eneath his tread, and the rocks for
miles re-echo his roar."

If such a vision was related, it but indicates, prophetically, the
progress of a few years. California's history is replete with
tragic, startling events. These events are the landmarks by which its
advancement is traced. One of the most mournful of these is recorded in
this work--a work intended as a contribution, not to the literature, but
to the history of the State. More thrilling than romance, more terrible
than fiction, the sufferings of the Donner Party form a bold contrast to
the joys of pleasure-seekers who to-day look down upon the lake from the
windows of silver palace cars.

The scenes of horror and despair which transpired in the snowy Sierra in
the winter of 1846-7, need no exaggeration, no embellishment. From all
the works heretofore published, from over one thousand letters received
from the survivors, from ample manuscript, and from personal interviews
with the most important actors in the tragedy, the facts have been
carefully compiled. Neither time, pains, nor expense have been spared in
ferreting out the truth. New and fragmentary versions of the sad story
have appeared almost every year since the unfortunate occurrence.
To forever supplant these distorted and fabulous reports--which have
usually been sensational new articles--the survivors have deemed it wise
to contribute the truth. The truth is sufficiently terrible.

Where conflicting accounts of particular scenes or occurrences have been
contributed, every effort has been made to render them harmonious and
reconcilable. With justice, with impartiality, and with strict adherence
to what appeared truthful and reliable, the book has been written. It is
an honest effort--toward the truth, and as such is given to the world.

C. F. McGlashan.

Truckee, Cal., June 30, 1879.

Contents.

Chapter I.

Donner Lake
A Famous Tourist Resort
Building the Central Pacific
California's Skating Park
The Pioneers
The Organization of the Donner Party
Ho! for California!
A Mammoth Train
The Dangers by the Way
False Accounts of the Sufferings Endured
Complete Roll of the Company
Impostors Claiming to Belong to the Party
Killed by the Pawnees
An Alarmed Camp
Resin Indians
A Mother's Death

Chapter II.

Mrs. Donner's Letters
Life on the Plains
An Interesting Sketch
The O