Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-30
THE EMIGRANTs TO CALIFORNIA.

We have had several partial Of the terrible suf
enng and mortality that beel unfortunate party Of emf
grants to California last winter amid the snowy wastes Of
the dreay Journey across the mountains but all have
were imperfect in very interesting particular nasmuch
they left of the emgrants still among the mountains
with possibility, if not strong probability of perishng by
cold and hunger Our old friend of the New London News
has been lucky enough to get hold of Honolulu paper con-
tanning the report of Passed Midshipman Woodwork who
went with party to the relief of these survivors and from
his columns transfer it our own The report was orr
ginaly published in the California Star
SAN FRANcIsoo, APRIL !, lS47.
SIR have but this moment arrived in Captain Suffers
launch from Fort Sacramento, after passage and
half days and learning that your paper is about going
press hasten to drop you few lines
Mr. Mcknsy has already informed you of the result of
the last expeditions in which brought in IL of the sufferers
In my last report from the mountains said that of my
men, by the of Clark, Cleft at the cabins by Mr. Reed
was lost In the storm which Mr. Reed party
ered severely happy say that he was rescued by
the last party OF five that sent he had succeeded
killing bear, and had subssted the until the day
before the timely aid arrived and has safely as also
hive others from the cabins likewise of the ID persons left
BY Mr. Reed on the road, viz Mr. Brnn, wife, and five
children three children of Mr. Graves one of which was an in
FAINT at the breast and Mary Donne girl about years Of
age three OF the latter children being packed the backs
Oakley Stark and Stone; the other five were children Of
Mr. Geo. Bonner, between the ages of and years girls
John Baptse, Spanish boy, in the employment Of Mr.
Bonner, and Simon Murphy, a boy of years of age
The persons left the road by Mr. Reed were Brnn
WIFE, and children, Mrs Graves and children, Mary and
Isaac Bonner The day Mr. Reed left them the boy Isaac
Bonner died. and the night Mrs. Graves and one of her
children died the remaining sufferers continued two DAVIS
without food but on the third day obliged to resort TO
the only alternative, that of eating the dead they
ed on the two children, and when my party reached them
which was on the fifth day, they eating Mrs Graves
and had already eaten the breast heart liver and lungs
when timely supply Of food and assistance reached them
he nInb Eli.
ed her foot SO severely that ampuaon will be necessary in
order TO her life.
have FASTENED down here with some of the sufferers who
required Immediate medical attendance Among them are
two of my men, Henry Dan and Charles Cady with feet
badly rozen have brought Mary Bonner and her brother
down that they may obtain medical aid the Spanish boy and
Howard Oakley came down with them nurses.
When lett the mountains there still remaining at the
cabins Mr. Kiesbuy and George Donner the only two men,
Mrs. Geo. Donner one child and Mrs. Murphy; Mrs Muir
phy Mr. Bonner and the child could not survive many days
when left but Mr. kesbuy and Mrs. Bonner could subsist
upon the remaining bodies yet DAYS The snow al
the cabins going off rapidly but in Bear Valley and on
the Juba River yet twenty feet deep on the level
When arrived at Johnson's the 23d, found letter
from MT Mchnstry stating that the bearer j. Sell d. Tucker
John Rhodes, and t. Caemeyer, willing to return to
the cabins and endeavor to save the remaining few inn
medaey organized another party consisting of John Rhodes
John Starra E. Caemeyer, John Sci and Daniel Tucker
Mr. Foster and the of Mr.. Graves volunteering TO re-
turn with them, and dispatched them Immediately furnish
ing them horses, provisions, &c, and hope ere this that
they have succeeded in saving Of those remaining there
the other three George Donner Mrs Murphy and The child
do not think be saved, should thy be alive as
will be impossible TO them they being so very feeble
and otherwise ILL., When arrived at Fort Sacramento dis
patched William Thompson TO the party on their re-
turn, with fresh supply Of coffee, sugar. Cocoa &C.
Since the 2sh of February have been twenty -four DAYS
IN the snow, may say without seeing and-have travelled
over l4O miles the foot carrying pack on INV
back-have crossed Bear River mountain four tmesbeen
twice Juba river and can say that never en;oved
better health, but have suffered little from the cold and ra
Their hard fare.
herewith suljon schedule Of the persons saved and
those that have persisted since the original party arrived
at the foot of the California mountains and were overaken
by the SHOWS.