The third version appears in Asa Fairfield’s Pioneer History of Lassen County published in 1916. Unlike Version Two they share few similarities. One important fact, Dodge in Version Two has the main instigator as Joseph Hall, when Fairfield duly notes its Joe Hale. This is important, when Hale returned to Susanville concerning the Indian encampment he encountered, he had the forum to relay the news—he was half-owner of the Pioneer Saloon. It should be noted that Fairfield relied entirely that of William Dow, one of the participants.
In June 1866, when Joe Hale went in search of stray horses some ten miles west of Susanville he spotted a number of Indians who did not appear to be local. It had been well known, especially with the Indian Valley Maidu had been providing ammunition to the renegade band of Paiutes of Northern Washoe County. It was Hale’s opinion this ammunition would be used on a attack at Camp McGarry and relayed the same to the residents of Susanville when he returned.
The next day a posse of five men—William Dow, E.V. Spencer, Joe Hale, Byron Gray, Charles Drum—organized to break of up this ammunition exchange with the Indians.They followed the Indians tracks and spent their first night at Martin Springs, near present day McCoy Flat Reservoir. The next day they went up north to Champs Flat and spent the night there. The next day they went south along the west side of Eagle Lake. By the time they reached the south shore Dow and Gray stopped to let the horses rest. The others carried on the pursuit and came across an Indian encampment at what would be known as Papoose Meadows. According to Dow, the posse found the camp consisted of women from Indian Valley, and that the men had left camp to hunt. That night when the posse re-grouped it would attack either at night or towards dawn.
The next morning they did. Dow stated four Indian men were killed, one injured and escaped [Joaquin] and another fled with horses. This differs dramatically from Version Two. There is no reference to what happened to the Indian women, or whether ammunition was found or seized.
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