194103-DesertMagazin.. - Desert Magazine of the Southwest

een located, also the spring he found a
short distance above the falls. The rediscovery
of the falls and the spring provide
a definite key to the Manly-Rogers
route through the Panamints, across Panamint
valley and into the Argus range on
the west side, and unlocks one more door
to the history of the trials and sufferings of
this group of heroic pioneers.
Knowing that T. R. Goodwin, superintendent
of Death Valley national monument
had devoted time and research to this
route, I went to see him.
"Do you believe Manly Falls actually
has been located?" I asked him.
"Oh yes, quite definitely," he replied.
"Everything that Manly said about the
falls and the spring tallies with what has
been found. Sometime ago I loaned my
copy of Death Valley in '49 to John Thorndyke,
who has mining properties located
high in the Panamints in South Park canyon.
A few days later John came to me and
said excitedly, 'Why do you know those
falls Manly tells about in his book, that
the little mule had such a hard time getting
over, and the spring just above them, are
on my property in South Park canyon?
His description fits perfectly—even part
of the ledge along which the little mule
crept is there—my pipe line from the
spring to my mine runs along it.' Later, I
accompanied Mr. Thorndyke to the place,
and I believe he is right," Goodwin added.
Manly and John Rogers were members
of the Sand Walking company of goldseekers
who left Salt Lake City in the winter
of 1849 to follow a southern route to
the California gold fields. Dissension in
the wagon train over the routes to be followed
caused a split in the ranks and by
the time the surviving members reached
California there were 16 separate groups.
The Bennett and Arcane families, with
whom Manly and Rogers were traveling,
eventually reached the floor of Death Valley
in a starving condition. The two young
men volunteered to go ahead and bring
back provisions and horses, since it appeared
impracticable to get the wagons
over the rugged Panamint and Argus
ranges. They struggled through to Los
Angeles and obtained two horses and a
mule, and with pack loads of provisions,
started the return trek to Death Valley.
The two men were scheduled to return
within 15 days, but due to many unlooked
for hardships and mishaps tRey gradually
fell behind. As the days passed they feared
the little group in Death Valley would become
impatient and attempt to struggle
through on their own, which attempt
would probably end in tragedy.
As they neared the Panamint range,
their two horses, unused to desert travel
and with little water and forage, became
weaker and weaker and it began to appear
doubtful if their strength would hold out.
The mule however, got along well and
carried most of the provisions. The two
men finally reached the eastern edge of
MARCH, 1941
Spring 300 feet above the falls where Manly and Rogers obtained ivater for themselves
and their mule. The recess where the spring is located is so dark it required
an eight-second exposure to obtain this picture. The man is Henry Beaver who accompanied
Dick Freeman to this region.
Manly Falls as it appears today. The shrubs at the bottom of the picture are growing
in the debris which has filled in below the falls to an estimated depth of 20 feet since
Manly and Rogers came this way. The ledge over which the mule was taken is just
to the right of the picture.