went hunting. Ordinarily I am not
superstitious, but on this morning I felt an overwhelming sense of
impending calamity. I mentioned my premonitions to Mrs. Murphy before
starting on the hunt. Becoming excited with the sport, and eagerly
watching the game, I stepped down a steep bank. Some willows had been
burned off, and the short, sharp stubs were sticking up just where I
stepped. I had on buckskin moccasins, and one of these stubs ran into
the ball of my foot, between the bones and the toes. From this time,
until we arrived at Donner Lake, I was unable to walk, or even to put
my foot to the ground. 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. But he would not travel, for the
reason, as was suspected, that he wished to remain behind for the
purpose of obtaining the property and money of the dead." Keseberg's
statement continues:

"When we reached the lake, we lost our road, and owing to the depth of
the snow on the mountains; were compelled to abandon our wagons, and
pack our goods upon oxen. The cattle, unused to such burdens, caused
great delay by 'bucking' and wallowing in the snow. There was also much
confusion as to what articles should be taken and what abandoned. One
wanted a box