The Expedition of the Donner Party and its Tragic Fate
The Expedition of the Donner Party and its Tragic Fate
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gress, calling attention to Oregon and
California. Captain John C. Frémont's famous topographical report and
maps had been accepted by Congress, and ten thousand copies ordered to
be printed and distributed to the people throughout the United States.
The commercial world was not slow to appreciate the value of those
distant and hitherto unfrequented harbors. Tales of the equable climate
and the marvellous fertility of the soil spread rapidly, and it
followed that before the close of 1845, pioneers on the western
frontier of our ever expanding republic were preparing to open a wagon
route to the Pacific coast.
After careful investigation and consideration, my father, George Donner, and his elder brother, Jacob, decided to join the westward migration, selecting California as their destination. My mother was in accord with my father's wishes, and helped him to carry out his plan.
At this time he was sixty-two years of age, large, fine-looking, and in perfect health. He was of German parentage, born of Revo
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Well written. Most of the story doe not dwell on the "gruesome" Donner party but what happened to the young author after she was rescued. She was 4 when stranded with her family in the pass and she and her sisters survived.
Her parents both died and in her later years she sets out to expunge the name of her father.
It does put her mother and father in a good light as saviors of the doomed emigrants.
There were lots of illustrations of the Sacramento valley in the original book which did not come with the kindle download. It would be great to see those.
I would recommend it.
Her parents both died and in her later years she sets out to expunge the name of her father.
It does put her mother and father in a good light as saviors of the doomed emigrants.
There were lots of illustrations of the Sacramento valley in the original book which did not come with the kindle download. It would be great to see those.
I would recommend it.
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I have to agree with Heather. Putting this book in this particular category is in poor "taste". ;)
07/01/2006
I have no idea which comedian put this selection in the 'cookbook' category, but the tongue-in-cheek literary joke made me laugh out loud in the middle of a very quiet library. The book itself is a chilling tale of what man will do when faced with his own demise, the lengths to which he will go to prolong his life. Most of you know that the Donner Party was forced with a choice of death by starvation and exposure or consumption of human flesh. This well-written tale explains the circumstances leading up to that choice, and carries the story on past its grisly climax to explore the aftermath.
05/13/2006
