four miles from the coast, and between the volunteer camp
and Whaleshead. Early in the day, and while Captain
Poland was with him, Wright received a visit from some
Indians of the Mackanotins tribe, who had a village on
the south side of the river opposite McGuire s, who came
ostensibly to inform him that Enos, 1 a notorious half-breed,
who had been with the hostile Rogue-rivers all winter,
was in their camp, and they wished to have him arrested. 2
Without a suspicion of treachery, Wright and Poland repaired to the Indian village, where they were immedi ately seized and killed, with the most revolting blood- thirstiness, being mutilated beyond recognition. Wright s heart, as subsequently learned from the Indians them selves, was cut out, cooked and eaten, in admiration of his courage, which they hoped by this act of cannibalism to make themselves able to emulate.
Every house on the river below big bend, sixty in all, was burned that day, and twenty-six persons killed. The persons who suffered were Ben Wright, Captain Poland, Lieutenant B. Castle, P..McClusky, G. C. Holcomb, Henry Lawrence, Joseph Wagoner, Joseph Wilkinson, Patrick McCullough, E. W. Howe, J. H. Braun, Martin Reed, George Reed, Lorenzo Warner, Samuel Hendrick, Nelson Seaman. W. R. Tulles, John Idles, Joseph Leroc and two sons, John Geisell and four children, while Mrs. Geisell and two daughters were taken into captivity. Subsequently to the first attack, Henry Bullen, L. W. Oliver, Daniel Richardson, John Trickey, and Adolf Sinoldt were killed, making thirty-one victims of this massacre. Seven differ ent points on the south side of the river were attacked within twelve hours, showing how well concerted was the outbreak.
When the alarm was given at Gold Beach, some of the officers of Captain Poland s company were still there, and
1 Indian Affairs Report, 1856, pp. 201-2; Oregon Statesman, March 11, 185C; Crescent City Herald, extra, February 25, 1856.
2 Enos was hanged at Port Orford in 1857 for his part in the murder of Wright and Poland. He was guide to Fremont in 1843.
