The Shasta courier., 1854-02-11
Indi.n Massacre :. Pi.s niver.

1trelce Chzn1men and 4 tc0 WINE Men Aftted I!
We are indebted to MIR. John A. Dreibelbis
for the particulars of wholesale massacre Of
Cinnamon and whites, perpetrated by the Indi-
ans en- Cloud River, in this county, on Friday
morning the Sd inst 1t appears that party Of
IS Chinese. guided by two white men, Antoine
Engels, a German. formerly Of this place, and
William Guild, an American, were on a pros
pecting tour on Cloud River; and that, on Fri
day morning, having permitted large number
of Indians, protesting friendship, to come into
their camp while at breakfast, were suddenly at
tackled by the treacherous savages, and all save
seven of the Chinese almost instantly killed. Of
those who escaped, one was severely, and ano-
iher mortally wounded.
1t will be seen by the proceedings of meet
ing of citizens held at Pittsburg on Monday last
which are published in another column-that
assistance has been requested from Fort Read
ing. We learn, however, that COL Wright has
scarcely sufficient number of well men TO per-
form guard duty at the Fort, and hence could
send no men TO cooperate with volunteer
orce. Neither was he empowered to supply a
volunteer force with provisions and pack ami
mails. However. Samuel Francis and Drury D.
Harrill, committee appointed for the purpose,
have already collected, from citizens of this
place, upwards of three thousand pounds of pro-
visions for the volunteers about starting to fight
The Indians. The citizens are determined that
they shall be punished in manner that they
will not soon forget.
Mr.. Drcibelbis very justly complains of the
inadequate protection given to the citizens of
thai section OF the country by the General Co.
vernment. He says:
1t is truth universally known, that on the
Sacramento River trail to Yreka and principally
in the vicinity of The Back Bone. mere valuable
lives have been lost, aud a greater amount of
property destroyed by the Indians than on any
other trail in the State. It's equally we'll known
that these Indians principally live on McCloud
River. and that they the most tliieving and
during savages in he country. Until recently
they have been III the habit of stealing every
hing IN the shape of an animal. not ouly from
this Immediate vicinity. but from the corras in
the town of Shasta itself McCloud River is
their centre, their stronghold. 1t serves them
as fortress. surrounded as it is on all sides by
lofty aud PERCEPTIONS mountains-ihese again by
rivers often impossible, and always dangerous
aud difficult to cross. From this strong point
they sally forth, commit their murders and rob-
bcrles, and with the fruits thereof retire to il
again To feast aud rejoice over their success. If
then. military protection is needed anywhere,
1t certainly is ri eh in the midst of these murder
ous hordes. Two companies of infantry would
suffice. The Indians cannot live away from this
river. as salmon are more plenty in it than in
any other stream known in the country, and are
easier taken in consequence of its water being
very shallow. They mainly depend this fish
for subsistence. and they would soon have to
come to terms, or starve, without them.
AS there are known to be from one to two
thousand warriors in the Pitt River portion of
the county, the volunteers will doubtless have
some hard fighting to do ere the Indians be
cowed. They are perhaps second to no other
Indians in the State in point of bravery, and the
war now about to be waged against them will
prove to be no child's-play.