[From Hittell's History of California, vol. 3 (1897)]

 

CHAPTER XIII.

MODOC WAR.

 

            THE last and most remarkable of all the Indian troubles in California, and in some respects the most remarkable conflict that ever took place between whites and Indians, was what was known as the Modoc war. This extraordinary series of events, which in the spring and summer of 1873 attracted the attention and, it may be added, the amazement of nearly the entire world, can not be understood without recurring to occurrences of long prior date. In 1850 the entire northeastern portion of the state was organized into what was then known as Shasta county with the county seat at Reading's ranch. In 1852 the northern portion of this territory, commencing at the Devil's Castle near Soda Springs on the upper Sacramento river and running thence eastward to the state boundary was created into Siskiyou county with its county seat at Yreka.[1] The name Siskiyou was said to have been derived from the Siskiyou mountains and the name of the mountains from a ford on the Umpqua river in Oregon, where there were six exposed rocks so distributed in the stream as to form easy and convenient stepping- stones to cross. Michel Laframboise and other French Canadian trappers of the Hudson's Bay Company crossed it in 1832 and called it the "six cailloux," which in their language meant six stones; and the Americans adopted the name, and substantially the pronunciation, but changed the spelling to Siskiyou.[2] The name Yreka appears to have been Indian and meant the white one, referring to Mount Shasta, from which it is distant north- westward about thirty-five miles. To the northeast of Mount Shasta about forty-five miles is Rhett Lake, sometimes called

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Tule Lake, a body of fresh water about thirty miles long north and south by fifteen wide east and west, lying partly in California and partly in Oregon. On the southwest of the lake are the famous lava beds and emptying into it on the east side is Lost river, a stream, partly subterraneous, which with a great bend connects it with Clear Lake further east. South of the mouth of Lost river on the east shore of Rhett Lake is Bloody Point and south of that Black Bluff.[3]

            In September, 1852, an immigrant train consisting of sixty-five persons, men, women and children, on their way from Oregon to California, upon reaching that part of the road which touches the east side of the lake at Bloody Point, were attacked by Modoc Indians and indiscriminately butchered. Neither age nor sex was spared; but all were killed with circumstances of great barbarity, except two young girls one of fourteen and the other of twelve years, and one man who escaped. These girls, it was said, became the wives of two of the captors; but finally Modoc squaws became jealous of their influence and murdered them. When the story of this massacre reached Yreka, it created very great excitement No one stopped to inquire what provocation had been given or how many Indians had previously been shot down and scalped by whites; but there was at once a cry for vengeance and extermination; and a company of armed miners and others was immediately raised to carry out the proposed work of destruction. At the head of these miners was a man, known as Ben Wright, a citizen of Yreka, active and energetic and regarded as a person of good standing. In the accounts of Wright's proceedings there are several contradictions; but according to those most favorable to him, they were so atrocious that a darker stain could hardly be given by any misrepresentation. It was reported that he purchased a quantity of strychnine and, going into the Modoc country east of Rhett Lake, invited a number of Indians to meet him near Black Bluff under the pretense of making a treaty. As a preliminary to negotiations he prepared a feast, in which he seasoned the food for the Indians with the poison; but it proved to be so much adulterated that, with the exception of one man, it did not kill.

MODOC WAR. 939

            This part of the story, though it seems almost incredible, was vouched for by Yreka citizens, one of whom also claimed that he had personally heard Wright cursing the druggist for selling him adulterated strychnine. But, whatever may have been the truth in this respect, it seems certain that Wright, under the pre- text of making peace, induced the Indians to meet him at Black Bluff and that he threw them off their guard by the use of a flag of truce and smoking the pipe of peace with them. It was a rainy day. The Indians, of whom there were forty-six, sat down to pull off their wet moccasins and dry their feet, and had unstrung and laid aside their bows, when Ben Wright, drawing a pistol with each hand, began shooting his too-trusting victims; and his example was followed by his companions. In a very short time all the Indians were killed except five, who managed to escape. This exploit seems to have satisfied Wright's desire for glory; he at least did not go any further or engage in any more Indian fighting, but returned to Yreka. And not long afterwards, in supposed reward for his skillful services in dealing with a difficult question, he was appointed by the administration at Washington an Indian agent.[4]

            From the time of the Ben Wright massacre — for Wright's name became indissolubly connected with the infamy — hostilities on the part of the Modocs continued until October, 1864, when a treaty was entered into, by the terms of which the Modocs agreed to accompany their neighbors, the Klamaths, to the Klamath Indian reservation on Upper Klamath Lake in Oregon. At this treaty the Modocs were represented by Old Schonchin, Schonchin John his brother, and Kientepoos or Captain Jack, as he on account of his resemblance to an old mariner in Yreka was ordinarily known; and in accordance with its provisions all the Indians, who were represented, were removed to the reservation and shared in the distribution of goods made by the agents of the United States government. But in a very short time Captain Jack began to grow restive. He had been recognized at the treaty as a sub-chief; but he was ambitious for further and fuller honors. He had been born on Lost river, the son of a former head-chief of the Lost River Modocs ; and he felt himself not

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only the born leader of that people but capable of regaining and retaining for them the heritage in the country around Rhett Lake which he claimed they had unwittingly been tricked into conveying away. Finding a number of his companions as discontented as himself, though he could not shake the constancy of Old Schonchin, he managed to persuade Schonchin John, and finally, raising the standard of revolt, he and his followers left the reservation and took up their abode in their old haunts on Lost river. In 1865, 1866 and 1867 attempts were made on the part of reservation and other officials to induce him to return; but on each occasion he either eluded or defied the authority of the government; and nothing further for the time was done. In the latter end of 1869 Alfred B. Meacham, superintendent of Indian affairs for Oregon, and several other officers connected with Oregon reservations, together with a body of soldiers from Fort Klamath, made a fourth attempt and by taking Captain Jack unprepared and at a disadvantage succeeded in inducing him and his people, about two hundred in number, to go back to Klamath reservation, where they arrived near the end of December, 1869, and again received a distribution of goods from the United States government.[5]

            The Modocs were said to have been originally a branch of the Klamaths; but they had revolted and gone off for themselves; and from that time they heartily hated the Klamaths. It was therefore perhaps as absurd a thing as was ever done in the management of the Pacific Coast Indians to locate the two fierce tribes on the same reservation. They were not friends and they could not be expected to be well disposed towards each other. Though there was no open hostility between them, the Klamaths looked upon the Modocs as inferiors and interlopers, whom they had to tolerate because they were obliged to. When the Modocs arrived upon the reservation they had been told that they could cut lumber for building their houses and other purposes on a certain mountain; but the Klamaths said, "It is our timber. You may cut it; but it is ours. You may make rails; but we want some of them." This of course led to a quarrel. Captain Jack complained to the reservation authorities; but they,

MODOC WAR. 941

instead of paying attention and compelling the Klamaths to behave themselves, refused to be annoyed and ordered Jack back to his work. The result was that the Klamaths, having received neither punishment nor reprimand, became more overbearing than before; and the quarrel was renewed. Captain Jack again complained; and the authorities were then obliged to take notice of the trouble. But their remedy, instead of restraining the Klamaths, was to remove the Modocs to another portion of the reservation and order them to commence again. They consented and were engaged in cutting new timbers, when the Klamaths again interfered, saying to the Modocs, "You can stay here; but it is our country. Your horses can eat the grass ; but it is our grass. You can catch fish ; but they are our fish." When reminded of the treaty, by the terms of which the Modocs were equally entitled to all the rights and privileges of the reservation, the Klamaths answered, "Yes, we know all that. You can have timber, grass and fish ; but do not forget that they are ours. It is all right. We will let you stay!"[6]

            Captain Jack complained a third time to the authorities, but with no better outcome. He had already told Meacham that he had no faith in what Meacham said and that all the whites, as a rule, were liars and swindlers. He soon made up his mind that the reservation authorities were not only as bad as other whites, but that they had a personal grudge against himself He therefore resolved a second time to leave the reservation; and, calling the Modocs together, he offered to take with him all who were willing to go. A long and stormy discussion ensued, which resulted in a vote by a large majority in favor of leaving the reservation and going back to their old homes on Lost river. Old Schonchin and Schonchin John, his brother, with some of the people, remained; but most of them accompanied Captain Jack to Rhett Lake; and from there he and a few others, taking along their young squaws, proceeded in the spring of 1870 for a sojourn to Yreka, where he seems to have had a friend and adviser in Elijah Steele, who had been acting superintendent of Indian affairs in that part of the country in 1864. But the more special object of this visit to Yreka appears to have been not so much to counsel

942 STATE GROWTH,

with Steele as to make money by selling the squaws and with the proceeds purchase supplies and particularly arms and ammunition. This traffic with their women seems to have been an old practice. Captain Jack himself had a sister, generally known as Queen Mary, whom he was said to have repeatedly sold. She was reputed handsome; but every white man that purchased her soon repented of his bargain. She was not only high-strung; but, like queens in general, she was an expensive luxury to keep, always costing a great deal more than she was worth. No objection, however, seems to have been ever made to taking her back when returned; because there would be an opportunity of selling her over again; and, according to common report, she had thus been sold by Captain Jack five or six different times within ten years.[7]

            In the spring of 1871 the reservation authorities, finding that they had done an imprudent thing in allowing Captain Jack to depart, made an attempt to get him back. For this purpose they divided the Klamath reservation into distinct agencies; and, while they assigned the western portion to the Klamaths, they set aside a part of the eastern portion for the exclusive occupation of the Modocs, so that there could be no further communication between them and the Klamaths. Old Schonchin, who had removed to this selected portion with the Modocs that remained with him, was sent after Captain Jack; and Captain Jack, upon visiting and inspecting the new quarters, seemed to think favorably of the proposition. But just about that time an unfortunate event occurred which altered his intention in that direction, if he had any, and entirely changed the expected course of events. It appears that not long before, he had employed an Indian doctor or medicine-man to attend a sick child and paid him his fees in advance. Among the Modocs, as well as certain other Indians, such a contract was understood to be a guaranty to cure; and in case of failure the doctor's life was to be forfeited, if the friends of the deceased demanded it. The child died; and Captain Jack, either with his own hand or that of an agent, killed the unsuccessful practitioner. This, by Modoc law and custom, was in entire accordance with the eternal fitness of things ; but by the

