Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-01-18
STARVED On The PLAINS


of Is4s- snow be und I'm the sierras-For-
~ Emigrants Dying of Hunger.
IFrom the San Francisco Chronicle
Probably no event or a similar ciarsc-
ter ever more stirred the feelings of the
earlier settlers of the West, and partic-
ularly those living in Illinois, than did
the tragic ending of ihs Reed and Dom
ner expedition to California in 1916.
The originators of this expedition were
James F. Reed and George and Jacob
Donner, kind and open-hearted men,
yet of bold and energetic dispositions.
They had come with their families into
Illinois only a short time after it's ad.
mittance into the Union, and finally set
tied in Sangsmon county, not far from
Springfield. In In16k5vaguereports would
occasionally reach that vicinity of the
richness of soil and healthfulness OF the
climate of the far West, aud especially
OF tho land known as California, and
these began to create a restless spirit
among the settlers. Reed and the Dom
ners called meetings of their neighbors,
and induced many to join the proposed
expedition, which finally left Spring
fald on the morning OF April IA, 184s.
The party numbered about forty per
Sons, two-thirds of whom We're women
and children.
AZ Independence, No., the final prep
arations for crossing the plains we're to |
be Nude. fhcy were 1Ufued there by /
parties from Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee. |
Misseari, and Ohio, swelling the origin.
al number to nearly 100 persons. As
oil know, IL was necessary at that period /
for persons crossing the plains to travel /
IN large bodies, as the Indians were
very hostile. Again, it was never safe
to sct forth on such a journey until the
grass was of sufficient growth to afford
sustenance for the stock. EVERYTHING |
being In readiness, extra wagons filled |
with provisions, etc., the company de.
parted from Independence eariy on the
Rning OF May IL, 1916, upon their
and weary journey.
g. went well until they arrived at a
2 few miles above the month Of
Blue river, the spot where Man
Kan, now stands. The party
ahnued its journey up the Platte rive-
valley, passing Fort Laramie, and at last
reached Fort Bridger without serious
mishap: So far the trip had occupied
tine entire summer, and the month of
september was well advanced.
AT Fort Bridger the expedition tarried
tour days to rest man and beast. II was /
here that they met with an act of treacb-
cry which undoubtedly led to their hor-
rioie fate. prominent guide of that
period, one Hastings, had discovered a
more uirect ronte to California, known
as Hastings cot of. It passed through
Webers canon to the south end of Salt
Lake, about where Salt Lake CITY nov
stands, and was 800 or 400 miles shorter
tnan the old route But it was frauobt
with SO many difficulties and dangers
that 1t was safer to travel by the north
western trail. 1t was the Intention of
the Reed and Donner party to take the
Old route: but one Vasquez, who was in
command Of the fort, and who was in
some manner connected with the Hast
ings cut oil, urged Reed and his party
to take the new route, telling them that
1t was much safer, and that they would
reach their destination many weeks ear
her. Reed and his friends agreed upon
the Hastings route, and started once
more upon their journey.
- aching the present site of Salt
Lake City, the first great obstacle pre-
sented itself. There was no road at all.
the country being one dense mass of for.
est and underbrush. There was no
other course but to literally cut and hcw
their way through to the outlet of Salt
Lake, now termed the river Jordan.
Tnis stupendous task was the indirect
cause OF several deaths in the party. and
brought about much bad blood among
Its members, the malcontents CHARGING
Reed with the entire blame of the pre,
vail ng state of affairs, as he had been
rather urgent in having the party take
the Hastings route. The dissatisfied
one, at last openly declared that Reed
or they should leave the COMPANY. or
pioodshed would follow. SO il proved:
IN an alteration with Reed soon after.
the nngleader of the grumblers, one
Patrick Breen, who had come from
iowa, struck him fiercely over the head
WIFE the brit end of a loaded OK gad,
cutting hum severely. He was about to
repeat the blow when Reeds wife. who
was a witness of the affair, sprang in be-
i've the two men, to prevent further
" 'uble. In his madness Breen struck
the woman to the ground with the whip
haniie. This made Reed almost insane.
and IN moraent he had cut his oppo-
nent Ia two with butcher knife which
ne earned, then, drawings brace of large
xeyoivers, dared any of the dead mans
mGnns to interfere. BY strenuous efIorts
his ffferds pIeyeated further butcherv.
and the affsst< for the time was ended
This tIagedy cesta gloom over the en-
tire party.
Two or three days travel from the
scare Of the disturbance brought them
to the springs whare they were to pro-
vide water and grass fer crossing what I
was known a1 Hastings desert, an aka
hne region destitute Of water or vegeta
ton The treacif rcus yascu.z had in
Tor red .hsnn that 10 was less than fifty
miles vide, while il proved, in fact. more