The Donner Party

1
The Donner Party

• The long journey they went through. It started
  out in 1846 from Independence of Missouri. About
  2,700 people went out on the trial and 1,500 for
  the Mexican American.

2
The Journey

• It Was about 2,000 miles long to California. By
  using Oxen and Horses, it will take probably
  about 15 miles a days, and it might take 5 month
  throughout the trail as it was calculated.

3
The Emigrants starting out

• They set off from Spring Field, Illinois and
  travel in a large group of emigrants to
  California.

4
The Route they took

• The Oregon emigrants went on the Snake River to
  the Columbia River.  The California emigrants
  would cross either Mary's or Ogden's River
  (Humboldt), and goes through the Sierra of Nevada
  Mountains.  Some California emigrants would
  "cut-off" so it would save them mile on the route.

5
Their Camp Map

• This is map camps at Alder Creek and Donner
  Lake. This map of their site was Drawn by
  William Graves for C.F. McGlashan in 1879.

It was winter when it come to the Sierra Nevada
that year. By the time the party reached Donner
Lake there was snow on the ground. The Donner
families was trap at Alder Creek, six miles from
the lake, and the wagon axle needed to be fix.
6
The Donner Family Camp

• Out of all the party, they are in bad shape.
   They stop at Alder Creek because their wagon
  broke down, and it was eight miles from the
  cabins at the Lake.  There was a storm and they
  built "brush sheds" covered by their
  wagon canvas.  

7
The Snowshoe party

• This is the route of the Snow shoe party.

8
The Session

• It took them a year and the session had change.
  It was winter and cold and freezing. If was very
  cold to keep yourself warm, especially at night.

9
The Difficulties

• It was normal at the first start. When it was
  winter, there wasnt any oxen left, and the snow
  was to high to go through. It was freezing with
  no food, and theirs only choice, it is eat the
  dead one or die as the dead one.

10
Being a Member

• Being a member of the Donner Party will give you
  poor health. There will be nothing but to get
  yourself to California. Its a long trail, and
  when theres no food, what would you do?

It made them tired, frustrated, hungry and
disillusioned. Everyone turn from good to bad.
11
Their Decision

• They have a choice to choose they way they want
  to enter. They also can eat what they want and
  do what they want.

12
The Comparison of the Trail

• The first trail is the Batleson Party which is
  heading to Pilot Peak, then come alone the Oregon
  Trail thats headed tour Oregon, and the Walkers
  Party going to the Sierra, and the Stevens-Murphy
  headed tour California, and last of all, the
  hastings Cutoff.

Some take the hasting cutoff, but it doesnt
save them time. Those who went on a 36-mile road
through the Wasatch Mountains, lost some of their
oxen and cattle while crossing the desolate.
Those was completed with little water, and it was
80-mile-wide Great Salt Lake Desert. Several
wagons and many possessions had to be abandoned.
13
What went wrong?

• They were attack by Indian and many oxen was
  poison. Not enough oxen and food. They were
  also going slow on time, and winter came early.

14
The Reed

• James Reed was the leader or the Donner Party,
  and he arrived in California ahead of the Party,
  and try to made two rescue attempts. The Reeds
  were one of only two families to survive without
  loss.

15
The Breens

• The Breen family crossed the plains.  Patrick
  Breen's Diary made an honest being in life, and
  it is the writing of that winter.  When it was
  published in the newspaper, the author wasnt
  named.  All of the Breen family survived the
  winter like the Reed family

16
William Eddy

• William Eddy was 28 year of age and survived the
  Snowshoe Party, and returned leading the Third
  Relief.  He was marry in 1848 and divorced in
  1854 after having two children.  He got marry
  again in 1856 and his wife died in 1859.  

17
The Event

• Going through the trail is like a battle for
  them. They get sick and hungry as it goes on.
  They run out of food and their cattles dieing.
  There were no food and they ate the dead.

18
The Rescuer

• When some man found them, a woman ask them a
  question. They didnt have enough food for
  everybody. They took as much people as they can,
  so some of the party have to stay behind.

19
Those who Survive

• Forty-nine people survived. Those who survive
  the Donner Party settle through California. Some
  of the survivors just live their live there in
  California like a normal family, and some became
  famous, and some had an experience of it. John
  Jameseon was known as the descendant of Elitha
  Donner.

20
The Finish Line

• It took them a long time and finally made it to
  California. This is how it start and how it end.

Link to http//jcaweb.tripod.com/Projects/Donner/l
inks.htm to see the website that all the
information of this slide show come from.