MODOC WAR. 943

laws of the white man it was murder; and the friends of the dead doctor demanded that Captain Jack should be dealt with by the white man's law. And upon proper representations an order for his arrest was in fact issued. If events had been allowed to take their ordinary course, though Captain Jack stormed and fumed at the proposed arrest and threatened all sorts of savage resistance, it is likely that he would have been seized without any very great trouble, tried, convicted and imprisoned for a few years or possibly for life — in the same manner as other Indians have undergone punishment in California for the similar offense of killing their unsuccessful doctors; and the whole Modoc business would have been substantially settled.[8]

            But at this point Meacham, in attempting to carry out what was called the "peace policy," proposed that a new reservation should be set aside near the mouth of Lost river; that Captain Jack should be induced to remove to it, and that, as a part of the programme, the order for his arrest should be revoked. In pursuance of this plan Brigadier-general Edward R. S. Canby of the United States army, who was in military command of the department of the Columbia, was applied to; and he issued the orders desired. Meacham at the same time appointed his brother, John Meacham, a sort of commissioner to visit Captain Jack and induce him to accept the new terms and in the meanwhile to return to the Klamath reservation until further arrangements could be perfected at Washington. But Captain Jack, though willing to accept the Lost river reservation, refused absolutely to return to Klamath; and nothing more could be done for the time except allow the business to remain in a suspended and very unsatisfactory state. While matters were in this position, Meacham was removed from office and T. B. Odeneal appointed superintendent of Indian affairs for Oregon in his place. Odeneal, soon after his appointment, wrote to Washington for instructions and was ordered to remove the Modocs to the Klamath reservation, "peaceably if he could but forcibly if he must." He at once attempted the peaceable plan ; but the unwise policy that had been pursued so long made the Indians believe that they only had to stand out against the government to get almost anything they

944 STATE GROWTH.

wanted. They therefore refused to obey or even to meet Odeneal, adding that their friends and advisers at Yreka had told them to stay where they were and that they intended to do so. Upon this insolent answer, Odeneal applied to the commander of Fort Klamath for a force to compel them to go to the Klamath reservation; and Captain James Jackson was on November 28, 1872, dispatched with thirty-five United States soldiers from the fort to see to the execution of the order.[9]

            Captain Jackson proceeded at once for the Modoc camp on Lost river and on his way was joined by about twenty-five white volunteers, armed with Henry rifles and revolvers, who went to see and perhaps take part in the fun. They arrived at Lost river about daybreak on November 30, 1872. Captain Jack and fourteen other Modocs with their families were on the west bank of the river while the others with their families were on the east side. Among the fourteen with Captain Jack were Schonchin John,who had joined him; Scar-faced Charley, so called on account of a deep scar on his cheek ; and a half-brother of Captain Jack, known as Black Jim, so called on account of his dark color. On the other side were Curly-haired Doctor; Boston Charley, so named on account of his light color, and Hooker Jim, so called on account of having lived with a white man named Hooker, and others with their families. It was to the west bank of the river that Jackson marched his men. He took the Indians by surprise; but they were soon on their feet. Jackson ordered them to lay down their arms; and they all did so, except Scar-faced Charley. A parley ensued and it appeared that a satisfactory arrangement had been arrived at when Jackson, turning to Scar-faced Charley, commanded him to put down his gun. He refused. Jackson thereupon ordered a lieutenant to disarm him; and, as the lieutenant advanced to do so, the Modoc drew his pistol and fired at him. In an instant all was in confusion. The Indians seized their weapons and scattering in the sage-brush next their camp, began firing back at the soldiers, who had opened on them. The fight thus commenced lasted three hours, at the end of which time Captain Jack led off all his men with the exception of one, who was killed. Jackson lost one man killed and seven wounded

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— Meacham said ten killed and five wounded ; and, on the reappearance of the Indians not long after the fight, he left them in possession of the battle field.[10]

            The volunteers, who had accompanied Jackson's forces to "see the fun" had posted themselves on the east bank of the river. When the firing commenced the Modocs on the east bank rushed down with their arms for the purpose of crossing to the assistance of Captain Jack. The volunteers attempted to prevent them by seizing their canoes; but in a very few moments they found themselves involved in a fight on their own account, which entirely withdrew their attention from the other side of the river; and the result was that, while the Indians lost only a squaw and an infant child in her arms, the volunteers lost three or four of their number killed. As soon as possible, they too abandoned the field and followed Jackson. On the other hand, the Modocs, at the orders of Captain Jack, who had thus in his first fight displayed extraordinary military talent and approved himself fit to lead them, gathered up their families, horses and other property and moved off to the lava beds on the southwest side of Rhett Lake — a country, some forty miles in general diameter, terribly rough and broken, full of irregular and jagged rocks, ledges and caves, where a handful of determined men might successfully resist many times their own number of men not acquainted with it and not expert in methods of Modoc warfare. Soon after getting there, they were joined by fourteen other Modocs and their families, who upon hearing of the fight cast their lot with the victors. Among these fourteen were Shacknasty Jim, so called from his mother who was known as Shacknasty; Steamboat Frank, so called from his squaw, who on account of her great size and habit of puffing and blowing was called Steamboat; Bogus Charley, so called from having been born on Bogus creek, and Ellen's man George.[11]

            Soon after the fight Curly-haired Doctor, Hooker Jim and Steamboat Frank led a small war party against the white settlers on the eastern shore of Rhett Lake and killed twelve men and a boy. Among the victims was a man named William Boddy and

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his son-in-law named Nicholas Shearon; also Henry Miller and William Brotherton. Upon killing Boddy, which appears to have been bloody work, the savages made their appearance at his house and calling out the women said, "This is Boddy 's blood; but we are Modocs; we do not kill women and children. You will find Boddy in the woods. We will not harm you." And they acted in much the same way with the others, the boy being killed only because he resisted them. From these circumstances it was supposed that the murders were committed by way of vengeance against the settlers for not giving information of Jackson's march; but it was reported that, when the murderers arrived at the lava beds. Captain Jack denounced their work and spoke in favor of giving them up to the whites. There was probably not a particle of truth in the report; but, whether so or not, Captain Jack was very glad to avail himself of their services in the conflict that followed. His whole band in the lava beds, including these men, amounted all told to only fifty-one fighting men; and, as will soon be seen, he had none to spare.[12]

            Upon news of what had thus taken place on Lost river and Rhett Lake, the state of Oregon called out several companies of volunteers and the state of California one, making in all about four hundred men, and sent them to the lava beds to assist the defeated regulars under Jackson. As they approached, the Modocs held a council as to what they should do. According to a report vouched for by Meacham, which is not however altogether reliable. Captain Jack and Scar-faced Charley spoke in favor of peace, while Schonchin John and Curly-haired Doctor advocated war — open war, war to the bitter end. Schonchin spoke of the Ben Wright massacre and insisted that no faith was to be placed in the whites. He expected to die; but he did not purpose to die first. He wanted to fight and he intended to fight. On the other hand Curly-haired Doctor ridiculed the whites as soldiers. He said they had been tried at Lost river, and what had they accomplished? Nothing. They did not know how to fight; they shot their guns off in the air. He would make a medicine that would turn their bullets away from the Modocs. The Modocs should not give up ; they would kill

MODOC WAR. 947

all that could come against them. And upon a vote being taken, the advocates for resistance polled thirty-seven against fourteen votes, nearly three to one. Whatever may have been the truth as to this council, it is certain that Captain Jack prepared for a bitter resistance and it seems probable enough that Curly-haired Doctor went through a series of incantations, making night hideous, preparing the medicine that was to turn the white bullets aside.[13]

            On the morning of January 17, 1873, the soldiers advanced under the general lead of Lieutenant-colonel Frank Wheaton. They appear to have supposed that they were going to have easy work. Wheaton at least soon after reaching Rhett Lake, referring to Captain Jack, said that he proposed making "short work of this impudent and enterprising savage and that he intended to stick to the Modoc band until General Canby should be satisfied with the results accomplished." "If the Modocs," he continued, "will only try to make good their boast to whip a thousand soldiers, all will be satisfied." He had his wish. The Modocs did not fly before him. He had not advanced his soldiers far into the lava beds before Captain Jack and his band, who were concealed at points of vantage among the rocks, opened a deadly fire upon them. They recoiled for a moment and then upon the word of command returned the fire. But it was noticed that while the Modoc aim was horizontal, so that each ball took effect, that of the whites was directed upward as if their enemies were in the cliffs above. It almost seemed as if Curly-haired Doctor's medicine was proving effective. After the first fire the whites advanced again. They had as yet seen no Modocs; but they had heard and felt the Modoc rifles; and a number of them were lying dead or wounded on the rocks. For a moment they imagined the enemy had retreated; but the next moment another blazing line appeared in front and another line of soldiers fell. Another advance with the same result; and still no enemy could be seen, while their murderous fire was playing havoc with the whites. Such slaughter could not be endured. A council of war was hastily called and the order given to retreat. Some of the wounded begged not to be left alive to fall

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into the hands of the savages; but they begged in vain. The bugles, sounded the word and the order to withdraw passed along the lines; and the main effort then was to reach a position, safe from the Modoc fire. Thirty-five whites had been killed and a number wounded. The Modocs scalped their victims; and after the fight their squaws went around stripping the dead. It was said they found two wounded men still living and stoned them to death.[14]

