The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1890-02-11
A REMARKABLE REUNION.
The Fonr Survivors of a Dread
full Experience Meet i'm
Kansas City.

The Kansas City Times contained
an interesting account of a reunion
of Jayhawkers or "old forty-niners"
in that city few days ago which is
singularly interesting since it forms
such vivid contrast between then
and now:
The Times says:
A remarkable reunion rem ark
able 10 the men it brought together, re-
markable in the memories it called up
occurred in Kansas City yesterday.
At the home of John E. Cotton, 403
Lands court, assembled four of the
survivors of a party of the argonauts
of 39-four men of party which
endured all of want and privation it
is possible for men to bear and live.
With single exception the horrors
of the Greedy party in these later
days were no worse than those of the
Jayhawkers, who, in 1S49, attempted
to cross the waste of mountains and
plain which then existed between
Salt Lake City and the Pacific coast.
Thirty-seven men attempted, against
the advice of the oldest m0untaineers,
including such a veteran scout at
Kit Carson, to cross the mountains
from Salt Lake nearly due
west. They were four
months in reaching civilization, and
then reached the coast hundreds of
miles further south than was intended.
For ffty-two days the party had no
food but their oxen, which had been
reduced to mass of fevered flesh,
marrowless bone and parched hide.
For DAYS thew were without wafer.
Thea-with seven left behind to die,
with four dead and rudeiy buried,
With one insane and lost and the 9TH
ers barely able 10 walk-green fields,
fat cattle, plenty of all kinds, was be-
fore them.
The trip of the Jayhawkers has be-
come a part of American history. The
story of the Bonner party alone has
excelled that of the Jayhawkers 10
pathetic misery, in human interest.
For nearly two months it was daily
battle for existence with them all
The whole region west of Salt Lake
much of the countrr between the
Missouri river and the mountains
had never been traversed so that any
idea of its dangers could be known.
Fremont, with the government behlnc
him. had failed of reaching Californis
by a route attempted by the Jay
hawkers and a trip they accom-
plished, but with the penalty of loss Of
life and unutterable suffering.
THE FIRST REUNION
The first reunion of the Jayhawker
was held at the home of Mr.. Cotton
then a resident of Galesburg, ILL.,, OIL
February 4, 1872-tbe twenty-thir'
anniversary of their deliverance iron
starvation aud the desert. Annual
since these meetings have bee
held at the homes of different surv
vors mostly in Illinois. Mr.. Colto
not long ago removed to Kansas City
and here he determined that this year
reunion should be held. To each
the survivors of the party he sent tn
invirtation:
Kansas City Mo, Jan. 9, lS9O.-De
Sir: I invite you to my house, to the a
nual reunion of "The Jsyhawkers OF AZ
on February next, that being the d.
FORTY wears ago, when our lost party car
out of the desert at the Francisco ranch,
the Pacific coast. Many years have passs
and only q few of the old crowd are NJ
living. We will talk over old time har
ships and renew old friendships. LII
should be prevented from being prese
write immediately on receipt OF this
letter giving all you know pertaining
our marty. to be read on the occasion.
Yours truly, JOHN B. COTTON
Mr.. Cotton asked great deal VIII
he said: sWrite letter giving
YOU know pertaining to our part,
This would be great volume
graphic tale of hardships, of intel
suffering, of wild hopes and dread
fears, Of mad hunger, thirst, delusi
sometimes death. 1t would be
ghastly story, for no party in
the dread experiences recorded dur
the gold excitement of '4S SUITE
more than the Jayhawkers For +
months the party was in a track
waste where not a living thing
listed and where fresh water was
dom found. They entered the de
hale, hearty men and came out ain
living skeletons, life having been
tanned by the few miserable oxen ia
along, and most of which had b
eaten even to the hides. 1t
starvation which they faced eN
hour for nearly three months OF
four, and no pen, however crap
= a, 4o,ssx,cx, Of this