The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-05-18
KILLED MEEKS
FOR his MONEY

To the old settlers in Oregon the
murder of Meeks and his party on the
headwaters of Willow creek. in Crook
county, in the early CO.'S, ia an old
story. but to those who came to the
state in later years, and particularly
the younger generation, 1t is an in
teresting bit of history.
l.. M. Hogan of Mosier, who was in
the city last Friday, was scout in
the service of the United States army
at Fort Dalles at that time, and went
alone into the interior to investigate
the circumstances of the crime.
According to Hogan's story, Meeks
lived near Eugene. He drove band
Of hogs over the Cascade mountains
by way of the Mckenzie pass to Can
yon City, a lively mining town As
years ago. Deadman, who was hung
at The Dalles for the murder of
Meel1s, was employed on farm near
Canyon city. He joined Meeks and
party on their return to the valley.
One evening while camped on Will
low creek, Deadman, In company
with Meeks and his partners started
after sage hens, leaving the French
cook to prepare supper at the camp.
Meeks went up one side of the creek
Deadman and the other man taking
the opposite side of the stream. Dead
man when q short distance from,
camp suddenly stepped behind
tree and shot dead Meek's partner.
Crossing the stream he shot Meeks
near the bank of the river, and going
on to camp killed the French cook.
Robbery was the incentive for the
deed, although Deadman omitted to
find some $1,000 in gold dust on the
body of the cook. The other mem
bers of the party had between $4,000
and s12, 900 In their possession, Dead
man Is known to have been paid only
$40 by his employer just prior to his
departure with the party, but on his
arrival in Eugene, his lavish expendi-
ture of gold aroused the suspicion Of
the authorities.
Deadman left the bodies where they
fell and continued the journey to
Eugene, where he spread the report
that his party had been attacked by
Indians. Hogan was sent out from
Fort Dalles to investigate. He buried
the badly decomposed bodies, and
discovered that the high heel boots
worn by Deadman gave every evidence
that this was the murderer, and not
the Indians. Not single trace could
be found that Indians had been near
the camp Of Meeks and his party.
Hearing that the authorities we're
close on his track, Deadman gave him
self up, and appeared anxious to have
the murder ferreted out. This was
again done, but the evidence proved
80 conclusive that Deadman was the
murderer that he was condemned to
be hanged after trail at the circuit
court In The Dalles.
Hogan says John Michel Is correct
in saying there have been only two
white men hung In Wasco county,
but the execution Of four Indians
took place near the old garrison at
Fort Dalles in 1861. Sheriff White
was in charge OF the execution Of the
red men, who we're convicted of kill
ing white man near Tygh Valley.
Deadman was hung In 1864.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hogan are both pio-
neers of this state. They crossed the
plains with the same party In 1861.
On their way down from Mosier last
Friday, Mrs. Hogan says they met
some people who had come from the
Atlantic coast, and who complained
of the hard trip they had experienced
five days on the cars.
"Wonder what they would have
thought of the trip we made by OK
teams when 1t took six months to
come the distance they made In half
as many days, "said Mrs. Hogan. ~
can remember well how one night our
camp was surrounded by band of
10 painted Indians, who howled and
yelled, and were only prevented from
swooping onto our little band of i'm
migrants because there was large
train but few miles behind us. |
tell you those we're hard times.
Many a night we children had to go
to bed without supper because 1t was
dangerous to make fire, for fear the
Indians would trace us by the smoke.
And then to think people will com
plain nowadays, when they can ride
on velvet cushions, and have all they
want to eat In comfortable dining
eara ~