Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-01-18


they must travel day aud night, only
stopping to feed and water the cattle
When about two-thirds of the way across
the stock manifested signs of exhaustion,
and the company directed Mr.. Reed tc
go forward until he found water, and
report. He did so, reaching it in about
twenty miles, and was on his way back
to camp when he met his teamsters, about
ii o'clock at night, driving the cattle,
having left their wagons. Soon after
leaving his teamsters one of their horses
sank down in the road, and while they
were endeavoring to raise it, the cattle
nine yoke Of oxen-scented the water
and made for it. They were never
found; and there was Reed and his FAM
lily, with all their supplies, out on a
desert hundreds of miles from any hu-
man habitatioD, and the winter very
nearly at hand. The other members of
the expedition drove their teams much
further, and some succeeded Ia reaching
water. Reed not receiving any informa-
tion, and their supply of water being
nearly gone. Reed started with his
family on foot, carrying the youngest
child in his arms. In the course of the
night the children became exhausted
but cold hurricane commenced blow
ing, and they were forced 10 move on,
although the sufferipgs of the children
were intense. Near daylight, to their
great Joy, one of Jacob Donner's wagons
was reached, which proved to contain
the lattcr's family. Donner kindly con-
yeyed the unfortunate family to where
the others were camped, where they re-
manned q week trying to find Reeds cat
tie; but the search was fruitless. he
then divided his provisions, borrowed a
yoke of oxen, and, leaving his seven
wagons in the desert, moved on with the
Others.
Some days furth ron it was found that
the provisions were running short.
Reed proposed that. if two men would
go forward to Capt. Suffers in Califor
MIA, he would write him (Sutter) letter,
asking for provisions and animals to
assist the party to its destination. None
was eager to undertake journey frauRht
with SO many dangers, but finally two
men consented to go. These two were
VIM. McCutcEeon, who had joined tho
train from Missouri, and Mr.. Stanton,
of Chicago, nan of the most daring
bravery and whose nobleness of character
cost him his life. Their progress was
slow, and week after week elapsed with
out any tidingsfrom them. Affairs were
now becoming very desperate Ia the
camp; the food was well-nigh exhausted.
The expedition was camped in the
and it was impossible to
proceed further at that season of the
year on account of the heavy SHOWS.
Here the party would have to remain
until spring. It was finally agreed that
Reed should &C forward to ascertain
what had become OF Stanton and Nc
and hurry up supplies. So,
leaving his wife and five children in care
Of friends, he started out on horseback.
The Donner brothers were camped
mile or two in advance of the main body,
and with them was a man by the name
of Walter HERON, who. whsn Reed
-eacned them, volunteered to go with
lim, which Reed agreed to. Having but
,nehorse they rode in Turns. In the course
IF week their provisions gave out, and
hey travelled for days without food,
except wild geese and other game, which
hey were obliged to devour raw. When
the Sierra Nevada mountains,
Heron became 80 desperate as to pro-
pose the killing of the horse. Reed,
that they would never be able
o cross the mountains alive without the !
i'd of this animal, vowed he would put !
N end to his own hfe rather than perish |
II hunger and cold among the noun
aims. That afternoon Heron became
lelirious for wantsof food, and his case
ooked hopeless, when, to Reeds great
oy, he found a handful OF beans in the
follow of q log, and, although almost
tarved himself, gave them to his COM
,anion. The following day they came
Ipon some abandoned wagons, which
hey rsnsacked, but failed to find any
ood. Taking the tar bucket from one
4 the wagons, and scraping the tar
rom the bottom, Mr.. Reed found q
freak OF rancid tallow, which he made
,nown to Heron, who at once swallowed
J large Iiece without giving it smell
lie swallowed second piece and wanted
more, which Reed refused to give him,
laving himself eaten some which made
liD deathly sick. Soon afterward they
descended into Bea1 River valley, where
hey found q party of emigrants, who
eheved their sufferings. They here
ound Stanton and the two Indians sent
" Capt Sutter TO aid in carrying the
,rovisions which he had kindly let Stan
ON have. Reed was so terribly ema-
lated that the others did not recognize
Inn until they had conversed together
or some minutes.
The next morning, Oct. %, 1916, both
'arties continued their journeys. Mr..
iced went on to Capt. Suffers, told his
tory Of the terrible condition Of the ex-
and Sutter, ever ready to ex-
end helping hand to the suffering,
upplied him with an abundance Of pro-
isions and thirty horses and mules to
onvey tile same to the entrants. Reed
ere found McCutcheon, who had been
from joining Stanton on ac-
ount of sickness. With the aid Of two
ndians, Reed and McCutcheon started
D return to their friends. Weeks and
'eeks were spent in the attempt to re-
ross the mountains, but every plan
roved fruitiess. The snow was so deep
hat men and horses sunk out of sight
q it. To Reed, who had 80 many lives
stake, the failure was terrible.
or the suffering Of tLsse who had
cen caught in the mounta rs no better
description can be had than that fur.
ished in diary, the writer of which
5 unknown. 1t came into possession of
APT. George McKinstry, who was
at Fort Sacramento in 1847.
TRusxEE's LAKE, Nov. 20, 1876.
Came to this place the 3lst OF last month
rent into the pass the enow so deep we were /
nable to find the road and turned back to the /
hanty on Truckee lake. Stanton came ND one /
sy after we arrived here. We again took our /
cams and wagons, and made another uneuo-
essful attempt TO cross the mountains as snow
ell al the time. We now have killed most |
L our cattle. having to remain here until next |
ping, and live ON lean meat without Tread or 1
alt. II showed during the space OF eight days |
fter cur arrival, with little intermission, |
hough now clear and pleasant, freezing at |
light /; the snow nearly all gone from ths val |
sys.
Nov. 29-StiD showing; now about three |
ett deep wind west; killed my last oxen to |
ay wood hsrd to get.
Nov. 30-Snowing fast, and seems likely to |
,nsinue for Gays; no living thing, without !
ungs, can get about.
Dsc. 1-Slin showing; snow about six and . |
ALI feet deep; very difficult to get wood, and |