DONNER PARTY'S FOOLHARDY DEMISE SHOWCASED ON KPFK'S `STORYLINES'.Byline: Bernadette Murphy Special to the Daily News The historical account of what happened to the Donner Party Donner Party, group of emigrants to California who in the winter of 1846–47 met with one of the most famous tragedies in Western history. The California-bound families were mostly from Illinois and Iowa, and most prominent among them were the two Donner , the group of Western migrants trapped in the mountainous passage to California who resorted to cannibalism cannibalism (kăn`ĭbəlĭzəm) [Span. caníbal, referring to the Carib], eating of human flesh by other humans. in order to survive, is reported in the 1936 narrative, ``Ordeal by Hunger'' by George R. Stewart George Rippey Stewart (May 31, 1895 – August 22, 1980) was an American toponymist, a novelist, and a professor of English at the University of California, Berkeley (until 1962). . The book is the third piece of California literature to be discussed on the StoryLines California public radio program today. To write this account, the historian Stewart pieced together events that transpired between July and November of 1846 to the 87 settlers and 20 wagons that made up the Donner Party, tracing their ill-fated expedition. From the moment they decided to attempt a shortcut (1) In Windows, a shortcut is an icon that points to a program or data file. Shortcuts can be placed on the desktop or stored in other folders, and double clicking a shortcut is the same as double clicking the original file. passage to California, the Donner party traversed a path that seemed doomed. Early on, the group wasted precious weeks cutting and preparing a new trail as they moved westward. By the time they hit the Salt Lake region and then the desert, their equipment started to break down, food and water became scarce, and their livestock perished. When they reached the treacherous mountain passes that lead into California, it was too late in the season to make it through, though they didn't know that. Winter delivered the fatal blow as a succession of storms stranded the group, forcing them to hunker down Hun´ker down v. 1. to crouch or squat; to sit on one's haunches. 2. to settle in at a location for an extended period; - also (figuratively) to maintain a position and resist yielding to some pressure, as of public opinion. 3. against the elements, eating mice, dogs, the roofs of their huts and their shoes. In this historical work, grisly tales of cannibalism and suspected murder are set against unimagined bravery and the triumph of the human spirit. ``The story of the Donner party is one that still has great resonance in this day and age,'' said Lynell George, program co-host, pointing out there are even Web sites on the topic. ``It brings up questions of humanity vs. bestiality Bestiality See also Perversion. Asterius Minotaur born to Pasiphaë and Cretan Bull. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 34] Leda raped by Zeus in form of swan. [Gk. Myth. : What makes us human?'' ``Ordeal by Hunger'' looks at human nature under difficult circumstances, selfishness vs. selflessness. ``Some of the people went back and forth to help, while others were busy stowing their provisions away. What does this say about human character? What is the breaking point?'' asked George. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. co-host David L. Ulin, the tale portrays the arrogance of settlers who came without an appreciation of the climate or the land to which they were migrating and got stranded as a result. ``They didn't pay attention to their surroundings, they didn't look into how they might fit in,'' he said. ``We see this today, with buildings being erected on fault lines, fires in Malibu, evidence that people are not paying attention Noun 1. paying attention - paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people); "his attentiveness to her wishes"; "he spends without heed to the consequences" attentiveness, heed, regard to their environment.'' Ulin said that ``Ordeal by Hunger'' is a cautionary tale A cautionary tale is a traditional story told in folklore, to warn its hearer of a danger. There are three essential parts to a cautionary tale, though they can be introduced in a large variety of ways. that presages contemporary California. ``The story is mythic, almost a cliche of our culture, though few people know the actual details. It's interesting to trace parallels between 150 years ago and now.'' The literary discussion will focus on the book itself, as well as choices made by the Donner Party, and an examination of what this story says to those of us living in California in the present day. Joining the program hosts to discuss these issues will be Frank R. Mullen Jr., author of ``The Donner Party Chronicles.'' CAPTION(S): photo PHOTO no caption (microphone) |
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