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 --- Our outgoing mail is checked by ZoneAlarm AntiVirus.