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diff --git a/40938-0.txt b/40938-0.txt index 961bb37..e5d80e2 100644 --- a/40938-0.txt +++ b/40938-0.txt @@ -1,41 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Wigwam and War-path; Or the Royal Chief in -Chains, by A. B. (Alfred Benjamin) Meacham - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: Wigwam and War-path; Or the Royal Chief in Chains - Second and Revised Edition - - -Author: A. B. (Alfred Benjamin) Meacham - - - -Release Date: October 5, 2012 [eBook #40938] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WIGWAM AND WAR-PATH; OR THE ROYAL -CHIEF IN CHAINS*** - - -E-text prepared by Bryan Ness, Henry Gardiner, and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made -available by Internet Archive/American Libraries -(http://archive.org/details/americana) - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40938 *** Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. @@ -20604,363 +20567,4 @@ except for footnotes and illustrations since they may have been moved. 612 and Judge {Roseborourgh}[Roseborough], 680 rings along the {frontierline}[frontier-line], - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WIGWAM AND WAR-PATH; OR THE ROYAL -CHIEF IN CHAINS*** - - -******* This file should be named 40938-0.txt or 40938-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/0/9/3/40938 - - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: Wigwam and War-path; Or the Royal Chief in Chains - Second and Revised Edition - - -Author: A. B. (Alfred Benjamin) Meacham - - - -Release Date: October 5, 2012 [eBook #40938] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WIGWAM AND WAR-PATH; OR THE ROYAL -CHIEF IN CHAINS*** - - -E-text prepared by Bryan Ness, Henry Gardiner, and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made -available by Internet Archive/American Libraries -(http://archive.org/details/americana) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 40938-h.htm or 40938-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/40938/40938-h/40938-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/40938/40938-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive/American Libraries. See - http://archive.org/details/warpathwigwam00meacrich - - -Transcriber's note: - - The original publication has been replicated faithfully except - as shown in the TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE at the end of the text. - - To preserve the alignment of tables and headers, this etext - presumes a mono-spaced font on the user's device such as - Courier New. - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -WIGWAM AND WAR-PATH; OR THE ROYAL CHIEF IN CHAINS. - -by - -HON. A. B. MEACHAM, - -Ex-Superintendent of Indian Affairs and Chairman of the Late Modoc -Peace Commission. - -Illustrated by Portraits of -The Author, Gen. Canby, Dr. Thomas, Capt. Jack, Schonchin, -Scar-Faced Charley, Black Jim, Boston Charley, -Tobey and Riddle, Eleven Other -Spirited and Life-Like Engravings, -of Actual Scenes from Modoc Indian Life, as -Witnessed by the Author. - -SECOND AND REVISED EDITION. - - - - - - - -Boston: -John P. Dale and Company, -27 Boylston Street. -1875. - -Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1875, by -A. B. Meacham, -In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. - -Press of -Rockwell and Churchill, -33 Arch Street, Boston. - - - - - PREFACE. - - -The Hon. A. B. Meacham has committed to me the difficult and delicate, yet -delightful task of revising the manuscript and arranging the table of -contents of the present work. - -I have endeavored to review every page as an impartial critic, and have, -as far as possible, retained, in all its simplicity and beauty, the -singularly eloquent and fascinating style of the gifted author. The -changes which I have made have been, for the most part, quite -immaterial--no more nor greater than would be required in the manuscript -of writers commonly called "learned." In no case have I attempted (for the -attempt would have been vain) to give shape and tone to the writer's -thoughts. His mind was so full, both of the comedy and the tragedy of his -thrilling narrative, that it has flowed on like a mighty torrent, bidding -defiance to any attempt either to direct or control. - -None, it seems to me, can peruse the work without being charmed with the -love of justice and the fidelity to truth which pervade its every page, as -well as the manly courage with which the writer arraigns _Power_ for the -crime of crushing _Weakness_--holding our Government to an awful -accountability for the delays, the ignorance, the fickleness and treachery -of its subordinates in dealing with a people whose very religion prompts -them to wreak vengeance for wrongs done them, even on the innocent. - -For the lover of romance and of thrilling adventure, the work possesses a -charm scarcely equalled by the enchanting pages of a Fennimore Cooper; -and, to the reader who appreciates truth, justice, and humanity, and -delights to trace the outlines of such a career as Providence seems to -have marked out for the author, as well as for the unfortunate tribes -whose history he has given us, it will be a reliable, entertaining, and -instructive companion. - -Mr. Meacham's thirty years' experience among the Indian tribes of the -North-west, and his official career as Superintendent of Indian affairs in -Oregon, together with his participation in the tragic events of the Lava -Bed, invest his words with an authority which must outweigh that of every -flippant politician in the land, who, to secure the huzzas of the mob, -will applaud the oppressor and the tyrant one day, and the very next day -clamor mercilessly for their blood. - - D. L. EMERSON. - -BOSTON, Oct. 1, 1874. - - - - - INTRODUCTION. - - -The chapter in our National history which tells our dealings with the -Indian tribes, from Plymouth to San Francisco, will be one of the darkest -and most disgraceful in our annals. Fraud and oppression, hypocrisy and -violence, open, high-handed robbery and sly cheating, the swindling agent -and the brutal soldier turned into a brigand, buying promotion by -pandering to the hate and fears of the settlers, avarice and indifference -to human life, and lust for territory, all play their parts in the drama. -Except the negro, no race will lift up, at the judgment-seat, such -accusing hands against this nation as the Indian. We have put him in -charge of agents who have systematically cheated him. We have made -causeless war on him merely as a pretext to steal his lands. Trampling -under foot the rules of modern warfare, we have made war on his women and -children. We have cheated him out of one hunting-ground by compelling him -to accept another, and have robbed him of the last by driving him to -frenzy, and then punishing resistance with confiscation. Meanwhile, -neither pulpit nor press, nor political party, would listen to his -complaints. Congress has handed him over, gagged and helpless, to the -bands of ignorant, drunken and brutal soldiers. Neither on its floor, nor -in any city of the Union, could his advocate obtain a hearing. Money has -been poured out like water to feed and educate the Indian, of which one -dollar in ten may have found its way to supply his needs, or pay the debts -we owed him. - -To show the folly of our method, examine the south side of the great -lakes, and you will find in every thirty miles between Plymouth and Omaha -the scene of an Indian massacre. And since 1789 we have spent about one -thousand million of dollars in dealing with the Indians. Meanwhile, under -British rule, on the north of those same lakes, there has been no Indian -outbreak, worth naming, for a hundred years, and hardly one hundred -thousand dollars have been spent directly on the Indians of Canada. What -is the solution of this astounding riddle? This, and none other. England -gathers her Indian tribes, like ordinary citizens, within the girth of her -usual laws. If injured, they complain, like other men, to a justice of the -peace, not to a camp captain. If offenders, they are arraigned before such -a justice, or some superior court. Complaint, indictment, evidence, trial, -sentence, are all after the old Saxon pattern. With us martial law, or no -law at all, is their portion; no civil rights, no right to property that a -white man is bound to respect. Of course quarrel, war, expense, -oppression, robbery, resistance, like begetting like, and degradation of -the Indian even to the level of the frontiersman who would plunder him, -have been the result of such a method. If such a result were singular, if -our case stood alone, we should receive the pitiless curses of mankind. -But the same result has almost always followed the contact of the -civilized and the savage man. - -General Grant's recommendation of a policy which would acknowledge the -Indian as a citizen, is the first step in our Indian history which gives -us any claim to be considered a Christian people. The hostility it has met -shows the fearful demoralization of our press and political parties. -Statesmanship, good sense and justice, even from a chief magistrate can -hardly obtain a hearing when they relate to such long-time victims of -popular hate and pillage as our Indian tribes. Some few men in times past -have tried to stem this hideous current of national indifference and -injustice. Some men do now try. Prominent among these is the author of -this volume. Thirty years of practical experience in dealing with Indians -while he represented the Government in different offices; long and -familiar acquaintance with their genius, moods, habits and capabilities, -enable and entitle him to testify in this case. That, having suffered, at -the hands of Indians, all that man can suffer and still live, he should -yet lift up a voice, snatched almost miraculously from the grave, to claim -for them, nevertheless, the treatment of men, of citizens, is a marvellous -instance of fidelity to conviction against every temptation and injury. -Bearing all over his person the scars of nearly fatal wounds received from -Indians, he still advocates Grant's policy. Familiar with the Indian -tribes, and personally acquainted with their chiefs, with the old and -young, men and women, their sports and faith, their history and -aspirations, their education and capacity, their songs, amusements, -legends, business, loves and hates, his descriptions lack no element of a -faithful portrait; while his lightest illustrations have always beneath -the surface a meaning which cannot fail to arrest the attention of the -American people, and enable them to understand this national problem. -Never before have we had just such a witness on the stand. Brilliant and -graphic in description, and exceedingly happy in his choice of topics, he -gives us pages startling and interesting as a novel. While his appeals -stir the heart like a clarion, he still keeps cautiously to sober fact; -and every statement, the most seemingly incredible, is based on more than -sufficient evidence. I _commend this book to the public_--study it not -only as accurate and striking in its pictures of Indian life, but as -profoundly interesting to every student of human nature,--the picture of a -race fast fading away and melting into white men's ways. His contribution -to the solution of one of the most puzzling problems of American -statesmanship is invaluable. Destined no doubt to provoke bitter -criticism, I feel sure his views and statements will bear the amplest -investigation. His volume will contribute largely to vindicate the -President's policy, and to enable, while it disposes, the American people -to understand and do justice to our native tribes. - - (Signed,) - - WENDELL PHILLIPS. - - - - - LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. - - - PAGE. - - HON. A. B. MEACHAM _Frontispiece._ - - GEN. CANBY 480 - - DOCTOR THOMAS 512 - - THE LONE INDIAN SENTINEL 8 - - THE BULL-DOG TRADE 26 - - FAREWELL TO ONEATTA 73 - - THE BIRTHPLACE OF INDIAN LEGENDS 142 - - GRAND ROUND AGENCY 109 - - THE HORSE RACE 197 - - CAPT. JACK 295 - - TOBEY AND RIDDLE 320 - - MODOCS ON THE WAR-PATH 404 - - WI-NE-MAH (TOBEY) 444 - - ASSASSINATION SCENE 492 - - BRINGING IN THE WOUNDED 531 - - WARM SPRING INDIAN PICKETS 568 - - SCHONCHIN AND JACK IN CHAINS 588 - - BOSTON CHARLEY 641 - - BLACK JIM 495 - - SCAR-FACE CHARLEY 632 - - - - - CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER I. - - EARLY REMINISCENCES--POW-E-SHIEK'S BAND. - - PAGE - - The Author's Fears and Hopes--A Bit of Personal History--Two - Great Wrongs--Early Reflections--Removal of Pow-e-shiek's Band - in 1844--The Lava Beds--Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas referred to-- - Even-handed Justice--Captain of an Ox Team--Sad Scene - Preparatory to Pow-e-shiek's Departure--The White Man Wanted - It--It is a Fair Business Transaction--A Gloomy Picture-- - Government Officials Move Slow--(The Lone Indian Sentinel)--A - Fright in Camp--The Welcome--Cupid's Antics--An Indian - Maiden's Ball Dress--The Squaw's Duties--The Indian's - Privileges--End of the Journey--The Return--The Conscientious - Church Member--Throngs of Emigrants--A Great Contrast and a - Glowing Picture--Yankee Boys and Western Girls--A Strange - Mixture--The People of Iowa--The Nation's Perfidy towards the - Savage 1 - - - CHAPTER II. - - OVERLAND--BLOOD FOR BLOOD. - - Pow-e-shiek Visits his Old Home--His Recognition of the Writer-- - He Spends the Winter--His Character--The Ceremonial Smoke, and - the Writer's Mistake--Pow-e-shiek's Return--"Van," the Indian - Pony--Crossing the Plains--Indian Depredations--What Provokes - Them--The Murdered Indian--The Loaned Rifle--Arresting Indians - on "General Principles"--They are Slain on "General - Principles," also--The Butchery of Indian Women and Children-- - The Bloody Deeds of White Men--The Indian's Revenge 24 - - - CHAPTER III. - - INDIANS AND MINERS. - - Two Letters--Why they are Introduced--Lee's Encampment--Gold - Fields of Idaho and Eastern Oregon, in 1863--Tides of - Adventurers--Means of Transportation--Umatilla City--The - Saddle Train--The "Kitchen Mule"--Walker's Line--Novel Method - of Securing Ponies--Indians Hunting Lost Horses--Sublime - Mountain Scenery--Punch and Judy--A Stalwart Son of Erin--He - Buys an Indian Pony--His Rich Experience Therewith--A Scene - Worthy of the Pencil of a Bierstadt--"Riding a Bottle"--The - Indian's Friends Denounced--Indian Integrity--Striking - Examples--Tin-tin-mit-si, the Rich Old Indian Chief--"Why - White Men are Fools" 32 - - - CHAPTER IV. - - DIAMOND-CUT-DIAMOND. - - Treaty with the Government--The Annual Visits--Indians and - Whiskey--The White Man's Advantage, and the Indian's - Privilege--Punishment for Intoxication--Indian "Muck-a-muck"-- - The Salmon and their Haunts--Ludicrous Scenes--Financial - Revenge--The Oregon Lawyer's Horseback Ride--He is Sadly - Demoralized--His Scripture Quotations--Fourth of July - Celebration--Disappointed Spouters--Homli's Sarcastic Speech-- - His Eloquence and His Resolve--A Real Change--Three Tribes - Unite--A Fair Treaty--Umatilla Reservation--Gorgeous - Description of an Earthly Paradise--Homli's Return 45 - - - CHAPTER V. - - POLICIES ON TRIAL--"ONEATTA." - - The Author Appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs--Not a - Political Friend of President Johnson--An Indian "Agency"-- - Description of a Hunting-Ground--Shipwrecks--Signal Fires--Why - they are Built--A Tradition--Perilous Adventure of Two - Chieftains--A "Big Canoe" Saved from Wreck--They are Rewarded - with many Curious Gifts--The Squaw's Surprise--The Pappoose's - Fears--The Chase--Squaws Disrobed--A Good Time Generally--The - Chiefs Fright--He is Reassured--Comes Alongside the Ship--Love - at First Sight--A Battle without the War-whoop--The Chief - Boards the Ship--The Scene on Deck--The Chief's Departure--The - Lovers, Oneatta and Theodore--The Chief's Consent--The Dance-- - Lover's Conquest--The Betrothal--The Ship Ready to Depart--The - Marriage on Board--Farewell to Oneatta 57 - - - CHAPTER VI. - - SENATORIAL BRAINS BEATEN BY SAVAGE MUSCLE--PLEASANT - WAY OF PAYING PENALTIES. - - The Legend in the Last Chapter--Why it is Introduced--Siletz - Agency--Oyster Beds and Timber Lands--The same "Old Story" - Rehearsed--The Boat Race--Indian _vs._ United States Senator-- - The Horse Race--Congressional Avoirdupois--Crossing the Siletz - River--Civilized Indians--A Rare Scene--Euchre Bill--Biting - off Heads--The Indian School--Too-toot-na--His Wife Jinney-- - Her Financial Skill--Her Husband's Hope--Doomed to - Disappointment--Indian Court Day--Hickory Clubs _vs._ - Blackstone--The Attendants at Court--The First Case--A Woman's - Quarrel--Appropriating a Horse--Wounded Honor--An Agreeable - Penalty--The Lone Chief--Indian Bashfulness--The Agent's - Fears--Old Joshua Speaks--His Eloquence--His Request is - Granted--Religious Influences--A Language of One Hundred - Words--Christianity and Common Sense--The Dialogue--Logs on - Indian Graves--Why Placed there--Religions of the Indians - Discussed Further On--Indian Agent Ben Simpson--His Report--He - Arraigns the Government--Joel Palmer's Report--Political - Preacher and the Christian Agent--The Treachery of the Former-- - A Plea for the Siletz Indians--Base White Men and a Cruel - Government--The Sad Story Repeated--A Ray of Hope--Alsea - Agency--The Alsea Indians--Their Character Peaceable and - _therefore_ Neglected--Crime Rewarded by the Government-- - Virtue Punished--The Destiny of the Alsea Tribe--A Stern - Rebuke and a Prophecy 74 - - - CHAPTER VII. - - PHIL SHERIDAN'S OLD HOME--WHAT A CABIN COST. - - Grand Round Agency--Indian Houses--Cost of a Board--Gen. Phil - Sheridan--A Romance of a Young Chief--The Family from - Missouri--The Red-skinned Archer and Pale-face Gunner--Their - Trial of Skill--Fight with the Grizzly--The Wounded Hunter-- - The "Medicine Man"--Santiam and the Pale-faced Maiden--The - Disappointment--Faithful to Her Vows--Description of the - Valley Resumed--The Writer's First Visit--The Indians There-- - Their Progress in Civilization--Ceremonious Hand-shaking--The - Writer's Remarks--Replies by Joe Hutchins and Louis Neposa--A - Peculiarity of Indian Eloquence--Speeches by Black Tom and - Solomon Riggs--The Writer's Speech--Its Effect--Wapto Davis's - Plain Talk--Joe Hutchins' Sarcasm--Result of the Council 101 - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - STOPPING THE SURVEY--WHY. - - Official Correspondence--What the Indians Need--Important - Questions Asked--Commissioner Parker's Reply. (See Appendix)-- - The Mills Built--Indian Laborers--A Misunderstanding--The - Indian's Rights--They are Wronged--A Protest--Interesting - Letter Relating to Allotment of Lands. (See Appendix)-- - Singular Request--Reason for It--An Act of Justice--The Indian - Parade--The Indian's Speech in English--The Writer's Reply-- - Wapto Speaks--Catholics _vs._ Methodists--Father Waller--An - Episode--Leander and Lucy--Love and Law--Old and New--The - usual Course of True Love--Marriage Ceremony--No Kissing--The - Dance--The Methodist Pastor and the Priest--The Catholics - Liberal (?)--A Stupid Preacher--Common Sense in Religion-- - Indian Comments--Defective Schools--Unwritten History of Grand - Round Agency--Old and Forsaken 120 - - - CHAPTER IX. - - THE AGED PAIR--BIRTHPLACE OF LEGENDS. - - The Scene Changes--The River Steamer--The Railroad--The Battle - Ground--Causes of War and Slaughter--A Legend of the Cascades-- - Battles--Divine Interpositions--Soul-stirring Traditions--The - Waiting Dead--Sacrilegious Hunters--McNulty, the Noble - Captain--Mount Hood--Mount Adams--Sublime Scenery--The Dalles-- - The Salmon Fishery--Its Value--Habits of the Salmon-- - Commencement of the Fishing Scenery--Indian Superstition-- - Methods of Catching and Curing Salmon 138 - - - CHAPTER X. - - DANGEROUS PLACE FOR SINNERS. - - Warm Spring Agency--Indians in Treaty Council--Intimidated by - Government Troops--Pledges Unfulfilled--John Mission and Billy - Chinook--They become Converts to Christianity--Treachery of - the Government--Why? because the Indians are Peaceable-- - Journey to the Agency Continued--Crossing the Stream--Fire and - Brimstone--A Perilous Descent--The Author's Report--This - Agency a Fraud--Climate of Warm Springs--Character of the - Indians Here--The Two Treaties--The Indians Declare they were - Deceived--A Great Injustice--Unfitness of the Warm Spring - Agency--Captain John Smith--His Character--His Communication-- - A Careful Perusal Urged 150 - - - CHAPTER XI. - - THE PARSON BROWNLOW OF THE INDIAN SERVICE. - - Captain Smith's Letter--His Opinion of Catholics--The Indian - Council--An Indian Leads in Prayer--Appearance of this - Council--It was like a Methodist Revival Scene--The Head - Chief's Speech--He abjures Polygamy--The Author's Reply--Mark - wants to Change his Name--He selects the Name of Meacham-- - Marks' Second Wife, Matola--Her Speech--John Mission speaks-- - Speech of Billy Chinook--Hand-shaking and Enrolling Names-- - Pi-a-noose--His Speech--Two Kinds of Indians on this Agency-- - The Trial Policy of the Government 160 - - - CHAPTER XII. - - NO PLACE LIKE HOME--SQUAWS IN HOOPS AND CHIGNONS. - - Umatilla Agency--The Council--Its Object--The Purchase by the - Government of the Reservation--A. B. Meacham's Speech--Many - Indian Speeches (See Appendix, Chap. XII.)--The Council Fairly - Conducted--Religion of the Umatilla Indians--Wealth a Curse to - Them--They Take the First Prizes--They are Haughty, Proud and - Intractable--"Susan," the Widow--Her "Receptions"--The Dance-- - Women's Rights--Susan a Good Catholic. 181 - - - CHAPTER XIII. - - "HOW-LISH-WAMPO," KING OF THE TURF--A DEAD THING - CRAWLS. - - Indian Sportsman--How-lish-wampo, the Famous Horseman--Pat and - the Indians Once More--French Louie, the Confident Sport--He - is Beaten and Fleeced--Returns on Ponies Given in Charity--Joe - Crabb and His Important Race-Horse--His Groomsmen and - Attendants--Skirmishing Preparatory to the _Great Race_--Joe - Crabb is Shrewd--The Wild Indian is Shrewder--Indian Method of - Training Horses--Intense Interest in the Race--Throngs of - Visitors--Holding the Stakes--Indian Honor--Indians not Always - Stoical--They are _Enthusiastic_ Gamblers--Never Betray their - Emotions--Consummate Strategy of Indian "Sports"--The - Appearance of the two Race-Horses--Preliminary Manoeuvres--The - Start--The Indian Horse Ahead--Wild Excitement--The Fastest - Time on Record--All Good Indians Three Feet Under Ground--Fine - Opportunity for Sport--Challenge to Commodore Vanderbilt, - Robert Bonner, Rev. W. H. H. Murray, _or Any Other Man_-- - Habits of the Indian Horses--The Cayuse Horse--An Indian - Train--The Squaw's Outfit--Indian Etiquette--Indian Wives who - Want to be Widows--Indian Maidens--Many of the Umatillas - Civilized--The Prospect of the Umatillas 185 - - - CHAPTER XIV. - - SNAKE WAR--FIGHTING THE DEVIL WITH FIRE. - - The Snake War--Alleged Cause of the War--Manner of Warfare-- - Charley Winslow and Nathan Dixon--H. C. Scott and Family, and - Wheeler, all Victims of the War--Eighty Chinamen Murdered-- - Indians Butchered in Turn--Jeff Standiford and His Band of - Butchers--Stone Bullets and Iron Slugs--The Art of Killing - Indians--Joaquin Miller--General Lee--Stonewall Jackson-- - General Grant--Capture of the Daughter of a "Warm Spring" - Chief--General Crook calls for Indian Scouts--The Bounty - Offered--The McKay Brothers--A White Chief Fights like a - Savage--Privilege of Scalping Granted--On the War Path--The - Last Battle--The Surrender--A Pile of Scalps--Snake Hair - Playing Switch for White Ladies--Visit to Snake Country--After - a Long Leap Coming Out Smiling--Castle Rock--Old Castle of Jay - Cook--Panting Charger--A Game Chicken in the River--Adams - Laughing and Weeping--A Real Native American--In a Basket--In - College--Baking Bread in a Frying Pan--Jimmy Kane the Indian - Cook--Making Mathematical Calculations--The Test--Seasoning - the Supper--Clothes Don't make the Man--General Crook under a - Slouch Hat--Tah-home and Ka-ko-na--Transmutation--Fine - Feathers--Arrival at Camp Harney 207 - - - CHAPTER XV. - - THE COUNCIL WITH THE SNAKE INDIANS--O-CHE-O. - - A Camp Scene--Peace Council with the Snake Indians--Announcing - the Presence of Ka-ko-na--Their Representations--Colonel Otis-- - Old Winnemucca Sent For--A Bloodthirsty Chief--His Wives-- - Their Savage Mode of Life--Indian Women Socially--Result of - the Council--Both Parties Came Armed--The Medicine Man--A - White and Red Doctor Disagree--A Warning--Incantation of a - Medicine Man--Strange and Cruel Treatment of the Sick--"Big - Foot"--A Beautiful Custom--The Fire Telegraph--Spiritualism-- - O-Che-Oh and Allen David--A Peaceful Talk in Seven Tongues-- - The Old Squaw and Her Heartless Sons--A Gloomy Picture of - Savage Life--The Snakes' Home--Their Future a Problem--Climate - of this Region--Enemies to--Novel Method of Capturing them-- - Crickets for Food--A Cricket Press--Warriors who Eat their - Foes--An Embryo Indian War--How it Can be Avoided--Tah-home - and Ka-ko-na in Tribulation--Power of Medicine Men--Stronger - than love--Wild Men Shrewd in Such Matters--Heart-Broken - Squaw--Proposition to Elope--Fear of Pursuit--No Compromise - 224 - - - CHAPTER XVI. - - OVER THE FALLS--FIRST ELECTION. - - Resuming the Journey--Klamath Reservation--Saying Prayers--The - Accident--Value of a Dead Mule--Different Tribes on the - Reservation--Klamaths never Enemies of the Whites--Lindsey - Applegate--The First Election--White Men Imitated--The Result-- - Allen David Elected Chief--His Character--He is an Orator of - Great Power--Preparation for the "Big Talk"--The Scenes in the - Council--The Big Camp Fire--Tah-home and Ka-ko-na in Great - Distress--Indian Strategy Winked at by an Officer--It - Succeeds--The Lovers in a Snow-storm--Outwitted and Glad of - It--Allen David Opens the Council--His Thrilling Speech--The - Author's Official Report--Another Speech from the Red-skinned - Orator--The Author's Reply--Joe Hood--Various Speeches Bearing - on the Indian Question--Official Correspondence--Address to - the Klamath Indians--Their Attention--The Indian Allen David-- - His Wonderful Eloquence--Extracts--The Author's Reply--Speech - of Joe Hood--The Reconciliation--The Preparation--The Speeches - of Allen David and Captain Jack--The Author's Views of - Thieving Officials--An Appeal for Justice--The Request of - Klamaths 245 - - - CHAPTER XVII. - - KLAMATH COURT--ELOPEMENT EXTRAORDINARY. - - Wife Robbery--Divorce made Easy--Names of Uniformed Officers - Withheld--Why--Blo's Searching Questions--The Law One-sided-- - Little Sally--The New Court--A Novel Scene--The Court Opened-- - Sally's Complaint--Her Husband's Views--The Baby's Heart half - his and half his Wife's--Sally and her Husband Want to be - Re-married--The Bride's Outfit--A Serious Ceremony--A Pledge - that White Men don't Take--Indian Modesty--Who Kissed the - Bride--Case Number Two--The Sentence--The Dance--Indian - Theatre--The Actor--A Wild, Exciting Play--The Indian's - Dramatic Power 262 - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - - OMELETS AND ARROWS--BIG STEAM-BOILERS. - - Indian Games--Long John, the Gambler--The Wocus Fields--How it - is Prepared for Food--Egging and Fishing--A Bird's Nest - Described--Trout-fishing--Various Kinds of Trout--Game--Big - Klamath Lake--Link River--Nature's Steam-power--The Country of - the Modocs--A Grand Scene--Bound for the Home of Captain Jack - 279 - - - CHAPTER XIX. - - MODOC BLOOD UNDER A FLAG OF TRUCE--SEED SOWN - TWENTY YEARS BEFORE A HARVEST. - - The Modoc War--The Origin of the Modocs--The La-la-kas--The - Great Indian Rebellion and the American Revolution--The Office - of Indian Chief--Captain Jack--Form of Government among Indian - Tribes--The Home of the Modocs--Why Modocs Rebelled--The - Modocs in 1846--Schonchin--The Father of Captain Jack--Account - of the Latter--Cruelties Perpetrated by the Modocs--Causes of - the First Modoc Wars--Two Sides of the Question--Chief - Schonchin's Reason for Killing White Men--The "Ben Wright" - Massacre--Slaughter of Emigrants--Horrible Cruelties--The - Squaw's Jealousy--Ben Wright--His Character--His Infamous Act - of Treachery--Treaty with the Modocs in 1864--Why it was not - kept by Captain Jack--The Oregon Superintendent makes a - Treaty--It is now being Ratified--Captain Jack understood the - Treaty--He Rebels--Says he was Deceived--Attempt to Force him - to return to the Reservation--His Insulting Language--Lost - River--A Fish Story--Difficulties in the way of meeting - Captain Jack 289 - - - CHAPTER XX. - - BLUE EYES AND BLACK ONES--TOBEY RIDDLE. - - Captain Jack's Apology--He Makes a Camp for his Visitors--The - Modoc Women not Slaves like other Indian Women--Sage Brush-- - The Modocs would not Eat First--The Reason--Tobey and Frank - Riddle--Riddle's Romantic Career--Truth Stranger than Fiction-- - He Discards his First Love--His Indian Wife--They act a part - in his Story--Captain Jack's Falsehood Exposed--The Government - Appropriations--Captain Jack Quibbles but Yields--He is - Overruled by the Medicine Man--A Critical Moment--Indian - Vocabularies--Tobey's Good Sense and Loyalty--Riddle and Tobey - Avert a Scene of Blood--Mr. Meacham's Bold Speech to Captain - Jack--The Strategy of Meacham's Party--Two Powers Invoked-- - Representatives of Elijah and Ahab--The Soldiers who are sent - for do not Respond as Ordered--They, too, are under the - Influence of _Spirits_--They Rush into Camp--An Exciting - Scene--The Parley with the Modocs and its Results--Queen Mary-- - Her Rare Opportunities--She Pleads for her Brother, and Gains - her Point--Jack Surrenders--An Incident--Arrival at the - Klamath Reservation--Reconciliation between Two Chieftains-- - Ceremony of Burying the Hatchet--Allen David, the Famous - Indian Orator--His Remarkable Speech--Captain Jack's Reply-- - Allotment and Distribution of Goods--"Head and Pluck"--Indian - Mode of Cooking Meats--A Gorgeous Scene--A Big Council Talk-- - Link River Joe's Solemn Speech--An Impressive Watch-meeting-- - The Writer's Peculiar Position--The Dim Fore-shadowing 311 - - - CHAPTER XXI. - - BURYING THE HATCHET--A TURNING-POINT. - - A Settlement of Old Difficulties--Trouble Ahead--The Modocs - Taunted with their Poverty--Agent Knapp--His Character-- - Captain Jack Applies to Knapp for Protection--Is Treated - Coolly--Schonchin John--Captain Jack and his Band Leave - Klamath--Old Schonchin Removes to Yainax--Captain Jack - Contemplates making his Home there--An Unfortunate Occurrence - Prevents--One more Effort for Peace--Jesse Applegate--Letter - of Instructions to John Meacham--It is Conciliatory but Firm-- - Departure of The Commission--Humanity and Common Sense-- - Fortunately the Commissioners go well Armed--Assassination - Intended--Prevented by Captain Jack--His Loyalty Doubted by - the Modocs--Schonchin Intrigues for the Chieftainship--Captain - Jack only a Representative Chief--Republican Ideas for once a - Curse--Captain Jack Argues the Cause of his People with Great - Skill and Force--He Refuses to go on to the Reservation again-- - Agrees to go to Lost River--How Bloodshed Might Have Been - Avoided--The Author's Reports referred to--The Modocs become - Restless--They Violate their Pledges--The White Settlers - Annoyed--They demand Redress and Protection--Captain Jack not - blamed by the Whites--He was Powerless 342 - - - CHAPTER XXII. - - U. S. SENATORS COST BLOOD--FAIR FIGHT--OPEN - FIELD. - - Change in the Indian Superintendency--T. B. Odeneal Appointed-- - His Qualifications for the Office--Did not Understand the - Indians--The Modocs Ordered to Klamath Reservation--They - Refuse to go--Captain Jackson Ordered to the Modoc Camp-- - Twelve Settlers go to see the Fun--Character of Frontiersmen-- - Who are Responsible for Indian Wars--Situation of Jack's Camp-- - Number of his Braves--Arrival of the Soldiers and Citizens-- - They come Unexpected--A Fatal Mistake--First Gun of the Modoc - War--First Battle--Modocs Victorious--Fight on the other side - of the River--Inglorious Results to the White--Reinforcements - sent for by Major Jackson--Captain Jack and his Braves retire - to the Lava Beds--Scar-face Charley remains behind--His - Strange Motive for so doing--John A. Fairchild--He learns an - Important Lesson--His Humanity and Wisdom--White Citizens cry - for Vengeance--Fourteen Modocs agree to return to Klamath--Why - they rejoined Captain Jack--The latter always for Peace--The - curly-haired Doctor wanted War--He and other Modocs Commit - Horrid Crimes--Seventeen Whites Butchered--The Scene that - followed--The Victims of the Slaughter--Friends of the - Murderers--The Author's Authority for many of his Statements-- - Captain Jack denounces the Murderers, and demands that they - shall be surrendered to the Whites--Is overruled 361 - - - CHAPTER XXIII. - - MOURNING EMBLEMS AND MILITARY POMP. - - "Wails of Anguish"--"Intense Excitement"--"A Scene of Woe seldom - Equalled"--"A Sublime Portraiture of Frontier Life"--"Who - shall say Vengeance on The Avenger"--"The Government called to - a Rigid Account"--"War Succeeds Sorrow"--"The Grand Army of - Two Hundred"--"Opinions that _are_ Opinions, and the Reasons - for them"--"A Job before Breakfast not accomplished"--"Benefit - of the War to Oregon and California"--"The Politicians and - Speculators' Opportunity"--"Four Hundred White Soldiers"-- - "Proposition to slay Modoc Women and Children"--"A Little - Gray-eyed Man Objects"--"A good deal of Buncombe and of - anticipated Glory" 377 - - - CHAPTER XXIV. - - PEACE OR WAR--ONE HUNDRED LIVES VOTED AWAY BY - MODOC INDIANS. - - A Descent to the Lava Bed--Tule Lake--The Lone Woman with a - Field Glass--The Deserted White House--The Dark Bluff--The - Red-skinned Loyal Soldiers--The Solitary Tree--Description of - the Lava Bed--Link River Jack the Natural Traitor--Council - among the Modocs--Jack Still for Peace--Earnest Speeches on - both sides--The Curly-headed Doctor decides the Momentous - Question--The Vote is for War--How the Doctor makes Medicine-- - Captain Jack Plans the Battle--A Lost Warning to the Sleepers - 388 - - - CHAPTER XXV. - - WARPATH. - - 4 A.M., January 17, 1873--Preparation for the Battle--The - Conflict Begins--The Deadly Modoc's Bullets--Where are the - Volunteers--The Battle Rages with fearful Loss of Life--Orders - to Retreat--The Wounded to be Rescued--Vain Attempt, the - Victims Scalped--Modoc Rejoicings--Speeches of the Victors-- - Captain Jack not so Enthusiastic--General Wheaton's Defeat-- - Comments of the Volunteers--The Sarcasm of the Gray-eyed Man - 400 - - - CHAPTER XXVI. - - OLIVE BRANCH AND CANNON BALLS--WHICH WILL WIN? - - The Peace Commission Appointed--Terms of Peace unwisely Proposed - to the "Modocs"--The "Modocs" seem to accept the Terms--Joy in - Camp--It is suddenly Dampened--The Great Mistake of Steele, - the Messenger--The Fearful Crisis--A Most Suitable Time to say - Prayers--Honor among Savages--The Messenger's Strategy--It - Saves his Life--His Report--The Author's Dispatch to - Washington--The Reply--Anxiety and Gloom in Camp--Modoc - Messengers--What they Propose--Commission in the hands of - General Canby--Prejudiced against Tobey--The Modocs offer to - Surrender--Wagons sent to Receive Them--Their Intentions--They - Fail to Agree--Modoc Horses Captured--General Canby won't - return them 413 - - - CHAPTER XXVII. - - CAPTAIN JACK A DIPLOMAT--SHOOT ME IF YOU DARE. - - The New Camp--The Modocs Allowed to Visit the Camp--Reasons for - it--The Seven Hours' Talk with Captain Jack--The Diplomatic - Savage--His Skill in Debate--His Logic and his Eloquence--He - has Right on his Side--This the Only Extended Talk with the - Modocs--Capt. Jack's Graphic Description of the "Ben Wright" - Massacre--This Cold-blooded Butcher Rewarded by our - Government--Full Report of this Meeting--Another Effort for - Peace--Tobey's Mission--The Result--She is Warned by a - peace-loving Modoc--The Reports to the Commission--Some do not - Believe Her--The Indiscretion of Rev. Dr. Thomas--Stirring - News from the other Camp--Assassination Intended--Tobey is - Sent for by the Modocs--She Goes--Affecting Farewell to - Husband and Child--A Thrilling Scene in the Modoc Camp--True - Heroism--"I am a Modoc Woman; Shoot Me if You Dare"--The Camp - Moved--Strange Surroundings and Sad Reflections--An Incident-- - Peace Council with the Modocs--Their Hostile Intentions - Foreshadowed--The Storm--Proposal to Adjourn--It is Treated - with Contempt by Jack--Says he shall not Melt like Snow--The - Council Adjourns 443 - - - CHAPTER XXVIII. - - WHO HAD BEEN THERE--WHO HAD NOT. - - General Gilliam's Opinion about Taking the Modocs--Colonel - Mason's Opinion--Difference in Judgment--Another Discussion - Going On--Colonel Greene Speaks--Colonel Tom Wright in - Commissioners' Tent--A Growl--Wager Offered--Proposition to - Send Away Nine Hundred Soldiers--Waiting for the Warm Springs-- - Desertion--Common Soldiers' Opinion--They Want Peace-- - Commissioners' Cooking--Work Divided--Canby Enjoys a Joke-- - "Don't Throw Off on Bro. Dyer" 457 - - - CHAPTER XXIX. - - UNDER A WOMAN'S HAT--THE LAST APPEAL. - - New Efforts for Peace--Dr. Thomas' Faith--It Avails Little-- - Riddle Appealed to--The Author's Fatal Absence--Modoc Cunning-- - The Guileless Betrayed--The Author's Fears--The Compact Made-- - The Last Breakfast--The Indian Judas--He Wants Meacham to Wear - his New Boots--The Modoc Council--Captain Jack and Scar-face - Oppose the Massacre--The Former Taunted with being a White - Squaw--Being only a Representative Chief he Yields to the - Majority--The Bloody Work Allotted to Each--Another Butchery - Agreed upon--The Warning Repeated but Unheeded--Canby and Dr. - Thomas are Determined to go--The Latter Seems Doubtful of the - Result--The Farewell Letter--Tobey and Riddle Implore them not - to go--Meacham Makes One More Effort to Save Life--He Pleads - with Dr. Thomas and General Canby--A Sad Scene and a Terrible - Resolution--The Derringer Pistol--Departure for the Scene of - Slaughter 462 - - - CHAPTER XXX. - - ASSASSINATION--"KAU-TUX-E"--THE DEATH PRAYER - SMOTHERED BY BLOOD--RESCUED. - - The Scene near the Council Tent--Several Desperate Modocs - Described--Preparing for the Carnival of Death--The Boy - Murderers and their Weapons--Bogus and Boston Announce the - Approach of the Commission--Why does Meacham Remove his - Overcoat--The Modocs Suspiciously Cordial--Fighting a Battle - with Pride--Appearance of the Commissioners--Hooker Jim's - Strange Movements--The Intruder Near the Council Tent--The - Butchery for the Time Being Averted--Hooker-Jim's Ominous - Movements--He puts on Meacham's Overcoat--"Me old man Meacham - now"--This Act is instantly Interpreted--All are Conscious of - their Impending Doom--Reflections During the Fleeting Moments-- - What will General Canby Say--Will he Accede to the Demand of - the Modocs and thus Avert Death--Will he Take the Soldiers - Away--He Breaks the Silence--Duty Dearer than Life--Death - before Dishonor--Dr. Thomas's Last Speech--What will Captain - Jack do now--Will he Give the Signal--He Changes Places with - Schonchin--The Manner of the Latter--The Attack Begins-- - General Canby the First to Fall--His Horrible Death--Dyer is - Shot at by Hooker-Jim--He Makes his Escape--Riddle Pursued by - Black Jim--The Latter Fires at Random--The Reason--The Bloody - Work of Boston and Hooker-Jim--Dr. Thomas's Tragic End--His - Murderers Taunt him with his Religion--Why don't he Turn the - Bullets--Schonchin, his Dagger and his Pistol--Meacham - Attacked by Schonchin--Slolux and Shack-Nasty Jim--The - Struggle for Life--Tobey's Efforts to save Him--The Dreadful - Scene of the Tragedy--Boston as a Scalper--The Squaw Tobey-- - Her Strategy--Another Bloody Tragedy Planned but not Executed-- - Lethargy followed by Vigorous Action--Meacham Discovered--The - Stretcher--Brandy--"No Time for Temperance Talk"--The Council - Tent a Winding-sheet--Rewards to the Couriers--The - Eighty-three Mile Race--The Gray and the Pinto--The Exultant - Winner 478 - - - CHAPTER XXXI. - - HARNESSED LIGHTNING CARRYING AWFUL TIDINGS--HE - MAKES IT--A BROKEN FINGER WON'T DISFIGURE A - CORPSE. - - Making Coffins in the Lava Bed--The Patient in the Hospital--A - Broken Finger will not Disfigure a Corpse--The Commotion in - the Modoc Camp--The Disputes--Common Interest a Strong Bond-- - The Great Medicine Dance--The Modocs Exultant--The Wife's - Suspense--The Dreadful News--Its Effect on Wife and Children-- - First Robbed by the Government, then its Defenders--Our - Nation's Perfidy--The Sorrowful Hearts at Home--Prayer and - Praise in Camp--A Lesson for Bigots and Cowards to Learn--The - Medicine Man in the Modoc Camp--He Fires the Modoc Heart-- - Capt. Jack Despondent--Long Jim--Novel Scene in the Soldier's - Camp--The Murder of the Commission to be Avenged--Long Jim - Escapes--Much Powder Wasted--"Nary a Wound" 508 - - - CHAPTER XXXII. - - HORIZONTAL PYROTECHNICS--THE SCALP MIRACLE--KILLED - IN PETTICOATS--THE PRESENTIMENT. - - Preparations for Another Battle--Stretchers for the Wounded-- - Mattresses and Lint--The Wounded Man in the Hospital Expects - Company--The Iowa Veteran--The Signal for Battle--It Begins-- - Re-echoing of Cannon--The Assault--No Response Yet--Volleys - from the Concealed Foe--The Retreat--The Dead and Wounded--The - PAT-riotic Sutler--The Walking Sage Brush--The Wounded Pony-- - Pat's Head in Danger--The _Flat_ Assaulted--Lieut. Eagan - Falls--The Two Stages--The Remains of the Lamented Dead--The - Bereaved Widow and the Stricken Wife--The Wounded Warm Spring - Indian--He Ridicules Modoc Powder--The Modocs out of Water-- - The Lady Passenger--Sympathy Extended--On Her Way to the Lava - Beds--The Welcome Letter--Still Alive, but Handsome No Longer-- - The Battle for Water--The Fair-haired Boy--His Terrible - Presentiment--Courage Triumphs--His Lost Messages to Friends-- - The Dread Reality--The Unexploded Shell does Execution--A - Scalp Cut to Suit--The Indian Plays Squaw--He is Suspected and - _Numerously_ Scalped--Military Bombast--Mourning for the Dead-- - Remains of Canby and Thomas--The Stricken Parent--The Wife's - Disappointment and Anguish--The Modocs Withdraw--The Soldiers - Deceived--They Surround Vacant Caves 522 - - - CHAPTER XXXIII. - - MUSIC DON'T SOOTHE A SAVAGE--FIGHTING THE DEVIL - WITH FIRE A FAILURE--"WE'LL BURY THE OLD MAN - ALIVE." - - Watching and Disappointment--Visit of Pia-noose to Meacham--Gen. - Canby's Remains in Portland, Oregon--Burial of Dr. Thomas-- - Burying a Leg--Col. Wright's Opinion of the Modocs--Modocs in - New Camp--Young Hovey's Father Informed of his Death--Modocs - Attack Gilliam's Camp--"You can Play Dead, Old Man"--Scar-Face - an Artillery Officer--The Gray-eyed Man--Proposition to Bury - "The Old Man" Alive--Burial of Young Hovey--Extermination-- - Indian Sympathy with Capt. Jack--Warm Spring Messenger to - Linkville--Another Disappointment for Mrs. Meacham--Twenty - Chances in a hundred for Life--The Twenty Chances Win--Hope - Dawns--Another Messenger Sent--Donald McKay in Camp--Reading - News to Meacham--Fairchild's Opinion of Oregon Press--Ferree's - Warning to Fairchild--His Reply--Gov. Grover Calls out - Volunteers--Meacham's Departure for Home--Storm on the Lake-- - Old Fields--A Sailor--Dr. Cabanis a Joker--Mrs. Meacham - Watching the Boat--Her Thoughts--The Meeting--Ferree's - Introduction--Meacham on an Ambulance--Arrival at Linkville-- - Big-hearted Men--Soft Hand and a Whispered Prayer 543 - - - CHAPTER XXXIV. - - AMEN OUT OF TIME--FRIENDLY ADVICE FROM ENEMIES--BETRAYED. - - Meacham at Ferree's--Then and Now--Capt. Jack--Another Scene in - the Hospital--Maybridge--Bunker Bildad--Modocs Impatient to be - on the Warpath--Gen. Canby's Remains in San Francisco--The - Silver-haired Man in Iowa--The Warning against the Klamaths-- - Old Father Jones and Brother Congar--The Misunderstanding-- - Administering Saltpetre--Army Recruiting--Making Another - Coffin--Meacham Again in Danger--Iowa Veteran Ready to Dose - out Blue Pills--Location of Modocs--Reconnoissance Ordered-- - Defeat of Thomas and Wright--Scenes of the Slaughter--Warm - Springs to the Rescue--Cranston's Death--Thirty-four Modocs - Fighting Eighty Soldiers--Peace Commissioners not in the Way-- - Lt. Harris's Mother in Camp--Gen. Davis's Report of the Fight-- - Modocs Leave the Lava Beds--Dry Lake Battle--Modocs said to be - Whipped for Once--Treason of Hooker Jim to Bogus--Gen. Davis's - Summary of Succeeding Events 562 - - - CHAPTER XXXV. - - LAST HIDING-PLACE--HANGING-MACHINE UNTRIED--MODOC - BUTCHERS OUTDONE. - - Vivid Account of the Surrender of the Modoc Chiefs--Butchery by - "_Brave Civilized_" White Men--Oregon Laws--The White Butchers - not Arrested--Men who have Political Influence--The Gallows--A - Strange Sight to the Modocs--The Harmless Cannon--The Wails of - Anguish--Legal Justice--The Most Bloody Hands Escape--The - Courier's Arrival--General Disappointment--A Summary of Scenes - and Events 582 - - - CHAPTER XXXVI. - - TAKING A SAFE LOOK AT A SUBDUED LION--POWER BEHIND - BAYONETS--WEAKNESS IN CHAINS. - - A Fort Turned into a Court-House--The Prisoners at the Bar-- - Those Glittering Bayonets--The Prisoners Arraigned--The Trial - Begins--A. B. Meacham in Court--Have the Prisoners no - Counsel?--Schonchin and Capt. Jack--They Extend their Hands to - Meacham--He Repels Them--The Reason for it--Meacham Advised by - his Physician not to Appear as Prisoner's Counsel--The Trial - Goes On--Indian Testimony--They Seek to Shift the - Responsibility--Capt. Jack not Himself; "He cannot Talk with - Irons On."--Hooker-Jim's Weak Defence--The Modoc's Attorney - Arrives Too Late--The Most Guilty Modocs Escape Punishment-- - The Mistake of the Judge Advocate--The Finding of the Court-- - The Death Sentence 607 - - - CHAPTER XXXVII. - - THE EXECUTION--THE ROYAL CHIEF OUT OF CHAINS. - - Modocs in the Prison and Stockade--New Hanging-Machine--The - Announcement of the Death Sentence--The Fallen Chief--His - Speech--Boston Charley's Speech--Schonchin's--The Enraged - Modocs--The Unfettered Traitors--Scar-faced Charley--A Solemn - Scene and an Eloquent Prayer--A White Man in Tears over Red - Men's Sorrows--Once Proud, Now Humble--Thunder-bolt from a - Clear Sky--Marble Tomb and Pearly Gate--Jumbled Theology-- - Whirling Tempest--Roaring Cannon--Lightning Flashing and - Darkened Homes--Passing under the Cloud Alone--Anxious for a - Good Seat--Six Graves--Boston has a Rare Privilege--Short - Questions and Short Answers--More than Bogus could Stand--A - Sheriff among Soldiers--State Rights--United States--A Big - Offer for a Corpse--Under the Eye of Uncle Sam--The Prisoners - Waiting for Marching Orders--The Command: "Come Forth"--Then - and Now--Leaving Living Tombs for Permanent Homes--Solving the - Problem of _Six_ Graves and _Four_ Coffins--In Sight of the - Scaffold--Last in Crime--First to Mount the Ladder--The Chains - Drop Off--Six Graves--Six Ropes--Six Prisoners--Four Coffins-- - Four Unfettered Convicts--Suspense Succeeds Certain Death-- - Last March--A Single Strand and a Gleaming Axe--On the Drop - Waiting--Sitting on a Coffin Watching--Justice Making a - Protest--Forty Millions of People Talking at Once--What They - Say--The Problem Solved--Justice Surprised--The Last Prayer-- - The Drop--Calling the Modoc Roll--The Missing--Where They Are-- - Tragedy Ended 636 - - - CHAPTER XXXVIII. - - THE TWO GIBBETS. - - Mementoes of the Horrid Butchery--A Nation's Justice towards the - Strong, and its Tyranny over the Weak--Grant's Humane Policy-- - On Whom should the Blame Fall--The Answer--Witnesses Summoned - to Prove the White Man's Perfidy--O. C. Applegate--His Record - of Bloody Deeds--Hon. J. W. Nesmith--His Intimate Acquaintance - with Indian Affairs--His Unequivocal Testimony--Dr. Wm. C. - McKay's Testimony--General Harney Bears Witness to the - Indian's Good Faith--The Indians Not the Aggressors in the - Oregon War--Testimony of Hon. Geo. E. Cole--Mutual Fear - resulting in Butchery--The Rogue River War--The Result-- - Another Unimpeachable Witness, Gen. Joel Palmer--His Terrible - Arraignment of the Whites--Judge Steele--Ben Wright's Plot to - Poison the Indians--Colonel Whiting--Forty-nine Indians - Butchered--A Tribute to Frontier Men--A Simple Remedy for the - _Great Wrong_ 663 - - - - - WIGWAM AND WARPATH. - - - - - CHAPTER I. - - EARLY REMINISCENCES, POW-E-SHIEK'S BAND. - - -"Oh, that mine enemy would write a book!" With that ominous warning -ringing in my ears, I sit down to write out my own observations and -experiences, not without full appreciation of the meaning and possible -reiteration of the above portentous saying. In so doing I shall endeavor -to state plain facts, in such a way, perhaps, that mine enemies will avail -themselves of the privilege. - -Hoping, however, that I may disarm all malice, and meet with a fair and -impartial criticism, based on the principles of justice both to myself and -to the peoples of whom I write, I begin this book with the conviction that -the truths which I shall state, though told in homely phrase, will -nevertheless be well received by the reading public, and will accomplish -the purposes for which it is written; the first of which is to furnish -reliable information on the subject under consideration, with the hope -that when my readers shall have turned the last leaf of this volume they -may have a better understanding of the wrongs suffered and crimes -committed by the numerous tribes of Indians of the north-west. - -Born on the free side of the Ohio river, of parents whose immediate -ancestors, though slave-holders, had left the South at the command of -conscientious convictions of the great wrong of human bondage, my earliest -recollections are of political discussions relating to the crime against -God and humanity; of _power_ compelling _weakness_ while groaning under -the oppression of wrongs to surrender its rights. - -Coupled with the "great wrong" of which I have spoken, occasionally that -other wrong, twin to the first, was mentioned in my father's family; -impressed upon my mind by stories I had heard of the treatment of Indians -who had in early days been neighbors to my parents, driven mile by mile -toward the setting sun, leaving a country billowed by the graves of their -victims mingled with bones of their own ancestors. What wonder, then, -that, while rambling through the beech woods of my native State, I should -speculate on the remnants of ruined homes which these people had left -behind them, and walk in awe over the battle-fields where they had -resisted the aggressive march of civilization? - -While yet in childhood my parents migrated to what was then the "Far -West." Our new home in Iowa was on the outskirts of civilization, our -nearest neighbors being a band of Sacs and Foxes,--"Saukees." This was the -beginning of my personal acquaintance with Indians. - -The stories that had kindled in my heart feelings of sympathy and -commiseration for them were forgotten for a time in the present living -history before my eyes. - -I was one of a party who in 1844 assisted the Government in removing -Pow-e-shiek's band from the Iowa river to their new home in the West. The -scenes around the Indian village on the morning of their departure were -photographed on my mind so plainly that now, after a lapse of thirty -years, they are still fresh in my memory, and the impressions made on me, -and resolves then made by me, have never been forgotten, notwithstanding -the terrible dangers through which I have since passed. - -The _impression_ was, that _power_ and _might_ were compelling these -people to leave their homes against their wishes, and in violation of -justice and right. The resolution was, that, whenever and wherever I -could, I would do them justice, and contribute whatever of talent and -influence I might have to better their condition. - -These impressions and resolutions have been my constant companions through -a stormy life of many years on the frontier of Iowa, California, and -Oregon. - -The bloody tragedy in the Lava Beds, April, 1873, through which the -lamented Christian soldier, Gen. Canby, and the no less lamented eminent -preacher, Dr. Thomas, lost their lives, and by which I had passed so close -to the portals of eternity, has not changed my conviction of right, or my -determination to do justice to even those who so earnestly sought my life. -Narrow-minded, short-sighted men have said to me, more than once, "I -reckon you have suffered enough to cure all your fanatical notions of -humanity for these people!" - -I pity the heart and intelligence of any man who measures principles of -justice and right by the gauge of personal suffering or personal -interest. It is unworthy of enlightened Christian manhood. - -"By their works ye shall know them." So may these people of whom I write -be adjudged in the lights of 1874; so shall this nation be adjudged; so -judge ye the author of this book. - -The spring of 1845, Pow-e-shiek's band of Sacs and Foxes were removed from -their home on Iowa river, twenty-five miles above Iowa City, Iowa, to -Skunk river, one hundred miles west. Eighteen or twenty teams were hired -by the Government to convey the household goods and supplies. - -Among the number who furnished teams, my father was one, and I went as -captain of the ox-team. The Indians were assembled at the "Trading Post" -preparatory to starting. While the wagons were being loaded, some of them -were gathering up their horses and packing their goods, ready for -shipment; others were making the air vocal with wails of grief over the -graves of their friends, or from sadness, consequent on leaving the scenes -of a life-time. - -I wonder not that they should reluctantly yield to inexorable fate, which -compelled them to leave their beautiful valley of the Iowa. "_The white -man wanted it_," and they must retreat before the onward march of empire, -notwithstanding their nationality and their ownership of the country had -been acknowledged by the Government, when it went into treaty-council with -them for the lands they held. This was not on the plea of "eminent -domain," but on account of the clamor for more room for the expanding -energies of a growing population. - -"The white man wanted it," tells the story, as it has been repeated, time -after time, since the founding of the Colonies in America. - -I do not know that, in this instance, any advantage was taken of these -Indians, except that advantage which the powerful always have over the -weak. But I do know that if they had been allowed a choice, they never -would have consented to leave the graves of their fathers. 