[4] On May 31, 1901, a group of masked men rushed the guards who were watching over five members of an extended family who were being held in custody in the town's hotel as Lookout, California did not have a jail.

The men, Daniel Yantes, Martin Wilson, and Frank, Jim and Calvin Hall were taken to the Pitt River Bridge, and hung from the railings.

Three had terrorized the locals for years; robbing, stealing, cattle rustling, vandalizing property and livestock.

Calvin the step father, also was innocent and was hung for fear of being able to name the members of the lynch mob.

When arrested for their crimes, the clan always hired attorneys who used their skills or bribery to get the charges dropped.

Lookout was suddenly full of reporters, bounty hunters, attorneys and state officials.

The overwhelming evidence of their guilt was discovered by John Boessenecker and published in his book Badge and Buckshot: Lawlessness in Old California (1988).

[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 5.5 square miles (14.1 km2), 97.83% of it land and 2.17% water.

[10] Federally, Lookout is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.