The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-19


OF pioneers, ninety men, women
and children, toiling through the
n Sierra storm; exhausted, starry
ing, freezing despairlng, dying
That is one picture Of these mountain tops.
A community of pleasure-Seekers. rev
elers in the snow and ice, happy, laughing
mortals who can reach in night OF sleep
the iowery land-almost in sight OF which
torty-two members Of the Bonner party
persisted. This is the other.
The first picture is from 1916; the second
is the present winter scene.
Every Californian knows Of the Donners
and their company; II is an old, old story
that has one Of the first places in the plo-
neer traditions; but TODAY it looms up in
striking, thrilling contrast to the happy
carnival conditions.
Death was the Carnival King in that yet
remembered winter OF forty-nine years ago.
Bonner Lake Is one of Natures gems
held in the stern setting OF this California
mountain rance. 4 creation more beautl-
ful could hardly be imagined. But a grave
in the waters depth of nearly 500 feet
would have been 4 mercy to those pioneers
when they first saw that lake.
Eastern homes, places Of comfort and
plenty, had been abandoned by the emf
grants in search OF the Western dream
land-fOr in the lack of knowledge al the
time, California could have been nothing
more; and that was before the allurements
OF the gold discovery. The adventurous
families came from Iowa, Missouri, Hi
ncis, Ohio and Tennessee, the Donners
starting from Illinois.
There were troubles enough before the
Sierra grade was reached; company dis
sensions III the train, whose wagons and
cattle covered two miles, contacts with
Indians, deaths from exposure and fatigue,
the division OF the original train when the
ninety unfOrtunates took the fatal Truckee
way, thirst on the alkaline desert, the muir
der of leading member OF the band, the
parting of relatives when Stanton and Nc
Cutchen heroicaIIy volunteered to set out
ahead and seek relief at Suffers Fort.
Then James F. Reed killed a young man
named Snyder IN self-defense, as the
local historian McGlashan shows. But
Snyder was popular and Reed had
been the object of jealousy on &C
count of his superior possessions in
the train at starting. So the sentence
passed upon Reed was the sentence OF
death, and the manner of the execution
was that the man, the head OF a family
should go alone into the wintry Sierra
wilderness, without food, without his gun
or ammunition and with no more clothing
than he wore.
The sentence was accepted, for there was
no appeal, the company agreeing to pro-
II.
and at nightfall the husband and father
strobe gTimly toward the westward in the
snow.
But Reed had q daughter in the emf
grant train, girl OF y years, Virginia
Reed lad heard the verdict of the council.
and she knew what the sentence meant.
She wept, with her mother and her sister
and her brothers, at the parting, and she
watched her father TIL he plunged from
sight IN the gathering darkness. And
then!
That night the camp was still and il
there was a sound at ali it was of a woman
Eobblng. Suddenly, nolselessly, away from
the wagons little form darted, trem bling
from fear of detection, and Virginia Reed
was following her father with food and
blanket and gun. Closely the child held
to the trail of the slow-going, detected
man, and when safely away from the
camp she called as loudly as she dared.
More rapidly and still bravely she hurried
along, calling more and more loudly as
her prudence directed. At last her father
heard and turned to meet her, and his life
was saved.
There is no prettier record of heroism in
ali the world than that of this Illinois girl:
and that the wisdom of the child's heart
was greater than that which had prevailed
in the emigrant council is shown by the
succeeding events.
Down IN the warm, sweet valley of the
Sacramento, General Suffer had his for
tress, and that was the haven of the early
pioneers; the only place of actual rest,
security and comfort. Hospitality was
unbounded there. McCutchen and Stan
ton reached the fort in safety but Nc
Cutchen was i'll and so Stanton returned
to the rescue without him. Suffer provid-
ing, without thought of charge, seven
mules laden with provisions and two ex-
pert Indian guides. This relief expedition
no g
Bonner party and the romantic Virginia
Reed
Stanton and his two Indians found the
exhausted party about twenty or twenty
hYe miles to the eastward of this locality.
More hopefully and almost brought back
to life and energy by Stanton's promises
OF Suffers Fort, the pioneers pressed on to
the westward.
The winter of 1916 set in early, and at
the close of October six inches of snow
covered the ground this side of the Nevada
line and al the Sierra summit there was
hive feet OF snow. Still struggling onward,
nearly craZed by hardship and suffering
some of the emigrants fought their way
along where to-day stands the radiant ice
palace; others followed pass somewhat
to the northward. Bonner Lake was the
end OF that winters expedition, and the
closing place OF the lives OF many in the
company.
One evening ii was decided that the only
hope OF surviving was in starting over the
summit on foot, carrying some of the meat
of the cattle and mules for food That
night the Ice King barred the way A
heavy snowfall beginning then, lasted
several days. The cattle perished in the
drifts and some were buried out OF sight;
the mules were never seen again.
The work of constructing cabins was
resolutely begun, and here was the pitiful
little first home of the settlers on the
elerras, hamlet of terror, suffering, des-
ututlon and distraction.
hen came the starting onward of the
forlorn Hope" when there was not food
enough for ala sacrifice of life if neces-
saIy Tor the sake of those who were TO re-
nam IN camp. Mrs. Foster and Mrs
flke (slsters) went with the party on the
snoWshOe cOntriYances that their share of