1. The Donner Party is One of the Most Disturbing Stories from the Oregon Trail
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. The wagon train party is now known as the Donner Party or the Donner-Reed Party. This group began their wagon train trip to California in May of 1846, which was a reasonable time for wagon trains to leave. Just like any other wagon train, the Donner Party figured they had plenty of time to get to California; however, they would not finish their trip in the usual four to seven months.
The Donner Party wagon train decided to take a new route to California, which came to be called the Hastings Cutoff. This trail crossed the Great Salt Lake Desert and Utah’s Wasatch Mountains. It was also believed to be a bit shorter than the previous paths. However, being a new route, it was not as well worn by last wagon trains as the original trails were to California. Therefore, the Donner Party ran into a lot of mishaps, difficulties, and rugged terrain during their journey. On top of that, the party ran into winter weather once they reached the Sierra Nevada and got caught for the winter.
In mid-December, some members from the Donner Party decided to go on foot for help. Unfortunately, support did not come fast enough. While many rescuers were trying to reach the Donner Party, it would not happen soon enough. Several of the members of the Donner Party became sick and weak due to lack of food. It did not take long for the members of the wagon train to start dying due to starvation, the cold winter weather, and illness. Soon, the remaining members began to resort to cannibalism.
Finally, in February of 1847, a group of rescuers was able to reach the Donner Party, but it was months after the wagon train had become trapped in the Sierra Nevada. Only 48 out of 87 were alive when the rescuers came. Many were held back due to being too weak, including children being separated from their parents. It wasn’t until the beginning of March when the second rescue party arrived for the remaining members of the party. Only seventeen of them would be heading there with the second party. Five people remained at Truckee Lake until a third relief party was able to get them.
Where did we find this stuff? Here are our sources:
“Remembering the Oregon Trail.” Karen Kellaher, Scholastic. May 2018.
“10 Things You Should Know About the Donner Party.” Evan Andrews, History. April 2016.
“What Life on the Oregon Trail Was Really Like.” Jacoby Bancroft, Ranker.
“Interesting facts about the Oregon Trail and the pioneers that endured its hardships during their journey.” Ian Harvey, the vintage news. February 2017.
“What It Was Like on the REAL Oregon Trail?” Family History, Ancestry. August 2014.
“Life and Death on the Oregon Trail.” Oregon-California Trails Association.