Queho

Queho (born around 1880;[1] his name was also spelled Quehoe on his grave[2] or Quejo in other sources) was a Native American outlaw and renegade[3][4] whose exploits became part of Nevada legend.[5] Many deaths were blamed on Queho and so he earned the title of being the first mass murderer in the state of Nevada[6] and "The Mad Indian"[7]

Queho
Bornc. 1880
Diedc. 1919
Body discovered1940
Details
State(s)Nevada

Biography

Queho was an outcast,[8] being called a "half-breed"[9] in the days when being half Native American[10] was not accepted. Queho's mother was from the Cocopah tribe. Queho was speculated to be partially Mexican, his mother died shortly after birth.

Queho took odd jobs around Eldorado Canyon.[11] He is said to have killed his half-brother and a 100-year-old blind Indian known to Queho as Canyon Charlie.[12] Queho had a club foot,[13] which left a distinctive impression[14] when he was being trailed. He is alleged to have eluded posses[15] and killed for food and supplies. Some say the fugitive Queho was not responsible for all of the murders that took place around the time period he lived.[16] Others say he was a cold-blooded killer[17] who would do anything to stay alive and survive. Queho was blamed for the death of Maude ("Daisy") J. Douglas[18] after a search outside the cabin at the Techatticup Mine[19] in Nelson, Nevada. Settlers said Queho cursed the land. They called it "The Curse of Queho."[20] In March 1919, the reward for capturing Queho "dead or alive" increased from an initial bounty of $1,000 to $3,000.[21][22][23]

In 1940, prospectors working near the Colorado River discovered a cave containing the mummified remains[24] of the Nevada desperado. His remains were buried only after being purchased by Queho's old nemesis, Frank Wait, a law officer,[25] before being given to the Las Vegas Elks Club, who exhibited the remains at Helldorado Days.[26] District attorney Roland Wiley secured the remains and gave Queho a proper burial[27] at Cathedral Canyon, Nevada.[28]

Media portrayals

Queho was portrayed by actor Buddy Noonan in Bill Burrud's Treasure television series[29] in Part 1[30] and Part 2[31] of the episodes on "Queho's Secret Hideout," which aired in 1958. Las Vegas singer-songwriter Russell Christian also told the story of Queho in the song "Queho", the final track of his second EP "Inyo County."

References

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