Outposts of Civilization
Sketches of Early-day Camps, People and Happenings


How Inyo was Reached - At Bishop Creek - Chased and Shot by Piutes

The next few chapters of this series are from the pen of Dr. Hugh K. McClelland, now of 323 Geary Street, San Francisco.  
He is writing a book of life in the West in early days, and dedicates it to Co. W.F. Cody (Buffalo Bill), in 
appreciation of long continued friendship.  His articles have been published in the Ukiah Times, of Mendocino County.  
By permission of the author we reprint those chapters of principal local interest, beginning the story with Dr. 
McClelland at Sweetwater, Nevada.

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Mr. Hightower came to Sweetwater in a buggy and told me he was operating a mine called the Hightower & Mack mine at 
Benton and would be pleased to have me go along with him as I had informed Mr. Hightower that I was on my way to Inyo 
County, California.  I accepted the invitation and went with him to Benton.  I told him much about my travels and early 
life in Virginia and Kentucky, and my experience as a raider with General John Morgan was captured at Beaver creek, 
Ohio, and taken to Salineville on Yellow Creek and placed on the train and conveyed to the penitentiary at Columbus, 
Ohio.

When I arrived at Benton I was shown through the mine by Mr. Hightower, which was a revelation to me, as I had never 
been in a deep gold and silver mine before.  My next stop was at Bishop Creek, Inyo County, California.  I rested up 
for a time at the hotel kept by Mr. John Bourland and his charming wife.  Bishop Creek was a veritable oasis in the 
desert.  The town was small and situation at the head of the Owens River Valley.  The White Mountains and the Sierra, 
standing on either side presented to the eye a picture of enchantment and beauty.  Farming was carried on to a limited 
extent at Bishop Creek by early settlers.  The work was mostly done by Indians, who chose to be come domestic rather 
than continue their warfare against the whites.  The invigorating air on these mountains, capped in many places with 
snow and glaciers, and the speckled mountain trout and honey, provided by Mrs. Bourland, soon imported a vigor.  I 
never experience before or since.  I just felt too contented and comfortable to take an active interest in the outside 
world.  Later in life, while reading memories of Robert Louis Stevenson, telling of Pineapple Cottage in the Samoan 
Islands, a place where the palm shades cool and the tr ade winds fan until you die," I was vividly reminded of the 
climate at Bishop Creek, California.  I have read many accounts in magazines of Inyo County, California, and the 
climate, but the accounts were tame compared with my personal experience.  Life here takes on a greater broader uplift 
to the soul than ever pictured by the brush of pen of man.

While seated at the breakfast table partaking of a meal of many good things, notably speckled mountain trout, homemade 
ham, hot biscuits and Inyo County Honey, a messenger came in post haste into the hotel and announced that a cattle man 
had be shot by an Indian and he was on his way to Fort Independence to summon Dr. McMillan, then surgeon at the 
military fort, to go and attend the injured man.  Mr. Bourland suggested if the wound was a serious one I had better 
answer the summons, as the fort was quite a distance away, and I go at once to the injured cattleman, which I did.  The 
horse furnished me was a large cream colored one with what was called a glass eye, broad-chested and well suited to 
make a hurried ride through sand and foothills I had to travel.  I prided myself on being a good horseback rider, being 
accustomed to riding the Morgan breed of horses in the state of Virginia.  The distance fifteen miles was soon covered 
and I found the cattleman suffering great pain from a bullet lodged in his neck.  I immediately extracted the bullet, 
dressed the wound, and left instructions as to the care and dressing of the wound, received my fee, rested the horse for 
a couple of hours and mounted for the return to Bishop Creek.

The man who accompanied me asked if I wished him to return with me, as the road was a new one to me and I might get 
lost.  I told him I had taken careful bearings on my way out and would have no difficulty in find ing my way back.  
Having traveled about five miles on my return I heard shooting and the clattering of horses' feet, and looked back and 
saw five Piute Indians in close pursuit.  I divined at once that their purpose was robbery and murder if need be.  No 
doubt one of the Indians had witnessed my receiving pay from the cattleman and had informed the others.  The Indians 
seemed to be gaining ground on me as the bullets seemed to be singing louder, and I could hear their yells more 
distinctly.  I was unarmed, and had I been, would not have cared to try conclusions as the odds were against me.  I 
brought the quirt into play, and mount seemed to sense the danger and got down to the best speed that was in him.  I 
did not realize I had been shot until I felt a stinging under my left shoulder.  My horse outdistanced the Indians, 
which probably saved my life.  I was taken to Fort Independence and had the bullet, which was imbedded under the skin, 
extracted by Dr. McMillan, who was surgeon at the fort.  I reported the attempted robbery and murder to Captain 
Macgowan, who had charge of the fort containing about ninety soldiers, and he sent ten soldiers in quest of the 
Indians, but they never got any track of them.  The soldiers, I was later informed, stole several chickens from an 
isolated farmhouse and returned to the fort minus Indians, but full of chicken.

Dr. Hugh K. McClelland.  (to be continued)

The Inyo Register, Bishop, Inyo County, California
Thursday, January 27, 1916 - Front Page
Transcribed by Pat Houser for Inyo County GenWeb, March 2, 2005