History of the Donner Party: A Tragedy of the Sierras

In 1846, a band of California-bound pioneers took a fateful shortcut that left them stranded in the frigid Sierras — horrifyingly, some resorted to cannibalism to survive. This gripping account by a newspaperman who interviewed survivors and studied the party members' journals reveals not only a stark tale of desperation but also many inspiring acts of heroism.