What Happened in History: Browse Historical Facts on Kudos 365

The Donner Party disaster - A group of American pioneers led by captain, George Donner traveling from the Midwest to California becomes stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountains during a very harsh winter. Reportedly, the extreme conditions led to cannibalism among those who survived when food ran out. It was the worst disaster of the overland migration to California. Donner Lake and Donner Pass in California, are named for the group. Forty of the 87 who began the trek died from starvation-related causes. The survivors were not rescued until the spring of 1847. More