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When most people hear the words "the Donner Party," the story of the wagon train members who ate each other in order to survive their trek across the Sierra Nevada mountains comes to mind. However, new evidence from archeologists suggests that the cannibalism might not have been as grisly as initially reported.
History
One hundred sixty years ago, in April 1846, the ill-fated Donner Party (sometimes known as the Donner-Reed party) made its way to California in pursuit of a better life. The party originally consisted of two families from Springfield, Illinois: the Donners and the Reeds. The grand total of the traveling family members was 31 (Johnson, 2006a). Eventually, other families joined the party as the wagon train headed into the vast West; these families included the following: Breens; Eddys; Graves and Fosdicks; Kesebergs; McCutchens; Murphys, Fosters, and Pikes; Wolfingers; and the Teamsters (Johnson, 2006b).
In June the party had made it to Fort Laramie, Wyoming, where discussion occurred about taking a new route, Hastings Cutoff, to California. Lansford W. Hastings had written a book titled, The Emigrants' Guide to Oregon and California, to serve as a guide for emigrants heading to the West, but also to draw attention to his new route, Hastings Cutoff. The emigrants were cautioned by James Clyman about taking Hastings Cutoff because of the long stretch of desert and lack of water supply. Clyman warned, "take the regular wagon track and never leave it-it is barely possible to get through if you follow it-and it might be impossible if you don't" (Oregon-California Trails Association, 2006).
However, on July 4 part of the party, which was known as Bryant-Russell, decided to go ahead and take the Hastings Cutoff. A few days later, while camping at Independence Rock, the remaining wagon party, which was known as the Boggs Company, received a letter from Lansford W. Hastings stating that he would meet them at Fort Bridger and lead them on his cutoff (Johnson, 2006a). On JuIy 19 decisions were made in the Boggs Company. Part of the party decided to go ahead and take the Hastings Cutoff, while the remaining emigrants decided to take the normal route via Fort Hall. The group heading toward Hastings Cutoff elected George Donner to...