            The Modocs do not appear to have lost a single man. Notwithstanding the whites numbered over four hundred and the Modocs only fifty-one or at most fifty-three, the conflict presented to the world the astonishing spectacle of what may be called the greatest amount of military mismanagement on the part of the whites in comparison with the greatest amount of military skill on the part of the Indians. Well might the Curly- haired Doctor exult on the morning after the battle and exclaim, "I promised you the medicine that would turn aside the white man's bullets. Where is the Modoc that was struck ? I told you the Great Spirit was on our side. Your chief's heart was weak; he wanted peace: mine was strong; I wanted war. We can kill all the whites that come." Schonchin John followed in much the same strain. Captain Jack on the other hand was more moderate. He said the whites were many and would not give up; no matter how many were killed, others would come in larger numbers than before, and in time all the Modocs would be killed. But he had made up his mind to fight as long as the Modoc heart cried "fight" and not to make peace until the Modoc heart cried "peace." And that night in the lava beds, the squaws in the meanwhile having collected great piles of sage- brush, there was a grand scalp dance around the central fire in celebration of the victory, in which the various braves, painted in black and red, flourished their still bleeding trophies and worked themselves up into an intoxication of triumph.[15]

            It was only a few days after this fight that the "peace commission," as it was called, was proposed at Washington. The starter of the project appears to have been General E. L. Apple-

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gate of the Oregon militia. According to his own account, and in his own language, he "meddled" in the matter because he thought he ought to know something about Indians and Indian affairs, and he believed he did. He was of opinion that a wrong policy, evidently meaning coercion with the Modocs, might involve the country in a tedious and expensive war and he wished to prevent it He believed in the "pow-wow" policy. He considered that "jaw-bone," as he expressed it, was cheaper than ammunition; and he therefore proposed a peace commission, with his friend Meacham at the head of it, to turn the Modoc business into a " big talk " instead of a big war. With this object in view he and other consenting Oregonians then in Washington, on January 25, 1873, called upon Columbus Delano, United States secretary of the interior, and urged the appointment; and a few days afterwards the peace commission was ordered and its membership made up, after some changes, by the appointment of Alfred B. Meacham, chairman, and Jesse Applegate and Samuel Case of Oregon as members. Meacham was in Washington at the time. He asserted that he accepted the post with reluctance and only on the urgent solicitation of the secretary of the interior. However this may have been, he almost immediately left Washington and proceeded to the head-quarters of General Canby at Fairchild's ranch on Hot creek, twenty-five miles west of the lava beds, where he arrived on February 19, 1873, and found Applegate and Case waiting for him. The secretary of the interior had provided, in making his appointments, that General Canby was to act as counselor to the commission; and, as that officer was also present and consented to act, the peace commission immediately organized and immediately proceeded to its "pow-wow" and "jaw-bone" business.[16]

            After a few abortive attempts to open negotiations with the Modocs, it was agreed that Elijah Steele of Yreka should be sent for; and at the same time Canby by telegraph to Washington requested and procured the appointment of A. M. Rosborough of Yreka, judge of the ninth judicial district of the state, as a fourth commissioner. Upon their arrival in camp, it was resolved that Steele should visit the lava beds and offer terms

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of peace, including amnesty for all offenses on condition of immediate removal to Angel Island in San Francisco harbor as prisoners of war, to be fed and clothed at government expense, and eventual removal to some distant reservation to be selected by the Modocs. Steele fully believed that he could induce them to accept and on his mission to the lava beds took along, besides John Fairchild and a couple of interpreters, a number of newspaper reporters with the apparent object of recording and publishing to the expectant world an early and complete account of the negotiations that were to take place. There was, however, not much history to record. Steele, flanked by his companions, met the Modocs and, after listening to a long speech by Captain Jack, made his proposition of removal. It seems likely that on account of Steele's being regarded as a good friend by the Indians, his speech was apparently well received out of compliment to him; but he erroneously imagined that he had entirely succeeded, and particularly when a number of the Modocs, including Queen Mary, Hooker Jim, Bogus Charley, Boston Charley and Shacknasty Jim, were sent to accompany him back to head- quarters. On approaching that place, Steele, who was in advance of his companions, shouted out in a loud voice, "They accept peace;" and immediately almost everybody commenced writing dispatches, newspaper articles and letters, announcing the glad tidings. There was for a few moments a general feeling of relief. But in the midst of the joy, Fairchild threw a damper upon it by quietly remarking that he did not think the Modocs had made any agreement to accept the terms offered. It was true they had responded to Steele's speech; but they had not accepted his propositions. They had certainly not agreed to surrender.[17]

            Steele thought he could not be mistaken and called for the report of one of the newspaper correspondents, from which it appeared that the Modocs had greeted his speech with applause. Next he called for a report from the Modocs, who had escorted him back to head-quarters; but they replied that they had simply come to hear, not to talk. Notwithstanding their ominous silence, Steele felt so confident that he proposed to return next

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day to the lava beds and reassure himself. The next morning accordingly he started, taking along one of the newspaper reporters. He also asked Fairchild to accompany him again; but Fairchild declined with a very significant swinging of his head from side to side, at the same time closely shutting his eyes, Steele nevertheless proceeded to the lava beds; but, upon getting there, he found not only that he had been altogether wrong in his opinion, but that he and his reporter were in very great peril. The Indians, after talking over his proposition to deliver themselves over as prisoners of war, had apparently made up their minds that he was a traitor to them and became infuriated. A council was called, at which Schonchin John charged him to his face with falsehood and intimated that he would not have another opportunity of misrepresenting the Modocs. All Steele could do was to procure a postponement of the council until morning and then induce the savages to allow him to depart upon a promise to return the next day and bring all the commissioners with him. He was thoroughly impressed with the seriousness of the situation, and was glad to get away on any terms. And when he got back to head- quarters, he was said to have looked considerably older than when he left the day before. He admitted that he had been entirely mistaken as to the feelings of the Modocs and stated that he had only succeeded in escaping with his life by promising that all the commissioners should visit the lava beds the next day unarmed. He had no idea, however, that they would do so. He felt certain, if they went, that they would be murdered. As a matter of fact, the Modocs, instead of being disposed to peace, were thirsting for war. They considered themselves a match for the whites in arms and were whetting their appetite for blood by recalling the incidents of the Ben Wright massacre. It was plain they meditated treachery.[18]

            Upon Steele's return, Meacham telegraphed to Secretary Delano at Washington the facts reported by him and the opinion of the commissioners, concurred in by General Canby, that treachery was certainly contemplated and the mission a failure, and asking for further orders. Delano telegraphed back that he did not

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believe the Modocs meant treachery; that the mission ought not to be a failure; that he thought he could understand why the Modocs were unwilling to confide in the commissioners, and that they should continue negotiations. At the same time he added that he would consult the president and have the war department confer with General Canby, as if he intended to turn the matter over to the military arm of the government. Meanwhile the occupants of the lava beds, finding that the commissioners were not going to visit them as promised by Steele, sent word that, if General Canby would meet them half way with wagons and teams, they would come out and surrender. This proposition, on consultation among the commissioners, was accepted; but the day before the surrender was to have taken place a second messenger from the Modocs announced that they were burning their dead and could not get ready to surrender for two days more. Canby acquiesced in the modification of the agreement and sent word by the returning messenger that the teams would be at the half-way station on time. Accordingly on the morning fixed upon they were dispatched under charge of Steele; and so confident was Canby and various others of the promised surrender that tents were prepared for the expected newcomers, one of which was named "Captain Jack's marquee" and another " Schonchin's marquee," and so on. Commissioner Applegate also felt so certain that, thinking he could be of no further use, he left for his home and on the way reported that the Modocs had surrendered and the war was over. But Fairchild, the hard-headed, who accepted nothing on trust, again shook his head. He said he had no faith in their surrender. He did not think they were ready to go to Angel Island as prisoners of war — not just yet. And he was right; for in the evening Steele and the wagons returned alone ; and the Modocs sent another messenger announcing that they could not agree among themselves and wanted more time to think the matter over.[19]

            Secretary Delano at Washington, upon being informed of these new facts, telegraphed back to continue negotiations. But Commissioner Case had apparently had enough of the business and

MODOC WAR. 953

resigned, while Commissioner Rosborough returned to his duties on the bench at Yreka. General Canby, who by this time seemed to be satisfied that the Modocs were not to be trusted, sent them word that he would tolerate no more trifling and moved his headquarters to Van Bremer's ranch, some miles nearer the lava beds. It had been agreed between both parties at the commencement of the negotiations for peace that during their pendency there was to be an armistice and no act of aggression committed or permitted by either side. But notwithstanding the agreement, it appears that a company of the new recruits, who were coming in daily to reinforce Canby, captured about thirty Modoc horses near the lava beds and, if Meacham is to be believed, Canby, when remonstrated with by him as to the violation of the armistice, distinctly refused to give the horses up, saying that they would be well cared for and turned over when peace should be made. About this same time the Rev. Eleazer Thomas, a doctor of divinity of the Methodist church stationed at Petaluma, was, at the request of United States Senator Aaron A. Sargent of California, appointed on the peace commission; and Leroy S, Dyer, Indian agent at the Klamath Lake reservation, was also appointed. Dyer was supposed to know something about the Indians; but Dr. Thomas had had no experience whatever.[20]

            Upon the arrival of the new commissioners, several attempts were made to secure a meeting between them and the principal Modocs, but without result. Canby then sent word that he proposed moving his army up to the edge of the lava beds, but that he would not commence hostilities unless compelled to do so. Captain Jack on the other hand answered that he did not propose firing the first shot; but he would like to have his horses returned. Not long afterwards a company of Modoc women arrived making the same request; but, though allowed to see and caress the animals, they were not allowed to take them away. A few days subsequently Canby, pursuant to his notice, moved his camp to the edge of the lava beds, not more than two miles from the spot occupied by the Modocs. The proximity seemed to hasten negotiations. The next day the Modocs agreed to a meeting; and it was held at a point about midway

