Bloody Benders - Deaths and Disappearances

Deaths and Disappearances

In May 1871, the body of a man named Jones, who had had his skull crushed and his throat cut, was discovered in Drum Creek. The owner of the Drum Creek claim was suspected but no action was taken. In February 1872, the bodies of two men were found who had the same injuries as Jones. By 1873, reports of missing people who had passed through the area had become so common that travelers began to avoid the trail. The area was already widely known for horse thieves and "villains" and vigilance committees often "arrested" some for the disappearances, only for them to be later released by the authorities. Many "honest" men under suspicion were also run out of the country by these committees.