the passing of the frontier-第13部分

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he　prime　and　vigor　of　manhood；　maidens　in　all　the　sweetness　and　freshness　of　budding　womanhood；　children　full　of　glee　and　mirthfulness；　and　babes　nestling　on　maternal　breasts。　Lovers　there　were；　to　whom　the　journey　was　tinged　with　rainbow　hues　of　joy　and　happiness；　and　strong；　manly　hearts　whose　constant　support　and　encouragement　was　the　memory　of　dear　ones　left　behind　in　homeland。

〃The　wonderment　which　all　experience　in　viewing　the　scenery　along　the　line　of　the　old　emigrant　road　was　peculiarly　vivid　to　these　people。　Few　descriptions　had　been　given　of　the　route；　and　all　was　novel　and　unexpected。　In　later　years　the　road　was　broadly　and　deeply　marked；　and　good　camping　grounds　were　distinctly　indicated。　The　bleaching　bones　of　cattle　that　had　perished；　or　the　broken　fragments　of　wagons　or　castaway　articles；　were　thickly　strewn　on　either　side　of　the　highway。　But　in　1846　the　way　was　through　almost　trackless　valleys　waving　with　grass；　along　rivers　where　few　paths　were　visible；　save　those　made　by　the　feet　of　buffalo　and　antelope；　and　over　mountains　and　plains　where　little　more　than　the　westward　course　of　the　sun　guided　the　travelers。　Trading…posts　were　stationed　at　only　a　few　widely　distant　points；　and　rarely　did　the　party　meet　with　any　human　beings；　save　wandering　bands　of　Indians。　Yet　these　first　days　are　spoken　of　by　all　of　the　survivors　as　being　crowned　with　peaceful　enjoyment　and　pleasant　anticipations。　There　were　beautiful　flowers　by　the　roadside；　an　abundance　of　game　in　the　meadows　and　mountains；　and　at　night　there　were　singing；　dancing；　and　innocent　plays。　Several　musical　instruments；　and　many　excellent　voices；　were　in　the　party；　and　the　kindliest　feeling　and　goodfellowship　prevailed　among　the　members。

〃The　formation　of　the　company　known　as　the　Donner　Party　was　purely　accidental。　The　union　of　so　many　emigrants　into　one　train　was　not　occasioned　by　any　preconcerted　arrangement。　Many　composing　the　Donner　Party　were　not　aware；　at　the　outset；　that　such　a　tide　of　emigration　was　sweeping　to　California。　In　many　instances　small　parties　would　hear　of　the　mammoth　train　just　ahead　of　them　or　just　behind　them；　and　by　hastening　their　pace；　or　halting　for　a　few　days；　joined　themselves　to　the　party。　Many　were　with　the　train　during　a　portion　of　the　journey；　but　from　some　cause　or　other　became　parted　from　the　Donner　company　before　reaching　Donner　Lake。　Soon　after　the　train　left　Independence　it　contained　between　two　and　three　hundred　wagons；　and　when　in　motion　was　two　miles　in　length。　The　members　of　the　party　proper　numbered　ninety。〃

This　caravan；　like　many　others　of　the　great　assemblage　westbound　at　that　time；　had　great　extremes　in　personnel。　Some　were　out　for　mere　adventure；　some　were　single　men　looking　for　a　location。　Most　of　them　were　fathers　of　families；　among　them　several　persons　of　considerable　means　and　of　good　standing　in　the　community　which　they　were　leaving。　While　we　may　suppose　that　most　of　them　were　folk　of　no　extraordinary　sort；　certainly　some　were　persons　of　education　and　intelligence。　Among　these　was　the　wife　of　George　DonnerTamsen　Dormer；　a　woman　of　education；　a　musician；　a　linguist；　a　botanist；　and　of　the　most　sublime　heroism。

Tamsen　Donner　sent　back　now　and　then　along　the　route　some　story　of　the　daily　doings　of　the　caravan；　and　such　letters　as　these　are　of　the　utmost　interest　to　any　who　desire　precise　information　of　that　time。　It　would　seem　that　the　emigrants　themselves　for　a　great　part　of　their　route　met　with　no　great　adventures；　nor　indeed；　appeared　to　be　undertaking　any　unusual　affair。　They　followed　a　route　up　the　Platte　Valley　already　long　known　to　those　of　the　eastern　settlements。

〃Near　the　Junction　of　the　North　and　South　Platte；　June　16；　1846。

〃My　Old　Friend：　We　are　now　on　the　Platte；　two　hundred　miles　from　Fort　Laramie。　Our　journey　so　far　has　been　pleasant；　the　roads　have　been　good；　and　food　plentiful。　The　water　for　part　of　the　way　has　been　indifferent；　but　at　no　time　have　our　cattle　suffered　for　it。　Wood　is　now　very　scarce；　but　〃buffalo　chips〃　are　excellent；　they　kindle　quickly　and　retain　heat　surprisingly。　We　had　this　morning　buffalo　steaks　broiled　upon　them　that　had　the　same　flavor　they　would　have　had　upon　hickory　coals。

〃We　feel　no　fear　of　Indians；　our　cattle　graze　quietly　around　our　encampment　unmolested。　Two　or　three　men　will　go　hunting　twenty　miles　from　camp；　and　last　night　two　of　our　men　lay　out　in　the　wilderness　rather　than　ride　their　horses　after　a　hard　chase。

〃Indeed；　if　I　do　not　experience　something　far　worse　than　I　have　yet　done；　I　shall　say　the　trouble　is　all　in　getting　started。　Our　wagons　have　not　needed　much　repair；　and　I　can　not　yet　tell　in　what　respects　they　could　be　improved。　Certain　it　is；　they　can　not　be　too　strong。　Our　preparations　for　the　journey　might　have　been　in　some　respects　bettered。

