The renowned pioneer, Peter Lassen, first passed this spot in 1848 while guiding a small party of American emigrants to his rancho in California. They were following the Applegate Trail, also known as the Southern Route to Oregon, which passed through the Black Rock Desert approximately three miles to the west.
On April 26, 1859, Peter Lassen and Edward Clapper were slain at this site while on a prospecting trip. The men were camped by a large boulder when shots rang out from the rocky cliffs above. A third companion, Lemericus Wyatt, managed to escape and ride bareback without sleep or food to the settlements in Honey Lake Valley.
The remains of both Lassen and Clapper were buried here by a party from Honey Lake Valley shortly after the murders. Peter Lassen's remains were retrieved by a party of Free Masons in November of 1859 and reburied near Susanville beneath a monument commemorating his achievements. Although the public decried the fact that Clapper's remains were left at the site, no one ever returned to retrieve them. Over time the location of the site was lost. In May 1990, recreationists discovered Clapper's remains eroding out of the stream bed adjacent to the large boulder. Clapper was reburied adjacent to the Lassen Monument in 1992. Several theories about the murder have been proposed but the identity and motive of the assailant(s) remain a mystery.
Access
Open to the public. CAUTION: Use extreme caution before heading to this site which is extremely remote and very harsh. Only 4WD vehicles are appropriate for this trip. Before leaving Gerlach, inquire about road conditions. The Nevada BLM maintains a website devoted to the Black Rock Desert which is helpful for planning any trip to this region. Be sure to inquire in Gerlach about road conditions before setting out. The Black Rock Desert should not be underestimated and a trip to this site should never be undertaken without proper planning and equipment.
View on the Black Rock from the cache site
