Tragedy was no stranger to western trails, but the sad experience of this ill-fated group has come to symbolize the hardships of all. Parrish also wrote several other books, including When Wilderness Was King, My Lady of the North, Historic Illinois, and others. Also along with them were two teamsters, Noah James and Samuel Shoemaker, as well as a friend named John Denton. His wife Tamzene, though in comparatively good health, refused to leave him; sending her three little girls on without her. The Denver Post reports the plan was simple: British and Scandinavian converts who were too poor to buy wagons would load all their worldly possessions onto a handcart, push them across the U.S., and make the journey in only 60 days. Along the way, they discovered that some of their wagons would have to be abandoned and before long, morale began to sink and the pioneers began to adamantly blame Lansford Hastings. When he sees an opportunity at the bank, it leads to tragedy.Don Brooke is desperate for money for his pregnant wife Bonnie, whose condition is too delicate for the long trip without more medical care so he seeks a bank loan. You can imagine how that went. As a protection for both lines, the Government later erected Fort Sedgwick on the South Fork of the Platte River. Satisfied, the emigrants rested for a few days at the fort, making repairs to their wagons and preparing for the rest of what they thought would be a seven-week journey. In April of that year occurred a terrible fight between the mail-stage and Indians on the Sweetwater River. Sell everything that doesn't fit into your wagon, and set out with no guidance from Google Maps? I don't know if anyone recorded the number of dishonest wagon masters, but in the hundreds of wagon trains heading to Oregon or California there certainly were some incompetent ones. Naomi Sager descended into a sort of grief-stricken illness, and her daughter Catherine wrote she was, "at times perfectly insane." After the publicity, emigration toCaliforniafell off sharply and Hastings cutoff was all but abandoned. The total of deaths was thus 42, with 47 survivors. The journey was not an unpleasant one across the vast expanse of Plains. tragedy while the Wagon Train stops for supplies. This horrific incident came to be called the Jalian Wallabagh of the South. White Wolf was killed later by Lieutenant David Bell, Second Dragoons, in a most dramatic manner, and almost on the exact spot where the murders had been perpetrated. The terrible summer storms sweeping the level Plains, or driving desert sand in clouds, would delay the weary travelers for days in the utmost discomfort. On the sixth day, their food ran out and for the next three days, no one ate while they traveled through grueling high winds and freezing weather. As soon as the Spring of 1865 began to freshen the grass, the Indian tribes were again upon the warpath. The party lost dozens of cattle in the desert, and several wagons had to be abandoned. The others escaped after a hard run. The wagon train reached Independence, Missouri about three weeks later, where they re-supplied. The next day five men, nine women, and one child departed on snowshoes for the summit, determined to travel the 100 miles to Sutters Fort. On Thanksgiving, it began to snow again, and the pioneers at Donner Lake killed the last of their oxen for food on November 29th. The majority of the Donner Party emigrants were children. Colonel George Wright, who was in charge of the military presence and rescue mission, said they likely would have survived if it wasn't for the cowards. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Donner-party, Legends of America - The Tragic Story of the Donner Party, EyeWitness to History.com - The Tragic Fate of the Donner Party, 1847, Online Nevada Encyclopedia - Donner Party, Donner party - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Compiled and edited by Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated December 2021. Grattan took several howitzers, which is not how you start a peaceful negotiation when tensions are already high. Another memorable raid was made all along the 200 miles between Julesburg, Colorado, and Liberty Farm, at the head of the Little Blue River in Nebraska, in August 1864. Five of the emigrants died before reaching the mountain camps, 34 at the camps or on the mountains while attempting to cross, and one just after reaching the settlements. Ironically, on the very day that theIllinoisparty headed west from Springfield, Lansford Hastings prepared to head east from California, to see what the shortcut he had written about was really like. A note left by Hastings had assured the party that they would be able to cross the desert in just two days, but the journey took five. There was actually someone riding ahead of the Donner Party acting as a scout, and Edwin Bryant sent a letter back warning them it was too dangerous to take the so-called shortcut. The number of deaths which occurred in wagon train companies