PLSO The Oregon Surveyor November December 2020

25 Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon  |  www.plso.org The Lost Surveyor in addition to surveying, he was a juror on the first murder trial in Sacramento County. In 1849, he was sent to explore northern California and eventually made his way to Goose Lake near Lakeview. His expedition that led to Lakeview was to lo- cate passes in the northern Sierra Nevada range which could facilitate an east-west railroad grade through the mountains. In the Lakeview area, he followed routes es- tablished by Captain John C. Fremont east to a point near present day Adel, Oregon. Just who was he? Born in 1812, a month before the outbreak of war, Lt. William Horace Warner grew up to become a graduate of West Point and an officer in the United States Army Corps of Topographical Engineers. After he arrived at Goose Lake, Warner divided his patrol and headed north toward Lake Abert and then east over what is now Warner Pass and into the Warner Valley. He then head- ed south towards California to complete his reconnaissance and rejoin the rest of his patrol. On September 26, 1849, his reconnaissance party was ambushed by Native Americans and he was killed in the initial assault. Drews Reservoir is named for Lt. Col. Charles Drew who led an expe- dition from Fort Klamath to explore east from there. Drew named the Warner Val- ley in William Warner’s honor. Numerous other locations in this part of Oregon are named for Warner. Army Topographical Engineer and Surveyor William H. Warner connects the history of Lakeview, the Warner Valley, and Alcatraz. Heperformedworkwhichwaswell-regarded for its accuracy and quality. The history of this reputable Army surveyor of southeast Oregon is inspired by the passing of Sean Connery. Here’s a toast to both men for careers well spent.  x Footnote: Tim Kent informed me of another Oregon-Alcatraz connection. Oregon-born BLM surveyors Ron Scherler and Norm Springer were surveying for the NPS when the Golden Gate Park was expanded in the 1970s. This included Alcatraz Island and also some additional land around Golden Gate National Park in San Francisco proper. They set a Special Meander Corner on the island. References • Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_H._Warner • Military Wikia: https://military.wikia.org/wiki/William_H._Warner • National Park Service websites: https://www.nps.gov/prsf/learn/historyculture/upload/defendgate.pdf https://www.nps.gov/alca/index.htm • Alcatraz History: https://www.alcatrazhistory.com/rock/rock-02.htm Leslie Gulch Warner Valley