Three Indians and a Dead Man

For whatever reason, much of the story of Del Norte’s history seems to start with the death of a white settler named “A. French.” Many times his is the next name found in articles right after explorer Jed Smith.

I’ve never been able to learn what the “A” stood for.

As the story goes, in the morning of November 1, 1854, a farmer named A. French set out on a hunting expedition. With him were four other men — all unidentified in the general record.

French was to guide them to an area about 11 miles east of Crescent City. He planned to return to his ranch that evening while the others planned to return in three or four days.

However, the next day Mrs. French came to town worried her husband had not returned as planned. Two days later, November 4, the other men returned and were reportedly alarmed to learn French had never made it home.

A search party was formed and made an intensive search of the area between Mill Creek and the South Fork of the Smith River, but he wasn’t was found. When the search party returned to Crescent City, they found the citizens in a complete state of anxiety.

Many thought the Indians on the South Fork of the Smith River had murdered French. That same evening, a mass meeting was called which resulted in 20 men being appointed to round-up all the Indians in town and the surrounding area for questioning.

An Indian woman living in a village where Battery Point Lighthouse is now located said she had been on her way to the woods in the area where the French party had traveled. She said a Chetco Indian named Narpa, accompanied by his sister, had traveled to a village at the mouth of the Klamath River near Requa.

This is the first hole in the story — remember they were headed east. Klamath is south of Crescent City.

She told authorities that Narpa, his family and tribe had suffered some sort of injury or insult by the whites and he wanted revenge. At Requa he asked another Indian named Black Mahu to kill a white man.

But Black Mahu refused as he was known to be a good friend to the settlers.

The Chetco Indian then offered Black Mahu his sister if he would kill a white man. Supposedly Black Mahu couldn’t refuse the offer of the woman.

Armed with this information white authorities issued a warrant for the arrest of Black Mahu, his son Jim and Narpa. This leads to a second hole in the story — two Indians suddenly becomes three and no explanation is ever given why the increase in suspects.

A new search party was organized and the body of French was found lying under a log, partly covered up. Records indicate French was found jus’ east of the Elk Valley area.

This is the third hole in the story. Elk Valley, for the geographically unknowing is east of the city.

An eight man group of Klamath Mounted Rangers was formed to catch the suspected murderers and the three Indians were captured at the mouth of the Klamath River. They were taken to Crescent City November 17.

The following day many of the citizens of Crescent City assembled at the Eldorado Saloon on Front Street, where a trial date was set. From there a jury of 12 men was selected.

By law the three defendants could not testify on their own behalf or enter any evidence in their favor. After an hour the jury returned with a verdict of “guilty” and sentenced the three to be hanged at noon November 24.

On that day the three were taken to what is now Battery Point, but at the time an Indian village and hanged. It is believed the village was chosen in order to send a message to other Indians’ that this is what would happen to them if they killed a white man.

Unfortunately, the evidence against the three Indians, if there ever was any, has been lost to time. Moreover, when I was kid, many Yurok elders claimed French died of natural causes and was hidden by a scavenging bear bent on having his remains as a meal at a later time.

Whatever, happened — I’ve always thought the three hanged men got a raw deal.