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Part Taken by Women in American History


were lost; those which survived were exhausted and broken down. Many of their own party gave up their lives. Thirty days were occupied in traveling forty miles. They were lost in the desert for some time, being without water and almost all of their supplies exhausted. Attacked by the Indians, they lost several of their ablest defenders and many of their animals. They reached the mountains in the most distressed condition. It was then the fall of the year, late in October. On the evening of the 22nd, they crossed the Truckee River the forty-ninth time in eighty miles, and on October 28th they reached Truckee Lake at the foot of Fremont's Pass of the main chain of the Sierra Nevadas. This pass at this point is 9,838 feet high. After struggling to the top of the pass they found the snow five feet deep. Frequent efforts to cross the mountains proved useless, and they found they would be compelled to winter here. They retraced their steps to a lower level and commenced the erection of cabins. On the 21st of November, it is said, six women and sixteen men made an attempt to cross the mountains for provisions. Many of this little band died of starvation. On the 1 6th of December, another effort was made by a small party on snow-shoes. The records of this little band contain some of the most heartrending stories and revolting details. Cannibalism was forced upon them, and the bodies of many who died were consumed to satisfy those of sterner strength. This camp is known in history as "The Camp of Death." Several men forsook the camp to save their lives and perished of starvation on the mountains. The news of the condition of these emigrants had reached California, and an effort was made on the part of the government to send them relief. Two expeditions failed to cross the mountains, but finally a small party of seven men reached the camp. Fourteen men had died of starvation and others were too weak to even be carried. The annals of human suffering nowhere present a more appalling spectacle than that