October 8, 2025 • 29 mins
Suspense was one of the most popular and successful radio series during it's run of over 900 episodes, spanning 1940-1962. Guest stars included Orson Welles, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Agnes Moorehead, Marlene Dietrich and Humphrey Bogart. The plots were mostly engaging crime dramas, science fiction and some horror - usually with a surprise ending.
Hope you enjoy this episode of Suspense! Find all our OTR radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | Amazon | iHeart
Hope you enjoy this episode of Suspense! Find all our OTR radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | Amazon | iHeart
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Auto light, and it's ninety eight thousand dealers bring you,
Mister Edmund O'Brien in tonight's presentation.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Of suspense, Tonight Auto Light presents a true story as
we dramatize the diary of a man whose.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Unfortunate task it was to set.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Down a report on the death of his friends ordeal
in Donner pass our Star.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Mister Edmund O'Brien well halloed.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Tomorrow's the day, yes, Senator, the day when a lot
of people will step on the starter and find that
their batteries are as dry as a campaign speech because
they forgot to keep them properly filled with water.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
I mean election day are low right right?
Speaker 1 (00:54):
The day when thousands of wise drivers will elect to
get an auto light stay full, the battery that needs
water only three times a year in normal car use.
I'll vote for that, and that autolite stayfall is a
long time in office. Fiberglass retaining mats protect every positive
plate to reduce shedding and flaking and give that conscientious
candidate longer life, as proved by tests conducted according to
(01:17):
accepted life cycle standards. So, friends, after you vote, visit
your auto light battery dealer. The expert on all makes
of batteries. To quickly locate him, Phone Western Union by
number and ask for operator twenty five.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
I'll tell you.
Speaker 5 (01:31):
Where to get an auto LIGHTE stay full the battery
that needs water only three times a year in normal
car use.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right
with autolite.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
And now auto light presents ordeal.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
In Donner Pass, starring mister Edmund O'Brien, hoping once again
to keep you in suspense.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
My name is Patrick Breen.
Speaker 6 (02:06):
I am a god fearing man who loves his family
and tries to do right by his fellow man.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
If in the months that.
Speaker 6 (02:12):
Followed after we started to take the Hastings shortcut to California,
if in those months from November of eighteen forty six
to March of eighteen forty seven, I was selfish. There
were men guilty of worse. I'd done what I was able.
I'd done what was the most any man could. If
(02:39):
we had read the signs right, it wouldn't have happened.
Maybe when Keesburg left the old man, mister Hardcoop behind
to die, when Snyder attacked us to read and read
killed him and got banished from the caravan sent out
alone without wife and child.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
If we saw the signs of losing all.
Speaker 6 (02:55):
Those cattle and trucky meadows, and the Indians sneaking up
and killing half the rest, we would have seen the
hand of nature working against us, and the crazy task
of clearing a road through the Sierra Mountain wilderness by hand,
thirty miles of road. We should have seen the signs.
(03:16):
But the Donna party only saw Missouri where they came from,
in California, where they was going.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
We didn't see in between.
Speaker 7 (03:24):
What's the coal? What's the matter? Something go wrong again?
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Mister Eddie is for trying to get over the pass again?
Speaker 7 (03:30):
Oh, I see it's crazy. Temperature must be near the
freezing and it gets worse near the summit, up near
the pass.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Oh.
Speaker 7 (03:36):
I got my wife and children to think about mister Donner,
and so do I, mister Great, and think about them.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Don't stop here. You'll save our lives if you don't stop.
It's colder and colder.
Speaker 6 (03:46):
Miss Eddie, I tell you, get out of these mountains now.
We'd have to leave most of our goods behind and
leave your good leave.
Speaker 7 (03:52):
Our goods as well, to leave our money.
Speaker 6 (03:54):
And your money you talk madness, miss Eddie, What would
we start our lives with in California?
Speaker 7 (03:59):
Don't, mister Eddie, you'll make trouble for yourself.
Speaker 6 (04:03):
Look at the health of our party, the exhaustion, mister Eddie,
look at it.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
I'll look at dead bodies if you don't move on.
Speaker 6 (04:10):
I know, I know that, but it's always been what
could happen Only some of my children, they complain they need.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Rest in a regular camp. Mine too, and my wife.
The last bluff we lord, our wagon's over.
Speaker 6 (04:25):
We didn't have the energy to keep them right. Someone
crashing down supplies an awe.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
The men just don't have the heart for it. You'll die.
Speaker 6 (04:32):
There's no going back to the salt lake. Some died
there already.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Try at least try going over the pass again. Hastings
root was a pack of lize.
Speaker 7 (04:40):
We'll take another route.
Speaker 6 (04:41):
Look up, mister Eddie, Look up to the face of
the summit. Snow, solid snow, no marks or signs.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
It's snowing again, and if we stay it'll swallow us up.
And look at the faces.
Speaker 6 (04:54):
Human bodies can only work so much, mister Graves, and
no more, only so much.
Speaker 7 (05:00):
It calls for a vote no not yet.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Why you vote?
Speaker 7 (05:03):
No more argument?
Speaker 3 (05:04):
It waste time. Oh you gotta listen. We've gotta talk
some more.
Speaker 7 (05:08):
You gotta understand your hand.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Stop it, stop it all right. I call you a vote.
