Historical Marker

Historical Marker, a photo by Screaming Ape on Flickr.

"The Coast Reservation

Fearing further bloodshed in the ongoing settlement of the Oregon Territory, Joel Palmer, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, wanted to move Oregon's native population out of harm's way. In April of 1855, General Palmer wrote a letter urging the creation of an Indian reservation on the coast of the Oregon Territory. In November of 1855 President Franklin Pierce created the Coast Reservation by executive order. The new reservation was bounded by Siltcoos in the South and Cape Lookout in the North, and from the Pacific Ocean to a ridge twenty miles to the east. This rugged land was considered of no value to settlers making it a natural choice for native refugees.

Internment Years

In 1856, the outbreak of open hostilities between volunteer militias, commonly known as "Exterminators", and Indian bands of the Rogue River Valley resulted in the removal and internment of all the Indians in the Oregon Territory. The tribes of southwest Oregon were rounded up and sent to the southern part of the Coast Reservation. This Reservation was so large that two agencies were created to manage the Indians held there, the Siletz Agency (1856) in the North and the Alsea Sub-Agency (1859) in the South located in present day Yachats.

The Coastal Tribes had signed a treaty in June of 1855 ceding their lands in exchange for a peaceful life on the Coast Reservation. Although this was understood as a trade of lands by the native peoples, the language creating the reservation reserved the right "to future curtailment if found proper, or entire release thereof" in effect returning the land to white settlement. Adding injury to insult, the treaty was never ratified by Congress which meant that funds for feeding this displaced population were never appropriated.

Indian Roundups

Indians ran away from the reservation on a regular basis, fleeing conditions of starvation and abuse by Indian Agents. The military was called upon to round up these run-away Indians and return them to the reservation. Lieutenant Louis Herzer of Company D, Fourth California Infantry, led a detachment sent to Coos Bay in the spring of 1864 to retrieve recent runaways.

Sub-Agent Amos Harvey accompanied the Lieutenant and his men in order to "arrest the Indians" that for a long time had been "infesting the settlement of Coos Bay". The place the natives had called home for thousands of years was now an exclusively white community where Indians were not welcome.

Corporal Royal Bensell was part of the Company D expedition and kept a journal detailing his experiences and the events of that mission. Stealth was a required element for successfully catching their "game", Squaws, Bucks, and half-breeds born out of wedlock.

Blind Amanda

In Corporal Bensell's journal, he tells the story of Amanda De-Cuys, a blind Coos woman living with a settler. On May 10, 1864, Amanda was marched over the volcanic rocks of Cape Perpetua to her internment at Yachats.

May 1, 1864

…Up Coos River 25 miles to-day after some Indians. Find at the head of tide water a small ranch owned by one De-Cuys. He had a pretty little girl, some 8 years old. We got two Squaws and a Buck. After getting in the boat I was surprised to hear one of the Squaws (old and blind), as me, "Nika ika nanage nika tenas Julia [Let me see my little Julia]." I complied with this parental demand and was shocked to see this little girl throw her arms about old Amanda De-Cuys neck and cry "clihime Ma Ma [dear mama]." De-Cuys promised the Agent to school Julia.

May 3, 1864

We have taken among the rest several infirm Squaws which the Agent proposes leaving behind to die because he says "it will cost so far to transportation." Lieutenant Herzer informed the Agent if the Squaws were left he (Herzer) would report him.

May 5, 1864

Break camp and strike directly across the sand hills. One Squaw, (Polly) carries all her "icktus [belongings]" and two children. Harvey furnishes one hourse when we need four. This horse packs t[w]o old Squaws. By 4 o'clock the advance reached Winchester Bay and from that time 'till dark they came in by twos & threes, the rear guard bringing in Old Fatty and Amanda.

May 7, 1864

Only made ten miles today. The whole days travel reminded me of a funeral procession, so slow and solemn did we go. First one old "Lama [old woman]" would curl up in the sand, then another, then a general halt, during which the mothers would suckle their children… Finally, out of patience, I would cry "Hyac, clatwa [hurry, go]." It generally took twenty minutes to get started. Some of the Guard, more irritable than me, swore terrifically.

May 10, 1864

This coast along our route today seems volcanic, rough ragged, burnt rock, here and there a light rock which I called pumice-stone. Amanda who is blind tore her feet horribly over these ragged rock, leaving blood sufficient to track her by. One of the Boys led her around the dangerous places. I cursed Indian Agents generally, Harvey particularly. By 12 we reached the Agency. The great gate swung open, and I counted the Indians as they filed in, turned them over to the Agent, and, God Knows, we all left relieved.

Broken Promises

During the sixteen years of the Alsea Sub-Agency's existence half of the native population died of starvation, exposure, disease, and abuse. The Alsea Sub-Agency was closed in 1875, when the value of the land outweighed any treaties, promises, or moral considerations. No further information is known about Amanda, nor if she ever saw her daughter, Julia, again."