The Donner Party: Cannibalism

Most of us have all heard of the Donner Party. They were the group of traveling families, trying to reach the new land. Along the way, they were said to have partaken in cannibalism to survive harsh winters. Recent studies are trying to prove if in fact all of the survivors had joined in the cannibalism. If in fact they were all cannibals or not, only time and more extensive research can tell.

In April of 1846, the Donner Party set off from Springfield, Illinois in search of a new life and land in California. The travelers consisted of George Donner's family and himself, and also the seven teamster drivers he hired. Also on the trip was Jacob Donner and his family and James Frazier Reed, and his family, and their two hired servants that
they were taking along on the trip. Along the way the emigrants stop at places such as Big Blue River, Platte River, and Fort Laramie. On July twentieth they reach the Little Sandy River, and the now larger party of travelers splits up. Many of the travelers went on the beaten path heading towards Oregon, but the Donner Party and followers headed towards Fort Bridger to meet Hastings, who would take them on his new, easier route. This was a mistake on their behalf, considering the events that follow.

In the weeks and months that followed, it is said the Donner Party endured harsh winters, starvation, dehydration, and is said to have lead to cannibalism.
An article was published on April 10th, 1847, in the California Star by T.J. Schoonover entitled, The Life and Days of General John A. Stutter. In this article he mentions the supposed cannibalism of the Donner
Party. A woman sat by the side of the body of her dead husband cutting out his tongue; the heart she had already taken out, broiled, and eaten. The daughter was seen eating the father; and the mother, that of her children; children, that of father and mother. The emaciated, wild, and ghastly appearance of the survivors added to the horror of it.

These horrid images of families eating their loved ones, is said to only be a cruel interpretation of what was found when rescuers came and found the Donner Party, but if in fact they did partake in cannibalism, this could be truth.

In another book called, From Oregon and California in 1848 it says that the travelers ate their fellow friend, Patrick Dolan. He was a friend of the Breen's family. The horrible expedient of eating human flesh was now proposed. This Mr. Eddy declined doing, but his miserable companions cut the flesh from the arms and legs of Patrick Dolan, roasted and ate it, averting their faces from each other and weeping.

If the Donner Party had in fact done the unspeakable, it is very apparent here that it wasn't because they were malicious people.
They did it for the sake of their health.

In more recent studies today involving the Donner Party, they are trying to prove that at the smaller camp of the two, that there was no cannibalism there. The emigrants did in fact settle into two camps during the harsh winters of 1846 and 1847. Earlier studies can almost confirm that cannibalism at the "principal encampment", on the eastern shore of the lake, which today, is called Donner Lake. These newer findings do not prove that the eating of human flesh was ever done where George and Jacob Donner and their families took refuge on Alder Creek.

An educated team of archaeologists working up in northern California, near Truckee, have discovered a one hundred and fifty-eight year old cooking hearth. This recent discovery could tell us what really happened at the camps. DNA analysis can help from bone fragments found in this cooking hearth, could be used to find out what the Donner's had eaten. Kelly Dixon and Don Hardesty began excavating the area in which the hearth was found. They used small trowels, soft brushes, and the occasional dental tools. They also used fine screens to sift through the dirt, making sure they missed
nothing.

Another good thing about finding the true spot to some of the travelers is, that if these researchers find any syringes or tobacco pipes, or anything that can hold any DNA, they could use them in their research. They could use them to compare to any bone fragments they find, possibly ruling out cannibalism. If any evidence of DNA is found they can use the mitochondria DNA. This kind of DNA is very unique, and can only be passed on by a mother.

The men, women, and children of the Donner Party began on a mission to find new land. This mission for them was to rebuild their lives, and better them for generations to come. Little did they know would they get caught in a raging blizzard and be stranded for a long period of time, left to their own resources. These people should be honored, for their courage and bravery, not if they had to resort to any form of cannibalism, if they had.