The writer, William Benson has at various times been informant and interpreter for most of the American anthropologists who have visited Lake County. He was born about 1862 near Lakeport, then very thinly settled by whites. He is a Porno, and has been hereditary chief of both the Xolo-Napo and the XabopNapo divisions of his people... His Porno name is Raganal, which means the "Wampum Gatherer" His family name (Benson) comes from LIZ father, a white settler, who followed the practice of some early squaw men or' abandoning white life entirely and residing permanently in the Pomo village. He died when his son was a mere child, and Benson there fore spoke only Pomo in his youth.  Benson bears a high reputation for integrity and reliability... He is wholly without formal schooling, and his knowledge of English was picked up almost entirely by ear. However he taught himself to read as well, so that to some extent, his purely-phonetic spelling has corrected itself.... Not only were reading and writing self acquired but also the use of the typewriter. Benson used it in the manner approved of those unfamiliar with business schools and innocent of the touch system. The preparation of this (the following narrative) was entirely his own idea and the story is here reproduced precisely as he wrote it. His original typescript is now on file in the Bancroft library, of the University of California..  

The Wampum Gatherer's Narrative 

The facts of Stone and Kelsey Massacre, in Lake County California. As it was stated to me by the five Indians who went to stone and Kelsey's house purpose to kill the two white men, after debating all night. Shuk and Xasis. these two men were the instigators of the massacre. it was not because Shuk and Xasis had any Ill feeling towards the two White men, there were two Indian villages, one on west side and one on the east side. the Indians in both of these camps were starving. stone ⁶rk~~isey head would not let them go out hunting or fishing. Shuk and Xasis was stone and Kelsey head riders looking out for stock. cattle horses and hogs. the horses and cattle were all along the lake on the west side and some in bachelors valley, also in upper lake. so it took 18 Indian herdsman to look after the stock in these places. Shuk and Xasis was foreman's for the herds. and only those herds got anything to eat. each one of these herders got 4 cups of wheat for a days work. this cup would hold about one and a half pint of water~ the wheat was boiled before it was given to the herders. and the herders shire with their families. the herders who had large families were also starving. about 20 old people died during the winter or from starvation. from severe whipping 4 died. a nephew of an Indian lady who were living with stone was shoot to death by stone. the mother of this young man was sick and starving this sick woman told her son to go over to stones wife or to the sick woman's sister. Tell your aunt that I am starving and sick tell her that I would like to have a handful of wheat. The young man lost no time going to Stones house. The young man told the aunt what his mother said, the lady then gave the young man 5 cups of wheat and tied it up in her apron and the young man started for the camp. Stone came about that time and called the young man back The young man stopped Stone who was hoards back rode up to the young man took the wheat from him and then shot. The young man died two days after. Such as whipping and tying their hands together with rope. The rope then thrown over a limb of a tree and then drawn up until the Indians toes barely touched the ground and let them hang --font-size:10.0pt">there for hours. This was common punishment. When a father or mother of a young girl was asked to bring the girl to his house by stone or Kelsey, if this order was not obeyed he or her would be whipped or hung by the hands. Such punishment occurred two or three times a week and many of the old man and woman died from fear and starvations. These two white men had the Indians to build a high fence around THEIR village and the head riders were to see that any Indian went out side of this fence after dark. If anyone was caught out side of this fence after dark was taken to Stone and Kelsey's house and there was tied both hands and feet and placed in a room and kept there all night. The next day was taken to a tree and was tied down, then the strongest man was chosen to whip the prisoner. The village on the west side was the Qn-Lah-na-poh tribe the village on the east side, Xa-BahNa-?oh tribes. The starvation of the Indians was the cause of the massacre of Stone and Kelsey. The Indians who was starving hired a man by the name of Shuk and another man by the name of Xasis to k~ a beef for them Shuk and Xasis agreed to go out and kill beef for them. The two men then planned to go out that night and kill a beef for them. Their plan then was to take the best horses in the barn. Stones horse which was the best lasso horse. So between the two men, they agreed to take both Stones