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The two trying to get away from the other convicts were eventually captured on the east side of the White Mountains, the range you can see from Convict across the Caldaria to the East, and returned to prison in Carson City. A new posse was formed in Bishop to track down and take revenge on Morton, Black and Roberts for killing Morrison and Mono Jim.

It was September 27th when they finally captured Morton and Black just north of Bishop. Roberts was nowhere to be found. Black was wounded during the capture, but survived. Morton and Black claimed Roberts had killed Morrison, which caused the posse to resume their search for the young man. Two days later they caught up with Roberts. When he confronted Morton, it was obvious to the posse that Morton and Black had killed Morrison and Mono Jim and that Jones, with Morton, had killed Billy Poor.

On October 1st the prisoners were loaded on a wagon and started for the trip back to the jail in Carson City. All of a sudden the wagon was surrounded by a large group of vigilantes. Without any resistance, the guards turned over the prisoners to the vigilantes. They took the convicts to a nearby cabin and held a trial. After only a short deliberation, the votes were taken. The "jury" agreed that Morton and Black should be hung at once and that Roberts, the boy stage robber, would be sent back to jail.

By November 15th, 18 of the original 29 convicts had been captured, Morton and Black were hung, and Jones and nine others were still at large. The escape had caused a great deal of controversy and dispute throughout southern Nevada, both Inyo and Mono Counties in eastern California.

Even today we can see the results from this historical event. Monte Diablo Creek and Lake were re-named Convict Creek and Lake. The 12,000 foot plus mountain overlooking Convict Lake was re-named Mount Morrison in honor of the slain Benton Merchant and Wells Fargo Agent. The smaller mountain in front of Morrison was named Mono Jim after the slain Deputy guide. There are also several other less well know, and somewhat disputed, outcomes from this momentous adventure. And as students of history know, sometimes actual events are confused with wishful thinking; hence the birth of Urban Legends.              Read on . . .