'Twas easy to -say, "It was a fair transaction of selling and buying." - -So is it a business transaction when a man buys the lots adjoining your -own, and builds high walls on three sides, erects powder magazines and -glycerine manufactories, corrupts city councils, and, by means of extra -privileges and excessive taxation, compels you to sell your valuable -property for a mere song, by saying, "Take my price for your property, or -run the risk of being blown up." - -Is it a fair "business transaction," after he has thus forced the trade? - -What though he does faithfully pay the contract-price? Does it atone for -the first moral wrong, in legally forcing the sale? And how much more -aggravated the injury becomes, when, through his agents, or his sons, he -"legitimately," under various pretences, permits the unfortunate seller to -be robbed, by paying him off in "chips and whetstones," that he does not -desire nor need, so that in the end he is practically defrauded out of his -property, and finds himself at the last payment, homeless and penniless. - -All done, however, under the sanction of law, and in the shade of -church-steeples, and with sanctimonious semblance of honesty and justice. - -The picture is not overdrawn. The illustration is fair, or, if deficient -at all, it has bean in excess of advantage to the principal, not the -victim. The latter has accepted the situation and suffered the -consequences. - -To return to Pow-e-shiek's band leaving their home. Who shall ever recount -the sorrows and anguish of those people, while they formed in line of -march, and turned their eyes for the last time upon the scenes that had -been all the world to them? What mattered it though they realized all the -pangs their natures were capable of, in those parting hours, with the -uncomfortable promises that the ploughshare of civilization would level -down the graves of their fathers, before their retreating footprints had -been obliterated from the trail which led them sadly away? They were -"Injins;" and they ought to have been in better luck than _being_ -"Injins." - -Such was the speech of a white man in whose hearing I had said some word -of sympathy on the occasion. I did not like the unfeeling wretch then, and -have not much respect for him, or for the class he represents. Now I may -have charity and pity, too, for all such. Charity for the poverty of a -soul so devoid of the finer sensibilities of "common humanity that make -mankind akin;" pity for a heart overflowing with selfishness, made -manifest in thoughtless or spiteful speech. - -The trying hour in the lives of these Indian people had come, and the long -cavalcade moved out along the line of westward march, wagons loaded with -corn and other supplies. The old men of the tribe, with darkened brows and -silent tongue, sat on their horses; the younger ones, with _seeming_ -indifference, in red blankets, feathers, and gaudy paints, moving off on -prancing ponies, in little squads, to join the funeral pageant; for so it -was. They were leaving the cherished scenes of childhood to hunt for -sepulchres in the farther West. - -The women, young and old, the drudges of the Indian household, as well as -homes, where the sunlight of civilization _should_ warm the hearts of men, -and move them to truer justice, were gathered up, and preparing their -goods for transportation, while bitter tears were flowing and loud -lamentations gave evidence of the grief that would not be repressed, and -each in turn, as preparations were complete, would lift the -pappoose-basket with its young soul to altitudes of mother's back or -horse's saddle, and then, with trembling limbs, climb to their seats and -join the sad procession, adding what of woful wailing seemed necessary to -make the whole complete with sights and sound that would bid defiance to -painter's skill or poet's words, though, in the memory of those who beheld -it, it may live as long as the throbs of sympathy which it kindled shall -repeat themselves in hearts that feel for human sorrow. - -The first day's journey measured but four miles; the next, six; and at -most never exceeded ten or twelve. I did not understand, then, why we went -so slow. It may have been necessary to "kill time," in order to use up the -appropriation for the removal. When "camp" was reached, each day the -wagons were "corralled;" that is to say, were drawn together in a circle, -one behind another, and so close that when the teams were detached, the -"pole" laid upon the hind wheel of the next forward wagon would close up -the gap, and thus complete the "corral," which was to answer the double -purpose of "penning the oxen when being yoked up," and also as an -extempore fort in case of attack by the Sioux Indians. - -The wick-e-ups--Indian tents--were scattered promiscuously around, as each -family might elect. After dinner was over the remainder of Uncle Sam's -time was spent in various ways: horse-racing, foot-racing, card-playing, -shooting-matches by the men, white and red, while the women were doing -camp-work, cooking, getting wood, building lodges, etc.; for be it -understood, an old-style Indian never does such work any more than his -white brother would rock the cradle, or operate a laundry for his wife. -The old men would take turns standing guard, or rather sitting guard. At -all events they generally went out to the higher hills, and, taking a -commanding position, would sit down all solitary and alone, and with -blanket drawn around their shoulders and over their heads, leaving only -enough room for vision and the escape of smoke from their pipes. - -In solemn silence, scanning the surroundings, hour after hour thus wore -away. There was something in this scene suggesting serious contemplation -to a looker-on, and I doubt not the reveries of the lone watchman savored -strongly of sadness and sorrow, _may be_ revenge. - -[Illustration: THE LONE INDIAN SENTINEL.] - -Approaching one old fellow I sought to penetrate his mind, and was -rewarded by a pantomimic exhibition, more tangible than "Black Crook" ever -witnessed from behind the curtains, while recuperating his wasted -energies that he might the more seemingly "play the devil." - -Rising to his feet and releasing one naked arm from his blanket, he -pointed toward the east, and with extended fingers and uprising, coming -gesture quickly brought his hand to his heart, dropping his head, as if -some messenger of despair had made a sudden call. He paused a moment, and -then from his heart his hand went out in circling, gathering motion, until -he had made the silent speech so vivid that I could see the coming throng -of white settlers and the assembling of his tribe; and then, turning his -face away with a majestic wave of his hand, I saw his sorrow-stricken -people driven out to an unknown home; while he, sitting down again and -drawing his blanket around him, refused me further audience. Perhaps he -realized that he had told the whole story, and therefore need say no more. - -Often at evening we would gather around some grassy knoll, or, it may be, -some wagon-tongue, and white and red men mingled together. We would sit -down and smoke, and tell stories and recount traditions of the past. -Oftenest from Indian lips came the history of wars and dances, of scalps -taken and prisoners tortured. - -At the time of which I write the "Saukies" were at variance with the -"hated Sioux," and, indeed, the latter had been successful in a raid among -the herds of the former, and had likewise carried away captives. Hence the -sentinels on the outpost at evening. - -Just at dusk one night, when the theme had been the "Sioux," and our -thoughts were in that channel, suddenly the whole camp was in a blaze of -flashing muskets. We beat a hasty retreat to our wagons--which were our -only fortifications--with mingled feelings of fear and hope; fear of the -much-dreaded Sioux, and hope that we might witness a fight. - -My recollection now is that _fear_ had more to do with our gymnastic -exercises round about the wagon-wheels than _hope_ had to do with getting -a position for observation. But both were short-lived, for soon our -red-skinned friends were laughing loud at our fright, and we, the victims, -joined in to make believe we were not scared by the unceremonious flight -of a flock of belated wild geese, inviting fire from the warriors of our -camp; for so it was and nothing more. Still it was enough to make -peace-loving, weak nerves shake, and heated brain to dream for weeks after -of Sioux and of Indians generally. I speak for myself, but tell the truth -of all our camp, I think. - -The destination of our chief, Pow-e-shiek, and his band was temporarily -with "Kisk-ke-kosh," of the same tribe, whose bands were on Desmoines -river. There is among all Indians, of whom I have any knowledge, a custom -in vogue of going out to meet friends, or important personages, to assure -welcome, and, perhaps, gratify curiosity. - -When we were within a day or two of the end of our journey, a delegation -from Kisk-ke-kosh's camp came out to meet our party, and, while the -greeting we received was not demonstrative in words, the younger people of -both bands had adorned themselves with paint, beads, and feathers, and -were each of them doing their utmost to fascinate the other. The scene -presented was not only fantastic, but as civilized, people would exclaim, -"most gay and gorgeous," and exhilarating even to a looker-on. - -At night they gathered in groups, and made Cupid glad with the battles -lost and won by his disciples. Then they danced, or, to ears polite, -"hopped," or tripped the light fantastic moccasin trimmed with beads, to -music, primitive, 'tis true, but music made with Indian drums and rattling -gourds. They went not in waltz, but circling round and round, and always -round, as genteel people do, but round and round in single row, the -circling ends of which would meet at any particular point, or all points, -whenever the ring was complete, without reference to sets or partners, and -joining in the hi-yi-yi-eia-ye-o-hi-ye-yi; and when tired sit down on the -ground until rested, and then, without coaxing or renewed invitation, -joining in, wherever fancy or convenience suited; for these round dances -never break up at the unwelcome sound of the violin,--not, indeed, until -the dancers are all satisfied. - -The toilets were somewhat expensive, at least the "outfit" of each maiden -cost her tribe several acres of land,--sometimes, if of fine figure, -several _hundred_ acres,--and not because of the long trails or expensive -laces, for they do not need extensive skirts in which to dance, or laces, -either, to enhance their charms; for the young gentlemen for whom they -dressed were not envious of dry goods or fine enamel, but rather of the -quality of paint on the cheeks of laughing girls; for girls will paint, -you know, and those of whom I write put it on so thick that their beaux -never have cause to say, "That's too thin." - -The boys themselves paint in real genuine paint, not moustaches alone, -but eye-brows, checks, and hair. They wore feathers, too, because they -thought that feathers were good things to have at a round dance; and they -followed nature, and relieved the dusky maidens of seeming violation of -nature's plain intention. - -As I shall treat under the head of amusement the dances of Indians more at -length, I only remark, in this connection, that the dance on this -occasion, while it was a real "round dance," differed somewhat from round -dances of more high-toned people in several ways, and I am not sure it was -not without advantage in point of accommodation to the finer feelings of -discreet mammas, or envious "wall-flowers." At all events, as I have said -on former pages, the whole set formed in one circle, with close rank, -facing always to the front, and enlarged as the number of the dancers -grew, or contracted as they retired; but each one going forward and -keeping time with feet and hands to the music, which was low and slow at -first, with short step, increasing the music and the motion as they became -excited, until the air grew tremulous with the sounds, rising higher and -wilder, more and more exciting, until the lookers-on would catch the -inspiration and join the festive ring; even old men, who at first had felt -they could not spare dignity or muscle either, would lay aside their -blankets until they had lived over again the fiery scenes of younger days, -by rushing into the magnetic cordon, and, with recalled youth, forget all -else, save the soul-storming fury of the hour, sweetened with the charm of -exultant joy, over age and passing years. - -And thus the dance went on, until at last by degrees the dancers had -reached an altitude of happiness which burst forth in simultaneous shout -of music's eloquence, complete by higher notes of human voice drawn out to -fullest length. - -The dance was over, and the people went away in groups of twos and threes. -The maidens, skipping home to the paternal lodge without lingering over -swinging gates, or waiting for answering maids to ringing bells, crept -softly in, not waking their mammas up to take off for them their -lengthened trails, but perhaps with wildly beating hearts from the dance -to dream-land. - -The young braves gathered their scarlet blankets around them, and in -couples or threes, laughing as boys will do at silly jest of awkward maid -or swain, went where "tired Nature's sweet restorer" would keep promise -and let them live over again the enchanting scenes of the evening, and -thus with _negative_ and photograph would _feel_ the picture of youth -their own. - -The older men, whose folly had led them to display contempt for age, went -boldly home to lodge where the tired squaws had long since yielded to -exhausted nature, and were oblivious to the frolics of their _liege -lords_. - -Mrs. Squaw had no rights that a brave was bound to respect. It was _her_ -business to carry wood, build lodges, saddle his horse, and lash the -pappoose in the basket, and do all other drudgery. It was _his_ to wear -the gayest blanket, the vermilion paint, and eagle-feathers, and ride the -best horses, have a good time generally, and whip his squaws when drunk -or angry; and it was nobody's business to question _him_. He was a _man_. - -Now, if my reader has failed to see the picture I have drawn of Indian -dances, I promise you that, before our journey is ended, I will try again -a similar scene, where the music of tall pine-trees and tumbling torrents -from hoary mountains will give my pencil brighter hues and my hand a -steadier, finer touch. - -The arrival of our train at the camp of Kisk-ke-kosh called out whatever -of finery had not been on exhibition with the welcoming party who had come -out to meet us. And when the sun had gone down behind the Iowa prairies -the dances were repeated on a larger scale. - -The following day we were paid off and signed the vouchers. Don't know -that it was intended; don't know that it was not; but I do remember that -we were allowed the same number of days in which to return that we had -occupied in going out, although on our homeward journey we passed each day -two or three camps made on the outward journey. I ventured to make some -remark on the subject, suggesting the injustice of taking pay for more -time than was required for us to reach home, and a nice kind of a -churchman, one who could drive oxen without swearing, said in reply, "Boys -should be seen and not heard, you little fool!" - -He snubbed me then, but I never forgot the deep, earnest resolve I made to -thrash him for this insult when "_I got to be a man._" But, poor fellow, -he went years ago where boys _may_ be heard as well as seen, and I forgive -him. - -We met the rushing crowds who were going to the "New Purchase"; so eager, -indeed, that, like greedy vultures which circle round a dying charger and -then alight upon some eminence near, or poise themselves in mid air, -impatient for his death, sometimes swoop down upon him before his heart -has ceased to beat. - -So had these emigrants encamped along the frontier-line, impatient for the -hour when the red man should pull down his wigwam, put out his -council-fires, collect his squaws, his pappooses, and his ponies, and turn -his back upon the civilization they were bringing to take the place of -these untamed and savage ceremonies. While the council-fire was dying out, -another was being kindled whose ruddy light was to illuminate the faces, -and warm the hands of those who, following the westward star of empire, -had come to inherit the land, and build altars wherefrom should go up -thanks to Him who smiled when he created the "beautiful valley" of the -Iowa. - -How changed the scene! Then the gray smoke from Indian lodge rose slowly -up and floated leisurely away. Now from furnace-blast it bursts out in -volume black, and settles down over foundry and farm, city and town, -unless, indeed, the Great Spirit sends fierce tempests, as an omen of his -wrath, at the sacrilege done to the red man's home. - -_Then_ the forest stood entire, like harp-strings whereon the Great Spirit -might utter tones to soothe their stormy souls, or rouse them to deeds in -vindication of rights he had bequeathed. - -_Now_ they live only in part, the other part decaying, while groaning -under the pressure of the iron heel of power. - -Bearing no part in sweet sounds, unless indeed it be sweet to hear the -iron horse, with curling breath, proclaiming the advance of legions that -worship daily at Mammon's shrine, or bearing forward still further -westward the enterprising men and women who are to work for other lands a -transformation great as they have wrought for this. - -Then on the bosom of the river the red man's children might play in light -canoe, or sportive dive, to catch the mimic stars that seemed to live -beneath its flow, to light the homes of finny tribes who peopled then its -crystal chambers. - -_Now_, it is turgid and slow, and pent with obstructions to make it flow -in channels where its power is wanted to complete the wreck of forests -that once had made it cool, fit beverage for nature's children, or is -muddied with the noisy wheels of commerce, struggling to rob the once -happy home of Pow-e-shiek, of the charms and richness of soil that -nature's God had given. - -The prairies, too, at that time, were like a shoreless sea when, half in -anger, the winds resist the ebb or flow of its tides; or they may be -likened to the clouds, which seem to be mirrored on their waving surface, -sporting in the summer air, or, at the command of the Great Spirit, hurry -to join some gathering tempest, where He speaks in tones of thunder, as if -to rebuke the people for their crimes. - -Where once the wild deer roamed at will is enlivened now by the welcome -call of lowing herds of tamer kind. - -The waving grass, and fragrant flowers, too, gave way to blooming maize of -finer mould. - -The old trails have been buried like the feet that made them, beneath the -upturned sod. - -And now, while I am writing, this lovely valley rings out a chant of -praise to God, for his beneficence, instead of the weird wild song of -Pow-e-shiek and his people at their return from crusades against their -enemies. - -Who shall say the change that time and civilization have wrought, have not -brought nearer the hour, "When man, no more an abject thing, shall from -the sleep of ages spring," and be what God designed him, "pure and free?" - -No one, however deeply he may have drank from the fount of justice and -right, can fail to see, in the transformation wrought on this fair land, -the hand of Him whose finger points out the destiny of his peculiar -people, and yearly gives token of his approbation, by the return of -seasons, bringing rich reward to the hands of those whom he has called to -perform the wonders of which I write, in compensation for the hardships -they endured, while the transit was being made from the perfection of -untamed life to the higher state of civilization. - -While we praise Him who overrules all, we cannot fail to honor His -instrumentalities. - -The brave pioneers, leaving old homes in other lands to find new ones in -this, have made sacrifices of kindred, family ties, and early -associations, at the behest of some stern necessity (it may be growing out -of bankruptcy of business, though not of pride and honor, or manly -character), or ambition to be peers among their fellows. - -Or, mayhap, the change was made by promptings of parental love for -children whose prospects in life might be made better thereby, and the -family unity still preserved by locating lands in close proximity, where -from his home the father might by some well-known signal call his children -all around him. Where the faithful watch-dog's warning was echoed in every -yard, and thus gave information of passing events worthy of his attention -enacting in the neighborhood. Where the smoke from cabin chimneys high -arose, mingled in mid air, and died away in peaceful brotherhood. Where -the blended prayer of parent and child might go up in joint procession -from the school-house-churches through the shining trees that answered -well for steeples then, or passing through clouds to Him who had made so -many little groves, where homes might be made and prepared the most -beautiful spots on earth for final resting-place, where each, as the -journey of life should be over, might be laid away by kindred hands, far -from the hurrying, noisy crowds, who rush madly along, or stop only to -envy the dead the ground they occupy, and speculate how much filthy lucre -each sepulchre is worth. - -Others went to the new country with downy cheeks of youth, and others -still with full-grown beards, who were fired with high ambition to make -name, fame, home, and fortune, carrying underneath their sombre hats -bright ideas and wonderful possibilities, with hearts full of manly -purposes, beating quickly at the mention of mother's name or father's -pride, sister's prayer or brother's love. - -And with all these to buoy them up, would build homes on gentle slope, or -in shady grove, and thus become by slow degrees "one among us." - -I was with the first who went to this new country, and I know whereof I -write. I know more than I have told, or will tell, lest by accident I -betray the petty jealousies that cropped out; when Yankee-boys, forgetting -the girls they left behind them, would pay more attention to our western -girls than was agreeable to "us boys." - -Others there were who had followed the retreating footsteps of the -Indians. These were connecting links between two kinds of life, savage and -civilized. Good enough people in their way, but they could not bear the -hum of machinery, or the glitter of church-spires, because the first drove -back the wild game, and the devotees who worshipped beneath the second, -forbade the exercise of careless and wicked noises mingling with songs of -praise. - -A few, perhaps, had fled from other States to avoid the consequences of -technical legal constructions which would sadly interfere with their -unpuritanical ways. But these were not numerous. The early settlers, taken -all in all, possessed many virtues and qualifications that entitled them -to the honor which worthy actions and noble deeds guarantee to those who -do them. They had come from widely different birth-lands, and brought with -them habits that had made up their lives; and though each may have felt -sure their own was the better way, they soon learned that honest people -may differ and still be honest. And to govern themselves accordingly, each -yielded, without sacrifice of principle, their hereditary whims and -peculiar ways, and left the weightier matters of orthodoxy or heterodoxy -to be argued by those who had nothing better with which to occupy their -time than to muddle their own and other people's brains with abstruse -themes. - -The "early settlers" were eminently practical, and withal successful in -moulding out of the heterogeneous mass of whims and prejudices a common -public sentiment, acceptable to all, or nearly so. And thus, they grew, -not only in numbers but in wealth, power, intelligence, and patriotism, -until to-day there may be found on the once happy home of Pow-e-shiek a -people rivalling those of any other State, surpassing many of them in that -greatest and noblest of all virtues, "love for your neighbor." - -No people in all this grand republic furnished truer or braver men for the -holocaust of blood required to reconsecrate the soil of America to freedom -and justice, than those whose homes are built on the ruins of -Pow-e-shiek's early hunting-grounds. Proud as the record may be, it shall -yet glow with names written by an almost supernal fire, that warms into -life the immortal thought of poets, and the burning eloquence of orators. - -We are proud of the record of the past, and cherish bright hopes of the -future. But with all our patriotic exultations, memory of Pow-e-shiek's -sacrifices comes up to mingle sadness with our joy. Sadness, not the -offspring of reproach of conscience for unfair treatment to him or his -people by those who came after he had gone at the invitation of the -Government, but sadness because he and his people could not enjoy what -other races always have, the privilege of a higher civilization; sadness, -because, while our gates are thrown wide open and over them is written in -almost every tongue known among nations, "Come share our country and our -government with us," it was closed behind him and his race, and over those -words painted, in characters which he understood, "Begone!" - - - - - CHAPTER II. - - OVERLAND: BLOOD FOR BLOOD. - - -In 1846 Pow-e-shiek came with his band to visit his old home. We were -"early settlers" then, and had built our cabins on the sloping sides of a -bluff overlooking the valley below. From this outpost we descried the -bands of piebald ponies and then the curling smoke, and next the poles of -his wick-e-ups (houses); and soon we saw Pow-e-shiek coming to make known -his wish that he might be permitted to pasture his stock on the fields -which we had already robbed of corn. The recognition in me of one who had -assisted in removing his people seemed to surprise and please him, and for -a moment his eye lit up as if some fond reality of the past had revived -the friendship that had grown out of my sympathy for him in his dark hour -of departure from his home. And when I said, "This is my father, and my -mother, these my sisters and my brothers, and this place is our home," he -gave to the welcoming hands a friendly grasp in evidence of his good -intentions, and then assured us that no trouble on his part should grow -out of his coming, and that, if his young men should do any dishonest -acts, he would punish them; that he had come back to spend the winter once -again near his haunts of olden times, perhaps to kill the deer that he -thought white men did not care about since they had so many cattle and -swine. We accepted his assurance, and believed him to be just what he -pretended,--a quiet, honest old chief, who would do as he agreed, nor seek -excuse for not doing so. - -The dinner hour had passed, but such as we had my mother set before him, -and he did not fail to do full justice to everything upon the table. He -made sure that his pappooses should complete what he began by making a -clean sweep into one corner of his blanket to bear it to his lodge. After -dinner he drew out his pipe, and filling it with Kin-ni-ki-nick (tobacco), -and lighting it with a coal of fire, he first sought to propitiate the -Great Spirit by offering up to him the first puff of smoke; next the -devil, by blowing the smoke downward, and saved the third for himself; and -after that he offered to the fourth person in his calendar, my father, the -privilege of expressing his approval. But, as he was not a smoker himself, -he passed the pipe to his oldest son, intimating his desire that he should -be represented by proxy. I, willing to do his bidding, in friendship for -our guest, _it may be_, or perhaps from other personal motives, soon -reduced the Kin-ni-ki-nick to ashes and handed back the empty pipe to -Pow-e-shiek. I knew not that I had transgressed the rules of politeness -until afterwards, when I offered a pipe to our strange-mannered guest, he, -with dignity, drew a puff or two and then passed it back, with an -expression of countenance which declared unmistakably that it was meant -for reproof. - -If I felt resentment for a moment that a savage should presume to teach me -manners, I do not feel that I was the only one who might be greatly -benefited by taking lessons of unsophisticated men and women of other -than white blood; not alone in simple politeness, but also in regard to -right and justice, whose flags of truce are never raised _ostensibly_ to -insure protection, but _really_ to intimidate the weak and defenceless, -who dared to stand up for the God-given rights to home and country. - -Pow-e-shiek made preparations to return to his lodge, and we, boy-like, -followed him out of the cabin door, and while he was saying good-by he -espied a fine large dog that we had, named Van, though the name did not -indicate our politics. Pow-e-shiek proposed to trade a pony for "old Van," -and we were pleased at first, because we thought the pony would do to ride -after the "breaking team" of dewy mornings in the spring. But when we -learned that "Van" was wanted by the chief to furnish the most substantial -part of a feast for his people, we demurred. "Old Van," too, seemed to -understand the base use to which he was to be put, and reproached us with -sullen side-looks; and the trade was abandoned, and would have been -forgotten only that Van was ever afterward maddened at the sight of -Pow-e-shiek or any of his race. - -The winter passed, and our red neighbors had kept their promise, for -although neither the granary nor any other building was ever locked, -nothing had been missed, and our mutual regard seemed stronger than when -the acquaintance was renewed. When spring had fully come, Pow-e-shiek, -punctual to his promise, broke up his camp and went away. - -[Illustration: BULL-DOG TRADE.] - -Occasionally, for years afterwards, his people came back to visit; but _he -no more_. - -Years have passed, and he has joined the great throng in the happy -hunting-grounds. - -When the gold fever was at its height, in 1850, in company with others I -journeyed overland to the new Eldorado. While en route, we heard much of -Indians, of their butcheries and cruelties; I think there was good -foundation for the stories. Indeed, we saw so many evidences of their -handiwork, in new-made graves and abandoned wagons demolished, that there -could be no reasonable doubt of their savage treatment of those who came -within their power. - -While _I do not now, never have, and never will attempt to justify their -butcheries, yet it is but fair that both sides of the story be told_. - -When our party was at "Independence Rock," in 1850, and no Indians had -disturbed the passing travellers, near where we were then, we "laid over" -a day, and within the time a man came into camp and boasted that he had -"knocked over a _buck_ at a distance of a hundred yards," and when the -query was made as to the whereabouts of his game he produced a _bloody -scalp_. He gave as an excuse that the Indians had frightened an antelope -he was trying to kill, and that he shot the Indian while the latter was -endeavoring to get away. Is it unreasonable to suppose that the friends of -the murdered Indian, when he came not to the lodge at nightfall, would -hunt him up, and that, when his brother or friend saw his scalpless head, -he should avow to avenge his death? - -Doubtless he did avenge both himself and his tribe, and he may have slain -many innocent persons in retaliation for this foul deed. - -As to the cause of the Indian troubles on the Humbolt river, during the -summer of 1850, I know nothing. Probably they originated in some lawless -act similar to the one above described. In September following I loaned a -rifle to a miner who was going out on a prospecting tour. On his return he -proposed to buy it, saying that "it was a good one, he knew, because he -tried it on an Indian, shooting from one bluff to another; and," said this -civilized white man, "I dropped him into the river, and he went where all -good Injuns go." - -Later in the season two friendly Indians came into the town of "Bidwell's -Bar," and, although no evidence was produced against them, they were -arrested on "general principles," it was said; and while threats were made -of hanging them on "general principles" too, _better_ counsels prevailed, -and they were placed in charge of a guard, who were to convey them to -"Long's Bar," and turn them over to the sheriff to be held for trial. - -_The guard returned in a short time, and reported that the prisoners had -"slipped down a bank and were drowned."_ It was, however, understood that -they were killed by the guard "to save expense." Following this accident -several white men were murdered by Indians, it was said, although the -murdered men, it was evident, had met death through _other instrumentality -than bows and arrows_. - -A company was raised to go out and punish the offenders. On their return -they reported grand success in finding Indian rancheros, and in the -wholesale butchery they had committed. Do you wonder that twenty or thirty -white men were _riddled with arrows within a short time, after such manly -conduct, by the brave butchers of Indian women and children_? - -I have not at hand the data from which to mention in detail the various -Indian wars that harassed the miners of California. Suffice it that they -were of frequent occurrence, and, indeed, continued until the mountain -bands of Indians were broken up. If the truth could be heard from the lips -of both the living and the dead, we should hear many things _unpleasant to -the ears of white men_ as well as Indians, and, perhaps, discreditable to -both. I doubt not such revelation would support the declaration I here -make,--that _bad white men_ have always been the instigators of the bloody -deeds through which so many innocent persons have passed on to the other -life. - -The proofs are not wanting in almost every instance in support of this -statement. That the Indian is vindictive, is true; that he is brave, -cunning, and inhuman to his enemies is also true; but that he is faithful -to his compacts, whenever fairly dealt with, is _not less true_. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - - INDIANS AND MINERS. - - - WALLA-WALLA, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, - - February 4th, 1863. - - DEAR BROTHER (_Suisun City, Cal._):-- - -I have found a good country and more business than I can manage alone; -come and help me. Better leave your family until you can see for yourself. -You may not like it, though I do. Money is plenty, everything new, and -prices keyed up to old "forty-nine" times. - - Your brother, - - H. J. MEACHAM. - - LEE'S ENCAMPMENT, FIFTY MILES SOUTH OF WALLA-WALLA, - ON TOP OF BLUE MOUNTAIN, March 6, 1863. - - MY DEAR WIFE (_Suisun, Cal._):-- - -"Eureka." Come; I am camping in four feet of snow, and cooking meals in a -frying-pan, and charging a dollar; selling "slap jacks" two bits each; -oats and barley at twelve cents, and hay at ten cents per pound, and other -things at same kind of prices; can't supply the demand. Go to William -Booth, San Francisco, and tell him to ship you and the children with the -goods, to Walla-Walla, Washington Territory, via Portland, Oregon, care -Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express. - - A. B. MEACHAM. - -These two letters are copied here, to carry the reader and the writer over -a period of twelve years, leaving behind whatever may have transpired of -interest to the work now in hand, to be taken up on some other page, in -proper connection with kindred subjects of later date. - -Lee's Encampment is located near the summit of the Blue Mountains in -Oregon, on the great highway leading from the Columbia river to the rich -gold fields of Idaho and Eastern Oregon. It is fifty miles south of -Walla-Walla, and is also one of the out-boundaries of the Umatilla Indian -Reservation, occupied by the Walla-Walla, Cayuse and Umatilla Indians. - -The roads leading out from the several starting-points on the Columbia -river, to the mines above-mentioned, converge on the Reservation, and, -climbing the mountain's brow, on the old "Emigrant trail," cross over to -Grand Round valley. - -During the spring of 1863, the great tide of miners that flowed inland, to -reach the new gold fields, necessarily passed through the Reservation, and -thence via Lee's Encampment. This circumstance of location gave abundant -opportunity for observation by the writer. Of those who sought fortunes in -the mines, I might write many chapters descriptive of the motley crowds of -every shade of color and of character, forming episodes and thrilling -adventures. But my purpose in this work would not be subserved by doing -so, except such as have bearing on the subject-matter under consideration. - -Of the thousands who landed at Umatilla City and Walla-Walla, en route to -the "upper country," few brought means of transportation overland. There -were no stages, no railroads; and what though Haley & Ish, Stephen Taylor, -and many others, advertised "saddle trains to leave for the mines every -day of the week, at reasonable rates," which were, say, sixty dollars, on -ponies that cost perhaps forty dollars; yet there were hundreds that could -not get tickets even at those rates. The few who engaged _reserved seats_ -were started off on saddle-horses of various grades, under the charge of a -"conductor," whose principal duty was, not to collect fares, but to herd -the kitchen mules,--every train had with it one or more animals on whose -back the supplies and blankets were carried,--and indicate the camping -places by pulling the ropes that loosed the aforesaid kitchens and -blankets, when, like other trains, at the pull of the rope, the whole -would stop, and not be startled into unnecessary haste by "twenty minutes -for dinner" sounded in their ears. One or more nights the camp would be on -the Reservation, thus bringing travellers and Indians in contact. - -I have said that many could not get places, even on the backs of mules, or -Cayuse ponies. Such were compelled to take "Walkers' line," go on foot and -carry blankets and "grub" on their backs. The second night out would find -them also on the Reservation, and those who had the wherewith, purchased -horses of the Indians; some, perhaps, without consulting the owners. Not -stealing them! No. A white man would not do so mean a thing; but ropes are -suspicious things when found in the pack of one of "Walker's" passengers, -and if a pony was fool enough to run his head into a noose, the handiest -way to get clear of him was to exchange with some other man of similar -misfortune, and then it was not stealing in the eyes of honest white men. - -If the Indian missed his property, and, hunting along the line, found him -under a white man, you might suppose he could recover his horse. Not so, -my lord! Not so. The white man had proof that he had bought him of some -other man, may be an Indian. Such was sometimes the case, for I do not -believe that all men are honest, white or red; and these red men were not -behind the white in sharp practice; and it is safe to say, that those of -whom I am writing now were peers of those who sought to outwit, them. - -The horses of saddle trains would sometimes "stray away,"--often those of -freighters,--and, since time was money, and strangers might not understand -the "range," the Indians were employed to hunt for the straying animals, -and paid liberally if they succeeded; and thus it _made the stock of other -trains restless_, _and often they_ would run away--and so the business -increased, and the Indians grew wealthier, notwithstanding their own -sometimes followed off a rope in the hands of white men. - -The road, along which this stream of miners poured, left the valley of -Umatilla on the Reservation, leading up the mountains. Near the foot of -the hill, but with a deep ravine or gulch intervening, and on another -hill,--part really of the valley, though sloping toward the former,--was -The "Trading Post,"--Indian's sutler store. 'Twas here that saddle trains -and "Walker's line," halted for the night, or "to noon" and rest, after -travelling a fourteen-mile "stretch." - -The "Walker" passengers were already worn out, with heavy packs of picks -and pans, bottles and blankets. The situation of the post, with reference -to the mountain, was to an observer like standing on the sloping roof of -one house and measuring the "pitch" of the one adjoining, making it seem -much steeper than it really is. So with this mountain. True, it required a -broad upward sweep of vision to take in the height. On the first bench, -one mile above, the trains and men seemed to be transformed into dogs and -boys. On the second bench, two miles up, they looked still smaller. On the -third, three miles up, they very closely resembled Punch and Judy driving -a team of poodles. The Indians found here a market for their horses, and -sometimes did a livery business, in Indian style. - -A stalwart son of Erin, standing against the wall of the store to "rest -his pack," after looking at the trail leading up the mountain, said to the -merchant doing business there, "I say, misther, is it up that hill we go?" -Hearing an affirmative answer, he looked again at each bench, his brow -growing darker the higher his eye went; at length he gave vent to his -estimate of the undertaking by saying, "By the howly St. Patrick, if me -own mother was here in the shape of a mule, I'd ride her up that hill, -sure! I say, Misther Injun, wouldn't you sell us a bit of a pony for to -carry our blankets an' things over the mountain with?" - -The Indian had been in business long enough to understand that, and -replied, "Now-wit-ka mi-ka pot-luetch. Chic-a, mon, ni-ka is-cum, -cu-i-tan!"--"Och! Mister Injun, don't be makin' fun of a fellow, -now, will ye? It's very sore me feet is, a-carrying me pick and -pan and cooking-traps. Why don't you talk like a dacent American -gentleman?"--"Wake-ic-ta-cum-tux," said Tip-tip-a-noor, the Indian. "Don't -be playin' your dirty tongue on me now, or I'll spoil your beautiful face -so I will." - -Drawing his arms out of the straps that had kept the pack in position on -his shoulders, and lowering it "aisy," to save the bottle, he began to -make demonstrations of hostile character, when Mr. Flippin, the -post-trader, explained that Tip-tip-a-noos had replied to his first -request, "Yes, you show the money, and I will furnish the horse;" and he -had replied to the second, "I don't understand you."--"And is that all he -says? Shure, he is a nice man, so he is. Shan't I swaten his mouth wid a -dhrop from me bottle?"--"No," says Flip., "that won't do."--"Away wid yees; -shure, this is a free counthry, and can't a man do as he plases with his -own?"--"Not much," replied Flip. "I say now, Mike, will you join me in the -byin' of a bit of a pony for to carry our blankets and things?" - -The man addressed as Mike assented to the proposal, and soon -Tip-tip-a-noos brought a small pinto calico-colored horse; and after some -dickering the trade was completed by Pat, through pantomimic signs, giving -Tip to understand, that if he would follow down into the gulch, out of -sight of Flip., he would give him a bottle of whiskey, in addition to the -twenty dollars. - -The pony was turned over to Pat and Mike. The next move was to adjust the -packs on the Cayuse. This was not easily done. First, because the pony did -not understand Pat's jargon; second, they had not reckoned on the absence -of a pack-saddle. Flip., always ready to accommodate the travelling -public, for a consideration, brought an old cross-tree pack-saddle, and -then the lash-ropes,--ropes to bind the load to the saddle. Pat approached -the pony with outstretched hands, saying pretty things in Irish brogue; -while Mike, to make sure that the horse should not escape, had made it -fast to his waist with a rope holding back, while Pat went forward, so -that at the precise moment the latter had reached the pony's nose, he -reared up, and, striking forward, gave Pat a blow with his fore-foot, -knocking him down. Seeming to anticipate the Irishman's coming wrath, he -whirled so quick that Mike lost his balance and went down, shouting, -"Sthop us, sthop us; we are running away!" Pat recovered his feet in time -to jump on the prostrate form of Mike, going along horizontally, at a -furious gait, close to the pony's heels. The Cayuse slackened his speed -and finally stopped, but not until Mike had lost more or less of clothing, -and the "pelt" from his rosy face. - -When the two Irishmen were once more on foot, and both holding to the -rope, now detached from Mike's waist at one end, and buried into the -wheezing neck of the Cayuse at the other, a scene occurred that Bierstadt -should have had for a subject. I don't believe I can do it justice, and -yet I desire my readers to see it, since the renowned painter -above-mentioned, was not present to represent it on canvas. - -Think of two bloody-nosed Irish lads holding the pony, while he was -pulling back until his haunches almost touched the ground, wheezing for -breath, occasionally jumping forward to slacken the rope around his neck, -and each time letting Pat and Mike fall suddenly to the ground, swearing -in good Irish style at the "spalpeen of a brute" that had no better -manners, while Mr. Indian was laughing as he would have done his -crying,--away down in his heart. Flip., and _others_ looking on, were -doing as near justice to the occasion as possible, by laughing -old-fashioned horse-laughs, increasing with each speech from Pat or Mike. - -Occasionally, when the Cayuse would suddenly turn his heels, and fight in -pony style, Pat would roar out Irish, while the horse would compel them to -follow him, each with body and limbs at an angle of forty-five degrees, -until his horseship would turn again, and then they were on a horizontal -awhile. Securing him to a post, Pat said, "Now, be jabers, we've got him." -After slipping a shirt partly over his head, to "blind" him, they proceed -to sinche--fasten--the pack-saddle on him, and then the two packs. When -all was lashed fast, and a hak-i-more--rope halter--was on his nose, they -untied him from the post, and proposed to travel, but Cayuse did not -budge. Mike pulled and tugged at the halter, while Pat called him pretty -names, and, with outspread hands, as though he was herding geese, stamping -his foot, coaxed pony to start. No use. Flip. suggested a sharp stick. Pat -went for his cane, like a man who had been suddenly endowed with a bright -idea. After whittling the end to a point, he applied it to the pony. - -The next speech that Irishman made was while in half-bent position. With -one hand on the side of his head, he anxiously addressed Tip. "Meester -Injun, is me ear gone--Meester Injun, what time of night is it now? I say, -Meester Injun, where now is the spalpeen of a pony?" - -Mike had let go of the rope soon after Pat applied the sharp stick, and -was following the retreating blankets and bottles, ejaculating, "The -beautiful whiskey! The beautiful whiskey!" - -When Pat's eyes were clear enough, Meester Injun, without a smile, pointed -to the valley below, where frying pans and miners tools were performing a -small circus, much to the amusement of a band of Cayuse horses, who were -following Pat's pony with considerable interest. - -I don't think the goods, or the whiskey either, were ever recovered by Pat -and Mike, but I have an idea that "Tip-tip-a-noor" had a big dance, and -slept warm under the blankets, and possibly a big drunk. - -Of course, reader, you do not blame Irishmen for their opposition to "The -Humane Policy of the Government." - -The Indian, however, if detected in unlawful acts, was sure of punishment -under the law, no matter though he may have been incited to the deed by -whiskey he had bought of white men, who vended it in violation of law. -This commerce in whiskey was carried on extensively, notwithstanding the -efforts of a very efficient agent to prevent it. - -Men have started out on "Walker's line," carrying their blankets, and in a -day or two they would be well mounted, without resorting to a "rope" or -money to purchase with, and obtain the horses honestly too; that is to -say, when they practised self-denial, and did not empty the bottles they -had concealed in their packs. One bottle of whiskey would persuade an -Indian to dismount, and allow the sore-footed, honest miner, who carried -the bottle, to ride, no matter though the horse may have belonged to -other parties. I have heard men boast that they were "riding a bottle," -meaning the horse that bore them along had cost that sum. - -Such things were common, and could not be prevented. Young "Black Hawk" -learned how to speak English, and make brick, and various other arts, -through the kindness of the Superintendent of the State's Prison. These -things he might never have known, but for the foresight of some fellow who -disliked the fare on "Walker's" line. - -The question is asked, "What was the agent doing?" He was doing his duty -as well as he could, with the limited powers he possessed. But when he -sought to arrest the white men who were violators of the laws of the -United States, he was always met with the common prejudices against Indian -testimony, and found himself defeated. But, when he was appealed to for -protection against Indian depredations, he found sympathy and support, and -few instances occurred where guilty Indians escaped just punishment. - -I knew the agent well, and doubted not his sense of justice in his efforts -to maintain peace.--If he did not mete out even-handed justice in all -matters of dispute between white men and Indians, the fault was not his, -but rather that of public sentiment. When colored men were "niggers," the -Indian "had no rights that white men were bound to respect." - -He who proclaimed against the unjust administration of law so unfavorable -to the Indians, in courts where white men and Indians were parties, was -denounced as a fanatical sentimentalist, and placed in the same category -with "Wendell Phillips" and "Old John Brown," whose names, in former -times, were used to deride and frighten honest-thinking people from the -expression of sentiments of justice and right. - -I wish here to record that, although we did a large amount of business -with white men and Indians, we never had occasion to complain of the -latter for stealing, running off stock, or failing to perform, according -to agreement, to the letter, even in matters left to their own sense of -honor. - -On one occasion, "Cascas," a Reservation Indian, who was under contract to -deliver, once in ten days, at Lee's Encampment, ten head of yearlings, of -specified size and quality, as per sample, at the time of making the -bargain, brought nine of the kind agreed upon and one inferior animal. -Before driving them into the corral, he rode up to the house, and calling -me, pointed to the small yearling, saying that was "no good;" that he -could not find "good ones" enough that morning to fill the contract, but -if I would let the "Ten-as-moose-moose"--small steer--go in, next time, he -would drive up a "Hi-as-moose-moose"--big steer--in place of an ordinary -yearling. If I was unwilling to take the small one, he would drive him -back, and bring one that would be up to the standard. - -I assented to the first proposition. Faithful to the promise, he made up -the deficiency with a larger animal next time, and even then made it good. - -Another circumstance occurred which asserted the honesty of these Indians. -After we had corralled a small lot of cows purchased from them, one -escaped and returned to the Indian band of cattle, from which she had -been driven. Three or four years after, we were notified by the owner of -the band that we had four head of cattle with his herd. True, it was but -simple honesty, and no more than any honest man would have done; but there -are so many who would have marked and branded the calves of that little -herd, in their own interest, that I felt it worthy of mention here to the -credit of a people who have few friends to speak in their behalf. -Notwithstanding their lives furnish many evidences of high and honorable -character, yet they, very much like white men, exhibit many varieties. - -In pressing need for a supply of beef for hotel use, I called on -"Tin-tin-mit-si," once chief of the Walla-Wallas (a man of extraordinary -shrewdness, and possessed of great wealth, probably thirty thousand -dollars in stock and money), to make a purchase. He, silently, half in -pantomime, ordered his horse, that he might accompany me to the herds. -Taking with us his son-in-law, John McBerne, as interpreter, we soon found -one animal that would answer our purpose. The keen-eyed old chief, with -his blanket drawn over his head, faced about, and said, "How much that cow -weigh?"--"About four hundred and fifty pounds," I answered. "How much you -charge for a dinner?"--"One dollar," I responded. "How much a white man -eat?" said "Tin-tin-mit-si." I read his mind, and knew that he was -thinking how to take advantage of my necessity, and, also, that he was not -accustomed to the white man's dinner. I replied, "Sometimes one -pound."--"All right," quoth Indian; "you pay me four hundred dollars, then -what is over will pay you for cooking."--"But who will pay me for the -coffee, sugar, butter, potatoes, eggs, cheese, and other things?" I -replied. - -While Johnny was repeating this speech the old chief moved up closer, and -let his blanket slip off his ears, and demanded a repetition of the -varieties composing a Christian dinner; and, while this was being done, he -looked first at the interpreter, then at me, and said, in a surly, dry -tone, "No wonder a white man is a fool, if he eat all those things at -once; an Indian would be satisfied with beef alone." - -After some mathematical calculations had been explained, he agreed to -accept forty-five dollars, a good, round price for the cow. And I drove -away the beast, while "Tin-tin-mit-si" returned to his lodge to bury the -money I had paid him along with several thousand dollars he had saved for -his sons-in-law to quarrel over; for the old chief soon after sent for his -favorite horse to be tied near the door of his lodge, ready to accompany -him to the happy hunting-grounds, where, according to Indian theology, he -has been telling his father of the strange people he had seen. