WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1911
MEN MURDERED
FOUR PROMINENT SHEEPMEN ARE SHOT BY CATTLE RUSTLERS IN NEVADA
One of the most cold blooded and brutal murders known to modern history has
just come to light during the past week, the victims being four prominent
stockmen well known in Modoc, namely, Harry Cambron and Peter Erramouspe of
Eagleville, John Laxague and Mr. Indianna, a Frenchman who is a partner of
Nallie Willie. Each of the men had been killed by being shot in the head, in
a lonely ravine near the Denio Ranch, about fifty miles east of Eagleville,
after which their dead bodies were piled up in a heap. Their overcoats,
chaps and outer clothing were missing and it is thought that perhaps they
were forced to remove them before being killed.
These four men had been missing since the 19th of January, when they had
left the Denio Ranch together for the purpose of investigating a camp of
supposed cattle rustlers, which Mr. Indianna had just discovered, where a
large number of cattle had been slaughtered and prepared for shipment.
It appears from all the circumstances that they had tried to track these
rustlers and followed the trail for six or seven miles and must have
discovered the cattle rustlers in High Rock Canyon and the ground shows
evidence that a camp had existed there.
The party of men who went in search of the missing men found tracks, which
indicated that eight men had walked for some distance to the scene of the
crime, which would go to show that four of the rustlers had surprised and
captured the stockmen and marched them to the place where they were
murdered. There is some evidence that some of the rustlers were wounded, as
the tracks by which they left the place were marked with blood. Two dead
horses were also found which did not belong to either of the murdered men,
while their own horses were missing.
Upon the crime being discovered, Nallie Willie at once telegraphed to the
authorities in Reno and a posse of officers at once left on a special at 3 o’clock
Saturday afternoon, ending their journey on the regular train, which they
over took at Amedee. They arrived here Sunday morning about six o’clock and
were soon on their way to Eagleville. The party consisted of Sheriff Charles
P. Ferrell, Judge Lee J. Davis, County Physician, Dr. S. K. Morrison and
four of the Mounted Police of the State of Nevada, Capt. J. P. Donnelly,
Sergeant C. H. Stone and E. N. Newgard and private Frank Buck. The last
named gentleman is an expert tracker. Our Sheriff, A. E. Smith, joined the
party at Alturas and will aid in the search.
The circumstances leading up to this shocking tragedy are as follows:
About fifty miles East of Eagleville is the ranch of William DeNio, over in
the Nevada Range in Nevada. East of this ranch about six miles, a Mr.
Indianna, a Frenchman, who is a partner with Nallie Willie and the Humphrey
Brothers, prominent cattle and sheep men of this State, had a band of sheep.
On the 18th of January, Mr. Indianna finding that the snow was troublesome
for his sheep, left several sheep tenders and started the six miles walk to
DeNio’s ranch.
On the way he passed a deep ravine and saw two men camping and a short
distance away he observed a large number of cattle slaughtered and made
ready for shipment as it appeared. This aroused his suspicions. On arriving
at the ranch, he found Harry Cambron, John Laxague and Peter Erramouspe, who
are all sheep men. The morning of the 19th, they started for the sheep six
miles distant, with a fine clear day head of them.
On the 27th of January, one of the sheep tenders came over to DeNio’s to
ascertain what had become of Indianna, as he had not returned on the 19th,
as they had expected. This startled and aroused the few who were in reach,
but they found no track of the missing men. One sheep tender came over the
60 miles to Eagleville to arouse the neighborhood and start a search.
Ten well armed men started out of Eagleville the morning of February 8th, or
nearly 20 days after the last time in which the missing men were seen.
Mr. B. F. Cambron, a Reno Contractor and an older brother of one of the lost
men, went through here Friday in haste to the point of search. His wife was
with him.
The bodies have been brought to Eagleville, where the families of Mr.
Cambron and Mr. Erramouspe live.
There has been a rumor that the evidences tend to show that seven men were
the number who did the killing. Attached to this idea has produced the guess
that possibly these are the seven men who held up the train at Ogden only a
week or so before they had killed these sheep men.
The fugitives were known to be "jerking" the hindquarters of the beef, which
they were killing and leaving everything else. This would seem to indicate
that there was preparation for a long trip or hiding. (1:1)
LOCAL AND PERSONAL
At 2:30 o’clock last Wednesday, little Grace Cook presented her compliments
to Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Cook, acquired a very welcome and permanent residence.
Mother and daughter are doing exceptionally well.
Mrs. Rachel Dorris went below last Thursday in company of Mrs. L. E. Miller,
her daughter, with the desire that Mrs. Dorris’ health would be improved in
the lower attitude. Both will reside in Oakland for sometime until Mrs.
Dorris renews her strength.
Robert J. Mack, who has been living for a short time in town, yet been quite
poorly, since he has been ill for over three years, most of which he has
spent in Lakeview, was buried last Thursday from the Congregational Church.
