Surviving the Snowy Trek Out

Surviving the Snowy Trek Out. . , In February, 1847, the first relief party from Sutter's Fort arrived. Two more relief parties came in March. These relief parties took 14 people from here out across the frozen Sierra. Only 11 survived (8 were children). Five people remained at Alder Creek. , Mother stood on the snow where she could see all go forth. They moved in single file, the leaders on snowshoes, the weak stepping in the tracks made by the strong. Leanna, the last in line, was scarcely able to keep up… I was made to understand that this was the long-hoped-for relief party. , Eliza Donner Houghton , (She turned 4 years old while traveling with the third relief party) , Passage from her book published in 1911, Expedition of the Donner Party and Its Tragic Fate., Those Left Behind , Elizabeth Donner and her two youngest sons died here at Alder Creek. Only Tamzene and her dying husband remained. George had begged Tamzene to leave him and save her own life. She refused. When the fourth and final relief party arrived in April, George Donner's dead body lay in camp. Tamzene's body was never found.