Creator
[John Muir]
Recipient
[ricipient unknown]
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
[B] By this time it was about the middle of February, and the lost immigrants had been cooped up in their log camp about three months and reduced to the last extremity, eating human flesh and ox hides. Some were dead and most of the living were unable to travel. The first relief party reached the camp and started back with those able to travel, the children on the rescuers' backs, February 13, 1847. A second party arrived March 1st and started back with another lot of the immigrants but were overtaken by storm and compelled to leave the sufferers on the road while going ahead for further help, but by the time the help came three were dead and the survivors feeding on their flesh. Three, Mr. Donner and his wife and Mr. Keysburg were left in camp and when the third relief party reached it in April Mr. Donner and wife were dead and Keysburg alive. It was supposed that Keysburg killed ate and robbed Mrs. Donner after the death of her husband. Of the eighty persons composing the original party, thirty-six perished. For further information see Hittell's History of California and Peter Burnett's Reminiscences. Faithfully yours, 05907
Location
[Martinez, Calif.]
Circa Date
[1910 Nov 19]
Source
Original letter dimensions: 16.5 x 13 cm.
Recommended Citation
Muir, John, "Letter from [John Muir] to [ricipient unknown], [ca. 1910 Nov 19]." (1910). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 5190.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/5190
Resource Identifier
muir19_0966-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 19, Image 0966
Collection Identifier
Online finding aid for the microform version of the John Muir Correspondence http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt0w1031nc
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
Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library. 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
Pages
3 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
