What Happened to the Donner Party: A Tragic Tale

Have you ever wondered what happened to the Donner Party? How did a group of pioneers end up in one of the most infamous survival situations in American history?

In his book The Indifferent Stars Above, Daniel James Brown delves into the harrowing journey of the Donner Party. You'll discover the series of unfortunate events and decisions that led to their tragic fate in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Keep reading to uncover the gripping tale of survival, desperation, and the human spirit pushed to its limits.

The Donner Party's Westward Trek

What happened to the Donner Party is a harrowing tale of pioneer life gone wrong. The journey west in 1846 began when the Graves family, along with several others, set out from Illinois with high hopes of a new life in California. Little did they know the trials that awaited them on the trail, which would lead to one of the most infamous stories in American history.

As the Graves family joined up with the larger Donner Party in August, they faced their first taste of the challenges ahead. Heavy rains swelled rivers, making crossings treacherous. Wetlands bogged down their oxen, forcing the pioneers to get creative in finding ways across. But these early obstacles were just the beginning.

A Fateful Shortcut

The real trouble began when Lansford Hastings convinced the Donner Party to take his newly charted shortcut through the Wasatch Mountains. Despite warnings from others that no quicker route existed, the weary travelers were tempted by the promise of saving time. It was a decision they'd soon regret.

The rugged Wasatch terrain trapped the party for weeks as they struggled to forge a path through dense thickets. Wagons tumbled down steep inclines. Progress slowed to a crawl. By the time they emerged on the other side, precious weeks had been lost - time they couldn't afford as winter approached.

Racing Against Winter

Now dangerously behind schedule, the Donner Party pushed on across the harsh Great Salt Desert. But their greatest challenge still loomed ahead - crossing the towering Sierra Nevada mountains. As October arrived, they knew they were in a race against time. Winter storms could hit the high peaks any day, potentially trapping them.

Disaster in the Sierra Nevada

The Donner Party's worst fears came true as they attempted to cross the Sierra Nevada. An early, intense snowstorm caught them off guard, halting their wagons in their tracks. For eight long days, the snow fell relentlessly, burying the landscape. The pioneers hurriedly sought shelter, but it was clear they wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon.

A Desperate Fight for Survival

As days turned to weeks, conditions rapidly deteriorated for the stranded travelers. Supplies dwindled dangerously low. The bitter cold and lack of food took their toll, with many falling ill. Jacob Donner's health declined rapidly. Children grew sick, while adults became too weak to move.

The snow made it nearly impossible to find dry firewood. Warmth and the ability to cook became luxuries. Once energetic pioneers now resembled walking corpses as starvation and cold sapped their strength and minds.

The Unthinkable

In their desperation, some survivors eventually resorted to cannibalism to stay alive. It was a choice born of utter despair, as they were forced to consume the flesh of their deceased companions. The psychological toll was immense. Even children unknowingly ate human remains. It was a trauma that would haunt survivors for the rest of their lives.

Rescue Attempts

As news of the Donner Party's plight spread, rescue attempts were launched. But the rescuers faced many of the same perils that had trapped the pioneers. Deep snow made progress painfully slow, even with snowshoes. Horses struggled in the harsh conditions. Rescuers navigated a desolate, frozen landscape littered with the remains of humans and oxen - grim evidence of the Donner Party's fate.

The unrelenting winter weather forced tough decisions about who to evacuate first and who must be left behind. Often, rescue missions became recovery operations as there simply wasn't enough food and supplies to sustain everyone in the frigid wilderness.

Too Little, Too Late

While help did eventually reach the Donner Party, it came too late for many. Families faced agonizing choices about who might survive the journey out and who was too weak to travel. Even among those initially rescued, some perished waiting for follow-up relief parties that were delayed by the brutal conditions.

The Psychological Toll

For those who survived the ordeal in the mountains, the trauma left deep psychological scars. Upon waking each day, survivors were confronted anew with their desperate situation. The constant threat of starvation or death from exposure weighed heavily on their minds.

Women and children were especially vulnerable to the mental and physical toll. Many suffered from malnutrition, frostbite, and extreme psychological strain. Some, like Mary Ann Graves, showed signs of PTSD, haunted by memories of what they'd endured.

Life After the Donner Party

The fates of Donner Party survivors varied widely in the years that followed. While some went on to find success and financial security, others struggled with poverty for the rest of their lives. Many carried deep emotional wounds, especially those who'd lost parents or other family members in the mountains.

Children and teens often had a particularly hard time processing the trauma and disrupted social bonds. Women, despite their biological resilience, were four times more likely than men to develop PTSD after such an ordeal.

Yet even in the face of such extreme hardship, the human spirit proved remarkably resilient. Many survivors went on to build new lives, demonstrating incredible perseverance in overcoming their traumatic past.

Rescue and Recovery Efforts

The plight of the Donner Party sparked heroic rescue efforts, with volunteers braving treacherous conditions to reach the stranded pioneers. James Reed, who'd been banished from the party earlier, worked tirelessly to organize relief missions once he reached California.

Rescuers faced enormous challenges. The first relief party had their supplies ransacked by animals. They had to make heart-wrenching decisions about who was strong enough to save. Yet they persevered, breaking trail through the icy landscape to save as many as they could.

Acts of Heroism

The rescue attempts were marked by extraordinary acts of bravery and compassion. John Stark refused to abandon the Breen family, showcasing the moral fortitude of those who came to help. William "Le Gros" Fallon led the fourth relief party, carefully assessing the remaining Donner family members' chances of survival.

These rescue efforts required immense coordination of resources and manpower. The sheer scale of the undertaking highlighted both the dire situation of the Donner Party and the determined response of the California settlements to save them.

The Donner Party's Legacy

Long after their rescue, the Donner Party's story continued to captivate public attention. James Breen, a survivor, later worked at the "Truckee Republican" newspaper, spurring further investigation into the events.

Charles McGlashan's book, History of the Donner Party, provided a detailed account of both survivors and those who perished. His work helped cement the Donner Party's place in American history, ensuring their tale of courage, desperation, and survival would be remembered for generations to come.

The Donner Party's journey remains a stark reminder of the perils faced by pioneers heading west. Their story of tragedy and resilience continues to fascinate us, offering insights into human nature when pushed to the very limits of endurance.