USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Virginia Reed and the other members of the Donner-Reed Party had been suckered into a supposed shortcut to California that had led them to disaster. Hastings Cutoff, as it was known, was briefly touted as a better way for pioneers to get to Cal-even though its main promoter had never traveled the treacherous route.

Detailed explanation-2: -George and Jacob Donner, both of their wives and four of their children all perished. Pioneer William Eddy, meanwhile, lost his wife and his two kids. Nearly a dozen families had made up Donner wagon train, but only two-the Reeds and the Breens-managed to arrive in California without suffering a single death.

Detailed explanation-3: -Donner party, also called Donner-Reed party, group of American pioneers-named for the expedition’s captain, George Donner-who became stranded en route to California in late 1846.

Detailed explanation-4: -The pass was named after a later group of California-bound settlers. In early November 1846 the Donner Party found the route blocked by snow and was forced to spend the winter on the east side of the mountains. Of the 81 settlers, only 45 survived to reach California; some of them resorting to cannibalism to survive.