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Benton, California
(including Benton Hot Springs (Old Benton), Benton Station and Blind Spring Hill)

Newspaper Articles

1884

Inyo Independent, June 21, 1884
Summary: A serious knifing incident took place in Benton. The Independent learns from the Bodie Free Press that on the 16th of June a Thomas Kelty, a prominent man of Benton, was assaulted by a man named McCabe. The paper identifies McCabe as a son of a certain Mrs. Russel. Mr. Kelty was “badly cut across the abdomen that serious results are entertained." It seems that one of Kelty’s customers had deposited money at Kelty’s house. Being intoxicated, Kelty refused to let him have it for the time being. That’s kind of confusing there. This appears to have exasperated McCabe, who was working the man for the money, hence the fracas. McCabe disappeared before officers could get there, and started pursuit. Partial quote:

“And so great was the indignation that it was believed that the people would string up McCabe if captured.”

1885
Inyo Register, August 20, 1885
Summary: Miner killed at Benton. Details in a correspondence to the paper from Benton.

Inyo Register, September 3, 1885
Summary: Benton correspondence. More details on death of miner.

1899

Inyo Register, March 23, 1899
Summary: Mrs. Ellen C. Morran died at Benton. She was 75 years of age. She came to Benton in 1863, and ran a way station south of Benton for years.

1905

Inyo Register, January 26, 1905
"ANOTHER COSTLY WRECK."
A special train coming to Laws for a load of Charley Summer's cattle was wrecked about 7 o'clock last Thursday evening, three or four miles north of Benton station. In the train were two cars of coal, one of oil, and seven empty cars for cattle, as well as a box car which was being used as a caboose. While running rapidly the engine struck a curve, and possibly because of spreading rails it went into the ditch. The front trucks of the forward coal car and the last car in the train were left on the track, and all the rest were piled up in wild confusion. The engineer and fireman, named Leavy and Mark, say that before the locomotive came to a stop something sheared off the top of the cab, and when it finally stopped they were thrown out through the opening thus made. Leavy's leg was broken, and he was badly cut in several places, including the severing of one of the large tendons of his knee. The fireman was badly shaken, but not seriously hurt otherwise. The locomotive and nearly every car was smashed into wreckage. The two brakemen walked on to Benton station, where they procured a handcar and with it came to Laws. Dr. Doyle was telephoned for and went up on the regular a few hours later. The injured engineer, who has lately come from the Sacramento division, was made as comfortable as circumstances would permit, and was taken to the railroad hospital in Sacramento. Mails and passengers were transferred around the wreck, and little delay resulted.
The wrecked engine was no. 22, one of the first of those brought here from the South Pacific Coast road. Patterson, conductor of the wrecked train, was also conductor on the one wrecked near Walker lake some weeks ago.

1906

Inyo Register, January 18, 1906
Summary: Death of a man falling down the mine shaft at Tower Mine near Benton.

1907

Inyo Register, May 2, 1907
Summary: William Edwards, Benton's deputy sheriff murdered.

Inyo Register, May 9, 1907
Summary: Death of Ray Yaney, of Bishop, California. Yaney born in Benton, California.

Inyo Register, May 16, 1907
Summary: Article with an Indian's version of how William Edwards, the Benton deputy sheriff, was killed.

Inyo Register, May 30, 1907
Summary: Indian indicted in murder of William Edwards, deputy sheriff in Benton .

Inyo Register, June 20, 1907
Summary: Arraignment of Indians involved in murder of William Edwards, Benton deputy sheriff.

Inyo Register, July 11, 1907
Summary: Trial of Indians involved in murder of William Edwards, Benton deputy sheriff.

Inyo Register, July 18, 1907
"BAD STATE OF AFFAIRS IN MONO"
Summary: Trial of Indians involved in murder of William Edwards, Benton deputy sheriff.

Inyo Register, July 25, 1907
Summary: Mono jury agreed on manslaughter verdict for the murder of William Edwards, the Benton deputy sheriff.

Inyo Register, August 15, 1907
Summary: Sentence handed down in trial for the murder of William Edwards, Benton deputy sheriff.

Inyo Register, October 3, 1907
Summary: Man died of gas inhalation, after entering a tunnel at the Skookum Mine, near Benton, too soon after a blast.

Inyo Register, December 19, 1907
Summary: Death of wife of the late William Edwards, former Benton sheriff's deputy, who was murdered earlier in the year by Indians.

1908

Inyo Register, June 25, 1908
"PIONEER PASSES AWAY."
Summary: Death of I.P. Yaney, of Bishop. He was 88 years old at death. Came to Aurora, Nevada in 1863. Moved to Bridgeport, California, then in 1867 he moved to Bishop. Also lived at Benton between 1876 and 1879.

Inyo Register, December 10, 1908
Summary: Tow Abe, an Indian who was convicted of murdering W.F. Edwards at Benton, gives notice to the Bridgeport Chronicle-Union that he intends to apply for a parole from San Quentin. The Mono County Grand Jury opposes the parole.

1909

Inyo Register, January 7, 1909
"THIRTY-SIX YEARS AGO"
From Inyo Independent, January 4, 1873
Summary: Hal Nesbith [Nesmith?] killed by parties unknown at Benton December 27. He had been in Benton making the rounds of the saloons. During the evening he went to Partzwick, a nearby camp. Shortly after arriving there, he opened the hotel door and fell dead on the floor. The man was prominent in the pursuit of the escapees from the Carson Penitentiary.

Inyo Register, March 4, 1909
Summary: The local Indians have raised funds to cover the expense of brining back the body of Tow Abe, who died in San Quentin prison. Abe was sentenced to San Quentin for his murder of W.F. Edwards at Benton.

Inyo Register, April 15, 1909
"SHOTGUNS AND PIONEER LAWYERS"
Summary: Death of Judge Theron Reed in Siskiyou County, California. Judge Reed formerly lived and worked in Bridgeport, Benton, Aurora and Independence.

Inyo Register, May 6, 1909
"THIRTY-SIX YEARS AGO"
Inyo Independent, May 3, 1873.
Summary: Inyo County Assessor Frank Dillon had a horse stolen at Big Pine. A chase was made after the thief, whom they caught at McBride’s Ranch near Benton. The horsethief was Harry Kane.

1920

Inyo Register, September 16, 1920
Summary: Death of a woman, 43 years old. Native of Mono County, born in Bishop. Lived in Benton most of her life. She was the sister of H.B. Patterson, Treasurer of Mono County, and Grant Patterson.

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Page Revised: 05/03/2007