The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-06-22
THE LOON CREEK TRAGEDY.

L IA
party of Cinnamon had been killed at Loon
Greek by white men, and, as usual after all
homicides, numerous and conflicting accounts
were in circulation in regard to the affair.
The following letter was received by Mr. ".
w. Crafts, on last Sunday evening, from one
of the participants, which he has kindly per-
mitted us to publish:
| ORC GRANDE, June IA, 1871.
Mr.. CEAFTs--Dear Sir: You have undoubt-
edly ere this heard of transaction in which l
took an active part and wishing my friends 70
have a correct account OF the affair, | VIII
give you the full particulars.
This place, during all the past Winter has
been infested with gang of Chinese thieves
and counterfeiters, led by three desperadoes
formerly of Idaho-Hen Lee, All Teung and
Sam Sing. They were accused by their country
men, not only of thieving and making bogus
gold dust, but of having a hand in the murder
of Cahill on More creek, last Fall, and various
other crimes, before coming here. They have
been found here repeatedly with stolen goods
in their possession, and have escaped punish
ment, by simply giving up the property stolen
until on the 18th day of May, when it was dis
covered that the cellar of IL. Wolfeson 81 Co.
had been robbed of quantity of goods. A
search was immediately instituted and por-
ton of the stolen property found IN the pos
session of the above named Cinnamon. We,
being without n Justice of the Peace or any
legal redress, concluded it was time the gang
was broken up. So Fred Phillips, X. Ii. Johns,
A. X Booth and myself, arrested the aforesaid
Cinnamon and called miners meeting ON the
evening of the 23th of May. After hearing all
the evidence, the meeting sentenced them to
leave the camp by IL o'clock next day, or be
severely dealt with. They very reluctantly
obeyed, not leaving until We notified them that
their time was up and that We intended to
carry out the resolution OF the miners meet
ing and would not tolerate them among US any
longer, when they shouldered their blankets
and started on the Idaho trail.
On the evening of the 3lst, we were informed
by several of the most reliable Cinnamon III
camped about three miles from town, and did
not intend to leave until they had Killed ttco
rhite men and made big raise, il they had TO
burn the fo,cn 10 do il. We had good reason
to believe that the parties whose lives were
threatened were either Phillips and Booth or
Johns and myself, as We took the most active
part in fcrreting them out aud getting them
banishcd So for the protection of our lives
and property, we considered il necessary to
break UP their camp and rout them out of the
country.
Accordingly. about : o'clock. r. NJ, May
3lst, PailIips, Booth Johns. Leon Jaccari aud
myself started to search for their camp. which
we found about three miles from town and the
three thieves sitting by the fire. When We
got withia one hundred and fifty or two hnnd
rcd feet Of them, they discovered us and com.
menced shooting ut us, aud we returned the
compliment in short order. The firing lasted
about one minute, when the Cinnamon became
quiet. aud we then inspected the field ard
found them all dead. We then returned here
and reported what we had done, aud on the
following day party went out and buried the
bodies.
On the 4th of the present month VIM Boyd
received n commission from tho Board of.
County Commissioners to act as Justice of the
Peace. On the 9th, we complained of our
selves, ana after having thorough examna-
ton were fully acquitted, the verdict being
justitabe homicide.
Respectfully yours, c. Ii. ESos.