ly under the ground, near a tree which
had been fired, and from around which the snow had melted." Those who
were in the company thought Wm. G. Murphy could not possibly walk, but
when all had gone, and Hook was dead, and no alternative remained but to
walk or die, he did walk. It took him two days to go barefooted over the
snow to Mule Springs, a journey which the others had made in one day.
The agony which he endured during that trip can better be imagined than
described. Nothing but an indomitable will could have sustained him
during those two days.

All the members of this relief party suffered greatly, and several came
near perishing. Little James F. Reed, Jr., was too small to step in the
tracks made by the older members of the party. In order to travel with
the rest he had to partly use his knees in walking. When one foot was
in a track he would place the other knee on the untrodden snow, and was
thus enabled to put his foot in the next track. John Denton was left
with a good fire, and when last seen was reclining smoking, on a bed of
freshly gathered pine boughs. He looked so comfortable that the little
timid boy James begged hard to be allowed to remain with him. Mrs. Reed
had hard work to coax him to come. Among other things, she promised that
when he reached California he should have a horse "all for himself," and
that he should never have to walk any more. This promise was literally
fulfilled. James F. Reed, Jr., since reaching California, has always
had a horse of his own. No matter what vicissitudes of fortune have
overtaken him, he has always kept a saddle horse.

Sad scenes were occurring at the cabin at Donner Lake and the tents
at Alder Creek. Starvation was fast claiming its victims. The poor
sufferers tried to be brave and trust God, but sometimes hope well-nigh
disappeared. The evening prayers were always read in Patrick Breen's
cabin, and all the inmates knelt and joined in the responses. Once when
they were thus praying, they heard the cries of wild geese flying over
the cabin. With one accord all raised their heads and listened for a
moment to the soul-inspiring sound. "Thank God, the spring is coming,"
was all Patrick Breen said, and again bowing their heads, the prayer was
resumed.

Charles L. Cady, writing from Calistoga, says that Commodore Stockton
employed Greenwood and Turner to guide the second relief party over the
mountains to Donner Lake. Cady, Stone, and Clark, being young, vigorous