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - - DIAMOND-CUT-DIAMOND. - - -It was understood, in the treaty stipulation with the Government and these -people, that they were to have the privilege of hunting and grazing stock -in common with citizens on the public domain. In the exercise of this -right, they made annual journeys to Grand Round and other valleys, east of -the Blue mountains, driving before them, on these journeys, their horses. -They were often thus brought in contact with white settlers, and sometimes -difficulties occurred, growing, generally, out of the sale of intoxicating -liquors to them by unprincipled white men. - -Indians are not better than white men, and, when drunk, they exhibit the -meaner and baser qualities of their nature as completely as a white man. -Deliver us from either, but of the two, an intoxicated white man has the -advantage; he is not held responsible to law. The Indian has one privilege -the civilized white brother is not supposed to enjoy. He can abuse his -family, and as long as he is sober enough can whip his squaw; but woe be -to him when he gets past fighting, for then the squaw embraces the -opportunity of beating him in turn, and calls on other squaws to assist in -punishing her lord for past as well as present offences. - -The chiefs generally watch over their men, to prevent the purchase of -liquor by them. "Homli," chief of the Walla-Wallas, sometimes punished -his braves in a summary manner for getting drunk, using a horsewhip in the -public streets. However worthy the example, I believe that it was not -often followed by others of either race. - -The annual visits of which I have spoken occurred in the latter part of -June, when the mountain sides of Grand Round valley were offering tempting -inducements in fields of huckleberries. The valley, too,--where not -enclosed and turned to better use,--was blooming with Indian -"muck-a-muck," a sweet, nutritious root called ca-mas, with which the -Indian women filled baskets and sacks, in which to carry it to their homes -for winter use. - -The beautiful river of Grand Round was inviting the red men to war against -the shining trout and salmon, that made yearly pilgrimage to greater -altitudes and cooler shades, there to woo and mate, and thus to people the -upper waters with finny children, who would, in time of autumn leaves, go -to the great river below, and come again when mountain snows, now changed -to foaming torrents, hastened to the river's mouth, and tempting salmon -flies had come from their hiding places, and swarmed on bush and bank, to -lure the fish onward and upward, or beguile them to the fisher's net, or -hidden spear, if, perchance, they were warned away from angler's line, or -escaped the lightning arrow of Indian boys. - -Then, too, this beautiful garden of the mountains wore its brightest hues -on plain and sloping hills and cultured field. The farmers were idle then, -and often went to join the red men in racing horses, and chasing each -other in mimic wars. Sometimes the two would engage in trades of wild -Cayuses (Indian horses), teaching each other how to tame these fiery -steeds. Great circus shows were these, in which the red man might for once -laugh at the white man's clumsy imitations of red men's daily recreations. - -Again, the red man had sweet revenge for sharper practice which he had -felt at the hands of his white brother. Selecting some ill-natured beast, -whose tricks he well knew, he would offer him at a price so low, that some -white man who was tired of going to his neighbors for a ride, or had a -hopeful son anxious to imitate little Indian boys in feats of -horsemanship, would purchase him. Then fun began, to witness which the -town sometimes turned out. The colt, unused to civilized bit or spur, -would, like his former owner, show contempt for burdens he was not made to -bear without "bucking." When, with bridle and saddle, and rider, all new, -surrounded by scenes unlike his coltship's haunts, he was called upon to -forward move, he would stand as if turned to marble, until by persuasion -of whip and spur he'd change his mind. Then, with a snort, a bound, or -upward motion of his back, his nostrils buried in the dust, he'd whirl and -whirl until the rider dizzy grew, of which circumstance he seemed aware, -when, with all his power brought into quick use, he sent the rider in -mid-air or overhead, and straightway bent each bound toward his former -home, followed by loud shouts of laughter, made up of voices joined of -every kind and age, except perhaps that of the disgusted father--who had -sundry dollars invested in furniture on the runaway's back--and the crying -boy in the dust. - -The chances against the new owner's boy ever "putting on much style" on -that pony were not very numerous. Fearing as much, the next proposition -was to sell the pony back to "Mr. Injun" at a heavy discount; which was -done much against the wishes of the dethroned boy, whose aspirations for -western honor were thereby "nipped in the bud." - -A lawyer of "La Grande," celebrated for his shrewdness in business -generally, and who was the father of several enterprising sons, made an -investment in Cayuse stock, for the benefit of the aforesaid boys, and -fearing that he, too, might go in mourning over the money thus spent, in -fatherly tenderness determined that he himself would ride the pony first. - -The horse was saddled, and led by a long rope to the office door. The -lawyer said, "Now, Charley, I'll fool that pony, sure. I'm little, you -know, and he'll think I'm a boy." The rope was made fast to an -awning-post, and then, in presence of a hopeful audience, he mounted -slowly, though in full lawyer's dress, a bell-crowned "plug" (hat) -included. When softly springing in the stirrups, to assure himself all was -right, and confident that his "nag" was there, subject to his will, he -essayed to display his horsemanship. But pony was not ready then. The -lawyer called for whip and spurs, and without dismounting they were -furnished, and while holding out his foot to have the spur put on, -remarked that "he did not half like the white of the pony's eye. But, boys, -I'll stick while the saddle does." With sober face and eye fixed on the -ears in front, he coaxed again, and with soft speech sought to change the -pony's mind. But he was not ready now, until he felt the rowel stick into -his sides, and then away went horse and rider together, to the end of the -rope, where the pony stopped, though the lawyer did not, until his head -had struck the crown of his hat; and not then even, but, going at a -furious rate, the lawyer, hat, and torn trowsers had landed all in a heap -on the other side of the street; the awning-post gave way, and the -lawyer's Cayuse went off, with a small part of the town following him. - -The language used by him on this occasion consisted not of quotations from -Blackstone, or the Bible either, unless in detached words put strangely in -shape to answer immediate use. It is not safe to say anything about -fooling ponies, in court or elsewhere, in the town of La Grande, unless -the speaker wants war. That lawyer, although a stanch Republican, and -liable to be a candidate for Congress, is strongly opposed to President -Grant's peace policy with Indians,--the Umatilla Indians in particular. - -To say that Chief Homli and his tribe enjoyed little episodes, growing out -of horse-trading with the citizens of La Grande, is too gentle and soft a -way of telling the truth, and have it well understood, unless we add the -westernism "hugely." - -These visits had other beneficial results than those growing out of trade, -since they extended over the Fourth of July, when all the people of the -valley came together to celebrate the "nation's birthday," when, with fife -and drum, the country-folks would join with those in town, who "marched up -a street and then marched down again," to the willow-covered stand, where -readers and orators would rehearse, one, the history of the "Declaration," -the other, repeat some great man's speech. - -The tables groaned beneath the loads of viands, spread by gentle women's -hands. The reader and the orator of the day would take positions at either -end, and the meek chaplain in between, while the bashful country boys -would lead up their girls, until the table had been filled. Homli and his -people, dressed in Fourth-of-July regalias, would look on from respectful -distance, and wonder what the reader meant, when he said, "All men are -born free and equal," and wondered more to hear a wicked orator protest -that the "flag above was no longer a flaunting lie." The Indians were then -serving in the house of a foolish old man, named Esau. When fair lips -refused longer to taste, and manly breast was filled too full for -utterance, Homli and his people were invited to partake. Some of his -people accepted the gift of the remnants; but he, Homli, never. - -In the absence of better pastime, the crowd would come again to the grand -stand, to give opportunity for disappointed spouters to ventilate pent-up -patriotism. Homli, too, made a speech, and with keen rebuke referred to -days gone by, when white men had come to his lodge, and craved his -hospitality; how his women had culled their berry-baskets to find -something worthy of the white man's taste, and how the finest trout had -been offered in proof of friendship for the stranger guest, and boasted -that he had given the finest horses of his band to help the stranger on, -and sent an escort of trusty braves to direct him over all doubtful -trails. He boasted, too, that no white man's blood had ever stained his -hand, even when he was strong, and they were weak; then, with well-made -gesture, pointed to the valley, once all his own, and covered with -antelope and feathery tribes. No houses, fields, or barns marred then the -beautiful valley of the mountain. Turning half around, he gazed at people -and town, and sadly motioned to the mountain-sides, robbed of fir and -pine, and seemed to drink in, what, to him, was desolation made complete. -With eye half closed, he mused a moment, and then broke forth like some -brave soul that had mastered self, and was reconciled to the inexorable -destiny that his mind had seen in store, declared that he would be a man -himself, with white man's heart, and that his people would yet join with -pride in the coming celebrations. - -The triumph of civil hopes over savage mind was complete, and when the -change was realized by the lookers-on, they gathered round the chieftain, -and gave him welcome to a brotherhood born of a nation's struggles to -redeem mankind, when the white men were few and Homli's people numerous as -the stars that looked down on the rivers of this beautiful land. Who shall -remember the mild reproof of Homli, when he, under the humane and -enlightened policy of the Government, shall have made good this -declaration to be a white man in heart and practice? - -Little things sometimes move in harmony until they unite, and make up an -aggregate of causes, whose combined power becomes irresistible for good or -ill to peoples, tribes, and nations. - -The chieftain of whom I write had, at various times, felt the thongs that -bound him to his savage habits loosening, little by little, until at last, -under the influence of the patriotic joy of freemen, he himself had -stepped from under a shadow that was once a benison, but had now, because -of his enlightenment, become a barrier to his happiness. - -The change was real, and the heart that had come laden with reproach to -his neighbor, and felt the sting of slighted manhood, now exulted in the -recognition he had found in the sunshine of American Independence, and the -warm hands of freedom's sons, who bade him welcome to a better life. - -No human brain can correctly measure the influence of such events. Homli, -as I have said, was a chief of the Walla-Wallas, who, in conjunction with -the Umatillas and Cayuses, occupied the reservation spoken of as -"Umatilla" (horse-heaven), it being the original home of the tribe bearing -that name. In 1856, the three tribes above named united in treaty council -with the Government, represented by the lamented J. I. Stevens and General -Joel Palmer. - -This treaty was conducted with firmness and on principles of justice, the -Indians having, in this instance at least, half "the say." By the terms -agreed upon, a portion of country was reserved by the three tribes for a -permanent home, to be held jointly by them. It is located on one of the -tributaries of the Columbia, known as the Umatilla river. The -out-boundaries measured one hundred and three miles, covering a country -possessing many natural advantages, conducive to Indian life, and of great -value in the transfer of these people from a barbarous to a civilized -condition. - -Its surface is diversified with rich prairie lands, producing an excellent -quality of bunch grass,--so called because of its growing in -tussocks,--covering not more than half the surface of the round, the -remainder being entirely devoid of vegetation, very nutritious and well -adapted to grazing. - -The mountains are partly covered with forests of pine and fir, valuable -for commercial and building purposes. The streams are rapid, with bold -shores, abounding in latent power, waiting for the time when labor and -capital shall harness its cataracts to machinery, whose music will denote -the transformation process going on in the forest of the mountain; the -fleeces from the plain, and in the cereals they contain, in embryo, for -better use than shading herds of cattle and Indian horses, or its fleeces -made traffic for traders and shippers, who enrich themselves by taking -them in bulk and returning in manufactured exchanges; or for its fields to -lie dormant and idle, while commerce invites and starving people clamor -for bread they might be made to yield. - -True, its almost unbroken wilderness, echoing the call of cougar or cayote -(ki-o-te); its tall grass plains, tangled and trembling with the tread of -twenty thousand horses; its valleys decked with carpets of gorgeous -flowers,--fit patterns for the costumes of those who dance thereon,--or -speckled with baby farms, belonging to red-skinned ploughmen, or shaded by -the smoke of council wigwams; its waters sometimes shouting, as if in -pain, while hurrying headlong against the rock, or, laughing beneath the -balm-wood trees at the gambols of its own people, or, divided into an -hundred streams, go rushing on, still playing mirror for the smiling faces -of the youths, whose hearts and actions take pattern after its own -freedom; true, indeed, that this lovely spot of earth seems to have been -the special handiwork of the Almighty, who had withheld from other labors -the choicest gems of beauty, that he might make a paradise, where youth -could keep pace with passing years, until the change of happy -hunting-grounds should be noted only by the wail of weeping widows, or -sighs of sorrowing orphans. - -'Twas to this Indian paradise that Homli returned from his summer visit, -his heart laden with new feelings of pride; for he had been recognized as -a man. If he did not then begin to enjoy the realization of his hopes, -there were reasons why he did not that few have understood. - -Born to a wild, free life, possessed of a country such as few over enjoy, -with a channel of commerce traversing his home; brought in constant -contact with white men, some of whom, at least, he found to be soulless -adventurers, ever ready to take advantage of his ignorance of trade; -confused and bewildered by the diversity of opinions on political and -religious subjects; witnessing the living falsehood of much of civilized -life; but half understanding the ambitions of his "new heart," or the -privilege he was entitled to; with the romance of his native education in -matters of religion, its practical utility to satisfy his longings that -reached into the future, or to meet the demands of conscience, where duty -led him, or anger at insult drove him; the performance of its ceremonies, -connecting social with religious rites,--added to these the power that his -red brethren who were yet untouched by the finger of destiny, and were -luxuriating in idle, careless life, enhanced by the sight of the hardened -hands and sweating brows of those who sought to find admission to circles -where labor insures reward; confused when witnessing the enforcement of -laws "that are supposed to be uniform in operation," by the outrageous -partiality shown; treated with coldness and distrust, because of his -color; envied of his possessions, to which he had an inalienable right, by -deed from God, and confirmed by the government of the United States; -compelled to hear the constant coveting of others for it, and to hear -government denounced because it did not rob him of his home; to see -distrust in every action toward him; his manhood ignored, or crushed by -cruel power; his faith shaken; treated as an alien, even in his -birthplace; taunted with the threat that when he planted his feet on -higher plains, he should be crowded off, or forced to stand tottering on -the brink; his fears aroused by the threats he overheard of being finally -driven away; of speculations on the future towns that should spring up -over the graves of his fathers, when he was not there to defend -them,--added to all these discouragements the oppressions of his would-be -teachers, in moral ethics and religion; demanding his attendance on -ceremonies that were intangible, incomprehensible, to his mind, made more -unbearable by the tyranny of his red brethren, growing out of their -recognition of church-membership, and the consequent arrogance, even -contempt, with which they spoke of his religious habits and ceremonies; -unable to reconcile the practices of these people with the precepts of -their priest; ostracised from those, who, while untouched by the hand of -Christianity, had mingled voice and prayer with him in wilder worship; -finding friends among white men, whose hearts were true, but who, instead -of soothing his troubled feelings by patiently teaching him charity and -liberal-minded views touching matters of religious practice of his -Catholic friends and their ministers, would pile the fagots on the burning -altar 'twixt him and them, increasing distrust, making the breach wider, -thus becoming alienated from the other chiefs, How-lish-wam-po, of Cayuse, -and We-nap-snoot, of the Umatillas, and those of their tribes who had been -led, by ministrations of priest and chief, to the solemn masses of the -church: if then Homli failed to be a "white man" in heart, on whom does -the responsibility rest? - -I have not dealt in fiction, but have stated the circumstance plainly, the -truth of which will not be questioned by those whose personal knowledge -qualifies them for passing judgment, unless, indeed, it be those whose -minds have been trained to run in narrow, bigoted grooves, whose hearts -have never felt the warming influences of the high and pure love for truth -that characterizes a noble Christian manhood, and whose measure of right -is made by the petty and selfish interest of himself, who, with the -judgment of a truckling demagogue, barks for pay in popular applause or -political reward. - -For the present, I leave my readers to chide Homli for his failure, if, -indeed, they can, with the facts before them. As to the responsibility, I -shall discuss the subject fully and fearlessly on some future page of this -work, where the argument for and against the several "policies" may be -made and applied in a general way in the consideration of the subject of -"Indian civilization." - - - - - CHAPTER V. - - POLICIES ON TRIAL--"ONEATTA." - - -In the fall of 1866, the "Oregon Delegation," in Washington, proposed the -name of the author of this book for appointment as Superintendent of -Indian Affairs in Oregon. - -President Johnson, on inquiry, learned that he was not a "Johnson man," -and, of course, refused to make the nomination. - -The recommendation of the author's name was made without his solicitation -or knowledge. On the accession of President Grant, the recommendation was -renewed, the nomination was made and confirmed by the Senate of the United -States; bonds filed, oaths of office administered, and notice given to my -predecessor; and on the 1st of May, 1869, I assumed the duties of the -office indicated. - -The new administration had the Indian question in transit, between three -policies: The old way, "_Civil Service_," "_The War Department Policy_," -and General Grant's "_Quaker Policy_." - -With good intention, doubtless, the several policies were put on trial. - -Oregon superintendency and all its agencies were assigned to the tender -care of the War Department policy, and I was ordered to turn over my -office to an officer of the army, even before I had performed an -important official duty. Remonstrance was made by the people of Oregon -against the change. - -A compromise was effected. I was retained as Superintendent, and Hon. Ben. -Simpson, Agent at Siletz, and Capt. Charles Lafollette, Agent at Grand -Round also of the civil service policy. The remainder of the agencies were -assigned to officers of the army. This mixing up of elements was somewhat -embarrassing for a time. - -I began again my official duties. From the records in the Superintendent's -Office, Salem, Oregon, I learned the location and something of the -condition of the several agencies under my charge. - -"_The Coast Reservation_," covering three hundred miles of the Pacific -coast, embraced several stations, or agencies, comprising not more than -one-third the territory within its boundaries. It had never been ceded to -the Government, neither acquired by conquest, but was set apart by an act -of Congress for the benefit of the several tribes of the Willamette -valley. It is partly timbered and generally mountainous. It abounds in -resources suitable to Indian savage life. - -Once this wild region had been peopled with deer and elk, whose plaintive -call had led the cougar to his feast, or quickened the steps of the -huntsman, whose steady nerves enabled him to glide through the tanglewood, -bearing with him images of his children (who, dependent upon his archery, -awaited his return); and of faithful clutchmen (squaws), whose eyes would -kindle at sight of hunter, laden with fruits of the chase, that were to be -food and clothing for her little ones. These forest trees had stood -sentinels, guarding its people, from the gaze of tamer huntsmen, and from -the rough ocean winds that sweep the coast; or, uttering hoarser sounds, -or sighing songs, warning of coming storms, that sometimes beat the -white-winged ship, laden with merchandise, from foreign lands, against the -rocky shore (whose caverns were the refuge of sea-lions), or, echoing back -Pacific's roar, were waiting for the debris from wrecks of stately crafts, -or coming of sea-washed mariners. - -Then, at such perilous times, the peoples of this wild western verge of -continent would, in pure charity, build warning-fires on higher bluffs, at -nightfall, and thus give signals of danger; or, mayhap, they sometimes -built them to decoy, in order to avenge insult (or wrong, real, or -imaginary) of some former seaman, who had repaid them for good will by -treacherous act of larceny of some dusky maiden, or black-eyed boy, or -stalwart warrior, carried away to other lands. - -Tradition's living tongue has furnished foundation for the pictures I have -made. And many times to listening ears the story has been told, changed -only in the name of maiden, or boy, or braves, as date or location gave -truth to the sorrowing tale. - -Living still, on a home set apart by the State, are two chieftains of a -western tribe, whose people tell, in story and in song, how, at a certain -sign of danger to a ship, they went out over the breakers in a hollow-tree -canoe, to meet the white "tyee" of the "great canoe," and in pity for the -poverty of his knowledge of sea line had proffered him shelter in a quiet -nook of land-locked ocean, until such time as the Great Spirit might give -evidence of anger past, by smiling on the boisterous waves that had made -sport of man's puny efforts to control his own going. - -These chieftains, in dainty craft, had won the captain's confidence, and, -by consent of favoring winds and rolling seas, with trust he follows past -lone rocks that stand above the sunken reef, and through the foamy -passage, guarded by "headlands" on either side; past bars, unseen, that -break huge rollers into waves of shorter measure; past, still past, the -homes of fishermen on shore, until at last his sails flapped approval on -the mast, the keel complains of unaccustomed touch, and anchors dropped in -fathoms short to the bed of a bay that gives evidence of welcome, by -sending its sands to surface, speckled with mica or sparkling with grains -of gold. - -Thus the white man's big canoe found rest, and sailors crowded the rail to -give signs of gratitude to the strange, strong-armed pilots. - -The captain let down his stairs, that they might come on deck and exchange -mutual feelings of each heart. On the one hand, that of thankfulness, that -misfortunes make mankind akin, and used such occasions to teach the lion -that the mouse may be his master when circumstances bring his ability into -demand. - -The white man felt gratitude, and made proof of it by loading the red -man's "hollow tree" with rich stores of choice sugars from the islands, -blankets made in colder zones; with clothing that illy fitted the red -man's limbs; with lines, and nets, and hooks, and spears of foreign make, -and with weapons of fiery breath and noisy mouth, that poorly mated the -bow and arrow, though mating good by force of execution the loss in -warning talk. - -The chieftains, too, gave back, with answering hand and smiling face, the -gladness of their hearts that they had found opportunity to serve the -white man. - -When they departed, the "tyee" bade them come _again_. This was a great -day for the chieftain's _household_, when they landed beneath the willow -trees near their e-li-he (home). The women, with great, wondering eyes at -the sight of so many ic-tas (goods), began to unload the "hollow-tree -canoe," and, as each article new to them came in sight, they would wonder -and chatter and try them on, until at last they stood clothed in sailor's -garb, of jacket, pants and shoes. To their camps they came, loaded with -the precious freights, and, coming to their own, the little ones would cry -and run, shouting, "Hal-lu-me, til-li-cum" (strangers); nor would they -trust to their mothers' voices until they had put aside their costumes. - -These chiefs still laugh at the surprise they felt at sight of what they -supposed to be the new-found friends, until the merry cluchmen (women) -shouted, "Cla-hoy-em-six, tyee?" (How do you do, chief?) They quickly rose -from their cougar skin and panther's pelt, caught the bogus sailors, and -quickly robbed them of their borrowed clothes. - -That night, while the sun was going to rest in his bed of flaming billows, -on the ship's deck and on the sand of the red man's floor, happy hearts -bade each "Good-night." The white man was happy now that his home was -gently rocked by flowing tides. The red men, happy with their -til-li-cums, retailing in guttural notes their great adventures, and -dancing the pot-lach dance (giving dance), would stop, and with their -hands divide the prizes won, without thought of shells, or Indian coin, or -white man's chick-a-mon (money). When "to-morrow's sun" had climbed over -the craggy ledges of the coast mountain, and sent out his fiery messengers -to announce his coming, they came to the vessel's deck, and found no -watchman there. They peeped into the forecastle and cabin, and waked the -slumberers up to welcome the new morn begun on the bosom of Ya-quina Bay. - -At the Indian lodge, the soft voice of cluchman, mingling with the murmur -of rippling rills, that from snow-banks high on the mountain side came -hurrying down to quench the thirst of sailor or of savage; maybe, the -briny lips of the sea-monster or salmon fish, that come in to rest from -surging waters and bask awhile in the smooth currents of the bay. - -The chiefs arose and made breakfast on foreign teas and island sugars, and -when in new attire, with cluchman in beads and fine tattoo (an adornment -of savage tribes), with noses pierced by long polished shells, that made -an uncouth imitation of a dandy's moustache, with pappoose in basket hung -with bells, or lashed to boards with wild-deer thongs, and slung on -mother's back, secured with sealskin belts worn on the brow. To make the -whole a complete picture of Indian life, the dogs were taken in, and then -sitting in the prow to give command, the "hollow-tree canoe" was pointed -toward the ship. The loud hurrah of sailors, that was intended to give -welcome, was at first construed to be a warning, and quick the -"hollow-tree canoe" was turned about, each paddle playing in concert to -carry the frightened visitors away, while cluchmen and maidens, with -woman's privilege, screamed in terror of expected harm. - -The chief soothing them, and looking back descried the tyee captain, with -beckoning hand and signs recalling him to fulfil his purpose, and make the -visit. He bade the oarsman cease, and, while his canoe moved on from -acquired motion, though slower going, while he backward gazed, he, with -noiseless paddle, again brought the prow towards the sides of the "big -canoe." - -Slowly and cautiously he, with his precious cargo, floated nearer and -nearer still, with eyes wide open, to detect any sign of treachery, -sometimes half stopping at suggestions of frightened mothers or timid -maidens, and then anon would forward move; still, however, with great -caution, until at last the two canoes were rocking on the gentle tide in -closest friendship. - -The seamen who made this welcome port came on deck, with a sailor's pride -of dress, wide-legged trowsers, and wider collars to their shirts over -their shoulders falling, and with wide-topped, brimless caps. When the -new-comers had passed their fright, and the old chief had climbed on deck -to be sure that all was safe, he called his family, and, though the jolly -tars went down to assist them, they remained waiting for some further -proof of friendship. - -While their eyes were upward turned, and Jack's were downward bent, two -pairs (at least) met midway, and told the old, old tale over again. - -On deck, and leaning over the rail, stood a youthful sailor, with deep, -earnest eyes. These had met the gaze of another, the daughter of the pilot -chief. Silently the arrows flew; and, without honeyed word, or war-whoop, -the battle went on, until, by special invitation of looks, Oneatta came -aboard, and stood beside the smiling pale-face; and soon the older women -followed with the baby baskets until all were there except the dogs, who -cried at the partiality shown to the master and his family. - -The scene on deck was novel. The tyee captain and the chief were teaching -each other the words with which to give token of hospitality and -gratitude; half-sign, half-word language 'twas, though, in which exchanges -of friendly sentiments were told. - -The sailors, with the women and maidens, had organized a school, on a -small scale. Merry laughter often broke at the clumsy efforts of white -man's tongue to imitate Indian wa-wa (talk). The little ones received the -touch of rough fingers on dimpled chin, and turned like frightened fawns -away to listen to the tinkling of the little bells above their heads. - -The chief had brought with him richest offerings of venison and fish; the -women, specimens of handiwork in beads and necklaces, which they offered -in exchange for such articles of bright-hued colors as the sailors might -have bought in other lands. - -The bargains were quickly made, each side proud of success in securing -something to remind them of the visit. - -The chief signified his intention to return to his home on the beach, when -the good captain, not to be outdone in matters of courtesy, brought fresh -supplies of various kinds, and had them stowed away in the "hollow-tree -canoe." - -When the parting came, to prove his good will, the tyee captain promised -to return the visit. Oneatta had said to Theodore, the sailor, "Come;" and -he, with eyes doing service for his lips, had made promise. The red chief -and his family withdrew, and soon they were riding the laughing waves in -the "hollow-tree canoe." - -Thus the day had passed and joined the happy ones gone before it; and -bells had called the sailors to the deck, and the Indian chief reposed his -limbs on the uncut swath of willow grass, and waited for the approach of -night, that he might, by signal fires, call his kinsmen to the pil-pil -dance; a dance in honor of each Indian maiden when she "comes out." - -Oneatta had demanded of her parents this honor, and, since custom allowed -this privilege, she on that day reached an era in her life, when she chose -to be no longer a child. - -Her father, the chief, wondered at this sudden change of manner wrought, -but, yielding to his doating child, gave his assent. The picture I am -making now is true to the life of many a maiden, who may follow Oneatta's -history, whose faces take their hue of colors that give token of their -race. - -Some of them may recall their "coming out" 'neath dazzling chandeliers, on -carpets of finest grain, in dresses trailing long, in which they stepped -with timid gait to softest music, of silver lyre, or flute, or many-voiced -piano. - -But Oneatta's parlor was lighted up with glittering stars, that had done -service long, and brighter grew to eyes of each new belle, who had, from -time to time, lent first a listening ear to soft-voiced swain. - -The carpets were brightest green, and sanded by waves stranded on the -beach at the flowing of the tide. - -The music was grandly wild, a combination of the hoarse drum, or angry -roar of sea-lions, mingling with the deep bass voice of waves, breaking on -the rocks, while, soft and low, the human notes came in to make the -harmony complete to ears long trained to nature's tunes. - -The maiden, whose heart was now tumultuous as the scenes around her, had -dressed with greatest care in skirts of scarlet cloth, embroidered with -beads and trimmed with furs of seal and down of swan. Her arms, half -bared, were circled with bands of metals; her neck, with hoofs of fawns, -or talons of the mountain eagle; pendent from her ears, rattles of the -spotted snake; the partition of her nose held fast a beautiful shell of -slender mould; her cheeks, rosy with vermilion paints; while in her raven -hair she wore a gift from her pale-faced lover, brought from some far-off -shore, intended for some other than she who wore it now. It was but a -tinsel, yet it fitted well to crown her whose eyes were dancing long -before her beaded slippers had touched time upon the sanded floor. - -The circular altar, built of pebbles of varied colors, was lighted up with -choicest knots of pine from fallen trees. - -The watch on board the "big canoe" was set, and down its swinging stairway -the tyee captain, mate, and sailors descended to the waiting boat; then -softly touched the oars to smiling waves, and steady arms kept time to -seamen's song in stern and bow, guided, meanwhile, by the altar fire. Over -the glassy bridge they flew, and touched the bank beside the "hollow-tree -canoe." - -With hearty hand the chieftains bade them welcome, and gave silent signal -for the dance to begin, while the tyee captain and his men took station at -respectful space. The dancers came, and, forming round the maiden's altar -fires, awaited still for her to come from lodge. - -The pale-faces, lighted up with blaze from knotty wood, with folded arms -and curious wonder stood gazing on the scene. - -One among the number had scanned the merry circle of bashful Indian boys -and timid girls; his face bespoke vexation at his disappointment, for he -had failed to catch the eye of Oneatta. - -She came, at length, tripping toward the festive throng, and spoke to him -ere the dance began, not by smile, or deed, or word, but in Cupid's own -appointed way, that never lies. He, as every other swain can do, read it -in her eyes, and made answer in ways that do not make mistake. - -When the circle had closed round the altar, the song of gladness broke -forth from the lips of the tattooed and painted red chins, and from the -drum of hoarser sound, and then the happy dancers, without waiting for -partners, went with lithesome step in gay procession round. Louder rang -the music, quicker grew the steps, each time round; the little invisible -arrows flew from sailor-boy to Indian maiden, and from maiden to -sailor-boy; glancing each against the other, would rustle and then go -straight to target sent, until at last the maiden tired grew, her bosom -overladened with the arrows Cupid's quiver had supplied. She bade the -dancers stop, and with native grace, and stately step, she stood beside -her lover without a thought of wrong; for she was Nature's child, and had -not felt the thongs of fashion's code, which forbid her to be honest. - -Her tiny hand was pressed between the hard palms of the captive sailor, -for he had been fighting a battle where each is conquered only to be a -conqueror. - -Oneatta led the sailor-boy to join those who, with wondering eyes, had -waited for her return. He took his place beside his tutor now, to learn -how a step unused by tamer people might make speech for joy and gladness. - -The dance was ended. Pale faces, and red ones, too, had lost sight of the -stars, and were lulled to sleep by the rocking tides or muffled song of -rippling waters, or by the breakers beating the rocky shores of Ya-quina. - -Day followed day, and each had a history connecting it with its yesterday -and prophesying for the morrow. The sailor-boy went not on duty now, for -his "chummies" stood his watch. He spent much time at the e-li-he of the -tree chief, or with Oneatta went out in a small canoe to watch the -fishermen spear the fattened salmon. - -Sometimes they rambled on the mountain side beneath the mansinetta trees, -and exchanged lessons in worded language. He told her of his home, where -cities and towns were like the forest of her native home; of people who -outnumbered the stars above, and of bright-colored goods, of beautiful -beads and shells; and by degrees he won her consent to go from her native -land, to leave country and kindred, all for the sake of the promised -happiness he could give. - -The sailor made confident of his captain, and glowing pictures painted of -his princess, and what he would do with her when to his mother's home he -came. - -The honest captain found objection to the plan of carrying her away, and -sent for "Tyee John" (for so they called the chieftain then), and made him -understand how the young people had become betrothed. - -The face of Tyee John grew dark at first, and he was impatient to be gone; -but kindly words and presents hinted at brought him to consider. He -proposed that the sailor-boy should become one of his tribe, and make his -home with them, and then he could be his son. - -The conference was transferred to the e-li-he of Tyee John. The sailor -would not consent to remain on this wild shore, and made vows to come -again and bring Oneatta. - -At length by rich presents given, and promises of more when he should -come, the compact was made, to the joy of the Indian maiden and her sailor -lover. - -The sea gave a favoring breeze. The sails repaired, the tyee captain made -known his will to ride again the bounding waves. Oneatta bade farewell to -sorrowing mothers, sisters, brothers, giving each a token to keep until -her coming. O foolish Oneatta! you know not what you do! You act now from -example of your fairer sisters, who listen to the wooing notes of foreign -lips. We pity you as we do them. You have not thought how strange will be -the customs, manners and life of those with whom you are to mingle. A time -may come when you will long for the caresses of your rude mother, to hear -the merry shouts of brothers, to gaze into the face of your dark-eyed -father; perhaps long to hear love in native accents spoken by the young -brave who has given you choicest gems of ocean's strand and mountain -cliffs. - -We see you yet when your kinsmen tell of you in song, or story, your dark -eyes brimming with tears of hope and sorrow mingled. - -You reach the side of the "big canoe." We see the brave and manly -sailor-boy, who hastened to catch your trembling hand, and help you up the -swinging steps, and when on deck you stand, we see the sailor's chums, -from the ship-yards above, gaze down on you and him, with glances half of -envy, and half of pleased surprise. - -And now we see you startle at the fierce command of the mate, to heave the -anchor up, then their response drawn out in lengthened "Aye-aye, sir," and -singing, while they work, the seamen's song; and how wide your dark eyes -open at sight of whitened sails, outspreading like some monster swan, and -the troubled, anxious look you give to the humble e-li-he of childhood, as -it passed away, as if moving in itself, and the headlands that seem -floating towards you, and the great water that came rushing to meet you. - -We see, too, your father, Tyee John, in his "hollow-tree canoe," leading -the way, and pointing to some sunken rock, or shallow bar, or hidden reef, -until he rounds to in proof of danger past to the "big canoe." - -How its huge white wings fold up at a signal from the tyee captain! And -then your father comes board, and stands in mute attention to the -ceremonies of seamen's marriage law. And you, in innocence, give heed to -word or sign until you are bound in law to the fortunes and freaks of a -roving sailor-boy. - -When Tyee John turns away, hiding his tears in his heart, while yours run -down your cheeks, we see him reach his canoe, and you hanging over the -sides of the ship to catch a last glance of his eye. - -[Illustration: FAREWELL TO ONEATTA.] - -And then the white wings are spread again, and soon he grows so small that -his paddle seems but a dark feather in his hand, and your old home -recedes, and you have caught the last glimpse you ever will, of the -mountain sinking in the sea, and you, _alone_,--no, not alone, for your -sailor-boy is with you, now drying the tears from your dusky cheeks. - -Oneatta, we leave you, with a prayer that your life may not be as rough as -the seas that drove the "big canoe" into Quina bay. Whether your hopes -have blossomed into fruition, or have been blasted, we know not, nor if -you still live to be loved or loathed. We only know that your -silver-haired sire sits on the stony cliff, overlooking the mouth of the -harbor, and watches passing sails, or hastens to meet those that anchor, -and repeat the old question over and over, Me-si-ka, is-cum, -ni-ka-hi-ak-close, ten-as-cluchman, Oneatta? (Have you brought back my -beautiful daughter, Oneatta?) - -When Cupid comes with pale-faced warrior to the dusky maiden now, they -repeat the warning tale, with Ni-ka-cum-tux Oneatta. (I remember -Oneatta.) - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - - SENATORIAL BRAINS BEATEN BY SAVAGE MUSCLE--PLEASANT - WAY OF PAYING PENALTIES. - - -The story I have related is but one of the many that belong to this -region, and for the truth of which, witnesses still live, both whites and -Indians; another reason I introduce it here is to show my readers who may -think otherwise, that Indians--savage as they are at times, often made -savage by their religion--have _hearts_. Again and again shall I refer in -this work to the red man's emotional nature, and to his religion. I cannot -do so too often, as the reader will admit before he turns the last leaf. - -This agency is located west of the coast range of mountains, and bordering -on the Pacific Ocean. The valleys are small, irregular in shape, fertile -and productive, with prairies interspersed with forests of fir; -picturesque almost beyond description. At some points the mountains reach -out into the ocean, forming high headlands whereon are built light-houses, -to guard mariners against the dangers of the coast. Long white sandy -beaches stretch away for miles, and are then cut off by craggy bluffs. - -At the southern boundary of Siletz--two miles from the line--may be found -a beautiful bay, navigable inland for thirty miles. The banks are varied -in altitude; undulating hills, with rich alluvial bottom lands -intervening. The greatest width of bay is perhaps four miles, and -occasionally cut into channels by beautiful islands narrowing inland to -receive the small river Ya-quina. Midway between the mouth of the river -and the ocean entrance to the bay, extensive oyster-beds exist. - -This "Chesapeake" of the Pacific was once a part of Siletz reservation. -The discovery of the oyster-beds, and also of the numerous forests of -timber accessible to navigation, attracted the attention of the white men; -and the old, old story was again rehearsed,--"_The white men wanted -them._" - -That it was wanted by the white men was _sufficient_, and no ambitious -candidate for Legislature or Congressional honors _dare_ oppose the -violation of a solemn compact between the United States Government and the -Indians, who had accepted this country in compensation for their homes in -Umpyua and Rogue river valley. It was _cut off_, and given to commerce and -agriculture in 1866. - -That an equivalent was ever made to the Indian does not appear from any -records to which I have had access. It is, however, asserted, that a small -sum was invested in stock cattle, for the benefit of Siletz Indians. There -are two approaches to Siletz from the valley of Willamette; the principal, -via Ya-quina river and bay; the other, over the mountain by trail. My -first visit was by the former. In September, 1869, in company with Hon. -Geo. H. Williams, then U. S. Senator, now Attorney General of the United -States, Judge Odeneal, since my successor in office, and other citizens, -we reached the head of navigation late on the evening of the 12th. We -remained over night at "Elk Horn Hotel." The following morning, in the -absence of steamer, we took passage in small row-boats, propelled by -Indians. - -The adventures of the day were few, only one of which I shall refer to -now. Our U. S. Senator, who had done much for reconstruction in the -Senate, challenged one of our Indians for a trial of muscle at the oars. -The challenge was accepted, and senatorial broadcloth was laid aside, and -brain and muscle put to the test. After a short race the prow of our boat -ran into the bank on the side where brains was at work. For once at least, -muscle proved more than a match for brains, and, besides, an Indian had -won a victory over a great tyee. Now although our senator had proven -himself a match for other great senators in dignified debate, he was -compelled to listen to the cheers of our party in honor of a red man's -triumph over him. I doubt if those who of late defeated him, when a -candidate for the highest seat in our halls of justice, felt half the -gratification that "To-toot-na-Jack" did that morning when the tyee -dropped the oar, exhausted and disgusted with his failure to hold even -hand with a red brother, who was _not a senator_. - -After a row of twenty miles, we landed within a half hour's ride of -Siletz. The agent, Mr. Simpson, met our party with saddle-horses. - -While en route a horse-race was proposed; the dignified gentleman turning -jockey for the nonce. In fact, the entire party engaged in a run. The road -passed over low hills, covered with timber and tall ferns. While the -Congressional and Indian Departments were going at a fearful speed, a -representative of the latter went over his horse's head, and soon felt -the weight of the United States Senate crushing the Indian Department -almost to death. - -The parties referred to will recognize the picture. - -This was not the first time, or the last either, that the Senate of the -United States has "been down on the Indian Department." - -Without serious damage, both were again mounted, and soon were fording -Siletz river,--a deep, narrow stream, whose bed was full of holes, -slight--"irregularities," as defaulters would say. - -We crossed in safety, except that one horse carried his rider into water -too deep for wading. It matters not who the rider was, or whether he -belonged to Congress or the Indian Department. - -On reaching the prairie a sight presented itself, that gives emphatic -denial to the oft-repeated declaration, that Indians cannot be civilized. - -Spread out before us was a scene that words cannot portray. The agency -building occupied a plateau, twenty feet above the level of the valley. -They were half hidden by the remnants of a high stockade that had been -erected when the Indians were first brought on to the agency fresh from -the Rogue-river war. At that time a small garrison was thought necessary -to prevent rebellion among the Indians, and to secure the safety of the -officers of the Indian Department. - -It was, doubtless, good judgment, under the circumstances. Here were the -remnants of fourteen different tribes and bands, who had been at war with -white men and each other, and who, though subjugated, had not been -thoroughly "_reconstructed_." - -They were located in the valley, within sight of the agency, and were -living in little huts and shanties that had been built by the Government. - -Each tribe had been allotted houses separated from the others but a few -hundred yards at farthest. They drew their supplies from the same -storehouse, used the same teams and tools, and were in constant contact. -They had come here at the command of the United States Government, in -chains, bearing with them the trophies of war; some of them being -fair-haired scalp-locks, and others were off red men's heads. Think for a -moment of enemies meeting and wearing these evidences of former enmity; -shaking hands while each was in possession of the scalp-locks of father or -brother of the others! - -But, at the time of the visit referred to, no sentinel walked his rounds. -No bayonet flashed in the sunshine on the watch-tower of the stockade at -Siletz. The granaries and barns were unbarred; even Agent Simpson's own -quarters were unlocked day and night. Fire-arms and tools were unguarded; -Indians came and went at will, except that Agent Simpson had so taught -them that they never entered without a preliminary knock. The Indian men -came not with heads covered, but in respectful observance of ceremony. - -The kitchen work and house-keeping were done by Indian women, under the -direction of a white matron. The agent's table afforded the best of -viands. Tell the world that Indians cannot be civilized! Here were the -survivors of many battles, who, but a few short years since, had been -brought under guard, some of them loaded with chains, and with blood on -their hands, who were living as I have described. - -Sometimes, it is true, the remembrance of former feuds would arouse the -sleeping fires of hatred and desire for revenge amongst themselves, and -fights would ensue. But no white man has ever been injured by these people -while on the Reservation, since their location at Siletz. - -This statement is made in justice to the Indians themselves, and in honor -of those who had control of them, both of whom merit the compliment. -Amongst these people were Indian _desperadoes_, who had exulted in the -bloody deeds they had committed. One especially, braver than the rest, -named Euchre Bill, boasted that he had _eaten the heart of one white man_. - -This he did in presence of Agent Simpson, during an effort of the latter -to quell a broil. The agent, always equal to emergencies, replied, by -knocking the fellow down, handcuffing him, and shutting him up in the -guard-house, and feeding him on bread and water for several days, after -which time he was released, with the warning that, the next time he -repeated the hellish boast, he would "not need handcuffs, nor bread and -water." Bill understood the hint. The agent remarked to us that "Bill was -one of his main dependants in preserving order." - -During our visit we went with the agent to see Euchre Bill. He was hewing -logs. On our approach he dropped the axe, and saluted the agent with -"Good-morning, Mr. Simpson," at the same time extending his hand. When -informed of the personality of our party, Bill waved his hat, and made a -slight bow, repeating the name of each in turn. - -We looked in on the school then in progress; we found twenty-five children -in attendance. They gave proof of their ability to use the English -language, and understand its power to express ideas; the lessons were all -in primary books. Their recitations were remarkable. Outside of books they -had been instructed in practical knowledge, and answered readily in -concert to the questions, Who is President of the United States? What city -is the capital? Who is Governor of Oregon? Where is the capital located? -Who is Superintendent of Indian Affairs? What year is this? How many -months in a year? When did the count of years begin? Who was Jesus Christ? -And many other questions were asked and readily answered. The boys were -named George Washington, Dan Webster, Abe Lincoln, James Nesmith, Grant, -Sherman, Sheridan,--each answering to a big name. "Dan Webster" delivered -in passable style an extract from his great prototype's reply to Hayne. -The school also joined the teacher in singing several Sunday-school hymns, -and popular songs. Short speeches were made by visitors and teachers. We -were much encouraged by what we saw, and left _that_ school-house with the -belief that Indian children can learn as readily as others when an -opportunity is given them. I have not changed my conviction since; much of -its prosperity was due to the teacher, William Shipley, who was fitted for -the work and gave his time to it. We also called at some of the little -settlements. The agency farm was tilled in common; notwithstanding we saw -many small gardens around the Indian houses, growing vegetables, and in -one or more "_tame flowers_." At one place several men were at work on a -new house, some of them shingling, others clinking cracks. One man was -hewing out, with a common axe, a soft kind of stone for a fire-place. - -We entered the house of "Too-toot-na Jack," the champion oarsman. He -welcomed his vanquished rival in the boat-race above referred to, and his -friend, and offered one an arm-chair, and stools to the remainder. His -wife came in, and Jack said, "This is my woman, Too-toot-na Jinney. She is -no fool either. She has a cooking-stove in the kitchen." Jinney was much -older than her husband; but that was not unusual. She was a thrifty -housewife, and was a financier,--had saved nearly one thousand silver -half-dollars; and what she lacked in personal charms, on account of -tattooed chin and gray hairs, she made up, like many a fairer woman, in -the size of the buckskin purse wherein she kept her coin. Jack seemed -fully to appreciate the good qualities of his "woman;" not because he had -access to her fortune, but because _she_ was old and _he_ was young, and -the chances were that _he_ would be at _her_ funeral. - -That hope has made many a better fellow than Too-toot-na behave with -becoming reverence for his wife. But "many a slip 'twixt cup and lip" -applies to all kinds of people. Jack never realized on _his investment_. -_He_ went _first_, and Jinney is now a rich widow, and has no doubt -marriage offers in abundance. - -We were present on "court day," the agent holding it for the adjustment of -all kinds of difficulties among his people. In such cases he appoints -juries from among the bystanders, always taking care to select such as had -no tribal affinities with the parties to the suit. He had a sheriff in -every tribe, and on occasions where their own friends were interested he -summoned others to act. He _himself_ was the _court and high sheriff_, and -always _sat_ with a large hickory cane, called "Old Moderator." - -My readers may smile at this kind of a gavel; but it was a practical and -useful thing to have in such courts,--much more potential than Blackstone -or any other kind of commentaries, unless, indeed, it be the last revised -edition of Samuel Colt. - -The records of that court were sometimes made on untanned parchment; by -which I mean, my poor, unsophisticated reader, that these Indian citizens -would sometimes forget very willingly to observe the decorum due before -that august tribunal, and fall to making a record for themselves and on -one another with fists, clubs, whips, knives, pistols, and other lively -weapons, until the good Judge Simpson completed that record by a vigorous -application of the aforesaid hickory club, and some of the citizens had -editions for personal adornment. - -The walls of the court-room had transcript fragments done in carmine,--or, -to be better understood, in "claret." Court day had been announced to the -visitors while at breakfast. The senator had been a successful lawyer -before entering the political arena; the judge was then in the enjoyment -of a lucrative practice; the superintendent had done something in the law -line in county courts before justices of the peace. - -The court-room was crowded, the doorways and windows were occupied, and -black shining eyes were glistening through every crack, all anxious to see -and hear. These people, of Siletz especially, were apt imitators, and -more readily fell in with the vices and frivolities of civilization than -with its virtues and proprieties. - -The assembly was composed of the greatest variety of character, color, -costume, and countenance ever found in any court-room. Women were there, -learning law. Perhaps, they had, woman-like, intuitively snuffed the purer -air of freedom that is soon to sweep over our beautiful country and blast -the hopes of demagogues who now _rule_, without _representing_, the better -portion of the people. - -Old chiefs were there to learn wisdom, to take with them to the -hunting-grounds above. Don't chide them, reader. They never had an even -chance in this life; let them have it in the next, if possible. - -The boys were there, and why not? They were looking forward to a time when -an Indian will be as good as a negro, if they behave as well. They had an -eye to political and pecuniary affairs. In fact, the people were all there -except camp-watchers and sick ones. - -When our party were seated, the "Moderator" touched the floor, and soon -all was silent. - -These Indians are fond of "law," and since the old law and new--that is to -say, Indian and white men's--were somewhat mixed up, it was a difficult -matter to execute justice uniformly. Agent Simpson, being a practical man, -had not sought to enforce the white men's law any further than the Indian -comprehended it. - -The Indian lawyers were on hand ready for business. The first case called -was for assault and battery. The court and the visitors had been partial -witness of the little fight, which occurred the day previous to the trial, -on the "Plaza," in front of the agent's head-quarters. The contestants -were clutchmen (women); _the cause of war_, the only thing that women ever -fight about,--_a man_. - -The statement in court was to the effect that one woman had stolen another -woman's husband. The parties were arraigned, the statement made concerning -the case, and the matter compromised by sending both parties to the "Sku -Kum" House (Guard House). - -The next case called was that of a man charged with unlawfully using a -horse belonging to some one else. The accused was ordered to pay for the -offence about what the real service of the animal was worth; no damages -were allowed. The third case was somewhat similar to the first. - -One of Joshua's people--name of a tribe--claimed damage for insulted -honor, and destruction of his domestic happiness. - -A Rogue-river Indian had, very much after the fashions of civilized life, -by presents and petty talk, persuaded the wife of the aforesaid warrior to -elope with him. The old history of poor human nature had been repeated. -The villain deserted his victim, and she returned to her home. Her -husband, with observing eyes discovered more ic-tas (goods) in the woman's -possession than could be accounted for on honorable grounds, and demanded -an explanation. She made "a clean breast," and agreed to go into court -with her husband and claim _damages_, not divorce; for I have before -remarked that Indians were eminently practical. The husband demanded -_satisfaction_. The accused, whose name was "Chetco Dandy," would have -accorded him the privilege of a fight; but that was not the satisfaction -demanded. The husband had made his ultimatum. _Two horses_ would settle -the unpleasantness. Chetco, however, owned but one. The court decided that -he should make ten hundred rails, and deliver the horse to the injured -husband, with the understanding that the latter was to _board_ him while -doing the work. - -I can't resist a query: how long a white man, under such arrangements, -would require to make ten hundred rails. The husband was satisfied, his -honor was vindicated, and he owned another horse. After the docket was -cleared, a council talk was had. - -These people had been placed here by the Government, in 1856, numbering -then, according to Superintendent Nesmith's report for 1857, 2,049 souls, -representing fourteen bands; and although, in 1869, they numbered little -more than half as many, they kept up tribal relations, at least so far as -chieftainship was concerned. In the council that day one or two of the -chiefs represented tribes in bands of ten or twenty persons; and one poor -follow, the last of his people, stood alone without constituency. He was a -chief, nevertheless. - -I cannot report here the reflection that such a circumstance -suggests,--only that he, with the usual solemn face of an Indian in -council, seemed the personification of loneliness. - -The speeches made by these people evinced more sense than their appearance -indicated. They were dependent on the Government, and felt their -helplessness. When the usual speeches had been made preliminary to -business talk, I said to them that I was gratified at the advancement they -had made, considering the circumstances, and that I was willing for them -to express their wishes in regard to the expenditure of money in their -interest. - -They were loth to speak on this matter, because they had never been -consulted, and a recognition of their manhood was more than they had -expected. After some deliberation, during which they, like bashful boys, -asked one another, each nudging his neighbor to speak first, old Joshua at -last arose, half hesitatingly, and said, "Maby, I don't understand you. Do -you mean that we may say what we want bought for us? Nobody ever said that -before, and it seems strange to me." - -I had consulted the agent before making this experiment, and he had -doubted the propriety; not because he was unwilling to recognize their -manhood in the premises, but he feared they would betray weakness for -useless articles, and thereby bring derision on his efforts to civilize -them. Perhaps it might establish a precedent that would be troublesome -sometimes. - -He exhibited great anxiety when Old Joshua rose, lest he would disgrace -his people by asking for beads, paint, and powder, and lead, and scarlet -cloth. I can see that agent yet, with his deep-set eyes fixed on the -speaker, while he rested his chin on his cane. Old Joshua spoke again, -and, though he was considered a "terrible brave on the warpath," and had -passed the better portion of his life in that way, now when, for the first -time in his life, he was called upon to give opinions on a serious -matter, concerning the investment of money for his people, he appeared to -be transformed into a _man_. He _was_ a man. Hear him talk:-- - -"I am old; I can't live long. I want my people to put away the old law -(meaning the old order of things). I want them to learn how to work like -white men. They cannot be Indians any longer. We have had some things -bought for us that did us no good,--some blankets that I could poke my -finger through; some hoes that broke like a stick. We don't want these -things. We want _ploughs_, _harness_, chick-chick (_wagons_), _axes_, good -hoes, a few blankets for the old people. These we want. We have been -promised these things. They have not come." - -The agent's face relaxed; his eyes changed to pleased surprise. Other -chiefs spoke also, but after the pattern that Joshua had made, except that -some of them complained more, and named a former agent, who came poor and -went away rich. No Indian suggested an unwise investment. We assured them -that they should have the tools and other goods asked for; and _that -promise was kept_, much to the gratification of the Indians and agent. - -I have not the abstract at hand, but I think I purchased for them soon -after $1,200 worth of tools and twenty sets of harness, and that a few -blankets were issued. - -But, to resume the council proceedings. These people were clamorous for -allotments of land in severalty. Their arguments were logical, they -referring to the promises of the Government to give each man a home. The -land has been surveyed, and, if not allotted to them, I do not know why -it has not been done. - -The subject of religion was discussed at some length. The agent, willing -to advance "his people," had given them lessons in the first principles of -Christianity. He had taught them the observance of Sunday, had forbidden -drinking, gambling, and profanity. He invited ministers to preach to them, -and, when necessary, had been their interpreter. There were several -languages represented in the council; the major portion of the Indians -understood the jargon, or "Chi-nook," a language composed of less than one -hundred words; partly Indian, Spanish, French, and "Boston." The latter -word is in common use among the tribes of Oregon and Washington Territory -to represent white men or American. - -The Christian churches have enjoyed the privilege of ministry to these -people since they were first located on the Reservation. - -The Catholic priests, who had baptized some of these people, were very -zealous. Occasionally, the Methodist itinerant called and preached to -them. The labors of neither were productive of much good, because they did -not preach with simplicity, and could not, therefore, preach with power. -It would be about as sensible for a Chinaman to preach to Christians, as -for the latter to preach to Indians in high-flown words, abstruse -doctrines, or abstract dogmas. One case will illustrate. - -A very devout man of God visited the agency, with, I doubt not, good -intentions. He preached to these people just as he would have done to -white men. He talked of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world; besought -them to flee from the wrath to come; that Jesus Christ was the Saviour of -the red men as well as white men; that he had died for the sins of the -world; that he rose again the third day and ascended into heaven. - -The discourse was interpreted to the Indians by an employé on the -Reservation. A few days after, a Si-wash, the usual word for Indian, who -answered to the name of Push-wash, entered into conversation with the -above-named employé, by saying, "What you think about that Sunday-man's -talk,--you think him fool?"--"No; he is a good man; he has plenty of -sense."--"What for he swear all time?"--"He did not swear; he talked -straight." - -"What for he say Jesus Christ so many times? All the time he talk the -same." - -"That was all right; he told the truth; he did not talk wrong." - -"You think me fool? What for a good man die for me? I am not a bad man. I -did not tell him to die." - -"The Jews killed him, they did not like him." - -"You say Jews kill good man?" - -"Yes, they kill him, and he come to life again on the third day." - -"You think he came to life? I don't believe they kill him. He not live any -more." - -"Yes; everybody will live again some time." - -"You suppose a bad Indian get up, walk 'bout again, all the same a good -man?" - -"They will all rise, but they won't all be good." - -"What for the Sunday man tell that? He say Jesus Christ die for bad Indian -too? Say he go to heaven all the same as a good Indian, good white man; -that aint fair thing. I don't no like such religion." - -A few days afterwards the man who reported this dialogue passed near the -grave of an Indian, and found it covered with stones and logs. He learned -afterwards, that Push-wash had explained to other Indians the meaning of -the "Sunday-man's talk," and they had piled stones and logs on the graves -of their enemies, to prevent them rising from the dead. - -The reader will thus appreciate the necessity for sending ministers who -are qualified to preach to these people; otherwise they may do the savage -more harm than good. Farther on in the work I shall discuss more fully -this most important of all questions, with special reference to the -difficulties in the way of treating with the Indians, in consequence of -their numerous and peculiar religious beliefs, which few white men know -anything about. - -I left Siletz with a favorable opinion of the people, and the prospects -before them. Notwithstanding the many impediments in the way of their -civilization, the transformation from a wild savage to a semi-civilized -life had been wrought in fourteen years. - -In this connection I submit the last annual report of Hon. Ben. -Simpson,[1] late United States Indian agent at Siletz. I do so, because -whatever of progress these people may have made was under his -administration as Indian agent, and believing the short history presented -by him will be of interest to my readers. - -[1] See Appendix. - -He is a gentleman of unimpeachable integrity, though blessed with enemies -whose assaults have polished his character like a diamond. Whatever vices -these Indians may have exhibited to his successor,--Gen. Palmer,--they -were not the results of Mr. Simpson's management, or example; but rather -the natural consequences of association with profligate soldiers and other -white men, during the first years of their residence on the Reservation. - -Gen. Joel Palmer was recommended as Mr. Simpson's successor by the -Methodist Church. He went to his duty with long experience, and in many -respects well fitted for the work. - -Scarcely had he assumed the duties of his office, with a new set of -employés, before he was made to realize that poor human nature will in -most cases control human action. Ingratitude is said, by Indian haters, to -be characteristic of those people. Better be honest and say it of mankind. - -I have said that he selected a new set of officers. Among them was one -chosen on account of his religious habits,--habits, I say, not -character,--who had lent a listening ear to the call, "Go preach my Gospel -to all nations." This man answered this urgent call, and Agent Palmer -employed him. No sooner had he unfurled the banner of Christianity among -these people, than he began in a clandestine way to undermine Agent -Palmer. Unfortunately for the agent, this preacher had been recommended by -the same church for position. This gave him influence. He made use of it. -He proposed to other officers of the agency that if they would assist in -ousting Palmer he would retain them in their respective positions. - -To consummate this act of religious villany, he circulated reports against -the man, whose kindness fed him and his family, that he (Palmer) had men -in his employ who were "not, strictly speaking, Christians; that he was -not competent to discharge the duties of his office." The agent found, -what nearly every officer has learned sooner or later, that his position -was of doubtful tenure, and felt the sting of this man's treachery so -severely that he proposed to resign. - -"Brother ---- is determined to oust me, and I reckon I will let him have -the position. He wants it, and I don't care to worry my life out fighting -for an Indian agency." - -This is the substance of the speech Agent Palmer made to me as -superintendent. I said to him, "Do no such thing. Go back to your agency -and tell that man to roll his blankets and be off, or you will put him in -irons. Then discharge every accomplice he has, and select good, true men -instead." - -Brother Palmer replied that "the church recommended Brother ----, and I -don't like to do such a thing." I prevailed on him to withdraw his -resignation; and on his return to Siletz, he discharged Brother ----. But -the war was continued against him until Agent Palmer demanded a successor -to relieve him; and after a short administration he retired without having -christianized the Siletz Indians. - -I have mentioned this episode for the reason that I desire full justice -done a man who meant well, with a sincere hope that those having the -appointing power may be made to reflect a moment before making -nominations for office in deference to the demands of any church, and -without regard to the fitness of the appointee. - -I have due respect for church members, and recognize the necessity of -having men of moral character among the wards of this Government. - -Gen. Palmer, with his long experience, was, in many respects, qualified -for his position; but he was a poor judge of character. I may be censured -for making these comments, but they are just, nevertheless; as was the -opinion I gave of the aforesaid Brother ----, when his name was proposed -as a missionary to the Siletz Indians, by the presiding elder of the -district. - -I answered him, "That man's face says he would undermine his father, to -forward his own interests." - -The elder said in reply, "Brother Meacham, you must be mistaken; he is a -good, Christian man, and will be a great help to Brother Palmer." In -courtesy to the presiding elder, I consented, with the remark, "Try him; -but he will make a thorny bed for Brother Palmer." - -Here is the history. It is not written to bring ridicule on the church -nominating him. - -Siletz agency has been established fourteen years, during which time five -agents have represented the Government. Some of them have been good men -for the position. - -Although these Indians are not up to the standard of moral character, or -church requirements, a great change has been wrought, and credit should be -given to whom it is due. - -Uncouth these Indians on Siletz may be, but let truth speak for them, and -you will hear of how they came to this new home captives, and in chains, -under guard of bayonets, borne on shoulders of men wearing the uniform of -the U. S. A. - -You will hear how these men were stationed among them to guard them, and -compel obedience to the mandates of a Government that permitted the -grossest outrages on their rights, and made no effort to redress their -wrongs. - -You would hear, too, of a people living in careless indolence on Umpyua -and Rogue rivers, in southern Oregon, when disturbed by the advent of -white men, who came with prejudices against them, who disregarded their -rights, denied them the privilege of living on the land God had given -them, who failed to protect them from the outrages committed by vicious -white men; of the indiscriminate warfare that was carried on against them -for resenting such insults; of their native land left in ruins, where the -wail of weeping pale-faces over slain friends mingled with their own -lamentations on taking leave of the homes of their earliest life. - -Truth would tell of the many crimes committed by and against them, since -their residence at Siletz; of how they have been punished for their own -misdeeds, and have seen those who sinned against them go unpunished. - -Be patient, you half-savage people! Death is rapidly healing your wounds -and curing your griefs. Those who survive may, in time, be given homes. -The lands have been surveyed for these people, but have not yet been -allotted. Nothing could do more to revive them than the consummation of -this promise. - -Some of them have lived with white men as laborers, and have learned many -things qualifying them for this great boon. Surely a magnanimous -Government will complete this great act of justice to a helpless people. -May God speed the day! - - ALSEA AGENCY. - -It is located on the coast Reservation south of Yaquina bay. The people -are "salt chuck," or saltwater Indians, and the majority of them were born -on the lands they now occupy; hence they are the most quiet and -well-behaved Indians in Oregon. - -They are easily controlled, and are making progress in civilization. But -few in number, and of the character I have named, they have never taken -part in any of the many wars that have made Oregon "the battle-ground of -the Pacific coast." - -A sub-agency was established over them in 1866. The pay of sub-agent is -$1,000 per annum, without subsistence or other allowance. The Alsea people -being non-treaty Indians,--that is to say, they have no existing treaty -with the Government; no funds being appropriated especially for -them,--they are sustained entirely from the "Incidental Funds" for Oregon -Superintendency. - -The fact that the Alsea Indians have always been easily managed has been -to their disadvantage in securing Government aid. Had they been more -refractory, they would have been better treated. This sounds strangely, -and yet I declare it to be true. Why should Government reward them for -being peaceable? They have asked for buildings; the Government gave them -huts. They asked for schools and churches; but no school-house stands out -in the bleak ocean winds of their home; no church-bell calls them to hear -the wonderful story of a Saviour's love. Notwithstanding the wealth of -their successors peals forth in loud strains which echo on foreign shores, -no hammer rings out its cheering notes on anvil of theirs. - -This little agency demonstrates the fact, that the only _sure_ way for -Indians to secure attention is _through blood_. Our Government follows the -example of the father of the Prodigal Son, with this remarkable -difference, that it abuses its dutiful children, while it fawns upon and -encourages the red-faced reprobates, by _rewarding_ them for their -rebellious deeds. - -The department farm at Alsea was made by Government, on Indian land, -ostensibly for the Indians' benefit. It is located on a bleak plain, that -stretches away from the ocean surf to the foot of the coast range -mountains. It produces potatoes and oats. The mountains are high and -rugged, and covered with dense forests of fir and cedar timber; much of -the former has been "burnt." A heavy undergrowth has become almost -impenetrable except for wild animals or Indian hunters. - -The cedar groves cover streams of water that will in time be of great -value, when turned on to machinery with which to convert the cedars into -merchandise for foreign markets. The streams are plentifully supplied with -fish. No long list of employés answer to the command of an agent at Alsea. -In some respects it is the better way, inasmuch as it is to the interest -of the agent to teach his wards the more common arts of handiwork. In this -way, the improvements have been made by Indian labor, under the direction -of an agent; and now, while I write, these people are coming slowly up -towards the gate that _should_ open to them a way to the brotherhood of -man. - -Efforts are being made to reduce the area of the Reservation, and, should -they succeed, these people who have cost the Government so little of blood -or treasure, will be compelled to yield; only repeating, "Might versus -Right." I am not opposed to reduction of the limits of the coast -Reservation, if these people, who have already given up so much beautiful -country, shall be provided with schools, churches, shops, and other means -whereby they may be compensated, and, in the mean time, prepared by -civilization for the new life that awaits the survivors, that, a few years -hence, may be left to represent their people. - -The Government owes to these humble Indians all I have suggested, and, in -addition, a home marked out and allotted in severalty, made inalienable -for one or two generations. - -But, however deserving they may be, it is doubtful if they ever enjoy the -boon they crave. Few in number, peaceable in disposition, unknown to the -world by bloody deeds, the probabilities are that the white man will -encroach on their lands, a few miles at a time, until at last, hemmed in -by a civilization they cannot enjoy, they will gradually mix and mingle, -becoming more licentious and corrupt by association with vicious white -men, and in a generation or two will be known only by a few vagabonds, who -will wander, gipsy-like, through the country, a poor, miserable fag-end of -a race. - -Perhaps a few may take humble positions as laborers, and attain to a -half-way station between savage and civilized life. Another few will -become slaves to King Alcohol, and their chief men, lying around whiskey -mills, drunken, debauched, despised, will drop back again to mother earth, -mingling with the soil their fathers once owned. - -Thus the people of Alsea will pass away. I pity you, humble, red-skinned -children of the Pacific surf! You were happy once, and carelessly rode in -your canoes over the shining sands of your native beach, or chased the -game on the mountain side, little dreaming of the coming of a human tide -which would swallow you and your sea-washed home, or carry both away out -on the boundless expanse of a civilization whose other shores you could -not see had sepulchres ready for your bones. You have spent your lives -with your feet beating the paths your fathers made centuries ago; but your -children shall follow newer trails, that lead to more dangerous jungles -than those trod by your ancestors. Strange demons they will meet, before -whom they will fall to rise no more. - -Your fathers watched the shadows of Alsea mountain moving slowly up its -western front, making huge pictures on its sides, and gazed without fear -on the sun dropping under the sea, wondering how it found its way under -the great ocean and high mountains, to come again with so much regularity; -or perhaps they believed, as others do, that the Great Spirit sent a new -"fire-ball" each day, and nightly quenched it in the sea. You now see the -shadows climb the mountain, fitting emblem of the white man's presence in -your land, and read in the setting sun the history of your race. Better -that you had never heard the sweet sounds of civilized life than that -you, with feet untrained, should follow its allurements to your -destruction. - -You, that once gave to the beautiful mountain streams smile for smile, are -now haggard and worn, giving only grim presages of your doom. - -Others of your race have avenged their ill-fortunes with the tomahawk, -and, in compliance with their religion, have rejected offers of a better -life than they knew. But you--you have yielded without war, and, like -helpless orphans thrown on the cold world, have accepted the mites given -grudgingly by your masters, who treat with contempt and ridicule your -cherished faith, who misconstrue your peaceful lives into cowardice. They -have fixed their eyes on your home. They will make Alsea river transform -the forest on its banks into houses, towns, and cities. They will make the -valley where you now follow the government plough, to yield rich harvests -of grain, and they will convert the ocean beach into a fountain of golden -treasure. A few years more, and the noise of machinery will wake you early -from your slumbers. The roar of ocean's breakers will mingle with the hum -of busy life in which you may have no part. The white man's eyes will -dance with gladness at the sight of your mountains dismantled of their -forests, and the glimmer of coming sails to bear away the lofty pines. -Yours will weep at the sacrilege done to your hunting grounds; theirs will -gaze on the wide Pacific, and see there the channels that will bring -compensation to them for the spoils of your home. Yours will recognize it -only as the resting-place for the bones of your people. The white man -says, "Your fate is fixed,--your doom is sealed." Few hearts beat with -sympathy for you; you are unknown and unnoticed. You must pass away, -unless, indeed, the white race shall, from the full surfeit of vengeance -upon you and yours, at last return to you a measure of justice. - -He who dares appeal in your behalf is derided by his fellows. A proud, -boastful people, who claim that human actions should be directed by high -motives and pure principles, treat with contempt every effort made to save -you from destruction. Strong may be the heart of the Indian Chief to -resist the encroachments on his people's rights, but stronger still the -arm of a Government that boasts rebellion against oppression as its -foundation stone. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - - PHIL SHERIDAN'S OLD HOME--WHAT A CABIN COST. - - GRAND ROUND INDIAN AGENCY. - - -I Made my first official visit to this agency in the latter part of -September, 1869. Captain Charles La Follette was then acting agent. - -The road from Salem was over a beautiful country, settled by white men, -who had transformed this once wild region into a paradise. The first view -of the agency proper was from a high ridge several miles distant. On the -right and left were clustered the houses of the several tribes, each one -having been assigned a location. Their houses were built of logs or -boards, and rudely put together. Every board had cost these poor people an -acre of land; every log counted for so much money given in compensation -for their birthrights to the soil of the matchless valley of the -Willamette. - -As we stood on the dividing ridge separating this agency from the great -valley I have mentioned, looking toward the west, we beheld, nearest on -the left, old Fort Yamhill, with its snowy cottages, built for the -accommodation of the officers of the army in the days when the gallant -Sheridan was a lieutenant, and walked its parade-grounds with a simple -sword dangling by his side and bars on his shoulder, holding beneath his -military cap a brain power waiting for the sound of clanking chains and -thundering cannon to call him hence to deeds of valor that should compel -the laurel wreath of fame to seek his brow, little thinking then, while -guarding savages, that, away off in the future, his charger would -impatiently call him from repose, and bear him into the face of a -victorious enemy with so much gallantry that he would turn an apparent -defeat into a glorious victory. - -Immediately on our right were the huts of the people for whose especial -intimidation the costly palaces and beautiful cottages had been built. The -huts or houses were built on the hillside sloping toward the valley. They -presented the appearance of a small, dilapidated inland town that had been -"cut off" by a railroad; but they were peopled with Indians who were -trying to imitate their masters. - -Farther away on the left was another little group of houses, occupied by -the chief of the Santiams and his people. The sight of this man's home -recalled a part of his own history, suggestive of romance, wild, it is -true, but real, nevertheless. - -Many years ago, this chief was a young warrior, and his people were at -peace with the white race, and were not then "wards of the Government," -but were living on their native hills, in the vicinity of Mount Jefferson, -standing sentinel over the snowy peaks of the Cascade mountains, on whose -sides were sitting, like great urns, clear, cold lakes, sending forth -little streamlets, murmuring and whispering, and sometimes leaping, like -boys going home from play, joining other merry, laughing streamlets, -rushing madly along through forests of firs and sugar-pines, whose -dropping cones startled the wild game from their repose. - -'Twas here this young warrior's home was nestled, beneath the -outstretched arms of giant cedars, or sheltered by some quiet nook or -cove. Here he had learned the arts of his own people, and passed the -winters by, until alone he could chase the fawns or climb the -mountain-peak, and gather trophies with which to ornament his neck or fill -his quiver. - -A pale-face man from distant Missouri had come to this far country to -escape the familiar sounds of civilization, where he might imitate the -Indian in his freedom and his pleasures. He brought with him his family, -and built his cabin near a fountain, to which medicine men would sometimes -come or send their patients for recovery. - -This white man had a son, with down just cropping on his chin, who, "chip -of the old block," as he was, seemed half Indian already, and, fond of -wild sports, soon made the acquaintance of young Santiam. The friendship -grew, and the rivalry of _archer_ and _gunner_ often drew them into -dispute. Still they were friends. - -The archer claimed that he could creep, and noiselessly shoot from cover, -without giving alarm, until his quiver should be empty, and thus bring -down the chary buck or spotted fawn. The gunner would aver that he could -do better execution at greater distance. These trials of skill were often -made, and each time the difference 'twixt white and red skin seemed to -diminish. The young pale-face would sling his gun and straightway bend his -steps toward the camp of Santiam. By signs that he had learned, he took -the young chief's trail, and followed through wooded plains, or up the -mountain side, until they would hail each other, and then, by agreement, -would separate to meet again at some appointed place, laying a wager who -would be most successful in the chase of black-tailed deer or mountain -sheep. - -The hill-sides had put on autumn hues, and the loftier hills were dressed -in winter's garb, and gave warning to the denizens who spent their summers -near their peaks, that cold weather would soon drive them to the hills -beneath for refuge from the blasts that howl above the roar of mountain -lion or jumping torrents. - -The keeper of the fleecy clouds had given sign of readiness, and, in fact, -had begun to spread the winter's carpet down, to preserve the tender -grasses for the antlered herd, which would return in open spring to train -their limbs for daring feats, in defiance of the feathered arrow, or his -neighbor, the loud-talking gun. - -Santiam, to anticipate their coming, had started in the early morn, while -yet the sun was climbing the eastern slope of Jefferson, and, leaving a -sign imprinted in the snow, for his friend to read, hurried on, hoping -that from ambush he might send his arrow home to the panting heart of the -bounding deer. His friend, anticipating the coming of his rival, had -already gone by another route to the trysting place; while waiting there -for valley-going game, he spied a grizzly bear, and, without knowing the -habits of the monster, he took deliberate aim and fired, but failed to -bring his bearship to the ground. - -These fellows, when undisturbed, are sure to run; but when the leaden ball -had pierced this one's pelt, he exhibited the usual bearish indications of -resentment for insult offered. The pale-face hunter stood his ground, and -sent another ball, merely to persuade his enemy to desist. To those -accustomed to this kind of fight, I need not say that every shot made the -matter worse. These kings of the Cascades yield not to showers of leaden -hail or flocks of flying arrows until the life of their enemy or their own -gives victory. With lumbering gait and open mouth, he closed upon the -hapless hunter, and had borne him to the ground, when Santiam reached the -scene. He hesitated not on which side he would volunteer. Snatching from -his belt a hatchet, and a well-tried knife, he, too, closed on the -grizzly, and drew his attention from his friend, who, in turn, would -attack the wounded monster, and thus alternating between two enemies, he -grew more furious and regardless of consequences. - -Rallying again to renew the desperate struggle, though his life was ebbing -fast, he threw his great body on the pale-faced hunter, when Santiam, with -well-aimed steel at his heart, closed the battle. His friend had been -severely wounded, and lay prostrate on the ground; his torn garments -dripping in blood, his own, and that of his dread enemy, mingled. The -young chief soon had a blazing fire, and then tying up the wounds of his -friend, to stop the flow of blood, he hastened to his home for aid. - -Returning with a cluchman of his tribe, he found his friend sinking fast. -Making a hasty litter of pine limbs, they bore the wounded hunter to his -home. The mother, at the sight of her son so mangled, like a true heroine, -overcame her fear, and made preparation for his comfort. The sister, in -her quiet way, brought refreshment for her brother, and while the father -and his comrade, the "medicine man," were joining their skill to provide -remedies for the wounded one, young Santiam, acting from the precepts of -his people, had hurried back to the battle-ground, and, with his -cluchman's help, soon stripped the pelt from the dead beast, and brought -it to the home of his white rival, and then the "medicine man," with faith -based on tradition's usage, bound up the wounds therewith. - -The days went slowly by, until the danger was passed. Santiam went not to -the chase, unless for choicest food for his friend, but waited beside the -couch of his comrade for his recovery; sometimes joining with the sick -man's sister in watching his slumbers, or, may be, touching hands in -ministering to his wants. - -She, with missionary spirit, sought to teach Santiam words, and the -history, too, of her people, their ways, and higher life than he had -known. He was apt at learning, as my reader may discover by his speech, -recited in this book, made in council years after. His dark eye kindled as -some new knowledge found way to his understanding, and his heart grew -warmer at the sound of voice from pale-faced cluchman. If history be true, -her eye kindled too, at the coming of the quiet step of the young comrade -of her brother, and her heart felt a new, strange fire, that sent its -flame to her cheeks in tell-tale roses. - -Novice though he was in civilized ways, he was a man, and with quick -perception made the discovery that he now cared more for his comrade's -sister than for him; and that even the sister thought of her brother in -the third person. - -This Missouri man had not yet recognized the growing love between his -daughter and young Santiam; and the mother, too, without recalling the -youthful days of her own wooing,--perhaps she had none, but years before, -in obedience to a custom of her own people, had listened to a proposal, -and accepted, because she might "do no better,"--did not recognize the -signs of coming trouble to her household, in the rustic courtship going -on. Why do parents so soon forget their wooing days, and hide the history -from their children, when so nearly all that human nature endures of woes, -or enjoys of bliss, comes through the agency of the emotions and -affections of the heart? - -This guileless girl, cut off from association with her own people by -action of her father, and in gratitude for the young chief's kindness to -her brother, had, under the prompting of the richest emotions that God had -given, opened her heart in friendship first and invited the visitor to -share so much; little dreaming that, when once the guest was there, he -would become a constant tenant, against whose expulsion she would herself -rebel. - -The young chief himself did not realize that the finest, warmest feelings -of the human heart are supposed by greater men to be confined to the same -race or color. Perhaps he thought the Great Spirit had made all alike, not -fixed the difference in the hue of the skin. He was a free man; did not -know that civilization had raised a barrier between the races. He had, -without knowing what he did, found the barrier down, and passed beyond in -natural freedom, and, without thought of wrong, had given full freedom to -his heart. - -The winter passed, and spring had sprinkled the hill-side with flowers. -The wilder herds had fled from the huntsman's horn, and climbed again to -pleasure-grounds, where the tender grasses cropped out from retreating -snow-fields. The rival hunters had again resumed the chase, and spent -whole days in telling stories of the past, or living over the battle of -the preceding autumn. Each rehearsal made them better friends, and -confidence grew mutual. Santiam, with freedom, spoke to his white brother -of the "fire in his heart,"--so these people speak of love,--of the sister -whom he loved. Who ever told a fellow that he loved his sister without -making friendship tremble for the result? - -The pale-face boy of whom I am writing still lives, though grown into gray -manhood, to verify this story. When Santiam had told his story, her -brother was quiet and thought in silence, while the warrior talked on, of -how he would be a "white man" and put away his wild habits, and be his -brother. The other promised that he would consult his family, and thus -they parted for the night. - -The morning found Santiam at the cabin of the "settler," little dreaming -that the friendship they had shown him was so soon to be withdrawn. He saw -the ominous word refusal in the cold reception that he met. One pair of -eyes alone talked in sympathetic glances. He waited to hear no more. - -I would like to accommodate my youthful readers with what would make this -romantic story run on until some happy denouement had been found, and then -resume my work; but I dare not be false to history. The white man moved -away. The Indian remained until, through misunderstanding between his -people and the white race, war ensued; the frontier rang out the fearful -challenge of battle, and victims of both races were offered up to appease -insult and thirst for vengeance. The white hunter and his father united -with others in a war of extermination against the Indians, while they left -a home defenceless. - -Young Santiam refused to war against the white man. He gave protection to -the cabin that sheltered his love of other days. The maiden is maiden yet; -and, though gray hair crowns her head, she is still faithful to the vows -made to her Indian lover in her girlhood. Whether she condemns the usage -of society that forbade her marriage, or blesses it because it saved her -from a savage life, we know not. She may blame her parents for their -short-sighted action in isolating her from those congenial to her heart, -by locating on the frontier where she met Santiam; surely, not for -prohibiting her marriage to him. - -Santiam, at the close of the war, removed with his people to Grand Round -Agency, where he has lived since. Hear him talk in the Salem council of -1871, and judge him by his speeches. Faithful to his compacts, he remains -on his home. Few of those who meet him when he visits Salem know of this -romance of his life, but hundreds give him the hand of friendship. - -[Illustration: GRAND ROUND AGENCY.] - -To resume, Grand Round valley, the name of which suggests its size and -shape, lay stretched out before us, a beautiful picture from Nature's -gallery, embellished by the touches that Uncle Sam's greenbacks had given -to this agency in building churches, halls, and Indian houses, together -with a large farm for general use, and small ones for individuals. - -At every change of Government officers, Reservation Indians show the -liveliest interest, and have great curiosity to see the new man. My -arrival was known to all the people very soon. The Indians of this agency -were more advanced in civilization than those of any other in Oregon. They -had been located by the Government, fifteen years previously. Many of them -were prisoners of war, in chains and under guard, and had been subjugated, -through sheer exhaustion; others were under treaty. Their very poverty and -the scanty subsistence the Government gave, was to them a blessing. -Permitted to labor for persons who lived "outside," passes were given each -for a specified time. Thus their employers became each a civilizer. - -At the time of my first official visit, they had abandoned Indian costume, -and were dressed in the usual garb of white men; many of them had learned -to talk our language. At my request, messengers were sent out, and the -people were invited to come in at an early hour the following day. Before -the time appointed they began to arrive. A few were on foot, the remainder -in wagons, or on horseback; the younger men and women coming in pairs, -after the fashion of white people around them, all arrayed in best attire, -for it was a gala day to them. I noticed that in some instances the women -were riding side-saddles, instead of the old Indian way, astride. - -The children were not left at home, neither were they bound in thongs to -boards, or swinging in pappoose baskets; but some, at least, were carried -on the pummel of the father's saddle. They were clothed like other -children. Strange and encouraging spectacle, to witness Indian men, who -were born savages, conforming to usages of civil life. When once an Indian -abandons the habits and customs of his fathers, and has tasted the air -which his more enlightened brother breathes, be never goes back so long as -he associates with good men. - -These people, in less than twenty years, under the management of the -several agents, had been transformed, from "Darwin's" wild beasts, almost -to civilized manhood, notwithstanding the croaking of soulless men who -constantly accuse United States agents of all kinds of misdemeanors and -crimes. - -When they were first located, they numbered about twenty-one hundred -souls. At the time of which I write, they had dwindled away to about half -that number. - -When the hour for the talk arrived the people filled the council house, -and crowded the doors and windows, so that we found it necessary to -adjourn to the open air for room and comfort. The agent, La Follette, went -through the form of introducing me to his people, calling each one by -name. - -This ceremony is always conducted with solemnity; each Indian, as he -extends the hand, gazing steadfastly into the eye of the person -introduced. They seem to read character rapidly, and with correctness -equal to, and sometimes excelling, more enlightened people. - -First, a short speech by Agent La Follette, followed by the "Salem -tyee,"--superintendent. I said that "I was pleased to find them so far -advanced in civilization; that I was now the 'Salem tyee.' You are my -children. I came to show you my heart, to see your hearts, to talk with -you about your affairs." - -Jo Hutchins--chief of Santiams--was first to speak. He said: "You see our -people are not rich; they are poor. We are glad to shake hands with you -and show our hearts. You look like a good man, but I will not give you my -heart until I know you better." Louis Neposa said: "I have been here -fifteen years. I have seen all the country from here to the Rocky -Mountains. I had a home on Rogue river; I had a house and barn; I gave -them up to come here. That house on that hill is mine;" pointing towards -the house in question. - -Indian speeches are remarkable for pertinency and for forcible expression, -many of them abounding in flights of imagination and bursts of oratory. -Much of the original beauty is lost in the translation, as few of them -speak in the English language when delivering a speech. Interpreters are -often illiterate men, and cannot render the subject-matter with the full -force and beauty of the original, much less imitate the gesture and voice. - -During my residence in the far West, and especially while in Government -employ, I have taken notes, and in many instances, kept verbatim reports, -the work being done by clerks of the several agencies. I have selected, -from several hundred pages, a few speeches, made by these people, for use -in making up my book. It will be observed that the sentences are short, -and repetitions sometimes occur. In fact, these orators of nature follow -nature, and repeat themselves, as our greatest orators do, and their skill -in the art of repetition is something marvellous. This is peculiar to all -Indian councils, though not always recorded. The following are word for -word, especially Wapto Dave and Jo Hutchins' speeches:-- - -Black Tom said: "I am a wild Injun. I don't know much. I have not much -sense. I cannot talk well. I feel like a man going through the bushes, -when he is going to fight; like he was thinking some man was behind a -bush, going to shoot him. I have been fooled many times. I don't know -much. Some tyees talk well when they first come. I have seen their -children wearing shirts like those they gave me; may be it was all right. -I don't know much." - -Solomon Riggs--chief of the Umpyuas--said: "I am not a wild man. I have -sense. I know some things. I have learned to work. I was born wild, but I -am not wild now. I live in a house. I have a wagon and horses that I -worked for. They are mine. The Government did not give them to me. That -woman is my wife, and that is my baby. He will have some sense. I show you -my heart. I want you to give me your heart. I don't want to be a wild -Injun." See speech of Solomon Riggs in Salem Council. - -All the "head men" made short speeches, after which we came to business -talk. Superintendent Meacham said: "I see before me the remnants of a -great people. Your fathers are buried in a far country. I will show you my -heart now. You are not wild men. You are not savages. You are men and -women. You have sense and hearts to feel. I did not come here to dig up -anything that is buried. I have nothing to say about the men who have -gone before me. That is past. We drop that. We cannot dig it up now. We -have enough to think about. I do not promise what I will do, except I will -do right as I see what is right. I may make some mistakes. I want to talk -with you about your agent. I think he will do right. He is a good man. I -will help him. He will help me. You will help us. You are not fools. You -are men. You have a right to be heard. You shall be heard. We are paid to -take care of you. Our time belongs to the Indians in Oregon. The -Government has bought our sense; that belongs to you. The money in our -hands is not ours, it is yours. We cannot pay you the money. The law says -we must not; still it is yours. You have been here long enough to have -sense. You know what you want. You can tell us. We will hear you. - -"If you want what is right we will get it for you. You need not be afraid -to speak out. The time has come when a man is judged by his sense, not his -skin. In a few years more the treaty will be dead. Then you must be ready -to take care of yourselves. You need not fear to speak. Nobody will stop -your mouth. We are ready now to hear you talk. We have shown our heart. -Now talk like men. I have spoken." - -A silence of some moments followed. The chiefs and head men seemed taken -by surprise. They could not comprehend or believe that the declarations -made were real; that they were to be allowed to give an opinion in matters -pertaining to their own interests. I would not convey the idea that my -predecessors had been bad men. They were not; but they had, some of them, -and perhaps all of them, looked on these Indians as wards, or orphan -children. They had not recognized the fact that these people had come up, -from a low, degraded condition of captive savages, to a status of -intelligence that entitled them to consideration. The people themselves -had not dared to demand a hearing. They were subjugated, and felt it too; -but I know in their hearts they often longed for the boon that was offered -to them. - -It is due to the citizens who occupy the country adjoining this agency, in -whose employ the Indians had spent much time in labor on farm, wood-yards, -and various other kinds of business, that they had, by easy lessons, and, -with commendable patience, taught these down-trodden people that they had -a right to look up. "Honor to whom honor is due." - -Wapto Dave, a chief of a small band of Waptos, was the first to speak. He -delivered his speech in my own language: "The boys all wait for me to -speak first; because me understand some things. We hear you talk. We don't -know whether you mean it. Maybe you are smart. We have been fooled a heap. -We don't want no lies. We don't talk lies. S'pose you talk straight. All -right. Me tell you some things. All our people very poor; they got no good -houses; no good mills. No wagons; got no harness; no ploughs. They get -some, they work heap. They buy them. Government no give em. We want these -things. Maybe you don't like my talk. I am done." - -Jo Hutchins--Chief of Santiams--said, "I am watching your eye. I am -watching your tongue. I am thinking all the time. Perhaps you are making -fools of us. We don't want to be made fools. I have heard tyees talk like -you do now. They go back home and send us something a white man don't -want. We are not dogs. We have hearts. We may be blind. We do not see the -things the treaty promised. Maybe they got lost on the way. The President -is a long way off. He can't hear us. Our words get lost in the wind before -they get there. Maybe his ear is small. Maybe your ears are small. They -look big. Our ears are large. We hear everything. Some things we don't -like. We have been a long time in the mud. Sometimes we sink down. Some -white men help us up. Some white men stand on our heads. We want a -school-house built on the ground of the Santiam people. Then our children -can have some sense. We want an Indian to work in the blacksmith shop. We -don't like half-breeds. They are not Injuns. They are not white men. Their -hearts are divided. We want some harness. We want some ploughs. We want a -saw-mill. What is a mill good for that has no dam? That old mill is not -good; it won't saw boards. We want a church. Some of these people are -Catholics. Some of them are like Mr. Parish, a Methodist. Some got no -religion. Maybe they don't need religion. Some people think Indians got no -sense. We don't want any blankets. We have had a heap of blankets. Some of -them have been like sail-cloth muslin. The old people have got no sense; -they want blankets. The treaty said we, every man, have his land. He have -a paper for his land. We don't see the paper. We see the land. We want it -divided. When we have land all in one place, some Injun put his horses in -the field; another Injun turn them out. Then they go to law. One man says -another man got the best ground. They go to law about that. We want the -land marked out. Every man builds his own house. We want some apples. Mark -out the land, then we plant some trees, by-and-by we have some apples. - -"Maybe you don't like my talk. I talk straight. I am not a coward. I am -chief of the Santiams. You hear me now. We see your eyes; look straight. -Maybe you are a good man. We will find out. So-chala-tyee,--God sees you. -He sees us. All these people hear me talk. Some of them are scared. I am -not afraid. Alta-kup-et,--I am done." - -Here was a man talking to the point. He dodged nothing. He spoke the -hearts of the people. They supported him with frequent applause. Other -speeches were made, all touching practical points. The abstract of issues -following that council exhibit the distribution of hardware, axes, saws, -hatchets, mauls, iron wedges; also, harness, ploughs, hoes, scythes, and -various farming implements. The reasonable and numerous points involved -many questions of importance, which were submitted to the Hon. -Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington city.[2] - -[2] See Appendix. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - STOPPING THE SURVEY--WHY. - - -Without waiting for red tape, we proceeded to erect a new saw-mill. The -Indians performed much of the necessary labor. With one white man to -direct them, they prepared all the timber, built a dam, and cut a race, -several hundred yards in length, and within ninety days from "breaking -ground" the new saw-mill was making lumber. - -The Indians formed into working parties and delivered logs as fast as the -mill could saw them. Mr. Manrow, a practical sawyer, was placed in charge -of the mill, and, with Indian help only, he manufactured four to eight -thousand feet of lumber per day. He subsequently remarked that "they were -as good help as he wanted." - -The understanding before commencing work on the mill was to the effect -that it was to belong to the Indians on Grand Round Agency, when -completed. Those who furnished logs were to own the lumber after sale of -sufficient quantity to pay the "sawyer," the whole to be under control of -the acting agent. - -Misunderstandings seem to have arisen between the agent and Indians, -growing out of the sale of lumber manufactured by the mill. The only -misunderstanding that could have arisen, was that wherein the Indians -claim that "the Government would pay the expense of running it,"--the -saw-mill,--and they--the Indians--should have the lumber to dispose of as -they thought best, claiming the right to sell it to the whites outside of -the Reservation. - -It was so agreed and understood as above stated, that the Government agent -was to manage the business, pay the sawyer, and meet such other expenses -as might _accrue, out of the sale of lumber, and the remainder to belong -to parties furnishing logs_, with the privilege of selling to persons -wherever a market could be found. If any other plan has been adopted, it -is in violation of the agreement made with the Indians at the council that -considered the question of building the mills. A full report of that -council was forwarded to the Commissioner at Washington (see page 162), -was filed in the office of Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Salem, -Oregon, and was, or should have been, recorded on the books at Grand Round -Agency. - -The _Indians_ of Grand Round _own_ the _mills_. The funds invested in -their erection did not belong to agent or Government. It was the Indians' -money, and was so expended by their knowledge and request. The sweat of -these people was dropped in the long race, cut for the mills. Every stick -of timber in them was prepared, partly at least, by Indian labor. They had -accepted this little valley at the bidding of a powerful Government, who -had promised them mills (see treaty of 1866), and had constructed inferior -machinery, at enormous expense, that had never been worth one-half the -greenbacks they had cost. - -These people have advanced more rapidly in civilization than any other -Indian people on "the coast." They had learned a great amount of useful -knowledge while working for the white men, to make a living for their -families, when the Government had failed to furnish subsistence for them. -They were now ready to take care of their interests, when men paid to -instruct them had performed their duty. - -If these Indians are ever to manage for themselves, why not begin with -easy lessons, while they have, or are supposed to have, an agent, whose -duty it was to stand between them and the stronger race with whom they are -to mingle and associate? - -I repeat that these Indian men own the mills, and are entitled to the -proceeds, and that it is, and was, an agent's duty to transact such parts -of the business as the Indians could not themselves. What if it did -require labor and care to prevent confusion? The agent was paid for his -time, his business talent, and, if he was unwilling or incompetent, he was -not in a proper position. - -The agent says, "I have allowed them one-half the lumber made, when they -wished to use it for building purposes, retaining the other half for the -department, until such time as it can be used in improvement, or otherwise -disposed of for their common benefit." If the department required lumber, -let the Indians be the _merchants_, and receive the pay. To dispose of it -for their benefit was to compel those who were willing to labor to support -those who were not. Working parties were organized among them by agent La -Follette, and they were to enjoy the privilege, of furnishing saw-logs in -turn; thus encouraging enterprise among them. Klamath Indian mill -furnished several thousand dollars' worth of lumber for the Military -Department at Fort Klamath, and for outside people too, and the proceeds -were paid to the Indians who did the work, or it was invested in stock -cattle for them. In the name of justice I protest, as a friend of the -Indians, against the confiscation, by our Government, of labor and lumber -belonging to the Indians of Grand Round Agency. - -Reference has been made to the allotment of land to these people. The -letter following will give the reader some idea of the manner in which it -was done, and the various questions that were to be considered in -connection with this important episode in the lives of these people.