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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 2016)
History Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, September 28, 2016 C5 Lust for gold leads to the end of a rope First Canyon City hangings dredged up by the draw to the area July 14, 1950 Blue Mountain Eagle Berry Wey, a man who murdered his mining part- ner Galleger to obtain $80,000 in gold dust, was the irst man to be hanged in Canyon City — in 1863. Some men, discovering the body of Wey’s victim, reported to the miners in Canyon City, and Wey was trailed into Ida- ho to be captured by a deputy sheriff. Wey was taken from the custody of the deputy and, although given a temporary respite by the at- tempts of Ike Hare, who plead- ed for him, was convicted in a miners court, sentenced to hang — and the next day hanged. The second man to be hanged in Canyon City: In 1865, a man named Sullivan hired a man named Cain to help him work his placer claim. Sullivan didn’t know about mining, it seems — he had the idea that gold could be found any place along Can- yon Creek, and did not real- ize that unless a pay streak was hit that he might not ind anything. He had told Cain that, when he cleaned up, Cain would get his money. When Cain found that there was no gold to be cleaned up and that Sullivan couldn’t pay him, he pulled an old fash- ioned cap and ball pistol and shot Sullivan. Sullivan fell into the lume carrying Canyon Creek waters and loated away. Cain was tried in the circuit court and, although defended by four lawyers, among them Joaquin Miller, the “Poet of the Sierras,” he was convict- ed and sentenced to hang. He was executed Aug. 3, 1865. Contributed photo/Grant County Historical Museum Pat McGinnis. Hanged on April 2, 1889, after killing a sheriff’s deputy. This picture was taken two hours before his execution. Can you name these items used in years past? Trivia 1 Contributed photo/Grant County Historical Museum The Masonic Hall (current day building housing the Grantville Theater and Canyon City Community Hall), circa July 1931. Trivia 2 � � WE’VE GOT COMPANY HISTORY! Serving Grant County for 59 years. � LAND TITLE COMPANY OF GRANT COUNTY 145 NE Dayton, John Day • 541-575-1529 Trivia 3 The historical Silvies School Trivia 4 www.grantcountypeoplemover.com Trivia 5 SAVE ON GAS DIAL-A-RIDE 541-575-2370 John Day, Canyon City, Mt. Vernon, Prairie City areas M-F 8am - 5pm • Sat. 9am - 4pm BEND RUN Mon, Wed, Fri. WALLA WALL RUN Every Tuesday BURNS RUN 1st, 3rd & 5th Thursday MONUMENT RUN Every Thursday Reservations Required BAKER RUN 2nd & 4th Thursday Trivia 6 Established 1883 We are proud to be a part of Grant County and its history. We take pride in caring for our history, our environment, livestock and our families. Silvies, Oregon www.silviesvalleyranch.com • 1-800-SILVIES Trivia answers 1.) Palm thimble — worn while stitching canvas hoses, which were used for hydraulic mining. 2.) Calculator — used with a pencil to move the dials. 3.) Fluting iron — a seam- stress would use to make deco- rative edges for cuffs and collars on clothing. 4.) Director’s baton — This baton was given to George H. Cattanach, director of the Can- yon City Brass Band in 1921. 5.) Gun powder measure — used to measure gunpowder in the 1800s. 6.) Leg cuff hobbles — used in the mid-1800s to restrain a prisoner’s movement. Canyon City’s Grant County Historical Museum staff provided information on the items, displayed at the mu- seum, for the history trivia. S ILVIES V ALLEY R ANCH We make sure your loved ones will be taken care of.
