Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-02-22
THE LONE PINE MASSACRE.
A Terrible story Of 0utlawry and Death-Fur-
ther Particulars Of the Affair-Cold-B looded
Murder and Quick Rstribution.

We gather the following addi-
tional particulars of the Lone Pine
shooting affsay from tie Coso
Mining NeVs:
1t has been our duty TO report
some very cold-blooded murders,
but the most diabolical occurred at
Lone Pine, in this county, forty
four miles east from this place,
last Sunday. The town has long
been the abode of numerous half
breed horset- thieves and es.
capes from justice, and the
white people living there have fire.
quently had occasion to fear vlo-
lence at their hands. The last act
has had the effect, however, to
awaken them to a sense of the ne
cessity of Kidding the community
of some of the more dangerous.
From reliable source we obtain
the following particulars of the sad
affair. 1t seems that Portuguese
named Gumacindo Placio went
with another Of his countrymen, on
Sunday night last, to the house of
Indian Dick--a very Industrious
and good misunderstanding to ravish
Dicks squaw. Dick was called 10
the door, when Gumacindo shot
him through the heart. A citizen
GA. B. Elder started after the MUIR
derer with the intention of
arresting him, but Gumacindo
ran and got into Frank Debeney's
house. Debeney was drunk and
refused to let the citizen in. The
Sheriff, Thomas Passmore, was
then called, believing he would be
allowed to enter. On his asking
admission the door was opened,
but Immediately slammed to in his
face. He then told Debeney that
he was the Sheriff, but lie was re-
fused admittance. An attempt was
then made to force the door open,
when three shots were fired by
those inside, and Sheriff Passmore
was dead within five seconds. A
crowd of some thirty men had
collected by this time, and COM
menced an indiscriminate fire upon
the house with their siX-sbooters
and guns (the doors of the saloon
being closed,) and Debeney
was wounded. The crowd now
became exasperated to high
pitch and cried "set fire to the
house; get powder and coal OIL"
when Debeney and two others ran
from the back door, but were i'm
mediately knocked down and cap.
tured near DR.. Colleau's place. All
this had occupied the time of about
one hour and three quarters, but
within ten minutes thereafter Deb.
eney was killed near Zaun's place.
When captured, he was
very violent and defiant,
using the worst kind of blasphemy
and making threats. Dur
ing this time Gumacindo Ia
nephew of Debeney's,) was in the
house and crying out to the crowd:
"COme AID get me, if you want
me-" The crowd of citizens stood
guard around the house until day
light, when the doors were broken
in. The murderer then tried to
escape, and breaking through the
crowd, ran toward the river. He
got away about one hundred yards
when he fell, shot all to pieces, hav-
ing received not less than fifty bull.
lets. Soon after this committee
was formed and orders issued to
two other notorious men-a
Mexican and Portugese-warn-
ing them to leave town in ten min
utes, but it was afterward extend
ed to ten hours. They started on
time, and got about four miles south
from town, when another party
killed them. The Portugese's name
is Carlos Firmah, and it was he
who killed George Eames and shot
Allison, in September last, at Lone
Pine. The Mexican's name is
Eustacio Montillo. On the 18th
instant six funerals were had at
Lone Pine, and 1t Is thought the
trouble is over, for the present at
least. The citizens will not allow
the saloon of Debeney to be again
opened by any Of that sort of men.