The Donner-Reed Party and Lessons to Learn

On April 16, 1846, nine covered wagons left Springfield, Illinois on the 2500 mile trek to California.  Almost half of the 87 men, women and children of the Donner-Reed party were doomed before the first revolution of the wheels. 

The group of emigrants was led by James Fraser Reed.  He was influenced in his decisions by a book, The Emigrants’ Guide to Oregon and California, written by Landsford W. Hastings.  The book touted a new route, referred to as the, “Hastings’ Cutoff.”  This route was supposed to save almost 400 miles and be over easy terrain.  In fact, the route had never been traveled, by Hastings.  His book was a fraud—a moral if not a legal crime—and he misled his readers intentionally. 

            Certainly, some of the blame falls on Donner and Reed.  Common sense should tell us that a route 400 miles shorter and easier than the one currently being used would be the rule, rather than the exception. 

            When the group arrived in Ft. Laramie, Wyoming on July 27, they were met by an old friend, James Clyman.  Clyman had just traveled the Hastings Cutoff from west to east.  He warned his friend that the route was impassable, but James Reed decided that eye-witness testimony wasn’t good enough.  Reed was sure he had a “good bead on reality” and Clyman’s warning went unheeded.  The Donner-Reed party continued its march toward tragedy. 

            Compounding one bad decision after another the families ended up trying to sit out a high Sierra winter in three miserable cabins near Truckee Lake in California.  Most people know that the Donner party resorted to cannibalism to stay alive.  It is true, but the details of how they lived, and the three rescue attempts and what was found of the emigrants at each attempt is more ghastly still.  The truth is bad enough.  The details even worse.

            But what does this teach us about life in general? 

            First, there are people out there like Landsford Hastings.  They tell gullible people that there is a shortcut to success; that it is easy; that everyone who takes the long route to the top is a sucker.  People like Hastings have no integrity, and less shame.

            Second, there are people out there like James Fraser Reed.  They are so sure of their own infallibility that they brook no dissent.  These are people who, in the dark of the night, when alone in their bed, are fearfully insecure.  They know the face they show the world is a sham and it is only a matter of time before their weakness and incompetence is discovered.  These people are incurably paranoid. 

            Finally, there are people out there like the rank and file of the Donner-Reed party.  They find hard truth hard to take so they rationalize easy answers.  They assume the rest of the world is against them.  Success is denied them only because of who they are instead of what they do.  They accept the path of least resistance because they lack courage.  The mirror of truth shines too bright for these people so they are prey to any flim-flam man with the right words. 

            This is not as cynical an evaluation as it might seem.  The flunkies I have described here are not the only people in the world.  They are not even the majority.  They each will have their day of course, but Darwin knew what he was talking about.  And if we don’t enable their actions, excuse their deficiencies or gloss over their failures each poseur will be found out. 

             The Donner party was rescued by good people with an intelligent plan and a willingness to work. 

Face the truth, and keep the faith.