Hope began to animate the bosoms of many, young and old, when the
cheering blaze rose through the dry pine logs we had piled together. One
would say, 'Thank God for the fire!' Another, 'How good it is!' The
poor, little, half-starved, half-frozen children would say, 'I'm glad,
I'm glad we have got some fire! Oh, how good it feels! It is good our
fire didn't go out!' At times the storm would burst forth with such fury
that I felt alarmed for the safety of the people on account of the tall
timber that surrounded us."
Death entered the camp on the first night. He came to claim one who was
a true, faithful mother. One who merits greater praise than language can
convey. Though comparatively little has been told concerning her life by
the survivors, doubt not that Mrs. Elizabeth Graves was one of the
noblest of the mothers of the Donner Party. Her charity is kindly
remembered by all who have spoken her name. To her companions in
misfortune she always gave such food as she possessed; for her children
she now gave her life. The last morsels of food, the last grain of
flour, she had placed in the mouths of her babes, though she was dying
of starvation.
Mrs. Farnham, who talked personally with Mrs. Breen, gives the following
description of that terrible night:
"Mrs. Breen told me that she had her husband and five children together,
lying with their feet to the fire, and their heads under shelter of the
snow breast-work.
Pages:
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227