SURPRISE VALLEY RECORD – CEDARVILLE, MODOC COUNTY, CAL.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4TH, 1930
One month and four days have elapsed since Ruth Baker, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Roy Baker, of Alturas sustained severe injuries which for a time were
thought to be fatal but at this time we are glad to be able to say that she
shows continued improvement. While her side is still paralyzed, she is able
by signs to show that she understands what is said to her.
LANGSTON SERIOUSLY HURT IN FALL LAST SUNDAY
Lige Langston was found on the Madeline Plaines last Sunday morning, June
the first in an unconscious condition. He was rushed to the McKinney
hospital in Alturas. His mother, who lives at Reno, Nevada was immediately
sent for and is now at the bedside of her boy. Little can be learned as to
how he met with this accident, but it is surmised that the horse that he was
riding threw him. Lige was employed in riding cattle for Lyle Cook of
Eagleville.
As we go to press we are informed that he has just regained consciousness
and is doing as well as can be expected in the short time that has elapsed
since his harrowing experience. We join his mother in hoping that he will
soon be well and able to continue his duties.
Last Wednesday, Miss Lucille Ash, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ash, of Fort
Bidwell and Mr. Milan Briles, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Briles, of Alturas,
applied for a marriage license at the Clerk’s office in Alturas.
They were married at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ash,
of Fort Bidwell, at eleven o’clock Tuesday morning, June the 3rd. Reverend
Horton Colbert, of Alturas, California, performed the ceremony. After a
wedding dinner, the bride and groom left for Reno, Nevada, where they were
to meet Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dorris. Mr. and Mrs. Dorris are also newlyweds,
as they were married in Reno Monday. From Reno, the happy couples will
journey to San Francisco, where they will spend their honeymoon.
Mrs. Dorris was Miss Hazel Flournoy of Alturas before her marriage.
Congratulations, young folks; God speed on your journey and may He lead your
paths aright.
Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Norton returned last Wednesday from their trip to Los
Angeles. They attended the reunion of A. P.’s Spanish American War Battery.
Mr. Norton states that he met men there this trip that he had not seen in
thirty years.
Mrs. Fred Ash of Fort Bidwell returned from Oakland last week. She was
accompanied on her return trip by her mother and her daughters, Roma and
Louise.
Mrs. B. B. Strief and two sons, Stephen and James, of Lake City, were
pleasant callers at the Record office Wednesday afternoon; the boys were
interested in seeing how a newspaper is printed.
Miss Audrey Decious returned home after spending a few days in the city. She
has recently completed her first year of teaching at Cave Valley, Nevada.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11TH, 1930
FEDERAL PROHIS IS KILLED AT INDIAN SPRINGS GAS STATION
Last Monday morning, one of the first killings of a Federal Prohibition
agent in Modoc County took place at the Indian Service Station, north of
Round Valley, when Albert Brown and Robert A. Davis, Federal Prohi’s
attempted to arrest Rodney Selby, owner of the Gas Station. These two men
stayed all night at the Popular Auto Camp in Alturas and left that place
about six o’clock in the morning. Upon their arrival there they stopped
their car, and puttered around it a while and then went into the office.
They asked Selby for a "eye opener," stating that they had camped up the
road and as yet had not had any breakfast. He immediately without any
hesitation placed a bottle of liquor before them and poured a drink for
them. They talked for a while and then ordered another drink and again
chatted a while, when brown took from his vest a badge and held it in his
hand and asked Selby if he knew what it was and stated that he (Selby) was
now under arrest.
At this statement, Selby ran back through the door at the end of the counter
and saying, "So, you are stoolies." He went into his room and as he did so,
Brown rushed behind the counter to see if he could get any evidence and as
he did so, Selby came running out of the door of his room with a six shooter
in his hand and firing a shot at Brown, which hit him in the groin and as he
ducked behind the stove, he again shot at him, hitting him in the ribs.
While this was going on Davis was trying to get his gun out of his pocket
and while doing so Selby fired a shot at him, hitting him in the stomach,
inflicting a flesh wound; and Brown raised up from behind the stove and shot
again at Selby; Selby then turned on him, this time and fired and hit him in
the neck and the bullet plowed stomach ward. Davis, who was concealed by the
counter, went to his fellow officer and lifted him to his feet and then went
to see what had become of Selby, who had fled by this time. He then lifted
Brown into the car and they started for Alturas; Brown died en-route and
Davis was in a very bad condition from the effects of the wound, when he
reached there. Selby is still at large and organized posses have been
searching for him since he escaped.