traveling to California is conservatively figured as 20,000 for the entire 2,000 miles of the Oregon/California Trail, or an average of ten graves per mile. There were 1,100 people in those two companies alone (via WyoHistory), and they didn't set out until August. This point was then the junction between the Overland mainline and the newly established branch leading to Denver. The river crossing was massively dangerous, and according to WyoHistory, it was made safer but more expensive by the Mormon ferries that were set up in 1847. A combination of military forces compelled the allied tribes to make professions of peace, and for a few months, relieved the trail of its horror. The dragoons turned short about and again charged through and over their enemies, the fire being continuous. Everything was made ready for a charge when Major Greer suddenly decided to talk with the Indians before commencing to fight. Twenty-two people, consisting of the Donner family and their hired men, stayed behind while the wagon was repaired. [Colonel Henry Inman] describes what followed: Both lines by command fired, following the example of their superiors, the troopers, however, spurring forward over their enemies. Bents Fort was occupied by troops, and, in anticipation of coming events, several new posts were established throughout the Indian country and occupied by small garrisons. When he sees an opportuni Read allDon Brooke is desperate for money for his pregnant wife Bonnie, whose condition is too delicate for the long trip without more medical care so he seeks a bank loan. The movement began in 1856 and continued until 1860. Emigrants only had what they could carry. Hilarity! It crossed the plains without difficulty, but as it neared Fort Bridger a dispute arose. ", He spent two months in the cabin, surrounded by the bodies of his dead friends, with wolves scratching to get to the meat inside. At last, we were all in the wagons. In the meantime, while the wagon train continued to the base of the summit, George Donners wagon axle broke and he fell behind the rest of the party. He was interviewed a few times, and when he was 62 he issued his first formal statement. Settlers would keep as much as they could on their overloaded wagons in hopes of trading once they reached the fort, but that wasn't always possible. The passengers were all old frontiersmen and were prepared for a desperate defense, anticipating a possible robbery attempt. Infuriated by the teamsters treatment of the oxen, James Reed ordered the man to stop and when he wouldnt, Reed grabbed his knife and stabbed the teamster in the stomach, killing him. The old man, who could not keep up with the rest of the party with his severely swollen feet, began to knock on other wagon doors, but no one would let him in. He offered restitution to both parties, but he sent Grattan to negotiate. When he sees an opportunity at the bank, it leads to tragedy. The notorious tragedy occurred on 10 November 1921, the Wagon Tragedy.The Muslims who were captured by the British in connection with the Malabar riots were seized by a train wagon from Tirur and sent to Coimbatore, most of whom were wounded and suffocated.This is a kind of brutal massacre. October 28th, an exhausted James Reed arrived at Sutters Fort, where he met William McCutchen, now recovered, and the two men began preparations to go back for their families. As they broke a new trail through the nearly impassible terrain of the Wasatch Mountains, they lost about two weeks time. Here they fought their assailants all day, six of the men being wounded, and all their stock was driven off. Being caught there by a raging snowstorm was undoubtedly a terrible experience. To spare the animals, everyone who could, walked. On February 5, the first relief party of seven men left Johnsons ranch, and the second, headed by James Reed, left two days later. See production, box office & company info, Stage 19, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA. When it was obvious a person wouldnt last the day, the train would often hold up moving in order to wait for the end. 27 Sep. 1964. They estimate one in ten travelers didn't survive, and the National Oregon/California Trail Center says the 2,000-mile trail averaged 10 deaths per mile. My squad had to ride up to Cottonwood, and down to the station below, where they waited for the next coach going the other way, and returned by it to their post at Oilmans. In less than 15 minutes, 21 of the 46 actors in this strange combat were slain or disabled. when it came to something like this. Several Indians were killed, and at night they withdrew, leaving the defenders to harness themselves to the running gear and thus draw their wounded comrades to safety. With the trail blotted entirely from sight, all that could be done was wait for the storm to blow over. One member of the party, Charles Stanton, snow-blind and exhausted was unable to keep up with the rest of the party and told them to go on. A number of the savages