ELDORADO 113 



ships to which pioneers were subject in the early days 

 coming not as carpetbaggers, but to found homes and 

 bring American civilization to a far distant and com- 

 paratively unknown region. 



Captain Donner and party, from Illinois, were well 

 fitted out with teams, a large number of cattle, pro- 

 visions and everything necesary for comfort during 

 their long journey. At Independence Rock, on the 

 Sweetwater, east of the Rockies, they engaged a guide 

 who pretended to be familiar with the country through 

 which they were to pass, but led them over roundabout, 

 difficult ways, either from ignorance or a criminal pur- 

 pose, which was the cause of all their misfo^-tunes. Be- 

 fore reaching Utah Valley on one "cut-off," 30 days 

 were consumed in traveling 40 miles. In crossing the 

 Great Desert, over which we passed, a large number 

 of their cattle perished. There was also much suffering 

 among the women and children. To add to their mis- 

 fortunes, the Indians were very hostile, killing and 

 stampeding their stock at every opportunity. Thev con- 

 tinued their journev until October before reaching the 

 Sink of the Humboldt, the savages being in swarms 

 about them, shooting their cattle and terrifying the 

 women. They reached the Sink by a night drive, arriv- 

 ing at midnight. The next morning thev drove their 

 cattle out to graze, and. the guard having left them a 

 short time, the Indians killed 21, leaving two men with 

 families, a single ox each. One of these men left this 

 camp, taking his little bov in his arms and his wife car- 

 ried an infant. Thus they began their weary march 

 acoss the desolate plain that intervenes between the 

 Sink and the m.ountains, which at the time thev arrived 

 were covered deep with winter snows. The scene was 