954 STATE GROWTH.

between the two camps. But, as might have been expected, there was little or nothing of importance done. While the talk was progressing a rain-storm came on, when Canby remarked that they could not talk in the rain; but Captain Jack replied that it was a small matter — that he himself would not melt, and that General Canby was much better clothed than he was. It was afterwards supposed that there were at that time indications of treachery; but the whites did not notice them; and at the proposition of Canby it was agreed that a council tent about midway between the camps should be erected for further negotiations. On the following day accordingly a council tent was put up in the lava beds a little less than a mile from the camp of the whites and a little more than a mile from the camp of the Modocs. Care was taken to locate it so as to be in full view of the signal station on the bluff above the camp of the whites.[21]

            Among the whites, and employed by them as interpreters, were a white man originally from Kentucky, named Frank Riddle, and his Modoc wife, called Winemah but usually known as Toby. According to report Riddle had bought her as a girl from a Modoc chief some twelve years previously. However this may have been, he had afterwards, on the demand of Meacham, married her; and she was true and faithful to him. For some reason or other, Canby did not feel disposed to trust either of them, although, as was shown in the sequel, they were perfectly reliable. Both Toby and her husband had already informed Meacham and also Canby that the Modocs were playing false and could not be relied on; but it appears that Canby did not believe them and Meacham, though he professed to believe, was too weak to act effectually on his belief and allowed the tragedy, which he pretends to have anticipated, to take its course without much interruption. Meanwhile the Modocs knew all about the accessions of white soldiers that were arriving and inspected the arms and munitions of war that were being collected and especially the mortars and shells that were designed to dislodge them. But it was not until they found that a hundred Warm Springs Indians, old enemies of theirs, were about to take the field on the side of the whites that they got excited and

MODOC WAR. 955

determined to bring matters to a crisis. On April 5, Captain Jack sent word that he would like to see Meacham and Fairchild at the council tent; and, upon meeting them, he pretended to be afraid of Canby on account of his military position and of Thomas because he was a "Sunday-doctor;" and he wanted them to go away and take along the soldiers, and that then the war would stop. When told that there would be no peace until he gave up the men who had murdered the white settlers on the east side of Rhett Lake for trial, he asked who would try them, white men or Indians. When answered that they would be tried by white men, he asked whether the whites who had murdered Indians in the same neighborhood would be given up to be tried by Modocs. When answered that it could not be done, because the Modoc law had been superseded by the law of the whites and was dead, he asked whether the white murderers would be arrested and also tried by the white law. In putting these questions he of course knew that a fair and honest answer could not be given, and he closed the conference by saying that though he was willing to surrender and put himself in the power of the whites, his people were not willing to do so. At the same time he wished to call the attention of the whites to the fact that they had not kept faith with him. They had agreed to let matters stand as they were and make no further preparations for war; and he had accordingly done nothing whatever, while they had all the time been collecting arms and men. It was agreed that neither party should commit any act of aggression against the other. He had kept his promise: had the whites kept theirs? The whites pretended they came to make peace : did their crowds of soldiers and collections of engines of war look like making peace?[22]

            Captain Jack then, rising to his feet, pointed to a dark spot on the further shore of the lake. It was Black Bluff. At that place, he said, when he was a small boy, forty-six of his people had met Ben Wright. Ben Wright also pretended that he wanted to make peace. He even smoked the pipe of peace with his intended victims; and they believed him. He threw them off their guard; and they laid aside their arms. How many escaped the effect of

956 STATE GROWTH.

that fatal confidence? Raising his open hand spread out: "Only five," he exclaimed, "and one of them, Te-he Jack, is now in the Modoc camp yonder." Meacham pointed to Bloody Point and asked how many whites escaped at that place; but Captain Jack answered by saying that the Indians and the whites were at open war then: they were not making peace. Meacham replied that Ben Wright did wrong to kill people under a flag of truce. "Yes," rejoined Captain Jack, "you say it was wrong; but your government did not say it was wrong. It made him a tyee, a big chief." Then, rising to his full stature, Captain Jack continued, " I am only one man. But I am the voice of my people. What their hearts think, I speak. I do not wish war. But I want to be a man. You deny me the rights of a white man. My skin is red ; but my heart is the heart of a white man. I am a Modoc I am not afraid to die. But I will not fall on the rocks. When I die, my enemies will be under me. Your soldiers began on me when I was asleep on Lost river. They drove me to these rocks like a wounded deer. Tell your general that I am in the Modoc camp. Tell him that he need not look for me on Lost river or on Shasta mountain. Tell him I am in the camp yonder. I want him to take his soldiers away. I do not want to fight But I am a Modoc. I am not afraid. I can show him how a Modoc can die."

            Upon the report of this interview by Meacham at head-quarters, Canby, Thomas and Dyer seem to have been under the impression that Captain Jack was desirous of surrendering, but was prevented by his people. It was accordingly determined that Toby Riddle should be dispatched to him with a message that if he and those in favor of peace would come out, the troops should be placed in such a position as to protect them. But on her arrival at the Modoc stronghold Captain Jack refused a private conference, saying that he wanted his people all to hear. According to her report a vote was then taken on the proposition and Captain Jack and eleven others voted in favor of accepting the terms, whereupon the majority on the other side gave warning that any attempt on the part of the peace party to escape would be attended with chances of death to all who dared it; and Captain Jack thereupon replied formally to her message by saying

MODOC WAR, 957

that he was a Modoc and that he could not and would not leave his people. It is likely, however, that Toby did not fully understand the nature of the proceedings. It can not be believed that Captain Jack was in favor of surrendering on the terms offered. All his actions and his words indicated the contrary. Meacham, it is true, deemed it very plain that he wished to do so but dared not on account of fear that his own life and that of his family would pay the penalty. But there is no reason to believe that Captain Jack could not have surrendered and taken his family with him, if he had so desired. He had resources enough, if he had wished to call them into requisition. He certainly had not a touch of cowardice in his composition. As for Meacham, on the other hand, it can hardly be claimed, with all his efforts to magnify and make a hero out of Captain Jack, that he ever rose to a full appreciation of his character.[23]

            When Toby started out on her return to Canby's camp, one of the Modocs, said to be an advocate of peace, concealed himself behind a rock and, as she passed, whispered that she should tell Meacham and the other whites not to come to the council tent again or they would get killed. Upon her arrival, she was very much distressed and showed signs of having been weeping. At first she would say nothing, refusing to speak until she met her husband, to whom she told what she had heard. He immediately beckoned Meacham and, with whitened lips, related the story of the intended assassination. The board was at once assembled and the warning thus given was repeated by Riddle, and also an account of what had taken place and the answer of Captain Jack to the message sent him. There was then some discussion about the reported intended assassination. General Canby had no faith in it He said the Modocs "might talk such a thing; but they would not attempt it." Thomas was inclined to believe it was a sensational story, got up for effect. Meacham asserts that he and Dyer accepted the warning and believed it The next day Bogus Charley, Boston Charley and Shacknasty Jim arrived with a proposal for another meeting at the council tent and said that Captain Jack and four others were there waiting. While Boston Charley was delivering his message, an

958 STATE GROWTH,

orderly handed Canby a dispatch from the signal station to the effect that there were five Indians at the council tent, apparently unarmed and about twenty others armed with rifles among the rocks a few rods behind them. This paper being handed around, all appear to have been convinced that treachery was intended; and Meacham, with the concurrence of the others, without however manifesting any distrust of the Indians, answered Boston that they were not ready to talk that day.

            According to Meacham, Thomas, before the Modocs started off again, said to Bogus Charley, "What do you want to kill us for? We are your friends." Bogus at once exclaimed with great earnestness, ''Who told you that?" Thomas evaded answering; but Bogus insisted and began to grow warm in his demand when Thomas replied, "Toby said so." Bogus turned to Toby and asked who told her; but not a word on the subject of who her informant was could be got from her. The three messengers then left; but from that moment Riddle and his wife felt very much alarmed for their personal safety. Not long afterwards a message came that Toby was wanted at the Modoc camp. She did not want to go; nor did Riddle want her to go. They consulted the commissioners and, according to Meacham, they all, except himself, thought there was great danger. Canby, when consulted, said that if Toby were assaulted he would move immediately upon the Modocs. On this assurance she consented to go; and Meacham loaned her his overcoat and gave her his horse to ride. She took an affectionate farewell of her little child, a boy of ten years old, clasping him repeatedly to her breast, and then, after a few words in a low tone of voice with her husband, rode off. Riddle, taking a station commanding a view of the Modoc camp, sat down with a field-glass in his hands and watched her. She was seen to arrive at the stronghold and the Modocs gathered around her. They demanded to know her authority for saying they intended to kill the commissioners. She denied she had said so; but they answered that they knew better and she knew better. She then said she had dreamed it; but this was not anymore satisfactory than her first answer. She then said the spirits had told her. They replied that her statements were false and began to make threats of violence, saying that she must give the name of her informant or suffer the conse-

MODOC WAR. 959

quences. Upon this, her Modoc blood flared up and, pointing to the camp of the whites, she exclaimed, "You see the soldiers there: touch me and they fire; and not a Modoc will escape." Smiting her breast, she exclaimed, "I am a Modoc woman; all my blood is Modoc; I did not dream it; the spirits did not tell me. One of your own men told me. I will not tell you who it was. Shoot me, if you dare! "