MR. AND MRS. EVERETT HILL RETURN
Mr. and Mrs. Everett Hill returned Monday evening. They were on their way to
the K. and P. Conclave at Sacramento, when just below Yuba City collided
with another machine, which came out of a side road. It stopped at the
Highway, then started up again and killed its engine just as it got
broadside to the road. Everett could not stop and they hit hard. Mrs. Hill
was pretty badly shaken up. Everett and the other occupant were not hurt at
all. They returned as far as Chico, where Everett made a trade for his
wrecked Star Sedan; they got a new Pontiac Six.
Married – At Lakeview, Oregon, June 9, 1930, Miss Eunice Kemble, of Vya,
Nevada and Ray Stanley Hunt, of Woodland, Washington, Justice of the Peace
Duke, officiating. The many friends of the young couple extend
congratulations and wish them a happy voyage, calm seas and fair skies. They
departed for their home at Woodland, Washington immediately after the
ceremony.
SHORT ITEMS OF INTEREST TO THE PEOPLE OF MODOC COUNTY.
Latest advises from the hospital staff at the McKinney Hospital informs us
that Ruth Baker is now completely conscious. She is able to amuse herself by
playing solitaire and by he playing it is evident that she knows all of the
cards. They predict for her a full return to normal physical and mental
activities.
DEFINITION, to Surprise Valley Folks: A Whiskerino is any man who cares to
grow a crop of chin spinach and be present at Alturas, July the 2nd for
Pioneer Day. A Whiskerette is a lady who cares to appear at the afore said
celebration in old fashioned apparel. Don’t wait for a ribbon, go to it, men
and let’s show these people that we can do it.
Lige Langston, who was injured in a fall from his horse, while in the employ
of Lyle Cook of Eagleville has sufficiently recovered to be discharged from
the McKinney Hospital in Alturas, where he was taken on the day of the
accident. Accompanied by his mother, he will leave today for Reno, where he
will convalescence two or three weeks before taking up his work again.
H. Marty, employee of the Surprise Valley Meat Market, while rounding the
turn just south of Hussa’s ranch, in his new Ford pick up, failed to make
the turn, which caused it to turn over and damaging it to a great extent.
The Western Garage with the "Yellow Wrecker" were on hand soon and brought
it back to town. Ralph Williams, the AAA man was over yesterday to make
adjustments on the insurance.
FAMILY REUNION AT VYA, NEVADA
Last Saturday, Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Sharp, of Vya, Nev., were surprised by the
arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Young, Miss Leona Young, Paul Young and Miss
Cleo Derringer, all of Greeley, Colorado. Just about the time this surprise
was wearing off a bit, Kenneth G. Sharp and family, of Tucson, Arizona, came
home, after being gone for eight years. Mrs. Young is a sister of Mrs.
Sharp. Mrs. Margaret Surryhine, of Oakland, Cal., is also visiting her
parents. Then yesterday, other members of the Sharp family, Mrs. Arthur
Ellenburg and son, Miss Mildred Ellenburg and Kenneth Surryhine, all of
Oakland, Cal., arrived home. The gathering of the sons and daughters and
their family-like is being celebrated by a family reunion at the Sharp home
today. It is a happy reunion after a long separation of different members of
the family.
Mr. Robert Neasham and Miss Ernestine Van Sickle, of this place, were
married in Reno, Nevada, last Thursday, June 5th. They have gone to Chico,
Cal., where they will make an effort to locate. If they are not successful
in finding what they are looking for it is their intention to return to
Surprise Valley. Their many friends extends hearty congratulations to the
newly weds.
A divorce action citing cruelty has been filed in the Modoc Superior Court
by Mona West vs. David M. West. These folks for sometime past were residents
of Surprise Valley until a few months ago when Mrs. West moved to Alturas.
Mrs. F. I. Roberts left last Saturday for Cassel, Shasta County, to visit
her daughter, Mrs. Edna Summers and family of that place.
Janice Miller and Lyle Bishop of Oakland are here spending a few weeks
vacation with Miss Miller’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Miller of Lake
City.
