were¡¡fathers¡¡of¡¡families£»¡¡among¡¡them¡¡several¡¡persons¡¡of¡¡considerable¡¡means¡¡and¡¡of¡¡good¡¡standing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡community¡¡which¡¡they¡¡were¡¡leaving¡£¡¡While¡¡we¡¡may¡¡suppose¡¡that¡¡most¡¡of¡¡them¡¡were¡¡folk¡¡of¡¡no¡¡extraordinary¡¡sort£»¡¡certainly¡¡some¡¡were¡¡persons¡¡of¡¡education¡¡and¡¡intelligence¡£¡¡Among¡¡these¡¡was¡¡the¡¡wife¡¡of¡¡George¡¡DonnerTamsen¡¡Dormer£»¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡of¡¡education£»¡¡a¡¡musician£»¡¡a¡¡linguist£»¡¡a¡¡botanist£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡sublime¡¡heroism¡£
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¡¨Near¡¡the¡¡Junction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡North¡¡and¡¡South¡¡Platte£»¡¡June¡¡16£»¡¡1846¡£
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¡¨We¡¡are¡¡now¡¡four¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡fifty¡¡miles¡¡from¡¡Independence¡£¡¡Our¡¡route¡¡at¡¡first¡¡was¡¡rough£»¡¡and¡¡through¡¡a¡¡timbered¡¡country£»¡¡which¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡be¡¡fertile¡£¡¡After¡¡striking¡¡the¡¡prairie£»¡¡we¡¡found¡¡a¡¡firstrate¡¡road£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡only¡¡difficulty¡¡we¡¡have¡¡had£»¡¡has¡¡been¡¡in¡¡crossing¡¡the¡¡creeks¡£¡¡In¡¡that£»¡¡however£»¡¡there¡¡has¡¡been¡¡no¡¡danger¡£
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¡¨Since¡¡we¡¡have¡¡been¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Platte£»¡¡we¡¡have¡¡had¡¡the¡¡river¡¡on¡¡one¡¡side¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ever¡¡varying¡¡mounds¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡and¡¡have¡¡traveled¡¡through¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡lands¡¡from¡¡one¡¡to¡¡two¡¡miles¡¡wide£»¡¡with¡¡little¡¡or¡¡no¡¡timber¡£¡¡The¡¡soil¡¡is¡¡sandy£»¡¡and¡¡last¡¡year£»¡¡on¡¡account¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dry¡¡season£»¡¡the¡¡emigrants¡¡found¡¡grass¡¡here¡¡scarce¡£¡¡Our¡¡cattle¡¡are¡¡in¡¡good¡¡order£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡proper¡¡care¡¡has¡¡been¡¡taken£»¡¡none¡¡have¡¡been¡¡lost¡£¡¡Our¡¡milch¡¡cows¡¡have¡¡been¡¡of¡¡great¡¡service£»¡¡indeed¡£¡¡They¡¡have¡¡been¡¡of¡¡more¡¡advantage¡¡than¡¡our¡¡meat¡£¡¡We¡¡have¡¡plenty¡¡of¡¡butter¡¡and¡¡milk¡£
¡¨We¡¡are¡¡commanded¡¡by¡¡Captain¡¡Russell£»¡¡an¡¡amiable¡¡man¡£¡¡George¡¡Donner¡¡is¡¡himself¡¡yet¡£¡¡He¡¡crows¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡and¡¡shouts¡¡out£»¡¡¡¨Chain¡¡up£»¡¡boyschain¡¡up£»¡¨¡¡with¡¡as¡¡much¡¡authority¡¡as¡¡though¡¡he¡¡was¡¡¡¨something¡¡in¡¡particular¡£¡¨¡¡John¡¡Denton¡¡is¡¡still¡¡with¡¡us¡£¡¡We¡¡find¡¡him¡¡useful¡¡in¡¡the¡¡camp¡£¡¡Hiram¡¡Miller¡¡and¡¡Noah¡¡James¡¡are¡¡in¡¡good¡¡health¡¡and¡¡doing¡¡well¡£¡¡We¡¡have¡¡of¡¡the¡¡best¡¡people¡¡in¡¡our¡¡company£»¡¡and¡¡some£»¡¡too£»¡¡that¡¡are¡¡not¡¡so¡¡good¡£
