Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/114

 ans !"

Thus they  slowly  contmued  their  way  down  the Sierra to  the  north  branch  of  the  American  river, when on  the  9th  of  January  they  came  to  a  rancheria of natives,  who  were  so  overcome  on  beholding  the pitiful condition  of  the  strangers  that  they  burst  into loud lamentations,  the  women  sobbing  in  sympathy as they  hastily  prepared  mashed  acorns  for  their  re- lief Then these  natives  sent  messengers  on  to  the next rancheria,  that  its  people  might  likewise  prepare food and  welcome  for  the  afflicted  travellers ;  and  so they  passed  them  along  from  one  to  another,  all  that was left  of  them,  until  on  the  l7th  of  January  they reached the  house  of  M.  D.  Richey,  whose  kind- hearted daughter  on  first  beholdhig  Mr.  Eddy  burst into tears  without  speaking  a  word.

Of the  seventeen  who  set  out  from  Truckee,  eight had perished  by  the  way,  and  all  of  these  were  men. Every woman  had  come  through. The news  of  their suffering, and  the  condition  of  those  left  behind,  spread swiftly among  the  settlers. Couriers were  despatched to Sutter's  fort,  to  Sonoma,  to  Yerba  Buena,  and  im- mediate preparations were  made  for  the  relief  of  the sufferers. Men eagerly  volunteered  to  go  to  their assistance, and  money  was  furnished  with  lavish hands. Even thus  early  in  her  history,  as  ever  after- ward, the heart  of  California  was  wide  open  to  the cry of  distress. Several expeditions  at  once  set  out for Mountain  camp,  as  the  cabins  near  Donner  lake were called. The first  was  under  Reed,  who  when driven from  the  camp  for  man-slaughter  had  made his way  to  California,  where  he  was  awaiting  the  ar- rival of the  party  with  his  wife  and  children. Sutter and John  Sinclair  sent  out  a  party  under  Aquilla Glover. Eddy attempted  to  return  with  this  party, but was  obliged  from  weakness  to  give  it  up. Glover made two  expeditions,  Reed  and  McCutcheon  two, Foster and  Eddy  one,  besides  the  expeditions  of Starks  and  others,  and  of  Mr  Fellan.

Burying provisions  in  the  snow  for  their  return  as