            It was plain to the Modocs that nothing could induce Toby to betray her informant and equally plain that they could gain nothing by assaulting her; Besides Scar-faced Charley was her particular friend and would not under any circumstances consent to any harm being done her; and he was aided on this occasion in seeing her safely on her way back by Captain Jack. Upon her return she gave an account of everything that had been said and done; and again she repeated her warning against the commissioners again going to the council tent. But notwithstanding all she could say and all the indications of treachery on the part of the Modocs apparent on every side, Canby and Thomas persisted in further negotiations; and Meacham and Dyer, though they were, if Meacham is to be believed, perfectly aware of the treachery that was intended, weakly consented. It is possible that Meacham in his subsequent efforts to magnify his own sagacity — a common fault with weak men — represented his previous knowledge as much more extensive than it really was. If he knew all he has since pretended, it would seem that he was in a very great degree responsible for the tragedy that was impending, and that the repeated charges against him to that effect in the newspapers of the day were correct. As for Canby himself, it is certain that he had been wavering whether to negotiate further or force the Modocs to surrender. His soldiers in general denounced the peace commission and complained that the military was subjected to disgrace by being held in abeyance by it. But Canby was constrained, by too great a respect for ignorant philanthropists at Washington and in other parts of the country and seemingly against the counsels of his own better judgment, to still forbear and try further negotiation though convinced that treachery was intended.[24]

960 STATE GROWTH.

            Doctor Thomas, as a Christian minister, had great faith in the efficacy of prayer and spent many hours at it among the rocks- He appears to have believed that he could thus change the obdurate hearts of the savages as sincerely as the Curly-haired Doctor evidently imagined he could turn the bullets of the whites with his incantations. Canby, though recently advised by the war department at Washington that little or no confidence was felt in the peace commissioners and that he must substantially manage the business himself, nevertheless conceded to them the privilege of arranging not only the time but also the terms of meetings with the Modocs. Unfortunately, on April 10, 1873, during the absence of Meacham and Dyer, Thomas, who had been left in charge of the affairs of the commission, made an agreement with a new delegation from Captain Jack's stronghold, that the peace commissioners, accompanied by General Canby and by Colonel Albert C. Gillem, who had superseded Lieutenant-colonel Frank Wheaton, all unarmed, should meet five unarmed Indians at the council tent on the following morning at eleven o'clock ; and to this agreement it appears that Canby was induced to assent Meacham said that upon his return to head-quarters in the evening, he demurred to the arrangement, saying it was unsafe; but Thomas insisted that God had done a wonderful work in the Modoc camp and that they now wanted to make peace and were evidently willing to surrender. Meacham shocked the doctor by answering that "God has not been in the Modoc camp this winter; and if we go we will not return alive."[25]

            If Indian accounts as reported by Meacham are to be credited, Captain Jack as well as Scar-faced Charley and a few others opposed the assassination of the commissioners, which was resolved on by the anti-peace party. It was said that on the night before the fatal day, in a stormy council in the Modoc camp, Captain Jack declared that the murder should not be done, and that thereupon the blood-thirsty majority gathered round and, placing a woman's hat on his head and a woman's shawl around his shoulders, taunted him with cowardice, called him a white-faced squaw, charged him with violating his own law that the majority should rule, and said he was no longer a Modoc. And it was

MODOC WAR, 961

added that, dashing the hat and shawl aside and springing to his feet, he shouted, "I am a Modoc. I am your chief. It shall be done, if it costs every drop of blood in my heart. But hear me, all my people. This day's work will cost the life of every Modoc brave. We will not live to see it ended." However this may have been, it is certain that when the assassination was resolved on, Captain Jack was as determined and blood-thirsty as any one else ; and as chief he claimed the right to initiate the slaughter by killing General Canby and selected Ellen's man as his assistant. Schonchin John, being next in rank, chose to kill Meacham and selected Hooker Jim as his second. There was some contention as to who should kill Thomas, the "Sunday-doctor" as the Indians called him ; but the privilege was gained by Bogus Charley and Boston Charley. Shacknasty Jim and Barncho were to kill Dyer and Black Jim and Sloluck Colonel Gillem. It was also arranged that the Curly-haired Doctor and Curly-haired Jack with others were at the same time to decoy Major Edwin C. Mason from his camp on the lake shore and kill him also. These preliminaries being arranged, Barncho and Sloluck were sent out with seven or eight rifles to secrete themselves near the council tent and have them forthcoming when needed.[26]

 

 

 

CHAPTER XIV.

MODOC WAR (continued).

 

            ON the morning of Good Friday, April 11, 1873, the day appointed for the fatal meeting, Boston Charley made his appearance at head-quarters — Bogus Charley had come the evening before and stayed all night. The object of both was, as far as possible, to prevent any unforeseen circumstance from frustrating their murderous designs. The manner in which these savages were received by the peace commissioners was indicated by the fact that when Thomas rose from his breakfast, Boston, "this imp of the devil" as Meacham called him, was apparently without objection allowed to sit down in his seat, eat from his plate and drink from his cup. While eating he observed Meacham changing his boots, pulling off a new twenty-dollar pair and putting on old ones, and with a "cunning twinkle of the demon's eyes" asked, "What for you take 'em off — new boots? Why for you no wear 'em — new boots ? " After breakfast both Bogus and Boston were urgent and impatient for a start and, pointing to the council tent, said that Captain Jack and four men were there already and that they would get tired waiting. Riddle and his wife, who soon made their appearance, repeated their warning not once only but several times, and Toby particularly, with the most passionate vehemence, endeavored to prevent the proposed meeting and especially Meacham's attending it. Meacham said that he over and over again represented the danger; but Canby answered that he had been watching the council tent with a field-glass all morning; that there were not more than five men there; that he had given orders for the signal station to keep a strict watch, and that in case of an attack the army would move at once. Thomas expressed his determi-

(962)

MODOC WAR.  963

nation to keep the compact and leave the result with God, but at the same time he said that he did not consider Riddle and his wife reliable. Meacham then insisted on going armed, and Dyer wished to do the same; but Canby and Thomas replied that the agreement was to go unarmed and that they were going as they had agreed. Canby thereupon went to his marquee and soon reappeared in full dress, while Thomas dressed himself in a suit of light gray Scotch tweed; and the two then called on Colonel Gillem, who was too ill to accompany them, preparatory to starting for the council tent. Meacham meanwhile wrote a note to his wife, stating that she might be a widow that night but not a coward's wife; that he was going to save his honor; that he had done all he could to prevent the meeting and was not to blame ; that the chances were all against them, and that Fairchild would forward his valise and valuables and also six hundred and fifty dollars in currency, which he had given him for her. This note, with the money, he handed Fairchild and requested him to send them to his wife, if he did not get back. At the same time Dyer came up and, handing Fairchild another parcel, asked him to send it to Mrs. Dyer. At this Meacham inquired of Dyer why he went if he felt as he did, saying that he would not go if he were in his place; but that as for himself, being chairman of the commission, he was obliged to go or be disgraced. Dyer replied that if all the rest were going, he would not remain behind.[27]

            At the tent door stood Frank Riddle, Toby and their boy Jeff. Toby, who held Meacham's horse, was weeping. Meacham said, " Toby, give me my horse; we must go now." She answered, " Meacham, you no go; you get kill. You no get your horse. The Modocs mad now; they kill all you men." She then wound the horse's rope around her waist and threw herself on the ground and in wild excitement cried, "Meacham, you no go; you no go ! You get kill ; you get kill ! " Upon this exhibition, Meacham called to Canby and Thomas, who stopped and awaited his approach. Laying a hand on the shoulder of each, he again informed them that in his cool, deliberate opinion, if they went to the council tent that day, they would all be carried back on stretchers, cut to pieces. Thereupon much the same conversa-

964  STATE GROWTH.

tion took place as before. Meacham again insisted on going armed and said if they would consent to his going armed and allow him to take along John Fairchild, who was a dead shot and could whip a dozen Indians, he would interpose no further objections to going. Thomas replied, "Brother Meacham, you and Fairchild are fighting men. We are going to make peace, not war. Let us go as we agreed and trust in God." " But, Doctor," rejoined Meacham, "God does not drop revolvers down just when and where you need them." "My dear brother," retorted Thomas, "you are getting to be very irreligious. Put your trust in God. Pray more and don't think so much about fighting." "Doctor," returned Meacham, "I am as much of a peace man as you are; and I am as good a friend as the Indians ever had on this coast; and I know in whom to put my trust in the hour of peril. But I know the Modocs. I know they won't keep their word ; and I want to be ready for trouble when it comes. I don't want to go unarmed."[28]

            Meacham, finding himself thus opposed on the subject of going armed, then said that, as chairman of the commission and having to manage the talk, he would grant the Modocs any demand they might make rather than give them any excuse to make an attack, provided he found them armed as he knew they would be. Canby answered that he had had more or less connection with the Indian service for thirty years; that he had never made a promise that could not be carried out, and that he was not willing now to promise anything that it was not intended to perform. "Nor I," said Thomas, who wished the Indians to have confidence in white men. Meacham repeated that he only proposed doing so in case the Modocs broke the compact by being armed; that he did not believe in false promises either; but he would promise anything an Indian demanded before he would give him an excuse to take his life or theirs. He did not consider it dishonest, nor would his conscience ever condemn him for saving his life by such strategy. The general and the doctor both insisted on making no promise that was not in good faith and started again on their way for the peace tent. Meacham again begged them not to go, saying that he had too much to

MODOC WAR. 965

live for, too many dependent upon him ; that he did not want to die; but that if they went, he would have to go to save his name from dishonor. Canby turned and said, "That squaw has got you scared, Meacham. I don't see why you should be so careful of your scalp. It is not much better than my own." "Yes," answered Meacham, "the squaw has got me scared; that's true. I am afraid and I have reason to be." And he thereupon returned to his tent; made arrangements for Fairchild to bury him if his body was brought back mutilated and reiterated that he had no choice except death or disgrace and that his name had never been and never should be dishonored. Fairchild, taking out his revolver, said, "Here, Meacham, take this; you can 'bore' brimstone out of them with it" But Meacham declined and, so far as words went, absolutely refused to take a weapon for the reason that everybody would swear he had precipitated a fight by going armed in violation of the compact But at the same time he allowed a third party, who understood him better than Fairchild, to slip a Derringer pistol into the side pocket of his coat; and, upon being assured in a whisper that it was sure fire, he did not hand it back. Dyer, seeing "the little maneuver," as Meacham called it, went to his own tent and slipped another Derringer into his own pocket. They then, after one more vain effort on the part of Toby to stop them, started for the peace tent — Meacham, Dyer and Toby on horseback and Riddle on foot.[29]

            At the council tent, on the side hidden from the signal station, there was a small sage-brush fire burning and around it on loose stones were seated, dressed like white men, Captain Jack in a well-worn gray coat and slouch hat, Schonchin John, Black Jim, Shacknasty Jim and Ellen's man. Hooker Jim, the best trailer and closest marksman among the Modocs, was walking restlessly back and forth. Some forty steps beyond, concealed behind a ledge of rocks, were two boys, Bamcho and Sloluck, each lying on several rifles. Not far distant, also concealed by the rocks, was another man, holding a rifle, with the muzzle pointing towards the tent. It was Scar-faced Charley. He was not there to take part in the tragedy, except in one contingency: he intended to kill any one who should dare to harm Riddle or his wife.

