From the February 5, 1913 Brooklyn Daily Eagle:

“Santa Cruz, Cal.–Survivors of the pioneer band of ‘Death Valley Argonauts,’ who crossed the desert into California sixty-three years ago, held a reunion here yesterday at the home of Mrs. James W. Brier, one of the party now 99 years of age. Thirty-six of the band of 200, who drank ox blood to quench their thirst in the arid salt sink were present–every living member but one.

Old records of the trip, passed around at the banquet table, showed that the ‘Jayhawkers,’ as they called themselves. left Galesburg, Ill., April 5, 1849. The party was the first to explore Death Valley.”