SURPRISE VALLEY RECORD, CEDARVILLE, MODOC COUNTY, CAL WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8TH, 1934 CEDARVILLE YOUTH SHOOTS SELF SUNDAY AT 1: P.M. LORENZO DEFOREST DIES OF SELF INFLICTED GUNSHOT WOUND IS VERDICT GIVEN BY CORONER’S JURY (HEADLINE) Lorenzo Parman DeForest, 21, is dead. The Coroner’s jury composed of Milo l. Kennedy, Rev. Virgil A. Vinyard, Heath Stanley, C. E. Cummins, Sid V. Street, Vancil Beebe, Louis Delmas, John W. Franklin, Ernest E. Cook and Merrick Beebe rendered the verdict "that death was due to an accidental gunshot wound, self inflicted." Coroner Frank Kerr Conducted inquest. The word came as a shock last Sunday afternoon when it was learned that young DeForest had met with a tragic accident that ended his life. Apparently in good spirits, Lorenzo DeForest was lying on his bed resting, when his mother came in shortly after and told him his bath water was ready. Making some reply, his mother went about her work and in a few minutes, Lorenzo passed through the kitchen and out into a small workshop just back of the house. A few minutes later a shot was heard. Mrs. DeForest ran to the shop and there lying on the floor in a pool of blood, lay her only son dead, with the entire top of his head blown off. Calling for help, Mrs. Leora Bohlman, a nearby neighbor came immediately and she hastily summoned John Henry, who went for Dr. Kennedy. They found the body lying with the head to the north and feet toward the south. His left foot lying over the end of the gun, which was lying east and west with barrel pointing west. The entire brains lying approximately twelve inches south of the feet. Frank Kerr, coroner and public administrator, came in a short time and upon making investigations, took the gun up and examined it. Extracting the shell from the 300 Savage Rifle, it was found that the gun held only one shell and that was the one that had been in the barrel and had been fired. Looking upon the workbench, Mr. Kerr then took the box of shells and upon opening it found that only one shell had been taken from the box. Then upon examining the room, where blood and brains were spattered about, it was found that in the sheeting of the ceiling, there appeared the place where the bullet had struck. The bullet, a soft nose, copper jacketed had not entered the sheeting but fell back to the floor. Within a short time, the body was removed to the morgue, when the inquest was held with Dr. Kennedy giving the testimony. It was found that in some manner Lorenzo DeForest had been handling the high powered rifle and through an accident the gun had been discharged, hitting him just below the corner of the left eye, thus blowing to pieces the entire upper portion of the head. Lorenzo had been working at the C. E. Cummins Ranch for the past six weeks haying. He came to town every Saturday evening and spent Sunday with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. H. DeForest. He appeared in good spirits and in his usual frame of mind. At about 11 o’clock that forenoon, he had been down to the Surprise Valley Warehouse where he had made some purchases, including some candy. He stood around a while eating the candy and talked with Mr. Bennett. They spoke of the Creamery picnic and Mr. Bennett asked him if he were going to attend, he answered that he would go down after a while. At about noon he went with Marion Rinehart to find Frank Henry, whom Marion wanted to work for him. It was while Marion and Frank were talking that Lorenzo went on to his home. Shortly after this the terrible accident happened. Obsequies were held from the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. l. H. DeForest Tuesday afternoon at 1:30; Rev. Virgil A. Vinyard officiating. His remains were interred in the Eagleville cemetery, with Dale and Hal Davis, Vancil Beebe, Simon Bennett, Robert McCulley and Gene Ash acting as pallbearers. Lorenzo Parman DeForest was born in Cedarville on November 26th, 1912. Graduated from the Cedarville grammar School and S. V. Union High Schools. After graduating, he worked around town and helped his parents. He was a young man of sterling character, industrious and always found doing his duty to those dependent upon him. He was quiet and unassuming but well liked by all who knew him. Lorenzo will be greatly missed among his many friends. The deepest sympathy of the community is extended to the bereaved parents in their inexpressible grief in the loss of their only child. (1:1) FIRE THREATENS VALLEY RANCHERS Monday noon the farmers of Soldier Creek and vicinity had their dinners interrupted when it was discovered that big billows of smoke were rising in the vicinity of Daniels Canyon. A forest fire and a mighty one had been started from some unknown origin. Men were mobilized and Ranger DeCamp with a crew of men from Alturas and Davis Creek were soon fighting the flames. The fire crossed to Daniel’s Canyon and headed for Rutherford’s Canyon, where it burned within a short distance of the road. By Monday evening some one hundred and fifty men were backfiring in an effort to control the blaze. Yesterday morning about five o’clock the blaze was under control. Some five hundred acres or more of brush land and virgin timber were burned over. LAKE CITY NEWS Two of our young men, James Strief and Lester Hanks were riding around with a married lady last week. Look here boys that won’t do at all. Mr. and Mrs. Monchamp and two children and Mrs. Owens of Lookout were visitors at the Luther Vernon home last week. Mrs. Ralph Sherer of Stone Coal Valley and Mrs. Hattie Murphey of Lookout were at the Luther Vernon home after apricots last week. BREEZY NEWS NOTES FROM ALTURAS Mr. and Mrs. Milan Briles of this place motored to Fort Bidwell Saturday evening, returning home Sunday evening; they visited the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ash. Little Miss Barbara Mapes came up from Sacramento last week to visit her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Mapes, Sr., of Canby, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Pete Gates, of Oakland arrived in Alturas last week to visit Mrs. Gates’ brother, Harold Vandervoost. While here they enjoyed a nice camping trip at Blue Lake. Mrs. Ray Rowan has been enjoying a visit from