[3] - -[3] See Appendix. - -The enrolment referred to was completed. The surveying was done by Col. D. -P. Thompson, United States Deputy Surveyor. - -While he was engaged in doing this work, the Indians assisted materially, -and followed him in crowds, each anxious to see where the lines would run, -whether they would conform to their preconceived hopes or not. - -The thoughts of these men--for they were men--must have been very -comforting at the prospect of promises being at last fulfilled. Many years -had passed, _waiting, waiting_, waiting for the time to come when they -should have homes "like white men." They well understood the arrangement -in regard to the amount of land that was to be given to each. I have not -the "Willamette Treaty" before me, but, from memory, state, that each -_grown person_ was to have twenty acres, with ten acres additional for -each minor child. - -Col. Thompson, the surveyor, relates, that while engaged in surveying near -the house of a "Wapto" Indian, said Indian came to him with a very serious -face, and requested the suspension of the work. The colonel, being a -humorous man, and patient withal, entertained the petition, but demanded -to know the reason why the survey should stop. - -"Wapto" said, in jargon, "Indian Neeseka-nan-itch-mi-ka, is-cum, twenty -acres; Nika cluchman is-cum, twenty acres; Ni-ka ten-us-cluchman is-cum, -ten acres; Nika ten-us-man is-cum, ten acres; Ma-mook, sixty acres; Al-ka. -You see I get twenty acres, my squaw get twenty acres, my daughter get ten -acres, my son get ten acres, making sixty acres in all. Spose Mesika Capit -mamook icta elihe, Kau-yua nika is cum, seventy acres. Suppose you stop -surveying, and wait awhile, I can get seventy acres, may be eighty acres. -Cum-tux,--understand?" - -The colonel took the hint, when the Indian pointed to the small lodge, -fitted up expressly, as the custom among these people is, for important -occasions of the kind intimated above. - -Whether he changed his course in surveying, he did not say, but went on to -relate, that a few days after the above conversation, the same Indian came -to him and said, "Nika-is-cum, Ten-is-man"--"I have another -boy."--"Klat-a-wa-ma-mook-elihe"--"Go on with the survey."--"Nika is-cum, -seventy acres"--"I get seventy acres." He seemed much elated with the new -boy, and the additional ten acres of land. - -The surveying was completed, but "red tape" was in the way of allotment, -much to the satisfaction of some of the people, who were hoping for as -good fortune as "Wapto," in the same way; others, who were hopeless of -such luck, were anxious for the lands to be set apart at once, because -each new-comer made the chances less in securing good homes, by being -crowded of to make room for the additions that such events demanded. - -The allotment has finally been made. The people are overjoyed, and they -start off on this new order of life with commendable zeal. I have no doubt -of their ability to maintain themselves, when they shall have been -admitted to the new relationships in life. While they have been long in -bondage, treated as dependents, and begrudged the valley wherein they have -been placed by the Government, they have, nevertheless, attained to a -status of manhood that entitles them to consideration. They fully -appreciate such evidences of recognition, and should be consulted in -regard to the expenditure of their funds, the appointment of agents and -employés, the selection of church ministries and school teachers. - -During one of my official visits they assembled to the number of nearly -one hundred, and paraded on horseback, for a grand demonstration. They -were well dressed, and well mounted on good horses. After performing -various evolutions, they drew up in front of the agency office in a half -circle. The leader then made a speech, a portion of which I copy here, -from the memoranda made at that time. It was in American language, and -began, "Mr. Meacham: You our chief. We look on you as our father. We show -you how we get along. We think we white men now. We no Injuns now. We all -Republicans. We know 'bout the big war. We no Democrats. One man he live -with me--he Democrat--us boys all laugh. He get shamed; he good 'publican -now. These all our horses, we work for 'em. S'pose you want us work road, -all right; s'pose you tell us pay the tax, all right. Sometime we vote -just like a white man. All right. S'pose the President want soldier, we -are white men; we know all about everything; we can fight. We are not -boys; we know about law. That's all right. - -"We want to hear you talk. You talk all the same; you talk to white men. -Some of these people don't understand, we tell them; you go ahead, talk -all the time;" meaning I should make a speech without waiting to have it -interpreted. - -I felt then that I was their servant. The Government was paying me for my -time, and whatever of ability I might have. I was not there to make a -hurried call, and go away without doing them good. - -My remarks were, substantially, that I was glad to see them appear so much -like white men; that the Government would give them lands, and would do -right by them. A few years ago, a great many black people were slaves; now -everybody is free. Every man is counted by his sense and conduct, _not_ by -his color. You men are almost white in your habits. You are doing well; -you have made a good start. After the land is allotted, you will each have -a home, and in four years the treaty will be dead; then you can come up -with the white man. You will pay taxes and vote. - -Dave said: "There is something else we want you to talk about. Some of us -Injuns are Catholic; some of us are not. The Catholics don't want to go to -the other meetings. They don't talk all the same. We want to understand -about this religion." - -The agency was, at that time, under the supervision of the Methodist -Church. A Catholic priest had been laboring with these people for many -years, and had baptized a large number of them. - -The assignment of agencies was made without proper knowledge of the -religious antecedents of the people. Many of them had been, from time to -time, under the teaching of other churches, especially the Methodist -Episcopal Church. They had also formed their ideas from association with -the farmers, for whom they had worked at various times. I realized then, -as I have often done, the very embarrassing circumstances that surrounded -the subject. - -If I have ever doubted the feasibility of the church policy, it was -because no well-defined regulations were ever made. Regarding these -matters it is a doubtful question which of the churches named had priority -of right to minister to the people of Grand Round Agency. Though the -Catholics had been many years among them, the Methodists had, at an -earlier date, taught them in matters pertaining to religion. - -I fully realized the importance of Dave's request, and so deferred action -until the Catholic father could be summoned. Father Waller, one of the -early founders of Methodist missions in Oregon, was present. When the -former arrived, the subject was again brought up. In the mean time, -however, a new question arose, and an incident occurred worthy of a place -in this connection. - -The habits of these people are their lives really, and when an old custom -is abolished, the substitute may be clumsily introduced, and not well -understood. I refer to the marriage law. The old way was to buy the girl, -or make presents to the parents until they gave consent for the marriage. -The new order of things forbade this way of performing this sacred rite. - -The hero of this episode--Leander--was a fine, handsome young fellow, who -belonged to Siletz Agency, and from his agent had learned something of the -working of the law. Siletz and Grand Round Agencies are within one day's -ride. - -The heroine--Lucy--lived on the latter, with her parents, who were -"Umpyuas." - -Leander had obtained a pass--permission--from his agent, stating the -object of the visit, and had been well drilled in regard to his rights -under the "new law." He had proposed, and, so far as the girl's consent -was concerned, been accepted. But the parents of Lucy could not be so -easily conciliated. - -It is true they had assented to the new law, but were reluctant to see -Lucy marry a man, and go away to another agency to live. I think, however, -the absence of presents had something to do with their reluctance. Leander -had promised his agent that he would stand by the new law,--make no -presents to the parents. - -The "old folks" founded their objection on other grounds when submitting -the case for settlement. Leander requested a private interview with me. He -then stated that he was willing to pacify the old folks by making a -present or two, if he thought Mr. Simpson would not find out about it. He -declared he never would return to Siletz without Lucy; said he thought she -was a good young cluchman; he loved her better than any on Siletz. "She -is stout; she can work; she can keep house like a white woman. She is no -squaw. I want her mighty bad. You s'pose you can fix it all right? I don't -want them old folks mad at me. They say if she goes away now she get no -land. Can't she get land at Siletz? They don't care for her. They want -some ictas (presents); they want me to wait until you give the land; -that's what they want." - -I promised to arrange the matter for him somehow, although I could see the -difficulties that embarrassed the marriage, as indicated by Leander's -talk. - -Had the allotment of lands been made, no objections would have been had on -that score. The father and mother called upon me, wishing advice. Grand -Round was, at this time, without a general agent, and was running in -charge of a special agent,--Mr. S. D. Rhinehart; hence the duties of an -agent were devolved upon the superintendents, and one of the important -duties is to hear the complaints, and adjust all matters of difference. - -The "old folks" were much excited over this affair of their daughter Lucy, -who had, as her white sisters sometimes do, given evidence of her interest -in the question, by declaring she would marry Leander, and possibly said -something equivalent to the "there now" of a spoiled girl. - -They were much affected. The father's chief objection, I think, was to -prospective loss of ten acres of land; the mother's, the companionship and -services of her daughter, added to a mother's anxiety for the welfare of -her child. She shed some real tears, woman-like. - -The father said, when he would wake up in the morning and call "Lucy," -she could not hear him, and that he would be compelled to go for his horse -when he wanted to ride. Lucy had always done that kind of work for him. - -The conference was protracted, for I recognized in this affair a precedent -that might be of great importance to the Indians of Grand Round Agency -hereafter. I foresee, in the future, some stony-hearted Indian hater, -scowling while he reads this mention of sentiment and feeling on the part -of Indians. Scowl on, you cold-blooded, one-sided, pale-face, protected in -your life, your rights, and even your affections, by a great, strong -Government! - -Finally, all the parties interested were taken into the council. The -mother put some pertinent questions to Leander. - -"Do you ever drink whiskey? Do you gamble? Will you whip Lucy when you are -mad? Will you let her come to see me when she wants to?" - -Leander's answers were satisfactory, and, I think, sincere. He promised, -as many a white boy has to his sweetheart's mother, what he would not have -done to a mother-in-law. That relationship changes the courage, and -loosens the tongue of many a man. - -Lucy was not slow to speak her mind on the subject. "Leander, -Clat-a-wa-o-koke-Sun-Siletz. E-li-he, hi-ka-tum-tum, ni-ak-clut-a-wa. -(Leander goes to Siletz, my heart will go with him, to-day.) -Ni-ka-wake-clut-or-wa-niker, min-a-lous." ("If I don't go, I will die.") -This settled the question. - -Being the first marriage under the new law, it was decided to make it a -precedent that would have proper influence on subsequent weddings. The -ladies resident at the agency, were informed of the affair, and requested -to assist the bride in making preparations for the ceremony. - -Leander was well dressed, but he required some drilling. Dr. Hall, the -resident-physician, assumed the task, and calling two or three boys and -girls to the office, the ceremony was rehearsed until Leander said, -"That's good. I understand how to get married." - -The people came together to witness the marriage. The men remounted their -horses, and formed in a half circle in front of the office, women and -children within the arc, all standing. The porch in front of the office -was the altar. Father Waller, with his long white hair floating in the -wind, stood with Bible in hand. A few moments of stillness, and then the -office door opened, and Leander stepped out with Lucy's hand in his. - -The doctor had arranged for bridesmaids and groomsmen. As they filed out -into the sunlight, every eye was fixed on the happy couple. The attendants -were placed in proper position, and then the voice of Father Waller broke -the silence in an extempore marriage service. Leander and Lucy were -pronounced man and wife, and, the white people leading off, the whole -company passed before the married pair and offered congratulations. - -Great was the joy, and comical the scene. One of the customs of civilized -life was omitted, that of kissing the bride. Father Waller could not, -consistently, set the example, the doctor would not, and, since no white -man led the way, the Indian boys remained in ignorance of their -privilege. - -The horsemen dismounted and paid the honor due, each following the exact -model, and if one white man had kissed the bride, every Indian man on the -agency would have done likewise. - -One young man asked the bridegroom in Indian, -"Con-chu-me-si-ka-ka-tum-tum?" ("How is your heart now?") -"Now-wit-ka-close-tum-tum-tum-ni-ka." ("My heart is happy now.") I have -witnessed such affairs among white people, and I think that I have not -seen any happier couple than Leander and Lucy. - -The dance, in confirmation of the event, was well attended. It being out -of Father Waller's walk in life, and my own also, we did not participate -in the amusement. But we looked on a few moments, and were surprised to -see the women and girls dressed in style, somewhat grotesque, 'tis true, -but all in fashion; indeed, in several fashions. - -Some of them wore enormous hoops, others long trails, all of them -bright-hued ribbons in their hair. Some with chignons, frizzles, rats, and -all the other paraphernalia of ladies' head-gear. The men were clad in -ordinary white man's garb, except that antiquated coats and vests were -more the rule than the exception. Black shining boots and white collars -were there. A few had gloves,--some buckskin, some woollen; others wore -huge rings; but, taken all in all, the ball would have compared favorably -with others more pretentious in point of style, and even elegance. - -These people were apt scholars in this feature of civilization. The music -on the occasion was furnished by Indian men, with violins. Few people are -more mirthful, or enter with more zest into sports, when circumstances are -favorable, than do Indians. - -The day following the wedding, a general council, or meeting, was held. -Father Waller of the Methodist, and Father Croystel of the Catholic -Church, being present, the subject of religion was taken up and discussed. -The facts elicited were, that many of the Indians, perhaps a majority, -were in favor of the Catholic Church. The remainder were in favor of the -Methodist, a few only appearing indifferent. - -Neither of the fathers took part in the "talks." My own opinion, expressed -then and since, on other occasions, was, that the greatest liberty of -conscience should be allowed in religious practice. That the people should -honor all religions that were Christian. No bitter feelings were -exhibited. I attended, at other times, the Catholic Church exercises, -conducted by Rev. Father Croystel. The Indians came in large numbers, some -of them on horses, but the majority in wagons; whole families, cleanly -clad and well behaved. - -Those who belonged to the Catholic Church were devout, and assisted the -father in the ceremonies and responses. The invitation was extended to any -and all denominations to preach; on one occasion a minister came by -invitation, and preached in the office. The attendance was not large, but -the employés of the agency monopolized all the available benches. They -seemed to think that the Indians had no rights. The preacher began his -discourse, and, after dilating on the word of God, with a prosy effort to -explain some abstruse proposition in theology, for half an hour, my -patience became exhausted, and I arose and made the suggestion that, -since the meeting was for the benefit of the Indians, something should be -said which they might understand. More seats were provided, and the -preacher started anew, and when a sentence was uttered that was within the -comprehension of those for whom the preaching was intended, it was -translated. This meeting, however, did not do them very much good, because -it was not conducted in a way that was understood by the Indians. - -The man who was trying to do good had undoubtedly answered when some one -else had been called of God to preach the gospel. He would, perhaps, have -made a passable mechanic, but he had no qualifications for preaching to -Indians. He was not human enough. He was too well educated. He knew too -much. Had he been _less learned_, or possessed more _common sense_, he -might have been competent to teach great grown-up children, as these -Indian people are, in the Christian religion. - -A short colloquy overheard between two of the red children he had been -preaching to would have set him to thinking. The talk was in the Indian -language, but, translated, would have run in about the following style:-- - -"Do you understand what all that talk was about?"--"No; do you? Well, he -was talking wicked half the time, and good half the time. He was telling -about a man getting lost a long time ago. Got lost and didn't find himself -for forty years. That's a big story, but maybe it is so. I don't know. -Never heard of it before." - -I need not say to the reader, that this minister had been preaching about -Moses. Perhaps he was not to be censured. He may have done the best he -could. He did not know how to reach an Indian's heart. - -The schools at this agency were not flourishing. The reason was that the -mode was impracticable. Schools were taught with about as much sense and -judgment as the preaching just referred to. - -After several years of stupid experimenting, at an expense of many -thousands of dollars, there was not among these Indians half a dozen of -them who could read and understand a common newspaper notice. The fault -was not with the pupils; it was the system. - -The Indians of this agency are farther advanced than those of any others -in Oregon, in everything that goes to make up a civilized people. They -have, since the allotment of lands, made rapid progress, and bid fair to -become rivals of other people in the pursuit of wealth, and other -characteristics that make a people prosperous. Some of them are already -the equals of their white neighbors in integrity of character and business -tact. They have abandoned their old laws and customs, and have been -working under civil laws. They elect officers and hold courts, somewhat -after the manner of a mock Legislature; in other words, they are -practising and rehearsing, in anticipation of the time when they shall -become citizens. - -Like all other races, they learn the vices much quicker than the virtues -of their superiors. It cannot be denied that they follow bad examples -sometimes, especially intemperance; but when considered fairly, taking -note of the influences that have been thrown around them; the many -different agents, and kinds of policies under which they have lived; the -fact that they were wild Indians sixteen years ago; that they have been -kept in constant fear of being removed; hope deferred so often and so -long; that they were remnants of many small tribes; that their numbers -have decreased so rapidly,--then they stand out in a new light, and -challenge commendation. - -Lift your heads, Indians of Grand Round! you are no longer slaves; you are -free. - -This agency, with the people who are there now, and who have been there as -Government officers and employés, would furnish material for volumes of -real live romance; racy stories, sad tales, great privations, disease, -death and suffering make up the history of such places. No character -required to make a thrilling drama, a bloody tragedy, or comic -personality, would be wanting. Better live only in tradition, or fireside -story, than in printed page. The latter would embarrass men who have -passed through some of the chairs of office, and poor fellows, too, who -have sponged a living off of "Uncle Sam," and cheated the people of -thousands of dollars, and months of labor, that they were paid for doing. -Let the history die untold, since it could not restore justice to either -Government or people. Some of those who have administered on Grand Round -Agency have left the Indians in much better condition than they found -them, and will live forever in the memory of those they served so -faithfully. - -Before leaving this agency I would state one feature of Indian life that -exists everywhere, but it is less prominent on this than other agencies. - -I refer to the _poor_ and the _old_. Perhaps the last Christian virtue -that finds lodgment in Indian hearts is regard or reverence for age, -especially old women. They are drudges everywhere, and when too old to -labor are sometimes neglected. - -Poor, miserable-looking old women, blind, lame, and halt, charity would -shed more tears at your death than your children would. While this -deplorable indifference for them exists to a fearful extent, there are -notable exceptions, particularly among the Grand Round Indians. In every -council they were found standing up and pleading for something to be done -for the old and poor. These old creatures nearly always hobble to the -meetings, and although they seem fair specimens of the Darwinian theory, -they, nevertheless, have feelings and gratitude even for small favors. A -grasp of the hand seems to impart a ray of sunshine to their benighted -faces. - -A few years more, and all the old ones will be gone, and their successors -will take the vacant places with prospects of more humane treatment than -they have hitherto received. - -Heaven pity the _poor_ and old, for man has little for them that casts -even a glimmer of hope, save on their waiting tombs! - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - - THE AGED PAIR--BIRTHPLACE OF LEGENDS. - - -The scene changes, and we stand on the deck of a river steamer with its -prow pointed eastward. - -For hours we have steamed along in the shadows of the Cascade mountains, -through deep, dark cañons, with walls so high that the smoke-stack of our -little boat seemed like a pipe-stem. "Puny thing" it is. Yet it bears us -over boiling eddies and up rapids that shoot between high rocks like -immense streams of silver from the great furnace of creation. - -We are startled at the sound of the whistle on our deck, and grow anxious -when the nearest cañon answers back, and still another takes up the sound, -and the echo turns to its original starting-point, and finds its own -offspring talking back in fainter voice, until it dies away like the -rumbling of some fast-retreating train rushing through the open field or -wooded glens. - -Soon we are on board the thundering train, whirling away toward the upper -cascades, swinging around curves and beneath ledges, and overhanging the -rushing floods hundreds of feet below. As we fly swiftly along, the -conductor, or some one familiar with this cascade country, points out the -battle-grounds where the red men fought white men for their homes. The -battle was a fierce one, and lasted several days, when the Indians -withdrew. - -There are traditions yet among Indians and white settlers; and it is -related that in former times the Indians who lived along the banks of the -Columbia were employed to assist the white men in transporting goods over -the portages (or carrying places), and they were ill-treated by their -employers, and their rights disregarded. - -The invasion of the country was not the most grievous complaint. They were -furnished whiskey, were debauched, and corrupted as a people, until virtue -was unknown among their women; the men themselves selling their wives and -daughters for the basest purposes. Degraded, polluted, and in despair, -they sought to wreak vengeance on their seducers. - -If those who debased them were the only victims, no just condemnation -could be pronounced against them. - -There is a feeling of respect for the man, though a savage he may be, who -defends his home, and resents imposition even at the risk of life. But -humanity revolts against the butchery of innocent persons, no matter what -the color may be, or the cause of provocation of race against race. - -A few survivors of the Cascade tribes may be found now on Warm Springs and -Yak-a-ma agencies. - -The traveller on the Columbia meets, occasionally, a man and his family, -still lingering around their old homes, living in bark-covered huts, -sometimes employed in laboring for the Steam Navigation Company, who -transport the commerce that passes through the mountain at this point. -These stragglers are poor, miserably degraded savages, and are not fair -specimens of their race. - -An old Indian legend connected with the Cascades has been repeated to -tourists over and over again. It has been written in verse, in elegant -style and forceful expression, by S. A. Clark, Esq., of Salem, Oregon, -published in February number of Harper's Magazine for 1874. The poem is -worthy of perusal, and ought to make the author's fame as a poet. - -The substance of the legend is to the effect, that many, many years ago, -before the eyes of the pale-faces had gazed on the wonders of the -Cascades, the river was bridged by a span of mountains, beneath which it -passed to the ocean; that to this bridge the children of Mount Hood on the -south, and those of Mount Adams on the north, made yearly pilgrimage, to -worship the Great Spirit, and exchange savage courtesies, and to lay in -stores of fish for winter use. The Great Spirit blessed them, and they -came and went for generations untold. - -They tell how the exchange of friendship continued, until at length a -beautiful maiden, who had been chosen for a priestess, was wooed and won -by a haughty Indian brave of another tribe. On her withdrawal from the -office her people became indignant, and demanded her return. This was -refused, and when, on their annual visit, they came from the north and -from the south, bitter quarrels ensued, until, at last, fierce wars raged, -and the rock spanning the river became a battle-ground. Soch-a-la -tyee--God--was vexed at the children, and caused the bridge to fall. Thus -he separated them, and bade each abide where he had placed them. - -The legend still lives fresh in the memory of these Indians, and they -respect the command. Few have changed their residences. The ragged -mountains on either side support well the historic tale. High, bald -summits stand confronting each other, and it requires no effort of the -imagination to see the Great Bridge as it is said once to have stood, and -to hear rising on the winds, the weird, wild songs of the people at the -time of sacrifice. - -At the place where this legend had its origin the "Columbia" is crowded by -its banks into so narrow a channel that an Indian might, with his sling, -make a stone to trace the curves of the ancient arch. The waters rush so -swiftly that the keenest sight can scarcely keep the course of timber -drift in view. The river's bosom is smooth above this rapid flow, and, -widening, takes the semblance of a lake, in whose depth may be seen the -trees that once were growing green, but now to stone have turned; they -never move before the breeze; they sway not, nor yet can yield to the -gentle currents, still standing witnesses of the legend's truth. - -Midway between the shores an island stands, fashioned and fitted for a -burial-ground of the tribes that had oft, in ages past, made use of it at -nature's invitation, and had borne to this resting-place the warriors -whose spirits passed up to the happier lands; while the body resting here -might wait for the coming of some Great Prophet, who should bid the bones -to rise and become part and parcel of human forms, and mingle with those -who remain to build the nightly fires and feed the mouldering bodies of -their dead, until the great past should be re-born and live again attended -by all the circumstances of savage life. - -[Illustration: THE BIRTHPLACE OF INDIAN LEGENDS.] - -Sitting in the pilot-house of the steamer "Tenino," beside "McNulty," her -captain, hear him tell how these people come, at certain times, to pay -honor to their dead; how, in years gone by, from the "Tenino" he could see -the old sachems sitting bolt upright in their wooden graves and calmly -waiting, watching, with sightless eyes, for the coming hour foretold -before they died; how, with fleshless hands, they clutched the rotting -handle of the battle-axe of flint or fishing-spears. - -Then see his eye kindle while he tells you of relic-hunters from the East, -who came on board the "Tenino" with boxes and lines and other devices for -relic-hunting, and requested that he would land them on the shores of this -lone island. You will feel the fire of that eye warming your heart towards -the dead, and living too, when it declares in full sympathy, with the rich -Irish voice, "That while he commands the 'Tenino' _no grave-robbers_ shall -ever disturb the old heroes who sit patiently waiting for their -resurrection. No sacrilegious foot shall leave his vessel's deck to -perpetrate so foul a deed!" - -You will honor him still better when you learn that, in his whole-hearted -generosity, he declares that "No man shall ever disturb the repose of the -congregated dead, on that little island, while he lives, and escape -unpunished." - -Brave, fearless captain, many years have you passed daily in sight, and -scanned their sepulchres; self-appointed guardian, you have been true to -the impulse of a noble heart; you have exalted our opinion of the race you -represent; and for your fidelity to the cause of a common humanity, and -especially to the race whose dark faces seldom light up from recognition -by those whose power has been but the destruction of their own, do we -thank you. - -May many winters come and go before their snows shall bring to you old -age; and when, at last, the "Tenino" shall be laid aside, may you still be -guardian of this spot, so sacred to many a sad and hopeless heart. - -Leaving behind, on our upward journey, the burial-ground of the mountain -tribes, in charge of the faithful McNulty, we pass beneath high rock -cliffs, sometimes near beautiful valleys, with farm cottages and lowing -cattle on hill-side pastures. Through the deep cañons that cut the table -mountains in twain, as if made on purpose for tourists' delight, Mount -Hood, the father mountain, comes suddenly in view; the beauty much -enhanced when seen through nature's telescope, made by rifts in solid -rocks, with sky-lights reaching to the stars above. Words may not give -even a faint outline of the scene. McNulty, though for years he has gazed -on this sublime painting,--at morning, when the shadows cover the -telescope, but light the mountain up; and at evening, too, when both were -shaded,--sees new beauties at every sight; and, not content to worship all -alone, he rings his call to the engineer, and the vessel slackens her -speed, and "rounds to" in proper place, while the captain calls his guests -to the grandest banquet that earth affords, and points out the beauties as -each one paints the panorama on his soul. - -See, there the old Father Hood stands, with his wreath of snow, which he -has worn since the time when man was unknown. Sometimes he hides his -hoary head in clouds, unwilling to witness the injustice done the puny -children who have played around his feet for generations past. We see his -own sons, still in primeval manhood, with heads crowned with fir or -laurel, standing at his side and looking up, are ever ready to bear the -winter's burdens that from his shoulders fall. - -Again we glide on the smooth surface of the shining river until we hear -repeated the captain's call to witness now how impartial God has been, and -to prevent any jealousy that might arise, has made on the other shore, -looking northward, twin telescope to the first, and twin mountain, too, -for now we see another hoary head, rich in clustered snow-banks that -ornament her brow. Mother Adams stands calmly overlooking her daughters, -who modestly wear garlands of wild wood-vines, and heavy-topped fragrant -cedars. She feels her solitude, and when "Hood" draws his mantle over his -majestic shoulders, she, too, puts on a silvery veil of misty wreath, or, -in seeming anger, drapes in mourning and weeps; the deluge of her tears -giving signs of willingness to make friends again. And then these two old -mountains smile and nod, and looking above the clouds that covered the -heads of younger ones, they, giants in solitude, become reconciled. The -lesser ones then peep through the rising mist, and smile to catch their -estranged parents making up. - -Leaving these grand scenes, the mountains, smaller, waste away into gentle -hills, and we feel that we have passed the portals of a paradise, shut out -from ocean storms by great barriers of rocks. The river grows narrow, the -banks are perpendicular walls of solid rocks of moderate height. Rounding -a turn in the river, suddenly comes to view "The Dalles," a small city -near the river brink, nestling in an amphitheatre, formed by curved walls -of rocky bluffs. In times past _The Dalles_ was a starting-point for the -mines of Eastern Oregon and Idaho, and was, also, the seat of a United -States fort. Its streets have felt the tread of merchant princes, and -miners of every grade and color; of the tramping of bands of Indian ponies -brought here to be sold or to parade some red man's wealth; of heavily -ladened wheels bearing merchandise. - -Busy throngs peopled then its streets, but now they are less merry; -business has taken long strides toward surer success and larger life. Long -years ago it was a great resort for Indians, who came to feast and gamble, -and exchange captive slaves. Many old legends date from this post, and -some of them are rich in historic truths; others in romance of human -lives, and, others still, of fairy tales and ghostly stories. - -A few miles above the city the river passes between almost perpendicular -walls of stone, while through the narrow gorge the water leaps from ledge -to ledge in quick succession, making huge billows of the rushing current, -so rapid that no steamer or canoe has ever upward passed, though both have -downward been in perfect safety. At this point the great schools of -salmon, on their journey to the lakes and smaller streams, halt to rest, -and thus prepare themselves for more severe struggles and more daring -feats. Here the red men have, year after year, come to lay in supplies of -salmon. - -These fisheries are of great value, and, when the Portland, Dalles, and -Salt Lake Railroad is completed, will become sources of untold wealth, -furnishing Eastern markets with choicest salmon. Before leaving this -fishery, I would state, for the information of by readers, that the -Indians have some peculiar ideas about salmon. They "run" at regular -seasons of the year, and the Indians gather on the banks and make -preparations for catching and preserving them; but they do not take the -_first_ that come up, because they believe that, since the "Great Spirit" -furnishes them, they should be permitted to pass, in his honor, and -because the _first_ that come are supposed to be bolder, and will succeed -in getting to better spawning-grounds in higher streams. - -The females always precede the males, who follow several weeks later. No -Indian would make use of the first fish caught, because of the sacrilege. -As soon, however, as the "run" fairly begins, the Indians, in their way, -give thanks, by dancing and singing. The ceremonies of opening the fishing -seasons are serious and solemn in character. - -The manner of taking salmon varies. Sometimes they use dip nets, attached -to long poles resting in a crotch or fork, or, maybe, pile of rocks, as a -fulcrum. Others, with spears made of bone, pointed at each end, attached -by a strong cord of sinew at the middle to a shaft made of hard wood, with -three prongs in the end, of each of which a socket is made, wherein one -end of the bone spear is thrust, the cord attachment being of sufficient -length to permit the escape from the socket of the spear. - -Thus equipped a fisherman thrusts the three-tined spear into the water at -random, and when a salmon is struck, the spear leaves the shaft; but, -still secure, turns athwart the fish, and his escape is impossible. When -he is landed the fisherman's work is done. The fish is turned over to the -women and boys, and carried to a convenient camp, where the work of drying -them is performed by first beheading and then splitting them in two -lengthwise. They are spread on long scaffolds built on poles, and with -occasional turning are soon dried by the air and sun. The average weight -of salmon at this fishing is about fifteen pounds, though sometimes much -greater. Some have been taken weighing sixty-five pounds each, and many of -them forty pounds. - -Another noticeable fact is that the nearer the ocean they are taken the -better. Those which succeed in stemming the many rapids en route to the -head-waters are poor and thin, and of little value. They often ascend -streams so small that they can be caught with the hand. It is doubtful -whether they ever return to the ocean. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - - DANGEROUS PLACE FOR SINNERS. - - -Leaving "The Dalles" early one morning in February, 1870, with Dr. W. C. -McKay as guide, I set out on my first visit to Warm Springs Agency. Our -route was over high grassy plains, undulating, and sometimes broken by -deep cañons, occasionally wide enough to furnish extensive farm lands. -Tyghe valley is traversed by two rivers that flow eastward from the foot -of the Cascade mountains. It was, originally, a very paradise for Indians. -It is a paradise still; but not for them. "White men wanted it;" hence our -present visit to Warm Springs. - -In 1855 the several Indian tribes occupying the country east of the -Cascade mountains, as far up as John Day's, south of the Columbia river, -and north of the Blue mountain, met in Treaty Council those who had been -selected as the representatives of the Government. - -The Indians confederated, settling all their difficulties as between -different tribes, and also with the Government. They went into this -council to avoid farther hostilities. From Dr. W. C. McKay I learned that -a body of troops were present; that the Indians insisted on Tyghe valley -as a home; that the Government refused, and that the council continued -for several days; that, finally, under threats and intimidations, the -Indians agreed to accept a home on what is now "Warm Springs Reservation," -the Government agreeing to do certain things by way of furnishing mills, -shops, schools, farms, etc. - -At this time certain members of the Tenino band were in possession of, and -had made improvements of value near, "The Dalles." Under special -agreements in treaty council these improvements were to be paid for by the -Government. - -Nineteen years have passed, and John Mission and Billy Chinook have not -yet received one dollar for the aforesaid improvements. These men were -converts to Christianity under the ministration of Father Waller and -others, who were sent out by the Methodist Church as missionaries. These -Indians are still faithful to the vows then taken. - -Here is a good subject for some humane, sentimental boaster of national -justice to meditate upon. - -Had these men broken their compact with the Government, they would have -been punished; and, had they been like other Indians who have figured in -history, they would have been at last rewarded; not because the Government -is prompt to do them justice, but because they would have _compelled_ -justice to come to them, though filtered by blood through the bones of -innocent settlers and sweetened by tears and groans of widows and orphans. - -Strong language this, I admit; but history supports the declaration. For -nineteen years have these two humble red-skinned men waited patiently for -remuneration; for nineteen years have they waited in vain. Poor fellows, I -pity you! Had you a vote to give, your claim might have been paid years -ago. Then some ambitious politician, anxious to secure your suffrage, -would have importuned the department at Washington to do you justice; and -the department, anxious for influence in Congress, would have recommended -payment, and some member would have found it to his interest to "log-roll" -it through. But you are unfortunate; you cannot vote. You are no trouble; -you are peaceable and faithful, and you _dare_ not now make any noise -about your claim. You are dependent on a Government that has so much more -important business to look out for, you are unknown. - -Rebel once against your masters, and millions would be expended to punish -you. A few thousands would make you rich, and would redeem the honor of -the other "high contracting power." But you will not be made glad now in -your old age, because you are but "Injuns," and the good ones of your -people "are all under ground." So say your white brethren, who now own -what was once your country. Be patient still. The God, of whom you learned -from the lips of the honored dead, will yet compel a nation of conquerors -to drink the bitter dregs of repentance, and though you may never handle -one dollar of the money due you, your children may. And somewhere in the -future your race may come upon the plane where manhood is honored without -the question of ancestry being raised. - -Climbing a steep bluff, going south from Tygh valley, we look out on an -extensive plain, bordered by mountain ranges, facing us from the further -side. Forty miles brings us, by slow and ever-increasing easy grades, to -the summit of the plain, where the road leads down a mountain so steep, -that two common-sized horses cannot even manage a light carriage without -rough-locking the wheels. From the starting-point into the chasm below, a -small stream, looking like a bright ribbon that was crumpled and ruffled, -may be seen. Down, down we go. Down, still down, until, standing on the -bank of Warm Springs river, we behold the ribbon transformed into a rapid -rushing current of snow-water, whose very clearness deceives us in respect -to its depth. We drive into it at a rocky ford, and we are soon startled -with the quick breathing of our team, while the water seems to rise over -their backs, and we, standing on the seat, knee deep, encourage our horses -to reach the other shore. - -For nineteen years has the business of this agency been transacted through -this current. We are on the other side, vowing that "Uncle Sam" _must_ and -_shall_ have this stream bridged. So vowed our predecessors, and so our -successors, too, would have vowed had they ever passed that way. A few -miles from the crossing and near our road we see steam ascending, as if -some subterranean monster was cooking his supper and had upset his kettle -on the fires where it is supposed wicked people go. The nearer we came to -the caldron the more we were convinced that our conjectures were correct, -and stronger was our resolve to keep away from such places. Brimstone in -moderate quantities scattered along the banks of this stream adds to our -anxiety to reach a meeting-house, where we may feel safe. - -This spring gives name to the Reservation, though twelve miles from the -agency; to reach which, we climb up, up, up once more to another high -sterile plain, devoid of everything like vegetation save sage bush. Mile -after mile we travel, until suddenly the team halts on a brink, and we, to -ascertain the cause, alight. Looking down, away down below glimmer a dozen -lights. Tying all the wheels of our vehicle together and walking behind -our team for safety, we go down into this fearful opening in the surface -of the earth, and find "Warm Springs Agency" at the bottom of the chasm. - -The country comprising this Indian Reservation is desolate in the extreme; -the only available farming lands being found in the narrow cañons hemmed -in by high bluffs. The soil is alkaline and subject to extreme drought. - -The Indian farms are small patches, irregular in shape and size. They were -originally enclosed by the Government at great expense. - -Remnants of the old fences may be seen, bearing witness of the way in -which Government fulfilled its promises: round blocks of wood, on some of -which the decaying poles still lie, the blocks being from ten to twenty -feet apart; above them other poles were staked, and thus the fences were -made. - -Calculation on the cost of this fencing would probably exhibit about five -dollars per rod. In later years the Indians have rebuilt and improved -fences and houses. - -The department farm occupies the _best_ portion of the valley, and is -cultivated for the benefit of the _department_; seldom, if ever, -furnishing supplies or seed for Indians. The government buildings are -generally good, substantial and comfortable for the employés. - -The schools are not well attended, and are of but little value to the -Indians,--the fault, however, resting principally with the Indian parents, -who seem to have but little control over their children, and do not compel -attendance. - -A large number of the Indians are professedly Christian, and are making -progress in civilization. The remainder are followers of "Smoheller," the -great dreamer,--a wild, superstitious bigot,--whose teachings harmonize -with the old religions of these people. The Christian Indians are anxious -for their young men to learn trades, and become like white men in -practices of life. - -The others are tenaciously clinging to the old habits of wild -Indians,--isolating themselves from the Christian Indians and the agent. - -Thus a wide difference is manifest among these people, apparently growing -out of their religions. This is the real cause of difference; but why this -difference exists is a question that is not difficult to answer. - -The Indians who were located near the agency, where they could attend -Christian service, were almost all of them Christianized; while those -whose houses were remote from the agency, thus left to care for -themselves, were followers of "Smoheller." Had these people been permitted -to select Tygh valley, in 1855, _all_ of them might have been civilized; -because then all would have had productive farms and been under the -immediate eye of the agent. - -If, then, they were compelled to accept homes that did not furnish them -the means of subsistence and employment, it is the natural conclusion and -the legitimate result of the bad management of the Government when making -the treaty under which the Indians accepted this great fraud in lieu of -their own beautiful homes. - -The climate of Warm Springs differs materially from that of Grand Round, -Siletz, or Alsea, being sheltered by the Cascade mountains from the heavy -rains of the Willamette valley, but, being much higher, is dryer, and in -winter much colder. The mountains act as a great refrigerator; hence snows -are common, though seldom to an extent that prevent cattle and horses from -living through without being fed. - -The people are somewhat different in physique and habit. They are braver, -and more warlike, and, in times past, have demonstrated their right to -that character. Since they became parties to the treaty of 1855, they -have, in the main, been faithful to the compact, the exceptions being -those who were led away by the religion of "Smoheller." Nothing serious -has yet grown out of this "new departure." What may occur hereafter -depends entirely on the management of the department. - -In the treaty of 1855 the confederated bands of middle Oregon reserved the -right to the fishery at "The Dalles," of which I have written at some -length, on a former page. In 1866 a supplemental treaty was made with them -by my predecessor,--the late Hon. J. W. P. Huntington,--by which the -Indians released all claim to said fishery. The consideration was paltry, -but was promptly paid by the Government, and has long since been expended. - -The Indians who were parties to the two treaties referred to declare, most -emphatically, that they did not understand the terms of the latter one; -that they only consented to relinquish, so far as the _exclusive right_ to -take salmon was considered; but that they supposed and understood that -they were still to enjoy the privilege in common with other people. A -careful examination of the said treaty discloses the fact that they had -entirely alienated all their right and interest thereto. - -When the lands covering these fisheries were surveyed and selected as -State lands, they were taken up by white men and enclosed with fences, -preventing the Indians and others from having access thereto except on -payment of a royalty or rental. The Indians, not understanding the right -of the parties in possession, opened the enclosure, and really, in -violation of law, went to the grounds where they and their fathers had -always enjoyed, what was to them almost as dear as life, the privilege of -taking salmon. - -A compromise was made, the Indian Department paying the claimant the -damage done to the growing crops through which the Indians had passed to -the fishery. I submitted the question of releasing this land to the -department at Washington, and also to the State land officers. The -Government, and State land agent, Col. Thos. H. Cann, manifested a -willingness to do justice to the wards of the Government. - -No further action was ever taken, to my knowledge, by the federal -authorities. I suppose that it was overlooked and forgotten. The injustice -stands yet a reproach to a forgetful government. - -"A bargain is a bargain," so says the white man; and truly enough it may -be held right in a legal view to compel the Indians to submit to whatever -they may agree to. But there was a wrong done them in this instance that -ought to have been undone. The plea, that so long as they were permitted -to make annual visits to the Columbia river to take fish, would interfere -with their civilization, because of the bad influences of vicious white -men with whom they came in contact, and urged in justification of the -treaty whereby they yielded their rights in the premises, was a severe -commentary on American Christian civilization, but may have been just. - -It is a fact that cannot be questioned, that the virtue of the natives, -until debauched by association with _low whites_, is far above that of the -latter, and that the Indian suffers most by the contact. Had the -commissioners who conducted the treaty of 1855 consented to select Tygh -valley for a Reservation, no necessity would have existed for the Indians -to obtain fish for subsistence. - -Warm Springs Agency I have and ever will declare to be unfit for civilized -Indians to occupy. Since they were compelled to take up their abode -thereon, not one season in three, on an average, has been propitious for -raising farm products. When a people hitherto accustomed to ramble -unrestrained, are confined on a reservation that has not the necessary -resources to sustain them, they should be permitted the privilege of going -outside for subsistence. - -Shame on a powerful people who would deny them this privilege; yet it is -done. While these Indians on Warm Springs have had many hindering causes -why they should not progress, they have nevertheless made decided -advancement in the march from savage to civilized life. The fact of their -living on unproductive soil has not been the only impediment in their -way. To enable my readers to understand more fully this subject, I will -introduce the subjoined letter from the present acting agent on Warm -Springs Reservation,--Captain John Smith. Early in February, 1874, I -addressed a letter to him, stating my purpose of writing this volume, and -requested him to furnish me with such facts as he would be willing to have -appear in my book over his own signature. - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - - THE PARSON BROWNLOW OF THE INDIAN SERVICE. - - -To my readers of the Pacific coast, I need say nothing in commendation of -this writer. He is too well known to require an introduction. But that his -communication may be appreciated by those who do not know "The Captain," -it may be well to state that he is a member of the old-school Presbyterian -church, has long resided West, is respected by all who know him, as