The San Francisco call., 1896-02-09
TRUCKEE FETES
THE PYTH|ANS,
Knights in Uniform Take
Possession Of the
City.
PLEASURE ON THE ICE.
Tobogganing, Skating and Sleigh.
Rides Are Included In the
Entertainment.
EXCURSION TO BONNER LAKE.
Eloquent Lecture by a Survivor of the
Party Stormbound Fifty
Years Ago.
EXCURSION TO BONNER LAKE

TRuCKEE, CAL, Feb. S.-As the ex-
cursion train pulled into Truckee this
morning gunpowder salutes, the blowing
of locomotive whistles and other sounds
of welcome awakened those of the citi-
zens who had not yet deserted their
couches. Sleighs were in waiting to take
the visitors to either Donner Lake or Lake
Tahoe, and soon merry crowds were being
drawn over the snow, their laughter min
Cling with the sound of sleigh bells.
At noon a special train was chartered by
the Knights of Ply shias to take excursion
lists to the Donner Ice Company's works,
and about 500 people, accompanied by
brass band, took advantage of this oppor-
tunity to witness the harvesting of the ice
and spend an hour or two skating on the
pond. The Knights of Pythias were out in
uniform, and they made this mountain
town resemble military camp. 1t was
their day, and they made it an enjoyable
one.
Tobogganing has captured the crowd to-
night, and it appears to be greater at
traction than circus. The involuntary
shouts at their first trip down the slide
scares even the immovable Digger Indian.
William G. Murphy, survivor of the
famous Donner party, was a center OF at
traction to-day, and he was taken to the
site of the cabins of the Donner party in
Pullman car. He was photographed un-
der cross marking the spot where his
mother was buried. He recognized the
country and the places where the cabins
were built, and was overcome with emo
ton.
Mr.. Murphy's lecture tonight was
popular attraction. Hundreds of people,
anxious.t to hear the story of the Donner
party from one OF the survivors, crowded
the hall, and hundreds were unable to gain
entrance. The unfortunate ones went to
the skating rink or the toboggan to enjoy
themselves as best they could.
William g. Murphy, the lecturer, is a
venerable gentleman of 65 years, a lawyer
and an impressive speaker. He is an ex-
City Attorney of Marysvile, where he re-
sides, and considers himself part of the
State of California. He commenced his
lecture by stating that he intended to de-
liver sort of mixed historical remi-
niscence in the nature of memoir.
He followed the Donner party from its
starting point in Kansas through the
great central plains to the point where
the fateful storm of the winter OF 1861
overlook them, and where his mother
died from starvation. The story of terrible
suffering, the eating of human remains
and other appalling incidents were drawn
in wonderful word pictures, and his audi
ence was held spellbound.
During the early summer of 1S47," said
| the speaker, II settled on the banks of the
Yuba. l was living there when gold was
discovered by Marshall. When the Mill
| race country was developed city was laid
! out on ranch and called Marysville In
honor of my youngest sister, who crossed
the snow with me-she who cut the shoes
off these frozen feet.
"There have realized the dreams of NV
boyhood, solved that scheme of human
| happiness that comprehends home, wife
and children, and while l so reverently
thank God for all the blessings bestowed
upon me and mine, it is natural that mem
ory should carry me along that stream
that sends yonder snow into the valley
down by my home on its way to the sea, and
standing here at its source, in my imag-
lnation, | contemplate the sad ending of
those companions SO ruthlessly cut down
in health.
"They all, with me, had hopes, ambi.
tions, day Dreams fond anticipations as to
what they would accomplish when thew
reached that fairy land of promise
toward which we all were iourneying.
But there are memoirs of the past, mostly
sad, burned into our very natures, that
will not down at our bidding, though fifty
years have passed. And this realize in
all its potency as to-day. after bali GEN.
tury, present myself to scenes and asso-
ciates that rush upon me.
Gas stood on that ice-bound reservoir
that now in sacrilege floods the common
grave of the dead-our dead, the relics
gone back to the wrecks from which they
were taken and their spirits to God who
gave them-and listened to the winds as
they trembied through green boughs and
bending branches of the stately old pines
mournful sentinels they seemed to give
in whispered cadences and wordless signs
in echoes and re-echoes, the means. groans,
walls and prayers OF the helpless and
starving of fifty years ago.
"These signing winds. solemn as
funeral dirge, bring back to this frail
memory pictures and scenes that hang in
boyhood's hall, SO deserted and drear.
81 almost fear to tread and call back to
life and reality incidents and casualties
long since buried in the heart. An apall-
ing stiffness is natures requiem, but the
eulogy of those dead is unpronounced and
unpronounceable, save in hearts like this
hearts that knew and felt and loved and