Call the vote, mister Breen. Listen.
Speaker 6 (05:22):
The question is do we go on for another try
over the past or stay? There's no going back. Mister Donna,
to stay, mister Graves, to stay.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
This is reed. With your husband gone. You have a
man's vote to stay.
Speaker 8 (05:40):
I suppose I don't know. I cast no vote, mister Breen.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Mister Murphy, mister Keysburg. We built three houses.
Speaker 6 (06:01):
One was already standing, the Graves family, next to the Reeds,
our family in Keysburg's next door the Eddie and Murphy
families and adjoining cabins, And five miles down the Dunners,
no windows and one door to each cabin, and like sentinels.
From October thirty first half our slaughtered oxen, dressed and
(06:21):
ready split in half, stood frozen next to our cabins.
On Friday, November twentieth, eighteen forty six.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
I began my journal.
Speaker 6 (06:40):
We now had killed most part of our cattle, having
to stay here until next spring and live on poor beef.
Without bread or salt, at snow during the space of
eight days, with little interruption. The remainder of time up
to this day was clear and pleasant, freezing. At night,
the snow had nearly gone from the valleys. Oh, my wife,
(07:00):
my children asleep. They could not have attempted the crossing
with mister Eddie, who started out with twenty two.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
My wife thought it better to wait.
Speaker 9 (07:09):
Oh what what is it.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
It's mister Eddie taking a group for another try.
Speaker 10 (07:18):
Oh, I wonder there's.
Speaker 6 (07:20):
No time for doubt. A doubt can mean terrible things.
Speaker 10 (07:24):
Do you think they'll make it?
Speaker 3 (07:27):
I have no facts to go by.
Speaker 10 (07:29):
Mister Eddie's a courageous and daring man. Will they make it?
Speaker 3 (07:34):
It's only a feeling and it's the only guide we have.
Speaker 10 (07:38):
Will they make it?
Speaker 3 (07:40):
I say no.
Speaker 6 (07:50):
On November twenty sixth I slaughtered my last team of oxen.
After this beef was gone, Maybe missus Eddie would sell
me some of hers.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
There were some mules, there were dogs, and we waited.
Speaker 6 (08:11):
Monday, December first snowing, fast wind west snow about four
or five feet deep. No drifts looks as likely to
continue as when it commenced. No living thing without wings
can get about Tuesday, December second, still snowing, wind west,
(08:35):
snow now about five and a half to six feet deep,
difficult to get wood. No going from the house completely
closed in eight days of storm and not seeing or
(08:55):
hearing a word of life or death. Snow bound so
that even the people in the next cabin are like
a thousand miles away. We couldn't get out to kill
the pack animals. And after the sixth day ration was
barely enough to keep a baby alive.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
And then the storm stopped.
Speaker 10 (09:14):
We got to have meat.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
I'll go out slaughter the mules.
Speaker 6 (09:19):
By the mules. Ye help me with these boxes, Doris
jammed step aside. Now when I pull back the last hide,
snow fall through.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Yeah, mister Graves, they're gone.
Speaker 8 (09:42):
They're gone.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
What are you talking about.
Speaker 7 (09:44):
We didn't tie the stock. They ran off the stone.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
No, no, I couldn't have gotten one up in the storm.
I gotta be here.
Speaker 8 (09:55):
Look for the crack.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
I should be gone. Come it up. We shoul We
should have tied him up. I can't take anymore.
Speaker 11 (10:07):
Mister grave Bayless. Williams is dead. Will someone helped take
him from our cabin?
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Graves? Will your help? I cannot.
Speaker 10 (10:19):
I gotta shave my thanks.
Speaker 6 (10:21):
I cannot come, Missus Reed. We'll give bayless Williams the final.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Rest for man.
Speaker 8 (10:33):
Mister Breen, have you any ox meat for my children?
Speaker 3 (10:37):
There's almost none.
Speaker 8 (10:39):
A little, just a little for my children.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
We have children too, Missus Reed.
Speaker 11 (10:45):
Sorry, it's starting to snow again. I'm sorry and getting colder.
Maybe we should call him fortunate.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
Mister Williams.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Auto light is bringing you, mister Edmund O'Brien in ordeal
in Donner pass tonight's presentation in radio's outstanding Theater of
(11:23):
thrills suspense.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Say Harlow, who do you think will win tomorrow?
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Why the man with the auto light stay full battery, Senator,
You just can't lose with that rare, rugged and reliable
battery that states right on the case, needs water only
three times a year in normal car use.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
But both candidates have an auto light staple hullo, then.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
They have long term power insurance, Senator. Fiberglass retaining mats
protect every positive plate to reduce shedding and flaking, and
give that auto light stayful longer life as proved by
tests conducted according to accepted life cycle standards.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Yes, but who are you voting for Harlow.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Why for my auto LIGHTE battery dealer. He's the expert
on all makes of batteries, and if a replacement is needed,
he'll recommend an auto light stayfull the battery that needs
water only three times a year in normal car. Use
to quickly locate him, phone Western Union by number and
ask for operator twenty five.
Speaker 5 (12:30):
That's right, Call me Western Union Operator twenty five.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right
with auto light.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
And now Auto Life brings back to our Hollywood sound stage.