and Kelsey's horses. So the two men went to Stone's and Kelsey's house to see if they had went to bed. It was raining a little, moonlight now and then. They found Stone and Kelsey's horses and saddles. Shuk wanted to do the job in the day time but Xasis said Stone or Kelsey would sure find them and would kill the both of them. Shuk said then somebody is going to get killed on this job. So anyhow they went ~t west they knew where a large band was feeding then soon rounded the band up and Shuk was to make the first lasso Xasis was good on lasing the feet of an ox so he was to do the foot lashing. Shuk said to Xasis get ready I see large one near, hurry and come one. Shuk got a chance and throwed the rope on the large ox Xasis came as quick as he could the band then begin to stampede, the ox also started with the band, the ground was wet and slippery and raining and the ox got away. Xasis tried to lasso the horses but could not get near it to throw the rope on. The horse soon found the other horses and it was the much harder to get the horse, so the chase was given up. The two went back to the camp and reported to the people who hired them, told them the bad luck they had. Xasis then took the horse he had back to the barn which was Kelsey's horse. All the men who hired Shuk.an4xasis was gathering in Xasis horse. They said Stone and Kelsey would kill them as soon as they would find out that the horses was taken without them knowing. One man got up and suggested that the tribe give Stone and Kelsey forty sticks of beads which means i6ooo be ads or 100 dollars, no one agreed. Another man suggested that he or Shuk tell Stone or Kelsey that the horses was stolen,. on one agreed. And another man suggested that the other horse should be turned out and tell Stone and K&sey both horses were stolen, no one agreed. Everything looked bad for Shuk and Xasis. No one agreed with Shuk and Xasis to kill the two white men at daylight one man agreed to go with Shuk and Xasis, his Indian name 13a-tus was known by the whites as Basi. and a little while later Kre-nas agreed, and as the four men start out another man joined the Shuk an&Xasis band, Ma-laxa-Qo-Tu. While this debate was going on the hired or servants boys and girls of Stone's and Kelsey's were told by Shuk and Xasis to Carrie out all the guns, bows, and arrows, knives and everything like weapon was taken out of the house by these girls and boys so the two white men was helpless in defense. So Shuk and Xasis knew the white men did not have anything to defend themselves with and they were sure of their victims. So the five men went to the house where Stone always built a fire and a large pot in which he boiled wheat for the Indian herders (about 16 of them) These five men waited with the pot full of fire which was taken from the fireplace and said to the Indians what's the matter you boys came early this morning, something wrong? The Indians said oh nothing we hungry thats all. Qka-Mas, or Coyote Jim as he was known by the whites, said to the men, I thought you men came to kill this man. Give me those arrows and bow. Hej jerked the bow and the arrows away from Shuk and drew it as he did Stone rose quickly and turned to Qka-Mas and said what are you trying to do Jim, and as Stone said it the Indian cut loose. The arrow struck the victim in the pit of his stomach. The victim immediately pulled the arrow out and ran for the house, fighting his way, he broke one mans arm with the pot he had and succeeded in getting in the house and locking the door after him. A little later Kelsey came and noticed the blood on the doorstep, the Indians advanced. Kelsey seen that the Indians meant business, he said to them, no matter Kelsey. Kelsey -Bueno hombre para nosotros, The Indians charged and two off the Indians caught Kelsey an4 the fight began. In this fight Kelsey was stabbed twice in the back. Kelsey managed to brake loose. He ran for the creek and the Indians after him. A man by the name of Qa-sis or blind Joe as he was known by the whites was in pursuit, shot Kelsey in the back. K&sey managed to pull the arrow out just as he got to the creek and jumped in the water dove under and came out on the other side of the creek, where several Indians were waiting. There was one man Kelsey knew well, he thought who would save him. This man was Joe Sefeis, Indian name Ju-Luh. He begged Joe to save him. Joe he could not save him from being killed Joe said to Kelsey its too late Kelsey, if I attempt to save you I also will be killed. cannot save you Kelsey Kelsey was getting weak from loss of blood. Big Jim and Joe had Kelsey by the arms. Big Jim said to his wife. This is a man who killed our son~ This this spear, now you have the chance to take revenge. Big Jim's wife took the spear and stabbed the white man in the heart, this woman's name was Da-Pi-Ts. The body was left laying there for the coyotes. This happened on the east side of the creek. While this was going on. Xasis and QraMas was trailing the blood up stairs for a hour almost. Qra-Mas said