HILF 28 - The Donner Party with Andy Kraft

Dawn's guest is actor and writer, Andy Kraft. He is a longtime friend and colleague - together they've done everything from romantic comedies on screen, to portraying water droplets on stage. Andy can be seen in countless commercials, episodes of television (including the final episode of Brooklyn nine-nine) and is the hand up the bum of some of your favorite puppets!

00:07:44 - Andy explains why he chose the subject of The Donner Party.His total ignorance of the subject (is it NOT the Dahmer Party?) ultimately made it the HILF of the day and, of course, Dawn loves a History Virgin. 

00:13:36 - The Donner Party began, as almost all wagon trains going West did at the time - on the Oregon Trail. This infamous trail inspired a similarly infamous game that was very popular in the mid 80's... if you didn't die, you won! But you probably died... There is a new version of the game for Switch, if you can believe it.

00:18:53 - The Who-is-who of The Donner Party: We are introduced to the people who begin with the wagon train in Missouri, what brought them there, and what there expectations were going forward. Everything starts out fairly well with Mrs. Donner even writing a letter home that says, "“Indeed, if I do not experience something far worse than I have yet done, I shall say the trouble is all in getting started.” 

00:23:50 - Because things are going so well as they set out, the Donner Party begins to take interest in a rumor of a shortcut. The so-called Hastings Cut-off, purported by legendary frontiersman, Lansford Hastings, proves a tempting option. Ultimately they take a vote and about 90 of the party take the road oh-so-much less traveled.

BREAK 

00:32:07 - In October of 1846, The Donner Party finds themselves weeks behind schedule and with an increasingly hazardous route unfolding before them. After cutting paths through thick brush and hard terrain, they then face the crossing of The Great Salt Dessert - and they already are running out of food and water.  See the map!

00:37:04 - In light of how FUCKING BAD things are going, the group selects two individuals, Stanton and McCutchen, to ride ahead to California to alert them to their plight and possibly bring back help and supplies. Shortly after they leave, things progressively get worse for everybody - and then there is the first murder. 

00:39:39 - Dawn gives the details of the murder of John Snyder and the resulting exile of James Reed.

00:53:38 - There is the first death by starvation/exposure (Hardcoop) and one disappearance and suspected murder (Wolfinger). Just as the party is beginning to really accept the possibility that all is lost, Stanton returns! Not only does he have much-needed supplies, but he is also in the company of two Indian guides to lead them the rest of the way. 

The Donner Party takes a sigh of relief - but it turns out the worst had only just begun...

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Come back for the thrilling conclusion the HILF of the The Donner Party - it will be an episode you can really sink your teeth into. 

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