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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
A fascinating first person account of the move out west. It's made substantially more interesting by the author's foray into Death Valley (which his party named) and the subsequent trials. As the young single man in a party of families he doesn't jettison them to strike off on his own (fortunately for him as they had oxen to eat) and proves to be a good, honest person in crossing the Mojave three times in seeking, returning with, and then exiting with help that he found them. Bully for Manly.
If ever there was a badass, it was the author of this book. I think this calls for a second trip to Death Valley.
The first person account of a party of 49ers who made the mistake of trying to get to the goldfields by way of death valley. A disturbing story as many animals suffered and died in the process but a primary source of the Gold Rush days.
This is a riveting account of early California history and is a testament to the stamina and grit the pioneers. Well worth the read.
DNF on page 166. Interesting and tedious by turns--I got to the point where they leave Death Valley and decided I was done.
Crossing Death Valley seemed like a good idea at the time. The "emirgrants" had arrived in Salt Lake City too late in 1849 to take the traditional route over the Sierra-Nevada Mountains. And the leader of the wagon train proposed to travel all the way down to the Colorado River and then across the Mohave Desert to Los Angeles. Death Valley was a shortcut--one that was taken by William L. Manly and the Bennett Party, along with a party who called themselves "Jayhawkers."
The journey was no short cut. It was a death trap. Stranded at Furnace Creek, Manly and another young pioneer explored their way out of the valley, later returning with help to the pioneers who had been stranded in the valley.
The first half of this book recounts Manly's life and his experience venturing out as a 49er and his time in Death Valley. The 100 pages that follow include recollections from others of his party on how they had gotten to California--the most interesting of which comes from one of the Jayhawkers who, if anything, courted more danger and faced greater struggles than Manly and his party.
The final 70 pages or so recount Manly's time as a gold miner and his eventual settlement near San Jose.
Readers will learn much about Death Valley from Manly's text, and there are fascinating insights into early California and the life of a gold miner. I highly recommend it.
The journey was no short cut. It was a death trap. Stranded at Furnace Creek, Manly and another young pioneer explored their way out of the valley, later returning with help to the pioneers who had been stranded in the valley.
The first half of this book recounts Manly's life and his experience venturing out as a 49er and his time in Death Valley. The 100 pages that follow include recollections from others of his party on how they had gotten to California--the most interesting of which comes from one of the Jayhawkers who, if anything, courted more danger and faced greater struggles than Manly and his party.
The final 70 pages or so recount Manly's time as a gold miner and his eventual settlement near San Jose.
Readers will learn much about Death Valley from Manly's text, and there are fascinating insights into early California and the life of a gold miner. I highly recommend it.
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
Fascinating account of the gold rush era from one who was there. Not the most well-written narrative, but an interesting piece of American history nonetheless.
I really liked the main narrative, but there are some distracting chapters in the middle that could have been skipped or put in an appendix.
A bit rambling, but fascinating. Was particularly struck by the author's resourcefulness. What, your boat is irretrievably stuck on the rocks in a narrow canyon? Just wade downstream until you come to a couple of trees, and make a new boat! The Death Valley trip - the reason I read this - is harrowing. Imagine being so thirsty that you can't even swallow food. Hope our experience is less hazardous...
adventurous
inspiring
sad