they crawled up stairs breathless thinking that Stone was yet alive. They opened the door of a wheat bend saw Stone's foot. Qra-Mas drew his arrow across the bow ready to cut loose, for a moment they watched the lifeless body. Xasis discovered that the body was dead. They then took the body and threw it out the window, and then they called all the people to come and take what wheat an4 corn they could pack and take to a hiding place where they could not be found by the whites, so the Indians of both villages came and took all the wheat and corn they could gather in the place and then went to hide themselves. Some went to Fishers point and some went to Scotts Valley. The men went out to kill cattle for their use and every man who was able to ride caught himself a horse. In around the valley and Upper Lake and Bachelor valley. There was about one thousand head of horse and about four thousand head of cattles, so the Indians lived fat for a while. Qra-Nas and Ma-Laq-Qo-Tou was chosen to watch the trail that came from Lower lake And Shuk and Xasis was watching the trail on the west side of the valley. Yom-may-nah and Ge-we-lah were watching the trail that came from eight mile valley. Two--or three weeks had passed, no white man were seen on either trail. On day, Qra-Nas and Ma-Lag-Qe-Ton seen two white man on horasback come over the hill, they stopped on top of the hill, they saw nothing sturiug around Stone and Kelsey's places. No Indians in the village. Qra-Nas and Ma-Laq-Qe-Tou went around behind a small hill to cut the white men off. The white man saw the Indians trying to go around behind them the whites turned and went back before the Indians got in back of them so three or four days went by, no more white men were seen. One day the lake watchers saw a boat come around the point. Some news coming, they said to each other. Two of the men went to the landing to see what the news was. They were told that the white warriors had come to kill all the Indians around the lake. So hide the best you can. The whites are making boats with that they are coming up the lake. So we are told by the peopled down there. So they had two men go up on top of Uncle Sam mountain, the north peak from there they watch the Lower Lake. For three days they watc4hed the lake. One morning they saw a long boat come up the lake with pole on the bow with red cloth and several of them came every one of the boats had ten to 15 men. The smoke signal was given by the two watchmen. Every Indians around the lake knew the soldiers were coming up the lake. And how may of them and these who were watching the trail saw the infantries coming over the hill from Lower Lake. These two men were watching from Ash Hill. They went to Stones and Kelsey's house. Prom there the horsemen ride down toward the lake and the soldiers went across this valley toward Lakeport. They went on to Scott's valley. Shoot a few shots with their big guns and went on to Upper Lake and camped on Emerson Bill. From there they saw the Indians camped on the island. The next morning the white warriors went across in their long dugouts. The Indians said they would meet them in peace. So when the whites landed the Indians went to welcome them but the white men was determined to ki~ them. Ga-wi-Lih said he threw up is hands andd said no harm me good man. But the white man fired and shot him in the arm and another shot came and hit a man standing along side of him and was killed. So they had to run and fight back, as they ran back in the tulies and hid under the water, four or five of them gave a little battle and another man was shot in the shoulder, some of them jumped in the water and hid in the tulies. Many women and children were killed on around this island. One lady (a indian) told me she saw two white men coming their guns up in the air and on their guns hung a little girl. They brought it to the creek and threw it in the water. And a ]ittle while later two~more men came in the same manner. This time they had a little boy on the end of their guns and also threw it in the waer. A little ways from her she said layed a woman shot through the sholder. She held her little baby in her arms. Two white men came running toward the woman and baby. They stabed the woman and the baby and threw both of them over the bank into the water. She said she heard the woman say Oh my baby! she said when they gathered the dead they found all the little ones were killed by being stabed. And many of the women wre also killed by stabing. She said it took them four or five days to gather up the dead. And the dead were all burnt on the east side of the peak. They called it the island creek (Ba-Dan-Bi-Da-Meh). This old lady also told about the whites hang a man on Emerson Island this indian was met by the soldiers while marching from Scotts valley to Upper Lake, the indian was hung and a large fire bunt under the hanging indian And another indian was caught near Emerson Pith. This one was taid to a tree and burnt to death.The next morning the soldiers started for