In April of 1856, volunteers who had survived the Washington's Birthday Massacre at Ellensburg (now Gold Beach) went up the Rogue River seeking revenge on any natives they could find. When they reached Lobster Creek they laid low on the back side of this huge rock, which slopes gradually toward the mouth of the creek behind it, providing an ideal spot for an ambush. When two large canoes loaded with men and women eventually came down river, they opened fire and killed a dozen unsuspecting natives.