The Rescue
California Aroused
A Yerba Buena Newspaper
Tidings of Woe
A Cry of Distress
Noble Generosity
Subscriptions for the Donner Party
The First and Second Reliefs
Organization of the Third
The Dilemma
Voting to Abandon a Family
The Fatal Ayes
John Stark's Bravery
Carrying the Starved Children
A Plea for the Relief Party.
Foster and Eddy, it will be remembered, were of the fifteen who composed
the "Forlorn Hope." Foster was a man of strong, generous impulses, and
great determination. His boy was at Donner Lake, and his wife's mother
and brother. He hardly took time to rest and recruit his wasted strength
before he began organizing a party to go to their rescue. His efforts
were ably seconded by W. H. Eddy, whose wife and daughter had perished,
but whose boy was still alive at the cabins.
California was thoroughly aroused over tidings which had come from the
mountains. It was difficult to get volunteers to undertake the journey
over the Sierra, but horses, mules, provisions, and good wages were
allowed all who would venture the perilous trip. The trouble with Mexico
had caused many of the able-bodied citizens of California to enlist in
the service. Hence it was that it was so difficult to organize relief
parties.
The following extracts are made from the California Star, a newspaper
published at "Yerba Buena," as San Francisco was then called. They
do justice to the sentiment of the people of California, and indicate
something of the willingness of the pioneers to aid the Donner Party.
From the Star of January 16, 1847, is taken the following article, which
appeared as an editorial:
"Emigrants on the Mountains."
"It is probably not generally known to the people that there is now in
the California mountains, in a most distressing situation, a party of
emigrants from the United States, who were prevented from crossing the
mountains by an early, heavy fall of snow. The party consists of about
sixty persons--men, women, and children. They were almost entirely out
of provisions when they reached the foot of the mountains, and but for
the timely succor afforded them by Capt. J. A. Sutter, one of the most
humane and liberal men in California, they must have all perished in a
few days. Capt. Sutter, as soon as he ascertained their situation, sent
five mules loaded with provisions to them. A second party was dispatched
with provisions for them, but they found the mountains impassable in
consequence of the snow. We hope that our citizens will do something for
the relief of these unfortunate people."
From the same source, under date of February 6, 1847, is taken the
following:
"Public Meeting."
"It will be recollected that in a previous number of our paper, we
called the attention of our citizens to the situation of a company of
unfortunate emigrants now in the California mountains. For the purpose
of making their situation more fully known to the people, and of
adopting measures for their relief, a public meeting was called by the
Honorable Washington A. Bartlett, alcalde of the town, on Wednesday
evening last. The citizens generally attended, and in a very short time
the sum of $800 was subscribed to purchase provisions, clothing, horses,
and mules to bring the emigrants in. Committees were appointed to call
on those who could not attend the meeting, and there is no doubt but
that $500 or $600 more will be raised. This speaks well for Yerba
Buena."
One other extract is quoted from the Star of February 13, 1847:
"Company Left."
"A company of twenty men left here on Sunday last for the California
mountains, with provisions, clothing, etc., for the suffering emigrants
now there. The citizens of this place subscribed about $1,500 for their
relief, which was expended for such articles as the emigrants would be
most likely to need. Mr. Greenwood, an old mountaineer, went with the
company as pilot. If it is possible to cross the mountains, they will
get to the emigrants in time to save them."
These three articles may aid the reader in better understanding what has
heretofore been said about the organization of the relief parties.
It will be remembered that James F. Reed and William McCutchen first
procured animals and provisions from Capt. Sutter, attempted to cross
the mountains, found the snow impassable, cached their provisions, and
returned to the valleys. Reed, as described in his letter to the Rural
Press, went to San Jose, Cal., and thence to Yerba Buena. McCutchen went
to Napa and Sonoma, and awakened such an interest that a subscription of
over $500 was subscribed for the emigrants, besides a number of
horses and mules. Lieut. W. L. Maury and M. G. Vallejo headed this
subscription, and $500 was promised to Greenwood if he succeeded in
raising a company, and in piloting them over the mountains. In order
to get men, Greenwood and McCutchen went to Yerba Buena, arriving there
almost at the same time with Reed. The above notices chronicle the
events which succeeded the announcement of their mission. The funds and
supplies contributed were placed in charge of Lieut. Woodworth. This
party set out immediately, and their journey has been described. They
form the second relief party, because immediately upon the arrival of
the seven who survived of the "Forlorn Hope," Capt. Tucker's party had
been organized at Johnson's and Sutter's, and had reached Dormer Lake
first.
When Foster and Eddy attempted to form a relief party, they found the
same difficulty in securing volunteers which others had encountered. It
was such a terrible undertaking, that no man cared to risk his life in
the expedition.
Captain J. B. Hull, of the United States navy, and Commander of the
Northern District of California, furnished Foster and Eddy with horses
and provisions. Setting out from Johnson's ranch, they arrived at
Woodworth's camp in the afternoon. During that very night two of Reed's
men came to the camp, and brought news that Reed and a portion of his
party were a short distance back in the mountains. When Reed and his
companions were brought into camp, and it was ascertained that fourteen
people had been left in the snow, without food, the third relief party
was at once organized. The great danger and suffering endured by those
who had composed the first and second relief parties, prevented men from
volunteering. On this account greater honor is due those who determined
to peril their lives to save the emigrants. Hiram Miller, although weak
and exhausted with the fatigues and starvation he had just undergone in
the second relief party, joined Messrs. Foster and Eddy. These three,
with Wm. Thompson, John Stark, Howard Oakley, and Charles Stone, set
out from Woodworth's camp the next morning after Reed's arrival. It was
agreed that Stark, Oakley, and Stone were to remain with the sufferers
at Starved Camp, supply them with food, and conduct them to Woodworth's
camp. Foster, Eddy, Thompson, and Miller were to press forward to the
relief of those at Donner Lake. The three men, therefore, whose voices
reached Mrs. Breen, were Stark, Oakley, and Stone.
