Convict Lake

History

The Paiute Indians of the region are said to have called Convict Lake Wit-sa-nap:

"The streams which flowed from the mountains were supposed to be filled with Pot-sa-wa-gees, water babies, who lived in spirit, but were visible to the eye, having the face of an Indian child and the body of a fish." — According to Indian legend, Hi-na-nu was a wise and noble man, whose spirit was revered by the Indians and to whom they looked for guidance in earthly matters."

Convict Lake, then known to Europeans as Monte Diablo, came to assume its present name in an unusual manner. On September 17, 1871, 29 prisoners, including murderers, horse thieves, train robbers, and other such convicts, escaped from the Nevada State Prison in Carson City, killing one guard and wounding several others. The prisoners split into two groups, one of which was led by convicted murderer Charlie Jones. Jones previously had lived in Mono and Inyo counties and led his group south toward the Mammoth Lakes area. Needing food and supplies, the escaped convicts robbed several people as they went along their way. Crossing the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Jones had hoped to reach the range's western slope, where they would be safe from pursuit. Jones correctly assumed that a Carson City posse was on their trail, but the posse, from Benton, California, led by Deputy Sheriff George Hightower, had given up within a couple of days and turned back. Meanwhile, on horseback, Billy Poor, a mail rider who was delivering mail for his first time, had accidentally encountered the group camped out near Convict Creek, a few miles south from the lake. The convicts naturally assumed that the rider, if permitted to continue on, would reveal their location. Subsequently, Jones captured the man and, with the help of Leandor Morton, killed him, after which they took his horse and clothing and dressed his body in discarded prison clothes.

Outraged that Poor, a Mono County resident, was murdered, the local community formed their own posse and pursued the convicts. By September 22, 1871, Sheriff George Hightower and Indian deputy Mono Jim led a new posse of 10 men and caught up to the convicts near Monte Diablo Creek. Early on the morning of September 23, Jones headed out for Bishop. Wanting to break off from their group, Jones and another man told the others that they were going to look for food. The four remaining convicts were soon approached by the new posse, and a shootout occurred, leaving Wells Fargo agent Morrison and Mono gunned down. The remaining convicts escaped to be captured later in Round Valley. By November 1, 18 of the 29 original prisoners had been captured. Jones and his partner had avoided the shootout but eventually were captured and executed. The remaining convicts were either killed in the shootout, or captured and lynched on the trip back to the prison. Mount Morrison, the highest peak in the area, was named after the slain Robert Morrison, with its nearby smaller peak named after Mono Jim.

1990 drownings

In February 1990, Convict Lake was the site of a major drowning. Twelve teenagers and two counselors from nearby Camp O'Neal, an institution for juvenile delinquents located near Whitmore Hot Springs, California, were there on a holiday outing. At least four teenagers and both adults fell through the thin ice and into the water. By the time the first rescuer arrived on the scene, only one teenager had been able to pull himself out of the water, but the other teenagers were no longer in sight, having apparently already drowned.

In all, three teenagers from the camp and four would-be rescuers drowned in the freezing water. Another youth and a volunteer fire chief were rescued. Shortly before their deaths, the youths had been advised that the ice was too thin to support their weight but failed to heed the warning.

As a result of the drownings, Camp O'Neal was investigated and subsequently shut down due to findings of abuse and neglect.

Recreation

Convict Lake is known for its fishing, including rainbow trout, German brown trout, and a species of sucker fish. Due to the high demand of fishing in the lake and stream, the lake is stocked once a week during the summer with rainbow trout, supplied by nearby hatcheries. The biggest fish caught in Convict Lake was a 19+1⁄2-pound (8.8 kg) German brown, in 1956. More recently, a 14+1⁄2-pound (6.6 kg) brown trout was caught on October 17, 1993, which also was the biggest trout caught in the Eastern Sierra that year.

A 3-mile (5 km) trail for hiking goes around the lake. Another trail connects the lake to the Sierra Crest.

In popular culture

• The Western film The Secret of Convict Lake (1951) was largely based on the events that occurred at the lake in 1871.
• The Western movie Nevada Smith (1966) was filmed here.
• The Western movie The Border Legion (1924) was filmed here.