by S. L. Stoner
The story’s reference to traveling bands of Gypsies selling lace and mending pots in Central Oregon came from the brief mention in a Prineville newspaper of that time. Similarly, there were in fact, two Portland-based Jewish brothers who were very well-known in Central Oregon. As stated in the story, for many years, these two men supplied remote ranches with trinkets and small items of necessity in exchange for fleeces.
Mexicans contributed early to Oregon’s growth. Initially, they worked leading the pack trains that supplied goods to miners. They were considered highly skilled in handling pack animals. When the French-Glen ranch in the Steens Mountain area was formed, Peter French imported a number of Mexicans to work with the cattle because of their reputation as cowboys. With the onset of the Spanish American war, Mexicans were made to feel unwelcome. Consequently, many left Oregon, with the few remaining living in remote areas or working the French-Glen ranch. The Mexican prospector in this story, however, is a fictional character.
A teamster named Steve Yancy did haul the first electric plant into Central Oregon. He made seven trips down Cow Canyon with the equipment, using 2 ten-horse teams each trip. Charges for electricity were based on the number of light bulbs in the house with the standard being 5 cents per month for every 16 candle-watts of use. That five cents powered a light bulb that cast a light about as powerful as a 20watt bulb.
Gold was twice found in Scissor’s Creek. The first gold strike occurred in the early 1870’s. A second try at prospecting the creek, both by placer mining and lode mining, was successful such that gold was being extracted up through 1937.
For a short bibliography and photos, please visit: www.yamhillpress.net.
About the Author
S. L. Stoner is a native of the Pacific Northwest who has worked as a citizen change agent and as a labor union and civil rights attorney for many years. She lives with her husband and two dogs in Portland, Oregon and Packwood, Washington when not traveling to do research or just see the sights.
Acknowledgments
As noted previously, Prineville’s history has been recorded by a number of diligent local historians, past and present. Many thanks go to the Museum’s Steve Lent, a meticulous historian, and to the Museum’s volunteers for uncovering and preserving the area’s history.
Special thank you’s are also sent to Denise Collins and Claudine Paris for their helpful suggestions and painstaking proofreading. I apologize in advance for any factual, grammatical or typographical errors and claim them to be solely my own.
I also want to thank the readers of this series and the folks who made prior books in the series possible, including Helen Nickum, Joel Rosenblit, Sally Frese, Denise Collins, Sally Stoner, George Slanina and others that I am sure I have inadvertently forgotten to list. I especially want to thank Alec “Icky” Dunn for his wonderful book covers that capture the essence of each story and the series. Josh MacPhee also deserves recognition for his consistently good layout design. One way or another, this series exists because of these talented people.
This book was written during a difficult year both personally and professionally. I need to thank my dear friends and family. The love and affection they freely gave to me did much to smooth the bumps in the road. I especially thank Bruce Hansen for his steadfast kindness, grace and strength under fire. I also need to acknowledge authors Anna Johnson and Caroline Miller who have been extremely helpful and supportive.
During the writing of this book I learned that, for over twenty-three years, I have had undiagnosed Lyme disease and at least two other co-infections. Pam Pennington, poet, author and medical massage therapist, kept many of my worst symptoms at bay pending that diagnosis. I owe her a debt of gratitude I can never repay. The Center for Disease Control now estimates that, each year, there are 40,000 new cases of Lyme disease. The Lyme bacteria and its related co-infections are pernicious because they roam throughout the body causing seemingly unrelated physical distresses. At this point, very few doctors know how to diagnose or treat it. I write of this because too many peoples’ reports of these types of illnesses are discounted by the medical profession. I learned, the hard way, that is important to listen to your body and advocate like hell for yourself until you get an answer.
Finally, as always, my best friend and partner, George Slanina, deserves much credit for this series and for most good things in my life. I am beyond grateful that I have him and each and every reader, friend, family member, and series helper in my life.
Other Mystery Novels
in the Sage Adair Historical Mystery Series
by S. L. Stoner
Timber Beasts
A secret operative in America’s 1902 labor movement, leading a double life that balances precariously on the knife-edge of discovery, finds his mission entangled with the fate of a young man accused of murder.
Land Sharks
Two men have disappeared, sending Sage Adair on a desperate search that leads him into the Stygian blackness of Portland’s underground to confront murderous shanghaiers, a lost friendship, and his own dark fears.
Dry Rot
A losing labor strike, a dead construction boss, a union leader framed for murder, a ragpicker poet, and collapsing bridges, all compete for Sage Adair’s attention as he slogs through the Pacific Northwest’s rain and mud to find answers before someone else dies.
Black Drop
Crisis always arrives in twos. Assassins plan to kill President Theodore Roosevelt and blame the labor movement. Young boys are slated for an appalling fate. If Sage Adair missteps, people will die. Panic becomes the most dangerous enemy of all in this adventure.
Request for Pre-Publication Notice
If you would like to receive notice of the publication date of the next Sage Adair historical mystery novel, please contact Yamhill Press, at www.yamhillpress.net