966 STATE GROWTH.

            Just before the arrival of Canby and Thomas, Bogus and Boston had come up to the fire and told the others that the whites were unarmed. When Canby and Thomas approached, the Indians rose and greeted them with apparent cordiality. Canby took from his pocket a handful of cigars, offering one to each ; they were accepted and lighted and soon all were smoking. In a few minutes more Meacham, Dyer and Toby rode up and dismounted, and Riddle followed. Immediately upon reaching the ground, Meacham, Dyer, Riddle and Toby noticed various suspicious circumstances, and Dyer and Riddle as much as possible kept outside the group. Presently, after some preliminaries, Meacham sat down and opened the talk by saying that the commissioners had come out at the request of the Indians to conclude terms of peace. Captain Jack answered that the Modocs wanted no more war; but they wanted the soldiers taken away and then they would make peace. Meacham replied that General Canby was in charge of the soldiers; that he was a friend of the Indians; that the president had sent him out to look out for everybody and see that everything went right, and that he could not send away the soldiers without a letter from the president.[30]

            Meacham before dismounting had removed his overcoat, so as to easily get at his Derringer. After dismounting he had thrown his overcoat on his saddle and left the rope of his horse's halter hanging loose. But Hooker Jim, while the foregoing talk was going on, tied the horse to a sage-brush, so as to prevent his getting away; and then, seizing the overcoat and, with a few jerks pulling it on and buttoning it up, straightened himself, smote his breast with his hand and turning around exclaimed, "Me old man Meacham now. Bogus, you think me look like old man Meacham ? " It was very evident from this that Hooker Jim was going to make sure of the horse and coat in advance; and it was equally plain that the whole party had been entrapped ; but Meacham says he assumed an air of indifference and said, "Hooker Jim, you had better take my hat also," at the same time lifting it from his head. But Hooker Jim answered, " Snoker gam-bla sit-ka caitch-con-a bos-ti-na chock-i-la — I will, by and by. Don't hurry, old man." Dyer and Riddle, who understood

MODOC WAR, 967

what was said, edged off towards the horses, while Toby threw herself at full length on the ground, resting upon her elbows. Canby seemed at last to understand the situation. He rose up, his face indicating great intensity of feeling, and with a slight quiver of his lips, turning to Toby, told her to say that the president had sent the soldiers to protect the Indians as well as the whites and that they could not be taken away without the president's consent. He went on to say that he had on several occasions been sent to move Indians from their old homes to new ones; that they had all liked him, and made him a chief amongst them, and that he expected the Modocs also to recognize him as their friend and like him. Thomas threw himself forward on his knees and told Toby to say that he believed in the great God and that He had sent them there to make peace.[31]

            Captain Jack suddenly rose and walked a few steps away. Schonchin John immediately took his place and demanded Hot creek for a home and that the soldiers should be taken away. Meacham replied that Hot creek belonged to Fairchild and Dorris; but he would see if he could get it for them. Schonchin exclaimed, "Take away your soldiers and give us Hot creek or quit talking. I am tired of talking. I talk no more." While the interpreter was translating these words, Captain Jack, stepping up behind Schonchin, gave a signal, upon which the Modocs uttered their war-whoop and Barncho and Sloluck were seen coming with their rifles. With the exception of Toby, who lay close to the ground, every one jumped up; and Meacham cried, "Jack, what does this mean?" Without replying to him, Captain Jack thrust his right hand under the left breast of his coat and, drawing a six-shooter, shouted, "Ot-we-kan-tux — All ready." Cocking the pistol and pointing it at Canby's head, he pulled the trigger and exploded the cap, but not the powder. Quickly revolving the cylinder, he again presented it to the head of the general, who stood like one petrified, and fired. Canby turned as if dazed and started as if to keep from falling, while Jack and Ellen's man pursued until he sank down. In falling his chin struck the rocks and his lower jaw was shattered. The murderers closed upon him and, while Jack held him down, Ellen's man cut

968 STATE GROWTH.

him across the neck. In a few moments they stripped him, while still struggling in the agonies of death, of every particle of clothing; and, when Barncho came up, Ellen's man snatched a rifle and sent another bullet crashing through his brain. They then turned him over on his face and, with his uniform in their arms, went back to the council tent.[32]

            At the same time that Captain Jack fired at Canby, Boston Charley also drew a pistol and fired at Thomas, striking him in the left breast above the heart. He dropped partly down and extending his hand towards the assassin begged him not to shoot again. Bogus then joined Boston. They permitted their victim to get upon his feet, when they tripped him and he fell. They asked, "Why don't you turn the bullets? Your medicine is not strong." Again their victim rose and walked a few steps, when they again pushed him down. He pleaded with them to spare his life; but they laughed and cried, "Next time you believe a squaw, won't you?" Once more the doctor rose and walked a few steps, when he fell to rise no more. Sloluck approached and Bogus, taking a rifle from him, shot the doctor through the head. It was said that he died with a prayer on his lips. His murderers then stripped him and, turning him face downward, went off with his clothing, mocking his words of prayer. Meanwhile Dyer and Riddle at the first fire started to run. Dyer towards the camp and Riddle towards the lake. Hooker Jim jumped after Dyer and fired several times, when Dyer turned and pointed his Derringer, upon which Hooker dropped behind the rocks. Dyer then resumed his race and widened the space between them so materially that Hooker gave up the chase and returned to the tent. On the other side Black Jim started after Riddle and fired several times, but apparently without any great desire to hit him — at any rate he did not hit him. And as Riddle easily escaped and no attempt was made to touch Toby, Scar-faced Charley, who was watching with his rifle, had no occasion to use it.[33]

            The attack on Meacham was made, in accordance with pre- arrangement, by Schonchin John. But Schonchin was so much

MODOC WAR. 969

excited that he drew his revolver with his left hand and with his right unsheathed a knife. Before he could cock his pistol, Meacham drew his Derringer and, pushing the muzzle up squarely in front of Schonchin's breast, pulled at the trigger. He pulled a second time; but the Derringer would not go off, and he then found he had only half cocked it By that time Schonchin had his revolver cocked and, thrusting it towards Meacham's face, fired. As the latter jumped back, Schonchin's ball passed through the collar of his coat, vest and shirt and grazed his neck. As he ran backward with his Derringer in his hand, Schonchin pursued, firing until his revolver was empty and then dropping it and drawing another, he continued the attack but dared not close on the Derringer in Meacham 's hand. Toby Riddle in the meanwhile had jumped up and endeavored to save Meacham by preventing Schonchin from firing. Thereupon Sloluck advanced with a rifle and struck Toby. At this Shacknasty Jim snatched the rifle and aimed it at Meacham, when Toby struck it down . Schacknasty again took aim and fired, just as Meacham leaped over a low ledge of rocks and fell. Shacknasty supposed he had struck; but he was mistaken. Meacham immediately rose and, pushing his Derringer on the top of the ledge, carefully raised his head; but just as he was about to fire his only shot, Schonchin, who was sitting with his revolver resting on his knee, got the start again. His bullet this time struck Meacham in the forehead between the eyes; but, instead of penetrating the skull, it passed only under the brow and out over the left eye. Almost simultaneously Meacham fired and Schonchin leaped up and fell on the rocks; but, as a matter of fact, Meacham was even a worse shot than Schonchin and did not do as much execution. About the same time another ball passed through Meacham 's arm; a third cut away the upper part of his right ear, and a fourth struck him on the right side of the head and glanced off. This stunned him and he fell as if dead.[34]

            Shacknasty Jim, upon seeing Meacham fall, ran up and began stripping him. As he was doing so, Sloluck approached with a rifle and was about to shoot him in the head, when Shacknasty

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pushed him away and said it was useless — the man was dead. Just then, hearing Captain Jack calling, they left Meacham and, turning to Toby, cried, "There lies another of your brothers, you white-hearted squaw. Go and take care of him. You are no Modoc." Captain Jack had ordered all his savages to flee to their stronghold. But Boston Charley, suddenly bethinking himself, said, " I am going to have old man Meacham's scalp to put on my shot-pouch." At this Hooker Jim remarked, " He has no scalp or I would have taken it myself." Boston, however, ran to Meacham and shoving aside Toby, who was wiping the blood from the mutilated face, grasped the largest lock on one side and thrust in under the skin the blade of a small pocket knife taken from a soldier killed two years before. Toby, immediately recovering, seized the cut-throat and with a tremendous effort hurled him back on the rocks. Boston soon rose and, threatening to kill her if she again interfered, placed his foot on Meacham's neck and again thrusting in his knife cut a long semi-circular gash from the temple around towards the back, swearing because there was no better scalp but saying that he would take one ear with it. On the instant Toby, resorting to strategy, jumped up, slapping her hands, and exclaimed, "Bostee-na soldiers. Kot-pumbla! — The soldiers are coming!" whereupon Boston, without further cutting of Meacham's head or looking back, started to join the other Modocs. They by this time had placed Schonchin John, who was slightly wounded, on Meacham's horse and lashed the blood-stained uniform of Canby and the suits of Thomas and Meacham on Dyer's horse, and moved off with them as rapidly as possible towards the Modoc stronghold. Boston, as he passed by, seized the rein of Toby's horse; but she shouted to Captain Jack, and he, turning around, ordered Boston to drop it. Toby again wiped the blood from Meacham's face and, supposing him dead, took her horse by the bridle and sorrowfully walked towards head-quarters.[35]

