The 1863 smallpox blankets that killed 80% of California’s Cahuilla tribe

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Chief Juan Antonio’s Death in the 1863 Smallpox Catastrophe

Chief Juan Antonio, born as Cooswootna near Mt. San Jacinto in 1783, led the Mountain Cahuilla Band for two decades.

He moved his people to Rancho San Bernardino in 1845 to guard settler herds from raiders…

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