Downieville in Sierra County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Shooting of Thaddeus Purdy

Photographed by Syd Whittle, June 27, 2011

1. The Shooting of Thaddeus Purdy Marker

Inscription. In the Fall of 1853 a miner known as “Muntz” knifed and fatally wounded “Baltimore Jack” over a game of cards in Forest City. Muntz was taken to Downieville and held upstairs in the Craycroft Building for want of a jail. The next day a Forest City mob armed with “great clubs, knives, and revolvers” and “yelling like demons” attempted to take and hang Muntz. A shot rang out and Thaddeus Purdy, Sierra County’s first District Attorney fell with a bullet to his brain. He died on a table in the saloon, the victim of a friend “handling the hammer of his revolver when it slipped through his fingers”. The astonished crowd “slunk away”. Muntz was acquitted on the grounds of self defense.

Erected 2002 by Major William Downie, Chapter No. 1849, E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.

Location. 39° 33.619′ N, 120° 49.673′ W. Marker is in Downieville, California, in Sierra County. It is on Main Street east of Commercial Street (California Highway 49). Marker is mounted at the far left of the Craycroft Building facing Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Downieville CA 95936, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sierra Nevada.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Downieville Historic Riverfront District (here, next to this marker); Craycroft Building (a few steps from this marker); St. Charles Hotel (a few steps from this marker); Mackerman & Company Building (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Downieville Historic Riverfront District (a few steps from this marker); Downieville (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory of Juanita (within shouting distance of this marker); Josefa Segovia (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Downieville.

Also see . . .
1. Political History of Nineteenth Century Sierra County. In this publication by the Sierra County Historical Society, there is a detailed account of the shooting of Thaddeus Purdy and the events that led up to it. (Submitted on June 28, 2011.)

2. Shooting of Thadeus Purdy. Excerpted from An Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties (San Francisco: Fariss & Smith (Submitted on September 8, 2015, by James King of San Miguel, California.)

The Craycroft Building and The Shooting of Thaddeus Purdy Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, June 27, 2011

2. The Craycroft Building and The Shooting of Thaddeus Purdy Marker

Marker is mounted at the far left of the building facing Main Street.

The Craycroft Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, June 27, 2011

3. The Craycroft Building

Credits. This page was last revised on October 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 28, 2011, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 831 times since then and 9 times this year. Last updated on September 8, 2015, by James King of San Miguel, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 28, 2011, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.