The Kemmerer Republican

TWO SURVIVORS OF DONNER PARTY PASSED AWAY AT SAME HOUR
The last number of The Republican told of the experience of the Donner party, pioneers who crossed Wyoming to California in the early days. The historical facts are secured by C. L. Holdredge of Fontenelle, from a rare old history of Wyoming he has in his possession. In this connection, the following will be of interest to those who are reading Mr. Holdredge's articles.

(From the Riverside, Cal. Press.)

Two Survivors of Donner Party Answered Last Call at Same Hour.

SACRAMENTO, Cal., July 4.--The hand of death by a strange coincident fell in at about the same time upon two of the remaining figures of one of the west's most stirring historical episodes.

While the news was being received of the death of Mrs. Martha Reed Lewis, survivor of the Donner party, at her home at East Linn Lakes, San Luis Obispo county, a fellow member of that ill-fated party was breathing her last in her home in Elk Grove, Cal.

The second survivor to die within 24 hours was Mrs. Elitha C. Wilder, a daughter of Robert Donner.

They were members of the Donner party of 1846. Mrs. Lewis was 84 and Mrs. Wilder was 94.

Mrs. Wilder was not only famous because she was the daughter of the leader of the Donner party, but because of her part in the early history of the west.

She came to Elk Grove shortly after living members of the party were rescued from the snow bound shores of Donner Lake and has lived there for the past 50 years.

Mrs. Leaman, a sister of Mrs. Wilder, makes her home in Jamestown, N.Y. She is one of the few known survivors of the party who are still living.