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¡¨I¡¡botanize£»¡¡and¡¡read¡¡some£»¡¡but¡¡cook¡¡¡¨heaps¡¨¡¡more¡£¡¡There¡¡are¡¡four¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡twenty¡¡wagons£»¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡we¡¡have¡¡heard£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡road¡¡between¡¡here¡¡and¡¡Oregon¡¡and¡¡California¡£
¡¨Give¡¡our¡¡love¡¡to¡¡all¡¡inquiring¡¡friends¡£¡¡God¡¡bless¡¡them¡£
¡¨Yours¡¡truly£»¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡George¡¡Donner¡£¡¨
By¡¡the¡¡Fourth¡¡of¡¡July¡¡the¡¡Donner¡¡Party¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡Fort¡¡Laramie¡£¡¡They¡¡pushed¡¡on¡¡west¡¡over¡¡the¡¡old¡¡trail¡¡up¡¡the¡¡Sweetwater¡¡River¡¡and¡¡across¡¡the¡¡South¡¡Pass£»¡¡the¡¡easiest¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡passes¡¡known¡¡to¡¡the¡¡early¡¡travelers¡£¡¡Without¡¡much¡¡adventure¡¡they¡¡reached¡¡Fort¡¡Bridger£»¡¡then¡¡only¡¡a¡¡trading¡post¡£¡¡Here¡¡occurred¡¡the¡¡fatal¡¡mistake¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Donner¡¡Party¡£
Some¡¡one¡¡at¡¡the¡¡fort¡¡strongly¡¡advised¡¡them¡¡to¡¡take¡¡a¡¡new¡¡route£»¡¡a¡¡cut¡off¡¡said¡¡to¡¡shorten¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡by¡¡about¡¡three¡¡hundred¡¡miles¡£¡¡This¡¡cut¡off¡¡passed¡¡along¡¡the¡¡south¡¡shore¡¡of¡¡Great¡¡Salt¡¡Lake¡¡and¡¡caught¡¡up¡¡the¡¡old¡¡California¡¡Trail¡¡from¡¡Fort¡¡Hallthen¡¡well¡¡established¡¡and¡¡well¡¡known¡along¡¡the¡¡Humboldt¡¡River¡£¡¡The¡¡great¡¡Donner¡¡caravan¡¡delayed¡¡for¡¡some¡¡days¡¡at¡¡Fort¡¡Bridger£»¡¡hesitating¡¡over¡¡the¡¡decision¡¡of¡¡which¡¡route¡¡to¡¡follow¡£¡¡The¡¡party¡¡divided¡£¡¡All¡¡those¡¡who¡¡took¡¡the¡¡old¡¡road¡¡north¡¡of¡¡Salt¡¡Lake¡¡by¡¡way¡¡of¡¡Fort¡¡Hall¡¡reached¡¡California¡¡in¡¡complete¡¡safety¡£¡¡Of¡¡the¡¡original¡¡Donner¡¡Party¡¡there¡¡remained¡¡eighty¡seven¡¡persons¡£¡¡All¡¡of¡¡these¡¡took¡¡the¡¡cut¡off£»¡¡being¡¡eager¡¡to¡¡save¡¡time¡¡in¡¡their¡¡travel¡£¡¡They¡¡reached¡¡Salt¡¡Lake¡¡after¡¡unspeakable¡¡difficulties¡£¡¡Farther¡¡west£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡deserts¡¡of¡¡Nevada£»¡¡they¡¡lost¡¡many¡¡of¡¡their¡¡cattle¡£
Now¡¡began¡¡among¡¡the¡¡party¡¡dissensions¡¡and¡¡grumblings¡£¡¡The¡¡story¡¡is¡¡a¡¡long¡¡one¡£¡¡It¡¡reached¡¡its¡¡tragic¡¡denouement¡¡just¡¡below¡¡the¡¡summit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sierras£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡shores¡¡of¡¡Donner¡¡Lake¡£¡¡The¡¡words¡¡of¡¡McGlashan¡¡may¡¡now¡¡best¡¡serve¡¡our¡¡purpose¡£
¡¨Generally£»¡¡the¡¡ascent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sierra¡¡brought¡¡joy¡¡and¡¡gladness¡¡to¡¡weary¡¡overland¡¡emigrants¡£¡¡To¡¡the¡¡Donner¡¡Party¡¡it¡¡brought¡¡terror¡¡and¡¡dismay¡£¡¡The¡¡company¡¡had¡¡hardly¡¡obtained¡¡a¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mountains£»¡¡ere¡¡the¡¡win