ii6 ELDORADO 



first visit of the rescuers, it was ten-fold worse when 

 the second party arrived. Upon every hand were to 

 be seen traces of meals upon human flesh. The wife 

 and children of the heroic Eddy had all died from 

 starvation. Three little daughters of Captain Donner 

 were saved, two of whom I became acquainted with 

 after they arrived at womanhood, while residing- at 

 Cook's Bar on the Consumnes river. The elder of the 

 two girls was a handsome black-eyed brunette, and be- 

 came Mrs. Wilder, the wife of a successful miner and 

 rancher. One of Jacob Donner's and three of George 

 Donner's children were rescued in an emaciated and 

 almost dying condition, and carried over the mountains 

 in the arms of strong men. An infamous wretch by 

 the name of Clark went back with Reed, ostensiblv to 

 aid the emigrants, but really to rob them. He stole a 

 quantity of goods and two guns, which he carried 

 away, and left a little child to perish. Donner Lake 

 one of the finest bodies of water in the high Sierras, 

 was named in honor of Captain Donner. the leader of 

 this unfortunate party. 



Upon my arrival at the Sink. I found Mr. Moody 

 in a much improved condition. We were unable to 

 get any trace of the balance of our companv. and de- 

 termined, late in the afternoon of the second dav after 

 mv arrival, to start for Carson river. 4=; miles distant 

 T packed mv pony and we started at =; o'clock d. m., and 

 made the distance, bv constant walkinp-, in i-^ hours, ar- 

 riving at "Ragtown." two or three miles before reach- 

 ing Carson river, at 8 o'clock in the mo^niner. The last 

 T5 miles of the road was a loose, vielding sand. 



This had been a most disastrous piece of road to 

 those who had preceded us. The sand was of suffi- 



