Honey Valley, California Treasure
Nestled within the expansive landscape of California lies a place shrouded in history, mystery, and the enduring allure of hidden riches: Honey Valley. Located in present-day Lassen County, this fertile basin, once known as Honey Lake Valley, evokes images of sun-drenched fields, the gentle lapping of water against the shore, and whispers of a bygone era when dreams of gold and fortune drew prospectors from far and wide. The story of Honey Valley is not just about the land itself, but also about the individuals who sought to make their mark upon it, sometimes with tragic consequences.
The narrative of Honey Valley is interwoven with the tale of Henry Gordier, a French immigrant who, like many others, sought his fortune in the California goldfields. Arriving with hope and determination, Gordier struck gold and by 1857, had amassed enough wealth to leave behind the arduous life of a miner. He purchased land north of Honey Lake, near Baxter Creek, a location just south of the eastern slope of Bald Mountain. This marked a new chapter in his life, one where he envisioned himself as a successful rancher, living off the fruits of his hard-earned labor.
Gordier, along with a prospecting partner named Isaac Coulthurst, decided to invest in a herd of cattle. They purchased the livestock from a group of Mormons in Carson Valley who were returning to Salt Lake City. Gordier took possession of the majority of the herd, ready to begin his life as a rancher in Honey Valley. Little did he know that his dream would soon be shattered by the dark undercurrents that flowed beneath the surface of this seemingly idyllic valley.
The tranquility of Honey Valley was marred by the presence of individuals with questionable pasts and even more dubious intentions. In a cabin near Lassen Creek lived John Mullen and Asa Snow, two men known for their unsavory reputations. Snow was rumored to have committed murder before arriving in the valley, while Mullen was suspected of being a cattle rustler. Their presence alone cast a shadow over the area, but the arrival of William Combs Edwards further darkened the atmosphere. Edwards was a fugitive, wanted for the murder of a postmaster named Mr. Snelling in Merced County, California. A hefty reward of $1500 was offered for his capture, prompting him to flee to Genoa, Nevada.
In Genoa, Edwards crossed paths with William B. Thorrington, a man of means more commonly known as "Lucky Bill." Thorrington was a gambler with a "shady" reputation, a fitting companion for the likes of Mullen and Edwards. After their meeting, Edwards sought refuge at Mullen and Snow’s cabin, where he worked a nearby placer mine, hoping to remain hidden from the law.
The arrival of "Lucky Bill" Thorrington in Honey Valley in the spring of 1858 proved to be a pivotal moment. During his visit to the cabin on Lassen Creek, he learned about Gordier’s valuable herd of cattle. He initially expressed interest in purchasing some of the livestock, but instead left without making any contact with Gordier. Shortly after Thorrington’s departure, Mullen and Edwards approached Gordier, attempting to persuade him to sell his cattle. However, Gordier, content with his burgeoning ranch, firmly declined.
Despite Gordier’s refusal, Asa Snow moved into his cabin by March, signaling a sinister turn of events. Soon after, Gordier vanished without a trace. Snow, Mullen, and Edwards told the community that they had purchased Gordier’s land and cattle, claiming to have borrowed the money from "Lucky Bill" and that Gordier had returned to France. However, the suddenness of Gordier’s departure and the lack of any farewell raised suspicion among his neighbors.
Gordier was well-liked by the residents of Honey Valley, and his abrupt disappearance without a word seemed highly uncharacteristic. When a letter arrived from Gordier’s younger brother, who also lived in the United States, confirming that Henry had supposedly returned to France, the suspicions deepened. The brother knew that Henry would never leave the country without visiting him first, further fueling the belief that something was amiss. The locals decided that Mullen and Edwards should be questioned about Gordier’s whereabouts. However, upon learning of the impending inquiry, the pair immediately fled the valley.
Determined to uncover the truth, the locals launched their own investigation. Near the Susan River, they discovered a burned-out fire with metal buttons in the ashes. Nearby, they found traces of dried blood and telltale foot and hoof prints. A search of the river revealed the horrifying truth: Gordier’s body, tied up in a sack and weighed down with a large rock, lay submerged at the bottom.
The discovery of Gordier’s body sent shockwaves through Honey Valley. Suspicion immediately fell upon Snow, who was still residing in Gordier’s cabin. Although Snow denied any involvement in the murder, he was taken into custody. A trial was swiftly convened, and a verdict was reached: Gordier had been murdered by Mullen and Edwards, with "Lucky Bill" and Snow acting as accomplices. Snow, being the only one in custody, was summarily hanged from a pine tree on the north shore of Honey Lake and buried beneath that very same tree, a grim testament to the swift justice of the era.
The locals, driven by a thirst for justice, traveled to Genoa, Nevada, where they apprehended Edwards, who was hiding with Thorrington. On June 19, 1858, "Lucky Bill" was placed in a wagon beneath a scaffold, a noose tightening around his neck. The team started dragging the body from the wagon, and Thorrington slowly choked to death. Edwards was returned to Honey Valley, where he met a similar fate, hanged on June 23 for his role in Gordier’s murder. John Mullen, however, managed to elude capture and disappeared, never to be seen again.
With the perpetrators brought to justice, the attention of the residents turned to Gordier’s land. Knowing that he had brought a significant amount of money and gold nuggets with him, they believed that he had buried his wealth somewhere near his cabin. Despite extensive searches, no one ever claimed to have found Gordier’s hidden fortune.
However, the legend of Gordier’s buried treasure persisted. Nineteen years later, in November 1877, a woman named Mary L. Dunn stumbled upon a large gold nugget near the site where Gordier’s cabin once stood. The next day, she returned to the area with two men, who discovered several smaller nuggets. Despite their continued efforts, these few nuggets were the only remnants of Gordier’s hidden wealth that were ever found.
Today, the cache of gold, estimated to be worth around $40,000 in Gordier’s time, is still believed to be buried somewhere in the vicinity of Honey Valley. The legend of the hidden treasure continues to draw treasure hunters and dreamers to the area, hoping to uncover the long-lost fortune of the ill-fated French prospector. The story of Henry Gordier serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that even in the pursuit of wealth and prosperity, the allure of greed and violence can lurk just beneath the surface, forever altering the course of history.