TRUVIDO

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Saturday, March 08, 2014 at 07:24:32 :

San Francisco Call
Thursday, 13 October 1910
Page 9

PIONEER RESCUER OF DONNER PARTY DIES
John Baptiste Truvido Passes Away in Marin County

[Special Dispatch to The Call]
SAN RAFAEL, Oct: 12 — John Baptiste Truvido, the last of the pioneers who went to the rescue of the Donner party, died at Marshalls, Marin county, yesterday. In early days he was a prosperous farmer at Marshall, but failing sight and other encroachments of old age forced him to become a county charge.

Truvido was born in Missouri 85 years ago. He came across the plains in the early forties and engaged in mining. When the news arrived at San Francisco in January, 1847, that the Donner party was starving in the Sierra snows Truvido joined the relief party organized by Captain Sutter. Truvido and his companions reached the Truckee lake February 19 and found 10 of the Donner party dead at the nearest camp.

Truvido went to Donner's camp. They found the last survivor lying on the floor smoking his pipe. His camp kettle was over the fire and in it his meal of human flesh. Truvido was one of those who threatened to hang the survivor, believing he had killed Mrs. Donner. He later aided other rescuers in carrying on his back children who had been saved from another camp.

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The Marin Journal
Thursday, October 13, 1910
Page 5

Brevities

J. Truvido, who has been a resident of Marin County for over 50 years, died at Marshall’s Monday at the age of 86 years. The death of Mr. Truvido recalls the awful experience of the Donner party in the early days of which he was one of the few surviving members.