ELMO SCOTT WATSON HE other day a news pic- ture service issued the photograph shown above and In doing so brought back for a moment from the dim past the memory of the most glo- one of jean history and recalled the story of one of the two outstanding tragedies of those far- away times. In the annals of the his toric “Days of '40" there are no more thrilling stories than those of two dif ferent groups of homeseekers whose sufferings on the overland to California have immortalized the pames of the “Donner party” and the “Jayhawker party.” It is a curious coincidence that both the state of Iili- over the fa- trails parties originated in nois, that both traveled mous Oregon trail until they reached the region of the Great Salt lake in Utah and that both made the tragic mistake of seeking a. shorter route to the Promised Land instead of fol- lowing the route which have brought them in safety to fortune and happy homes in a new land. But there the for fact that both found Death awaiting them the trail. To the Donner party, which set out from Springfield, Il, in Death appeared in the form of starvgtion and freezing cold in the snows of the high Sierras. To the Jayhawker party, which left Gales- burg, lil, three years later, in the spring of 1840, and which, seeking to avoid the mistakes of the Donner party, into greater tribulation, Death appeared in the form of starva- tion and thirst and the overpowering heat of that earthly inferno to whick they gave the name of Death valley The Donner party was one of the hundreds which began to flock to Call fornia almost immediately after the war with Mexico. On April 15, 1846, 81 men, women and children who had assembled at Springfield, Il, for what they thought would be a five-months journey to the Pacific coast, set out for the Golden West, The organizer of the party was James F. Reed, but it took its name from the Donner brothers, George and Jacob, who were neighbors of Reed. Of the 81 in the party, 16 were children, among whom were two little girls, Eliza Donner and Virgina Reed, who later wrote stories of their journey which have become classic accounts of expedition. Eliza Donner's description of the equipment which her father and uncle provided for the long journey is as vivid a description of the “covered wagon” era in Ameri ean history as can be found anywhere. In one wagon were the seed and farm ing Implements for use ‘when they reached California and with these the laces, muslins, satins and velvets to be used in trading for land. In the gecond were the supplies for the jour. ney, the food, clothing and camp equipment, as well as various bright colored garments, beads, necklaces, mirrors and the like, to be used in making friends with the Indians along the route. The third wagon was the family “home oh wheels” and it, as well as each of the other two was drawn by three yoke of oxen. For several weeks the journey was uneventful. On May 19, the Donner would coincidence ends except the al » aiong 1846, fell this Mrs. Catherine M. Brown of San sole survivior of the iil. fated Donner party, recalls the vivid hectic gold rush days, and, being an artist of unusual ability, puts them party & train, another emigrant by Edwin consisting of 98 fighting men, 30 wom- en, 46 wagons and 350 The addition of the Donner party to this caravan 80 large that 11 divided for fence in traveling and an organization with the proper officers to affairs was formed. By the of June the emigrant was mak ing its way through Nebraska nearing Fort Laramie, reached safely and stop] ed to repair fell in with coinmanded cattle, made it into conven. two parts direct its middie train whicl their Although ly the older ones) died and were bur jed along the trail, the party reached Fort Bridger undue Then when it w emi nut wagons, several of the party (main- without disaster as near the Great Salt the | PE, train dis deciding ko ti lake the larger portion to to road to leeds keep California while the 87 the old Donners, many in all, made the fatal decision to at- tempt called the Hast ‘ut-off, which passed along the the lake and was the roy a by miles before it re ort and others, what was ern edge of said ite to Calif joined the F Humboldt ghorten orn road on the Nevada, The Donner party it had made a mistake, for grants days in Weber and then found they must make their own trail by cut ting their way through heavy under brush and making a road they went. While th wore struggling through the Hasting Cut-off they were joined by the Graves party, another Illinois group which had set out from their homes near what is now Lacon, Il, at about the same time as the Donner party had started. The Graves party consisted of W. F. Graves, his wife and eight children, his son-in-law, Jay Fosdick, and a young man named John Snyder, And they were to play a prominent part in the tragedy that was so to follow, No less dra. matic than the stories of Eliza Deon. per and Virginia Reed is the account of the Donner tragedy as given from the viewpoint of the Graves family and recorded in an old book "Records of the Olden Time, or Fifty Years on the Prairies” by Spencer Ellsworth and printed in Lacon, lil, in 1880, After making their way at last through Weber canyon, the combided party found Itself facing a desert They had been told it was only 40 miles wide and they took what they thought was an ample supply of water, But the desert proved to be more than twice that distance across and for two nights and a day they struggled across the dreary alkali waste, suf- fering from heat and thirst by day and from cold at night. When the third day came and the unending des ert still stretched before them, one of the party went ahead In search of water, leaving Instructions for the drivers to unhitch their oxen and fol low if the cattle began to give out. All of the, wagons except one, bad