A segment of the wagon train headed to California in 1846. They had been enticed by young promoter Lansford W. Hastings, who advertised a new and faster route to California (which he only tested once with a horse; it turned out not only more dangerous but 125 miles longer than the charted route).
The twenty wagons of the Donner Party left the regular route in early July and headed for Fort Bridger, the first stop on the shortcut. Beginning on the shortcut in late July, they at first made good time but soon found that the trail over the Wasatch Mountains was almost impassible. Instead of only a week, the trip over the steep Wasatch to the Great Salt Lake took a whole month. Next, the journey over the Great Salt Desert took nearly six days instead of two. The shortcut rejoined the established trail two months after they had embarked on it. By late October, they reached the Sierras but an early winter storm blocked the pass. The travelers were trapped, only 150 miles from the safety of Sutter's Fort.
Trapped in the mountains from November until April, two thirds of the men died as did a third of the women and children. Desperation drove most of the Donner Party to eat the dead. A group of fifteen of the strongest immigrants (nine men, five women, and a boy of twelve) and two Indian guides set off to find help in mid-December, but when they found help in mid-January only two of the men (both married with children) were alive; all five women survived.
The twenty wagons of the Donner Party left the regular route in early July and headed for Fort Bridger, the first stop on the shortcut. Beginning on the shortcut in late July, they at first made good time but soon found that the trail over the Wasatch Mountains was almost impassible. Instead of only a week, the trip over the steep Wasatch to the Great Salt Lake took a whole month. Next, the journey over the Great Salt Desert took nearly six days instead of two. The shortcut rejoined the established trail two months after they had embarked on it. By late October, they reached the Sierras but an early winter storm blocked the pass. The travelers were trapped, only 150 miles from the safety of Sutter's Fort.
Trapped in the mountains from November until April, two thirds of the men died as did a third of the women and children. Desperation drove most of the Donner Party to eat the dead. A group of fifteen of the strongest immigrants (nine men, five women, and a boy of twelve) and two Indian guides set off to find help in mid-December, but when they found help in mid-January only two of the men (both married with children) were alive; all five women survived.
"Anguish and dismay now filled all hearts. Husbands bowed their heads, appalled at the situation of their families. They cursed Hastings for his false promises and broken pledge at Fort Bridger... Mothers in tearless agony clasped their children to their bosoms with the old, old cry, 'Father, Thy will, not mine, be done.' It was plain that try as we might, we could not get back to Fort Bridger. We must proceed, regardless of the fearful outlook." -Eliza Donner (1843-1922)
The third rescue party captured perhaps the most poignant scene of the Donner Party.
"The picture of distress... They had consumed two children of Jacob Donner. Mrs. Graves’s body was lying there with almost all the flesh cut away from her arms and limbs... Her little daughter, about 13 months old, sat at her side, one arm upon the body of her mangled mother, sobbing bitterly, crying, 'Ma! Ma! Ma!'"
"I have not wrote you half of the trouble we’ve had, but I have wrote you enough to let you know what trouble is. But thank God, we are the only family that did not eat human flesh. We have left everything, but I don’t care for that. We have got through with our lives. Don’t let this letter dishearten anybody. Remember, never take no cutoffs (shortcuts) and hurry along as fast as you can." -Virginia Reed (1833-1921)
The third rescue party captured perhaps the most poignant scene of the Donner Party.
"The picture of distress... They had consumed two children of Jacob Donner. Mrs. Graves’s body was lying there with almost all the flesh cut away from her arms and limbs... Her little daughter, about 13 months old, sat at her side, one arm upon the body of her mangled mother, sobbing bitterly, crying, 'Ma! Ma! Ma!'"
"I have not wrote you half of the trouble we’ve had, but I have wrote you enough to let you know what trouble is. But thank God, we are the only family that did not eat human flesh. We have left everything, but I don’t care for that. We have got through with our lives. Don’t let this letter dishearten anybody. Remember, never take no cutoffs (shortcuts) and hurry along as fast as you can." -Virginia Reed (1833-1921)
by Lorelili December 18, 2011
Get the Donner Party mug.The way your computer usually smells after a LAN party.
Although this also goes for massive LAN parties, it's especially appliable for private LAN parties.
