To his great bodily strength, and unexcelled courage, myself and others owe our lives. There was probably no other man in California at that time, who had the intelligence, determination, and what was absolutely necessary in that emergency, the immense physical powers of John Stark. He was as strong as two ordinary men. On his broad shoulders, he carried the provisions, most of the blankets, and most of the time some of the weaker children. In regard to this, he would laughingly say that he could carry them all, if there was room on his back, because they were so light from starvation.

John Breen

Words and music © Peter Callister 2010

Image of James Reed used with permission from the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley

Many thanks to Kristin Johnson for clarifying facts regarding the weather conditions facing the relief parties in early 1847