emigrant in goon found were seven canyon fn as g ey goon Photo by leterrationaf eventually the from the desert and mountaing, Then it discovered that their food runnis and Cal i hundreds of miles av i abandoned emerged iched the to be and plies were g low 1 still time, (00, this dissension kad party and a between Reed and Snyder resulted in the kill ing of the When they finally mountains it was to find delnvs had brought dangers, For dispute intter, reached the them even greater the on the Sierras crossing the intnins and be impossible. So hearts they turned the shores of a lake, ¥ earlier. built more 1 they ter, A hie toed aeep exhaus last of the cattle food suppiies were i the and when been killed and eaten the were redoced whi 1 than masses of were made to push lief in the Call settlements on the except failed 154 and seek rv one, ion, "of ten men and five won “Nn wit and although eight of the men the way, the Les btn tier visions were doled to the famishing members of the part On February 22 gtarte out to strug 4 that a party of 28 and © snow cross the mountains #) 14 ad Fortunate relief party from Sutter's fort through animals h food, wi destroyed Qa cache of them in time to save them from vation, In meantime indescribable horror wére taking place among those who had rem: nt Donner lake. Faced by the alternative of starving death or resorting to cannibalisnr- the wretched survivor ‘hose the latter and It is in connt of the Graves family, as writ ten by Ellsworth, that harrowing details of what took place then are revealed. More relief parties tually arrived and by degrees the rem nants of the party made their over the'snows of the mountains down into the valley of the Sacramenio and to Sutter's fort. the geenes of almost ined fo the ac the even ways Starvation and the cold had exacted a fearful toll, Forty-two of the X3 members of the party who had been overtaken by winter in that terrible camp bad perished. Only 18 of the original party of 31 which had left Springfield ever reached California, Descendents of some of the survivors still live in California and in 1018 had a part in dedicating a monument on the spot near Donner lake where many of the party perished, It is a monu ment to the dauntless pioneer spirh which carried the survivors of the historic Donner party through hor rors and privations such as few hu man beings have experienced to death less fame, Life of “Skyscraper” The associate editor of the Archi tectural” Record says that the average skyscraper is estimated to continue In existence from 25 to 80 ycars, This brief period of existence Is due to the papld growth and change in our cities, and does not indicate failure due to constructicn. The modern skyscraper with proper care to pro tect the steel framework and fcot ings, should exist a century or long er. Electrolysis has been found to be injurious to the lifi of steel, and this may be a destructive factor (about which Httle is known) which under certain conditions may shorten the life of the skyscraper to half a century or 80, Fine Engineering Feat Engineers developing a hydroelec tric power plant near Sao Paulo, Bra zil, caught a couple of rivers which Lad the habit of flowing westward, re | formed them to flow east and then led the waters by a series of dams and syphons up over a mountain range to the penstocks. Now the plant has an effective head of 708 meters, pro- duces 100,000-horse power and can generate BOOO0, and the annual ram. page of the rivers, which once resulted in flooding ten square miles of valu: nble land within the city, has been squelched, The Canadian government has eos tablished a sanctuary about 15,000 square miles in extent for musk oxen J S ~ P ats Is Problem Temporary Measures Include Use of Poisons, Traps and Gases. the United § if Agriculture.) (Prepared by tates Depsriment Rats cause losses amounting to not less than $200,000,000 each year in the United States, according to the hiolog fcal survey of the United States De partment of Agriculture enor in to 0 his homes, stares sient Occurs and and on factories, farms, large ¢ Temporary Measures, Temporary measures rut include the use of poisons, traps gases, These rol and moerety of cont devices eliminate the animals for a short ti in any way prevent ol Neverthe less, temporary measures a first consideration in problem, Permanent primarily in depriving both thelr necessities of 1 shelter, Attention rat-breeding places as garbage dealing control rats of fe-food nnd to such community dumps and eclty abattelrs wi rat population. Every communi terested in. preventing disease epider; that possibly rats should make It a point i keep down the ics may be spread to itennnee of dur and similar places rhage for ga Clanges In the gtruction of buildings can be effed to make them proof, and to rat ing codes of cities and fowns can Effective Poisons. Barium carbonate and red squill are for the temporary I poisons eradication of has neither mixed with ¥ rats. darium carbonate taste nor odor arious foods and, advants 10 taken fective. in being mals other dentally oy cats or dogs It a« powerful emetic ed. A small quantity will kill 4 rat, ¥ fe i Red squill bas an relatively harmless than rails. If and is tht of however, an Ideal polson for and in ma: vhere farms or ger of poisoning iny places cities there may beneficial fumigant gsed to | Calcium-cranide widely and effect y ely tha under gible places live In burrows ip the concrete, or in other It comes In powder f{ and is applied wit! a duster or er. When with air It forms =a the dust o« mes 'n poisonous Pov n out of reach of Calcium and cyanide is a deadly should kep irresponsible be persons, an live stock, Feeding Milk to Laying Stock Increases Yield Liberal feeding stock will help yield and glze of the eggs. ability of improved, Milk feeding helps to keep healthy and to