Mendocino county. And there killed many indians. The camp was on the ranch now known as Ed Howell ranch. The soldiers made camp a little ways below, about one half mile from the indian camp. The indians wanted to surrender, but the soldiers did no give them time. the soldiers went in the camp and shot them do as tho they were dogs. Some of them escaped by going down a little creek leading to the river. And some of them hid in the bush.and those who hid in the brush most of them were killed, and those who hid in the water was over looked they killed mostly women and children. The soldiers caught two boys ages about 14 or 15 the soldiers took them to Lower Lake, and then tnrned them loose when the solders started the two boys back, they loaded them with meat and bard bread One said as soon as they go out of site they threw the meat away and some of the bread also he said they went ona dog trot for dear life. Thinking all the time that the soldiers would follow them and kill them. He said they would side track once in a while and get up ona high peak to see if the soldiers were coming he said when they got back that night they could nothing but cry. He said all the dead had been taken across to a large dance house had been and was cremated. wetness, Bo-Dom, Jao Beatti and Krao Lah, rndian name and old lady said her father dug a large hole in a bank of the river and they hid in the hole. One old man said that he was a boy at the time he said the soldiers shot his mother, she fell to the ground with her baby in her arms, he said his mother to]d him to climb high up in the tree so he did and from there he said he could see the soldiers rnnning about the camp and shoting the men and woman and stabbing boys and girls. He said his mother was not yet dead and was telling him to keep quit. Two of the soldiers herd her talking and ran up to her and stabbed her and child. And a little ways from his mother, he said laid a man dying, holding his boy in his arms the soldiers also stabbed him, but did not kill the boy, they took the boy to the camp, crying, they gave it every thing they could find in camp but the little boy did not quit crying, it was about three years of age, when the soldiers were a getting ready to move camp they wraped the boy up in a blanket and left the little boy setting by the fire wrapped up in a blanket and was still crying, and that boy is alive today, his name is Bill Ball, now lives in Boonville. One Old man told me about the soldiers killing the indians in this same camp. He said young man from the description he gave me must have been about 18 or 20 years of age. He said he and another boy about the same age was taken by the soldiers and he said there were two soldiers in charge of them. One would walk ahead and one behind them, He said the soldiers took him and the other boy, they both were barefooted he said when they begin to climb the mountain between Mendocino and Lake county. He said they were made to keep up with the soldiers, their feet were getting sore but they had to keep up with the soldiers. When they were climbing over the Bettleresk mountain their feet were cut by the rocks and their feet were bleeding and they could not walk up with they soldiers. The man behind would jab them with the sharp knife fixed on the end of the gun. Re said one of the soldiers came up and looked at their feet and went to a box, opened it took a cup and dipped something out of a sack and brought it to them and told them both to hold their feets on a log near by. The soldier took a hand full of the stuff and rubbed it in the cuts on the bottom of their feet. He said he noticed that the stuff the soldier pnt on their feet looked like salt. Sure enough it was salt. The soldier tied cloth over their feet and told them not to take them off. He said the tears wer rollingdown his cheeks. He said all the soldiers came and stood around them lauging. He said they rolled and twisted for aobut two hours, and they also rubbed salt in the wounds on their seats and backs where theyjabbed them with the soldiers big knife. As he called it. Two or three days later the chief soldier told them they could go back. They were then given meat and bread. All they could pack. He said they started on their back journey, he said it was all most difficult for them to walk, bnt wrapped a lot of cloth aronnd their feet and by doing so made their way alright. He said the meat and bread got too heavy for fast traveling so they threw the meat and some of the bread away. Looking back all the time thinking that the soldiers would follow them and kill them. Now and then they would side track and look back to see if the soldiers were following them. After seeing no soldiers following they would start out for another run. He said they travelled in such manner until they got to their home. He said to himself. Here I am not to see my mother and sister but to see their blood scattered over the ground like water and their bodies for coyotes to devour. He said he sat down under a tree and cried all day.