BIG VALLEY GAZETTE – BIEBER, LASSEN COUNTY, CAL.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1901
LYNCHING AT LOOKOUT
FIVE MEN SENT TO THEIR DOOM BY A MOB
Calvin Hall, His Three Sons and Dan Yantiss the Victims
A terrible tragedy was enacted at Lookout at an early hour last Friday
morning, and the startling news flashed down by wire that five men were
found hanging to the bridge crossing Pit River at Lookout.
Calvin Hall, 72 years old, his three half-breed sons, and Dan Yantiss had
been suspected of petty thieving for sometime. A week ago last Saturday,
the parties were charged with stealing barb-wire, pieces of harness and some
hay forks. A search warrant was issued and the harness and hay forks found
in the houses of Hall and Yantiss, upon which they were taken into custody
and brought to Lookout, where they were being held awaiting trial. Sunday,
and for several days following, searches were instituted and halters, dishes
and table cloths were found hidden on the premises of the suspected parties.
Pending their trial, the prisoners were being guarded in the office of the
Lookout hotel by Constable Carpenter, assisted by R. Nichols, J. W. Brown
and S. Goyette. The first two, being on guard until midnight and the last
two afterwards.
Last Friday morning at about half past one o’clock, a mob estimated at from
30 to 50 people, all disguised with burlap sacks over their heads and
heavily armed, suddenly made their appearance at the hotel and pointing guns
at the officers, commanded them to keep still, while they secured the five
prisoners, placed ropes, which had been previously prepared around their
necks and dragged them toward the bridge spanning Pit River. Frank is said
to have made considerable resistance, and in order to keep him from becoming
troublesome, he was hanged before they got to the main bridge, under a small
bridge crossing a deep slough. The others were taken to the bridge, the
ropes fastened to the railing, and they were then thrown over, their necks
being broken by the fall.
The reported lynching immediately threw the whole country into a state of
excitement. District Attorney Bonner, Sheriff Street, Coroner Pierce and
Court Reporter Doane speedily hastened from Alturas to the scene of the
tragedy, and arriving there by six in the evening, called a coroner’s jury
and began investigation into the affair, but nothing could be learned from
the witnesses and the jury returned a verdict that the men came to their
death from a broken neck, caused by hanging by people unknown to the jury.
It was thought that the matter would end with the finding of the jury, but
the people of the entire state are aroused at the unprecedented lynching and
the entire press condemns the mob as willful murderers and calls upon the
State authorities to do everything in their power to bring the perpetrators
to justice, so as to vindicate the good name of the state. Governor Gage
has offered a reward of $5000, $1000 for each of the ringleaders and $400
for every other person, who participated, provided the arrest and conviction
takes place within six months.
The grand jury of Modoc County has been called and will be in session
Friday. Nearly everybody in and around before them, and also every merchant
of this place and Adin. It is also reported that the Attorney General will
have a deputy on hand at the grand jury investigation to assist the district
attorney of Modoc County in ferreting out the perpetrators.
(The participants were: Calvin Hall, his three sons, Frank, Tim & Martin and
his son-in-law Daniel Yantiss. BCR)
Mrs. T. P. Ford arrived in Adin from Sacramento yesterday and will probably
make her home there in the future.
Walter Cecil Herrick of Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, son of David and
Nancy Herrick, was seriously hurt May 20th, while trying to start a
windmill. Dr. Folsom was called in and found it necessary to amputate the
second finger of the left hand. The boy is reported getting along nicely.
Mrs. J. W. Breeding, a former resident of Fall River Valley, in Lassen
County, died in Anderson last week, and while her remains were being
conveyed to Fall River Valley for burial, the team drawing the wagon that
contained the casket ran away at Palo Cedro, demolishing the coffin and
throwing out the body. (1:4)
F. M. Holabird reached Sacramento last week, but instead of an improvement
in his condition, as had been expected, he continued to get worse, and on
his arrival there, his mind was a complete blank. It was considered best to
have him committed to an asylum, where he could have proper care and he was
accordingly sent to Napa. Mr. Holabird and family stand in such high esteem
in this valley that his unfortunate condition was a great shock to their
many friends.
THE LOOKOUT LYNCHING
Nothing in the annals of this country has ever occurred that is so
deplorable as the lynching of the five men at Lookout and we can not
reconcile ourselves to the conclusion that the acts of petty thievery with
which the parties were charged, justified the awful fate that was visited
upon them.
Had the men committed gross acts of violence, such as murder or rape, there
would have been some cause for public indignation and excitement that might
have stirred a frenzied people, unlawful though it is, to visit swift
retribution on the offenders. But such was not the case in the Lookout
lynching. Calvin Hall has been a resident of the upper end of the valley
for a number of years and so far as known, this was the first time that he
stood charged with committing a public offense. He was seventy-two years
old and tottering on the verge of the grave. The youngest of the five was a
mere lad; some claim not over fourteen years old. Can it be possible, that
the youth of the boy and the age of the old man were not taken into
consideration when their death was decided upon?