pres J 100405 Dr. Louls D that improve Fertility the eggs will likewise fowls ent diseans in strated : could be desirable more from a medical point by feeding the desired minerals in finely triturated form, mixed with m curd, to laying fowls, W McA. Johnson, and metaliur gist, has also pointed out that the rare mineral content of eggs may be hanced by feeding the fowls finely powdered minerals rubbed up in warm fresh milk and in milk curd Also, he states, as Doctor Dechmann claimed, that “medicated possible and that we may expect soon. In experimental minerals to curd, View the chemist en eos” them work In growing chicks, and milk powder milk, have the powdered minerals. So milk and milk products not only help keep poul try healthy and productive, but may be the means of introduting medicinal elements Into eggs which, in a pgreeable manner and keep human beings In good healih, $4429 eee deere E EEO ve Something is wrong if young chicks . 9» Gardening keeps down the cost of living on the farm. It's no longer just Liquid skim milk Is recommended for young chicks in place of water during the first week. . = Carbolineum, e¢resote, or crude car bolic acid make the best spray mate rinl to use in poultry houses to keep down red mites, ®« & » it is better to feed silage to dairy cows once a day over a longer period than to feed it twice a day for a ghorter time If po other succulent feed can be had La a To disinfect a brooder hofise, scrub the floor and side walls with a strong solution of hot lye (one pound of lye to 40 gallons of water), using a stilt broom. When the floor and walls are dry, drench them with a strong dis Infectant—8 per cent creolin or lysol. Treat the fBxtures in the same man wer, Islanders Would Bar Autos From Country The honk of the somobile horn is the tiny island of Norfolk, whick les in the South 800 of Australia, A Inhabitants the the from of BONN, miles number have Brit- island nist ish abolish io in administrator of the this mechanical pull thelr quiet domain, Norfolk miles of ron k ATCO island Is nly about and contains an al It Is practi wus of da in length 13 squ bound, fire miles, steep, rugged lava, A with tants, of jess than This lonely lHitle isla for its cable stat the outside for muti descendant s Pitcairn WHE ihe been renowned id simplicity Homelike You have been have never pa But +» here Well you said I hope lin Cute in aBaby~ Awful at Three ~and it's Dangerous 1 by Ruth Brittain Thumb sucking does look sweet in paby, but it is disgusting in the three year-old and sometimes it hangs fifteen or sixteen! The babit s¢ an ili-formed month or in snolds: and it always | with digestion. Pinning over the hand: attaching or pytting cardboard cuffs, ich prevent bending the arms at the ways to stog on until fores A eeve tens, on w} elbows, are some of the the habit Another bad habit—irregularity in nowel action—Iis responsible for weak and in Give the tiny bowels an opportunity to get at regular day if they don’t act at first, a little Fletch er's Castoria will them Every mother should it handy in era. dJdinrrhea, gas on bowels, howels constipation bables periods each goon regulate keep a bottle of of stomach 10 use Chase colic, chal is cross and feverish, Its over baby's to get full food, helps strengthens his bowels, Castoria is purely vegetable and harmless—the recipe is on the wrap per. Physicians have pres ribed it for over 30 With package, you get & valuable book on Mother. hood. Look for Chas H. Fletcher's glgnature on the wrapper so you'll get the genuine, when baby gentle influence eYstem enables him from his nourishment him gain, youre, each Ant Hills Balked Flames Ant hi tract timber {rom destruction on the farm of HH. A. Livingston, at Nashua, N. H, after had been burned and two sent for Nashua firemen. 1063 were fighting the is saved a valuable of SiN) acres calls been the More flames when they valuable timber tract. ran against a long wall bills, some of them four feet These checked the fire fire-workers saved the timber than men neared The ant high the the fire most of so fthat for al is a There is room In a big city anything to succeed if it novelty. most i i i i | ’ ’ DON'T suffer headaches, or any of those pains that Sayer Aspirin can end m a hurry! Physicians prescribe it, and approve its free use, for it ss not affect the heart. Every drug- ” at t fail to ask the And don't take Bayer, with genwine printed in red: i od, Aspirin is the trade mark of Barer Magufgcte of Monosceticacidester of Balicylicacid Explains Effects of Vegetable Method in Constipation re You don't know what it is to lve until rien the benefits of the in keeping cone pl. ed retuble getunble hd kJ) i ’ . NDIAN, })s 1ghts VIGETABLE ly 8 Name Dollare—Big Home Idea About Storage Conertved nd G ries. $1 1 Men Over Forty. i regal Kamelia 3 newest the worl LE RE. Je SR Wonderful and sure Maker beset: fol, sles cures ecoemna., Frios or Frock ke Olntment removes freckles. U over forty yours. 01.35 and Gc Beauty book let sent free Ask your desler of wTile our skin DR. C. HH. BERRY CO. 2975 Mich. Av. . Chicago The Lord The Holy Scripture Life . Faith by EMANUEL SWEDENBORG pages, chest print good paper, and in «till paper covers, to any address without further cost or obligation on receipt of only Five Cents Swedenborg Foundation Incorporated Room 1267 18 E. 4ist St, New York wn LL Get It Straight : nt congider If got not Atchison Globe, consideration, other folks you wa io sentimentality, you've That's That's a fact.— Howling monkeys have such extraor- dinary .vocal abilities that many zoos refuse to keep them because they disturb the other snimals, It Kills Them! *, Non - poisonous. _ Won't spot or stain. The Bee on every package ~ig your guarantes, Send for free insect book fet. If dealer cannot supply write
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers