Steely Dan Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 From the History Channel daily email. February 19: General Interest 1847 : Donner Party rescued On this day in 1847, the first rescuers reach surviving members of the Donner Party, a group of California-bound emigrants stranded by snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In the summer of 1846, in the midst of a Western-bound fever sweeping the United States, 89 people--including 31 members of the Donner and Reed families--set out in a wagon train from Springfield, Illinois. After arriving at Fort Bridger, Wyoming, the emigrants decided to avoid the usual route and try a new trail recently blazed by California promoter Lansford Hastings, the so-called "Hastings Cutoff." After electing George Donner as their captain, the party departed Fort Bridger in mid-July. The shortcut was nothing of the sort: It set the Donner Party back nearly three weeks and cost them much-needed supplies. After suffering great hardships in the Wasatch Mountains, the Great Salt Lake Desert and along the Humboldt River, they finally reached the Sierra Nevada Mountains in early October. Despite the lateness of the season, the emigrants continued to press on, and on October 28 they camped at Truckee Lake, located in the high mountains 21 kilometers northwest of Lake Tahoe. Overnight, an early winter storm blanketed the ground with snow, blocking the mountain pass and trapping the Donner Party. Most of the group stayed near the lake--now known as Donner Lake--while the Donner family and others made camp six miles away at Alder Creek. Building makeshift tents out of their wagons and killing their oxen for food, they hoped for a thaw that never came. Fifteen of the stronger emigrants, later known as the Forlorn Hope, set out west on snowshoes for Sutter's Fort near San Francisco on December 16. Three weeks later, after harsh weather and lack of supplies killed several of the expedition and forced the others to resort to cannibalism, seven survivors reached a Native American village. News of the stranded Donner Party traveled fast to Sutter's Fort, and a rescue party set out on January 31. Arriving at Donner Lake 20 days later, they found the camp completely snowbound and the surviving emigrants delirious with relief at their arrival. Rescuers fed the starving group as well as they could and then began evacuating them. Three more rescue parties arrived to help, but the return to Sutter's Fort proved equally harrowing, and the last survivors didn't reach safety until late April. Of the 89 original members of the Donner Party, only 45 reached California. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gives new meaning to the words "Eat Me" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Gives new meaning to the words "Eat Me" that's cold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wacka Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Every time someone goes up to Taho from the SF Bay area, they get reminded about that. Donner Pass and Donner Lake are on I-80. Children of a few survivors are buried in my town's cemetery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Feb 19, 1847: The Donnor's go to a fancy restaurant. The Matreedee announces...Donner, Party of 89! Feb 20, 1847: The Donnor party goes back to the fancy restaurant. The Matreedee announces...Donner, Party of 88! Feb 21, 1847: The Donnor party goes back to the fancy restaurant. The Matreedee announces...Donner, Party of 87! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBill Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Feb 19, 1847: The Donnor's go to a fancy restaurant. The Matreedee announces...Donner, Party of 89!Feb 20, 1847: The Donnor party goes back to the fancy restaurant. The Matreedee announces...Donner, Party of 88! Feb 21, 1847: The Donnor party goes back to the fancy restaurant. The Matreedee announces...Donner, Party of 87! sick .. very sick ... I was frozen stiff with shock after reading your joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steely Dan Posted February 20, 2009 Author Share Posted February 20, 2009 sick .. very sick ... I was frozen stiff with shock after reading your joke. You're wife wishes that happened to you more! BANG ZING!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 There is a lessen to be learned here: Never take the "shortcut." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dib Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 funniest (sickest) thing I saw a long time ago. Customized Bills jersey- Name on the back- Dahmer. number...............................8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBill Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 You're wife wishes that happened to you more! BANG ZING!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steely Dan Posted February 20, 2009 Author Share Posted February 20, 2009 funniest (sickest) thing I saw a long time ago. Customized Bills jersey- Name on the back- Dahmer. number...............................8 Well at least sWillis McGacy is on the team anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dib Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 speaking of being frozen stiff- did you hear the one about the funeral director who wouldnt have sex with his wife unless she took a cold shower and laid real still Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steely Dan Posted February 20, 2009 Author Share Posted February 20, 2009 speaking of being frozen stiff- did you hear the one about the funeral director who wouldnt have sex with his wife unless she took a cold shower and laid real still I'm sure somewhere at some time that was true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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