The foot became greatly swollen and inflamed, and
was exceedingly painful. One day, at Donner Lake, one of my companions,
at my earnest request, lanced my foot on the top. It discharged freely,
and some days afterwards, in washing it, I found a hard substance
protruding from the wound, and obtaining a pair of forceps, succeeded in
extracting a piece of the willow stub, one and a half inches in length.
It had literally worked up through my foot. I mention this particularly,
because I have been frequently accused of remaining at the Donner cabins
from selfish or sinister motives, when in fact I was utterly unable to
join the relief parties."
It is proper to mention, in corroboration of Keseberg's statement
regarding his lameness, that several of the survivors remembered, and
had related the circumstance prior to the interview. It is a
well-authenticated fact that he was very lame, and could not walk, yet,
as a specimen of the abuse which has been heaped upon the man, a
quotation is introduced from Thornton's "Oregon and California." In
speaking of the departure of Foster and Eddy, Thornton says: "There were
in camp Mrs. Murphy, Mr. and Mrs. Gorge Donner, and Keseberg - the
latter, it was believed, having far more strength to travel than others
who had arrived in the settlements.
Pages:
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268