Massacred For Gold by R. Gregory Nokes

Massacred For Gold by R. Gregory Nokes intertwines enticing descriptions of magnificent views in the Hells Canyon area in Northeastern Oregon and Western Idaho with the tragic murders of Chinese miners and the shocking lack of concern shown by the local population.

Mr. Nokes painstaking research pieces together the story of how such a large number of people could be massacred, and why the known killers were allowed to go free.

The killers were motivated by greed; after all some of them were known rustlers and thieves. What this well-written story also shows us is how lack of knowledge of other races leads to intolerance and injustice, especially when they make no attempt to assimilate into American society; and how the power struggle among the politicians leads to finger-pointing and trying to shift blame to the other party.

This attitude toward the Chinese workers started with the railroads, and continued with the gold mining throughout the West. In many places the shooting of a Chinese worker carried no penalty for the killing itself, but oftentimes there would be a small fine for discharging a firearm in the city limits.

Unlike many history books, “Massacred For Gold” tells a cohesive story and moves along at a nice pace that makes you want to learn more about how the murders of such a large number of people could have happened with hardly anyone outside the Wallowa region knowing about it. It is well worth the read.

Please call the Josephine County Historical Society at (541) 479-7827 if you would like to purchase Massacred For Gold.

Grants Pass Stage is Robbed!

An out of state newspaper reported that the "William Creek-Grant's Pass" stage was held up by a lone man on December 13, 1902.

The news article goes on to say that the stage was on its way from Grants Pass to Williams when a young man wearing a red bandana stepped out of the woods, pointed a revolver at the driver and demanded that the driver and passenger stop and raise their hands above their heads.

The robber demanded that the mail bags be tossed out and then ordered the stage to go on its way.

The mail on this day was light, so the robber only got away with about $15 in loot.  

Josephine County Sheriff Lewis and two of his deputies went out to the scene of the holdup where they found the opened mailbags.

You know, for just $15 you could become a member of the Josephine County Historical Society, and it's just $25 for your entire family.  For this small fee, your benefits of membership include  free research in the Research Library, a 10% discount on JCHS-printed publications purchased in our bookshop, a subscription to our newsletter, the Old-Timer, and the satisfaction of knowing that you are making a contribution to preserving local history. 

Please join us and help keep our history alive!

 

Man Pays Fine With Onions

The following is an excerpt from an article published August 24, 1933 in an out-of-state newspaper.

"'The fine is strong, but I guess you can stand it,' said the judge, penalizing V. O. Bishops for failing to stop his truck for a through street."

Mr. Bishops did not have the $5 to pay his fine, so the Josephine County judge agreed to accept 200 pounds of onions instead.

Black Hand Extortion Letter Received

The following article appeared in several out-of-state newspapers on December 9, 1909:

"Grants Pass, Ore, Dec. 9 --Eastern Black Hand methods have found their way into this quiet valley, if a letter received by Mrs. A. N. Parsons, wife of a local business man, is a genuine threat.

According to this letter, which is undated and unsigned, Mrs. Parsons has until 5 o'clock tomorrow evening to make up her mind whether to deposit $1,000 in a designated place or to have her husband killed, her ten year-old son kidnapped and mutilated, and her home burned.

Mrs. Parsons, who is on the verge of a nervous breakdown, as a result of worry that the letter has caused her, is directed to place $1,000 in $20 gold pieces in a certain spot in Granite Hill cemetery, before the time specified unless she wants all these terrible things to happen to her.

The letter has been turned over to the police and the entire force is now working on the case.  Three deputy sheriffs are kept on guard at the cemetery night and day in order to intercept any prowler who might come around looking for the money.

Parsons and his family came here from Omaha early this year.  Mr. Parsons says he has, so far as he knows, no enemies in Grants Pass or in Omaha."

The term "Black Hand" does not refer to a criminal organization, but is an extortion scheme.  It usually involved sending a letter to an intended victim, foreshadowing  murder, kidnapping, bodily harm or arson.  The letter would demand an explicit amount of money to be left at a precise location.  Often the letter would be decorated with a hangman's noose or smoking gun and signed with a black ink hand print.

This news story didn't say if the threatening letter contained any of these markings.

The conclusion to this story could possibly be found at the Josephine County Historical Society's research library.  Why not pay a visit to them, and see what you can dig up!

The JCHS research library is located at 512 SW Fifth Street, next-door to the historic Schmidt House.  The library is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.