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The Expedition of the Donner Party and Its Tragic Fate (467 pages)

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Page: of 467

THE EXPEDITION OF THE DONNER PARTY
Woodworth’s camp, established as a relay station pursuant to the general plan of rescue originally adopted.
They found the midshipman in snug quarters with several men to do his bidding. He explained that the lack
of competent guides had prevented his venturing
among the snow peaks. Whereupon, Mr. Eddy earnestly assured him that the trail of those who had already gone up outlined the way.
After much deliberation, Woodworth and his men
agreed to start out next morning for the mountain
camps, but tried to dissuade Mr. Eddy from accompanying them on account of his apparent depleted condition. Nevertheless both he and Mr. Foster remained
firm, and with the party, left the relay camp, crossed
the low foothills and encamped for the night on the
Yuba River.
At dusk, Woodworth was surprised by the arrival of
two forlorn-looking individuals, whom he recognized
as members of the Reed-Greenwood Relief, which had
gone up the mountain late in February and was overdue. The two implored food for themselves, also for
their seven companions and three refugees, a mile back
on the trail, unable to come farther.
When somewhat refreshed, they were able to go
more into detail, and the following explanation of their
plight was elicited:
‘¢ One of our men, Clark, is at Donner’s Camp, and
the other nine of us left the cabins near the lake on
the third of March, with seventeen of the starving
emigrants. The storm caught us as we crossed the
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