When these members of the third relief party reached the deep, well-like
cavity in which were the seven Breens, the three Graves children, and
Mary Donner, a serious question arose. None of the eleven, except
Mrs. Breen and John Breen, were able to walk. A storm appeared to be
gathering upon the mountains, and the supply of provisions was very
limited. The lonely situation, the weird, desolate surroundings,
the appalling scenes at the camp, and above all, the danger of being
overtaken by a snow-storm, filled the minds of Oakley and Stone with
terror. When it was found that nine out of the eleven people must be
carried over the snow, it is hardly to be wondered at that a proposition
was made to leave a portion of the sufferers. It was proposed to take
the three Graves children and Mary Donner. These four children would be
quite a sufficient burden for the three men, considering the snow over
which they must travel. The Breens, or at least such of them as could
not walk, were to be abandoned. This was equivalent to leaving the
father, mother, and five children, because the mother would not abandon
any member of her family, and John, who alone could travel, was in a
semi-lifeless condition. The members of the third relief party are said
to have taken a vote upon the question. This scene is described in the
manuscript of Hon. James F. Breen: "Those who were in favor of returning
to the settlements, and leaving the Breens for a future relief party
(which, under the circumstances, was equivalent to the death penalty),
were to answer 'aye.' The question was put to each man by name, and as
the names were called, the dreadful 'aye' responded. John Stark's name
was the last one called, because he had, during the discussion of the
question, strongly opposed the proposition for abandonment, and it was
naturally supposed that when he found himself in so hopeless a minority
he would surrender. When his name was called, he made no answer until
some one said to him: 'Stark, won't you vote?' Stark, during all this
proceeding of calling the roll, had stood apart from his companions with
bowed head and folded arms. When he was thus directly appealed to, he
answered quickly and decidedly: "No, gentlemen, I will not abandon these
people. I am here on a mission of mercy, and I will not half do the
work. You can all go if you want to, but I shall stay by these people
while they and I live."
It was nobly said. If the Breens had been left at Starved Camp, even
until the return of Foster, Eddy, Miller, and Thompson from the lake,
none would have ever reached the settlements. In continuation of the
above narration, the following is taken from the manuscript of John
Breen: "Stark was finally left alone. To his great bodily strength, and
unexcelled courage, myself and others owe our lives. There was probably
no other man in California at that time, who had the intelligence,
determination, and what was absolutely necessary in that emergency, the
immense physical powers of John Stark. He was as strong as two ordinary
men. On his broad shoulders, he carried the provisions, most of the
blankets, and most of the time some of the weaker children. In regard to
this, he would laughingly say that he could carry them all, if there was
room on his back, because they were so light from starvation."
By every means in his power, Stark would cheer and encourage the poor
sufferers. Frequently he would carry one or two ahead a little way, put
them down, and return for the others. James F. Breen says: "I distinctly
remember that myself and Jonathan Graves were both carried by Stark, on
his back, the greater part of the journey." Others speak similarly.
Regarding this brave man, Dr. J. C. Leonard has contributed much
valuable information, from which is selected the following:
"John Stark was born in 1817, in Wayne County, Indiana. His father,
William Stark, came from Virginia, and was one of the first settlers of
Kentucky, arriving there about the same time as Daniel Boone. He married
a cousin of Daniel Boone, and they had a family of eight children. T.
J. Stark, the oldest son, now lives at French Corral, Nevada County,
California. John Stark, the younger brother, started from Monmouth
County, Illinois, in the spring of 1846, but taking the Fort Hall road,
reached California in safety. He was a powerfully built man, weighing
two hundred and twenty pounds. He was sheriff of Napa County for six
years, and in 1852 represented that county in the State Legislature.
He died near Calistoga, in 1875, of heart disease. His death was
instantaneous, and occurred while pitching hay from a wagon. He was the
father of eleven children, six of whom, with his wife, are now living."
Each one of the persons who were taken from Starved Camp by this man and
his two companions, reached Sutter's Fort in safety. James F. Breen had
his feet badly frozen, and afterwards burned while at the camp. No one
had any hope that they could be saved, and when the party reached the
fort, a doctor was sought to amputate them. None could be found, and
kind nature effected a cure which a physician would have pronounced
impossible.
In concluding this chapter, it is quite appropriate to quote the
following, written by J. F. Breen: "No one can attach blame to those
who voted to leave part of the emigrants. It was a desperate case. Their
idea was to save as many as possible, and they honestly believed that by
attempting to save all, all would be lost. But this consideration--and
the further one that Stark was an entire stranger to every one in the
camps, not bound to them by any tie of blood or kindred, nor having
any hope of reward, except the grand consciousness of doing a noble
act--makes his conduct shine more lustrously in the eyes of every person
who admires nature's true and only nobility."