Mister Edmund O'Brien in Elliot Lewis's production of Ordeal in
Donner Pass a true report, well calculated to keep you
in suspense.
Speaker 6 (13:06):
Maybe you say it was cruel of me to turn aside.
Missus reed, But I had eight miles to feed. She
only had five, figuring life and death and numbers.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
What else could we do?
Speaker 6 (13:25):
December thirty first, eighteen forty six, last of the year.
With God's help, we spend the coming year better than
the past, which we.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Propose to do. Berger died.
Speaker 6 (13:36):
Ryan Hut Also, if only Almighty God will deliver us
from our terrible situation, which is our.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Prayer amen.
Speaker 6 (13:49):
Morning, cloudy again, win the east by south for three
days past freezing hard. Every night looks like another snowstorm.
Snowstorms are awful to us. Snow is so deep now,
so very cold. Some of the children too weak to
get from bed. Nothing but hides in the children's starving dog. Sunday,
(14:21):
January third, eighteen forty seven, freezing at night. When about east,
Missus Reed talks of crossing the mountains with one of
her older children, leaving others behind. Provisions case.
Speaker 8 (14:33):
I have no right to ask you, but it's for
their sake. I must go.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
No, not alone, missus.
Speaker 11 (14:38):
Raey, with milk, no and Eliza in Virginia ten.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Strong mountain men couldn't do it. Now I must.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
I must.
Speaker 10 (14:44):
There isn't enough for all of us.
Speaker 8 (14:47):
Can I leave James with you? I'm going for bread,
Tommy to get ready for you and everybody. Child, lot
of time to the graveses.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Will they take him in?
Speaker 8 (15:02):
I can only ask, will you help me take him over?
Speaker 12 (15:07):
Hurry hurry, mister Breen, for God's sake, hurry.
Speaker 7 (15:30):
You come seeking help, Missus Reed, the finding dandy, Missus.
Speaker 11 (15:35):
Reed, Hype only ask you with some charity taken my
baby Tom.
Speaker 7 (15:42):
We've got nothing to share with the son of your husband.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
Cut out your tongue, mister Graves.
Speaker 7 (15:46):
This isn't all concerned, mister Breen, none of it.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I've taken him, James, and it's.
Speaker 7 (15:50):
Your bad luck.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
How can you talk so selfish? Or all of us
one problem, all to help each other.
Speaker 7 (15:55):
We're more alone than ever alone from the man who
fights the hardest one your life.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Life in family.
Speaker 8 (16:02):
You ask the price.
Speaker 7 (16:04):
There's still some animal hide on the roof of your hut.
Speaker 8 (16:07):
I thought to share them for all the children and.
Speaker 7 (16:10):
Let the others care for your precious baby.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Mister Breen, he can have some of them you give me.
Speaker 7 (16:16):
And there's sugar where you broke a foul mine and
a foul body, no fower than the spink of your
own cabin, and living like animal.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
But you become one.
Speaker 7 (16:25):
Then there's a golden bracelet my wife saw you wear.
Speaker 8 (16:28):
You can have it, and fine linen claw any of them.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Shut up.
Speaker 6 (16:32):
You asked Brando the thing, and I turned my hand
against you. I'll kill you, yes, brand other thing.
Speaker 8 (16:37):
Please, mister brain.
Speaker 7 (16:39):
I got all our want, I got all I need.
Speaker 6 (16:49):
Monday, January fourth, missus reed, Milt Virginia and Eliza started
about a half hour ago at the prospect of crossing
the mountain. May Our, God of Mercy, helped them. It
was difficult for Missus Reed to get away from the
other children. Friday, January wind east froze hard last night,
(17:18):
very cold this morning. Missus Reed and company came back
this morning. Could not find their way on the other
side of the mountain. They have nothing but a few
hides to live on. From January tenth to the fourteenth,
it snowed without stuff, difficult to get wood even after.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
The storm broke. There is little energy for much. But sitting.
Speaker 6 (17:51):
Saturday, twenty third, blew hard and snowed all night, the
worst storm we experienced this winter. The sun came out
of while no sign of any game, no birds, no
Indians even They leave us to our faith. January thirty first,
(18:14):
Landram Murphy dying. The sun don't shine out brilliant this morning,
and it froze pretty hard last night. February twenty first,
eighteen forty seven. We sat in our cabin. The hides
(18:37):
was rotting from the heat inside and snow on top
of them.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
But even those we boil and eat. We hear from the.
Speaker 6 (18:44):
Donna's up the trail, Old Jacob Donna is dying.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Many were dying?
Speaker 10 (18:52):
Patrick? How long can we last?
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Not long? If all we talk of his death?
Speaker 11 (19:01):
Here?
Speaker 3 (19:03):
What was that? Something? Something's happened?
Speaker 10 (19:08):
Gone mad?
Speaker 12 (19:10):
Have some gone mad?
Speaker 13 (19:12):
No?
Speaker 3 (19:12):
I think it's more.
Speaker 14 (19:18):
Are we dead?
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Oh God, dear God? Are we dad?
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Are you? Are you an angel? Or are you real?
We're real? Are name in Rhodes? Who sent you? How
have you come to us? Read tool us? He got
us to come.
Speaker 6 (19:38):
Breathe the man we banished? God, forgive us the man
we cast out you.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
You brought food, some flowers, some salt.