            While this scene was being enacted at the council tent, the Curly- haired Doctor, Curly-haired Jack and a few other Modocs approached Major Mason's camp with a white flag. Lieutenants W. H. Boyle and Walter L. Sherwood went out beyond the

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picket line to meet it and asked what was wanted. The Indians answered they wanted to see the Little Tyee, as they called Major Mason. Boyle replied that he would not come; but, as he did so, he caught sight of a gun behind the flag and, turning on his heel and flying, he called out to Sherwood to run for his life. As he did so, however, Curly-haired Jack fired and his ball broke Sherwood's thigh, inflicting a mortal wound, of which he died three days afterwards. Meanwhile, as soon as the firing commenced, the troops at head-quarters sprang to their arms and advanced as rapidly as possible to the council tent; but the Indians had fled and were by that time concealed among the rocks and caves of their stronghold. There, after some bitter invectives against Hooker Jim for allowing Dyer to escape and against Curly-haired Doctor for not decoying and killing Major Mason, there was a division of the clothing — Captain Jack receiving the uniform of Canby, Bogus and Boston dividing that of Thomas, and Schonchin, Hooker Jim and Schacknasty Jim parting among them that of Meacham. They then began to prepare for defense; and, in the expectation of a speedy attack, they hushed their quarrels and pledged one another to fight until the last man was dead. And in the evening the Curly-haired Doctor called them all around him and began the great medicine dance; and all night long the sound of drum and song was heard in the Modoc camp. All night long also an attack by the soldiers was expected; but hour after hour passed and no signal from the sentinels. Morning came at length and still no soldiers; and the Modocs, with the exception perhaps of Captain Jack and Scar-faced Charley, exulted in the belief that they had scared the government and that it would now grant them all they asked.[36]

            Though the whites by this time amounted to about a thousand men, all they did for several days was the removal of the bodies of General Canby and Doctor Thomas, which were sent, the first to Portland and thence by way of San Francisco to Indianapolis and the other to San Francisco, for burial. They also removed Meacham on a stretcher ; and, as they did so he had an opportunity of exhibiting his character as a temperance

972 STATE GROWTH.

advocate, of which he afterwards appeared to be very proud. When found and pronounced not dead, he insisted several times that he was dead. When placed on the stretcher, he moaned for water, water. The surgeon put a canteen of brandy to his lips; but, turning away, he exclaimed, "I can't drink brandy. I am a temperance man."' The surgeon, however, soon poured the brandy down and told him that was no time for temperance talk. He was then carried to head-quarters, where his wounds were treated, and a couple of weeks afterwards was removed to his residence at Salem, Oregon. In a few months he was out again, but very much scarred. Meanwhile for several days. Colonel Gillem with his thousand men remained comparatively inactive. He is said to have given as a reason that he was waiting for the Warm Spring Indians to join him ; but it is more probable that he was, perhaps judiciously, waiting for orders from his superiors. They came in a few days. On April 12, General John M. Schofield, who was in command of the division of the Pacific at San Francisco, telegraphed to Gillem to let the punishment of the Modocs be severe ; he hoped soon to hear that he had made an end of them. On April 13, General William T. Sherman at the head, under the president, of the army of the United States at Washington telegraphed that the president now sanctioned the most severe punishment of the Modocs, and he hoped to hear they had met the doom so richly earned by their insolence and perfidy.[37]

            On April 14 Colonel Gillem determined on an advance. His plan was to surround the Modocs, so as to prevent their escape, and then close in on them with mountain howitzers and shell them out with Coehorn mortars. On the morning of April 15, after a great number of shells had been thrown, the howitzer battery opened on the stronghold and the troops advanced nearer. But the Modocs were not idle and the result was three whites killed and nine wounded. The next day the lines advanced again a short distance and the fight was kept up by the Modocs, who disputed every inch and laughed at the shells, which they avoided by getting behind rocks. But an advantage

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was gained by the whites: they joined lines on the Lake side and prevented the Modocs from reaching water. On the morning of April 17, they cautiously advanced again towards the stronghold, throwing in a few shells, and soon found it deserted. A few straggling Indians, evidently nothing but a rear guard, remained, who on the advance of the whites sullenly retreated towards the south. It seemed likely that the main body had taken the same direction ; but their escape had been so skillfully conducted that they had gotten entirely away and no one could tell where they were. On April 18, all the cavalry and the Warm Spring Indians were sent to the south of the lava beds to ascertain whither they had gone; and in the meanwhile, awaiting their report, the army rested on its honors. Its loss, in the four days of shot and shell, was sixteen killed and thirteen wounded. The loss of the Modocs seems to have been two, but not in the usual way. According to Meacham, who doubtless derived his information from the Modocs themselves, they had picked up a shell that had not exploded and were very anxious to see what was inside of it Several plans to open it were tried unsuccessfully, when one of the braves, with jaws like a cougar, taking it in his hands and raising it up seized the plug with his teeth to pull it out. As he did so, the shell went off and the brave's head went off with it, as well as the head of a companion who was curiously inspecting the operation. Meacham added that that shell, rating its services pro rata with the total cost of the Modoc war, was worth to the government five hundred thousand dollars.[38]

            On April 26, Captain Evan Thomas, at the order of Major John Green acting under authority of Colonel Gillem, with about seventy soldiers and fourteen Warm Spring Indians, was ordered to make a reconnaissance for about four miles in a southeasterly direction from head-quarters. They started about seven o'clock in the morning and reached the designated point about noon, where they rested in apparent security. But suddenly the Modocs, not one of whom had been seen, commenced firing on them, when the larger portion of the command became panic- stricken and scattered. Only the officers and a few of the men

974 STATE GROWTH.

stood to their arms and fought. Thirteen were killed, including Thomas and several other officers, and sixteen wounded. The loss of the Indians was said to be four killed. It was found that they occupied a position in the lava beds about four miles south of their old caves. In the meanwhile, on April 14, 1873, at Washington, Colonel Jefferson C Davis, then at Indianapolis, Indiana, had been appointed to the command of the department of the Columbia in place of Canby and directed to proceed at once to his post. He arrived at the lava beds on May 2 and, upon investigation of the last disaster, pronounced it the result of conspicuous cowardice on the part of the men who ran away, saying that they were utterly unfit for Indian fighting and nothing but pusillanimous beef-eaters. He felt so indignant that he desired to keep them there and make them fight and stated that he should take such steps as he thought would insure the necessary training. He at once took hold and commenced reorganizing the demoralized rabble; and in a few days, finding that the Indians had disappeared, sent several companies to prevent their escape. His orders were to give them no rest day or night and never to lose sight of them. The Modocs on one occasion turned and fought; but they found that there was a different spirit among the whites and that they were so completely hemmed in on all sides by determined men that it was impossible to get away, without separating. This for various reasons they appear to have been ready to do. The exactions of Captain Jack, to keep them up to their work, were so great that they became insubordinate. Besides in the last fight, Ellen's man George had been killed; and his death was the signal of new quarrels, based upon the charge that Captain Jack had a grudge against him and purposely placed him in a post of extreme peril. However this may have been, there were two parties and they separated. The larger part of them, apparently under Hooker Jim, Shacknasty Jim, Bogus Charley and Steamboat Frank, set off in a westerly direction and were followed by a company of cavalry, which after a hard march of fifty miles came up and had a running fight with them of seven or eight miles. On May 22, finding that the game was up, they surrendered unconditionally,

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about seventy-five in number, including the old men, women and children.[39]

            Captain Jack and his now very small party of adherents had taken a direction either southward towards Pit river or eastward towards Goose Lake. He was supposed to be by that time one hundred miles distant and probably murdering settlers and destroying property. It was exceedingly important to head him off, and as quickly as possible. Under the circumstances Davis was constrained to accept the proffered services of Hooker Jim and three or four others of the Modoc prisoners to capture him. Though he knew and openly admitted that Hooker Jim was an unmitigated cut-throat, and was loath by any employment to compromise his well-earned claims to the halter, he still thought it best to employ him on account of his known abilities as a trailer and because it was believed he could be relied on as a traitor to his late leader, all of whose plans he knew. No promises were made to him; but he doubtless understood that activity and success would go far to redeem his forfeited life. Taking three of the Modocs, all well armed, he set out eastward, while Davis marched to Applegate's ranch on the east side of Clear Lake to await developments. Hooker Jim, after a couple of days of hunting, found Captain Jack and his party on Willow creek, one of the head-waters of Lost river, fifteen miles from Applegate's ranch, which place he had designed to attack that night. He was completely surprised and denounced the traitors. He then fled in the direction of Langell valley; but the whites, as soon as Davis could advance them, were on his track ; and the pursuit now became more like a chase after wild beasts than war. It lasted from May 28, the day Hooker Jim found the party, till June I. On May 31, Scar-faced Charley, the most respected of the whole lot, surrendered. Next came Schonchin John and ten or eleven others. They were all sent to Davis' camp. Captain Jack and a few others still held out. The next day his hiding-place was discovered. Being called to come forth, he stepped boldly out on a shelf of rock, with his rifle in his hand. He asked whether Fairchild was there and, learning that he was

