HISTORY OE CALIFORNIA. 



271 



having left on his return to San Francisco till the 

 following day. 



" Arriving in the Culloma valley with their prison 

 ers, the mountaineers and miners had a grand revel 

 and jollification to celebrate their achievement. During 

 the day most of the prisoners were released, but a few 

 squaws and seven warriors were retained. The latter 

 were questioned and examined relative to their parti 

 cipation in the murder of the Oregonians. Nothing 

 being elicited to prove their guilt, it was nevertheless 

 determined that they should die ; because being bad 

 looking and strong warriors, it was believed they were 

 participators in the murders. Accordingly the con 

 sumption of champaigne and brandy continued till 

 sunset. At that hour the seven Indians were brought 

 forth, and knowing well their fate, one of them put up 

 his hand as a signal, and all leaped along the valley 

 in rapid flight. Quick as thought the rifles began to 

 crack in every direction, while old Greenwood raving 

 around his cabin remonstrated at the deed, tossed his 

 arms aloft with violent denunciation ; and stooping 

 down gathered the dust in his palms, and sprinkled it 

 on his head, swearing he was innocent of their blood. 

 Meantime, John Greenwood stood beside the old man 

 in stoic silence, too brave to participate in the massacre, 

 but too much of a crow to utter his disapproval. But 

 frantic with excitement the others thought only of 

 revenge, and the balls whistling in every direction laid 

 five of the warriors dead in the valley and mortally 

 wounding another, only one escaping unscathed. The 

 dying rays of the sun deserting the bloody scene, yet 

 lingered on the mountain top, and the smoke of the 

 discharge rolled in thick volume, like a pall over the 

 corpses of the slain, while that solitary warrior turned 