Speaker 6 (19:46):
We had to leave a lot behind, enough to get
us over the mountain.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
How many are there? Maybe forty, including children? But don't
you know who's sure? Ray night, there's lest We hardly
see each other.
Speaker 6 (19:56):
That man away from the pack. You'll kill yourself if
you eat too much. Put a card on this food.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
How do you? We'll give out what we can, not
all of it.
Speaker 7 (20:08):
He's gotta be enough left to go back.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
How many maybe maybe twenty of us? Not all of us,
all of us go, None of us will make it.
Speaker 6 (20:27):
Twenty four went with the brave seven men. We were
left with no more food than we.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Had when they came, and those.
Speaker 6 (20:34):
Who were left moved into only two cabins. We lived
like animals then we was little more March thirteen. Now
(20:55):
I remember the day by counting it out, but I
hardly knew then.
Speaker 9 (21:02):
I can't.
Speaker 10 (21:04):
Stand the filth, the smell.
Speaker 6 (21:09):
We'll freeze if we go outside.
Speaker 9 (21:14):
Build a fire.
Speaker 10 (21:17):
On the snow, if if.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
The others help, we can.
Speaker 9 (21:25):
At least.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
Not to.
Speaker 14 (21:29):
Live in a room with the dead.
Speaker 6 (21:50):
We come from built up country and cities. We didn't
know that to build a fire on snow, you gotta
cross tree trunks and put the fire on them. We
built it on snow, and I cut her well into
the snow. We all moved down to it like a cave.
We was too weak to move from the wet ground,
too sick to care. At least it protected us from
(22:12):
the wind. Fourteen of us was all that was left alive.
My wife, Peggy, missus Graves, and her baby.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
What you have there?
Speaker 8 (22:27):
Nothing?
Speaker 4 (22:29):
Nothing?
Speaker 9 (22:30):
You you hid something under your shawl.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
It didn't hurt anything.
Speaker 10 (22:39):
You put something two your mouth.
Speaker 11 (22:44):
No, you got some no food?
Speaker 9 (22:51):
Human holding off some food?
Speaker 4 (23:00):
I oh under her her.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Shaw Stop Stop it's only a bleached out bone page.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
She at all that word was on it.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
She don't, miss Graves, don't she.
Speaker 5 (23:28):
Held out.
Speaker 6 (23:29):
It was only an empty bone's been boiled over and over.
Hell loud, an empty empty bone, well loud, empty.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
Missus Graves.
Speaker 6 (23:50):
Baby died that night and in the morning a five
year old son. Life went from her altogether. She died
by the time the sky was light. We did not
have energy to take them out of the pit because
we didn't have no energy to get out ourselves.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
There was eleven left, close to nineties.
Speaker 6 (24:14):
Started half died, and on the sixth day in that
cave of snow in the ground, sitting like animals in
the mud, not caring or even hearing.
Speaker 9 (24:27):
I can't pray, don't don't say that, remember my prayers.
Speaker 6 (24:39):
Oh, anybody, they come back, call, I got.
Speaker 14 (24:49):
To call them.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Were here?
Speaker 9 (25:00):
Oh go uh shore.
Speaker 3 (25:07):
Then I can't move.
Speaker 14 (25:19):
They'll go and not hear there, they'll go. We'll die down.
Speaker 6 (25:29):
Here if we maybe, if we all try to shout
shout to them.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Come on.
Speaker 6 (25:50):
All their mom.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Here, don hear this fool mm hmmm.
Speaker 13 (26:00):
Ah no, oh, we'll take y'a out. Don't worry, will
take y' out.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
We lived in that place five months. We left the camp.
We will never forget some of us were selfish. We
will never forget.
Speaker 6 (26:33):
That, no matter what we'd done that was wrong, a
lot of us tried to be decent. I'd done what
I was able, I'd done what was the most any
man could.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
April eighteen forty.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Seven, suspense presented by Autolite to Light star Mister Edmund
(27:18):
O'Brien Harlow Wilcox, again speaking for Autolite, the world's largest
independent manufacturer of automotive electrical equipment in twenty eight plants
from coast to coast, where auto Light makes over four
hundred products for cars, trucks, tractors, planes, boats, and industry.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
These products include horns, bumpers, recording thermometers, and batteries such
as the famous auto Light Stayful Ignition, engineered auto light
spark plugs both standard and resistor types, voltage regulators, wire
and battery cable, Auto Light Bullseye sealed beam units, and
auto Light original service parts for all auto light electrical systems.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
Autolight is proud to.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Serve the greatest names in the end, so from bumper
to tail light, you're always right with Autolite.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Next Week a true story taken from Captain Walter Kerrigg's
Battle Report Korea, The Facts concerning the Mind Clearing operations
in One Son Harbor, Needle in the Haystack, I'll star
mister William Holden.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
That's next week on Suspense.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis, with music
composed by Lucian Morrowick and conducted by Loud Gluskin. Ordeel
and Honor Pass was adapted for Suspense by Arthur Ross
patri and The Knight's cast were Paula Winslow, Mary Lansing,
Charlotte Lawrence, John Dayner, Joseph Kerns, Harry Bartel and Parley bear.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
Edmund O'Brien may soon be seen in The Bigamist co
starring Joan Fontaine and Ida Lupino.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
And remember next week mister William Holden in Needle in
a Haystack.
