The history of his bloody deeds will never be told, for dead men tell no tales, and seldom did Bent leave any alive after a raid. Though he strongly suggested that the party take the regular wagon trail rather than this new false route, Reed would later ignore his warning in an attempt to reach their destination more quickly. They were attacked on September 9, 1860, and 11 died in the two-day confrontation. In numbers engaged, it attained the magnitude of war but was carried on in guerilla fashion. At the lake stood one existing cabin and realizing they were stranded, the group built two more cabins, sheltering 59 people in hopes that the early snow would melt, allowing them to continue their travels. By the time the Donner party reached the Humboldt River, where Hastings Cutoff rejoined the main California Trail, it was late September. Not everyone could be taken out at one time and since no pack animals could be brought in, few food supplies were brought in. The Bonnie Brooke Story: Directed by Allen H. Miner. Both children and adults could slip while getting out of a wagon and fall beneath the wheels. In 1862 the Indian raids on the coaches and stations between Fort Laramie and South Pass, Wyoming were almost continuous. But once settlers started heading West and claiming land for themselves all willy-nilly, not everyone was pleased. On March 14ththey arrived at the Alder Creek camp to find George Donner was dying from an infection in the hand that he had injured months before. Let's talk about why, in the least gross way possible. Along the entire journey, others would join the group until its size numbered 87. Major threats to pioneer life and limb came from accidents, exhaustion, and disease. Many of their animals, including Sutters mules, had wandered off into the storms and their bodies were lost under the snow. Invariably such a storm meant a stampede of the mules, nor would a man dare to desert his shelter to seek them. The next day five men, nine women, and one child departed on snowshoes for the summit, determined to travel the 100 miles to Sutters Fort.
According to Peter D. Olch, being run over by wagon wheels was the most frequent cause of injury or death. Historian Aaron Smith (via Deseret News) notes that the later settlers left, the more susceptible to cholera they would be, mostly because you were following in the footsteps of people who were essentially pooping out cholera as they went. He swore he only ate and never killed, writing, "A man, before he judges me, should be placed in a similar situation.". There followed a hot running fight, the passengers firing from the coach windows, and the Indian arrows flying thickly, wounding the horses, badly injuring Flowers, and killing two of the passengers.
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