A case of cannibalism in America - i seem to remember something about being in the mountains?

Question

I learnt about this in history and googling hasn't got my anywhere cos I can't remember the details! I think it was that a group of pioneers were travelling across/over a mountain range in North America which at that time hadn't really been explored (1880s?), they got stuck (maybe bad weather?) and had to resort to cannibalism? Does anyone know any details/a wikipedia page about this???

Thats it, the Donner party, thanx!!!

Answer 1

The last real recorded time of cannibalism in the US was during the 1930's when a number of families actual indulged in this as a way to feed themselves, especially in the mid western states. i am not sure on how many cases there where but they are widespread in Histroy books concerning this time period 1932 - 1937

Answer 2

You are thinking of the Donner Party, a wagon train that took a bad route across the Sierra Nevadas in eastern California and got stranded by an early snow storm. Over the winter of 1846-1847, they were unable to get out of the mountain pass, and almost half of them died before rescuers could reach them in the spring. Some of the people were forced to dig up the dead bodies and eat parts of them to survive. It's an amazing story of bravery.

http://www.donnerpartydiary.com/

Someone above mentioned Alfred Packer. His was a separate incident -- If he had been with the Donner party, he would have been about 6 years old. During the trial, the judge supposedly said: "Damn you, Alferd Packer! There were seven Dimmycrats in Hinsdale County and you ate five of them!"

Answer 3

Alfred G. "Alferd" Packer (January 21, 1842 – April 23, 1907) [1] is popularly known as one of only three Americans ever imprisoned for cannibalism, alongside Albert Fish and Jeffrey Dahmer. First tried for murder, Packer was eventually sentenced to 40 years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter
Alfred Packer was the guide for the Donner Party on their way to california. They left missouri at the wrong time of the year and ended up stranded in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Answer 4

1846 Donner Party

New archaeological research suggests that at least one group of the snowed-in Donner Party did not commit cannibalism, although they ate their horses, their dog, and whatever wild game they could kill.

The whole sad situation occurred because their wagon train opted for a shorter cut-off route that ended up wearing out their livestock in the Nevada desert and costing them more time than the conventional emigrant route would have done. James Clyman, mountain man turned guide (and more literate than most), tried to talk sense into them at Fort Bridger, but failed.

Answer 5

This story could be about the aircraft which crashed in the Andes in 1948.
The plane was a converted British Lancaster, and the survivors committed an act of cannibalism

Answer 6

The Donner Party. ("Donner -- party of six. Er, party of five")

In the Sierra Nevadas, as I recall, en route to California. S/b easy to look up, and there's at least one book on the subject.

Answer 7

Check the Donnor Party expedition.

Answer 8

huh!.flesh is good someone said, after many days of hunger and poof..was a battle between them and one of them just died, so they tried the raw flesh and was good..the history ends when was only one left and found his way back to the civilization...I call surviving not cannibalism.

Answer 9

america america america THIS IS THE UK SIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it certainly did not happen in the uk