976 STATE GROWTH.

near, he gave up his gun and surrendered There were two others with him and four squaws with their children. Captain Jack himself had two squaws and a bright little girl child six years old. Upon surrendering he walked up to the Warm Spring Indians, who were present, and shook hands with them. He then called up the squaws and children and, mounting them respectively behind Warm Spring Indians and getting up behind one himself, he started for Davis' camp on Clear Lake ten miles distant.[40]

            Colonel Davis, in his camp on Clear Lake, soon after Captain Jack was brought in, ordered him and Schonchin John to be chained together with iron shackles. Towards evening they were led, under guard, to the blacksmith. Captain Jack at first showed some apprehension; but, upon Fairchild telling him to go on quietly, he did so without further hesitation. Scar-faced Charley, who spoke English, was told to explain that they were to be shackled to prevent escape. They protested that they had surrendered in good faith and would make no attempt to escape; but, when they saw there was no other way, they submitted in silence, while the shackles were closed around their ankles and securely riveted on. Davis then ordered that the camp should be moved and the prisoners conducted to what was known as Boyle's camp on the south side of Rhett Lake. Among others who started for that place was James Fairchild, driving a wagon drawn by four mules and containing fifteen or sixteen Modoc captives, men, women and children, all entirely unarmed. Accompanying the wagon were John Fairchild, Shacknasty Jim and Bogus Charley on horseback. When near the crossing of Lost river those on horseback took a shorter route, while James Fairchild with the wagon followed the road, and thus they separated. Soon after the crossing was passed, two Oregonians approached and ordered Fairchild to stop at the same time swearing that they were going to kill the Indians. One of them presented a pistol to Fairchild's head, while the other cut the mules loose from the wagon. Fairchild leaped to the ground, still clinging to the lines so as to prevent the mules from running away. The Oregonians thereupon commenced firing and soon

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shot "Little John," "Te-he Jack," "Posey," "Mooch" and Little John's squaw, who fell writhing in their death agony among the others in the wagon. Their blood spurted in every direction and dropped down through the wagon bed and formed in pools on the ground. Meanwhile a dust was seen rising on the road as if a party were approaching, whereupon the cowardly white cut-throats decamped, leaving Fairchild to quiet his animals and the uninjured Modoc women to extricate themselves from the dead bodies, which had fallen on them. No efforts were made to arrest the murderers.[41]

            At Boyle's camp on the south side of Rhett Lake, it was Davis' intention without further delay, thinking himself justified by the spirit of his orders, to summarily execute Captain Jack, Schonchin John and six. or eight others of the Modocs and, for that purpose, had a rough scaffold erected; but; before he could do so he received orders from Washington to hold them under guard for further directions. About the same time Captain Jack and Schonchin John were taken before a photographic camera; and, when the operator lifted his black cloth and exposed the lens, Captain Jack, seeing it pointing to him, supposed it was "a big gun;" but to his surprise it was covered up again without shooting. Schonchin came next. Both had expected to die; but they smiled as they were led away. Meanwhile Davis had invited the settlers of the Lost river country to come in and identify the murderers and stolen property captured. Among them were Mrs. Boddy and her daughter Mrs. Shearon. They recognized Hooker Jim and Steamboat Frank and, almost immediately upon doing so, Mrs. Boddy, drawing a knife, made a plunge with it at Hooker Jim's breast while Mrs. Shearon, drawing a pistol, attempted to shoot Steamboat Frank, But Davis, jumping forward, disarmed both, receiving a slight wound in the hand from Mrs. Boddy's knife. Soon afterwards, in accordance with further orders from head-quarters, all the Modocs were removed to Fort Klamath in Oregon, except Curly-haired Jack, the murderer of Lieutenant Sherwood, who on the way, near the crossing of Lost river, committed suicide by shooting himself through the head.[42]

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            On July 5, 1873, in further accordance with orders from Washington, a court-martial assembled in one of the buildings of Fort Klamath, at the head of which sat Lieutenant-colonel Washington L. Elliott. Major H. P. Curtis acted as judge-advocate. At his direction Captain Jack, Schonchin John, Black Jim, Boston Charley, Barncho and Sloluck were put on trial before it for the murder of Canby and Thomas and the attempted murder of Meacham and Dyer. The trial lasted four days. Riddle, Toby, Dyer, Shacknasty Jim, Steamboat Frank, Bogus Charley, Hooker Jim, William or Whin the man that cautioned Toby, Meacham, Lieutenant H. R. Anderson and Surgeon Henry C. McEldery were sworn and testified for the prosecution. For the defense Scar-faced Charley, Dave and One-eyed Mose testified and Captain Jack and Schonchin John made statements, endeavoring to show that they had been driven into what they had done by others and particularly by Captain Jackson among the whites and Hooker Jim among the Indians. When Meacham made his appearance and saw that the accused had no counsel and was told that they had been unable to obtain any, he proposed to himself appear as their counsel; and the court urged him to do so; but he finally declined. After all the testimony was in, the judge-advocate made a few remarks, not in reference to the charges against the prisoners, but in defense of Captain Jackson, who had been accused by Captain Jack of cruelty and barbarity in the attack upon his camp on Lost river and thus starting the war in November, 1872. The court then adjourned and soon afterwards returned its findings, pronouncing all the prisoners guilty on all the charges and sentencing them to be hanged.[43]

            The findings and sentences were on July 29 approved and confirmed by Colonel Davis and on August 22 by President Grant and ordered to be carried into execution on October 3, 1873. Not long afterwards representations were made to the president by Curtis and others that the boys, Barncho and Sloluck, were scarcely responsible beings, and on September 10 Grant issued an order commuting their sentence of death by hanging to imprisonment for life at Alcatraz Island in San

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Francisco bay. On October 2, 1873, a long scaffold was erected on a meadow not far from the fort and in view of the guard- house where the prisoners were confined. On its cross beam were fastened six ropes. About the same time and not far from the guard-house six graves were dug. While these were being prepared. Colonel Frank Wheaton, who was in command at the fort, with a Catholic priest and Oliver Applegate and Dave Hill as interpreters, visited the doomed men to inform them of their sentence. They listened attentively. Captain Jack answered that he had heard the sentence and knew what it meant ; that he had been in favor of peace but had been forced into war; that Hooker Jim, Bogus Charley, Shacknasty Jim and Steamboat Frank were free and triumphed over him and over the government, and that when he surrendered he supposed he was going to be pardoned and allowed to live at Klamath. When Wheaton asked him what member of the tribe he wished to take charge of his people, he evinced emotion and answered that he could think of no one, not even Scar-faced Charley, and asked if there was no hope of pardon. When assured that there was no hope, he asked if both sides of the case had been laid before the president. When Captain Jack was done, Bamcho and Sloluck denied doing any part of the killing. Black Jim, the next speaker, said that he was anxious to live so as to take care of the tribe, adding that he did not know what Captain Jack and Schonchin John would think of it Jack shook his head and Jim then said he was not afraid to die, he was afraid of nothing. Boston Charley was the only one that openly avowed what he had done. He said that in years he was a boy but he felt like a man; that when he looked around him on each side he thought he saw only women; that he believed he was the only man there — the only one altogether a man and not half a woman. He then acknowledged that he had killed Doctor Thomas. Schonchin John was the last to speak. He thought it a hard thing to have to die for what he had done; but he was ready and he wanted all to see that he was firm and resolute. "War," he said, "is a terrible thing. All must suffer — the best horses, the best cattle and the best men. I can now only say " Let Schonchin die!"[44]

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            On the morning of October 3, 1873, a wagon drawn by four horses and containing four coffins drew up in front of the guard-house. The six sentenced men were brought out and seated on the coffins, Captain Jack, Schonchin John and Black Jim each on one, and Boston Charley, Barncho and Sloluck on the fourth. A company of soldiers formed around it. At the word of command they all moved out a couple of hundred yards, past a square stockade resembling a corral for cattle where their families were confined, to the scaffold. Before their arrival there the blacksmith, who had previously riveted the shackles on the ankles of the prisoners, cut them loose; and, while Barncho and Sloluck were left in the wagon, Captain Jack, Schonchin John, Black Jim and Boston Charley were made to ascend the scaffold and stand on the drop under four of the ropes. The nooses were soon adjusted around their necks. An adjutant stepped forward and read the sentences. The priest offered a prayer; and, as Dave Hill finished the translation in the Modoc tongue, an axe in the hands of a soldier severed the rope that held up the trap and the four men were launched into eternity. After they had hung some time, the bodies were taken down, placed in the coffins in the wagon, carried back to the open graves and buried.

            At the time of the execution the sheriff of Jackson county, Oregon, made his appearance with indictments for murder and writs of arrest for Hooker Jim, Curly-haired Doctor, Steamboat Frank and other Modocs on account of the killing of Boddy and others in November, 1872, and demanding their surrender. They were not given up. On the next day L. F. Grover, governor of Oregon, telegraphed to Davis asking him to communicate the proceedings to Washington. The request was complied with. There can be very little doubt, if the Oregonians had ever got hold of any of the Modocs, whether guilty or innocent, what the result would have been. President Grant seems to have understood the situation. A reply was received to the effect that Grover's telegram to Davis had been shown to the president and his cabinet; that it was understood that the orders, previously given on September 13 to send all the unsentenced Modocs as prisoners of war to a fort in Nebraska, would be executed

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by General Schofield, and that no further instructions were necessary. Apparently none were. In a very short time, after Barncho and Sloluck were sent off to be imprisoned for life on Alcatraz Island, the others, consisting of thirty-nine men, fifty-four women and sixty children, were forwarded to Nebraska and thence to the Quaw-Paw Agency in the Indian Territory, which was designated as their final home. And thus at immense cost, amounting to millions, and with great loss of almost every kind, closed the Modoc war.[45]