her father, Mr. Reil and sister, Miss Louise Reil of Winnemucca, Nevada, the past two weeks; they returned to their home yesterday. Mrs. Lamia Bailey and daughter, Margaret Ann, will leave for their home in Litchfield tomorrow, after spending the past ten-days visiting at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Ballard. Charles McKee of Likely was brought in Monday to Dr. Stile for treatment. He was roping calves at the George Williams place and got his hand caught and pulled his index finger off. Buster Gritton, who has been working for the Forest Service was trimming up trees at the Cantrall Mill when the ax glanced and chopped off his foot. Walter Coppedge’s fifteen-year old son is reported ill with scarlet fever at Adin. Andrey Greiner, who was fighting fire near Bieber last week had the misfortune of having a tree fall on him, from which results he suffered a fractured shoulder. Roy Miles, who is working for the Larson Brothers’, had the misfortune of having a piece of steel fly off of a drill and lodge in his forehead. Dr. Stiles removed the foreign matter. Emmie Cantrall, aged five-years old passed away at the general hospital Monday. She had been suffering from an abscess in the back of the eyes and it developed into meningitis. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Will Cantrall. (4:6) NEWSY NOTES FROM NEW PINE CREEK Vieva Watkins and infant son arrived recently from their home in Hollywood to visit Grandma and Grandpa Riley Woods; Mrs. Watkins was formerly Miss Vieva Woods. Foster Vernon, Alvin and Marvin Butler, Kirk Mulkey and Clarence Boyce came in from the Forest Camp Saturday evening returning Sunday. Stone Vernon is reported to be quite ill at this writing; we did not learn the nature of his illness. Mike Wallace, who underwent an appendicitis operation at Lakeview on Sunday, July 29th, is getting along nicely and will return to his home here the first of this week. FORT BIDWELL HIGHLIGHTS Miss Isabelle Santiago has left for San Francisco where she will resume her studies at the State Teachers’ College. She was accompanied by two of her sisters, Miss Adele Santiago and Mrs. Julia Drouble. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Hart have moved to Likely as Mr. Hart has work there. Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Decious of Alturas were visiting here Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Peterson motored to Paisley, Oregon, to bring their grandson, Paul Edward Braton, back with them last Sunday. Laura Jane Skillman left last week with her father for Shasta City. They will return with Mrs. Nellie Skillman, who has been attending summer (the statement was not finished) TIRE BLOWS OUT; CAR TURNS OVER Enroute from Anderson last Thursday night, Robert Minto, Eagleville rancher and seed grower, had the misfortune of having the rear tire on his sedan blowout near the SX ranch, between Canby and Alturas, causing the car to make a couple of loops, a barrel roll, and perhaps a tailspin. Anyway it ended its antics when the car hit the gutter. Although the car is badly demolished, Robert Minto, who was at the wheel, suffered lacerations about the head and his son suffered body bruises. Joe Gloster of the Central Garage in Alturas came by shortly after the wreck and picked up the injured and brought them to Alturas where they received medical attention. Miss Ethel Freeborn, who was operated on at the hospital in Alturas recently is reported to be getting along nicely and will soon be able to return home. LOCAL JOTS Carlisle Quinn, 18, and Emerson Williams, 18, (Indians) were taken to the Preston reformatory at Ione last Thursday by Sheriff John C. Sharp. The Indians were found guilty of petty larceny at a trial in the Justice’s Court. Rev. Virgil A. Vinyard, pastor of the Cedarville Methodist Church, was called to Bieber last Thursday to conduct the funeral of Mrs. Belle Southard of Adin. She was aged 88 years and had been a resident of Big Valley since 1879. She leaves many relatives and a host of warm friends to mourn her passing. (4:3) EAGLEVILLE SNAPS Joel C. Allen is confined in the hospital at Alturas with some heart ailment. Robert W. Minto had the misfortune of having his car turn over with him near Canby one day last week. Bob was scratched and bruised and the body of the car was completely wrecked. Roy Tripp is out and around again following his accident of two weeks ago. Al Catlin is in the hospital at Alturas recovering from an injury received while working with sheep. Mrs. Mollie Kistler spent the last week visiting with her daughter, Irvine Grove and family. COLORED WATER SEEN AGAIN AT CRATER LAKE CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK, Oregon July 26, 1934 – Emerald Pool, a unique body of water along the rocky shores of Crater Lake, is returning after an absence of two years. During the summer of 1931, it was plainly visible to thousands from the Sinnott Memorial on Victor Rock, a short distance from the lodge but the following two winters were so severe, the pool was covered by great depths of snow, which the summer sum could not melt. While relatively small when viewed from the memorial observation station, 1000 feet above, the pool is of fairly good size and of an intense emerald color. For the past two weeks, a big drift of snow has been gradually receding, exposing the highly colored waters, which have never failed to attract attention of all visitors. It has also been the destination of numerous boat parties. NEWSY SURPRISE VALLEY ITEMS Andy Phillips, who for the past two months has been visiting with his son at Gerlach, Nevada, returned to his home here in Cedarville last Wednesday. Mr. Phillips has been in poor health for sometime, but is somewhat improved at this time. Mrs. Alice Reese and daughter-in-law, Mrs. Kenneth Reese, of Portola, were visitors at the J. W. Stiner home last week. Mrs. Mary S. Crandall, aged 85 years, 5 months and 9 days, passed away in Alturas August 3, 1934. Funeral services were held from the Kerr Chapel yesterday afternoon. (4:5) ~~~~~~ Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds Modoc County, California "The Last Frontier" www.rh2o.com/modoc --- Our outgoing mail is checked by avast! AntiVirus. Avast! Is Free To Home Users.