In the vast, golden landscape of mid-19th century California, tales of immense wealth and brutal fates often intertwined, none more compelling than the saga of the Honey Valley Treasure. This enduring legend centers on Henry Gordier, a French immigrant whose prospecting success in California allowed him to embrace a new life, only for it to be tragically cut short by the very greed his fortune attracted, leaving behind the elusive Honey Valley Treasure that still captivates treasure hunters today.
By 1857, Henry Gordier had achieved the California Dream, having successfully prospected for gold and accumulated a substantial fortune. Weary of the arduous labor, he sought a more settled existence, purchasing a significant tract of land on Baxter Creek, just north of Honey Lake. This picturesque acreage, nestled south of the east end of Bald Mountain in what is now Lassen County, became the foundation for Gordier’s new life as a rancher. To establish his new enterprise, Gordier partnered with Isaac Coulthurst, and together they acquired a large herd of cattle from a group of Mormons in Carson Valley who were returning to Salt Lake. Gordier took possession of the majority of the herd, envisioning a peaceful and prosperous future on his recently acquired property.
A Shadow of Villains Descends on Honey Valley
Unfortunately for Gordier, the serenity of Honey Valley was about to be shattered by a cast of notorious characters whose reputations preceded them. Nearby, in a secluded cabin on Lassen Creek, resided John Mullen and Asa Snow, two men of ill repute. Snow was rumored to have committed murder before his arrival in Honey Valley, while Mullen was a suspected cattle rustler, a dangerous profession in the burgeoning ranching communities. Adding to this unsavory mix was William Combs Edwards, a man actively sought for a $1,500 bounty for the murder of postmaster Mr. Snelling in Merced County in the fall of 1857. Edwards had fled to Genoa, Nevada, where he befriended William B. Thorrington, more commonly known as “Lucky Bill.” Thorrington was a prominent, though deeply ‘shady,’ gambler whose reputation was scarcely better than that of his newfound associates.
After their initial meeting, Edwards found refuge at the Lassen Creek cabin shared by Mullen and Snow, where he occupied himself working a nearby placer mine. The spring of 1858 brought “Lucky Bill” Thorrington to Honey Valley to visit the trio. Upon learning of Henry Gordier’s impressive cattle herd, “Lucky Bill” feigned interest in purchasing some livestock. However, he departed Honey Valley without ever approaching Gordier directly. Shortly thereafter, Mullen and Edwards began to press Gordier about selling some of his cattle, but the Frenchman, content with his ranching plans, consistently expressed his disinterest.
The Disappearance of Henry Gordier and Rising Suspicions
Despite Gordier’s clear refusal, events took a sinister turn. By March, Asa Snow had inexplicably moved into Gordier’s cabin, and Henry Gordier himself was nowhere to be found. Snow, Mullen, and Edwards propagated a story that they had purchased Gordier’s entire holdings, allegedly borrowing the necessary funds from “Lucky Bill,” and that Gordier had returned to France. This abrupt departure, however, struck Gordier’s neighbors as highly uncharacteristic. Henry was a well-liked and respected member of the community, and it seemed utterly implausible that he would leave so suddenly without a word of farewell.
The community’s suspicions were further inflamed when a letter arrived from Gordier’s younger brother, who also resided in the states. The brother had been informed that Henry had returned to France, but he immediately recognized this as a falsehood. He knew unequivocally that his brother would never have returned to their homeland without first visiting him. This revelation galvanized the locals, leading them to decide that Mullen and Edwards required questioning. Upon hearing of the community’s intentions, the pair promptly fled the valley, cementing the conviction that something terrible had befallen Henry Gordier.
Unraveling the Murder and Seeking Justice
Driven by their grave suspicions, the determined locals initiated an intensive investigation into Gordier’s disappearance. Their diligent search soon uncovered a chilling scene: a burned-out fire pit near the Susan River, within whose ashes they found several metal buttons. Nearby, ominous signs of dried blood stained the ground, accompanied by distinct footprints and hoofprints. Expanding their search to the Susan River itself, the investigators made the gruesome discovery of Henry Gordier’s body, grotesquely tied up in a sack and sunk to the bottom by a large rock, confirming the community’s worst fears – Gordier had been brutally murdered.
With the horrifying truth revealed, attention immediately turned to Asa Snow, who continued to occupy Gordier’s cabin. Despite persistent questioning, Snow vehemently denied any involvement in the murder. Nevertheless, he was taken into custody. A swift trial ensued, concluding with a verdict that Henry Gordier had been murdered by Mullen and Edwards, with “Lucky Bill” Thorrington and Snow implicated as accomplices. As Snow was the only one in custody, justice was swift and brutal; he was immediately hanged from a towering pine tree on the north shore of Honey Lake and buried beneath its branches. The community then extended their pursuit to Genoa, Nevada, where they successfully located Edwards hiding with Thorrington. On June 19, 1858, “Lucky Bill” Thorrington met his grim end, placed in a wagon beneath a scaffold with a noose around his neck. As the team moved, dragging the wagon away, Thorrington slowly choked to death. Edwards was then returned to Honey Lake, where he, too, was hanged on June 23rd, suffering the same fate as his co-conspirators. John Mullen, the final member of the murderous quartet, proved more elusive, successfully evading capture and disappearing from historical record, never to be seen again.
The Enduring Mystery of the Honey Valley Treasure
Following the swift administration of justice for Henry Gordier’s murder, the locals turned their attention to the persistent rumors of the Frenchman’s hidden wealth. It was widely known that Gordier had accumulated substantial sums of money and valuable gold nuggets from his prospecting days, and it was widely supposed that this fortune had been buried somewhere near his cabin. Despite concerted efforts and extensive searches of the area surrounding Gordier’s former dwelling, no one claimed to have found any trace of the hidden fortune, and the whereabouts of the Honey Valley Treasure remained a mystery.
However, nearly two decades later, in November 1877, a glimmer of hope for the lost wealth emerged. By this time, Gordier’s original cabin had long since vanished, leaving little trace. Yet, a woman named Mary L. Dunn, exploring the very site where the Frenchman’s cabin once stood, made a significant discovery: a large gold nugget. Inspired by her find, she returned the following day with two men who, through careful searching, unearthed several smaller nuggets. Despite their continued efforts and an expanded search of the vicinity, these few nuggets were the only additional treasures they discovered, leaving the bulk of Gordier’s fabled wealth still unaccounted for. The discovery by Mary L. Dunn only served to fuel the legend, rather than resolve it.
Conclusion: The Lingering Allure of Lost Gold
The tragic tale of Henry Gordier is a dark chapter in California’s frontier history, a story of an immigrant’s dream turning into a nightmare of betrayal and murder. Though justice was largely served for his untimely death, the fate of his substantial fortune, the fabled Honey Valley Treasure, remains one of the state’s most enduring mysteries. Estimated to be worth approximately $40,000 in Gordier’s time—a truly princely sum—the cache is still widely believed to be hidden somewhere in the Honey Lake Valley area. The allure of this lost gold continues to draw treasure seekers and history enthusiasts, hoping to be the one to finally unearth Henry Gordier’s hidden legacy and bring the legend of the Honey Valley Treasure to its ultimate conclusion.
