The Donner Party’s infamous food source
Discussing the Oregon Trail without talking about the Donner Party is like talking about ancient Egypt and not mentioning the Pyramids. The Donner Party ate members of their party who had died of hunger, exhaustion, or other causes, although the party was suspected of murdering at least two for their meat. It was a matter of survival.
While members of their party went on a dangerous trek through the mountains to get help, those left at behind at the camp were running out of time, even with their taboo food source. This survival tactic would haunt survivors for the rest of their lives. Virginia Reed, a 13 year old survivor, warned, “Never take no cutofs and hury along as fast as you can.” Only 45 of the 81 Donner-Reed party who started the winter in the mountains would survive the most famous of wagon trains.