Speaker 5 (28:57):
You can buy overlight staateful batteries, auto light standard or
resistor type spart plugs and auto light original service sparks
at your neighborhood. Auto light dealers switch to auto light
good night.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
This is the CBS Radio Network
Auto light, and it's ninety eight thousand dealers bring you,
Mister Edmund O'Brien in tonight's presentation.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Of suspense, Tonight Auto Light presents a true story as
we dramatize the diary of a man whose.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Unfortunate task it was to set.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Down a report on the death of his friends ordeal
in Donner pass our Star.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Mister Edmund O'Brien well halloed.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Tomorrow's the day, yes, Senator, the day when a lot
of people will step on the starter and find that
their batteries are as dry as a campaign speech because
they forgot to keep them properly filled with water.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
I mean election day are low right right?
Speaker 1 (00:54):
The day when thousands of wise drivers will elect to
get an auto light stay full, the battery that needs
water only three times a year in normal car use.
I'll vote for that, and that autolite stayfall is a
long time in office. Fiberglass retaining mats protect every positive
plate to reduce shedding and flaking and give that conscientious
candidate longer life, as proved by tests conducted according to
(01:17):
accepted life cycle standards. So, friends, after you vote, visit
your auto light battery dealer. The expert on all makes
of batteries. To quickly locate him, Phone Western Union by
number and ask for operator twenty five.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
I'll tell you.
Speaker 5 (01:31):
Where to get an auto LIGHTE stay full the battery
that needs water only three times a year in normal
car use.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right
with autolite.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
And now auto light presents ordeal.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
In Donner Pass, starring mister Edmund O'Brien, hoping once again
to keep you in suspense.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
My name is Patrick Breen.
Speaker 6 (02:06):
I am a god fearing man who loves his family
and tries to do right by his fellow man.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
If in the months that.
Speaker 6 (02:12):
Followed after we started to take the Hastings shortcut to California,
if in those months from November of eighteen forty six
to March of eighteen forty seven, I was selfish. There
were men guilty of worse. I'd done what I was able.
I'd done what was the most any man could. If
(02:39):
we had read the signs right, it wouldn't have happened.
Maybe when Keesburg left the old man, mister Hardcoop behind
to die, when Snyder attacked us to read and read
killed him and got banished from the caravan sent out
alone without wife and child.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
If we saw the signs of losing all.
Speaker 6 (02:55):
Those cattle and trucky meadows, and the Indians sneaking up
and killing half the rest, we would have seen the
hand of nature working against us, and the crazy task
of clearing a road through the Sierra Mountain wilderness by hand,
thirty miles of road. We should have seen the signs.
(03:16):
But the Donna party only saw Missouri where they came from,
in California, where they was going.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
We didn't see in between.
Speaker 7 (03:24):
What's the coal? What's the matter? Something go wrong again?
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Mister Eddie is for trying to get over the pass again?
Speaker 7 (03:30):
Oh, I see it's crazy. Temperature must be near the
freezing and it gets worse near the summit, up near
the pass.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Oh.
Speaker 7 (03:36):
I got my wife and children to think about mister Donner,
and so do I, mister Great, and think about them.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Don't stop here. You'll save our lives if you don't stop.
It's colder and colder.
Speaker 6 (03:46):
Miss Eddie, I tell you, get out of these mountains now.
We'd have to leave most of our goods behind and
leave your good leave.
Speaker 7 (03:52):
Our goods as well, to leave our money.
Speaker 6 (03:54):
And your money you talk madness, miss Eddie, What would
we start our lives with in California?
Speaker 7 (03:59):
Don't, mister Eddie, you'll make trouble for yourself.
Speaker 6 (04:03):
Look at the health of our party, the exhaustion, mister Eddie,
look at it.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
I'll look at dead bodies if you don't move on.
Speaker 6 (04:10):
I know, I know that, but it's always been what
could happen Only some of my children, they complain they need.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Rest in a regular camp. Mine too, and my wife.
The last bluff we lord, our wagon's over.
Speaker 6 (04:25):
We didn't have the energy to keep them right. Someone
crashing down supplies an awe.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
The men just don't have the heart for it. You'll die.
Speaker 6 (04:32):
There's no going back to the salt lake. Some died
there already.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Try at least try going over the pass again. Hastings
root was a pack of lize.
Speaker 7 (04:40):
We'll take another route.
Speaker 6 (04:41):
Look up, mister Eddie, Look up to the face of
the summit. Snow, solid snow, no marks or signs.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
It's snowing again, and if we stay it'll swallow us up.
And look at the faces.
Speaker 6 (04:54):
Human bodies can only work so much, mister Graves, and
no more, only so much.
Speaker 7 (05:00):
It calls for a vote no not yet.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Why you vote?
Speaker 7 (05:03):
No more argument?
Speaker 3 (05:04):
It waste time. Oh you gotta listen. We've gotta talk
some more.
Speaker 7 (05:08):
You gotta understand your hand.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Stop it, stop it all right. I call you a vote.
Call the vote, mister Breen. Listen.
Speaker 6 (05:22):
The question is do we go on for another try
over the past or stay? There's no going back. Mister Donna,
to stay, mister Graves, to stay.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
This is reed. With your husband gone. You have a
man's vote to stay.