a man -of unimpeachable honor and integrity. His heart is in his work, and he -talks and acts toward the Indians under his charge more as a father than -as an officer. A zealous churchman and partisan, he is positive in -character, and fearless as a speaker; while he may be lacking in some -minor qualities, he has so many important and useful ones that qualify him -for his position, that the deficiency, if any, is not felt. As a christian -civilizer of Indians he ranks with Father Wilber, of Yakama, and other -noble-hearted men. - -Warm Springs has been assigned to the Methodist Church; yet so much -confidence has Captain Smith inspired by his success, that they have not -recommended his removal. In this they have consulted the higher and purer -motives that should, and often do, control men in important matters. _He_ -should be permitted to hold his office _during life_. - -This communication, coming from such a man, is worthy of careful -consideration; touching, as it does, the key-notes of the great question -of the Christianization of the Indians. - - WARM SPRINGS AGENCY, OREGON. - - HON. A. B. MEACHAM:-- - - MY DEAR SIR,--Believing that the work you contemplate publishing - is designed to teach the minds of men the capability of the - Indian race to be morally, religiously and socially advanced; - and having had the experience of a residence of some seven years - among the confederate tribes and bands of Middle Oregon, as - agent; and further believing that I have in some degree mastered - the great problem of their civilization, I willingly contribute - anything that may serve to give your readers a correct idea of - the progress they have really made; and they are still going - forward. - - It will be necessary to go back to the time I first came among - them. A more degraded set of beings I am sure did not exist on - the earth, nor was the condition of most of the Indians on this - coast much better. - - The mind of man would not conceive that human beings could get - so low in the scale of humanity as they were; and I am sure, if - they had been left to the instincts of their own wild and savage - natures, they could never have been so low down as they were. - - God's holy Sabbath was set apart as a day of licentiousness and - debauchery. Drinking and gambling had become common. Their women - were universally unchaste, and were taught to believe that - lewdness was a commendable practice, or even a virtue. - - Diseases and death were entailed on their posterity. The men had - to submit at the point of the bayonet; the consequence was, the - Indians had lost all confidence in the honesty and integrity of - white men. - - This state of affairs was principally owing to the military - being brought into close proximity to them. Some of the officers - had built houses, and were living with Indian women. - - After I came here (the military having been removed previously) - the Snake Indians commenced making raids on the Reservation. - - I was asked "if I wished the military to protect us." I - answered, "No." I preferred the raids of the Snake Indians to - the presence of the soldiers; for I doubted if I would be able - in twenty years to wipe out the evidences of the military having - been amongst them; and I am sorry to say, that the agents and - employés set over them to teach them had also contributed - largely to their degradation. - - One of the agents has been frequently heard to say, "that he - thought the best way to civilize the Indians was to _wash out_ - the color." They had accomplished what they were able to in that - line. While it is certain that one agent came here a poor man, - and went away wealthy, to say nothing of the lesser pickings - which employers and contractors were allowed to take. - - How to restore the lost confidence in the white man seemed on my - arrival a herculean task. My first work was to get rid of all - contaminating influences, by discharging bad men and filling - their places with good, moral, and religious persons. The - reformation at first seemed slow, but gradually increased from - day to day. I was soon able to start a Sabbath school, and - divine services were held every Sabbath. - - The Indians, old and young, were placed in classes, and - appropriate teachers set over them. Soon our large and - commodious house of worship was filled to its utmost capacity by - old and young, male and female, all seemingly eager to pick up - the crumbs of comfort that fell from God's holy word; and from - Sabbath to Sabbath this was continued. - - Then came a change; officers from the army were ordered to - relieve agents. The Sabbath was soon disregarded; Christian and - moral men had their places made unpleasant, and were compelled - to resign. Their places were filled by others who cared for - nothing of the kind, and everything was relapsing into its - former condition. - - When I was again permitted to return I found things but little - better than when I first came. However, I immediately set to - work again, and, I think I can truly say, with full success. We - have now three Bible-classes that read a verse around, and seem - to comprehend very well what they read. - - The old men are all in a class, and a person is appointed to - read a chapter and explain it to them every Sabbath day. Many - who cannot read can quote a large amount of Scripture. Quite a - number, both men and women, lead in prayer, and many families - maintain family worship, seemingly living Christian lives. We - give out a psalm; many of the young people find it about as - readily as we do, and can lead the music. The first week of the - new year was observed as a national prayer-meeting, which was - well attended; some for the first time acknowledging Christ as - their Saviour. We have at this time nearly one hundred - professing to live Christian lives, and we seem to be adding, - from day to day, such as I hope will be saved. Our day-school - has been a great success for the last two years; before that it - was a failure, and I am now convinced that it was the fault of - the teachers not understanding the management of Indian - children. We have quite a number of children who read and speak - fluently, commit to memory easily, using the slate to advantage, - demonstrating their capability to learn as readily as white - children, provided they can have the same advantages. - - There are white children in the school who do not advance as - rapidly as some of the Indian children, thus exploding the - general opinion that, as a race, they are merely imitative - beings, but cannot originate an idea. The true Indian character, - I fear, is very little understood, and still it seems almost - anybody can write lectures on it, and with about as much truth - in them as Æsop's fables contain. - - I have found them much more susceptible of moral and religious - advancement than the white man, giving them the same - opportunities; and I account for it in the fact that you never - find an infidel among them unless made so by white men. They all - acknowledge a Supreme Being that overrules all things. They may - have a very crude notion of the worship due to such a Creator, - but so soon as they are taught the true worship, they become - very zealous, and they have no scoffers to discourage them. - - One fatal error has been in admitting them into churches, - without any change of heart, to enjoy all its privileges; - consequently they were not restrained by any inward principle, - and never became any better. To make a Christian religious, - intelligence, as well as zeal, is necessary. If we are to be - judged by God's law, we should be acquainted with it, and it is - as needful for an Indian as for a white man to know _that_ law - in order to become a Christian. - - The Catholics take them into the church, whether converted or - not; and they are never made any better, but rather worse, for - they are kept ignorant and superstitious. This was the case - here, and these Indians are well aware of these facts. I have my - doubts if a single Indian can be found on this coast that has - been made any better by the Catholics. - - I am credibly informed that they say mass in the morning, then - run horses and play cards the remainder of the day; and all this - under the eye of the priest. - - At the time of my coming here polygamy was indulged to the - fullest extent. Their women were bought and sold, and used as - beasts of burden, and when old, were kicked out at pleasure, to - get their living as best they could, or die of want. - - I immediately set myself to work to remedy this evil, by telling - them it was in violation of God's holy word; then I was asked - why we did not put a stop to it among the Mormons. I finally - succeeded in securing a law prohibiting it in the future; - allowing all who had more than one wife to get rid of her as - best they could, but any one violating the law should be - punished by fine or imprisonment. - - I was soon after enabled to pass an amendment that where there - was more than one wife, if one wished to leave, their husbands - had no control over them. Under this rule nearly all had left. - - On last Sabbath, a woman got up in church and said she was fully - convinced that she had been living in violation of God's holy - word. She had lived with her husband a long time; he had always - treated her well, and she loved him,--but she loved her Saviour - more, and for the sake of heaven and happiness she had to give - him up. She was much affected. I was reminded of the words of - our Saviour when he said, he had "found no such faith, no, not - in Israel." - - Her confession has led others to the same conclusion; and I - think we can truly say, the days of polygamy are ended among - these people, or soon will be. The merchandise of their women - was a source of great annoyance to them. Their girls brought - from three to ten head of horses, owing generally to the manner - their parents were able to dress them for the market. This - system was very hard to get rid of, but it has entirely ceased - for the last three years. By law they are required to be married - by the agent; for violation of this law they are punished. No - divorces are granted, except in cases of adultery. Cards, or any - other devices for gambling, found about their premises, make - them liable to a fine of twenty-five dollars, or ten days' work - on the highway; as does, also, gambling, or drinking ardent - spirits, and refusing to tell where it was obtained. Adultery is - severely punished; and now I am able to add another law entirely - prohibiting polygamy. - - Our court consists of the "Head Chief" and six selected men,-- - the agent presiding, an Indian acting as sheriff, who arrests - and brings into court all offenders, and subpoenas witnesses. The - councils are always opened by prayer by some of the Indians. - - Their agricultural affairs and social relations have undergone a - great change. When I came among them they were wrapped up in - their filthy blankets, eating their meals--if meals they could - be called--off the ground like the pigs. - - They had but few houses. Their crops probably did not exceed - three hundred bushels in any season; they were living on the - roots they digged in the mountains and the fish they caught in - the streams, and not one pound of anything on the Reservation. I - purchased for them a limited amount of seed--they packing it - forty miles. This enabled them to raise five thousand bushels of - wheat, with a good supply of assorted vegetables. - - This seemed to give them new life, and they have been steadily - increasing ever since. - - Their crop, the last season, has been estimated at from twelve - to fifteen thousand bushels of wheat, with an abundance of - vegetables of all kinds. - - Now they have some forty houses, with logs hauled and lumber - partly sawed for perhaps twenty more. - - Many families sit around tables well furnished with the luxuries - common with white people. As to their dress, they will compare - very favorably with many country congregations. - - The women and children come to church clean and nice, many of - them dressed equal to white women. - - I have built a house, 18 × 42 feet, for a female school. In this - house, if I shall remain here a short time longer, I shall - expect to accomplish much, as I propose to teach their women - domestic economy,--a thing they are very little acquainted with, - as are they also with the preparation of vegetable foods, to - make them palatable; and for this reason they are less used - than they should be, and they depend too much on the chase and - fisheries. - - This makes it necessary to leave their homes at times, and keeps - up filthy habits, and their homes are not made comfortable as - they would be if they looked to the ground for support; and they - could be better induced to give up the chase and become settled - and comfortable, much to the benefit of their health. - - During the last year probably less than one half of the usual - number left the Reservation in search of food, and I find the - increase in numbers has been surprising. In roaming around, - their children can never be educated, as they only come to - school in the winter months, and forget what they learn by the - next winter. - - The sooner Indians can be brought to look to the earth for a - support, the better; or, in other words, the Bible and the - plough are the only civilizers of the human family. - - That has been my experience with these Indians, notwithstanding - the scoffs and jeers of infidels, who would like to bring all - mankind down to a level with the wild and barbarous Indians; and - these are generally the kind of men who wish them transferred - from the civil to the military authorities. - - This experiment has been tried, and we have seen the result. - They may have been in some measure controlled, but never made - any better,--always worse. Their object has been to control - them,--not to civilize them. - - President Grant's humane policy _has done more towards - civilizing the Indians than all things heretofore done_; and it - is yet in its infancy, while everything that could be has been - brought to bear against it, to make it unpopular if possible. - - Here let me say a word in regard to yourself. I have the fullest - confidence that the earnest manner in which the work was - seconded and pushed forward during your superintendency has - greatly contributed to its success among the Indians of Oregon, - who, I think, can compare favorably with any others in the - United States. - - Good results were apparent among these Indians, and I presume - also others, immediately after the holding of that general - council at Salem in the fall of 1871. What they saw and heard - there gave them faith in the good intentions of the Government - towards them, and encouraged them to try and do something for - themselves; and your general manner of treating and talking to - them was well calculated to inspire them with confidence and a - desire for improvement. - - These Indians have been repeatedly advised to leave the - Reservation by designing men, on the ground that under the - fourteenth amendment to the Constitution they are citizens, - entitled to both settle where they please, and to enjoy all - other rights appertaining to citizenship. - - They have succeeded in drawing away something over a hundred, - who are roaming over the country; and some fears are entertained - that should the military attempt to force them to return there - may be trouble, and perhaps a repetition of Modoc scenes. - - If this should be the case, the fault clearly would not be with - the policy of the administration, but with its enemies, who by - their mischievous interference have induced the Indians to - leave. - - I think the facts will bear me out in the statement that if the - only contact of the Indians with the whites had been with true - Christian men, there never would have been any, or, at least, - very little trouble with them. - - The cases are not wanting where men of high moral and Christian - character have succeeded admirably in controlling Indians, by - showing decision and firmness where it was needed, leniency and - favor where it was appreciated, and dealing honestly and - honorably in all things. - - The results shown, where the contact was between them and such - men, even though it did not continue for any great length of - time, indicate clearly enough what might have been the present - condition of these "wards of the nation" if none but good - influences had been brought to bear upon them. We should have - heard fewer details of revolting massacres, there would have - been fewer costly wars and campaigns, that now go to fill up the - pages of U. S. history; and it is no idle fancy, but a logical - deduction, to presume that they might at present be - self-supporting, instead of at the expense they now are, and - must be for some time to come; if indeed they were not able to - contribute something to the support of the Government. Very much - might be said on this subject, but as you probably prefer facts - to theories, incidents to deductions, I will not intrude mine - upon you. - - Hoping that your work may be successful in assisting to lead - people to form just and correct conclusions and ideas in regard - to the Indian question, - - I remain, - - Yours respectfully, - - JOHN SMITH, - - _U. S. Indian Agent at Warm Springs, Oregon._ - -Here is a man talking of a subject who knows whereof he writes; so far at -least as relates to his own experience and observation. - -His success, as declared by his letter, is established by many living -witnesses, and the anthems of praise that go up from this mountain home of -the red men. - -The reader who peruses the foregoing letter will not fail to discover that -Captain Smith's heart is in the work, and that he is animated by a true -Christian spirit in his labors with his people. - -I do not, however, endorse all his strictures on the effects of the -Catholic Church, in its labors in behalf of the Indian race. I know many -worthy men, who are honestly laboring for them, who are members of the -Catholic Church. There is a difference in the polity of that and -Protestant Churches, and, however strong my own prejudices may be in favor -of the latter, I am not insensible to the fact that the Catholic Church -has manifested a great interest in these people. Let them be judged by -their works. - -Unfortunately for the world, Christianity has not, and does not, divest -its followers of the common inheritance of poor weak human nature, and of -the passions and prejudices that close our eyes to the virtues and honor -due those who differ from us. More charity, more justice, preached and -practised, would make man far happier. - -In December, 1871, I visited Warm Springs Agency. I remained several days; -during which time a series of meetings were held at the agency. From the -record kept of that meeting I make a short synopsis. Agent Smith, when his -people were assembled in the school-house, called on an Indian to offer -prayers. I confess that I was somewhat surprised to witness the response, -by a man whose childhood had been passed in a wild Indian camp, and whose -youth had witnessed scenes of warfare against the white man, and who had -been compelled to accept this poor home, in lieu of the beautiful prairies -of "John Day's" river country,--the name of a branch of the Columbia. A -hymn was sung by the people. Nowhere have I ever seen exhibited a more -confiding trust in God than was shown by them. - -After the preliminaries were over, a discussion was opened on the several -matters pertaining to the interests of the Indians,--their church, school, -business matters, investment of funds, etc. - -The social and civil customs were brought up. We insisted that polygamy -was a great crime, and that they should abolish the law permitting it. - -The meeting increased in interest and earnestness for several days. We -finally proposed that those of them who were willing should come out -squarely and renounce all their old ways, and take new names, or, at -least, add to their old ones a plain American name. The people were warmed -in their hearts. The occasion was one of intense interest. Here were those -who had come up from a low, debased condition, through the labors of -Christian white men, until they stood on the threshold of a higher life -than they had as yet known. It was to them an important step. - -The speeches made gave evidence of thought and forecast of mind. They did -not rush blindly forward without counting the cost. - -This scene reminds me of a Methodist camp meeting in olden time, when -people were moved by some invisible power to flee from the wrath to come; -when the preacher would call, and exhort, and pray, and a great -overshadowing presence touched all hearts, and drove away careless -thoughts and selfish purposes, and the multitude would seem to melt and -mingle in common sympathy; when saints could throw their arms around -sinners, and make them feel how much they loved them, and how earnestly -they desired their salvation; when brave old sinners hesitated, faltered -and trembled, and strong, brave Christians would then renew the contest in -behalf of religion. Men who had knocked elbows for life would meet at a -common altar, or gather in knots and surround some stubborn, hard-hearted -sinner, who, with thoughtful brow, would whittle sticks and spit, and -whittle again, sometimes throwing the chips away from him, indicating "I -won't;" and then, when some more pointed word of argument, or love, was -sent home to the sinner's heart, he would turn the stick and whittle the -chips toward him, thus saying, "I may;" until at last, when the preacher -calls, "Who will be the next?" the repentant one drops his stick, shuts -his knife, draws his bandanna to his eyes, starts forward, escorted by his -pious exulting friends, who clear the way for the now penitent man. - -The preacher comes down from the stand, clapping his hands, and with -streaming eyes shouts, "Thank God, another sinner has turned to the Lord!" -extends his hand, and utters a few kind words in the listening ear, and -resumes, "Who will be the next?" - -A cowardly sinner, who dares not come out from the world, and is not brave -enough to stand before the battery of divine power, turns and flees, not -from the wrath to come, but from the means that are intended to make him -whole. He is followed by kind-hearted Christian friends and brought back, -and he, too, surrenders; and the preacher says, "Thank the Lord!" and the -brethren shout, "Amen! Amen." - -And thus the work goes on until all are converted, or give evidence of -penitence, save, perhaps, some strong-willed, hard-hearted, cool-headed -one, and then especial efforts are made in his behalf. If he does, at -last, yield his stubborn will, the joy is unbounded. - -This picture I have made, is a true one of western camp-meetings, and -equally true of the Indian meeting held at Warm Springs in December, 1871. -I was to that what the presiding elder was to a camp-meeting. Capt. Smith -was the "preacher in charge." After one or two days of speech-making, when -all hearts were thoroughly aroused, the proposition above referred to was -made. I shall never forget the scene that followed. "Who will be the first -to throw away his Indian heart, laws, customs, and be from this day -henceforth a white man in everything pertaining to civilization?" Silence -reigned; all eyes turned toward "Mark," head chief. He realized the -situation, saw how much of the welfare of his people depended on his -example. He saw, besides, his three wives and their ten children. - -He arose slowly, half hesitating, as though he had not fully made up his -mind what to do. The presence of his women embarrassed him. He said, "My -heart is warm like fire, but there are cold spots in it. I don't know how -to talk. I want to be a white man. My father did not tell me it was wrong -to have so many wives. I love all my women. My old wife is a mother to the -others, I can't do without her; but she is old, she cannot work very much; -I can't send her away to die. This woman," pointing to another, "cost me -ten horses; she is a good woman; I can't do without her. That woman," -pointing to still another, "cost me eight horses; she is young; she will -take care of me when I am old. I don't know how to do; I want to do right. -I am not a bad man. I know your new law is good; the old law is bad. We -must be like the white man. I am a man; I will put away the old law." - -Captain Smith, although a Presbyterian, behaved then like an old-fashioned -Methodist, shouting, "Thank God! Thank God, the ice is broke!" - -Mark remained standing, and resumed: "I want you to tell me how to do -right. I love my women and children. I can't send any of them away; what -must I do?" The old chief was moved, and his upheaving breast gave proof -that he was _a man_. Silence followed, while he stood awaiting the -answer,--a silence that was felt. - -Here was a people, in the very throes of a new life, making effort to -overcome the effects of savage birth and education. The heart of this -question was bared. This old superstition was still lingering in their -lives, part and parcel of the very existence of the people. It remained -with them even after they had put away their religious faith and accepted -that of their Christian teachers. - -We had long before seen the struggle that it would cost,--the -embarrassments that polygamy threw into the question. Our mind was made -up, or we thought it was, and, motioning the chief to be seated, we arose -and said:-- - -"I know how much depends on my words. This is a great question. It has -always been a hard thing to manage. My heart is not rock. I sympathize -with you; Captain Smith feels for you. We will tell you what to do. No man -after this day shall ever marry more than one woman. No woman shall ever -be sold. The men that have more than one wife must arrange to be lawfully -married to one of them. The others are to remain with him until they are -married to other persons, or find homes elsewhere. If they do not marry -again, the husband must take care of them and their children." - -After a few moments, the chief arose, and said, "I understand; that is -right. I will give all my wives a choice. I will be a white man from this -day;" and then, advancing toward the desk, he was welcomed by friendly -greeting from the white men present. - -Holding him by the hand I said to him, "I welcome my red brother to our -civilization. You are now a man; our people do not consider the color of a -man; it is his heart, his life. What name will you take?" - -He hesitated, looking down for a moment; then raising his eyes to my own -with earnest gaze, he inquired if he might take my name, saying that he -liked it because it sounded well. - -Acknowledging the compliment, I extended my hand, and addressed him as Mr. -Mark Meacham, which was greeted with great applause. His second wife, -Matola, arose and made a short speech, inquiring what was to become of her -and her children. "Is your heart made of stone? Can I give Mark up? No I -won't; he will want my children. I want them. I won't go away. I am his -wife. I am satisfied with being his second wife; we did not know it was -wrong. Nobody told us so. We get along well together. I won't leave him; I -am his wife." The plan was explained, and she was reconciled. John Mission -was next to follow Mark, saying, "that when he was a small boy, he first -heard about the new law. He had waited for the time when his people would -come to it. They have come now. I am glad in my heart. I give you my -hand." - -Billy Chinook said, "I throw away the law my fathers made. I take this new -law. I have two wives. They are both good. If anybody wants one of my -wives, he can have her; if he don't, she can stay. Long time I have waited -for the new law. It has come. I give you my hand." - -Hand-shaking was renewed, and then one after another arose and made short -speeches, and came forward and were enrolled; the captain growing warmer -and more enthusiastic as each new name was entered on the roll. Nearly one -hundred had come out squarely, and we adjourned the meeting to the -following day. - -On reassembling, next morning, the invitation was renewed, and nearly all -of the men present surrendered. Sitting moody, gloomy, silent, was a tall, -fine-looking fellow, with a blanket on his shoulders. His name was -Pi-a-noose. - -He had been called on several times, but had not responded until near the -close of this civil revival. Unexpectedly he laid aside his blanket and -arose. Every eye was turned on this man, because he had opposed every new -law. While he was a peaceable, quiet man, he was a strong one, and had -always exercised great influence, especially with the younger men. - -He began to talk,--breaking a breathless silence, because it was supposed -that he would take a stand against the new law,--the Indian way of -speaking of all new rules. His speech was one of vast importance to his -hearers, and was as follows:-- - -"I was born a wild Indian. My father was a wild Indian. A long time I have -fought you in my heart. I have not talked much; I wanted to think. I have -thought about the new law a great deal. I thought I would not have the new -law. My heart says No! I cannot fight against it any longer. I am now -going to be a white man. I will give up the old law." - -He advanced towards the desk, and the captain, unable to restrain his -emotions of pleasure, gave vent to exclamations of gladness by slapping -his hand on the desk, while tears came to his eyes in proof of his -pleasure. The hand-shaking that followed was of that kind which expressed -more than words. A throng gathered around Pi-a-noose, congratulating him. - -Here was a scene that would have touched the heart of man possessed of -any feeling,--a savage transformed into a man! The world scoffs at such -sentiments, because it seldom witnesses a spectacle so grand in human -life. Indians who have passed into that new life are like white men newly -converted to Christianity. Our meeting adjourned with great demonstrations -of pleasure on the part of all interested. - -The captain called his employés together for prayer-meeting. A few Indians -were present, taking part in the exercises. Strange sounds,--those of -prayer going up from an Indian agency, where, in years agone, shouts of -revelry and bacchanalian songs arose from throats that were used to the -language of the debauchee; even officers, if history be true, had taken -part in the disgraceful orgies. - -This agency has two classes of Indians--one that are anxious to advance; -the other who, adopting the religion of white men, are loth to abandon -their old habits. The former are fast coming up to the estate of -civilized, Christianized manhood. A few years more and the treaty will -expire, and then those who are qualified should be admitted to -citizenship, and the remainder removed to some locality where they could -find suitable lands for cultivation. This will not probably be done. The -Government owes these people a debt that it may be slow in paying. - -The Dalles fishery should be returned to them, and a peaceful enjoyment of -its privileges guaranteed. Captain Smith should be permitted to remain -with those for whom he has done so much, and who regard him with -reverence. This may not be either, because the success of party will -require another change in the policy. - -A new administration may change the whole plan of civilization, and remand -these Indians back to the care of their first masters, or into the hands -of the politicians. In either event, it will be a misfortune to those who -have advanced so much under the humane policy of the present -administration. Warm Springs has had but two agents in eight years. This -agency has legends and romantic stories connected with its people, one of -which I propose to give in other connections. - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - - NO PLACE LIKE HOME--SQUAWS IN HOOPS AND CHIGNONS. - - -Umatilla Agency has been mentioned on former pages. I return to it now to -say something more of its people. It is under the management of the -Catholic Church. It has had but _four_ agents in ten years, is on a great -thoroughfare between the Columbia river and Idaho. It has a good climate, -abundant resources, and is of great value. An effort was made during 1871, -to induce the Indians to consent to a removal. - -The council convened at Umatilla Agency, Oregon, August 7th, 1871, -consisting on the part of the Government, of Superintendent A. B. Meacham, -Agent N. A. Cornoyer, of Umatilla Agency, and John S. White, a citizen of -Umatilla County, Oregon. - -Hon. Felix Brunot, chairman of Indian Commission, was present; also, many -of the citizens of the surrounding country. The council was organized with -A. B. Meacham, president, Mathew Davenport, secretary, Donald McKay and P. -B. Pamburn, as interpreters. The council continued six days, during which -time the questions at issue were fully discussed. A few of the speeches -made will be sufficient to give a correct understanding of the argument -for and against the sale of their lands.[4] - -[4] NOTE.--See Appendix to Chapter XII. for the several speeches on the -subject of removal. - -The Indians were entirely untrammelled, and spoke without intimidation. -After the council had been in session four days, in reply to the remarks -of a chief, that they were not ready to talk yet, it was said, "We want -you to talk first all you have to say." - -This council was conducted on fair terms. The Indians freely expressed -their wishes and mind on the subject, and the white men accepted the -result. - -On all the western coast there is not a fairer land than Umatilla. I do -not wonder that the Indians love their homes on this reservation. They -are, however, somewhat divided in religious practice; one part being -members of the Catholic Church, the remainder Dreamers,--followers of -Smoheller. Some of them have made advancement in civil life. - -Wealth has been to them a curse, and not a blessing. Many of them have -large herds of horses and cattle, and have not felt the necessity for -labor. The few who have farms are prosperous, the land being of excellent -quality, climate favorable, and market convenient. At the Oregon State -Fair, 1868, some of them were awarded first prizes for vegetables. - -Surrounded, as they are, by white men, they have been worsted by the -contact. - -Unlike the Indians of Grand Round, who owe much of their prosperity to the -citizens for whom they labored, the Indians of Umatilla are a rich, -thrifty, proud people. They are fond of sports and games, and yield slowly -to the advice of agents to abandon their habits. A few noticeable -instances, however, to the contrary, are How-lish-wam-po, We-nap-snoot, -and Pierre, together with a few others, who live in houses like citizens. -Another instance is that of the widow of Alex McKay, a half-breed. This -woman, of Indian blood, has been educated by white persons, keeps house in -a respectable manner, dresses after fashion's style, though about one year -behind it. When white ladies adopt new fashions this "Susan" waits to see -whether it is perpetuated, and then adopts it just about the time her -fairer sisters abandon it. During one of my official visits, I was invited -to "a social" at Susan's house. In company with the agent and his family I -attended. The refreshments served would have done credit to any house-wife -in any frontier country, though the manner of serving them was rather -comical. Each person went to the table, taking edibles in hand, while -coffee for twenty persons was served in, perhaps, half-a-dozen cups, -passing from one to another. - -The Indian women who were present were dressed "a la Boston:" painted -cheeks, high chignons, immense tilting hoops, and high-heeled bootees. - -The men were in citizen costume, Susan refusing to admit either man or -maiden in Indian dress. - -The dance, or _hop_, was also Boston, with music on a violin by a native -performer. The first was an old-fashioned "French four." When the set was -formed, they occupied the floor, leaving little room for wall-flowers. -Dancing is a part of Indian life in which they take great pleasure. - -In this instance the music was slow, very slow at the commencement, but -increased in time, growing faster, while faster went the flying hoops, and -faster yet went the music; and then the dancers would chase each other in -quick succession through the figure until the fiddles failed and the -dancers, exhausted, sat down. No cold kind of amusement, that. - -After refreshments were again served, another set was formed, and gone -through in the same manner. I noticed in this affair that the maidens -selected partners. - -Susan, in reply to the remark on the change, said that "the boys liked all -the girls for partners, but the girls don't always like all of the boys -for partners. The boys have had their own way long enough." This is an -enterprising woman, and believes in woman's rights. She is doing her -people much good, in their amusements especially. Nature's children, as -well as those of higher society, are blessed with joyful spirits, and a -longing for recreation. - -Susan has sense enough to know that she cannot, even if she would, prevent -dancing, and wisely concludes to draw her people away from the old, -uncouth, senseless dances of savages. Being herself a good Catholic, she -is zealous for her church, and, since dancing is not prohibited, she -succeeds in leading them into communion with religious people. - -Whether the hearts of these converts are changed, I know not; their -manners and customs are, and their ideas of right and justice much -improved. For this reason, I commend this woman for her efforts to break -up old, heathenish customs. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - - "HOW-LISH-WAMPO," KING OF THE TURF--A DEAD THING - CRAWLS. - - -Umatilla is known to be a great country for horses. I doubt if anywhere on -this continent there can be found horses of greater speed or powers of -endurance. - -The feats performed by those people on horseback are wonderful, and past -belief by those who know western horses. - -How-lish-wam-po, chief of the Cayuse (Kiuse), is owner of several thousand -horses. He is a stout-built man, has a dark complexion, wears his hair -just clear of his shoulders, and is now past middle age. - -This man is a natural horseman, and a match for any man of any race in -matters pertaining to horses. He is really king of the turf in the -Umatilla country. - -In conversation with him regarding horses, he remarked to me that he had -horses that could carry a man one hundred miles in a day, and bring him -home the next day. I shook my head, when he proposed to back his judgment -by betting twenty horses. I am satisfied that he could have won the wager. - -The racing habits of these people are well known, and many a white man has -found more than his match. - -I remember, one day in the spring of 1867, a man and boy passing my -residence on the mountain bordering the Reservation. They were leading a -fine-looking horse, with a fancy blanket over him. I suspected his -purpose, and inquired his destination. In his answer I detected a rich -Irish brogue and a tone that sounded somewhat familiar. - -"It's meself that's going down to the Umatilla 'Risivation,' to have a bit -of sport with the 'Injuns.' You see, I've been in Idaho this few years, -and I've made me a nice bit of a stake; and I thought that, when I'd be -going home, I might stop off at the Umatilla, and get even with them -red-skinned boys that swindled me and Mike Connelly out of a few dollars -when were going up,--so they did." - -A few words of explanation, and I recognized him as the fellow who had, in -partnership with another, bought an Indian pony, of which mention has been -made in a previous chapter. I felt sympathy for him during his first -adventure, and I did this time also, and said to him, "Be careful, Pat; -you will lose all your money." - -"Och! never fear; that fellow there has claned them all out in the Boi-se -basin. Oh, but he is a swange cat, so he is; and he will show them how to -take a poor man in when he's foot-sore and tired, so he will, too. Now, do -you mind what I'm telling yous? That lad here can tell you how he flies. -Och! but he's a swate one, so he is." - -Pat went on his way with his heart full of hope. A few days after, the boy -who had gone down with him returned homeward. To my inquiry about how Pat -made out, racing horses, he shrugged his shoulders and replied, that "_the -Injuns cleaned us out!_" - -Another party, who had heard of the Umatilla race horses, passed down -toward the Reservation. This man's name was French Louie. He had several -fine racers with him. I learned his destination, and gave him a few words -of caution. But he replied that he "knew what he was about." He had "a -horse that had '_swept the track_,' all the way from the Missouri river, -at Denver City, Salt Lake, Boi-se, and Baker City. Never fear. I'll teach -those Indians something they never knew, before I get through with them." - -Poor fellow, I felt sorry for him. On his arrival on the Reservation he -found chances to invest his money. The men he came to teach were apt -scholars in tricks that are shrewd. - -He led out a horse, and made a small bet and _lost_, as he _intended_ to. -The next run the Indians played _him_ the same game, until, thinking he -had learned the speed of their horses, Louie proposed to wager all his -money, horses, saddles, and, in fact, stake everything upon one race. - -That man and his attendants went home on little ponies which the Indians -gave them in charity. - -How-lish-wam-po, chief of the Cayuses, is the owner of a horse with which -he has challenged any and every sporting man in the country. - -Several parties have visited Umatilla, bringing with them men and boys to -drive home the herds of Indian horses they were "going to win." - -One party imported a horse for the express purpose. He made known his -desire, and he, too, soon found opportunity for an investment. The -preliminaries were arranged, and the race was to be run over the Indian -race-course, which was located on the bottom lands of Umatilla river, -smooth, level turf, over two miles and a half in length. - -At one end of this course a post was planted, round which the racers were -to turn, and come back to the starting-point, making a distance of a -little over five miles and a quarter. - -Joe Crabb, the owner of the imported horse, had been present at a race -months previous, when How-lish-wam-po had _permitted_ his horse to be -beaten; and as he had measured the distance, marked the time, and -subsequently tested the speed of his horse with the winner, on that -occasion, he, of course, had a "dead thing." - -The white men came with groom and riders, making a camp near the Indian, -standing guard over his own horse, to prevent accident. - -The Indians were not so careful of their horse; at least Joe Crabb thought -they were not, and, since everything is fair in gambling as in war, he -concluded to _know_ for himself how the speed of these two horses would -compare. - -He thought, as thousands of other white men have, that it was no harm to -cheat an "Injun," no matter by what means. - -There is a general belief that Indians sleep when their eyes are shut, and -especially just _before daylight_. - -Sending a careful, trusty man to get the Indian horse, leaving another in -his place, he led his own out on the prairie, and made a few trials of -speed with the two. The result was satisfactory. He found that his horse -was able to distance the other. - -Now How-lish-wam-po was the owner of two horses very nearly alike,--one -the racer; the other half-brother to him, but not so fleet. They were -"Pinto"--spotted horses; so the deception was complete. - -The Indian horses are never stabled, groomed, shod, or grain-fed. Their -system of training differs from a white man's very much. After a race is -agreed upon, the animal is tied up to a stake or tree, and if he is fat, -they starve him down, giving him only water. If, however, he is in good -condition, they lead him out to grass, an hour or so, each day, and at -nightfall they run him over the course. - -In this instance the half-brother was tied up and put in training, and -left _unguarded_, with the _hope_ that Crabb would steal him out, and try -his speed. Sure enough, he fell into the trap that How-lish-wam-po set for -him. The real race-horse was miles away, under proper training. - -The fame of this wonderful winner had spread far and wide, as did the news -of the approaching contest. - -When the morning agreed upon arrived, the roads leading to the valley of -Umatilla gave full proof of the interest the people of the surrounding -country had in this important affair. - -They came from places several hundred miles distant, and from the -settlements surrounding the Reservation. - -The little towns furnished their quota, and the farmers excused themselves -for going, hoping, as they told their wives at home, that they should meet -some one with whom they had business. And through various devices nearly -every man, and a part of the women, also, found excuse to be there. - -I know how that was done; at least, I heard men tell how they managed. - -People who never gambled with dollars, and would blush to own they were -fast people, found their way to Umatilla. - -The race-course which I have described was parallel with a low range of -grassy hills, that rose by gentle slopes from the valley to an altitude of -fifty to one hundred feet. - -Long before the time for the race, carriages, buggies, wagons, and horses, -might be seen standing on the hills, or driving over the green sward, -while at the standing-point was assembled a great motley crowd, on foot -and horseback. - -The Indians were in their gala-day dress,--paints, feathers, long hair, -red blankets; in fact, it was a dress-parade for white and red men too. - -The manner of betting at an Indian race differs somewhat from affairs of -the kind among white men. One man is selected as a stake-holder for all -moneys. Horses that are wagered are tied together and put under care of -Indian boys. Coats, blankets, saddles, pistols, knives, and all kind of -personal effects, are thrown into a common heap and tied together. - -As the starting-hour approaches, two judges are elected,--one white man -and one Indian. But two are required, since the horses run out, turn the -stake, and come back to the starting-point. The first horse to get home is -winner. No account is made of the start, each party depending on his -shrewdness to get the better in this part of the race. - -Indians are enthusiastic gamblers, and have a certain kind of pride, and -to do them justice, honor, as well, in conducting their races. No -disputes ever arise among themselves, and seldom with white men, growing -out of misunderstandings, either about starting or the outcome. They take -sides with their own people always, and bet, when the chances are against -them, from pride. - -The prevailing idea that they are always cool and stoical is not correct. -They become very much excited at horse-races, but not generally until the -race begins. While the preliminaries are being arranged, they are serious, -even solemn-looking fellows, and with great dignity come up with the money -to bet. "Capable of dissembling," I should think they were, from the cool -face of How-lish-wam-po, when the money is being counted out by the -hundreds, in twenty-dollar gold-pieces,--not a few, but handfuls of -twenties. One could not have detected the slightest twinkle in his eye, or -other sign that he knew that Joe Crabb had _stolen his horse_, and _run_ -him secretly. Cool, calm, earnest as if he were saying mass, this -chieftain came up and handed over his money to the stake-holder, while -numerous bets were being arranged between the other Indians and white men. -Horses were wagered, and tied together, and led away. Many a fellow had -brought extras with him, for the express purpose of gambling, expecting of -course to take home twice the number in the evening. - -Crabb had confided his secret about his stolen run to a few friends, and -advised them to _go in_, and win all the horses they wanted. There was no -danger; he knew what he was talking about. He had the Indian's horse's -speed by time, and also by trial. - -This thing leaked out, and was communicated from one to another. Some -pretty good men, who were not accustomed to betting, became anxious to win -a pony or two, and laid wagers with the Indians. - -The trick that Crabb had played was finally made known to How-lish-wam-po. -He and his people were cooled down, and seemed anxious to have the race -come off before more betting was done. - -This made the white men more anxious, and they urged, boasted, and -ridiculed, until, in manifest desperation, the Indians began to bet again, -and the _noble_ white man generously took advantage of the Indian's hot -blood, and forced him to make many bets that he appeared to shun. - -The horses were brought out to start, and while the imported horse of -Crabb's looked every inch a racer, the other stood with head down, a -rough-haired, uncouth brute, that appeared then to be a cross between ox -and horse. - -The presence and appearance of the horses was the signal for another -charge on the Indians, and a few white friends they had, who, having -learned from the chief, the truth of Crabb's trick, came, in sympathy for -the Indian, to his rescue. - -Money, coats, hats, saddles, pistols, pocket-knives, cattle, horses, and -all kinds of property, were staked on the race. - -The Indians, in their apparent desperation, drove up another band of -ponies, and in madness wagered them also. - -Those of my readers who are accustomed to exhibitions around our "fair -grounds," on days of "trials of speed," may have some idea of the scene I -am trying to describe, except that few of them have ever seen so many -horses tied together, and so large a pile of coats, blankets and saddles, -as were staked upon this occasion. - -When the final starting-time came, a pure-minded, innocent man would have -felt great pity for the poor, dejected-looking Indians, at the sight of -their faces, now so full of anxiety; and, certainly, the Pinto, who stood -so unconcerned, on which they had staked so much, did not promise any -hope; while his competitor was stripped of his blanket, disclosing a nice -little jockey saddle, and silver-mounted bridle, his whole bearing -indicating his superiority. - -His thin nostrils, pointed ears, and arched neck, sleek coat, and polished -limbs, that touched the ground with burnished steel, disdaining to stand -still, while his gayly-dressed rider, with white pants tucked into boots -embellished with silver-plated spurs; on his head, a blue cap, and with -crimson jacket, was being mounted, requiring two or three experts to -assist, so restless was this fine, thorough-bred to throw dirt into the -eyes of the sleepy-looking Indian horse, which stood unmoved, uncovered, -without saddle or bridle, or anything, save a small hair rope on his lower -jaw, his mane and tail unkempt, his coat rough and ill-looking. - -On his right side stood a little Indian boy, with head close-shaved, a -blanket around him, and to all appearances unconscious that anything -unusual was expected. - -The other rider's horse was making furious plunges to get away. - -How-lish-wam-po was in no hurry, really; indeed things were going very -much to the satisfaction of that distinguished individual. - -He was willing to see the other man's horse chafe and fret,--the more the -better; and he cared nothing for the sponge that was used to moisten the -mouth of the great racer. - -Look away down the long line of white men and Indians; and on the low -hills, above, see the crowd eager to witness the first jump! - -The chief gives a quiet signal to the Indian boy. The blanket dropped from -the boy's shoulders, and a yellow-skinned, gaunt-looking sprite bestrode -the Indian horse, holding in his left hand the hair rope, that was to -serve him for a bridle, and in his right a small bundle of dried willows. - -Presto! The stupid-looking brute is instantly transformed into a beautiful -animated racer. His eyes seemed almost human. His ears did not droop now, -but by their quick alternate motion giving signs of readiness, together -with the stamping of his feet, slowly at first, but faster and more -impatiently the moment it was intimated he might go; and the other was -making repeated efforts to escape, his masters manoeuvring for the -advantage. - -The little Indian boy managed his horse alone as the chief gave quiet -signs. Three times had they come up to the scratch without a start. Crabb -seemed now very solicitous about the race. I think, probably, he had by -this time found the "hornet in his hat;" at all events, he was pale, and -his rider exhibited signs of uneasiness. - -At length, thinking to take what western sportsmen call a "bulge," he -said, "Ready!"--"Go," said the little Indian boy, and away went twenty -thousand dollars in the heels of the Indian horse, twenty feet ahead -before the other crossed the mark, making the gap wider at every bound. - -Away they sped, like flying birds. The crowd joined in shouts and hurras, -hundreds of all colors falling in behind and following up. - -[Illustration: THE HORSE RACE.] - -Away go the flying horses, and several thousand eyes following the _yellow -rider_, still ahead, as they grow smaller and smaller in the distance, -until the Indian horse turns the stake at the farther end in advance. Now -they come, increasing in size to the eye as they approach, the _yellow -rider_ still in advance. Crabb gasps for breath, and declares that his -horse "will yet win." - -The eagle eye of the old chief lights up as they come nearer, his rider -still leading. Excitement is now beyond words to tell. Look again!--the -Indian boy _comes alone_, rattling his dry willows over a horse that was -making the fastest time on record, considering the nature of the turf. - -The Indians along the line fell in, and ran beside the victorious racer, -encouraging him with wild, unearthly shouts, while he comes to the -starting-point, running the five miles and one-fourth and eighty-three -yards in the unprecedented time of _nine minutes_ and _fifty-one seconds_; -winning the race and money, much to the joy of the Indians and their few -friends, and to the grief of Crabb and his many friends. He, without -waiting to hear from judges, ran down the track nearly a mile, and, -rushing up to the gay jockey, with silver spurs, white pants, blue cap, -and crimson jacket, who had dismounted, and was leading the now docile, -fine-blooded English racer by his silver mountings, inquired, "What's the -matter, Jimmy?"