This Day In NorCal History: Donner Party Rescued
The remaining members of the Donner Party would be rescued on this day February 19, 1847.
By Admin on February 19, 2020
If I say the word “Donner” to you, you’d probably immediately think of Donner Lake, northwest of Lake Tahoe. But, how did Donner Lake, and Donner Pass get their names?
To answer that question, we have to go back to 1846. History writes, “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 Donner party would be delayed by almost three weeks on that cutoff, and would arrive in California’s Sierra in October. Winter had set in, and it was cold, but not snowing. So the party pressed on. October 28th, the group found themselves next to a large mountain lake, now Donner Lake. They set up camp and spent the night.
When they woke up the next morning, the landscape had changed completely. Winter had arrived, and without warning. Everything in sight was covered in a thick blanket of snow.
The party killed their oxen for food, and ultimately began resorting to cannibalism to stay alive.
Eventually, the remaining members of the Donner Party would be rescued on this day February 19, 1847.
The story is really twisted and you can read more of that at History.
