Gun Play at Convict Lake

This is the saga of the historical 1871 Nevada State Prison break as six of the twenty-nine escapees fled south. After killing a mail rider near Sweetwater, Nevada, they travelled on into California’s Eastern Sierra Nevada where their atrocities continued.

Hearing of their deeds, a posse from Benton Hot Springs followed the six desperados to beautiful Monte Diablo Lake above Long Valley. A murderous gun battle took place September 23, 1871.

Not long after the shoot out, local Mono and Inyo County residents renamed the site where Robert Morrison and Mono Jim were killed - Convict Lake.