In late 1849, many argonauts, eager to reach the gold fields instead of wintering in Salt Lake, took the Spanish Trail toward California. One large group, following a faulty map of a supposed shortcut, left the trail in southern Utah and went west. Most eventually returned to the Spanish Trail, but a few ragtag bands wandered across Nevada and down Furnace Creek Wash into Death Valley during December 1849. Many turned north and escaped by way of Towne Pass. The Bennett-Arcan group turned south after a failed attempt to cross the Panamints and stopped at a small watering hole south of Bennett's Well, unable to go on. From there William Lewis Manly, along with John Rogers, left on foot for the settlements and returned in early February with much-needed supplies. On March 7, 1850, the group finally reached Rancho San Francisco. Manly later wrote the classic book "Death Valley in '49," telling the story of the ill-fated shortcut and his and Rogers' rescue of the Bennett and Arcan families.