The Evening News. November 11, 1916

35. Massacre Of Indians

The Spaniards in the early days had comparatively little trouble with the Indians. The most serious conflict occurred in 1829 when the neophytes of San Jose and Santa Clara Missions were induced by one of their native alcaldes called Estanislao to fly and fortify themselves with other gentiles near San Joaquin. Father Duran of San Jose sent to San Francisco for troops to destroy the Indian fortification and to recover the fugitives.

Sergeant Antonio Soto with some men was sent to the attack. They found the Indians hidden in dense, extensive willows and brambles. The soldiers attempted to go through the fortification. The Indians attacked them, wounding Soto. The Spanish retreated to San Jose, where Soto died of his wounds.

The Indians were elated by their first victory over the Spanish. They feasted and danced in the neighboring rancherias. Other Indians soon made common cause with them.

The Commandant at San Francisco sent a second expedition of forty men under the command of Jose Sanchez against the Indians. They marched to the field where the Indians had fortified themselves. They tried to set fire to the fortification, but failed.

They found that the Indians had constructed several lines of strong wooden palisades. They destroyed the first, but Sanchez thought it imprudent to storm the different works. He returned to San Jose without making an assault.

Then the Commandant of San Francisco wrote the Commandant of Monterey, who sent 100 men under the command of Ensign Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo with cavalry, infantry, artillery and a field piece for destroying the palisades. This young Ensign was afterward General Vallejo, so well known in California history.

Ensign Vallejo marched to San Jose, where he joined the San Francisco forces. He had as auxiliaries some Indians, enemies of the rancheria of Estanislao. From San Jose they went to attack the rebels.

The Indians fought bravely, but they could do nothing against musketry. Their fortification fell before the cannon. They were dislodged and made prisoners. Several of the attacking party were killed.

After the Spanish were victorious one of the saddest and most shocking butcheries of prisoners ever known took place. The Indian auxiliaries were allowed to shoot the Indian prisoners. So great was their skill in archery that one arrow was shot through an Indian's head with half of the plume still projecting. Other Indians were hung to trees with ropes made of vines. Some women and old men were shot.

Estanislao escaped slaughter by delivering himself to Father Duran. The priest concealed the Indian for a time, and finally procured pardon for him from Governor Echeandia. Ensign Vallejo finished his campaign, marched back to San Jose, and from there to Monterey. This was his first appearance in warfare or public life. Father Duran tried to have Ensign Vallejo prosecuted for the wanton murder of Indians, but he failed.

Transcribed by Kitty LaFavor, for the Santa Clara Co. CAGenWeb Project. 2008