Hearth Unearthed in Sierra Nevada May Be From Donner Party; Bones Found Could Be Human

Associated Press ^ | Jul 14, 2004 | Scott Sonner

[Pharmboy]

Pioneer bump.

[glock rocks]

Donner party ping.

[Focault's Pendulum]

"Cannibalism is part of their story, but it's not the most important part,"

Uh....yes....it is.

[Billthedrill]

Oh, have a heart.

[theDentist]

They could have also used a case of spontaneous human combustion for those who didn't want theirs raw.

[Dane]

A tasty find for archaeologists.

Sorry couldn't resist. :^)

[Focault's Pendulum]

Oh, have a heart.

I'm a conservative...I'm not allowed.

[AnAmericanMother]

Classic aftermath:

Judge Melville B. Gerry of Lake City, a Democrat, pronounced sentence upon Alferd E. Packer this way: "You voracious man-eating son of a bitch, there was seven Democrats in Hinsdale County and you ate five of them. God damn you! I sentence you to be hanged by the neck until you are dead, Dead, DEAD, as a warning against reducing the Democratic population of Hinsdale County. Packer, you Republican cannibal, I would sentence you to Hell but the statutes forbid it."

[annyokie]

"The Palace Wagon Family" tells the story of the Donner party including many of the foolish decisions of the wagonmaster.

[BykrBayb]

It'll be listed on eBay next week, under Household Appliances - Used.

[Billthedrill]

Well, have a little piece of liver, then.

For dessert...a wafer-thin mint...

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

What about a thigh?

[martin_fierro]

I spent a long New Year's weekend one year at a cabin overlooking Truckee/Donner Lake.

There was a full moon one clear night. I remember looking out across the lake to a mountain range beyond. Eerily beautiful.

[Xenalyte]

So does this little gem. (That is indeed Trey Parker in the bad vandyke.)

[annyokie]

ack!

[tubebender]

It wasn't me. I had grilled flank steak for dinner but is it true that PRB stops there often for his back haul...

[IronJack]

Alferd (the spelling on his tombstone) Packer was Colorado's favorite cannibal. This tale has been recounted thousands of times, and always elicits a giggle.

[Billthedrill]

The Food Court at the U of Colorado Boulder is named after dear old Alferd. The judge who sentenced him claimed that he "et" most of the Democrats in the county, so he can't have been an altogether bad fellow...

[SierraWasp]

Oh my goodness that was funny!!! No wonder Arnold Schwarzenegger want a Sierra-Nevada Conservancy even after the Recalled Gray Davis vetoed the socialistic idea!!!

Arnold musta wanted rest of them Hinsdale County Demonicrats preserved in perpetuity... Ha ha ha ahaaaaaaa!!!

After all... They were emigrants to CA, just like Ahnold and his fellow Repellicans got caught eatin the opposition... (maniacle shreaks of hysterical laughter)

[IronJack]

I knew one of the universities had a site or a building named for Brother Packer. But I didn't know it was an "official" thing. Packer is a cottage industry down around Lake City and the Blue Mesa. I believe he's buried in Littleton.