Speaker 8 (05:40):
I suppose I don't know. I cast no vote, mister Breen.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Mister Murphy, mister Keysburg. We built three houses.
Speaker 6 (06:01):
One was already standing, the Graves family, next to the Reeds,
our family in Keysburg's next door the Eddie and Murphy
families and adjoining cabins, And five miles down the Dunners,
no windows and one door to each cabin, and like sentinels.
From October thirty first half our slaughtered oxen, dressed and
(06:21):
ready split in half, stood frozen next to our cabins.
On Friday, November twentieth, eighteen forty six.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
I began my journal.
Speaker 6 (06:40):
We now had killed most part of our cattle, having
to stay here until next spring and live on poor beef.
Without bread or salt, at snow during the space of
eight days, with little interruption. The remainder of time up
to this day was clear and pleasant, freezing. At night,
the snow had nearly gone from the valleys. Oh, my wife,
(07:00):
my children asleep. They could not have attempted the crossing
with mister Eddie, who started out with twenty two.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
My wife thought it better to wait.
Speaker 9 (07:09):
Oh what what is it.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
It's mister Eddie taking a group for another try.
Speaker 10 (07:18):
Oh, I wonder there's.
Speaker 6 (07:20):
No time for doubt. A doubt can mean terrible things.
Speaker 10 (07:24):
Do you think they'll make it?
Speaker 3 (07:27):
I have no facts to go by.
Speaker 10 (07:29):
Mister Eddie's a courageous and daring man. Will they make it?
Speaker 3 (07:34):
It's only a feeling and it's the only guide we have.
Speaker 10 (07:38):
Will they make it?
Speaker 3 (07:40):
I say no.
Speaker 6 (07:50):
On November twenty sixth I slaughtered my last team of oxen.
After this beef was gone, Maybe missus Eddie would sell
me some of hers.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
There were some mules, there were dogs, and we waited.
Speaker 6 (08:11):
Monday, December first snowing, fast wind west snow about four
or five feet deep. No drifts looks as likely to
continue as when it commenced. No living thing without wings
can get about Tuesday, December second, still snowing, wind west,
(08:35):
snow now about five and a half to six feet deep,
difficult to get wood. No going from the house completely
closed in eight days of storm and not seeing or
(08:55):
hearing a word of life or death. Snow bound so
that even the people in the next cabin are like
a thousand miles away. We couldn't get out to kill
the pack animals. And after the sixth day ration was
barely enough to keep a baby alive.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
And then the storm stopped.
Speaker 10 (09:14):
We got to have meat.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
I'll go out slaughter the mules.
Speaker 6 (09:19):
By the mules. Ye help me with these boxes, Doris
jammed step aside. Now when I pull back the last hide,
snow fall through.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Yeah, mister Graves, they're gone.
Speaker 8 (09:42):
They're gone.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
What are you talking about.
Speaker 7 (09:44):
We didn't tie the stock. They ran off the stone.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
No, no, I couldn't have gotten one up in the storm.
I gotta be here.
Speaker 8 (09:55):
Look for the crack.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
I should be gone. Come it up. We shoul We
should have tied him up. I can't take anymore.
Speaker 11 (10:07):
Mister grave Bayless. Williams is dead. Will someone helped take
him from our cabin?
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Graves? Will your help? I cannot.
Speaker 10 (10:19):
I gotta shave my thanks.
Speaker 6 (10:21):
I cannot come, Missus Reed. We'll give bayless Williams the final.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Rest for man.
Speaker 8 (10:33):
Mister Breen, have you any ox meat for my children?
Speaker 3 (10:37):
There's almost none.
Speaker 8 (10:39):
A little, just a little for my children.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
We have children too, Missus Reed.
Speaker 11 (10:45):
Sorry, it's starting to snow again. I'm sorry and getting colder.
Maybe we should call him fortunate.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
Mister Williams.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Auto light is bringing you, mister Edmund O'Brien in ordeal
in Donner pass tonight's presentation in radio's outstanding Theater of
(11:23):
thrills suspense.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Say Harlow, who do you think will win tomorrow?
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Why the man with the auto light stay full battery, Senator,
You just can't lose with that rare, rugged and reliable
battery that states right on the case, needs water only
three times a year in normal car use.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
But both candidates have an auto light staple hullo, then.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
They have long term power insurance, Senator. Fiberglass retaining mats
protect every positive plate to reduce shedding and flaking, and
give that auto light stayful longer life as proved by
tests conducted according to accepted life cycle standards.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Yes, but who are you voting for Harlow.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Why for my auto LIGHTE battery dealer. He's the expert
on all makes of batteries, and if a replacement is needed,
he'll recommend an auto light stayfull the battery that needs
water only three times a year in normal car. Use
to quickly locate him, phone Western Union by number and
ask for operator twenty five.
Speaker 5 (12:30):
That's right, Call me Western Union Operator twenty five.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right
with auto light.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
And now Auto Life brings back to our Hollywood sound stage.
Mister Edmund O'Brien in Elliot Lewis's production of Ordeal in
Donner Pass a true report, well calculated to keep you
in suspense.
Speaker 6 (13:06):
Maybe you say it was cruel of me to turn aside.
Missus reed, But I had eight miles to feed. She
only had five, figuring life and death and numbers.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
What else could we do?
