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Archiver > IRISH-AMERICAN > 2003-08 > 1060454970
From: "Jean Rice" <>
Subject: [Irish-American] Sierra Nevada/E. CA/Ill-fated DONNER Party -- (1846-47) -- BREEN
Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2003 11:51:54 -0700
SNIPPET: In 1846, thousands of people headed West in America with the hopes of securing land and opportunity. As members of the ill-fated Donner Party, the Irish American family of Patrick and Margaret BREEN and their seven children could not have known that their own hopeful trip to California would become a 3-1/2 month nightmare.
Donner Pass cuts through the Sierra Nevada, a mountain range in eastern California. A party of 82 settlers from Illinois and adjoining states, lead by George and Jacob DONNER became snowbound there in brutal winter conditions and only 47 were to survive. The party had reached the High Sierras in late October, but a snowstorm had already closed the pass. In December, 15 persons tried to get through the snow-blocked pass. Eight of them died, but seven got through and sent back rescue workers. Those stranded had built crude shelters of logs, rocks, and hides, and were forced to eat twigs, field mice, their animals, their shoes, and finally their own dead. Rescuers found the BREENs in a hollow of snow 24 feet deep. Of the twelve recovered families, only two made it without losing any members. The BREENs were one of those fortunate families and were described by survivors as generous, sharing their provisions with others whose supplies were depleted.
As I recall, the stranded party had broken off from a wagon-train to take a shorter route based on erronous information that had been circulating. Unfortunately, it turned out to be one of the worst (if not the worst) winters ever recorded there. I didn't realize that once their rescuers got through only a few were able to be taken out on that trip and that some of those left behind perished before the rescuers could return. Check the websites, you should be able to find detailed first-hand accounts, and I believe the PBS website has information on the excellent Donner Party documentary.
Donner Pass lies 7,088 feet above sea level, about 35 miles SW of Reno, NV. The first transcontinental railroad, completed in 1869, went through the pass. Donner Pass is a national historical landmark.
There is a museum with artifacts from that fateful trip at Sutter's Fort, Sacramento, CA, the Donner Party's destination.
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