The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-02-02
STARVED ON THE PLAINS.

STARVED ON THE PLAINS.
The Memorable Donner-Reed Expedition
of Is46-Snow bound In the Sierras-For-
ty Emigrants Dying of Hunger.
[From the San Francisco Chronicle.l
Probably no event OF similar charac-
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 the Reed and Don
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 short time after its ad.
mittance into the Union, and finally set
tied in Sangamon county, not far from
Springfield. In1845 vague reports would
occasionally reach that vicinity of the
richness of soil and healthfulness of the
climate of the far West, and especially
of the land known as California, and
these began to create q restless spirit
among the settlers. Reed and the Don
ners called meetings of their neighbors,
and induced many to join the proposed
expedition, which finally left Spring
field on the morning of April IA, 1916.
The party numbered about forty per-
sons, two-thirds of whom were women
and children.
At Independence, Mo-, the final prep
arations for crossing the plains were to
be made. They were joined there by
parties from Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee,
Missouri, and Ohio, swelling the origin
al number to nearly 100 persons. As
all know, it 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 set 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 early on the
morning of May IL, 1916, upon their
long and weary journey.
All went well until they arrived at q
point few miles above the mouth of
the Big Blue river, the spot where Man.
haitian, Kan, now stands. The party
continued its journey up the Platte river
valley, passing Fort Laramie, and at last
reached Fort Bridger without serious
mishap. So far the trip had occupied
the entire summer, and the month of
September was well advanced.
At Fort Bridger the expedition tarried
four days to rest man and beast. It was
here that they met with an act of treach-
cry which undoubtedly led to their hor-
rible fate. A prominent guide of that
period, one Hastings, had discovered a
more direct route to California, known
as Hastings cutoff. It passed through
Weber's canon to the south end of Salt
Lake, about where Salt Lake City now
stands. and was 300 or 400 miles shorter
than the old route. But it was fraught
with 30 many difficulties and dangers
that it 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 off, urged Reed and his party
to take the new route, telling them that
it was much safer, and that they would
reach their destination many weeks ear
lier. Reed and his friends agreed upon
Lkt IlbSblukb IOubt, huu bLtTUtU once
more upon their journey.
Reaching 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 hew
their way through to the outlet of Salt
Lake, now termed the river Jordan.
This 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-
vailing state of affairs, az he had been
rather urgent in having the party take
the Hastings route. The dissatisfied
ones at last openly declared that Reed
or they should leave the company, or
bloodshed would follow. So il proved !:
In an alteration with Reed soon after,
the ringleader OF the grumblers, one
Patrick Breen, who had come from
Iowa, struck him fercely over the head
with the butt end of a loaded OK cad.
.utting him severely. He was about TO
repeat the blow when Reeds wife. who
was witness of the affair, spranQ In be
tween the two men, to prevent further
srouble. In his madness Breen struck
he woman to the ground with the whip
handle. This made Reed almost insane,
and in mornent he had cut his oppo-
nent in two with butcher knife which
he carried, then, drawing brace of large
revolvers, dared any of the dead man g
frienns TO interfere. BY strenuous efforts
his friends prevented further butchery,
and the affair for the time was ended.