Creator
[John Muir]
Recipient
[ricipient unknown]
Preview
Transcription
[A] Martinez, Cal., November 19, 1910. Dear Madam:- Here is a sketch of the fate of the Donner Party. The Donner party of immigrants bound for California was organized in Illinois. It consisted of about eighty persons nearly equally divided between males and females and including a number of children. About a month was lost by taking a new road around the south end of Salt Lake instead of the usual route around the north end. Therefore owing to this delay the party did not arrive at the foot of the west flank of the Sierra until October 31st, 1846, when the snow commenced to fall, and their provisions began to fail. They attempted to cross but by the time they reached Donner Lake just below the summit of the range they were stopped by the deep snow and built cabins and tried to pass the winter there. In a few weeks starvation stared them in the face. Fifteen of the strongest started for Sutter's Fort for help. Suffered terribly. Distance ninety miles in a straight line. After all had died on the way except four or five one of them staggered to the Johnson's ranch and supplies were forwarded to the three or four survivors;- these had eaten the dead as they fell. The news spread to Sutter's Fort and San Francisco. Captain Sutter promptly sent men and mules with provisions. San Francisco raised fifteen hundred dollars and several other relief parties were sent out. 05907
Location
[Martinez, Calif.]
Date Original
[ca. 1910 Nov 19]
Source
Original letter dimensions: 16.5 x 13 cm.
Resource Identifier
muir19_0968-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 19, Image 0968
Copyright Status
Copyrighted
Copyright Statement
The unpublished works of John Muir are copyrighted by the Muir-Hanna Trust. To purchase copies of images and/or obtain permission to publish or exhibit them, see http://www.pacific.edu/Library/Find/Holt-Atherton-Special-Collections/Fees-and-Forms-.html
Owning Institution
University of the Pacific Library Holt-Atherton Special Collections. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.
Copyright Holder
Muir-Hanna Trust
Copyright Date
1984
Page Number
Page 2
Keywords
John Muir, correspondence, letters, author, writing, naturalist, California, correspondent, mail, message, post, exchange of letters, missive, notes, epistle
