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

Colonel r. N. Wood the District Attorney informs
that there could be evidence enough had, with little
trouble and money sufficient 10 convict these parties
murder. As Ramon Briones has been admitted to bail
and has friends, he may still endeayor to carry of the In
dans To guard against this have requested several per-
sonal friends Of mine to prevent this at all hazards
Hoping that what have done may your approba-
ton, remain your obedient servant,
j, II. JENKINS, Special Agent.
EDWARD F. BEALE, Esq
Superintendent Indian A6airs for California
Cory Of letter from Roderict Mckee, Esq to Hon Luke
Lea Commissioner, dated San Francisco Apra 5, 1852.
Since my regular despatch per this steamer mail
ed have received from the temporary agent Shasta and
SCOTS valleys very unpleasant news revealing the
der almost IN cold blood of thirty forty Indians
at the ferry TO upper crossing OF the Klamath, and at IN
didn ftd two miles above about the 18th ultimo
Some time before young Indian, whom had at
Happy Camp in November and had commended TO the
protection OF Judge Roach had it appears been shot by
man named Irwin Il. Tompkins. He (the shot was
connected with the Indians at the ferry of whom
made complaints about his DEATH and gave miners
In the neghoorhood the idea that they the Indans
templaed revenge Instead of going the agent who,
with his interpreter could have settled the matter AMIGA
Oily In lew minutes the miners went down TO Happy
Camp, expressed their fears, raised party returned
surrounded the rapchera at the ferry and shot down all
the men there with several women they then proceeded
two miles further up the other village and in like
ner surrounded it and killed the inmates In all
thirty or forty fell The and children who escaped
fed to SCOTS valley, where, the agent says they
mourning the loss of their friends and almost wholly de-
pendent upon him for food.
What will be the result of this breach Of treaty.
arrangement and most unnecessary and cruel sacrifice of
lfe is OF course unknown but have fears that the law
OF retaliation, so deeply implanted in the Indian nature
Will again overcome all prudential considerations.
have received accounts Of almost similar outrage
mtted by small party of whites upon the Indians
Humboldt bay and Elk river resulting in the death of
some fifteen or twenty.
hare ~ III,
this country who deeply depore this savage spirit the
part of of the settlers living far distant from
the county Seats and their lives and property risk
they afraid to speak out they otherwise would
81 will I hope) receive further advices in few days
and by the next mail viii write you again.
In the mean time design appealing to the Governor
of the State to order scrutiny into the facts of these
outrages and take such measures may be proper
bring the offenders to justice In all the frontier settle
ments there many men from Missouri Oregon, Texas
&c. who value the life of Indian Just they do that
OF cdoa or wo and embrace every occasion to shoot
down despair of seeing the peace Of these settlements
fully established until the laws of the State enforced
some terrible examples made the Government Of the
United States send the military commandant of this dv
sion the and means establish several small militia
ry posts to protect the Indians from such attacks"
Extract Of communication from Agent Hozencra 10 Super
itendent Beale, dated San Francisco September g. 1852
g In conformity with your request hasten to place
before you brief synopsis of the state of affairs they
exist within my district likewise within the southern
district which fell under my supervision by request of
the agent who formerly had charge of said district An
emergency, however, occurred subsequently which rem
dered imperative me to visit and act in said district
" Since my last report to the Department, dated June
20 1907, there has been material change event in
the aforementioned districts of much moment with the
exception of of rather alarming nature
one which well calculated induce the Indians to
break their fealty 1t in consequence of having
number OF their people killed by party Of whites This
occurred within the reservation the Fresno river the
early part of july and they 1.-THE Indans appeared to
be ignorant of sufficient incite and bring down
on them such summary punishment it well calculated
to produce serious results which in oil probability would
have occurred had General Hitchcock taken active
measures to prevent it.
:" Immediately on learning that there probability
of such design against the Indians fastened up with
hope of being able to prevent it, but unfortunately,
the fatal act was consummaed before my arrival So
hasy they indeed that the Indians themselves were
of the fate that awaited them.
Most all the Indian men absent at the time, at
work some distance from home After informing myself
Of the particulars deemed due to the Executive of the
State to inform him of the fact the probability it
might terminate in war The following is copy:
% FRESNO RIVER, July 13, 1852.
I" HoSoRED SIR: deem it proper to inform you of a
serious occurrence which has lately ranspred Kings
river where party of charged with having made
an attack some Indians, living within reservation
apart for their occupancy and having killed several Of
them.
" The facts of the Esaction, stated me, of
such aggravated nature that deem it my duty take
cognzance of it, as the only means of preserving the
peaceful relationships established and subsistng be-
tween the Indians and the whites and cherish the hope
that the Executive of the State will deem it of sufficient
Importance to join with in maintaining the supremacy
OF the law, the only of preventing the
currence of similar outrages and preventing
' Please address me at San Francisco where expect
to be on the 10th instant.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
$50. NJ. W0ZENCRAFT,
u s. Indian Agent
. Hon. ]. BIGLER,
= GOpernor Of The STATE Of California
" regret to say that have not received 10
the above communication and thus left in doubt whe
Their the Governor deems the subject Of sufficient
Importance to claim his attention.
81 returned to San Francisco with view Of having
warrants issued for the accused parties and thus bring
them to trial before the Federal Court but sorry
say that have been disappointed
"The United States District Attorney, after giving the
subject that attention which its importance demanded
informs that he not Of the existence Of
any law that would apply in the CASE the Federal Court
having no jurisdiction in where life taken.
Z" The gentleman who commanded the party in this un-
fortunate affair soon after elected county judge
did think worth while