The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-08-17
D)lXGS DvWS BY THE SEA.
A Mysterious Robbery-Sugges
tionS for the Advancement
of Yaquina Interests.

Newport was thrown into 1eVer OF eG'
citement last Saturday by the report of
mysterious cutting affair that had happened
during the proceeding night, in which Ma
rion Gillette, an elderly bachelor farmer
living on Big creek, was the victim. He
arrived in town with his head bandaged up
in sheet, and claimed to be suffering III
tensely from numerous cuts ana bruises
about his face and head. On removing the
cloth from his blood stained face he pre-
sented a most ghastly appearance. His
long grey hair was matted in clot of blood
from the several knife wounds about his
face and throat, and altogether looked pret
ty badly done up.
, Gillette lives alone on his ranch about a
mile back from the beach on Big creek and
from his industrious disposition and lniseriy
ways was supposed to be possessed of large
sum of money. He claims that between
one and two o'clock Saturday morning he
was awakened from his slumbers by knock
at the door. Believing that he recognized
one of the voices, the door was opened, and
two Indians were admitted who asked for
food. As the old man turned to comply
with their request he was Immediately
seized by the pair who demanded 5000 that
they claimed he had received the previous
day in Newport. A desperate struggle
ensued, and soon Gillette succeeded by her.
culean efforts in freeing himself from one of
the robbers, who grabbed shot gun that
was standing in the room and began firing.
After shooting twice without effect, he
seized knife and dashed upon his victim
with the apparent intention of hacking him
to pieces. During the struggle Gellette
became weak from the loss of blood and
fell off the porch of his cabin and escaped
i'll the darkness to neighbor's house where
he remained until morning He returned at
daylight and found that the robbers had
escaped with shot gun, pair of field
glasses, a watch and $40 in money.
The story told by Gillette is noe generally
believed in all its details. He claims that
the men were masked, which, in itself, was
evidence that the Indians were ON mischief
bent, and to open up his home to them under
such circumstances is, to say the least, very
strange. The report made by Deputy Sher-
ifF Ball, who visited the cabin, does not bear
out the old mans version of the affair.
There is no doubt about the wounds and
other ill treatment he received but how the
affair came iabout is still enveloped in
mystery.
o,oIooly loci C,nI-u iuta
from the valley to the number of one hum
dred and eighty arrived, and with lunch
baskets in hand struck for the beach and
other points Of interest. The day was per-
feet and all who took al vantage of the trip
theyou2hlyienjoyed themselves. The arri-
val of the boat on Saturday night and Sun
day morning is anxiously awaited for, as it
always bears large male contingent. Of
the arrivals many are husbands and fathers
who are greeted by loved ones from whom
they have been absent during the week on
occount of business. Others 60 over on
such occasions for the purpose of visiting
and strolling on the beach with some fair
one who at some future date they expect to
caii-WHe, Wnlle OLnerS Jake Cne "Trip merely
for recreation.
Every person who visits Yaquina notices
a decided lack of enterprise on the part of
the residents of that advantageous resort.
While this has been the livelies5 fseasen in
its history, little or nothing has been done
during the past year toward improving
drive ways, walks, etc. for the purpose of
adding to the attractiveness of the place
and pleasure of the resorters. Among the
arrivals this year are noticed many new
faces and ali are unanimous ill pronouncing
Newport as the favorite resort of the North
west coast. Its Numerous advantages over
other beaches are noticed at once by those
who, for years, have frequented the beaches
at other points on the coast and appear
greatly surprised that so little mention has
been made of Newport and her surround
ings.
The beaches here are fully equal in every
respect to those at Clatsop and Long beach
besides many features are afforded at Ya-
quina not to be found elsewhere, all of
which add materially to TIE pleasure of Wis.
itors. The bay affords excellent advantages
for boating aud fishing and within the jet
ties surf bathing may be enjoyed without
the attendant danger of drowning, ex-
amples of which are had from other surf
bathing points nearly every year. In the
history of Yaquina as a seaside resort, COW
ering period of fifteen OF twenty years,
no horrible details of the accidental drown
ing Of a surf bather has been recorded, for
there has been no such accidents. The
presence of an undertow or cross
current, so dangerous at many beaches, has
never been perceptible at Yaquina, even
along north beach where many bathe in the
breakers of the open sea- Deer, bear and
elk abound in the mountains not far dis. |
tant, and the mountain streams of the
vicinity are justly famous for the excellent
trout fishing they afford, Add to those adj
yantages the pleasures of a sail across. the
bar with the splendid deep sea fishing in
which one is permitted to indulge, and the
drives to different points of interest like