--"Matter? Why, this hoss can't run a bit. That's what's -the matter." - -Do my readers wonder now that so many white men, along the frontier line, -declare that all good "Injins are three feet under the ground"? - -Before leaving this subject, it is proper to state that How-lish-wam-po -gave back to Crabb the saddle-horse he had won from him, and also money to -travel on; and with a word of caution about stealing out his competitor's -horse, and having a race all alone, remarking dryly, "Me-si-ka wake -cum-tux ic-ta mamook ni-ka tru-i-tan klat-a-wa (You did not know how to -make my horse run). Cla-hoy-um, Crabb" (Good-by, Crabb). - -I will further state that many years ago these Indians had exchanged -horses with emigrants going into Oregon, across the plains, and that this -celebrated Indian race-horse is a half-breed. - -The old chief refused to sell him, saying, "I don't need money. I have -plenty. I am a chief. I have got the fastest horses in the world. I bet -one thousand horses I can beat any man running horses." - -He refused an offer of five thousand dollars for this renowned courser. -Several efforts have been made to induce him to take his horse to the -State fair. - -He at one time consented, saying, "I will take my horse just to show the -white men what a race-horse _is_." But he was unwell when the time came, -and failed to go. - -The question has been raised, whether this horse actually made the time -reported. _I believe_ he did. Competent white men have measured the -course carefully, and several persons kept the time, none of whom marked -over ten minutes, while others marked less than nine-fifty. - -If any man is sceptical, he can find a chance to leave some money with -How-lish-wam-po. The chief don't need it, because he has thousands of -dollars _buried_, that once belonged to white men. - -But he is human, and will take all that is offered, on the terms Joe Crabb -made with him. - -If there are real smart sports anywhere who desire a fine band of Indian -horses, they have here a chance to obtain them, without stealing. Take -your race-horses to Umatilla, and you won't wait long. The probabilities -are, that you may be disgusted with the _country very soon_. - -For the benefit, it may be, of some of my readers, I would suggest that -you have only to lead out the horse you propose running, and name the -amount and distance. The Indians will find the horse to match the amount -and distance, anywhere from fifty yards to one hundred miles. Don't be -tender-hearted if you should win a few hundred ponies. They won't miss -them. They only _loan_ them to you to gamble on. - -Having a long-standing acquaintance with How-lish-wam-po, as a neighbor, -and subsequently as his "high tyee chief," I am authorized to say to -Commodore Vanderbilt, Robert Bonner, "Uncle" Harper, Rev. W. H. H. Murray, -or any other horse-fancier, clerical or unclerical, that a sufficient -forfeit will be deposited by How-lish-wam-po, and his friends, in any bank -in Oregon, to defray the expenses of any party who will measure speed -with his horse, on his own turf, five and a quarter miles, turning a stake -midway the race; said expense to be paid on the condition that the said -parties win the race; in which event they can return with ponies enough to -overload the Union Pacific Railroad, and make business for the "Erie" for -a long time to come; with the proviso that How-lish-wam-po's race-horse is -alive and in condition to make the run, as we believe that he is at this -present writing, 1874. - -Parties seeking investments of the kind will receive prompt attention by -addressing How-lish-wam-po, chief of Cayuse, Umatilla Reservation, Oregon, -_care Joe Crabb, Esq._ - -This latter gentleman has been hunting this kind of a contract, in behalf -of How-lish-wam-po, for several months, _unsuccessfully_. - -The Umatilla Indians rear horses by the thousands, never feeding or -stabling, but always herding them, when the owner has enough to justify -the expense of hiring an Indian herder. The horses run in bands of fifty -to one hundred, and seldom mix to any considerable extent. If however, -there should be several bands corralled together, the master-horse of each -band soon separates them. When turned out on the plains they are very -exacting, and many a battle is fought by these long-maned captains, in -defence, or to prevent the capture, by the others, of some one of their -own. - -Cayuse horses are small, from twelve to fifteen hands high; are of every -shade of color, and many of them white or spotted, bald-faced, -white-legged and glass-eyed. They are spirited, though easily broken to -the saddle or harness. As saddle-horses they are far superior to the -common American horse, and for speed and power of endurance they have no -equals. - -The Indians are accurate judges of the value of their animals and have -strong attachments for them; seldom disposing of a favorite except in case -of real necessity. - -The small scurvy ponies are sold in large numbers, for prices ranging from -five to twenty dollars each. A medium-sized saddle-horse sells for about -forty dollars; a first-rate horse, one hundred dollars; and if a -well-tried animal that can make one hundred miles one day, and repeat it -the next, one hundred and fifty dollars. - -The small, low-priced ponies are capable of carrying a common man all day -long, without spur or whip. They are bought by white men for children's -use, and for ladies' palfreys. They are docile, tractable, and fond of -being petted. I know a small white pony, with long mane, and not more than -forty inches in height, that was taught many tricks,--going through the -hotel dining-room, kitchen, and parlor; sometimes following his little -mistress upstairs; lying down and playing dead horse, kneeling for -prayers, asking for sugar, by signs; in fact,--a fine pet. And yet the -little fellow would canter off mile after mile with his mistress. - -Major Barnhart, of Umatilla, owned a small Cayuse, about thirteen hands -high, that would gallop to the Columbia river, thirty-one miles, in two -hours, with a man on his back, and come back again at the same gait. - -I once made an investment of five dollars in an unbroken pony, paid an -Indian one dollar to ride her a few minutes, took her home and gave her -to a little daughter, who named her "Cinderella." After a few days' -petting, she often mounted and rode her fearlessly. - -This one was a bright bay, with a small star in the forehead, with long -mane extending below the neck, a foretop reaching down to its nose. - -The Indians teach their horses, by kindness, to be very gentle. Often on -the visits which they make to old homes, a little pic-i-ni-ne (child) is -securely fastened to the Indian saddle, and the horse is turned loose with -the band. - -On all their journeys they drive bands of ponies, presenting a grotesque -scene: horses of all ages, sizes, and colors; some of them loaded with -camp equipage, including cooking arrangements, tin pans, kettles, baskets; -also bedding of blankets, skins of animals; always the rush matting to -cover the poles of the lodge, and going pell-mell, trotting or galloping. -The women are chief managers, packing and driving the horses. - -An Indian woman's outfit for horseback riding is a saddle with two -pommels, one in front, the other in the rear, and about eight inches high. -The saddles are elaborately mounted with covers of dressed elk-skins, -trimmed profusely with beads, while the lower portion is cut into a -fringe, sometimes long enough to reach the ground. - -These people seldom use a bridle, but, instead, a small rope, made of -horsehair, in the making of which they display great taste. It is fastened -with a double loop, around the horse's lower jaw. They carry, as an -ornament, a whip, differing from ladies' riding-whips in this, that the -Indian woman's whip is made of a stick twelve inches long, with a string -attached to the _small_ end, to secure it to the wrist. The other, or -larger end, is bored to a depth of a few inches, and in the hole is -inserted two thongs of dressed elk-skin, or leather, two inches wide and -twenty in length. - -The Indian woman is last to leave camp in the morning, and has, perhaps, -other reasons, than her duties as drudge, to detain her; for she is a -woman, and depends somewhat on her personal appearance especially if she -is unmarried. If, however, she is married, she don't care much more about -her appearance than other married women, unless, indeed, she may have -hopes of being a widow some day. Then she don't do more than other folks -we often see, who wish to become widows, said wish being expressed by -feathers, and paint on the face and hair. - -However, these Umatilla Indian maidens, who have not abandoned the savage -habits of their people, are proud and dressy, and they carry with them, as -do the young men, looking-glasses, and pomatums, the latter made of deer's -tallow or bear's grease. - -They also, I mean young people especially, carry red paints. Take, for -illustration, a young Indian maiden of Chief Homli's band, when on the -annual visit to Grand Round valley. - -Before leaving camp she besmears her hair with tallow and red paint, and -her cheeks with the latter. Her frock, made loose, without corset or -stays, is richly embroidered with gay-colored ribbons and beads, and rings -of huge size, with bracelets on her wrists and arms. - -Then suppose you see her mount a gayly caparisoned horse, from the -right-hand side, climbing up with one foot over the high saddle, sitting -astride, and, without requiring a young gent to hold the horse, place her -beaded-moccasined feet in the stirrups, and, drawing up the parti-colored -hair rope, dash off at what some folks would call breakneck speed, to join -the caravan. - -No young man had ever caught up her horse from the prairie, much less -saddled it. But, on the other hand, she has probably brought up and -saddled for her father, brother, or friend, a horse and prepared it for -the master's use. - -The young men who are peers of this girl do not wait to see her mounted -and then bear her company. Half an hour before, they had thrown themselves -on prancing steeds, and with painted cheeks, hair flowing, embellished -with feathers, and necklaces of bears' claws, and brass rings, and most -prominent of all, a looking-glass, suspended by a string around the neck. - -The women manage the train and unpack the horses, make the lodge in which -to camp, while their masters ride along carelessly, and stop to talk with -travellers whom they meet; or it may be dismount at some way-side house -and wait until it is time to start for the camp, where the lodge is built -for the night. - -There are, however, Indian men who are servants, and these assist the -women. - -When the site of the camp is reached, our young squaw dismounts, and, -throwing off her fine clothes, goes to work in earnest, preparing the -evening meal, while the gay young men, and the old ones, too, lounge and -smoke unconcerned. - -Remember, I am speaking now of Homli's band of the Walla-Wallas. There are -Christianized Indians on Umatilla Reservation, that have left behind them -their primitive habits,--men of intelligence, whose credit is good for any -reasonable amount in business transactions, and who occupy houses like -civilized people. But the major portion are still wrapped in blankets, and -thoroughly attached to the old customs and habits of their ancestors. They -have a magnificent country, and are surrounded by enterprising white men, -who would make this land of the Umatilla the most beautiful on the Pacific -coast. - -It may be many years before these people will consent to remove. In one -sense it does seem to be a wrong, that so many prosperous homes as this -should afford, must be unoccupied. - -In another sense it is right, at least in that those who live upon it now -are the lawful owners, and therefore have a right to raise horses on land -that is worth five, ten, and twenty dollars per acre, if they choose. So -long as they adhere to their old ways, no improvements may be expected. -They will continue to raise horses and cattle, to drink whiskey and -gamble, becoming more and more demoralized year by year; and in the mean -time vicious white men will impose on them, often provoking quarrels, -until some political change is made in the affairs of the Government, and -the present humane policy toward them will be abandoned, and then their -land will become the spoils of the white man. It were better for these -people that they had a home somewhere out of the line of travel and -commerce; or, at least, those who continually reject civilization. It is -not to the disadvantage of those whose hearts are changed that they should -remain. While the Government protects them they will enjoy the advantage -of intercourse with business men. With those, however, who do not evince a -willingness to become civilized, it is only a question of time, when they -will waste away, and finally lose the grand patrimony they now possess. - -I do not mean that it will ever be taken by force of arms, for the -sentiments of justice and right are too deeply seated in the hearts and -lives of the people of the frontier to permit any unjustifiable act of -this kind to be committed; but designing men will, as they have ever done, -involve good citizens in difficulties with Indians, who, so long as they -cling to their superstitious religion, will retaliate, shouting "blood for -blood;" and then the cry of extermination will be extorted from good men, -who do not and cannot understand or recognize this unjust mode of redress. - -Under the treaty with these Indians, they are to enjoy the privilege of -hunting and grazing on the public domain in common with citizens; but this -right is scarcely acknowledged by the settlers of places they visit, under -the treaty. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - - SNAKE WAR--FIGHTING THE DEVIL WITH FIRE. - - -The southwestern portion of Oregon is a vast plain, whose general altitude -is nearly four thousand feet above the level of the sea. A greater part of -it is an uninhabited wilderness of sage-brush desert. A few hundred -Indians have held it for generations, except the narrow belts of arable -lands along the streams. There, Indians are commonly called "Snakes," -deriving the name from the principal river of the country. - -The overland route to Oregon traverses this region for hundreds of miles. -Many years ago the emigrants became engaged in a war with the few -scattering bands of Indians along the route, and for many years -hostilities continued. The origin of the first trouble is not known by -white man's authority. The Indian story is to the effect that white men -began it to recover stock, which they, the Indians, had purchased from -other tribes. This may be correct, and may not; but that a relentless war -was carried on for years there is no doubt, and, that in the aggregate, -the Indians got the better of it. - -The great overland route to the mining regions of Idaho in early days -passed through this hostile country. Many valuable lives were lost, and a -great many hundreds of horses, mules, and cattle were stolen. The Snakes -were daring enemies, and brave fellows on the warpath, successful in -making reprisals, and, having nothing but their lives to lose, were bold -and audacious scouts. They kept a frontier line of several hundred miles -in length in constant alarm. Life was unsafe even within the lines of -settlement. - -Owyhee-Idaho country was one of the bloody battle-grounds, the Indians -waylaying travellers along the roads, and from cover of sage-brush, or -ledge of rocks, firing on them, and, in several instances, attacking -stages loaded with passengers. At one time the stage was fired into on the -road between Boise City and Silver City. The driver--Charley Winslow--and -four passengers were killed and scalped. At another time, within ten miles -of a mining town of two thousand inhabitants, Nathan Dixon, the driver of -a stage-coach, was shot through the body and fell in the boot of the -stage, a passenger by his side taking the lines and driving the stage-load -of passengers out of danger. Poor "Nate!"--he paid the penalty of too -brave a heart. He had been offered an escort at the station but one mile -away, and declined it, saying, "He was not made to be killed by Indians." - -H. C. Scott, a ranchman living on Burnt river, Oregon, with his family, -consisting of a wife and two children, went in a two-horse wagon to visit -a neighbor two miles away. On their return they were fired on by Snake -Indians. Mr. Scott received his death-wound; his wife was also shot -through the body, but with heroic coolness took the lines of the team, and -drove home, with her murdered husband struggling in death on the floor of -the wagon, his blood sprinkling her children and herself. She lived but a -few hours and was buried with him. The children were unharmed, although -several volleys were discharged after the flying team and its load. - -On the road from "The Dalles" to Cañon city many skirmishes were had with -these Indians. On one occasion they attacked the stage carrying passengers -and the United States mail. The driver, Mr. Wheeler, was shot with a slug -cut from an iron rod that had been used to secure the tail-board of a -freight-wagon. The slug passed through his face, carrying with it several -teeth from both sides of his upper jaw. Strange to relate, he drove his -team out of further danger. - -Not unfrequently freighters would lose the stock of entire trains, -numbering scores of animals. Packers, too, lost their mule-trains. Lone -horsemen were cut off, and murder, blood and theft reigned supreme in the -several routes through the "Snake country." - -A party of eighty-four Chinamen were killed while en route to the mines of -Idaho. Helpless, unarmed Chinamen, they are game for the savage red men, -and the noble-hearted white men also. One man, commenting on this -occurrence, remarked that, "they had no business to be Chinamen. The more -the Indians killed, the better." Instances of Indian butchery might be -multiplied. - -But, on the other hand, they in turn suffered in the same inhuman manner. -Independent companies were organized to punish them, and punishment was -inflicted with ruthless vengeance. Innocent, harmless Indians were -murdered by these companies. Women were captured, or put to death. One -circumstance will illustrate this feature of Indian warfare, as carried -on by the white men. Jeff Standiford, of Idaho City, went in pursuit of -savages with a company of white men and friendly Indians. - -A camp was found and attacked. The men escaped, the women and children -were captured. The old, homely women were shot, and killed; the children -were awarded to the whites who distinguished themselves in their great -battle against helpless women and children. The better-looking squaws were -sold to the highest bidder for gold dust to pay the expenses of the -expedition. But the fame of the company was established as "Indian -fighters." When we hear of Indians doing such deeds, we cry -"extermination," nor stop to learn the provocation. - -This kind of Indian war continued several years, during the "great -rebellion." One feature or sanitary cure on the part of the Snake Indians -I do not remember to have seen in print. While they were poorly armed, and -were cut off from supplies of ammunition, and especially of lead, they cut -up iron rods from captured wagons, without any forges, into bullets. On -the persons of Indian warriors who were killed and captured,--I say -captured, because many were killed and carried off by their friends, to -prevent mutilation, and because of their fidelity to each other,--were -found iron slugs, stones that were cut into the shape of balls, and wooden -plugs one or two inches in length, and one inch in diameter. These latter -were used by them to stop hemorrhage. When a warrior was struck by a -bullet, he immediately inserted a wooden stopper in the wound. Rude -surgical treatment this, and yet they claim it to be of great value. - -This "Snake war" afforded abundant opportunity for frontiersmen to learn -the manly art of killing Indians; and they did learn it, and learned it -well. Volunteer companies were enlisted to stand between the white -settlers and the Snake Indians, while the regular army was withdrawn to -assist in putting down the rebellion; and they _stood_ there, some of -them, and others _lay_ there, and they _are_ lying there to this day. - -The famous Oregon poet, Joaquin Miller, earned his spurs as a war-man out -on the plains fighting Snake Indians, and many others of less celebrity -did likewise. But the handful of Snake Indians were harder to conquer than -General Lee or Stonewall Jackson. General Lee touched his military hat -with one hand, and passed over his sword with the other to General Grant, -under the famous apple-tree, some months before. - -E-he-gan, We-ah-we-wa and O-che-o had pulled down their war-feathers in -presence of General Crook. When the drums of the Union army were beating -the homeward march, General Crook was ordered to the frontier to whip the -Snakes. Some of the regiments of the regular army were sent out to relieve -the volunteers who garrisoned the military posts. Many a brave fellow who -had returned from fighting rebels went out there to die by Snake bullets, -and in some instances to be scalped. - -They found a different enemy, not less brave, but more wily and cunning, -who were careful of the waste of ammunition. These Snake Indians were not -content to make war on white men, but continued to invade the territory of -other Indians; particularly that of Warm Springs Reservation, and -occasionally of the Umatilla; also, to capture horses and prisoners. - -Among the exploits in this line, the carrying off a little girl, daughter -of a chief of the Warm Springs, was the most daring, and perhaps the most -disastrous, in its results to the Snakes; daring, because committed in -broad daylight, and inside the lines of white settlements. - -The affair created great excitement when it was known among the friends of -the child's parents. No people are more intensely affected by such -occurrences than Indians. This feeling is very much enhanced by the -knowledge that captives are often sold as slaves into other tribes. Hence -this capture was disastrous to the Snake Indians, because it aroused the -fire of hate among the "Warm Springs," and sent many of their braves to -the warpath. - -General Crook being the _right man in the right place_, and finding that -his regulars could not successfully cope with the Snakes, called for -volunteers from Umatilla and Warm Springs Reservation. A company of Cayuse -Indians, under the leadership of the now famous Donald McKay, went from -the former, and another company, under command of Dr. Wm. C. McKay, an -older brother of Donald's, from the latter agency. I know nothing of the -theology of Gen. Crook, whether he is posted about the war-policy of his -Satanic Majesty, but he struck it this time,--"fighting the devil with -fire." - -These Indians were enlisted with the understanding that they were to have, -as compensation for their services, the booty won from the "Snake -Indians;" but were armed and rationed by the Government. - -The father of the captured girl promised to award the brave who should -recapture her, with her hand; or, in other words, she was to be the wife -of the man who brought her in. - -In those days, no well-established Indian law recognized the necessity for -a marriage ceremony, neither prevented a brave from taking as many wives -as he was able to buy, or otherwise obtain. - -Hence this captive girl became a prize within reach of any brave who went -on the warpath, and could succeed. - -This tempting bounty, together with a love of plunder and the thirst for -revenge, added to the ambition of the Indians to do something that would -entitle them to the recognition of their manhood by white men, made -recruiting easy to accomplish, and the two companies were quickly made up. -The enlisted Indian scouts, when supported by the Government and furnished -with arms and ammunition, clothed and mounted, were just the thing Crook -had been wanting. - -The Snakes had learned that soldiers in blue were poor marksmen, and that -they could drive them by strategy. But as one of the chiefs related -afterward, when they saw blue coats slip from their horses and take to the -brush, giving back shot for shot, they were astonished. Then, too, the -scouts under the McKays, Indians themselves, tracked them over plain and -mountain, until they were forced to fortify, and, they became desperate. - -Meanwhile this wily general, divested of his official toga, was out with -his Indian scouts, one of whom said he looked like "a-cul-tus-til-le-cum" -(a common man), but he "mum-ook-sul-lux-ic-ta-hi-as-tyee-si-wash," -("makes war like a big Indian chief.") - -General Crook, giving his Indian scouts permission to take scalps and -prisoners, under savage war custom, very soon compelled the Snake chiefs -to sue for peace. - -This result was brought about by the "Warm Springs" and "Umatillas," under -the leadership of the McKay brothers, who advised a winter campaign. -General Crook, with rare good sense, availing himself of their wisdom and -experience, pursuing the Snakes, in mid-winter, over the high sage brush -plains, and through the mountains. - -The Snakes were under the leadership of three several chiefs. E-E-gan's -band, infesting the frontier on Burnt and Owyhee rivers, Eastern Oregon, -numbering never more than three hundred warriors, had been reduced to less -than two hundred, by the casualties of war; We-ah-we-wa's band, of about -the same number, swinging along between Burnt river and the Cañon City -country. - -Against these Donald McKay, with the Umatilla Indian scouts, was sent, -supported by a company of the United States cavalry. - -Donald was eminently successful in his scouting expedition, in recapturing -horses, taking scalps, and, what has since been of more importance to him, -in also retaking the captured daughter of the Warm Spring chief. - -She was not found with her original captors, it being a common practice -with Indians, and especially when at war, to pass captives out of the -hands of the original captors, and, whenever practical, in exchange for -other slaves. - -Those who may meet this famous scout, Donald McKay, and his pretty little -Indian wife, Zu-let-ta (Bright Eyes), would never suspect that she had -served three years as a slave among the Snake Indians, and that the great -stalwart fellow was her deliverer; yet such is the truth. - -The third division of the Snake tribe was under the famous chief Pe-li-na, -whose battle-grounds and warpaths were east of the Cascade mountains, and -south of the Warm Spring Reservation. - -During one of the engagements incident to this Snake war, he was killed in -a fight with Dr. McKay's Warm Spring scouts. He was probably the most -daring and successful leader the Snake Indians have ever had. - -On his death, a chief named O-che-o assumed command, and conducted the -last battle fought by this band. Harassed and driven by the combined power -of United States soldiers and their Indian allies, they made at last a -stand, and fought bravely, but were overpowered, and finally compelled to -surrender. - -When they came in with hands dyed with the blood of innocent victims, and -offered to shake hands with General Crook, he refused; and placing his own -behind him, coolly said, "When you prove yourselves worthy--not till -then." - -They were subjugated, and accepted the terms, "unconditional -surrender"--without treaty or promise, except that of protection or -subsistence on the part of the Government and an acknowledgment of its -authority, and the promise of obedience on the part of the Indians. - -At Warm Springs Agency an Indian, who had been with Crook, invited me to -visit the department barn with him. - -He led the way, climbing up gangways and ladders, until we reached the -upper garret. He pointed to a dark-looking pile in one corner resembling a -black bear-skin. On examination I found they were scalps. The scout -remarked that he did not know how many were there now, because white men -carried them off, and Capt. Smith, the agent, forbade them from touching -them; that when they came home from "Crook's war," at the great -scalp-dance they had sixty-two. He appeared to regret that the men who had -cut them off the hated Snakes' heads could not be permitted to ornament -their shot-pouches with them. I selected one or two as reminders of the -handiwork of the scouts, and also as specimens of the long black hair of -the Snake Indians. I haven't them now. For a while they hung in my office; -but the doors were sometimes left unlocked, and they were missing. Pretty -sure, they are now playing switch for a couple of handsome ladies -residing,--well, no odds where. - -If my reader will accompany me awhile we will visit the "Snake country," -and see it for ourselves. From the home office at Salem, Oregon, our route -leads us down the beautiful Willamette valley, via Portland; thence once -again up the Columbia by steamer and rail, through "the Cascades," seeing -new beauties each time in things we had not noticed on former trips. On -the right a mountain stream leaps off a rock six hundred feet, and turns -to mist, forming a perpetual cloud, that hides its main course, but pours -its constant rain into a great pool below, and, overflowing, leaps again -two hundred feet, and lighting on stony bed, made deeper and softer each -century, it comes out to a smiling, sparkling silver sheet beneath the -evergreen forests, and joins the river in its flow to the briny deep. - -On the left we see Castle Rock, on which Jay Cooke built a fine air-castle -when the North Pacific Railroad was built _upon paper_, intending to match -the ideal with the real in time, to sit on its summit, and, from the tower -of his mansion, wave his welcome to the panting iron charger on his -arrival from Duluth, en route to the great metropolis of the northwest. - -Jay Cooke failed; the iron courser is stabled at Duluth; the metropolis is -covered with heavy forests, and the hum of busy life is not heard very -much at Puget Sound, and Castle Rock stands solitary and alone like some -orphan boy. - -So it will stand, for its mother mountains look on it with contempt, from -its very insignificance. It is a pity Cooke can't build the castle,--pity -for this lonely rock, who bathes his feet in the boiling waters of the -river. - -"Rooster Rock" is still worse off, for he is surrounded by water too deep -for him to wade, though he may keep his head above the flood. - -Onward, upward we go, passing old rock towers and Indian burial-grounds, -catching a glimpse of Father Hood, who seems in ill-humor now, and frowns, -with dark clouds on his brow. Maybe he is angry with Mother Adams, on the -north, who smiles beneath her silvery cap, while he scolds and thunders. -The tables may yet turn with these mountain monarchs, and Hood may laugh -while Mother Adams weeps. We will keep an eye on them for a few days, as -our journey leads us toward the "Snake country." - -We are at "The Dalles." Our commissary, Dr. W. C. McKay has made -preparation for the journey; we are no longer to be hurried by steam so -fast we cannot have the full benefit of the scenes we pass. - -The doctor is a native of the mountains, and boasts that he is "no -emigrant or carpet-bagger either;"--that his father's blood was mixed with -Puritan stock from Boston, and his mother knew how to lash him to the baby -board and swing him to her back with strong cords, while she promenaded -behind her husband, or gathered the wild huckleberries. - -He is now, 1874, en route for the east with a troupe of Indians from Warm -Springs and the Modoc Lava Beds. - -Few who meet him will suspect he is the one of whom I write, unless I -describe him more accurately. Educated in Wilbraham, Mass., at his -father's expense, he graduated with honor, and returned to his native land -a strong, well-built, handsome gentleman. He married a woman of his own -blood, fully his equal in culture. - -The doctor has taken part in nearly all the important Indian affairs of -Oregon and Washington Territory for a quarter of a century; sometimes as -interpreter or secretary for treaty councils, and sometimes as United -States Resident Physician, and again as leader of friendly Indians against -hostile ones. His experiences have more the character of romance than any -man in the northwest. - -He meets us at the wharf and says, "Come, you are my guest," and leads the -way to the high, rocky bluffs overlooking the city of "The Dalles." Our -entertainment was made complete through the hospitality of the lady-like, -dark-eyed woman who presided at a table whereon we found an elegant -supper. - -We light our pipes, and stroll out to the tents of the teamsters, packers, -and hands who are to accompany our expedition. An Indian boy is baking -bread by a camp-fire with frying-pans. Near by the door of the -cooking-tent we see our kitchen, a chest or box,--and by its side stands a -fifty-pound sack of self-rising flour, with the end open, and, resting on -the flour, a lump of dough. - -Jimmy Kane, the Indian cook, twists off a chunk, and, by a circling motion -peculiar to himself, and one would say entirely original, he soon gives it -the shape of a thin, unbaked loaf. See the fellow measuring the frying-pan -with his eyes, first scanning the loaf and then the pan, until, in his -judgment, they will fit each other well; then, holding the limp loaf in -his left hand, with the other he slips a bacon rind over the inside of the -pan, to prevent the dough from sticking, and claps the latter in; and, -patting it down until the surface is smooth, he pulls from his belt a -sheath-knife, and makes crosses in the cake to prevent blistering. Next, -the frying-pan goes over the fire a moment or two until the bottom is -crusted. Meantime the cook has drawn out coals or embers, standing the pan -at an angle, and propping it in position with a small stick, with one end -in the ground and the other in the upper end of the pan-handle. Meanwhile -the coffee-pot is boiling, and in some other frying-pan the meats are -cooking. But see that mess of dough, how it swells and puffs up, like an -angry mule making ready for a bucking frolic. Jimmy takes the pan by the -handle, and, with a peculiar motion, sends the now steaming loaf round and -round the pan; then jerking a straw or reed from the ground, thrusts it -into the heart of the loaf, and, quickly withdrawing it, examines the -heated point. If no dough is there, the loaf is "done," and then Jimmy -throws it on his hand, and keeps it dancing until he lands it in the -bread-sack, which is stored away among bed-blankets to keep it hot; while -he proceeds to put another lump of dough through the same process. -Sometimes the first loaf may be stood on end before the fire while the -other loaves are taking their turn in the pan. - -Perhaps a dozen cakes are standing like plates in a country woman's -cupboard, all on edge, while we look at the Indian cook setting the table -on the ground. First spreading down a saddle-blanket, and then a table of -thick sail-cloth, he draws the kitchen near, and pitches the tin plates -and cups, knives, and spoons around, and, placing an old sack in the -centre, sets thereon the frying-pan full of hot "fryins." But Jimmy has -everything on the table, and is waiting for the boys to come. - -Listen, and you will hear the tramping feet of our band of horses and -mules with which we are to make our journey. They come galloping into -camp, seasoning the supper with dust. - -On the following morning we are on the road toward the summit of the Blue -Mountain, riding over high, rolling prairies, sometimes crossing deep, -dark cañons, and out again on the open plain. On the evening of the -second day we pitched our camp in Antelope valley. - -While Jimmy is preparing supper, a man approaches our camp from the open -plain. He carries on his shoulders a breech-loading shot-gun, and, hanging -by his side, a game-bag, through which the furry legs of Jack rabbits and -the feathers of prairie chickens may be seen; and also in his left hand a -string of mountain trout. The man declares himself a hunter by his spoils; -but there is something else that causes us to stare at him,--the soft felt -hat slouched over his face, flannel blouse, denim overalls stuffed into -the top of his boots, a small pointer dog that keeps close to his heels, -altogether presenting a spectacle not common in appearance. - -As he comes near our camp, we recognize, in the sunburnt face and flaxen -hair, a man whose heroic deeds have placed his name high on the roll of -honor as a chieftain. This plain-looking, rough-clad, sunburnt hunter is -_George Crook_, commander of the Department of the Columbia. - -He is just the man that we wished to meet at this time. After a pleasant -chat on every-day topics, the general threw himself down on a pile of -blankets, and gave us his opinion of the Indian question, so far as -concerned those we were going to meet. His experience made his views of -great value, and we fully realized it within a few days. - -We see, coming over the hill from Warm Springs Agency, a small cavalcade -of Indians. They are to be of our party for the Snake expedition. - -Foremost in the trail rode a young Indian, who had been with McKay's -scouts under Gen. Crook. The general quietly extended his hand to the -new-comer, in token of recognition. - -This man's name was Tah-home (burnt rock). He had been successful, during -the war, in capturing a little Snake Indian squaw of about twelve years of -age. He had subsequently adopted her as his wife. Dr. McKay had arranged -for Tah-home to bring his captive wife for the purpose of interpreter, it -being presumed that she would, of course, be able to talk in her native -tongue, having been only two years a captive. - -It should be understood that nearly every tribe has a language distinct -from its neighbors, and it was feared that some difficulty would arise in -managing a council with a people who were so little known to other tribes, -except by their daring acts of warfare; hence this arrangement with -Tah-home and his squaw Ka-ko-na (lost child). - -It required some strong promises to reassure Tah-home of the safety of -this trip, in so far as it affected his property interest in the squaw; -for at this time his thoughts were confined to this view of the case. When -assured that, in the event the Snakes should claim his wife, and succeed -in persuading her to remain with them, he should have _two horses_, he was -satisfied to proceed. - -One or two days after we encamped near Cañon City, and, in pity for the -poorly clad squaw, we had her dressed in a full suit of new clothes. From -that time henceforth Tah-home seemed to be very much attached to his wife. -"Fine feathers make fine birds" among Indian people as elsewhere. - -Pursuing our journey, we at last stand on the summit of the Blue -Mountains, one hundred and eighty miles south of "The Dalles." Looking -northward, spread out before us, a great high plain appears in full view, -though hundred of miles away; high mountains, looking in the distance like -a wooded fringe, and their high peaks, like taller trees that had outgrown -their neighbors, were clothed in snow, making a marked contrast with their -shining tops. To the south an elevated plateau of open country, bleak and -dreary in its aspect. A few miles on we find a boiling spring of clear -water, and near it a cool one. - -Passing south of the summit, about fifty miles, we reach "Camp Harney," a -three-company military post established here to guard the Indians. There -was a time when it was necessary. Indeed, it may be again. - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - - THE COUNCIL WITH THE SNAKE INDIANS--O-CHE-O. - - -On our arrival we made our camp one mile below the post, on the bank of a -small stream. No Indians were visible until the day appointed for the -council we had ordered. Messengers had been sent out to the several Indian -camps, notifying them of our presence. - -They came at the appointed time in full force, men, women, and children. -The council was held near our camp, in a large army hospital tent. The -Snakes were represented by their great war chiefs, We-ah-we-we, E-he-gan, -and O-che-o. - -Before opening council, and while arranging the preliminaries, we -announced the presence of Ka-ko-na,--the captive wife of Tah-home,--and -the purpose for which she had been brought along. - -This announcement created great excitement among the Snake Indians. They -collected around the tired little squaw, and scanned her closely, for the -purpose of identification. She was frightened, and shrunk from their -questions, saying to Tah-home that she was "No Snake." She had either -really lost her native language, or was afraid to acknowledge that she -could speak it. - -Meanwhile, through the kindness of Gen. Crook, while we were encamped at -Antelope valley, sending for Donald McKay, who was in Government employ, -we were supplied with an interpreter. Donald is not only a scout, but he -is a linguist in Indian tongues,--speaking seven of them fluently,--the -"Shoshone Snake," included. Ka-ko-na, satisfied that she would not be -forced to go with her own people, listened to the Snake talk; suddenly, as -though waking from a dream, she began talking it herself, and was soon -recognized and identified as a sister of one of "O-che-o's" braves. - -Her father had been killed, her mother had died, and her relatives all -gone, save this one brother. Stoical as they appear to be, there is, -nevertheless, deep feelings of human affection pervading the hearts of -these people; especially for brother and sister, and even to cousins; but, -strangely enough, they carry their ideas of practicability beyond common -humanity in their treatment of mothers, by casting them off as worn-out -beasts of burden when too old for labor. - -This is even worse than among civilized people, who pray for the death of -mothers-in-law and step-mothers. - -The fathers are treated with great kindness,--at least when they are -possessed of worldly goods, and even when poor they are exempt from -labor,--are buried with the honors due them, and their graves held sacred -as long as the graves of other fathers generally. - -After the usual preliminaries of smoking the peace-pipe, both parties -proffering pipes, and after drawing a puff or two, then exchanging, -passing the pipes around the circle, until all had proclaimed friendly -intention by smoking, Col. Otis, commander of the District of the Lakes, -present, together with a number of officers from the post,--we opened the -talk by saying, substantially, that we were there to represent another -department of the Government; that we knew all about the history of the -past, and had come to offer them a home on a Reservation, and to provide -for their wants; and that we were prepared to assist them in removing to -the new homes at Yai-nax, on Klamath Reservation. - -The chiefs were suspicious and wary, not disposed to talk, but were good -listeners. After two days, passed in "making heart," they said they could -not give an answer without "Old Win-ne-muc-ca," the head chief of all the -Shoshones, Snakes. - -The council was adjourned, and this celebrated old fraud was sent for, a -distance of one hundred miles. - -Meanwhile we waited for his appearance, sometimes visiting the Indian -camps several miles away. - -On one occasion I went on horseback and alone with We-ah-we-wa. He seemed -anxious to give warning to his people of our coming, and sent runners -ahead on foot for that purpose. As we rode away from our camp I had some -misgivings, when I remembered that the man beside me was one of the most -bloodthirsty savages that had ever led a band of braves to a banquet of -blood. He it was who had directed, and assisted too, in the many scenes of -robbery and murder on the Cañon City road. - -He was more than an ordinary man in mental power, had in former years, -while a captive, lived on Warm Springs Reservation, had learned the -Chinook jargon, and could speak "Boston" sufficiently well to make himself -understood. - -After leaving our camp, and while en route to his, he told me of his -capture years before; of his confinement in a guard-house, and exhibited -the scars that had been made by the fetters he had worn; then of his -escape and subsequent adventures, and narrow escape from recapture and -death. - -He did not appear to shrink from mention of his own crimes and exploits, -but sought to impress me constantly that he had only acted in defence of -his own rights. There was in the face of this man a cunning, treacherous -look that was anything but reassuring. - -On crossing a little stream fringed with willows, we came suddenly on his -camp. Not a house, tent, or lodge was to be seen, but scattered around -among the sage bushes were several half-circular wind-brakes, made of -sage-brush and willows. The women and children ran out at our approach. -The chief called them back. They came shyly, and with wondering eyes gazed -on the man who had come to move them to a new home. I learned from him -that _they_ had never been to the post, and that few white men had ever -called on him; hence the curiosity they had on being close enough to see -how a white man looked. This chief was the owner of three sleek, fat, -healthy-looking wives; they lived on roots, fish, and grasshoppers. The -entire outfit for house-keeping was carried from one camping place to -another on the backs of the squaws. - -They were dressed in long loose frocks, made of deer-skins, trimmed with -furs, and, woman-like, embellished with trinkets; in this instance of -pieces of tin, cut by them, feathers and claws of wild animals. The -sleeves were small, and in the seams a welt of dressed deer-skin, two -inches deep, and cut into fringes of one-fourth inch wide. They made their -toilets at the little brook beneath the willows. These people maintained -all their old customs. I noticed a woman's work-basket, differing somewhat -from that of those who were blessed with sewing-machines. Their needles -were pointed bones, resembling an awl, and were used as such. - -The threads were made of sinews of animals, cured and prepared for the -purpose, very strong, but not fine enough for fancy work on silk or -cambrics; and yet they make beautiful moccasins and bead-work, without -other thread or needle. - -The children were also clad in deer-skin clothes, as were the men; the -latter being dressed with the hair and fur retained. All these people of -whom I write are copper-colored, though varying in shades about as much as -white people do, some of them being much darker than others; all have -black eyes, and long black hair, and smooth features, except high-cheek -bones. They differ in stature; those near the seacoast being smaller than -those of the high lands; the latter averaging as large as white men. The -women are much larger than white women. - -Their habits are simple, and their morals beyond question, so far as the -honor of their women is concerned. I learned from good authority that the -Indian women who have never been contaminated by association with low -white men are chaste. The law penalty of these people for violation of -this virtue is death. One or two instances of the enforcement of this -rigid rule have come within my own personal knowledge on reservations in -Oregon. - -Sixteen days after the opening of the councils, Win-ne-muc-ca arrived, and -the council was again opened. The great chief spoke to his people in -private, but declined to make a speech in our joint councils; the others -speaking, however, for the people. O-che-o accepted our offer of a home, -on the condition that we should return the captives that had been taken -during the late war. This promise was made on our part. With this -assurance, he and his band made ready for removal. The others did not. We -used all our argumentative ability to obtain their consent, but -unsuccessfully. They came to the council with war-paint on their bodies -and arms concealed under deer-skin robes. Our party were armed, and all -were on the keen look-out for trouble. Toward the close of the -council-talks the medicine-man of the Snakes drew his knife, and, dropping -his robe from his shoulders, displayed, what we well understood to be -war-painting on his body and arms, and, thrusting his knife into the -ground, said, "We have made up our minds to die before we will go to any -place away from our country." - -This action and speech brought all parties to a standing posture very -quickly. The situation was a very doubtful one for a few moments. The -proximity of troops prevented a fight. Had we been a few miles from -assistance, I doubt not blood would have been spilled. - -We-ah-we-wa himself would have consented to go to a Reservation, but the -medicine-man was not willing. Their chief requested that his reasons for -not complying should be made known to the "big chief" at Washington, which -request was granted and complied with. - -The council ended, and we made preparation to remove O-che-o's band to -Yai-nax, Klamath Reservation. - -Before leaving camp we had demonstrated the superiority of our doctor's -skill, by healing a sick Indian against the will of the Snake -medicine-man. - -The Snakes had demanded the return of their people who had been captured -during the war. This we refused unless they would go on to the -Reservation. These two circumstances had produced bad blood. - -Before our departure a Snake woman, the wife of a half-breed, gave us -warning that an attempt would be made to capture our party while on the -way to Camp Warner. I made requisition for an escort of troops, which was -honored, and we took up the line of march. We passed safely through this -wild, unsettled region, and, on arrival at Warner, O-che-o gathered his -people, and, _without_ escort, we continued the journey to Yai-nax. - -We enjoyed the rare spectacle of seeing the medicine-man practise on a -patient who was taken suddenly ill and supposed to be poisoned. The -treatment was novel. He made a sage-brush fire, and waited until it had -burned down to embers. Meanwhile the patient was divested of clothing. The -assistants of the doctor formed in a circle around the fire, and four men -were selected to manage the victim of this savage practice. The prayers, -songs and dances commenced simultaneously, increasing in earnestness. The -patient was lying, with his face downward, on a blanket, with a slight -covering over him. The medicine-man made a sign of readiness, when the -sick man was seized by the four Indians, by the hands and feet, and, amid -the noise of prayers and songs and dances, he was drawn forward and -backward, face down, over the hot coals, until he was burnt the length of -his body, so that great blisters were raised soon after. - -This man did not wince or mutter or shrink from the fearful ordeal. His -faith made him whole. A day or two after he was apparently well. - -Belonging to O-che-o's band was one named "Big Foot," who would, with a -cane four feet long, capture sage-brush hare, incredible as it may seem, -when the fleetness of these animals is considered. He would actually run -on to them and knock them down with the cane. - -Our route from Warner to Yai-nax led us over a high, dry country, with -occasional groves of mountain mahogany, or spruce, the whole great plateau -being from four to five thousand feet above the sea level. Small lakes lay -basking in summer's sun or covered with winter's ice. They are bountifully -supplied with fish of the trout species. - -On the day before our arrival we were met by a delegation of Klamath -Indians, who came out to meet and give us welcome. It is a beautiful -custom among Indians to send in runners to announce the approach of -visitors, and then messengers are returned, or perhaps, as in this -instance, the chief and his head men go in person to meet them. - -They were impatient to "look into the eyes and see the tongue" of the new -superintendent. Whether the Indians of our party had telegraphed our -coming, or sent runners in advance, I do not now remember. The great -Caucasian race justly honors the names of _Franklin_, _Morse_, and -_Field_. These people of whom I write had been using fire as a medium of -communication for untold generations. Spiritualism is also common among -them. - -We were treated with some exhibitions of this incomprehensible phenomenon -while on this journey. The séance was not conducted with the aid of pine -tables or the laying on of hands; the medium, or clairvoyant, working -himself by wild motions of his arms and head into the proper condition. He -announced that the Klamaths were at that minute encamped at a certain -place, and designated the day on which they would meet us. - -Subsequent investigation established the correctness of the prophecy. -Whether the knowledge was obtained through fire-signals, or by the medium -of spirit communication, this deponent sayeth not. There is a general -understanding among them as to fire-signals, even when they have no -knowledge of each other's language. - -The meeting with the Klamaths and Snakes was one of interest to all -parties, from the fact that they had been enemies, and the chiefs had not -met in person since peace was restored. Living in the country intervening -was a small tribe of Wal-pah-pas, who were half Snake and half Klamath. -They were mediators, though sometimes fighting on alternate sides, as -interest or affront gave occasion. - -The Klamath chief and his people had made camp, and were awaiting our -arrival. The chief first addressed me, as the high chief, stating that he -had heard of me, and was anxious to "see my eyes and heart, and welcome me -to Klamath." I replied by saying, "I have brought with me a man of your -own color. He comes to live on Klamath." Then, extending my hand, the -chief of the Klamaths advanced and exchanged greetings with me, and also -with O-che-o, chief of the Snakes. This man I consider a remarkable -character. Mild-mannered, smooth-voiced, unassuming, unused to ceremonies -that were not savage, he exhibited traits of character worthy of emulation -by more pretentious people. - -In this informal council he responded to Allen David, the Klamath chief: -"I met this white man. He won my heart with strong words. I came with him. -I once thought I could kill all the white men. I have lost nearly all my -young men fighting. I am tired of blood. I want to die in peace. I have -given my heart all away. I will not go to war. I am poor. I have few -horses. I do not know how to work. I can learn. We will be friends. I will -live forever, where this new chief places me. I am done." - -After these greetings and the supper over, we gathered around huge fires -of pine and spruce logs, and talked in a friendly manner. Singular -spectacle, away out on the unsettled plains of Eastern Oregon, to see a -meeting wherein were representatives of two races and seven different -tribes, speaking as many different languages, sitting in peace and -harmony, without fear of harm, telling stories, some of which were -translated into the several tongues. - -To illustrate how these talks were conducted: a white man speaks in his -own language, a Warm Spring Indian repeats it to his own people, who, in -turn, tell it to a Klamath, he to a Modoc, and then it goes through the -Wal-pah-pa's mouth to the Snake's. Often three or four sentences, of -different sense, are being translated at the same time. Some wild stories -are told; but oftener the white man furnishes the subject, at the -solicitation of some red men asking information. - -The night wears away, the fires grow dim, and, one by one, the talkers -drop out of the circle, and retire to sleep unguarded. The morning sun -finds the camp active, and preparation being made for moving forward. The -horses and mules are driven into camp, about as motley a band as the -people who were squatting around the various breakfast tables on the -ground. The scenes of such a camp are enlivening indeed. Tents falling, -lodges taken down, horses neighing and losing company, all bustle and -confusion, while the teams are being harnessed, and the mules and Indian -ponies are being saddled and packed,--the spectacle presented is an -exhilarating one. But if you would enjoy the full benefit of it, take a -position on the side of the camp from which we take our departure, and, -while you rest your elbows on your saddled horse, take items. - -See the anxiety of each to be off first, and hear the driver of the mule -teams talking in an undertone until the bells on the leaders strike a note -that is in tune with the road, and then each mule settles to the collar -and the wheels move. Anxious squaws are jabbering to their horses, -children and dogs, lazy Indian men sitting unconcerned, astride the best -horses. Stand still a