〃Bread　has　been　the　principal　article　of　food　in　our　camp。　We　laid　in　one　hundred　and　fifty　pounds　of　flour　and　seventy…five　pounds　of　meat　for　each　individual；　and　I　fear　bread　will　be　scarce。　Meat　is　abundant。　Rice　and　beans　are　good　articles　on　the　road；　cornmeal　too；　is　acceptable。　Linsey　dresses　are　the　most　suitable　for　children。　Indeed；　if　I　had　one；　it　would　be　acceptable。　There　is　so　cool　a　breeze　at　all　times　on　the　Plains　that　the　sun　does　not　feel　so　hot　as　one　would　suppose。

〃We　are　now　four　hundred　and　fifty　miles　from　Independence。　Our　route　at　first　was　rough；　and　through　a　timbered　country；　which　appeared　to　be　fertile。　After　striking　the　prairie；　we　found　a　firstrate　road；　and　the　only　difficulty　we　have　had；　has　been　in　crossing　the　creeks。　In　that；　however；　there　has　been　no　danger。

〃I　never　could　have　believed　we　could　have　traveled　so　far　with　so　little　difficulty。　The　prairie　between　the　Blue　and　the　Platte　Rivers　is　beautiful　beyond　description。　Never　have　I　seen　so　varied　a　country；　so　suitable　for　cultivation。　Everything　is　new　and　pleasing；　the　Indians　frequently　come　to　see　us；　and　the　chiefs　of　a　tribe　breakfasted　at　our　tent　this　morning。　All　are　so　friendly　that　I　can　not　help　feeling　sympathy　and　friendship　for　them。　But　on　one　sheet　what　can　I　say？

〃Since　we　have　been　on　the　Platte；　we　have　had　the　river　on　one　side　and　the　ever　varying　mounds　on　the　other；　and　have　traveled　through　the　bottom　lands　from　one　to　two　miles　wide；　with　little　or　no　timber。　The　soil　is　sandy；　and　last　year；　on　account　of　the　dry　season；　the　emigrants　found　grass　here　scarce。　Our　cattle　are　in　good　order；　and　when　proper　care　has　been　taken；　none　have　been　lost。　Our　milch　cows　have　been　of　great　service；　indeed。　They　have　been　of　more　advantage　than　our　meat。　We　have　plenty　of　butter　and　milk。

〃We　are　commanded　by　Captain　Russell；　an　amiable　man。　George　Donner　is　himself　yet。　He　crows　in　the　morning　and　shouts　out；　〃Chain　up；　boyschain　up；〃　with　as　much　authority　as　though　he　was　〃something　in　particular。〃　John　Denton　is　still　with　us。　We　find　him　useful　in　the　camp。　Hiram　Miller　and　Noah　James　are　in　good　health　and　doing　well。　We　have　of　the　best　people　in　our　company；　and　some；　too；　that　are　not　so　good。

〃Buffalo　show　themselves　frequently。　We　have　found　the　wild　tulip；　the　primrose；　the　lupine；　the　eardrop；　the　larkspur；　and　creeping　hollyhock；　and　a　beautiful　flower　resembling　the　bloom　of　the　beech　tree；　but　in　bunches　as　large　as　a　small　sugarloaf；　and　of　every　variety　of　shade；　to　red　and　green。

〃I　botanize；　and　read　some；　but　cook　〃heaps〃　more。　There　are　four　hundred　and　twenty　wagons；　as　far　as　we　have　heard；　on　the　road　between　here　and　Oregon　and　California。

〃Give　our　love　to　all　inquiring　friends。　God　bless　them。

〃Yours　truly；　Mrs。　George　Donner。〃

By　the　Fourth　of　July　the　Donner　Party　had　reached　Fort　Laramie。　They　pushed　on　west　over　the　old　trail　up　the　Sweetwater　River　and　across　the　South　Pass；　the　easiest　of　all　the　mountain　passes　known　to　the　early　travelers。　Without　much　adventure　they　reached　Fort　Bridger；　then　only　a　trading…post。　Here　occurred　the　fatal　mistake　of　the　Donner　Party。

Some　one　at　the　fort　strongly　advised　them　to　take　a　new　route；　a　cut…off　said　to　shorten　the　distance　by　about　three　hundred　miles。　This　cut…off　passed　along　the　south　shore　of　Great　Salt　Lake　and　caught　up　the　old　California　Trail　from　Fort　Hallthen　well　established　and　well　known…along　the　Humboldt　River。　The　great　Donner　caravan　delayed　for　some　days　at　Fort　Bridger；　hesitating　over　the　decision　of　which　route　to　follow。　The　party　divided。　All　those　who　took　the　old　road　north　of　Salt　Lake　by　way　of　Fort　Hall　reached　California　in　complete　safety。　Of　the　original　Donner　Party　there　remained　eighty…seven　persons。　All　of　these　took　the　cut…off；　being　eager　to　save　time　in　their　travel。　They　reached　Salt　Lake　after　unspeakable　difficulties。　Farther　west；　in　the　deserts　of　Nevada；　they　lost　many　of　their　cattle。

Now　began　among　the　party　dissensions　and　grumblings。　The　story　is　a　long　one。　It　reached　its　tragic　denouement　just　below　the　summit　of　the　Sierras；　on　the　shores　of　Donner　Lake。　The　words　of　McGlashan　may　now　best　serve　our　purpose。

〃Generally；　the　ascent　of　the　Sierra　brought　joy　and　gladness　to　weary　overland　emigrants。　To　the　Donner　Party　it　brought　terror　and　dismay。　The　company　had　hardly　obtained　a　glimpse　of　the　mountains；　ere　the　win