Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-04-16

Der II, 1852
II have just received your communication Of this date
requesting such information may be able TO furnish
YOU likely be of service in the execution of your du
ties as superintendent of Indian affairs in this country
and asking transportation for agent r. Mckee with the
troops about proceed TO the northern boundaries Of the
State.
Our duties will necessarily have much influence upon
each other and it will afford the greatest pleasure to
furnish you any information may chance have which
may promise to be useful In regard TO agent Mckee,
regret say, but do from Of duty, that his
presence with the troops will not in my opinion be pro-
ductiye of any advantage to the public Information to
extent and rumor to much greater extent, have
impaired my confidence IN COL McKees usefulness as
public agent and do not hesitate request that may
not be directed to accompany the troops"
With respect to sub-agent johnson, / made commu-
ncaon to the Department the 30th September 1852,
(of which here give extract and add that he has
given out various certificates, Of which some pre-
scented to for payment and refused also that he drew
drafts of which for cattle which had been
delivered and Of all which transactions he may have
made report to the Government
Extract Of letter from Superintendent Beae to Luke Lea
Esq., Commissioner Of Indian affairs dated San Fran
cisco, September 30, 1862.
adam Johnson late Indian sub-agent called on me
few days ago with the verbal request that would settle
his accounts. 1t appears he dismissed from the
service in January and has nevertheless failed that
time to forward his accounts for settlement As the
date of his dismissal previous to my appointment,
and the fault that his accounts remained unsettled his
e.
replied to him, however that if he brought the subject
before in official manner, would give it my atten-
ton. believe he has since sent them to Washington"
believe the drafts drawn for cattle not yet delivered
for 200 head, of which 700 by agent Wozen
craft, and 400 by subagent Johnson These transac-
tons took place before appointed superintendent
and reported for the information of the Department
and the explanation of the parties Agent Wozencraft is
here, and the holders of the Johnson drafts also.
now turn to the condition of the Indians in California
and the necessity of doing something for their relief and
protection Their condition is truly deplorable; driven
from their hunting and fishing grounds in danger of
starving, many of them made to work entirely without
compensation, and continual massacres going on To
give account of all these impossible, and shall chief
ly have to official reports heretofore made
sample of what is DONE and to show the necessity of
lieving them. And first, give instance of this new
mode of oppression to the Indians of catching them like
cattle and making them work, and turning them to
starve and die when the vorkseason over relates
to scene Of which there many instances and the
knowledge of which coming to from report out
reliable person to attend to the 1t be added
that these oppressed Indians, while actually starving
death, only fifteen miles from San Francisco, sur
rounded by settlers and their stock and took nothing
The indictment spoken of consider ending in nothing
Copy Of letter from j. H. Jenkins to Superintendent Beale
dated San Francisco, January Is, 1853.
81 have the honor of informing you that in obedience
to your letter of instructions of date December g. 1852
went to the San Pablo rancho Contra Costa county
to investigate the matter of alleged cruel of In
dams there found seveny-eght Oh this rancho, and
twelve back of Martinez, and they there of
them SICK all without clothes any food but the fruit
of the buckeye. Up to the time of my coming eighteen
had died OF starvation at one camp; how many at the
other could not learn These Indians were broug into
this county from some place Clear lake by Cali
fornians, named Ramon Briones Ramon Mesa Jose NJ |
Quera Jose Francisco and Juan Beryessa who have for
some time made i business Of catching and in various
ways disposing of Them and have been informed that
many Indians have been murdered in these expeditions
These present Indians the survivors of band who
were worked all last and fall and as the winter
set in, when broken down by hunger and labor without
food Clothes they turned adrft to shift for them
selves best they could. Your timely interference in
behalf Of these unfortunate people has saved the lives of
most Of them for Indians could not have lived through
such weather as we have had without any food clothing,
Dr. shelter.
81 distributed all the well among families around who
ire to feed, cothe, and protect them till your further
orders have made provision for the sick to be fed.
am happy to inform to show the good character of
these Indians that when starving and surrounded
with horses and cattle yet heard complaint of their
stealing These people could easily be made support
themselves and their condition changed for the better
The grand jury Of the county has found bills against these
men, and presume their trial will come next term"
These Indians offered by their captors the farm
ers in the neighborhood for hire dollar day but
that price considered too high for beings low in
flesh, and rather than lower the price they allowed
to starve reported. 1t is common practice and
know to be such to catch Indian children when they
out gathering acons, aad take them and hold them
slaves. Not two months ago impored to restore
which had been taken from the YoKei tribe in this
way. know there great many Indians held as
slaves in this way, taken captive some of the forays
have described.
BY the last mail from California have received the
following letters on the same subject / here submit
them They need no comments
MARTINEZ
DEAR SIR have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
Of your favor Of the 9th umo, in which you desire
such information may have concerning treatment of
Indians in this county most cheeruly respond to your
wishes In the discharge Of my duties District Attor
ney obtained the following information, which is sub
stantated by reliable evidence:
Ramon Brones Mesa, Quiera, and Beryessa Of Napa
county, are in the habit Of kidnapping Indians in the
Clear lake and in their capture several
have been murdered in cold blood There have been In
dams the number Of hundred and thirty-sx thus
captured and brought into this county and held here in
seryitude adverse to their will These Indians
said be in the possession of Brones Mesa and Beryes
and sundry other persons who have purchased them in
this county 1t is also notorious fact that these Indians
treated nhumanly being neither fed clothed and
from such treatment many have already died. and disease
is threatening destruction of the remainder All the
Indians aude brought here forcbly and against
their will From my observation that class Of population
who have these Indians treat them like brutes than
human beings.
There is also regular organized company Of persons
capture and sell these Indians and several have lately
been so disposed Of to William and Ramon Castro
There is pending a suit against the persons above
named for Kidnapping these Indians but the statutes of
this State afford adequate protection against cruel
Respectfully, RN wooDs.
j. II. JENKINS, ESQ.
Ga