Speaker 6 (13:25):
December thirty first, eighteen forty six, last of the year.
With God's help, we spend the coming year better than
the past, which we.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Propose to do. Berger died.
Speaker 6 (13:36):
Ryan Hut Also, if only Almighty God will deliver us
from our terrible situation, which is our.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Prayer amen.
Speaker 6 (13:49):
Morning, cloudy again, win the east by south for three
days past freezing hard. Every night looks like another snowstorm.
Snowstorms are awful to us. Snow is so deep now,
so very cold. Some of the children too weak to
get from bed. Nothing but hides in the children's starving dog. Sunday,
(14:21):
January third, eighteen forty seven, freezing at night. When about east,
Missus Reed talks of crossing the mountains with one of
her older children, leaving others behind. Provisions case.
Speaker 8 (14:33):
I have no right to ask you, but it's for
their sake. I must go.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
No, not alone, missus.
Speaker 11 (14:38):
Raey, with milk, no and Eliza in Virginia ten.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Strong mountain men couldn't do it. Now I must.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
I must.
Speaker 10 (14:44):
There isn't enough for all of us.
Speaker 8 (14:47):
Can I leave James with you? I'm going for bread,
Tommy to get ready for you and everybody. Child, lot
of time to the graveses.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Will they take him in?
Speaker 8 (15:02):
I can only ask, will you help me take him over?
Speaker 12 (15:07):
Hurry hurry, mister Breen, for God's sake, hurry.
Speaker 7 (15:30):
You come seeking help, Missus Reed, the finding dandy, Missus.
Speaker 11 (15:35):
Reed, Hype only ask you with some charity taken my
baby Tom.
Speaker 7 (15:42):
We've got nothing to share with the son of your husband.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
Cut out your tongue, mister Graves.
Speaker 7 (15:46):
This isn't all concerned, mister Breen, none of it.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I've taken him, James, and it's.
Speaker 7 (15:50):
Your bad luck.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
How can you talk so selfish? Or all of us
one problem, all to help each other.
Speaker 7 (15:55):
We're more alone than ever alone from the man who
fights the hardest one your life.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Life in family.
Speaker 8 (16:02):
You ask the price.
Speaker 7 (16:04):
There's still some animal hide on the roof of your hut.
Speaker 8 (16:07):
I thought to share them for all the children and.
Speaker 7 (16:10):
Let the others care for your precious baby.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Mister Breen, he can have some of them you give me.
Speaker 7 (16:16):
And there's sugar where you broke a foul mine and
a foul body, no fower than the spink of your
own cabin, and living like animal.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
But you become one.
Speaker 7 (16:25):
Then there's a golden bracelet my wife saw you wear.
Speaker 8 (16:28):
You can have it, and fine linen claw any of them.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Shut up.
Speaker 6 (16:32):
You asked Brando the thing, and I turned my hand
against you. I'll kill you, yes, brand other thing.
Speaker 8 (16:37):
Please, mister brain.
Speaker 7 (16:39):
I got all our want, I got all I need.
Speaker 6 (16:49):
Monday, January fourth, missus reed, Milt Virginia and Eliza started
about a half hour ago at the prospect of crossing
the mountain. May Our, God of Mercy, helped them. It
was difficult for Missus Reed to get away from the
other children. Friday, January wind east froze hard last night,
(17:18):
very cold this morning. Missus Reed and company came back
this morning. Could not find their way on the other
side of the mountain. They have nothing but a few
hides to live on. From January tenth to the fourteenth,
it snowed without stuff, difficult to get wood even after.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
The storm broke. There is little energy for much. But sitting.
Speaker 6 (17:51):
Saturday, twenty third, blew hard and snowed all night, the
worst storm we experienced this winter. The sun came out
of while no sign of any game, no birds, no
Indians even They leave us to our faith. January thirty first,
(18:14):
Landram Murphy dying. The sun don't shine out brilliant this morning,
and it froze pretty hard last night. February twenty first,
eighteen forty seven. We sat in our cabin. The hides
(18:37):
was rotting from the heat inside and snow on top
of them.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
But even those we boil and eat. We hear from the.
Speaker 6 (18:44):
Donna's up the trail, Old Jacob Donna is dying.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Many were dying?
Speaker 10 (18:52):
Patrick? How long can we last?
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Not long? If all we talk of his death?
Speaker 11 (19:01):
Here?
Speaker 3 (19:03):
What was that? Something? Something's happened?
Speaker 10 (19:08):
Gone mad?
Speaker 12 (19:10):
Have some gone mad?
Speaker 13 (19:12):
No?
Speaker 3 (19:12):
I think it's more.
Speaker 14 (19:18):
Are we dead?
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Oh God, dear God? Are we dad?
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Are you? Are you an angel? Or are you real?
We're real? Are name in Rhodes? Who sent you? How
have you come to us? Read tool us? He got
us to come.
Speaker 6 (19:38):
Breathe the man we banished? God, forgive us the man
we cast out you.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
You brought food, some flowers, some salt.
Speaker 6 (19:46):
We had to leave a lot behind, enough to get
us over the mountain.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
How many are there? Maybe forty, including children? But don't
you know who's sure? Ray night, there's lest We hardly
see each other.
