Monday, February 28, 2011

2-28-11 Journal entry

St. Louis has been made famous by its massive arch which stands towering about the cities stretch of the Mississippi river. It has been nicknamed by many to be the "gateway to the west". Thousands started their journey to the west in hope of prosperity and their chance to become an entrepreneur.
The path that lead west would take the lives of many but the trip was well worth the risk. Families scattered across the eastern seaboard and further inland gathered their belongings into wobbly wheeled wagons leaving their lives behind in search for a new home out west.
Days were filled with endless walking and at nights they would circle the wagons around their sleeping quarters in hope to hold off any attack from Indians of wild animals in search for the taste of human flesh. Blankets scattered across their bodies they lay on the hard ground of the plains squinting up towards the twinkly lights which were scattered across the night time sky. One of the most infamous wagon trains the Donner party would face a surreal experience. After the leading wagon holding all the unnecessary possessions to the Gabby family lost track of the path and led the party into the frozen peaks of the Rockies the company faced starvation. After many grueling days without food they turned to cannibalism in search for nutrients; if not they would face death, all alone in the vast wilderness.

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