When you are playing with friends at private LAN parties, they are most of the time held in relatively small rooms with bad air ventilation (like garages or living rooms). Sitting with at least eight people in a small room breathing the same air with running computers for a whole night long gives the air a nasty smell. When you are in it yourself you don't really notice it (ever been in a bar?). When there are smokers there (this is in 99% of the cases true) it makes it a lot worse.
Computers circulate air trough the case with fans to cool the components inside. If your computer runs all night in an enviroment like that, it has circulated a lot of that air trough it. So, the next day when you come home and turn your computer on for the first time, you'll get a blast of nasty air out of the back of the case. Usually it takes at least 2 days of full running time before it disappears.
Although this also goes for massive LAN parties, it's especially appliable for private LAN parties.
When you are playing with friends at private LAN parties, they are most of the time held in relatively small rooms with bad air ventilation (like garages or living rooms). Sitting with at least eight people in a small room breathing the same air with running computers for a whole night long gives the air a nasty smell. When you are in it yourself you don't really notice it (ever been in a bar?). When there are smokers there (this is in 99% of the cases true) it makes it a lot worse.
Computers circulate air trough the case with fans to cool the components inside. If your computer runs all night in an enviroment like that, it has circulated a lot of that air trough it. So, the next day when you come home and turn your computer on for the first time, you'll get a blast of nasty air out of the back of the case. Usually it takes at least 2 days of full running time before it disappears.
example 1: Man, it's been a week and my computer still has that LAN party smell.
example 2: When i turned my computer on for the first time after that LAN party i had to throw my windows open because of the LAN party smell.
example 2: When i turned my computer on for the first time after that LAN party i had to throw my windows open because of the LAN party smell.
by dickkwikkwek January 2, 2007
Get the LAN party smell mug.Related Words
Pjarty
• party
• party pooper
• party foul
• Party Boy
• party hats
• party animal
• party favors
• party girl
• Party Popper
an orgy; the term was popularized by the media after Silvio Berlusconi, Prime Minister of Italy, was accused of having sex with an underage girl at one of said parties.
by dr_mudbone March 8, 2011
Get the bunga bunga party mug.an organized function or party where women bring their rose vibrators with a sucking and vibrating feature along with 10+ frequencies to use on eachother
by Ftg fils de pute March 4, 2023
Get the Rose party mug.Party promises are those "plans" you make at the end of social gatherings where one, if not both, promisers never actually intend on following through.
"Dude, we should totally grab coffee sometime soon!"
"Yea, totally!"
(one or both thinking: "this coffee date will never happen, but I can stop talking to them now")
"Yea, totally!"
(one or both thinking: "this coffee date will never happen, but I can stop talking to them now")
by partee February 24, 2005
Get the Party Promise mug.This Irish origin phrase is most commonly spelled in all caps. It is the exclamation meant for the most badass party ever. Often said as an excitement booster for the party to come, or yelled at those who stand between you and the keg. Wyatt Montgomery, soon to be published poet from Asheville North Carolina, coined the phrase along with the aid of those of whom he parties with on a regular basis.
a: Dude, are you ready for the brutality that is to come tonight?
b: <epic glare>
a: Dude? C'mon man, let me hear it!
a+b: PARTYGODDAMNHELLYEAH!!!!!!!! WOOOOHOOO!!!! <body slam> (if necessary)
b: <epic glare>
a: Dude? C'mon man, let me hear it!
a+b: PARTYGODDAMNHELLYEAH!!!!!!!! WOOOOHOOO!!!! <body slam> (if necessary)
by Voodoomouse July 19, 2010
Get the PARTYGODDAMNHELLYEAH! mug.while at partys you occasionally notice a woman of defined body and stature of a bison.
Party bison are more often than not sexually aggressive, although appearing lethargic. after 3 smirnoff ices they try to spend the night with drunkened male party-goers who have drank far more than her. parties don't have to be limited to one bison, there may be many in a single room.
Party bison are more often than not sexually aggressive, although appearing lethargic. after 3 smirnoff ices they try to spend the night with drunkened male party-goers who have drank far more than her. parties don't have to be limited to one bison, there may be many in a single room.
Charles T: "Did you watch that party bison wander into the Brewery?"
M. Boskey: "yeah, im pretty sure Donny hooked up with her"
M. Boskey: "yeah, im pretty sure Donny hooked up with her"
by Sailing Away February 20, 2011
Get the Party Bison mug.