Here comes the sequel to the Reed-Snyder tragedy. Had it not been for
Reed's banishment, there is every reason to believe that these people
would have died for want of food. It will be remembered, however, that
the relief party organized by Reed was only a few days behind Captain
Tucker's. On the twenty-seventh of February, just as the horror and
despair of their dreadful situation began to be realized, Tucker, and
those with him, were relieved by the second relief party.
In order to better understand these events, let us return and follow the
motions of Reed and the members of the second relief party. In the
article quoted in a former chapter from the Rural Press, Reed traced
their progress as far as Johnson's ranch. Patty Reed (Mrs. Frank Lewis)
has in her possession the original diary kept by her father during this
journey. This diary shows that on the very morning Capt. Tucker, and the
company with him, left Donner Lake to return to the valleys, Reed and
the second relief party started from Johnson's ranch to go to Donner
Lake. All that subsequently occurred, is briefly and pointedly narrated
in the diary.
"February 22, 1847. All last night I kept fire under the beef which I
had drying on the scaffolds, and Johnson's Indians were grinding flour
in a small hand-mill.
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