“In November 1859 – almost half a year after Lassen’s death, another party with Joe Kitts, Antone Storff, and John Tutt, began a new trip back to Black Rock. The men were going to bring the remains of Peter Lassen’s body back to Susanville and Honey Lake Valley. Lassen was buried outside Susanville, with Masonic honors, on November 27, 1859. He was buried under the big tree, where he had camped his first night in the valley – and where he had wanted, that his last resting place should be. Besides, Lassen was buried on his own land.

“Three years later, on June 24, 1862, a ten-foot monument was erected over this grave. The inscription was as follows: ‘In memory of Peter Lassen, the pioneer, who was killed by the Indians, April 26, 1859.’

“Under the inscription a gun was crossed by an arrow and there was a powder horn hanging from the gun. The monument was made from volcanic rock from the same area. Unfortunately, the monument was […] disintegrated by weathering – and on September 20th, 1917, a new monument, made of granite, was erected near the old one. The inscription on the granite shaft is as follows: ‘Peter Lassen, A Native of Denmark, Age sixty-six, Killed February 26th, 1859.’

“As it will be seen, both his age – and the date on which he was killed, are incorrect. Peter Lassen was 58 years old when he was killed, and the murder took place on April 26 – Not on February 26!”

Taken from “Uncle Peter”, By Rene Weybe Lassen, pages 106-107

“On May 22, 1859, the following statement was given at a meeting of the Masonic Lodge of Honey Lake Valley held in Susanville:

‘Resolved, That the death of Peter Lassen the community has suffered the loss of an enterprising citizen, a warm-hearted friend, a true and faithful brother, and one of the most ardent members of the brethren of Western State Star Lodge number two at Shasta, California, of which he was a member.’’’

from “Uncle Peter” on page 108

THE CONTROVERSY CONTINUES…

,

“In connection with Peter Lassen’s death, the following question has been raised several times: Was it the Indians who killed Lassen – or was it some white renegades?

“There has, so far, been no answer to this question, so the murder is today – as in 1859 – still an unsolved mystery. It seems however, that not all of the involved persons believed that the Indians were the perpetrators. Already on May 20, 1859, Major F. Dodger, who was an Indian Agent – and after the murder had to make investigations and to hold inquiries, insinuated that it could have been a white man – meaning, Lemericus Wyatt – who was the murderer!

“The rumors that the perpetrators could be white – maybe Wyatt – or one of the four men from Captain Weatherlow’s party, whom had been camping only one mile away from the murder site, made the residents from the valley infuriated. One of the men, Captain Weatherlow, protested vigorously – and soon after this insinuation was rejected.

“If Lassen had a map of a silver mine, this could have caused his death. As far as we know today, Peter Lassen had no enemies, neither among the whites nor among the Indians…Fairfield quotes that either the Pit River Indian’s or some of renegades from the Black Rock area killed Peter Lassen and Edward Clapper. But, if it was not the Indians – and not Wyatt, or the four men from the other party, who killed Lassen and Clapper…? Could it have been possible that one, maybe more persons from Susanville had heard about the map locating the rich valley mine – and that this person or those persons had sneaked out after Lassen’s party…? The answer to this bewildering question may be forever [……….]

from “Uncle Peter” page 108-109

Courtesy hmdb.org

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