Achulet massacre facts for kids

The Achulet Massacre was a terrible event that happened in 1854. It was a massacre where many Tolowa Native Americans were killed by European-American settlers. This happened near Lake Earl in what is now Del Norte County, California. The village where it happened was called Achulet, which the Tolowa people called ‘Ee-chuu-le’.

Why Did This Happen?

The Gold Rush and New Settlers

From 1845 to 1855, many European settlers moved to California. A big reason for this was the California gold rush. People hoped to find gold and make a new life.

As more settlers arrived, they wanted land. Much of this land was already home to the Tolowa people. This led to serious disagreements and conflicts.

Impact on the Tolowa People

The arrival of so many new people caused big problems for the Tolowa. Their population went down a lot. This was partly because of violent attacks. It was also because the settlers brought new diseases. The Tolowa people had no protection against these illnesses.

During this time, the Tolowa were also forced to move from their homes. They were made to live in a place they called the “Klamath Concentration Camp.” Later, around 1860, they were moved again to reservations in Oregon.

The Attack at Achulet

A Suspected Theft Leads to Violence

The settlers wanted the land where the Tolowa lived. This led to a very violent clash between the two groups. It started when a white man believed a Tolowa person had stolen his horse.

In response, armed white settlers decided to attack. They hid near the village of Achulet at night. They agreed to wait until the Tolowa people left their homes in the morning.

The Morning Attack

When the sun came up, the settlers began to shoot. They fired as soon as people came out of their homes. Men, women, and children were shot very quickly.

Some Tolowa tried to escape by running into Lake Earl. But the armed settlers followed them. They kept shooting whenever the Tolowa showed their heads above the water.

How Many People Died?

The attackers later said they killed 65 Tolowa people. However, this number did not include those whose bodies sank in the lake. Historians believe the total number of deaths was much higher, possibly up to 150 people.

After the Attack

After this terrible event, the settlers changed the name of the village. They called it Pay Way. This name was given after Old Pay Way, who was one of the few Tolowa people who survived the massacre.