1   Donner party -------------------------------- {dahn'-ur} The Donner party suffered one of the most terrible and famous tragedies in the history of the American West. Organized in Illinois in 1846 by Jacob and George Donner, a group of 87 persons chose to follow an untested route to California suggested by the guide Lansford W. Hastings. Finding the route through eastern Utah far more difficult than promised and plagued by jealous bickering, the inexperienced party lost weeks of precious time and began the difficult crossing of the Sierra Nevadas only in late October. Within a week they were snowbound high in the mountains with little shelter or food. In mid-December a group of 17 set out in desperation to bring help from California. Of these, seven reached civilization and sent back rescue parties, but not before many of those remaining had starved to death and others had resorted to cannibalism. Of the original number, only 47 survived. ELLIOTT WEST Bibliography: Stewart, George R., Ordeal By Hunger: The Storyof the Donner Party (1960; repr. 1986). r. Within a week they were snowbound high in the ` w  s 7e^Me  ,G ^ .(.0gpg>^:hH4  :h.h*h6h^    _   (   f  )   b d   ^    _    s had resorted to cannibalism. Of the original number, only 47 survived. ELLIOTT WEST Bibliography: Stewart, Georg  Arial By Hunger: The Storyof the Donner Party (1960; repr. 1986).