thus escaped, the troopers having to pull up at the brink but sending a volley after the descending fugitives. The Donner Camp has been the site of recent archeological excavations. Even as they started ferrying wagons across, they found they couldn't keep up dozens of wagons were lined up waiting for their turn to cross. On July 19ththe wagon train arrived at the Little Sandy River in present-day Wyoming, where the trail parted into two routes the northerly known route and the untested Hastings Cutoff. From the earliest attempts, accidents were frequent, and suffering from exposure to the elements was common. They were killed by Indians, or escaped and then succumbed to exposure and starvation. Again, hindsight they were buried under feet of snow, hundreds died, and those who survived lost arms and legs to frostbite. Such accidents could cause the loss of life and most or all of valuable supplies. The weather and their hopes were not to improve. Murphy, Idaho. While the party camped near modern-day Henefer,Utah,James Reed, along with two other men forged ahead on horses to catch up with Hastings. Here they came to a halt when they found a note from Hastings advising them not to follow him down Weber Canyon as it was virtually impassible, but rather to take another trail through the Salt Basin. While becoming so desperate as to eat tree bark seems like the worst part of the trail, there was one instance where it became worse for one wagon train party in the 1840s. I use these web pages to make available the sources of information that I run across - wagon . One of their number, Gib Ryker, is a sociopath who enjoys antagonizing young Barnaby West. However, the Mexican War had drawn away the able-bodied men, forcing any further rescue attempts to wait. Did you always pick the banker because you'd start with the most money? In reality, Hastings Cutoff was 125 miles (200 km) longer than the established trail, which ran north of the Great Salt Lake, and it would take the pioneers through some of the most inhospitable country in the entire Great Basin. The migrants began the ascent of the Sierra foothills low on food, and Paiute warriors killed several of the remaining oxen. There, on May 12, they became a part of a main wagon train headed west. Clyman advised Reed not to take the Hastings Route, stating that the road was barely passable on foot and would be impossible with wagons; also warning him of the great desert and the Sierra Nevadas. You had no idea the decision to ferry or ford the river was so gross, did you? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). They were attacked on September 9, 1860, and 11 died in the two-day confrontation. However, the nightmare was by no means over. The rescue parties stumbled across some stragglers, but the most horrific scene was discovered by a Lieutenant Anderson. "Tragedy at Mountain Meadows takes . "The child was dead his miseries were over!" Hindsight is 20/20, so let's see if you can guess what went wrong with Brigham Young's plan to bring Mormon converts to their new paradise on Earth. However, with only meager rations and already weak from hunger the group faced a challenging ordeal. About 55 miles of the telegraph line was destroyed, stage stations razed, and employees killed, for long distances east and west. There were no supply stations, carts broke down better than they rolled, Salt Lake City officials had no idea who was coming, and travelers weren't prepared for doing the work of hunters, pioneers, and oxen all at the same time. The letter stated that Hastings would meet the emigrants at Fort Bridger and lead them on his cutoff, which passed south of the Great Salt Lake instead of detouring northwest via Fort Hall (present-day Pocatello,Idaho.). The robbers secured over $70,000, and it was later discovered that the driver, Williams, was an accomplice and received his share. In wet weather, for mile after mile, the passengers might be compelled to plod beside the wheels, laboriously prying them out of the clinging mud and burdening the air with profanity. Mrs. White, her child, and nurse were borne away prisoners. After examining remains from the Alder Creek campsite, researchers in 2010 announced that they had been unable to find any human bones or other physical evidence of cannibalism. Susannah was passed into the care of a new mother breastfeeding her own child, and Altonen says in order to keep that woman's child away from any possible infection the orphan might be carrying, the caregiver opted to give the baby cow's milk instead of breastfeeding. The most important of these, situated in the very heart of this blood-stained territory, was Julesburg, Colorado. Wagon Train cast list, including photos of the actors when available. The Donner Party is One of the Most Disturbing Stories from the Oregon Trail. That young man was 23-year-old Levi Sheets, riding along with his grandfather, . Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. It was a west-bound Concord, containing a full complement of passengers, including a Mr. White, his wife, child, and colored nurse. With scarcely any opportunity for defense, the unfortunate whites were shot down, scalped, and their mutilated bodies left upon the ground. Seriously, you don't have it that bad, and if there's one consolation it's the surviving girls' memoirs that talk about the kindness they experienced along the way. Many of their animals, including Sutters mules, had wandered off into the storms and their bodies were lost under the snow. Having traveled an extra 125 miles through strenuous mountain terrain and dry desert, the disillusioned partys resentment of Hastings, and ultimately, Reed, was increased tremendously. You're probably familiar with the story of the Donner party, the second-most famous thing about the Oregon Trail. The Mormon handcart pioneers were participants in the migration of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Salt Lake City, Utah, who used two-wheeled handcarts to transport their belongings. On the Trail - The Akin Wagon Train - 1852. . Some blamed the power-hungry Lansford W. Hastings for the tragedy, while others blamed James Reed for not heeding Clymans warning about the deadly route. When they died or got sick, the men were left to make things up like the husband of a Mrs. Knapp. One of their number, Gib Ryker, is a sociopath who enjoys antagonizing young Barnaby West. In the beginning, the wagon train was lucky to make even two miles per day, taking them six days just to travel eight miles. The drivers cracked their whips. Santana had his headquarters in what is now known as the Cheyenne Bottoms, eight miles from the Great Bend of the Arkansas Riverand about the same distance from old Fort Zarah,Kansas. In 1862 the Sioux made a savage onslaught far east into Minnesota. During a months harrowing, often overwhelming hardships from cold, storms, deep snow, and inadequate food, they struggled on. This decision to delay their departure was yet one more of many that would lead to their tragedy. Historian Aaron Smith (via Deseret News) notes that the later settlers left, the more susceptible to cholera they would be, mostly because you were following in the footsteps of people who were essentially pooping out cholera as they went. Thegeneral uprising among the tribes that followed extended to the Rocky Mountains and even to the banks of the Columbia River. He was tracked to Denver, Colorado, and hanged with very little ceremony. After dogs and cowhides had been devoured, many deaths occurred, and the survivors were forced to resort to cannibalism of the dead bodies. The wagon train comprised 18 to 30 wagons pulled by ox and mule teams, plus several hundred cattle and a number of blooded horses the men were driving to California's Central Valley. Newspapers printed letters and diaries and accused the travelers of bad conduct, cannibalism, and even murder. On August 11th, the wagon train began the arduous journey through the Wasatch Mountains, clearing trees and other obstructions along the new path of their journey. W. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) was a driver between Split Rock and Three Crossings, one of the most perilous sections. The Donner Party soon reached the junction with theCalifornia Trail, about seven miles west of present-day Elko, Nevada and spent the next two weeks traveling along the Humboldt River. The Bonnie Brooke Story: Directed by Allen H. Miner. More small cabins were constructed, many of which were shared by more than one family. The Oregon Trail was a roughly 2,000-mile route from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon, that was used by hundreds of thousands of American pioneers in the mid-1800s to emigrate west.. Animals could cause very serious injury to their owners. resident and Western Writers of America executive director Candy Moulton traveled with the Mormon Trail Sesquicentennial Wagon Train in 1997, pushing and pulling a . With the help of more rescue parties sent east, the Willie Company finally reached Salt Lake City on November 9 and the Martin Company on November 30. . The Oregon Trail was one of the primary routes for American settlers heading from the Eastern States out to the Wild West. Burials often were done right in the middle of the trail, where wagons could roll over and animals trample it down in order to erase the scent so wolves could not pick up the scent. On the far side of the desert, an inventory of food was taken and found to be less than adequate for the 600-mile trek still ahead. January 17, 2016 Late one afternoon in July 1864, a party of American Indians rode up to a small wagon train on the Oregon Trail and, using signs, asked in a friendly way for something to eat. Passengers took their lives in their hands, and only the most daring and reckless men volunteered for the desperate service of driver or messenger. Two days after they started out it began to rain. The wagon train encountered riders urging emigrants on the road to travel