Bisbee daily review., 1921-12-15

Indians, Luis and Salvador, bringing
five mule loads of provisions. After
some delay the party pushed on, but
October % found themselves stalled
in snow at the foot Of preclpices at
an elevation of 5000 feet from which
the trail rose in enc mile and half
300 feet to the summi,, where u~u
to five feet of snow lay They were
in a pocket of the mountains. A
snowfall began that in week placed
ten feet of snow about them.
Women Were Brave
Some were at Prosser creek, some
at Alder creek and some at Bonner
creek. They erected tents and brush
wood huts, about which they wrapped
ubber coats and quilts. There were
at this time 81 persons in the caIcp,
"a men, Is women and 43 children.
In the subsequent happenings the
women showed the greater couragu
and endurince. OF the 10 only faIe
died, and four of these gave their
lives to aid or comfort their children
or companions.
On December 16 the "forlorn hope
started over the snow on foot. 1t
consisted of nine men, five women
end a boy. Six days later Stanton,
the rescuer, gave out and was aban-
Goned. A storm that began Christ
mas day halted them a week, Three
men died and were eaten. January
another man succumbed anu was
eaten; William Foster pursued ana
shot the Indians. Luis and Salvador,
who were eaten. The party came
out of the snow January IL, were
aided by Indians who gave them
acorn bread and helped them to
Johnson's ranch. They had been 81
days coming frcm Donner's lake, ana
eight had died. Two men survived
and all the five women.
The experiences of the four relief
parties, from the first that left SUIT
ter's Fort, February 5, to the last,
April Is, weer similar 10 those OF
the 'forlorn hope" part. Going in
on snowshoes, the rescuers cached
provisions to be used on their return
trips. In several instances these
cache were destroyed by wild ami
mails, so that the return trips with
the emaciated, weakened Bonner
people, became struggles with death,
in which many died and were eaten
by their starving companions.
The fourth and last relief party
started from Johnson's Rancho April
Is. They had been promised by the
alcalde holt of the fortune of several
thousand dollars in money and goods
which George Bonner was supposed.
to possess.
Relief Party Starts
The seven men of the party under
Wlliam o. Pallon reached Bonner
Lake in four days. Lewis KeSebert
was the only one alive of the man!
who had not been able to accompany
the relief parties who had preceded
them. OF Keseberg, the relief men
demanded money, accusing him OF
having robbed, killed and eaten
George Bonner and his wife, Tamsen.
Keseberg finally gave them $500
which he said Mrs. Bonner had re-
quested him to give to her children
should he reach California.
The fourth relief started back next
day, Keseberg following them asswell
as he could with an injured leg. Eaci
| night he managed to MAKE camp, ana
finally reached civilization. To the
end of his life he was an object OF
accusation and aversion, although
most survivors and historians agree
that he was innocent.
The brightest part of the story was
the heroism of the women. OF the
/ five who died, Mrs. George Bonner
gave her life to be with her husband
at his death; Mrs. Jacob Bonner re-
manned with her four children; Mrs
Graves styaed for the sake of four
little ones; and Mrs. Murphy cared
for her, son aid three grandchildren
until too i'll to accompany the res
| cuerS.
| Banished to the sesert
! To the zeal of Mrs. Patrick Breen
was mainly due the rescue or ner
husband and IL children who had
been left in the snow while the re
lief party went forward for helI
when they found cache had beer
| destroyed. Mrs. Breen kept fires
burning, nursed children with a little
sugar and water and kept them alive