History of the Donner Party | Page 9

and stately manner rode back to his encampment.

On another occasion, Mary Graves, who was a very beautiful young
lady, was riding on horseback accompanied by her brother. They were
a little in the rear of the train, and a band of Sioux Indians, becoming
enamored with the maiden, offered to purchase her. They made very
handsome offers, but the brother not being disposed to accept, one of
the Indians seized the bridle of the girl's horse and attempted to carry
her away captive. Perhaps the attempt was made in half jest. At all
events the bridle was promptly dropped when the brother leveled his
rifle at the savage.
On the twentieth of July, 1846, George Donner was elected Captain of
the train at the Little Sandy River. From that time forward it was
known as the Donner Party.
One incident, not at all unusual to a trip across the plains, is pointedly
described in a letter written by C. T. Stanton to his brother, Sidney
Stanton, now of Cazenovia, New York. The incident alluded to is the
unfriendliness and want of harmony so liable to exist between different
companies, and between members of the same company. From one of
Mr. Stanton's letters the following extract is made:
"At noon we passed Boggs' company on the Sweetwater; a mile further
up the river, Dunlavy's; a mile further, West's; and about two miles
beyond that, was Dunbar's. We encamped about half way between the
two latter. Thus, within five miles were encamped five companies. At
Indian Creek, twenty miles from Independence, these five companies
all constituted one, but owing to dissensions and quarreling they
became broken into fragments. Now, by accident, we all again once
more meet and grasp the cordial hand; old enmities are forgot, and
nothing but good feeling prevails. * * * * * The next morning we got
rather a late start, owing to a difference of opinion arising in our
company as to whether we should lie by or go ahead. Those wishing to
lie by were principally young men who wished to have a day's hunting
among the buffaloes, and there were also a few families out of meat
who wished to lay in a supply before they left the buffalo country. A
further reason was urged that the cattle were nearly fagged out by hard
travel, and that they would not stand the journey unless we stopped and

gave them rest. On the other side it was contended that if we stopped
here the other companies would all get ahead, the grass would all he
eaten off by their thousand head of cattle, and that consequently, when
we came along, our cattle would starve. The go-ahead party finally
ruled and we rolled out."
As will presently be seen, the dissension existing in the company, and
the petty differences of opinion and interest, were the fundamental
causes of the calamities which befell the Donner Party.
When the company was near Fort Bridger, Edward Breen's leg was
broken by a fall from a horse. His mother refused to permit amputation,
or rather left the question to Edward's decision, and of course, boy-like,
he refused to have the operation performed. Contrary to expectation,
the bone knitted, and in a month he walked without a crutch.
At Fort Bridger, which was at this time a mere camp or trading post,
the party heard much commendation bestowed upon a new route via
Salt Lake. This route passed along the southern shore of the Lake, and
rejoined the old Fort Hall emigrant road on the Humboldt. It was said
to shorten the distance three hundred miles. The new route was known
as the Hastings Cut-off, and was named after the famous Lansford W.
Hastings, who was even then piloting a small company over the cut-off.
The large trains delayed for three or four days at Fort Bridger, debating
as to the best course to pursue. It is claimed that but for the earnest
advice and solicitation of Bridger and Vasquez, who had charge of the
fort, the entire party would have continued by the accustomed route.
These men had a direct interest in the Hastings Cut-off, as they
furnished the emigrants with supplies, and had employed Hastings to
pilot the first company over the road to Salt Lake.
After mature deliberation, the party divided, the greater portion going
by Fort Hall and reaching California in safety. With the large train,
which journeyed the old road, this narrative is no longer interested.
Eighty-seven persons, however, took the Hastings Cut-off. Their names
are included in the ninety mentioned in the preceding chapter, it being
remembered that Mrs. Sarah Keyes had died, and that Lewis and
Salvador were not yet members of the party. For several days the party

traveled without much difficulty. They reached Weber