Yontoket massacre

The Yontocket massacre or Burnt Ranch massacre was an 1853 massacre of Tolowa people at the village of Yontocket (Tolowa: yan’-daa-k’vt ), northwestern California.

One Tolowa man said that more than 450 people were killed in the attack. The massacre was conducted by a "company", a militia organized by American citizens of Crescent City.

At the time of the attack, the Tolowa had been engaged in a prayer ceremony. After the initial massacre, a Tolowa man reported that those responsible for the attack started a bonfire, in which they burned sacred ceremonial clothing and feathers, as well as babies, some of them still living.

Little or no loss of life was reported on the American side.