Speaker 6 (19:56):
That man away from the pack. You'll kill yourself if
you eat too much. Put a card on this food.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
How do you? We'll give out what we can, not
all of it.
Speaker 7 (20:08):
He's gotta be enough left to go back.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
How many maybe maybe twenty of us? Not all of us,
all of us go, None of us will make it.
Speaker 6 (20:27):
Twenty four went with the brave seven men. We were
left with no more food than we.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Had when they came, and those.
Speaker 6 (20:34):
Who were left moved into only two cabins. We lived
like animals then we was little more March thirteen. Now
(20:55):
I remember the day by counting it out, but I
hardly knew then.
Speaker 9 (21:02):
I can't.
Speaker 10 (21:04):
Stand the filth, the smell.
Speaker 6 (21:09):
We'll freeze if we go outside.
Speaker 9 (21:14):
Build a fire.
Speaker 10 (21:17):
On the snow, if if.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
The others help, we can.
Speaker 9 (21:25):
At least.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
Not to.
Speaker 14 (21:29):
Live in a room with the dead.
Speaker 6 (21:50):
We come from built up country and cities. We didn't
know that to build a fire on snow, you gotta
cross tree trunks and put the fire on them. We
built it on snow, and I cut her well into
the snow. We all moved down to it like a cave.
We was too weak to move from the wet ground,
too sick to care. At least it protected us from
(22:12):
the wind. Fourteen of us was all that was left alive.
My wife, Peggy, missus Graves, and her baby.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
What you have there?
Speaker 8 (22:27):
Nothing?
Speaker 4 (22:29):
Nothing?
Speaker 9 (22:30):
You you hid something under your shawl.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
It didn't hurt anything.
Speaker 10 (22:39):
You put something two your mouth.
Speaker 11 (22:44):
No, you got some no food?
Speaker 9 (22:51):
Human holding off some food?
Speaker 4 (23:00):
I oh under her her.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Shaw Stop Stop it's only a bleached out bone page.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
She at all that word was on it.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
She don't, miss Graves, don't she.
Speaker 5 (23:28):
Held out.
Speaker 6 (23:29):
It was only an empty bone's been boiled over and over.
Hell loud, an empty empty bone, well loud, empty.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
Missus Graves.
Speaker 6 (23:50):
Baby died that night and in the morning a five
year old son. Life went from her altogether. She died
by the time the sky was light. We did not
have energy to take them out of the pit because
we didn't have no energy to get out ourselves.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
There was eleven left, close to nineties.
Speaker 6 (24:14):
Started half died, and on the sixth day in that
cave of snow in the ground, sitting like animals in
the mud, not caring or even hearing.
Speaker 9 (24:27):
I can't pray, don't don't say that, remember my prayers.
Speaker 6 (24:39):
Oh, anybody, they come back, call, I got.
Speaker 14 (24:49):
To call them.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Were here?
Speaker 9 (25:00):
Oh go uh shore.
Speaker 3 (25:07):
Then I can't move.
Speaker 14 (25:19):
They'll go and not hear there, they'll go. We'll die down.
Speaker 6 (25:29):
Here if we maybe, if we all try to shout
shout to them.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Come on.
Speaker 6 (25:50):
All their mom.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Here, don hear this fool mm hmmm.
Speaker 13 (26:00):
Ah no, oh, we'll take y'a out. Don't worry, will
take y' out.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
We lived in that place five months. We left the camp.
We will never forget some of us were selfish. We
will never forget.
Speaker 6 (26:33):
That, no matter what we'd done that was wrong, a
lot of us tried to be decent. I'd done what
I was able, I'd done what was the most any
man could.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
April eighteen forty.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Seven, suspense presented by Autolite to Light star Mister Edmund
(27:18):
O'Brien Harlow Wilcox, again speaking for Autolite, the world's largest
independent manufacturer of automotive electrical equipment in twenty eight plants
from coast to coast, where auto Light makes over four
hundred products for cars, trucks, tractors, planes, boats, and industry.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
These products include horns, bumpers, recording thermometers, and batteries such
as the famous auto Light Stayful Ignition, engineered auto light
spark plugs both standard and resistor types, voltage regulators, wire
and battery cable, Auto Light Bullseye sealed beam units, and
auto Light original service parts for all auto light electrical systems.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
Autolight is proud to.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Serve the greatest names in the end, so from bumper
to tail light, you're always right with Autolite.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Next Week a true story taken from Captain Walter Kerrigg's
Battle Report Korea, The Facts concerning the Mind Clearing operations
in One Son Harbor, Needle in the Haystack, I'll star
mister William Holden.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
That's next week on Suspense.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis, with music
composed by Lucian Morrowick and conducted by Loud Gluskin. Ordeel
and Honor Pass was adapted for Suspense by Arthur Ross
patri and The Knight's cast were Paula Winslow, Mary Lansing,
Charlotte Lawrence, John Dayner, Joseph Kerns, Harry Bartel and Parley bear.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
Edmund O'Brien may soon be seen in The Bigamist co
starring Joan Fontaine and Ida Lupino.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
And remember next week mister William Holden in Needle in
a Haystack.
Speaker 5 (28:57):
You can buy overlight staateful batteries, auto light standard or
resistor type spart plugs and auto light original service sparks
at your neighborhood. Auto light dealers switch to auto light
good night.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
This is the CBS Radio Network
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.