 Among his writings were parodies and satires of other writers, including "The Stolen Cigar-Case" featuring ace detective "Hemlock Jones", which Ellery Queen praised as "probably the best parody of Sherlock Holmes ever written".The 1860 massacre of between 80 and 200 Wiyot Indians at the village of Tuluwat (near Eureka in Humboldt County, California) was reported by Harte in San Francisco and New York.While serving as assistant editor of the "Northern Californian", Harte was left in charge of the paper during the temporary absence of his boss, Stephen G. Whipple.