The Expedition of the Donner Party and its Tragic Fate | Page 7

morning; and
it was found to consist of 98 fighting men, 50 women, 46 wagons, and
350 cattle. Two divisions were made for convenience in travelling. We
were joined to-day by nine wagons from Illinois belonging to Mr. Reed
and Messrs. Donner, highly respectable and intelligent gentlemen with
interesting families. They were received into the company by a
unanimous vote.
Our cattle were allowed to rest that day; and while the men were
hunting and fishing, the women spread the family washings on the
boughs and bushes of that well-wooded stream. We children, who had
been confined to the wagon so many hours each day, stretched our
limbs, and scampered off on Mayday frolics. We waded the creek,
made mud pies, and gathered posies in the narrow glades between the
cottonwood, beech, and alder trees. Colonel Russell was courteous to
all; visited the new members, and secured their cheerful indorsement of
his carefully prepared plan of travel. He was at the head of a
representative body of pioneers, including lawyers, journalists, teachers,
students, farmers, and day-laborers, also a minister of the gospel, a
carriage-maker, a cabinet-maker, a stonemason, a jeweller, a
blacksmith, and women versed in all branches of woman's work.
The government of these emigrant trains was essentially democratic
and characteristically American. A captain was chosen, and all plans of
action and rules and regulations were proposed at a general assembly,
and accepted or rejected by majority vote. Consequently, Colonel
Russell's function was to preside over meetings, lead the train, locate
camping ground, select crossings over fordable streams, and direct the

construction of rafts and other expedients for transportation over deep
waters.
A trumpet call aroused the camp at dawn the following morning; by
seven o'clock breakfast had been cooked and served, and the company
was in marching order. The weather was fine, and we followed the trail
of the Kansas Indians, toward the Big Blue.
At nooning our teams stood in line on the road chewing the cud and
taking their breathing spell, while families lunched on the grass in
restful picnic style. Suddenly a gust of wind swept by; the sky turned a
greenish gray; black clouds drifted over the face of the sun; ominous
sounds came rumbling from distant hills, and before our effects could
be collected and returned to cover, a terrific thunderstorm was upon us.
We were three hours' distance from our evening camp-ground and our
drivers had to walk and face that buffeting storm in order to keep
control of the nervous cattle. It was still raining when we reached the
knoll where we could spend the night. Our men were tired and
drenched, some of them cross; fires were out of the question until fuel
could be cut and brought from the edge of a swamp a mile from camp.
When brought, the green wood smoked so badly that suppers were late
and rather cheerless; still there was spirit enough left in those stalwart
hearts to start some mirth-provoking ditty, or indulge in good-natured
raillery over the joys and comforts of pioneering.
Indians had followed our train all day, and as we had been warned
against leaving temptation within reach, the cattle were corralled early
and their guards doubled. Happily, the night passed without alarm or
losses. The following day we were joined by ex-Governor Boggs and
companions, and lost Mr. Jordan and friends of Jackson, Missouri, who
drew their thirteen wagons out of line, saying that their force was
strong enough to travel alone, and that Captain Russell's company had
become too large for rapid or convenient handling.
We covered fourteen miles that day over a beautiful rolling prairie,
dotted with Indian lodges. Frequently their owners walked or rode
beside our wagons, asking for presents.

Mrs. Kehi-go-wa-chuck-ee was made happy by the gift of a dozen
strings of glass beads, and the chief also kindly accepted a few trinkets
and a contribution of tobacco, and provisions, after which he made the
company understand that for a consideration payable in cotton prints,
tobacco, salt pork, and flour, he himself and his trusted braves would
become escort to the train in order to protect its cattle from harm, and
its wagons from the pilfering hands of his tribesmen. His offer was
accepted, with the condition that he should not receive any of the
promised goods until the last wagon was safe beyond his territory. This
bargain was faithfully kept, and when we parted from the Indians, they
proceeded to immediate and hilarious enjoyment of the unwonted
luxuries thus earned.
We were now in line with spring storms, which made us victims of
frequent downpours and cyclonic winds. The roads were heavy, and the
banks of streams so steep that often the wagons had to be lowered by
aid of rope and chain. Fortunately our people