Publisher's Synopsis
""The History of the Donner Party"" by C.F. McGlashan is a non-fiction book that tells the harrowing story of a group of pioneers who became stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountains during the winter of 1846-1847. The Donner Party consisted of 87 people, including men, women, and children, who were traveling from Illinois to California in search of a better life. However, due to a series of misfortunes, including bad weather, poor decision-making, and delays caused by a shortcut, the group became trapped in the mountains with little food and no means of escape.The book chronicles the events leading up to the Donner Party's ill-fated journey, as well as the struggles they faced during their time in the mountains. McGlashan provides a detailed account of the group's efforts to survive, including their attempts to hunt, fish, and forage for food. He also describes the various challenges they faced, such as illness, injury, and conflicts within the group.Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the book is the account of the Donner Party's eventual resort to cannibalism in order to survive. McGlashan describes the desperation and horror of the situation in vivid detail, making for a difficult but compelling read.Overall, ""The History of the Donner Party"" is a gripping and tragic account of one of the most infamous episodes in American pioneer history. It offers a glimpse into the struggles and sacrifices of those who sought to make a new life for themselves in the West, and the harsh realities they faced along the way.Eleven children were born to them, and four are now living. One of these, Lillie, now lives in Sacramento with her husband. Another, Paulina, a widow, resides in San Rafael. Bertha and Augusta live with the father at Brighton, Sacramento County. Both these children are hopelessly idiotic. Bertha is twenty-six years of age, and has never uttered an intelligible word. Augusta is fifteen years old, weighs two hundred and five pounds, and possesses only slight traces of intelligence. Teething spasms, occurring when they were about two years old, is the cause of their idiocy. Both are subject to frequent and violent spasms or epileptic fits.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.