The Donner Party: What Really Happened?

Who's hungry... for historical knowledge?

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The Co-op Funeral Home of People’s Memorial

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***CREDITS***

Mortician: Caitlin Doughty

This video was largely informed by Daniel James Brown's excellent book, "The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride". Thank you for the inspiration, Mr. Brown!

***SELECTED ADDITIONAL READING***

"7 surprising facts about cannibalism"

"'thus are our bodies, thus was our custom':
mortuary cannibalism in an Amazonian society"

"There's More to Cannibalism Than Just People Eating People"

"How the Pineapple Express Killed the Donner Party"

"Mmmm, Brains: Everything You Wanted to Know About Cannibalism But Were Afraid to Ask"

[joyt.]

I'm an American history teacher. My class recently finished the westward expansion unit. I'll show them your video during our enrichment period next week. The kids will love your mix of comedy and historical accuracy. Well done, lady!

[mndlgh]

When I was 14, my sister, dad and I, got stuck on top of Donner pass while driving to Susanville. The whole freeway was stopped, we couldn’t move, and there were people outside of their cars playing in the snow with their kids... MY dad took it upon himself to tell us this sweet story while we were stuck in the snowstorm for 4 hours. 🙂🙃

*Carson City! Not Susanville*

[songwriter]

I love how she handles these topics. She makes jokes throughout it and keeps it funny but she also takes the time to look at it from a serious perspective and teaches the real history and psychology behind it

[GoddessofAnubis]

This was a sad story until we got to Nancy. Young child, cold and starving, eating her own mother but not knowing bc at least the adults around her had that kind of courtesy. But finding out later....I can't imagine. I really got emotional then, and when seeing the large rock memorial, it broke me. I really appreciate your videos on these subjects bc you understand where the humor should be placed and when we should be respectful.

[TheNeonRabbit]

"Your wife makes great soup"
"Yea, but I'll miss her"

[ald]

i was listening to LPOTL's coverage of this story, and what john stark, an unpaid rescuer in the last group, did actually made me cry. he saved 9 people when the other two (paid) people with him just wanted to take one child each and leave the rest to die.

he picked up a couple of the kids, moved them down the trail, went back for more, and did this over and over and over and didn't stop, rest, or eat until they were all safe and out of the snow. stark and the 9 people he rescued all made it back alive.

[caleightilson]

You definitely don't know how you'll react to a situation until you're in it. My sister was fiercely judgemental of women who got abortions and women who had sex before marriage in general. And then she got pregnant at the age of 17 and suddenly her view on these things changed verry quickly

Edit: just to clarify, she didn't actually end up being pregnant (faulty pregnancy test) but the lesson she learned certainly stuck

[-chippedstars-]

Death Mama has uploaded, her children are fed

[quitecontraryy]

I clicked "save" so I could add this video to my "Watch Later" playlist.


YouTube saved the video to my
"Cooking" playlist 😬

dear god no why

[NancyD]

Yes. I knew. But I am a native Californian. (born here, not First Nation) Elitha Donner is buried about 2 miles down the street from my house. I travel 80 regularly and have seen snow depths similar to what the Donner Party experienced. That fact never fails to cross my mind. Even in the summer I think how they didn’t have a lovely highway to cross the Sierras.

Elitha was a teacher here and now has a school named for her.

[meredithcarroll]

It makes a ton of sense that they would have resorted to cannibalism so quickly if they thought the people dying had starved to death rather than died from the cold. That would light a fire under anyone's behind if they have genuine fear that they're going to be next if they don't find something to eat *right now.*

[cricklicklers]

Years ago I worked with a Donner family member. She said to me, “Well, if you can’t beat em, eat em.” We all laughed.... I never forgot.

[Emily-nqtz]

"If you're starving and you know it, eat your friends" 👏👏
If you're starving and you know it, eat your friends " 👏👏

[emmahardesty]

Thank you for discussing the Donner Party. It's a compelling story to actually read, and goes far beyond the cannibalism parts. Most intriguing of all the emigrants is Tamsen Eustis Donner. Simply an amazing gal, educated, a herbalist, a woman who'd already suffered personal loss, an interesting letter-writer. She kept a journal--which has never been found. When you read about Tamsen--who warned George: Let's don't take that shortcut--you have to admire everything about her. For instance, she sent her children ahead with one of the rescue parties while she stayed back at that grisly campsite to care for her mortally wounded husband, George. There are many good books--perhaps none as well written as Smoke Gets in Your Eyes--but the story itself is simply unforgettable.

[JiveDadson]

I had a good friend named Rick Donner. We were radio DJ's at a station in Texas in the 1960's. His eponymous ancestor survived the disaster and opened a popular _restaurant_ in San Francisco.

[plaguedoctormasque]

Eating establishments named after the Donner party? Welcome to McDonners, you want fries with him?

[fractalfoxette]

The people who are like "ew, I would NEVER resort to cannibalism" are probably the people who would resort to it first.

[Mockturtlesoup]

As some who legit often struggle to just get out of the bed some mornings, I can't even begin to appreciate how difficult it would have been just to survive, let alone attempt to keep trudging on, or even just digging out the snow.

[Tam_Eiki]

Came back to watch this again. "Donner Camp: Picnic Area" Just now got this, no clue how I missed it before. Thanks for making such great, educational content.

[harleykelevra]

I’m cool with people eating my dead body. hope I’m tasty, been self marinating In garlic dipping sauce for years lol