Excerpt
Detailed Contents. Chapter I.Donner LakeA Famous Tourist ResortBuilding the Central PacificCalifornia's Skating ParkThe PioneersThe Organization of the Donner PartyHo! for California!A Mammoth TrainThe Dangers by the WayFalse Accounts of the Sufferings EnduredComplete Roll of the CompanyImpostors Claiming to Belong to the PartyKilled by the PawneesAn Alarmed CampResin IndiansA Mother's DeathChapter II.Mrs. Donner's LettersLife on the PlainsAn Interesting SketchThe Outfit RequiredThe Platte RiverBotanizingFive Hundred and Eighteen Wagons for CaliforniaBurning "Buffalo Chips"The Fourth of July at Fort LaramieIndian DisciplineSioux Attempt to Purchase Mary GravesGeorge Donner Elected CaptainLetter of StantonDissensionOne Company Split up into FiveThe Fatal Hastings Cut-offLowering Wagons over a PrecipiceThe First View of Great Salt LakeChapter III.A Grave of SaltMembers of the Mystic TieTwenty WellsA Desolate Alkaline WasteAbandoned on the DesertA Night of HorrorA Steer Maddened by ThirstThe MirageYoking an Ox and a Cow"Cacheing" GoodsThe Emigrants' Silent LogicA Cry for ReliefTwo Heroic VolunteersA Perilous journeyLetters to Captain SutterChapter IV.Gravelly FordThe Character of James F. ReedCauses which Led to the Reed-Snyder TragedyJohn Snyder's PopularityThe Fatal AltercationConflicting Statements of SurvivorsSnyder's DeathA Brave GirlA Primitive TrialA Court of Final ResortVerdict of BanishmentA Sad SeparationGeorge and Jacob Donner Ahead at the TimeFinding Letters in Split SticksDanger of StarvationChapter V.Great HardshipsThe Sink of the HumboldtIndians Stealing CattleAn Entire Company Compelled to WalkAbandoned to DieWolfinger MurderedRhinehart's ConfessionArrival of C. T. StantonA Temporary ReliefA Fatal AccidentThe Sierra Nevada MountainsImprisoned in SnowStruggles for FreedomA Hopeless SituationDigging for Cattle in SnowHow the Breen Cabin Happened to be BuiltA Thrilling Sketch of a Solitary WinterPutting up SheltersThe Donners Have Nothing but TentsFishing for Trout.Chapter VI.Endeavors to Cross the MountainsDiscouraging FailuresEddy Kills a BearMaking Snow-ShoesWho composed the "Forlorn Hope"Mary A. GravesAn IrishmanA Generous ActSix Days' RationsMary Graves' AccountSnow-BlindC. T. Stanton's Death"I Am Coming Soon"Sketch of Stanton's Early LifeHis Charity and Self-sacrificeThe Diamond BreastpinStanton's Last PoemChapter VII.A Wife's DevotionThe Smoky GorgeCaught in a StormCasting Lots to See Who Should DieA Hidden RiverThe Delirium of StarvationFranklin Ward GravesHis Dying AdviceA Frontiersman's PlanThe Camp of DeathA Dread ResortA Sister's AgonyThe Indians Refuse to EatLewis and Salvador Flee for Their LivesKilling a DeerTracks Marked by BloodNine Days without FoodChapter VIII.Starvation at Donner LakePreparing Rawhide for FoodEating the FirerugShoveling Snow off the BedsPlaying they were Tea-cups of CustardA Starving BabyPleading with Silent EloquencePatrick Breen's DiaryJacob Donner's DeathA Child's VowA Christmas DinnerLost on the SummitsA Stump Twenty-two Feet HighSeven Nursing Babes at Donner LakeA Devout FatherA Dying BoySorrow and Suffering at the CabinsChapter IX....