Mr. Mack was born in Brooklyn, 48 years ago. He has been a soldier, sailor
and at one time carried the mail from Bieber to Lakeview a number of years
ago. As to his relatives and friends, nothing is known. He leaves a little
property in Lakeview. (1:4)
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1911
DEATH OF MRS. WILLIAM TONEY
Mrs. William Toney, of Lake City, sister of Mrs. Dawson, finally succumbed
to the illness, which has been hovering over her for at least four years.
She left her earthly friends last Friday and bade adieu to much suffering
and affliction. She will be mourned by all her friends and in sorrow they
will regret her absence, but will be consoled in the knowledge of her
release from suffering.
Mrs. Toney was formerly Sarah Odbert, well known as one of Modoc’s most
successful teachers. She also was a clerk in the Co-Op store for sometime
and has many friends here to mourn her death. (1:2)
A SAD CASE
A sad case of insanity occupied the attention of the Superior Court last
Monday, the person being Mrs. Clara Asher, of Davis Creek. For sometime past
her physical and mental condition has been getting below normal, until
finally her intellect became unbalanced. She is a sister of J. D. Mulkey and
Mrs. A. H. Leonard and has many friends and relatives who deplore her sad
condition. She has a husband and nine children, but has been separated from
them for the past four months on account of domestic infelicity. The
physicians decided that her mental trouble was melancholia, caused by hard
work, grief and worry and that rest and care will improve her. Accordingly
the court made an order placing her in the asylum at Stockton. Several
witnesses were here from Davis Creek in the matter, among them being Mr. and
Mrs. A. H. Leonard, J. D. Mulkey, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Bryan, and Albert
Mulkey.
HIGH ROCK MURDERERS MAY HAVE BEEN INDIANS
POSSE CLOSE ON TRAIL AND FIGHT HOURLY EXPECTED
The brutal murder of Harry Cambron, Bertrand Indianna, H. Laxague and Peter
Erramouspe have not yet been avenged, but a posse of twenty-two determined
men are following what they believe to be the plain trail of the criminals
through the wilds of western Nevada.
It is thought that the crime was committed by a band of Indians, the tracks
showing seven men, one mahala and three children to be in the party. A fight
is expected when the criminals are overtaken.
The inquests developed proof of brutality in the murder of the four men, as
they were mutilated and stripped of all clothing, while two of them had been
shot with four bullets and another one shot three times.
The bodies had to be carried two miles on stretchers to get them out of the
rugged canyon and from there were taken by sleds to Eagleville, where the
funeral were held last Sunday. Laxague and Indianna were given the Catholic
rites by Rev. Father O’Malley of Lakeview, Sunday morning. In the afternoon
the Knights of Pythias performed the beautiful burial ceremony of their
ritual upon the departed Erramouspe. The Modern Woodmen took charge of the
entire ceremony on behalf of Harry Cambron. The ceremonies were attended by
large numbers of friends from all over this county, as well as from other
counties. Mrs. Laxague is reported as lying at the point of death. She is a
sister of Mr. Erramouspe and the loss of both husband and brother may cause
her death.
Judge Lee Davis and Health Officer Morrison of Reno passed through here this
week, after holding the inquest.
George Mathews, the Cedarville photographer, went with the posse to the
scene of the tragedy.
Rewards have been offered for the capture of the murderers, amounting to the
sum of six-thousand dollars.
Warren Fruits of Cedarville was the first to discover the dead bodies of the
missing men in the canyon where they were hid. There was a small washout
just wide enough to admit the bodies. Mr. Indianna was on top, Mr.
Erramouspe next and the other two were so deep down that they could not be
recognized. This little high rock canyon is only about six miles long and
about three miles from William DeNio’s homestead. It runs nearly due West
and East. The greater portion of the side walls are very precipitous and
often perpendicular and some places three hundred feet deep. The only access
to this canyon is at the upper end of outlet.
LITTLE THINGS
Miss Courtwright, sister of Mrs. Silas Pepperdine, has been very ill for
over a week with tonsillitis. Miss Courtwright is making her home with Dr.
Coppedge.
Ex-Supervisor Conklin came in last Saturday to spend a few weeks with his
daughter, Mrs. William Rachford. Mr. Conklins mines are being worked and
show some good prospects.
T. J. McCollum had a severe accident this last week. While under a wagon
working with Charles Brown, a chisel rebounded and knocked out several of
his teeth and injured his face badly.
To Mr. and Mrs. Fred Smith, a fine little daughter, born Saturday night
February 18th, 1911, at Alturas. May all of our daughters be as
cornerstones, polished after the similitude of a palace, is the joyous wish
of all friends.
Charles Adams and the Indian, who went with him last week on an independent
search, were lost for a few days, but finally discovered their whereabouts
and came into civilization. This gives some idea of the wildness of the
region in which the mystery of murder occurred, since men comparatively
familiar with the section can be lost for several days.
During the past week several severe cases of snow blindness and badly burned
faces are reported. Among the worst are Dr. J. T. O’Conner from Davis Creek,
Chester Estes, Lee Methvin and Forest Rangers, Will Lunsford and Jim Poore,
who came in from the Garden.
~~~~~~
Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds
Family Researcher of "The Last Frontier"
Modoc County, California
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