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Page: of 436
SEPTEMBER 1845—NOVEMBER 1846
“No, I wasn’t. In fact, we and the Donners were miles ahead. We
didn’t know a thing about it till Mr. Reed came along and told us.”
“I don’t understand why you left the train, Walt.”’ Walter Herron was
one of Reed’s three teamsters. It seemed to Stanton that Herron shouldn’t
be here—he ought to be helping Reed’s family.
“I figured Mr. Reed couldn’t make it alone, what with the Indians and
everything. And I thought the two of us might do better at finding game,
though that wasn’t the case. Anyway, I just couldn’t stand to see him go
off alone that way.”
“Did you get the supplies?” Reed abruptly asked Stanton.
“Yes, I did. ’'ve got seven pack mules and a pair of Indians to help
mes
“Pm glad to hear it. My family’s just about out of food by now and so
are most of the others.”
“In that case, I’'d better get moving,” replied Stanton.
“Do me a favor, Charley?” asked Reed. “Make sure my family is
taken care of, will you? I’m worried sick. Outside of the Donners, there’s
hardly a soul I can trust. Some are just plain mean. I’m scared of what
they might do while I’m away.” Reed had a wife and four children, the
youngest aged three. George and Jacob Donner, both in their sixties,
were close friends of the Reeds.
The Donners and Reed had been prosperous businessmen back in
Springfield, Illinois. Reed’s arrogant and haughty manner sometimes inclined others to resent him. He liked to flaunt his wealth, and on earlier
occasions had snubbed Stanton, whose Chicago business had failed.
Now Reed was forced to swallow his pride and ask for Stanton’s aid.
“TIl look after them the same as if they were my own,” Stanton promised. “But what will you do? What shall I tell your folks? Where’ll you
meet them?”
“I’m coming right back soon as Walt and I can get some more provisions from Sutter. Tell Margaret I’ll get back to her just as fast as I can.”
“All right.’ Stanton turned to his nisenan companions. “Come on,
you vaqueros—let’s pack out.”
Several nourishing meals shared with members of Hastings’ party enabled Reed and Herron to recover their health while descending to the
valley of the Sacramento. At Johnson’s Ranch, in stark contrast to the
desperate situation across the mountains, emigrants were celebrating a
festive event. One of the newly arrived emigrants, Reverend James G. T.
Dunleavy was marrying Sebastian Keyser, owner of the other half of
Johnson’s Ranch, to Miss Elizabeth Rhodes, formerly of Roy County,
Missouri. Reed and Herron paused just long enough to toast the bride’s
45