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Cannibalism by the Donner Party
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by
Captain William Fallon (April 17, 1847) |
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April
17th. Reached the Cabins between 12 and 1 o'clock. Expected to
find some of the sufferers alive, Mrs. Donner and Kiesburg in particular.
Entered the cabins and a horrible scene presented itself,--human bodies
terribly mutiliated, legs, arms, and sculls scattered in every direction.
One body, supposed to be that of Mrs. Eddy, lay near the entrance,
the limbs severed off and a frightful gash in the scull. The flesh
from the bones was nearly consumed and a painful stillness pervaded
the place. The supposition was that all were dead, when a sudden shout
revived our hopes, and we flew in the direction of the sound, three
Indians were hitherto concealed, started from the ground and fled
at our approach, leaving behind their bows and arrows. We delayed
two hours in searching the cabins, during which we were obliged to
witness sights from which we would have fain turned away, and which
are too dreadful to put on record.--We next started for 'Donner's
camp' 8 miles distant over the mountains. After traveling about half
way, we came upon a track in the snow, which excited our suspicion,
and we determined to pursue it. It brought us to the camp of Jacob
Donner, where it had evidently left that morning. There we found property
of every description, books, calicoes, tea, coffee, shoes, percussion
caps, household and kitchen furniture scattered in every direction,
and mostly in the water. At the mouth of the tent stood a large iron
kettle filled with human flesh cut up, it was the body of Geo. Donner,
the head had been split open, and the brains extracted thereform,
and to the appearance, he had not been long dead, and over three or
four days at the most. Near by the kettle stood a chair, and thereupon
three legs of a bullock that had been shot down in the early part
of the winter, and snowed under before it could be dressed. The meat
was found sound and good, and with the exception of a small piece
out of the shoulder, wholly untouched. We gathered up some property
and camped for the night. |
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