It has been hinted that it was not for the acts alone with which they were
charged, that the lives of the five men were taken and that other and more
serious matters weighed against them; but be that as it may, the prominence
into which this country is so suddenly brought by the Lookout affair, is by
no means of an enviable nature.
It was feared that the Indians would make trouble over the lookout lynching
and a large number of them did congregate and hold a council over the
matter; but better counsel prevailed among them, and no trouble need be
apprehended from them. Bieber Jim, an Indian who stands high among the
tribe, advised them to let the white men deal with the lynchers, as “white
man” law was good enough for Indians.
MARRIED
PAULK – BROWN – Near Alturas, Cal., June 2, 1901, Charles A. Paulk and
Rachel Brown.
BORN
STRATTON – Near Bieber, Cal., May 30, 1901, to the wife of g. J. Stratton, a
daughter
BUNSELMEIER – Near Bieber, Cal., June 4, 1901, to the wife of W. H.
Bunselmeier, a daughter
McNEMAR – Near Bieber, Cal., June 4, 1901, to the wife of Frank McNemar, a
daughter
John Vickers had his ankle severely hurt by a fall from a horse last
Thursday.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1901
WEDDING BELLS
A large number of invited guests assembled at the residence of Mr. and mrs.
W. D. Morris, a mile south of Lookout, last Thursday, the occasion being the
marriage of their daughter, Maud, to Guy C. Coy, of Redding.
The parlor was beautifully decorated and precisely at twenty minutes to
twelve o’clock the bridal party entered, preceded by Inez Leventon and
Choice Winchell as flower girls. As the strains of the wedding march,
beautifully rendered by Miss Laura Winchell, subsided, the bridal party took
its place beneath the marriage bell and Rev. John, in a most impressive
manner, pronounced the words that untie two lives until the master calls.
While they remained standing, a snap shot picture was taken of the party,
then all repaired to the dining room, where a sumptuous dinner was served by
the hostess.
Miss Morris is one of Modoc’s most beautiful, favored and accomplished
daughters and appeared at her loveliest in a handsome white satin dress with
the usual ornaments of orange blossoms and veil and carried a huge bouquet
of white flowers, tied with long knots of satin ribbon. She was attended by
Elsie and Florence Fulcher as bridesmaids.
The groom wore the conventional suit of black. John Hutton and Stephen
Fulcher acted as groomsmen.
Mr. Coy is a young man of pleasing appearance, a graduate of Pierces
Business College, Woodland, Cal., and now associated with his father as
proprietor of the Paragon Hotel, Redding, but formerly of Woodland, where
his father was engaged for several years in mercantile pursuits. He is also
a member of the Christian Church and although with us but a very short time,
he made many friends, who join with the writer in wishing them a long, happy
and prosperous journey through life and may the flowers strewn in their
pathway by the fairy-like little flower girls be an emblem of the coming
years.
The wedding presents were numerous, beautiful and costly, including some of
the finest and most substantial ever presented in this section.
Mr. and Mrs. Coy started immediately on their wedding tour, which will
include San Francisco and intermediate points, after which they will make
their home at Redding.
Two weddings are announced for today, one being that of I. E. Mecum of San
Francisco and Miss Mildred Snell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Snell, the
other, Alfred jack and Miss Mattie Elliott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George
W. Elliott.
Tom Watson, an old resident of the County, was shot and killed at his home,
near Susanville, by Ben Weissenberger last Thursday. The trouble was caused
over the use of water and Weissenberger claims that he shot in self-defense.
He gave himself up to the officers. (1:3)
MARRIED
COY – MORRIS – At the residence of the bride’s parents, near Lookout, Cal.,
June 6, 1901, Guy C. Coy of Redding and Miss Maud Morris; Rev. J. A.
Johnson, officiating.
SIMAS – COLLETTE – At the Valley Hotel, Bieber, Cal., June 10, 1901, Domingo
Simas of lookout and Miss Gertie Collette of Fall River Valley, W. R.
Schooler, J. P., officiating.
Miss Myra A. Parks, a well-known school-teacher of this county, was married
to J. P. Bean of San Francisco on May 28th.
The grand Jury of Modoc County is still in session investigating the lookout
lynching, it is generally conceded, however, that no clue to the lynchers
will be found.
Jake Coney, W. H. Woodmansee, O. A. Trowbridge, Grayson and James Myers left
last Thursday for Alturas as witnesses before the Modoc County grand Jury.
H. C. Watson, Clark Franklin and D. R. Brownell left Monday, and W. D.
Packwood leaves tomorrow, all on the same errand.
Season's Greetings
~~~~~~
Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds
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