Rileous "Stuce" Jones underwent a successful operation for appendicitis at
the McKinney Hospital on the 8th of June. Our Dr. Kennedy performed the
operation. We were talking to Stuce last week and he told us that he was
going to take a short vacation from his job with Fred Meyers of Eagleville
and spend sometime with his mother who lives at Lake City.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 1930
SELBY PLEADS GUILTY; SENTENCED TO TERM IN PRISON
Rodney Selby proprietor of the Indian Springs Gas Station, pleaded guilty
second degree murder in connection with the slaying of Albert Brown, federal
prohibition agent, last week.
Selby was sentenced by acting Superior Judge E. C. Bonner and left
immediately with Modoc County Officers for San Quentin Prison.
Selby was in the Modoc County jail, where he was placed Saturday night,
following his surrender Friday night to C. J. Fulcher, of Lookout, fifty
miles southwest of Alturas. Fulcher notified the authorities Saturday
afternoon. Later, he accompanied by Selby and Deputy Sheriff Paul Viles,
reported to District Attorney Oscar Gibbons.
The fugitive, who had been the object of an intensive manhunt through the
Modoc lava beds, since a week ago, appeared at Fulcher’s residence Friday
night in an exhausted condition. The soles were worn from his shoes.
SEEKS ADVISE
"I am Rodney Selby," he announced, after tossing a gun on the table.
"There’s
my gun; what do you think I ought to do?"
Fulcher advised Selby to give himself up tot he authorities. The former made
no attempt to communicate with the authorities until Selby had spent Friday
night and Saturday morning at the Fulcher home.
In a statement to District Attorney Oscar Gibbons, Selby declared he shot
Brown and wounded Prohibition Agent Robert Davis in self-defense. He said
that when the two prohibition agents displayed their badges after he served
them liquor, he sought to sweep the glasses from the counter to the floor. A
scuffle ensued, during which Brown (this statement is missing a part that
was not written in article). It was then, he said, that he fired at Brown
and Davis, hitting them both.
Selby said, Brown then reached for his hop pocket as if to draw a gun. Selby
ducked behind the counter and when he arose, he was shot at by Brown and
Davis, hitting them both.
Selby told the district attorney that he had been lost for two of the four
days during which he wandered in the wilds. Frequently, he saw members of
the posse searching for him, but none of them ever got close to him. He
admitted that he had been at the Shaw Service Station in Gouger Neck Valley,
where members of the posse had found tracks believed to have been Selby’s.
ADIN RESIDENT WAS HERE FOR TREATMENT AT THE BENMAC SPRINGS THIS WEEK
Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Clark, of Adin, were in Cedarville a few days this week.
They visited the Benmac Mineral Springs, east of here, having heard of the
efficacy of the mineral water for the treatment of cancer, from which
disease Mr. Clark has been suffering for a number of years. It is sincerely
hoped that he may derive benefit from the use of the water. If the water
proves to be beneficial to sufferers from that disease the springs will soon
become famous.
PAGE PAROLE TO BE HEARD IN SEPTEMBER
Frank Page, convicted in Modoc County of the murder of Pearl Connell at
Cedarville in 1927, will come before the Parole Board of the state in
September for parole and fixing of sentence according to notice which has
been received by District Attorney Oscar Gibbons. Page was alleged to have
choked and the jury found him guilty of second degree of second-degree
murder. The sentence fixed at that time was for a minimum of ten-years in
San Quentin, but this sentence was later modified to a minimum of five
years.
The Parole Board has asked the District Attorney to present any additional
fact they might have in have in connection with the affair.
CAMPFIRE BURNS PROVE FATAL TO ALTURAS PIONEER
ALTURAS, MODOC COUNTY, JUNE 16, 1930 – Robert Fitzhugh, old-time resident of
this section was buried here Thursday. Fitzhugh, who was 69 years of age,
met his death at Mountain City, Nev., last week from burn received in an
unusual accident. He was engaged in moving cattle and had made camp for the
night beside an open campfire. During the night coals from the campfire,
rolled out from the campfire, rolled out and ignited the sleeper’s bedding.
By the time he was able to reach at a nearby stream and plunger into the
water. Fitzhugh had been fatally burned. The injured man drove eight miles
for medical attention and assistance but his wounds proved fatal a few days
later.
A sister, Mrs. Earl Calkins and three brothers, James, John and henry, all
residents of Alturas, survive him. (1:6)
Into a grave at Jamestown recently, was lowered the body of Mrs. Leana
Donner App, last of the survivors of an epic tragedy of the high Sierra.
