The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-11-11
RAYAGES OF A PESTILENCE.

HOW THE INDIANS WERE DESTROYED IN CALI
FoRNIA IN 1888.
The fol owing appears as communication
from Mr.. J. j. Warren, in the Los Angeles (Cal.)
S.0r:
have read of the horrors Of the London
plague, and OF the more than defamation by pes
thence Of the inhabitants Of various parts OF the
world in different ages, and OF the destruction OF
mankind by the angels of the Lord and by de-
stroying angels bat have never heard or read
of such general destruction Of people by any
angel, good or bad, or by plague or pestilence,
that which swept the valley of the Sacramento
and San Joaquin in the summer OF 1883.
In the autumn nj 1882, party, Oh which the
writer was a member, Travelled from the noun
tain down along the banks Of the San Joaquin
River, and up those of the Sacramento to some
distance above the confluence OF the latter with
Feather River. The number of the Indians
living along and in the vicinity of the banks of
the rivers was 60 much greater than had ever
seen living upon the same area of country, that
1t presented constant source OF surprise. The
conclusion was then reached by NE that there
was no other place on the continent, north OF the
tropic, the natural product. MS OF which could
support so large popua ton as was then living
in The section to which Ihave referred.
In the latter part of The summer Of 1888 we en-
tered the northern extremity OF the Sacramento
valley from the Klamath Lake and Fit River
countries. We found the northern part of the
valley strewn with the skeletons and fragments
OF skeletons Of Indians under the shading trees,
around springs and the convenient watering
places, upon the banks Of the ri yer and over the
plain, where wolves and coytes wad ling from
tree to tree or over the plain their hides dstend-
ed with unnatural fairness, had dragged and de-
nuded them. From the head of the valley to the
American River, but one living Indian WAS seen,
and he was the most perfect personlticat!en OF
solitude that was ever presented to my view:
sockets. as if there no brain within the cram
um, emitted dull, vacant gaze, us If as, onished
to behold a living being, when he relieved that
all, al were dead, and he alone left, telling most
emphatlcaily OF his utter loneliness, of how he
had seen the destroying angel engaged in his
work OF death on every hand, and wherever his
eyes were turned until he himself was pro-
strated, not killed, but LETT to rise upon his feet,
and wander about among the bones and Tester
ing bodies Of his folk The dwellings, OF the
Indians in the numerous villages located upon
and along the banks OF the Sacramento river and
its tributaries were void, and no foot tracks bnt
those OF fowls and wild beasts were to be seen IL
the lonely villages.
As We sraveict, southerly the skeletons were
OF fresher appearance, and before reaching the
buttcs, ard from thence southerly, the entire or
partially devoured bodies Of the Indians, in all
stages OF decay, were invariably found in and
about al the convenient and desirable camping
places, that 1t became necessary, in order to
cape the stencil OF decoln sosiuS humanity, TO
seek oGr nights encampments upon the open
plain.
along the Sacramento. which 10 the winter pre-
ylous were each inhabited by hundreds OF In
dams, were desOlate and the abodes Of ruin. The
same appalling proofs Of the dire calamity were
constantly presented TO us as We Travelled up the
san Joaquin. Neither biblical profane his
tory has portrayed such mournful results of the
march o. a destroying angel as were presented
to our senses as we repassea through, along by,
and srOllnd those silent and vacated village e,
which, ten mouths before, we had seen
swarnlng with indian llte, and resounding Wiz
voices ftorn hundreds OF human throats.
Around the NAKED villages, graves, and the
ashes Of funeral pyres, the skeletons and swollen
bodies. told tale Of death such as no written
record has ever revealed. From the head of tie
sacramento Valley until reach the mouth of
King River, not exceeding five live Indians
were seen, and here found encamped VIII
laSe OF Indians, among whom the destroying
angel was sa ting his greed OF human victims by
a CHASTITY carnage. During the one night more
than score OF victims were added to the hosts
upon which he had been feeling The wall
ing Of that stricken village during that
The sword of the destroyer a remttent
fever, with which the victims were first stricken
down, to be finished by hot-air bath. followed
by plunge INFO cold water one. 1t was evil
dent to Us, from the lgns which we saw, that at
first the Indians buried their dead; but when
the dead became so numerous that he living
could not bury them, resort was had to the burn
ing OF the dead bodies, and when the living, from
diminished numbers, were unable to do this, they
abandoned their villages, the sick and the dying,
and fed in dismay, only to die by the eide OF the
springs and pools OF water, and beneath the
shade OF protecting trees.