Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-09-25
SUFFERING OF H CALIFORNIA EMIGRANTs:

###t @H#E@G. .@..r -- %.a#
The following letter, addressed to VIM. A. Bartlett, Gov
ernor Of San Francisco, gives an account of the sufferings Of
the e~migrants in the California mountains, and the exertions
made for their relief and succor
RANCHO DEL PAsso, JANUARY %, ls47.
The following narrative Of facts, so far as / have learned
them, may be depended on ; a fnl and perfect narrative / arm
not able to give you, not having, as yet, seen any of the unfortu-
nate sufferers. 1t appears that, about the 18th December,
nine men, five women, and two Indians, in. the employ of
Capt. Suffer, left what is called Reds party of emigrants, who
have been detained in the mountains by the snow, with the in.
tention of reaching this settlement, driven to this course by the
certain death which awaited them in the mountains. They start
ed, in a manner o~fspeaking, without provisions, Zone ofthe men
having only two pounds of beef and, asyou will understand,
on foot, the snow being then where they were ten feet deep.
A few days afterward two Of the men became so weak that
they concluded to turn back. These two, it is supposed, per-
ished. The rest endeavored to struggle on a while, every
hour ~behoding them getting weaker and weaker, until at last
they were obliged to throw away the blankets which they
carried to shield them from the piercing cold, which in those
regions is intense. At what time they got entirely out of pro-
visions | am unable to say, but in the midst of their sufierings
a snow storm came on, which lasted three days and three
nights and during the whole of the time they were without
fire, and, as far as | have understood, without food. During
these three dreadful days and nights they sat hudded together
in the snow, their heads resting upon their knees, exposed to
the piiless storm Great God who can imagine the suffer-
ings of these helpless, houseless beings, at that time, without
food and without fire l-no prospect before them but death,
and that death the most horrible which can fall to the lot of
man!
After the storm ceased they succeeded in getting fire, and
again endeavored to pursue their painless course through the
newly fallen snow. Whether any of the party died previous
to this | cannot say but if not, death was there lowering fear
fully over them. Again they camped-
e and each sat sullenly apart,
Gorging himself in gloom no love was left
All earth was but one thought, and that was death,
Immediate and .inglorious and the pang
Of famine fed upon all entrails. Men
Died, and their bones were tombless as their flesh.
The meager by the meager were devoured."
Yes, stern necessity, and that love of life which even suf-
ferings the most intense cannot vanquish, compelled them to
devour their dead.
Let me close this tale Of horror. Suffice it to say that seven
out of the sixteen reached the settlement forty miles above
me-fve women andtwo men. The rest died at differenttimes,
and six of them became food for the living. The two In
dams, who had been sent there early in the season by Capt.
Sutter with provisions, were the last that died, and they like
wise were eaten, with the exception of their heads. Those
who escaped arrived with hardly sufficient clothing to cover
their nakedness, their clothes being nearly burnt from their
backs by keeping SO close to their fires, and most of them
having their feet badly frozen. They were one month on the
road, the distance travelled being only about one hundred and
ten miles. They report those remaining in the mountains
still alive, by eating the bullock hides, and, being on short al
lowance, may have provisions up to the middle of next month.
Mr.. Kern, Capt. Suffer, Mr.. McKinsy, and myself are
doing all we can TO raise men to go to the assistance OF those
in the mountains, and have pledged ourselves to pay each
man three dollars per day from the time they start until they
return, provided the emigrants themselves should not be able
to pay. We likewise hold ourselves responsible for the pro-
visions, at the same time we feel confident that our Govern
ment will be willing to pay all the expenses incurred in such
a case as this, and we know that there is not one Of our fell
low-citizens but is willing to aid and assist us in saving
the lives of those helpless women and children.
By the I'd OF February, think, about fourteen men will be
able to start, which will be nearly every ~able-bodied man in
the vicinity, and l would urge the propriety of calling a meet
ing of the inhabitants Of Yerba Buena, and from among them
endeavor to raise about twenty a~ble-bodied men to form a Sc
cond party to goto their assistance, as the men who are go
ing from here will not lie able to go back. Capt. Hull will
likewise, undoubtedly, exert all his influence and authority in
~furthering such an undertaking.
You will excuse this hasty sketch of their sufferings, as |
have not time to be more explicit / leave here tomorrow on
foot for the starting point, distant forty miles, to bring on and
complete every thing for the expedition.
You will oblige me by making this communication as pub.
lie as possible, as | wish every one TO knw the situation OF
these unfortunate people, in order that it may stir them toex-
ertion in their behalf.
remain yours, respectfully. JOHN SINCLAIR.