Eighty-four years ago, the Sierra claimed her father, Capt. George Donner;
her stepmother, the heroic Tasman Donner and most of the party Donner led
from Springfield, Ill., to their fate on what is now Donner Lake. Mrs. App
then a girl of 12 years, was rescued.
Roy Hobbs and family, of Ashland, Oregon, arrived here the first of the week
to spend a short time in the valley, visiting friends and relatives. They
were accompanied by Sheldon Page, son of Mode Page, formerly a resident of
this valley.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Dollarhide, of Westwood are receiving congratulations of
their friends on the arrival of a baby girl, Phyllis Jean, born last Friday.
LAKE CITY NOTES
Announcement of the marriage of Miss Laura Spruill and Mr. Menta McDaniels
on Tuesday, the third of June, 1930, at Reno, Nevada. Miss Spruill taught
school at this place and Mr. McDaniels is well known throughout Modoc
County, two are highly esteemed and their many friends wish them happiness
and prosperity. They will make their home in Yuba City, Cal.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25TH, 1930
NIECE OF Mrs. D. PATTERSON KILLED IN AUTO WRECK
Miss Margaret S. "Peggy" Johnston, 19 years old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.
H. Johnston of Reno is dead, as a result of and automobile crash one mile
west of Boca on the Truckee Highway early Sunday morning. She with a party
of three others were returning from a dance from a Tahoe Resort and the
driver fell asleep, when the car came to a reverse curve, which leads from
the hill to the bridge, one mile west of Boca. On the same curve three years
ago, two prominent attorneys were injured when their car crashed into the
re-enforced concrete abutment on the right hand side of the bridge. The car
in which Miss Johnston and party were riding was a large sedan and was
hurled through the air forty or fifty feet and was completely demolished. In
the car were Daniel McKnight, Margaret Evans and Thomas Cooper, who was
driving the car at the time of the accident, all of whom received broken
bones and other serious injuries.
Miss Johnston is a niece of Mrs. James Patterson, of this place, was
visiting with her cousin, Miss Beatrice Patterson about two weeks ago. The
Patterson family immediately left for Reno upon receiving word of the
tragedy; they will attend the funeral. (1:2)
FORMER LAKE CITY RESIDENT PASSES AT EUREKA
A telegram was received by Grover Wimer Friday bearing the sad news of the
death of his aunt, Ella Wimer Thomas, on Thursday, June 19th.
Mrs. Thomas spent her childhood days at Lake City. She was the sister of
James Wimer, of this place. She spent two weeks visiting old schoolmates and
relatives last fall here. Upon her return to her home in Eureka, she fell
ill and has suffered from an unknown ailment until the time of her death.
Friends and relatives here grieve her passing. (1:2)
Last Thursday, Louis Monchamp, of Lookout, was in Cedarville visiting. He
came for the purpose of moving his father, Mantor Monchamp, who is ill, back
to Lookout to remain a while. Mr. Monchamp has been an invalid for the past
two years and the change will no doubt benefit his health.
D. H. Grove, Sr., was a visitor in town yesterday and from the looks of his
jaw, we asked him if he had started chewing "Climax" but as we saw him
kind-a-humor his jaw, it dawned upon us that D. H. had a full fledged case
of the mumps and it was sure tough on him.
Del Frakes of the M. C. Ranch was a business visitor in Cedarville last
Thursday.
Harold Conklin, Deputy in charge of Water Rights and Gordon Zander,
Hydraulic Engineer for the Division of Water Resources, of Sacramento, were
here on business first of the week.
Mr. J. Warren Crooks, manager of the Vannice Store Alturas, has been
confined to his home for the past week with a severe attack of the flu.
Mr. and Mrs. Vern Linville, of Redding, made a hurried trip to Eagleville
Sunday, bringing their little son, Donald, who will spend sometime visiting
his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Powers, of Eagleville.
Married in Reno, Nevada, June 22, 1930, William Henry Mouldenhauer to Olive
Jaisson, both of Reno, Nevada, Mrs. Mouldenhauer was raised in Surprise
Valley and her friends here extend congratulations.
Born – Near Cedarville, Cal., June 15, 1930, to Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Stimers,
a son
Mrs. B. P. Dollarhide and son, Jack were visitors here last weekend.
Messrs. Ed and Everett Hill were visitors at Klamath Falls last weekend
where they went to visit their brother, D. S. Hill, who is ill with typhoid
fever at that place.
~~~~~~
Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds
Modoc County, California
"The Last Frontier"
www.rh2o.com/modoc
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