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At Indian Creek, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Independence.
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High water stops the Russell Train at the east bank of the Big Blue River in modern-day Kansas.
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She gets buried under a tree near Alcove Spring.
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At some point during the delay at the Big Blue, the Murphy family from Tennessee has joined the wagon bus.
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The journey has been easier than expected.
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Hastings urges all emigrants now on the road to meet him at Fort Bridger, so he can guide them on his cutoff.
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Emigrants had just arrived at Fort Laramie.
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Here those emigrants who have decided to take Hastings's route form a new company and elect George Donner captain, thus creating the Donner Party.
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They takes the left-hand road to Fort Bridger.
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Hastings has left a note for them, warning them that the road ahead is impassable and instructing them to send someone ahead to get instructions. James Reed and two others set out following the wagon tracks of Hastings's group.
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With summer drawing to a close, there are still 600 miles (966 kilometers) to go.
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They have their last source of water before the dry drive begins, then sets out to cross the Great Salt Lake Desert.
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That night, the Reeds' thirsty oxen run off, never to be found; the Reeds take a few things and set out on foot.
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Where the cutoff meets the standard trail, which is actually 125 miles (200 kilometers) shorter than Hastings Cutoff.
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The emigrants decide to banish Reed, who at first refuses to leave but then agrees.
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Shortly thereafter the Indians steal another 18 oxen and wound several others. More than 100 of the party's cattle are now gone.
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It will lead them into the Sierra Nevada.
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The snow was feet (1.5 m) deep.
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All families take cover in different places.
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It was most likely of malnutrition.
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Patrick Breen's diary: "Night clear. Froze a little. Now clear & pleasant. Wind N.W. Thawing a little. Mrs Reid here. No account of Milt. Yet Dutch Charley started for Donners; turned back, not able to proceed. Tough times, but not discouraged. Our hopes are in God. Amen."
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Charles Stanton, too weak to leave camp in the morning, sits in the snow, smoking his pipe, and tells the rest of the Hope to go on.
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No one can bear to kill Patrick Dolan, the man who lost the draw.
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They would avert their faces from one another and weep.
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William Foster suggests that Luis and Salvador be killed for food; William Eddy disagrees, and tells Foster's idea to the Indians, who initially are incredulous, then vanish into the woods.
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However it was too late.
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William Foster shoots them; their bodies provide food for their erstwhile companions.
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The inhabitants share their meager supplies, chiefly acorn bread.
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The settlers are aghast at the sight of the emaciated wreck of a man; they follow his bloody footprints back to the village and bring in his companions.
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At the lake, Patrick Breen records: "Peggy very uneasy for fear we shall all perish with hunger. We have but a little meat left & only part of 3 hides has to support Mrs. Reid. She has nothing left but one hide & it is on Graves's shanty. Milt is living there & likely will keep that hide."
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James F. Reed is to lead the rescue party, called the Second Relief. Both men set out from San Francisco on this day, Woodworth to sail for Sutter's Fort, Reed to cross San Francisco Bay and recruit men and horses in the Sonoma and Napa areas.
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Patrick Breen's diary: "Fine morning. Wind W. Froze hard last night. Some clouds lying in the E. Looks like thaw. John Denton here last night; very delicate. John & Mrs. Reid went to Graves this morning."
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Patrick Breen's diary: "Mrs Graves refused to give Mrs Reid any hides. Put Suitor's pack hides on her shanty. Would not let her have them. Says [that,] if I say it will thaw, it then will not; she is a case."
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It took him 11 days, fighting against the wind and the strong current of the swollen Sacramento River. He leaves the same day for Johnson's Ranch, the staging point of the rescue effort.
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The last member of the Donner Party