down to Fort Bridger and take a shortcut called the "Hastings . However, the successful Reed was determined his family would not suffer on the long journey as his wagon was an extravagant two-story affair with a built-in iron stove, spring-cushioned seats, and bunks for sleeping. While on a scout with his troop from Fort Union, New Mexico, Bell came upon White Wolf and an equal number of Apache. The Donner Party, sometimes called the Donner-Reed Party, was a group of American pioneers who migrated to California in a wagon train from the Midwest. The ordeal of the Donner party highlighted the incredible risks that were inherent in the great overland trek, but it did little to slow the pace of migration. Wagon Train debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings. The stumps represent the depth of the snow at the time. On May 25ththe train was held for several days by high water at the Big Blue River near present-day Marysville,Kansas. . From start to finish, it took between five and six months, and it's hard to imagine today. On the Trail - The Westward Movement. But treachery worked their ruin. Encountering few problems along the trail, the pioneers reachedFort Laramiejust one week behind schedule on June 27, 1846. Most of the party thereupon built crude cabins near what is now known as Donner Lake. Nine days later, the boy "called to his mother that he could feel worms crawling in his leg," and yes, those were maggots. Unfortunately, the cattle were grazing on plants like poison ivy and white snakeroot, creating deadly and bitter milk. Taking eight oxen to pull the luxurious wagon, Reeds 12-year-old daughter Virginia dubbed it The Pioneer Palace Car.. At the lake stood one existing cabin and realizing they were stranded, the group built two more cabins, sheltering 59 people in hopes that the early snow would melt, allowing them to continue their travels. Event image of various prairie wagons in use. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. The next day, they arrived at the lake camp to find that both of their sons had died. I hope that this does not impede what has been a tradition and legacy to the town of Canton and a historical memory of times lost. Anvils, weapons, plows, kegs, and barrels all dumped. Forty-one individuals died, and forty-six survived. But in the mountain district to be traversed before reaching Santa Fe, the most serious disasters usually occurred during the winter. There were two coaches loaded with mail and nine men, the leaders being Lem Flowers, a division agent, and the conductor named Brown. The Hastings Cutoff was a fairly untried shortcut, and Fort Bridger (pictured) sat at the trailhead. The first relief party soon left with 23 refugees, but during the partys travels back to Sutters Fort, two more children died. Hastings had claimed that his route would shave more than 300 miles (480 km) from the journey to California. Heroically struggling through the deep snow, seven men reached the lake camp on February 18. On March 12ththe third relief led by William Eddy and William Foster reached Starved Camp where Mrs. Graves and her son Franklin had also died. The pioneer needed to go with little sleep, bear illness, suffering, and even, tragedy through the many weeks of travel. Yet, even more, a summer hailstorm was to be dreaded, for nowhere else do such ice-chunks descend from the sky. It could attack a perfectly healthy person after breakfast and he would be in his grave by noon. Though he strongly suggested that the party take the regular wagon trail rather than this new false route, Reed would later ignore his warning in an attempt to reach their destination more quickly. Road to hell and all. 1866 photo of Alder Creek stumps cut by Donner party. In 1921, a rebellion against British colonial rule by Mappila Muslims broke out in the Malabar District of British India. On July 20, 1846, the company divided, with most of the wagon train then turning north toward Fort Hall (modern southeastern Idaho) and using the well-known Oregon Trail to continue the journey west. The 22 people with the Donners were about six miles behind at Alder Creek. From September 10ththrough the 25th, the party followed the trail intoNevadaaround the Ruby Mountains, finally reaching the Humboldt River on September 26th. A brief review of the operations of military scouting parties in the region about Julesburg, Colorado, which was the center of hostilities on the Plains, and occasionally entirely cut off from communication, well illustrates the desperate nature of their duties. On March 14ththey arrived at the Alder Creek camp to find George Donner was dying from an infection in the hand that he had injured months before. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Miraculously, just three days later on October 19th, one of the men the party had sent on to Fort Sutter Charles Stanton, returned laden with seven mules loaded with beef and flour, two Indian guides, and news of a clear, but difficult path through the SierraNevada. The story of the Donner tragedy quickly spread across the country. Such diseases as cholera, small pox, flu, measles, mumps, tuberculosis could spread quickly through an entire wagon camp. In the Spring of 1865, the Plains tribes again became very troublesome and raided the stage line almost from end to end. They were heading for California, not Oregon (via Online Nevada), when they set off in 1846, and about half met their grisly end in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The three bodies, including that of Isaac Donner, had been cannibalized. Accounts tell of the dumping grounds outside the fort, filled with treasured possessions like bookcases and furniture, iron safes, and books. The very next day, five more feet of snow fell, and they knew that any plans for a departure were dashed. On February 19th, the first party reached the lake finding what appeared to be a deserted camp until the ghostly figure of a woman appeared. The British Raj tried to cover up this heinous event but. The surviving members had differing viewpoints, biases and recollections so what actually happened was never extremely clear. The pioneers lost valuable days conducting a fruitless search for the missing oxen before beginning a circuitous navigation of the Ruby Mountains in modern northeastern Nevada. Brian Altonen, a medical science and public health expert, took a look at the diseases running rampant through wagon trains and found the heartbreaking case of Susannah, a little girl who died just a month after her mother. Imagine taking your entire family across the country with only what you can pack into a minivan, and no rest stops or Taco Bells along the way. Montpelier, Idaho 83254, document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) National Oregon/California Trail Center. However, many would linger in misery for weeks in the bouncy wagons. Keseberg was the last member of the Donner Party to arrive at Sutters Fort on April 29th. Donner Lake,named for the party, is today a popular mountain resort near Truckee,Californiaand the Donner Camp has been designated as a National Historic Landmark. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Ominously, snow powdered the mountain peaks that very night. At Fort Laramie, James Reed ran into an old friend fromIllinoisby the name of James Clyman, who had just traveled the new route eastwardly with Lansford Hastings. Realizing that the difficult journey through the mountains and the desert had depleted their supplies, two of the young men traveling with the party, William McCutcheon and Charles Stanton, were sent ahead to Sutters Fort, California to bring back supplies. From Walnut Creek to the mountains, no traveler was safe from attack by the dog soldiers, Often, a caravan started forth having the disguised George Bent as a guide, for his plans usually involved treachery. This setting oneself as a sort of target was a disagreeable and dangerous duty, but the soldiers performed it without murmuring. Edwin Bryant told the tale of a boy who had his leg crushed by a wagon wheel, and it was treated by a quack who tied some linen and a few planks around it. For 15 years, he was the terror of the Trail, and his acts of atrocity were incessant. Indian Attack on a Wagon Train by Charles Marion Russell. Mama was overcome with grief. Donner Party Map, courtesy Donner Party Diary. Never for a moment could they feel secure; every trip promised to be their last, and many a time, the coach dashed up to a station only to find it in ruins and surrounded by dead. S8, Ep2. Byways & Historic Trails Great Drives in America, Soldiers and Officers in American History, Easy Travel Organization Tips You Will Love, Bidwell-Bartleson Party Blazing the California Trail. Though member, Lewis Keseberg, favored hanging for James Reed, the group, instead, voted to banish him. The settlers of California organized a relief party which left Fort Sutter (Sacramento) on January 31, 1847. Twenty men stayed at Devil's Gate to guard the wagon-train goods for the rest of the winter. While at Fort Laramie, Reed had been warned against attempting the route by an old friend from Illinois who had just completed the west-to-east journey through Hastings Cutoff, but the group chose to press ahead. Bell was not hit, but four or five of his men were killed or wounded. Generally, the first fire from the Indians killed one or two horses and tumbled a soldier or two off the top of the coach. According to Brian Altonen, the settlers carried were standard medicines like castor oil, rum, peppermint essence, opium, and whiskey, because if you're dying, at least you wouldn't know it. Burials often were done right in the middle of the trail, where wagons could roll over and animals trample it down in order to erase the scent so wolves could not pick up the scent. Road agents also became very much in evidence, and the robbery of stages was not uncommon. Once everyone had been accounted for, they found only 15 people survived.