The Journey of the Donner Party

Overview

• Date: April 16, 1846
• Start Location: Springfield, Illinois
• Destination: California, American west coast
• Leader: James Frazier Reed
• Group Size: 87 settlers
• Objective: To stake a claim in California and seek a better climate for health reasons

Preparation and Departure

• Guidebook: "The Immigrant's Guide to Oregon and California" by Langsford W. Hastings
  • Advertised a shortcut that was untested
  • Promised to reduce the journey by 340-400 miles
• Departure: Nine wagons split into family groups
  • Families included: Donner, Graves, Breenes, Murphys, Eddies, McCutcheons, Keesburgs, and Wolfingers
  • Others: Seven teamsters and several bachelors
• Reed's Wagon: An extravagant two-story wagon requiring eight oxen

Early Journey

• First Stop: Independence, Missouri
• Challenges: High waters at Big Blue River, Kansas
  • First death: Sarah Kees
• Fort Laramie, Wyoming: Met a friend who warned against Hastings' route
  • Reed ignored the warning, continued on Hastings' route

Fort Bridger and Hastings Trail

• Arrival: July 28, Fort Bridger
  • Found a letter from Hastings, no personal guidance
• Decision Point: Little Sandy River, Wyoming
  • Majority took the traditional route, minority followed the Hastings Cut-Off led by George Donner

Difficult Conditions and Setbacks

• Challenges: Difficult terrains, clearing trees, slow progress
• Deaths: Luke Halloran
• Desert Crossing: Salt Lake Desert delayed progress, depleted water, and food supplies
• Arrival at Sierra Nevadas: October 16
  • Encountered snow and were unable to cross

The Trapped Group

• Sheltering: Built cabins and makeshift shelters
• James Reed's Efforts: Attempt to bring rescue from Sutter's Fort
  • Unable to succeed due to the American-Mexican war

Struggle for Survival

• Attempted Escape: A group attempted to reach the summit on foot
  • Exhaustion, deaths, and eventual cannibalism to survive
• First Rescue Party: February 5
  • Brought back some survivors but not enough supplies
• Cannibalism: Evident within the group

Outcomes

• Survival Rate: 41 died, 46 survived
  • More men died compared to women and children
• Public Reaction: Blamed the settlers for their decisions
• Hastings: Never held accountable
• Impact: Decrease in immigration to California until the gold rush

Questions for Reflection

• The ethical considerations of survival in extreme conditions, such as cannibalism
• The consequences of trusting untested advice or routes

Call to Action

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