Bloody Island Massacre, California
Bloody Island, a name etched in the annals of California history, serves as a stark reminder of the tragic clash between early American settlers and the indigenous Pomo people. Located north of Clear Lake, near Upper Lake, California, this unassuming piece of land bears a history soaked in blood, stemming from the horrific events of the Clear Lake Massacre in 1850. This event, orchestrated by Captain Nathaniel Lyon, alongside soldiers and local white volunteers, resulted in the slaughter of an estimated 135 Pomo Indians, forever scarring the landscape and the collective memory of the region. The Bloody Island Massacre, California, stands as a testament to the brutal realities of westward expansion and the devastating consequences of cultural misunderstanding and unchecked violence.
To truly understand the events that transpired on Bloody Island, California, it is crucial to delve into the socio-economic climate of the time. The discovery of gold in California in 1848 triggered a massive influx of settlers, eager to stake their claim and build a new life. This rapid population growth put immense pressure on the existing resources and led to escalating tensions with the Native American population, who were increasingly displaced and marginalized. The Pomo people, who had inhabited the Clear Lake region for centuries, found their traditional way of life threatened by the arrival of these newcomers.
Among the early settlers were Charles Stone and Andrew Kelsey, cattle ranchers who employed local Pomo Indians as forced labor. Their treatment of the Pomo was notoriously cruel and exploitative. They allegedly paid their workers a paltry four cups of wheat per day, an amount wholly insufficient to sustain a family. This blatant disregard for the well-being of the Pomo people fueled resentment and desperation, leading to widespread starvation within the native communities. Stone, in particular, was known for his brutality. One incident, involving the murder of a young Pomo man seeking food for his starving aunt, stands as a grim example of the callous disregard for indigenous life that characterized the era.
The breaking point arrived when two Pomo men, Shuk and Xasis, driven by the desperate need to feed their starving village, borrowed Stone and Kelsey’s horses for a hunting trip. Aware of the potential repercussions of their actions, they feared retribution from the ranchers. In a desperate attempt to protect themselves and their community, Shuk, Xasis, and three other Pomo men made a fateful decision. In December 1849, they confronted Stone and Kelsey, killing them in what they saw as an act of self-preservation. This act, while born of desperation, ignited a chain of events that would culminate in the Bloody Island Massacre, California.
Following the deaths of Stone and Kelsey, a wave of fear swept through the Pomo communities. Fearing retaliation from the settlers, many sought refuge on an island in Clear Lake, hoping its isolation would offer them protection. This island, later to be known as Bloody Island, California, became a sanctuary for hundreds of Pomo men, women, and children. However, their hopes for safety were soon to be shattered.
News of Stone and Kelsey’s deaths quickly spread among the settler community, fueling outrage and a thirst for revenge. Captain Nathaniel Lyon, a U.S. Army officer, was tasked with responding to the situation. In the spring of 1850, Lyon arrived at Clear Lake with a detachment of soldiers. Recognizing the challenge of reaching the island, Lyon procured two whaleboats and two small brass field cannons from the U.S. Army arsenal at Benicia, California. This acquisition demonstrated a clear intent to use overwhelming force against the Pomo people seeking refuge.
While awaiting the arrival of the boats and artillery, Lyon’s forces were augmented by a group of local white volunteers, further escalating the potential for violence. The soldiers transported the cannons aboard the whaleboats, while the remaining soldiers and volunteers proceeded to the west side of the lake on horseback. The two groups converged at Robinson Point, located just south of the island. The artillery was then strategically positioned at the head of the lake, placing it within striking distance of the unsuspecting Pomo people.
The events that unfolded the following morning were nothing short of a massacre. The soldiers initiated their attack by firing shots from the front of the island, intentionally drawing the attention of the Pomo. As the Pomo people turned to face the initial assault, the remaining soldiers and volunteers lined up on the opposite side of the island, effectively trapping them. The cannons then unleashed their devastating firepower, sending the terrified Pomo scrambling across the island in a desperate attempt to escape.
The scene that ensued was one of unimaginable horror. Indian men, women, and children were cut down indiscriminately. Some attempted to flee by jumping into the lake, only to be met with gunfire. Others sought refuge in the dense vegetation of the island, but their hiding places were quickly discovered. The soldiers and volunteers, fueled by vengeance and a sense of racial superiority, showed no mercy. The Bloody Island Massacre, California resulted in the deaths of approximately 60 Pomo Indians on the island itself, with an additional 75 killed nearby on the Russian River. In contrast, only two white men sustained wounds, highlighting the overwhelming imbalance of power and the brutality of the attack.
In the aftermath of the massacre, Colonel Reddick McKee traveled to Lake County with the intention of negotiating treaties and establishing boundaries for the area’s Indian country. This effort, however, was largely symbolic. At the time of the Bloody Island Massacre, California, there was no formal recognition of tribal rights in California. As a result, the Pomo people and other Native American tribes were effectively excluded from the state’s political and judicial systems. The massacre, therefore, serves as a stark example of the lack of due process and the arbitrary nature of justice when dealing with Native Americans. The military, acting as both judge and executioner, dispensed a brutal form of vigilante justice that further marginalized and disenfranchised the indigenous population.
Today, Bloody Island stands as a state-registered landmark, a somber reminder of the tragic events that unfolded there. It is located a quarter mile west of Highway 20 and about one and one-half miles south of the town of Upper Lake, north of Clear Lake, California. Over time, the surrounding lands have been reclaimed from the lake, making the island less distinct than it once was. It is only when viewed from the south that its island status becomes readily apparent. Despite its unassuming appearance, Bloody Island, California carries a profound weight, a symbol of the injustice and violence that marked the early history of California and the devastating impact on its Native American inhabitants. The name "Bloody Island" serves as a perpetual memorial to the lives lost and a call for remembrance and reconciliation.