Donner Pass

This pass in the Sierra Nevada, west of Truckee, over which the Transcontinental Highway U.S. 80 now runs, was the scene of a great tragedy in California's early history, and also the only authenticated case of cannibalism in the history of the U.S.

Trek to the west

In April 1846 a group of 89 people from Illinois, led by the brothers George and Jacob Donner who probably originated from Germany, set off for California. The covered wagons, pulled by oxen, were supposed to follow a route which promised to be 350mi/560km shorter than those known at the time. However, they had to cross over high passes and a 36mi/57km stretch of desert. In the attempt some of their draught animals died and they had to abandon some wagons which was to cost them almost three weeks loss of time. Natural obstacles

It was the end of October before they reached the area now known as Reno, exhausted, embittered, demoralized and molested by Paiute Indians. After a short rest they continued their trek, but winter set in early at the beginning of November. The pass, which now bears the name of the Donner brothers, became snow-bound and they were unable to cross it. They had to pitch their tents on the lower shores of the lake, which now also bears their name and forms the center of the Donner Memorial State Park. One of the members pressed on to Fort Sutter (now Sacramento). As he had to cover a rough stretch of almost 100mi/160km rendered almost impassable by heavy snow-drifts, it was March 1st before he could get back with the provisions they so desperately needed.

Cannibalism

In the meantime some members of the Donner group had died of starvation. The others could stay alive only by eating the flesh of the dead men. Even after months of waiting, they could not all escape from this wilderness at the beginning of March; those left behind continued to starve. It is said that in April Louis Keseberg murdered Georg Donner's wife in order to get her money and consume the corpse. In all, 42 of those who had left Illinois perished, only 47 survived and settled in the Sacramento Valley.