little longer, and see the last man run to the fire -for a coal to light his pipe, and then away to overtake his company. - -The camp is now deserted, the fires are burned out, and the places where -tents and lodges stood look smooth, and where the weary limbs have lain -the fresh broken trees tell who were there. And now our horse, with his -impatient feet, bids a hasty "good-by" to a spot that was our home for a -night; we leave it behind us to be seen no more. - -Our charger, now more impatient, still hurries to join the departed -throng, while we turn up our coat-collar to keep the frost from our ears. -Soon we come upon the lame and lazy, and perhaps an old squaw, with her -basket of household treasures that has been with her through her hard -life, the basket suspended on her back by a strap around her forehead, and -a stick in her hand, and her body bent forward. She plods along until the -sound of approaching hoofs startle her, and instinctively she looks around -and stops for us to pass. Poor, miserable old link of Darwin's mystic -chain, we pity you; for you are, at least, half human, and your sons, with -no filial love and no shame, are on prancing horses just ahead of you, -wearing red blankets and redder paints, with feathers flying, and -thoughtless of their mother; your lot is hard, but you don't know it, -because in your youth you played Indian lady, while your mother wore the -shoes of servitude that you are now wearing. - -As we ride on, passing little squads of old people on foot, and women with -baby baskets, ponies groaning under two or three great lazy boys, teams -with jingling bells, we find, nearer the front of the train, the lords of -this wild kind of creation, laughing and sporting as they ride, apparently -unconscious of the fact that slavery and bondage have fettered old age, -and compelled it to drag weary limbs over stony roads. - -We arrive at Yai-nax, the future home of a war-chief, who has cost the -Government much of blood and treasure, though docile now. A lone hut marks -the spot, near a large spring that runs off in a northerly direction to -Sprague's river. A beautiful valley spreads out for miles, covered with -grass and wild flax; snowy mountains lie south, west, and north, the -valley ascending the mountain east so gradually that we can scarcely see -where the one ends and the other begins. The cavalcade halts near the -spring, and soon the throng becomes busy making preparations for the -night. - -The next morning's sun finds a busy camp; every able-bodied man is ordered -to work; trees are falling, axes plying, and log cabins rise in rows, and -the new home of the Snake Indians begins to appear to the eye a real, -tangible thing. - -Six days pass, and the smokes from thirteen Indian houses join in -procession and move off eastward, borne by the breeze that sings and -sighs, or howls in anger among the trees around Yai-nax. A council is -called, and O-che-o speaks: "My heart is good. I will stay on the land you -have given me. This is my home. When you come again you will find O-che-o -here." - -Since leaving Camp Harney nothing has been said until this evening about -captives. O-che-o now raises the question again. We meet him with the -assurance that all the captives that can be found shall have the privilege -of returning to their people. I was not altogether prepared for the scene -that was opening. O-che-o remarked, through an interpreter, that he -believed me, and that he expected that I would secure the return to him -of his captured son, who was somewhere in the north; but, to make his -heart easy on the subject, he would try me with a case now before us; -referring to Ka-ko-na. - -It was a regular bombshell. We were on the eve of departure. Ka-ko-na and -Tah-home had become very strongly attached to each other, and were not -willing to be separated. - -O-che-o had assented to the new law which I had introduced forbidding the -sale of women; but he was nevertheless anxious to detain her, unless she -was _paid for_. This last feature he did not avow, but I well knew the -meaning of his speech. He insisted that she should be brought before the -council, and in the presence of the people make her choice, to go or stay. -Tah-home was almost wild with fear of losing her, and reminded me of my -promise at Antelope valley. Ka-ko-na was consulted, while I was -endeavoring to evade the trying scene. I was satisfied that she preferred -going with Tah-home; but I well knew the mysterious power of the -medicine-man, and I feared that, if she was brought into his presence, she -would be so much under the power of his will, through her own -superstitious faith in him, that she would not have the courage to elect -to go with Tah-home. - -O-che-o was informed that she preferred to go with her husband. "All -right; but let her come here to say so before all the people," insisted -O-che-o. I clearly saw that any further attempt at evasion would impair -his confidence in my integrity. - -This episode was of that kind which enlists the sympathies of all classes -of men. Tah-home had won the good will of our entire party, during the -trip from Antelope Valley, by his unceasing industry as a herder and -camp-helper. - -Ka-ko-na had also improved much in her manners, and had learned the art of -laundress to some extent. No unseemly act had she committed to forfeit the -respect due her as a woman; consequently now, when the two had become so -thoroughly infatuated with each other that it was noticeable to even -casual observers, a general feeling of pity and regret at the untoward -circumstances was manifest throughout the camp. - -The teamsters and other employés were willing to make up a purse to buy -her of her people,--in fact, the project was put on foot to do so. I -confess I was not insensible to the common feeling of regret, mixed with -the fear for the result. - -When the trying moment could no longer be delayed, Ka-ko-na and her master -lover were brought into the circle. The moon was shining brightly, and, -added to this, the light of the council fire made up a picture of romantic -interest. Speeches were made on the occasion worthy of the subject. - -An appeal was made to O-che-o's better nature, in behalf of the anxious -pair. He is really a noble fellow, and, to his credit be it told, a -kind-hearted man, though untrained in civil ways. - -He acknowledged that it was wrong to separate those who loved each other, -but said "he must look in Ka-ko-na's eyes while she made her choice." He -was not willing that Tah-home should even stand beside her while the -matter was under discussion. - -The latter asked the privilege of speaking, which, being granted, he -poured out a speech that I little thought him capable of making. It was -replete with the wild poetry of love, very impassioned, and full of -pathos. Finally, Ka-ko-na was ordered to make a choice,--to go with -Tah-home, or stay with her people. - -The Snake medicine-man took a position in front of her, and, fixing his -eyes on hers, stood gazing in her face. The whole council circle was -stilled. A suspense that was very intense pervaded every mind. Silence -reigned; every eye was watching the movement of the woman's lips. The -power of the medicine-man was more than she could stand, even when love -for Tah-home was pleading. - -She answered, "_I stay_," and burst into tears. Tah-home turned as white -as an Indian could. The white men present felt a cold chill fall on them. -Ka-ko-na and Tah-home returned to their tent, she weeping bitterly. The -council was broken up, and the excited camp was again quiet, save the -sobbing of the heart-broken Ka-ko-na. - -An hour or two before daybreak, I was awakened by Tah-home, who, in a low -whisper, made an enterprising proposition, which was no less than to elope -with his wife. I dare not assent, though strongly tempted to do so. When I -refused, he then wished me to prevent pursuit. This I could not do. The -poor fellow returned to his tent, and the sobbing changed to paroxysms of -despair. - -Our next point of destination being Klamath Agency, we had despatched part -of our teams the evening previous. On one of these wagons Ka-ko-na's goods -had been placed by her friends, with the intention, no doubt, of making an -excuse for her to follow. When the morning came for our departure, -O-che-o was invited to accompany our party to the agency, and repay the -visit of the Klamaths. The fact that Ka-ko-na's clothing had preceded her -in wagons was urged as a reason why she should go also. - -O-che-o consented. We placed the camp in charge of a trustworthy white -man, and turned from this new settlement with feelings of pride, and with -a prayer and hope for its success. Whether O-che-o and his people shall -ever reach manhood's estate depends entirely on the policy of the -Government, and the men who are selected to educate them in the -rudimentary principles of civilization. - -Two years afterward I again visited the settlement. I found O-che-o -_there_, contented. He was glad to see me, and repeated his declaration -that he would "Go no more on the warpath." I found twenty-eight log -houses, with chimneys, doors, and windows, occupied by the Snake Indians; -also, comfortable buildings for Government employés, and a farm of three -hundred acres of land, under a substantial fence, together with corrals -and barns. - -This country is about forty-four hundred feet in altitude, and, -consequently, the seasons are short. When not cut down by frost, wheat and -barley yield abundantly, unless, indeed, another enemy should -interfere,--the cricket. They are about one and one-half inches long, a -bright black color, very destructive, marching in grand armies, eating the -vegetation nearly clean as they go. These crickets made their appearance -in the neighborhood of Yai-nax, and threatened destruction to the crops. -The commissary in charge consulted O-che-o and Choe-tort. They ordered -their people to prepare for the war on this coming army. Circular -bowl-shaped basins, six feet in diameter, were made in the ground, and -paved with cobble-stones; large piles of dry wood, brush and grass were -collected near the pits. All the available forces were armed with baskets, -sacks, and other implements, and ordered on to the attack. The forces were -put in position, and the alarm sounded, and this strange battle began. Let -us stand by one of the basins, or pits, and witness the arrival of the -victors, who come laden with the wounded and maimed enemies. Those in -charge of the slaughter-pens, or basins, throw in wood, dry grass and sage -brush, and when burnt down, the ashes are swept out with long willow -brooms; then a fire is built around the upper rim of the basin, and as -each captor comes with her load of thousands, they are thrown into the -basin on the heated rocks. The children, especially the girls, are -stationed around the circle to drive back the more enterprising crickets -that succeed in hopping over, or through the fiery ring surrounding this -slaughter-pen. Think, for a moment, of the helpless, writhing mass of -animated nature in a hot furnace,--a great black heap of insects being -stirred up with poles until they are roasted, while their inhuman -torturers are apparently unconscious of the fact that these crickets are -complete organisms, each with a separate existence, struggling for life. - -I don't know that it was any more inhuman than a "Yankee clam-bake," where -brave men and fair women murder thousands of animated bivalves without a -thought of inflicting pain. The Indians had the advantage in a moral point -of view, for the crickets were their enemies. When the _bake_ is over -they shovel them into home-made sacks, and then, sewing them up, put them -to press. - -An Indian cricket-press does not work by steam, with huge screws. Plat -rocks are placed on the ground, and the sack full of cooked crickets is -placed thereon, and then another rock is laid on the sack; finally stones, -logs, and other weighty things are placed upon the pile, until the work is -complete. Meanwhile, look away down the sloping plane and see the line of -battle, with sprightly young squaws on the outside, deployed as -skirmishers. See how they run, and laugh, and shout, until the enemy is -turned, and then the victory is followed up, each anxious to secure -trophies of the battle. This is one kind of war where the women wield -implements of destruction quite as well as their masters. - -The battle has been fought and won, and the intruders routed and driven -into the rapid current of Sprague's river. The people rest from the siege -contented, for the growing crop--carrots, and turnips--has been saved. -This is not the only cause of gratulation, for now comes the best part of -the war. The luscious cakes of roasted crickets are taken from the rude -presses, and the brave warriors of this strange battle celebrate the -victory with a feast of fresh crickets, and a grand dance, where sparkling -eyes and nodding feathers, and jingling bells keep time to Indian drums. - -Fastidious reader, have you ever been to a clam-bake, and seen the gay -dancers celebrate the funeral of a few thousand sightless -bivalves?--things that God had placed in hardened coffins and buried on -the shore, while godlike man and woman brought them to a short-lived -resurrection. - -Well, then, you understand how little human sympathy goes out for helpless -things, and how much of thoughtless joy is experienced in this civilized -kind of feasting. The Indian has the advantage, for his roasted crickets -_are sweet_ and nutritious. I speak from "the card," as a Yankee would -say. - -O-che-o and Choc-toot are safe from want. The compressed cakes are -"cached" away for winter use; that is to say, they are buried in a -jug-shaped cellar, dug on some dry knoll, and taken out as necessity may -require. The cakes when taken from the bag--as Yankee people would say, -for they call everything a bag that western people call a sack--present -the appearance of a caddy of foreign dates or domestic plums when dried -and put in shape for merchandise. - -Since my-visit to Yai-nax, at the time of locating O-che-o and his people, -others have been added to the station. Old Chief Schonchin, the legitimate -leader of the now notorious tribe of Modocs, has taken up his residence at -Yai-nax. - -At the time of planting this Indian settlement, it was not known that any -adverse claim could be set up to this portion of Klamath Reservation; -since then, however, a military road company has laid claim to alternate -sections of land, granted them by an act of the Oregon Legislature, by -virtue of congressional legislation, giving lands to certain States to -assist in making "internal improvements." - -The Government has been apprised of the state of affairs, and may take -action to meet the emergency. There is, however, an embryo Indian war in -this claim, unless judiciously managed. - -In the treaty of 1864 this land was set apart as a home for the Klamath -Indians, and such other tribes as might be, from time to time, located -thereon by order of the United States. Subsequently the grant in aid of -internal improvements was made. Suppose the Government concedes the right -to the road company to sell and dispose of these lands, to which the -Government has never had a title, and the purchaser takes possession; thus -occupying alternate sections, of the country belonging to these Indian -tribes, and giving them nothing in compensation. The result might be -another cry of extermination, and another expensive spasmodic effort to -annihilate a tribe who, in desperation, fight for their rights. - -The land never did belong to the United States; else why treat with its -owners for it? If the road company are entitled to lands for constructing -a military road through this Indian Reservation, give them other lands in -lieu thereof, or make the compensation to the Indians equivalent to the -sacrifices they may make; otherwise more blood will be shed. - -Their nationality and manhood were recognized in making the treaty by -which this tract of country was reserved from sale to the United States. -Let it be recognized still; treat them with justice, and war and its -bloody attendants will be avoided. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - - OVER THE FALLS--FIRST ELECTION. - - -Taking up our narrative, let us resume our journey to Klamath Agency, -accompanied by O-che-o and a few of his head men; Tah-home and Ka-ko-na -taking charge of the loose stock, and riding, for once in their lives, _a -la_ white people, side by side. This was a sad day to them; they were, -human-like, more ardently in love than ever, as the hour for departure -approached. - -The route from Yai-nax to Klamath Agency follows down the valley of -Sprague's river for twenty miles, over rich prairies skirted with timber. -To the eye it is a paradise, walled in on the north and south by ranges of -mountains five miles apart, traversed by a stream of clear water, and -covered with bunch-grass and wild flax. It is the natural pasture land of -elk, who run in bands of fifty to one hundred over its beautiful plains. -Leaving the river, the road crosses a range of low hills passing down to -Williamson's river,--a connecting link between the "Great Klamath Marsh" -and "Big Klamath Lake." At the crossing it is one hundred yards wide; the -ford being on the crown of a rocky ledge of twenty feet in width, over -which the water thirty inches' depth runs very swiftly, and falls off -about two feet into deeper water below. The Indians cross on their ponies -without fear; but white men with trembling limbs, with an Indian on each -side. We made the trip with a silent prayer to Heaven for safety as we -went through. Not so, however, with the driver of one of our six-mule -teams. The wagon was partly loaded with infantry soldiers, who were -returning to Fort Klamath from some duty, and had been granted the -privilege of riding. The driver, when about midway, became dizzy, and for -the moment panic-stricken and wild; drew the leaders' line so strongly -that, mule-like, they jumped off into the boiling flood below. The -soldiers leaped from the wagon before it crossed the precipice. - -Soon the six mules and the driver were struggling in thirty or forty feet -depth of water. The wagon rolled over and over down the water-covered, -rocky slope, finally resting on the bottom. The driver and five mules were -saved by the heroism of a quiet little fellow named Zip Williams. He had -driven his team through, and was out of danger. Seeing the other going -over the falls, he quitted his own, and throwing off his boots, drawing -his knife and clasping it between his teeth, he rushed among the -struggling mass of floundering mules, and succeeded in cutting the -harness, thereby liberating five of the animals. The remaining one, -attached to the wagon tongue, being tall, would touch the bottom with his -hind feet occasionally, and, with his head and front feet out of water a -portion of the time, would plead earnestly for succor; but his struggles -were so furious that even the heroic Zip could not extricate him. Those -present witnessed with regret this brave old mule sink beneath the flood. -The wagon and part of the harness were recovered, and also the "big-wheel -mule;" but the latter "was not of much account," as Zip expressed it, -"except to make a big Indian feast," to which purpose he was applied. - -From Williamson river our route lay through a heavy forest. The agency is -situated on the east side of a small river which rises at the foot of a -long ridge extending west to the Cascade Mountains. This stream runs -several thousand inches of water, and would afford immense power. The -buildings were made of logs, and are arranged in a row, one hundred feet -apart, resembling one side of a street. The long row of twenty whitewashed -houses fronting east was a welcome sight for those of our party who had -for three months been almost entirely out of society, and, in fact, away -from civilization. - -Klamath Agency is new, it having been established in 1865; the Indians who -occupy it numbering, in 1869 (the time of my first official visitation), -fourteen hundred. They are "Klamaths," "Modocs," "Yahooshin," "Snakes," -"Wal-pah-pas," and "Shoshone Snakes." The Klamaths number seven hundred. -They were the original owners of the country; have never been engaged in -wars against the white race. - -They are a brave, enterprising, and ambitious people. In former times they -were often in the warpath against other Indian tribes; and among their -ancient enemies are those who now occupy the country in common with them. - -The practice of calling the Indians together for a "big talk" on occasions -of the visits of officials was also observed in this instance. - -This agency has been under the management of Lindsay Applegate, of -Oregon,--a man who was well qualified by nature, and a long residence on -the frontier, for the office. - -He had taken charge of them when they were only savages; and, during the -short time he was in power, he, with the assistance of his subordinates, -had advanced them greatly in civilization. Under his tuition they had -abandoned the old hereditary chieftainships, and had elected new chiefs by -popular vote. - -They were slow to yield to the new plan; but when the election was -ordered, they entered into the contest with earnestness and enthusiasm. - -The manner of voting did not admit of ballot-box stuffing,--no mistake -could occur,--but so natural is it to cheat and corrupt the great -franchise, that even those wild Indians made clumsy imitation of white -demagogues. - -There were two candidates for the office of head chief,--each anxious for -election, as in fact candidates always are, no matter of what race. They -made promises,--the common stock in trade everywhere with people hunting -office,--of favors and patronage, and even _bought votes_. - -This, the first election on this Reservation, was one of great excitement. -There was wire-working and intriguing to the last minute. When the -respective candidates walked out and called for votes, each one's -supporters forming in line headed by the candidate, the result was soon -declared, and Bos-co-pa was the lucky man. - -Agent Applegate named him "David Allen;" but, Indian like, they transposed -the names and called him "Allen David," by which name he is known and has -become, to some extent, identified with the recent Modoc war. He is a man -of commanding appearance, being over six feet in height, large, -well-developed head, naturally sensible, and, withal, highly gifted as an -orator and diplomat. - -He had met our party as we came in with O-che-o's band of "Shoshone -Snakes," and, on our arrival at Yai-nax, had come on home in advance to -prepare his people for the big council talk. He called them together the -day after our arrival. - -The weather was cold,--the ground covered with a few inches of snow. Allen -David's people began to assemble. Look from the office window on the -scene: here they come, of all ages less than a century; some very old -ones, lashed on their horses to prevent them falling off; others who were -blind, and one or two that had not enjoyed even the music of the -_thunder-storm_ for years; others, again, whose teeth were worn off smooth -with the gums. Not one of the motley crowd was _bald_; indeed, I never saw -an Indian who was. They came in little gangs and squads, or families, -bringing with them camp equipages. - -As each party arrived they pitched their camps. In the course of the day -several hundred had come to see the "New tyee." Some were so impatient -they did not wait to arrange camp, but hurried to pay honors to their new -chief. They brought not only the old, the young, their horses and dogs, -but also their troubles of all kinds,--old feuds to be raked up, quarrels -to be reopened, and many questions that had arisen from time to time, and -had been disposed of by the agent, whose verdict they hoped might be -reversed. - -The camp at nightfall suggested memories of Methodist camp meetings in the -West. - -Here and there were little tents or lodges, and in front of some of them, -and in the centre of others, fires were built, and round them, sitting and -standing, long-haired, dusky forms, and, in a few instances, the children -lashed to boards or baskets. - -I have selected this agency and these people to quote and write from, with -the intention of mentioning, more in detail, the characteristics of the -real Indian, in preference to any other in Oregon, for the reason that -minutes and reports in my possession, of the councils, are more complete; -also, because the people themselves present all the traits peculiar to -their race. To insure the comfort of the people large pine logs were -hauled up with ox-teams, with which to build fires, the main one being one -hundred feet in length, and several logs high, and when ablaze, lighted up -the surrounding woods, producing a grand night-scene, with the swarthy -faces on each side changing at the command of the smoke and flames. - -My reader may not see the picture because of my poverty of language to -describe it. Suffice it to say, that these people were there to see and -hear for themselves. Men, women and children came prepared to "stay and -see it out," as frontier people say. - -While preparations for the council were being made, a portion of the -department teams, which we had used on the Snake expedition, was -despatched for Warm Springs Reservation. - -A high dividing ridge of the Blue Mountains separates the waters of the -Klamath basin from Des Chutes and Warm Spring country. - -The snows fall early on this ridge, and sometimes to great depth; hence it -was necessary that the teams should leave without delay, otherwise they -might get into a snow blockade, and be lost. - -Tah-home was ordered to accompany the train as a guide. He remonstrated, -because he had about made up his mind to remain and join O-che-o's band -sooner than be separated from Ka-ko-na. - -I knew if he remained it would be to his disadvantage, and probable ruin; -and for that reason refused him his request, after fairly explaining the -reasons therefor. - -He acknowledged the validity of my arguments, and with a quick, quiet -motion withdrew. I caught his eye, and read plainly what was in his mind. -He had determined to take Ka-ko-na with him at every hazard. - -Half suppressing my own convictions of right in the premises, I shut my -eyes to what was passing; in fact, I half relented in my determination to -enforce the new law in regard to buying women. I felt that the trial was a -little too severe on all the Indian parties to this transaction. - -The evening before the departure, in company with Capt. Knapp (the agent), -I called at Tah-home's tent, and found Ka-ko-na still weeping. Tah-home -was downcast and sober-faced, and renewed his petition for the privilege -of remaining. I confess that was tempted to suspend the new law, but -steadied myself with the belief that some way, somehow, Tah-home would -succeed without my aid, and without the retraction of the law, though I -could not see just how. I was "borrowing trouble," for, as I subsequently -learned, the arrangement for Tah-home to get away with his wife had -already been made through the intervention of a "mutual friend," and at -the time I visited his camp, Tah-home and Ka-ko-na were playing a -part,--throwing dust in my eyes. - -This mutual friend had satisfied O-che-o by giving him one of Tah-home's -horses, his rifle, and a pair of blankets, all of which had been sent off -to O-che-o's camp. - -The snow began falling before morning, and in the meantime Tah-home and -Ka-ko-na silently left camp for Warm Springs. On the following morning, -when the teams were drawn up to start, I missed Tah-home and Ka-ko-na. Of -course I needed no one to tell me that at that moment they were miles -away, towards the summit of the mountain. - -Having, at that time, no assurance that O-che-o had been "seen," I -hastened to his lodge. I found him sleeping, or pretending to sleep. On -being aroused he sprang to his feet, and inquired the cause of my early -visit. I think that no looker-on would have detected, in his looks or -manner, anything but surprise and indignation, when the escape of Tah-home -and his wife was made known to him. Reproach was in his eyes and his -actions while he dressed himself. I was alarmed lest they should be -pursued. - -A "_mutual friend_" is, sometimes, a handy thing in life; in this instance -the "mutual," seeing that I was in the dark, and liable to make some rash -promises, touched me on the arm, and called me away. I followed him. -O-che-o _did not follow me_. If my memory is correct, the matter was not -again referred to by either of us; but there was considerable sly -laughing all over the camp, at the way in which the "tyee" (myself) had -been outwitted by Indians. - -"Such is life." We are living a lie when we seem most honest, and justify -ourselves with the assurance that "of two evils choose the least," will -whitewash us over to all other eyes. To the present writing, conscience -has not kept my eyes open when I wished to sleep, because I shut them on -Tah-home and O-che-o's trick. - -The grand council was opened by Allen David, the chief, saying, "Hear me, -all my people--open your ears and listen to all the words that are -spoken--I have been to the head of Sprague's river, to meet the new -tyee--I have looked into his eyes--I have seen his tongue--he talks -straight. His heart is strong--he is a brave man--he will say strong -words. His ears are large--he hears everything. He does not get tired. He -does not come drunk with whiskey. What you have heard about him shaking -hands with every one is true. His eye is good--he does not miss -anything--he saw my heart. He washed my heart with a strong law--he -brought some new laws that are like a strong soap. Watch close and do not -miss his words--they are strong. We will steal his heart." - -The subjoined report to my superior in office was made on my return to -Salem, and since it is an official communication, written years ago, it -may be worthy of a place in this connection; supplementing which I propose -to write more in detail matters concerning this visit and the series of -meetings referred to. I make this statement here, because I do not wish -the readers to be confused by the mixing of dates, since to finish this -report in full without explanation would exclude incidents that are of -interest in a book, though not justifiable in official reports. - - OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT INDIAN AFFAIRS, - SALEM, OREGON, Jan. 20th, 1870. - - SIR:--After the completion of the Snake expedition and previous - to starting on the Modoc trip, I held a series of meetings and - talks with the Klamaths. - - I understand, and have so represented on every occasion, that - President Grant meant what he said in his inaugural address: - that his policy in regard to Indians would be to prepare them by - civilization for citizenship. Acting from this principle, so - perfectly in accordance with my own judgment, I stepped out of - the track of my predecessors, and said to them that my first - business is to settle the financial affairs of the agency; then, - to issue such goods as I had provided; and then to deliver a - message from Mr. Parker to you; that I am ready to hear any and - all complaints; settle any and all difficulties; decide any and - all vexed questions; to tell you about the white people's laws, - customs, habits, religion, etc., etc.; in a word, I propose to - remove the barrier that a condition has held between the - different stations in life. Civilization may be yours--manhood-- - the American standard of worth. The course is clear and open to - you Indian people--for the whole family of man. - - I had never stood, until now, before a people just emerging from - the chrysalis of savage life, struggling earnestly and manfully - to leave behind them the traditions and customs of an ancestry - known only to mankind by the history of bloody acts and deeds - of savage heroism. - - I would that I could portray these scenes: these dark-eyed men - with long hair, women naturally good-looking, but so sadly - debauched that virtue makes no pretensions among them; children - of every _shade_,--all gathered around a huge fire of pine logs, - in a forest of tall trees, in mid-winter, with the little camp - fires here and there; and notwithstanding the ground was covered - with snow and thermometer sometimes below zero, these people - would sit, or stand, for hours, with eyes, ears, and hearts all - open to hear; catching with great eagerness the story of my - superior in office, to whom I made all my reports and from whom - I received instructions, who, by his own energy, had elevated - himself to a level with the great men of the age; and that he, - Parker, was of "_their own race_." - - The Klamath chief, Allen David, arose to reply amid surroundings - characteristic of Indian life,--a perfect solemn silence broken - only by his voice. - - I then heard the notes of natural oratory, coming in wild, but - well-measured words, and recognized for the first time fully - that nature does sometimes produce noble men _without_ the line - of civilized life. I send you a verbatim report of his speech as - taken by Dr. McKay; because I understand we are all trying to - solve the problem of civilization for Indians. _I am not, - myself, longer sceptical_ on that subject; but I know that a - large proportion of our public men _are_; and you would not - wonder, either, could you visit some reservations and see for - yourself the inside workings of moral law. - - But I assert that the Indians are not to blame; let censure - fall where it belongs; viz., on the men who are entrusted with - the care and responsibility of leading and protecting these - people, yet wink at and tolerate, in subordinates, the most - demoralizing habits, and may be, in some cases, participants - themselves. I do not speak of this agency in particular. - - Said Allen David,--"I see you. All my people see you.--I saw you - at Sprague river.--I watched your mouth.--I have seen but one - tongue.--I have looked into your eyes.--I have seen your heart.-- - You have given me another heart.--All my people will have white - hearts.--When I was a little boy I lived here.--I have always - lived here.--A long time ago a white man told me I could be like - him. I said my skin is red, it cannot change; it must be my - heart, my brain, that is to be like a white man.--You think we - are low people.--May be we are in your eyes.--Who made us so?-- - We do not know much; we can learn.--Some of the officers at the - fort (referring to Fort Klamath, six miles from the agency) have - been good men--some of them have been bad men.--Do you think a - good white man will take an Indian wife?--A white man that will - take an Indian wife is worse blood than Indian.--These things - make our hearts sad.--We want you to stop it.... Your ears are - large.--Your heart is large.--You see us.--Do not let your heart - get sick. - - "Take a white man into the woods, away from a store; set him - down, with nothing in his hands, in the woods, and without a - store to get tools from; and what could he do? - - "When you lay down before us the axes, the saws, the iron wedges - and mauls you have promised us, and we do not take them up, - then you can say we are 'cul-tus'--lazy people.--You say your - chief is like me--that he is an Indian--I am glad. What can I - say that is worth writing down?--Mr. Parker does not know me.-- - When you do all Mr. Huntington promised in the treaty, 1864, we - can go to work like white men.--Our hearts are tired waiting for - the saw-mill.--When it is built, then we can have houses like - white men.--We want the flour-mill; then we will not live on - fish and roots. We will help to make the mills.--We made the - fences on the big farms.--We did not get tired.... - - "Give us strong law; we will do what your law says. We want - strong law--we want to be like white men. You say that Mr. - Parker does not want bad men among our people.--Is B. a good - man?--he took Frank's wife--is that good? We do not want such - men. Is ---- a good man?--he took Celia from her husband--is that - right?--Applegate gave us good laws--he is a good man.-- - Applegate told us not to gamble. Capt. ---- won thirty-seven - horses from us. He says there is no law about gambling.-- - Applegate said there was.--Which is right?"... - - Mr. Meacham said, "You need not be afraid to talk--Keep nothing - back. Your people are under a cloud. I see by their eyes that - their hearts are sick; they look sorrowful. Open your hearts and - I will hear you; tell me all, that I may know what to do to make - them glad." - - Allen David said, "I will keep nothing back.--I have eyes--I can - see that white men have white hands.--Some white men take our - women--they have children--they are not Indian--they are not - white--they are shame children.--Some white men take care of - their children.--It makes my heart sick.--I do not want these - things.--Indian is an Indian--we do not want any more shame - children. A white man that would take an Indian squaw is no - better than we are. - - "Our women go to the fort--they make us feel sick--they get - goods--sometimes greenbacks.--We do not want them to go there-- - we want the store here at the agency; then our women will not go - to the fort.... Last Sunday some soldiers went to Pompey's--they - talked bad to the women.--We do not want soldiers among our - women.--Can you stop this? Our women make us ashamed.--We may - have done wrong--give us strong law."... - - Joe Hood (Indian), at a talk seven days after, said: "Meacham - came here. Parker told him to come. He brought a strong law. It - is a 'new soap,' it washed my heart all clean but a little place - about as big as my thumb-nail. Caroline's (his wife) heart may - not all be white yet. If it was, my own would be white like - snow. Parker's law has made us just like we were new married. I - told these Indians that the law is like strong soap; it makes - all clean. I do not want but one wife any more."... - - Allen David said: "You say we are looking into a camp-fire; that - we can find moonlight. You say there is a road that goes toward - sunrise. Show me that stone road. I am now on the stone road. I - will follow you to the top of the mountain. You tell me come on. - I can see you now. My feet are on the road. I will not leave it. - I tell my people follow me, and I will stay in the stone - road."... - - I have given you a few extracts, that you may judge from their - own mouths whether they can become civilized. If Lindsay - Applegate, and his sons, J. D. and Oliver, could take wild - savage Indians, and, against so much opposition, in the short - space of four years bring them to this state, I know they can be - civilized. If good men are appointed to lead and teach them,-- - _not books alone_, but civilization, with all that civilization - means,--men whose hearts are in the work, and who realize that, - as soon as duties devolve on them, great responsibility - attaches; men who have courage to _stand squarely_ between these - people and the villains that hang around reservations from the - lowest motives imaginable; men paid fair salaries for doing - duty; that will not civilize the people by "mixing blood;" - married men of character who will practise what they preach, and - who can live without smuggling whiskey on to the Reservation; - ten years from to-day may find this superintendency - self-supporting, and offering to the world seven thousand - citizens. - - I am conscious that this is strong talk, but it is surely true. - I have not overdrawn this side of the case; nor will I attempt - to show what _has been done_, or will be done, with - superintendents, agents, and employés in charge placed there as - a reward for political service. - - The past tells the story too plainly to be misapprehended. While - I am responsible for the advancement of these people, I beg to - state my views and make known the result of observation and - experience. As a subordinate officer of the Government, I expect - to have my official acts scrutinized closely. I respectfully ask - that I may be furnished the funds to keep faith with a people so - little understood,--people so much like children that when they - are promised a saw-mill they go to work cutting logs, only to - see them decayed before the mill is begun, but with logic enough - to say, "When you have got us the things you promised, then you - may blame us if we don't do right." - - I have now no longer any doubts about President Grant's "Quaker - Policy," if it is applied to Indians once subjugated. These - people have mind, soul, heart, affection, passion, and impulses, - and great ambition to become like white men. There are more or - less men in each reservation who are already superior to many of - the white men around them. At Klamath they are now working under - civil law of trial by jury,--with judge, sheriff, civil - marriage, divorce; in fact, are fast assuming the habiliments of - citizenship. - - I spent seven days, talking, and listening, and making laws, - marrying and divorcing, naming babies, settling difficulties, - etc., and finally started, accompanied on my journey by a large - delegation of Klamaths, who insisted that I should come again - and remain longer, and make _laws_, and that I would build the - mills, and tell them more about our religion; all of which I - promised, if possible; but realizing fully and feeling deeply - how much depended on the man who is in _immediate charge_ of - these poor, struggling people. - - I am, very respectfully, - Your obt. servt., - A. B. MEACHAM, - _Supt. Indian Affairs_. - - HON. E. S. PARKER, _Commissioner_, - WASHINGTON, D. C. - -In Allen David's speech, he refers to the "Fort," meaning Fort Klamath, -six miles distant from the agency. It was established for the protection -of the settlers on the Klamath frontier. Two and sometimes three companies -have been stationed at this fort for several years. - -The remarks of this chief need no comment; _they tell the tale_. If -confirmation was wanting of the crimes intimated in his speech, a visit to -Klamath Indian Agency, and even a casual glance at the different -complexions of the young and rising generation, would proclaim the -correctness of Allen David's charges. - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - - KLAMATH COURT--ELOPEMENT EXTRAORDINARY. - - -The Reservation furnishes abundance of real romance, mixed with tragedy, -sufficient to make up a volume. The Indians tell, and white men confirm, -the story of an officer of the fort, who loved an Indian's wife, and how -he sought to win her from home by presents; and, failing in this, came -with armed soldiers, and, with threats of death to the husband, compelled -him to give her up. This officer took this woman to the fort, dressed her -in styles common among white women, and refused to return her to her -husband. When the officer was "ordered away" to some other duty the squaw -went home, bearing in her arms an infant not more than half Indian. Her -husband refused to receive her. She was turned away from his lodge, and -became a vagabond of the worst class. Fortunately for father, mother, and -infant, too, the latter died a few months thereafter. - -Another young officer of the United States army, who was stationed at Fort -Klamath, was a party to an elopement in high life,--as all life is _high_ -at an altitude of forty-five hundred feet above the sea level; the other -party being the wife of a handsome young Indian living on Klamath -Reservation. However, they had but a few miles to travel, in order to -reach a "_Chicago_" for divorces. All people without law are a law unto -themselves. - -The Indian husband appealed for redress, but found no one to listen to his -appeals. His wife returned to him when the regiment to which the officer -belonged was ordered away, bringing with her many fine clothes; her feet -clad in good American gaiters, and with an armful of childhood, in which -the Indian husband claimed no interest. The mother was turned away from -what was once a happy home; and to-day, with her little girl, wanders from -lodge to lodge, seeking shelter where she may. This woman was really -good-looking, and had proved herself an apt scholar in learning the -civilized arts of house-keeping and dress-making; she also learned -something of our language, in which she tells the story of her own shame -and the fatherhood of her child. - -I am giving these statements as made to me by white men, who are -responsible, and will answer, when called upon, for their authenticity. In -respect to the families of these United States officers, not through fear -of the men themselves, I withhold their names. In this connection I -remember a conversation with a sub-chief of the Klamaths, who could speak -"Boston" quite well. His name was "Blo." He said, "Meacham, I talk to you. -S'pose an Injun man, he see a white man's wife. He like her. He give -presents; he win her heart; he talk to her sometime. He tell her, "Come go -with me." She come. He take her away. White man come home. He no see his -wife. He see him children cry. He get mad. He take a gun. He hunt 'em. He -find em. He 'shoot 'em, one Injun man. What you think? You think white -man law hang him?" We were travelling horseback, and "Blo" came up close -to me, leaning from his saddle, and, peering into my eyes, continued, -"What you think?" I looked into his face, and read murder very plainly. -Had he been a white man I might have given him a negative answer. Half -savage as he was, he was seeking for encouragement to commit a bloody deed -in vindication of his honor. I replied that "the law would punish the -Indians for stealing the white man's wife. But if the white man was wise -he would not kill the Indian, because the laws would take hold of him." I -felt that I was concealing a part of the truth, but I dared not do -otherwise. - -"Blo" was not so easily put off. He replied with a question that -intensified my perplexity, "S'pose white man steal Injun's wife, s'pose -law catch _him_?" Harder to answer than the first one. If I said "Yes," he -would have demanded that the law be enforced in his case, that had come -under my own observation; and that, I knew, was impossible, with public -sentiment so strongly against the Indians that white men would have -laughed at the absurdity of calling one of their race to account for so -trifling a thing as breaking up an Indian's family, and leaving his -children worse than orphans; yet knowing full well that the whole power of -the United States would have been evoked to punish an Indian for a like -offence. If I said "No," I stultified myself and my Government. I could -only reply, "Suppose a woman run away,--let her go. Get a divorce, and -then another wife." - -"Now-wit-ka, Ni-kanan-itch." "Yes, I see. Law not all the time same. Made -crooked. Made for white man. Aha, me see 'em now." - -During the seven days' council, "Little Sallie" came into the office, and -in plain "Boston" said, "I want divorce; my man, Cho-kus, he buy another -woman. I no like him have two wife. I want divorce." - -We had just completed the organization of a court, composed of the head -chief and his eight subordinates. This was the first case on the docket, -and the beginning of a new history with this people,--a new way of -settling difficulties. The agent provided a book for making record of all -proceedings. A sheriff was appointed from among the Indians. Each -sub-chief was entitled to a constable, but, in all matters pertaining to -their respective bands, as between themselves and others, neither -sub-chief nor constable was permitted to take any part in the proceedings -of the court. - -Novel scenes indeed!--Indians holding court after the fashion of white -men. The chief made a short speech on taking the middle seat on "The -Bench." He removed his hat, saying "that he knew but little about the new -law, but he would endeavor to make it run straight, and not run around his -own people," referring to those of his band. The sub-chiefs took their -places on either side, and we gave instructions to the sheriff to open -court, ordering a white man to show him through, saying, "Oh-yes! Oh-yes! -The Klamath Court is now open."--"Now-witka, Now-witka, Muck-u-lux, -Klamath, Mam-ook, Bos-ti-na Law, O-ko-ke, Sun," rang out the Indian -sheriff. - -"Little Sallie" was the first to appear before the bar of justice, and, -without an attorney, she filed a complaint against her husband, the -substance of which was to the effect, that "Cho-kus"--her master--had made -arrangements to buy another wife, paying two horses; and that these horses -belonged to her individually, and she was not willing to furnish horses to -buy another woman, because it would leave but one horse in the family, and -that Cho-kus and the new wife would claim that one, and she would be -compelled to go on foot. If Cho-kus had plenty of horses she might not -object; but she thought that she could dig roots, and gather "wokus"--wild -rice--enough for the family, and Cho-kus did not need another "nohow." -But, if he persisted, then she wanted a Boston divorce, otherwise she did -not. - -Cho-kus was required to show cause why "Sallie" should not be made free. -He appeared in person, and expressed willingness for the separation, but -asked to know who would be awarded the baby,--a little fellow twelve -months old. The court decided that "Sallie" should have possession of the -child. Cho-kus took it from its mother's arms, and, holding it in his own, -looked very earnestly and silently into its face for a moment. His speech -ran in something like the following words: "Now half this baby's heart is -mine, half its heart belongs to 'Sallie.'" Then slowly drawing the little -finger of one hand from its forehead down its face and body, he went on to -say, "I want this child's heart, and 'Sallie' wants it; if we cut into it -it will die; I can't give up my part of it." Sallie attempted to snatch it -away, saying, "I won't give up my part of the baby." This brought the -husband to terms. He said he would give up taking another wife. Sallie -agreed, and the court proposed that, instead of being divorced, they -should be married over by "Boston law." They consented. The ceremony was -deferred in order to make preparation for the approaching nuptials, under -the auspices of the new law. - -The white ladies of the agency, some of whom were unmarried, proposed to -adorn the bride, while the employés furnished enough Sunday clothes to -dress the husband in good style. Employés and Indians were notified of the -important affair, and the court adjourned to the big camp-fire, in order -to perform the marriage ceremony in the presence of all the people. The -presiding judge _pro tem._ ordered the parties to appear. - -The groom, dressed in a borrowed suit, was the first to stand up. Sallie -hesitated; the husband insisted. The bride was reluctant, saying she -wanted to know how long the new law would hold "Cho-kus."--"Is it a strong -law? Won't he buy another wife some time?" When all the questions were -answered to her satisfaction, she passed her child over to another woman, -and stood beside her _lover_. Yes, her lover; for he then discovered that -he really loved her, just as many a white-faced man has in similar cases, -when he realized the danger of losing her. - -The official reporter, on this occasion, did not furnish an account of the -bride's dress, but for the satisfaction, it may be, to my young lady -readers, I will say that the toilet was elaborately gotten up a-la-mode, -consisting of immense tilting hoops, bright-hued goods for dress, paint in -profusion on her cheeks, necklace of beads, and shells, and tresses of -dark hair, "_all her own_," ornamented with cheap jewelry. This being the -first marriage under the new law, the chief remarked that be wished them -"tied very strong, so they could not get away from each other." - -We extemporized the ceremony as follows: "Cho-kus, do you agree to live -forever with Sallie, and not buy another squaw? To do the hunting and -fishing, cut wood and haul it up, like white man? Never to get drunk, or -talk bad to other women, and to be a good, faithful husband?" When the -ceremony was interpreted, he answered, "Now-wit-ka ni-hi;" yes, I do. -Sallie said, "Hold on,--I want him married to me so he won't whip me any -more." We adopted the supplement suggested, and Cho-kus again said, -"Now-wit-ka." The bride said, "All right," and promised to be a good wife, -to take care of the lodge and the baby, to dress the deer-skins, and dry -the roots. - -Cho-kus also suggested a supplement, which was, that Sallie must not "_go -to the fort_" any more without _him_. She assented, with a proviso that he -would not go to see "old Mose-en-kos-ket's" daughter any more. - -The covenant was now completed, to the satisfaction of bride and -bridegroom, and the Great Spirit was invoked to witness the pledges made; -their hands were joined, and they were pronounced husband and wife. A -waggish white man whispered to Allen David, the chief, that the bride must -be saluted. The chief inquired whether that was the way of the new law, -saying he wanted "a real Boston wedding." We said to Cho-kus, "Salute your -bride." He replied he thought the ceremony was over; but, when made to -understand what the salute meant, replied that it was not modest; that no -Indian man ever kissed a woman in public. We urged that it was right under -the new law. He remarked that somebody else must kiss her; he didn't -intend to. Our waggish friend again whispered in the ear of the chief, -telling him that the officiating clergyman must perform the duty to make -the marriage legal. With solemn face, the chief insisted that the whole -law must be met. - -The parties remained standing while this controversy was going on. The -bride was willing to be saluted, but the question was, _who_ was to -perform that part of the closing ceremony. The record don't mention the -name of the individual, and it is perhaps as well. The bride, however, was -saluted. - -No, _I_ didn't, indeed; I--don't press the question--but I di--. No, no, -it was not m--, indeed it wasn't; but I won't tell anything about it. As a -faithful reporter, I will only add that the happy couple received the -congratulations of friends. They are still married, and Cho-kus hasn't -bought another wife yet. - -The next case called was a young man who had stolen the daughter of a -sub-chief. He was arraigned, "plead guilty," and by the court sentenced to -wear six feet of log-chain on his leg for nine months, to have his hair -cut short, and to chop wood for the chiefs, who were to board and clothe -him in the mean time. Care was taken to protect the convict's right, in -that he should not work in bad weather or on Sundays, or more than six -hours each day. He objected to having his hair cut short, but otherwise -seemed indifferent to the sentence. - -The chiefs were satisfied, because they saw large piles of wood in -prospect. However, long before the expiration of the term of sentence they -united in a petition for his pardon. - -Cases of various kinds came into court and were disposed of, the chief -exhibiting more judgment than is sometimes found in more pretentious -courts of justice. - -They were instructed, in regard to law, that it was supposed to be _common -sense and equal justice, and that any law which did not recognize these -principles was not a good law_. - -This court is still doing business under the direction of a Government -agent. The wedding of Cho-kus and Sallie was celebrated with a grand -dance. Who shall say these people do not civilize rapidly? The occasion -furnished an opportunity for the Indian boys to air their paints, -feathers, and fine clothes; also for Indian maidens and women to dress in -holiday attire. - -Chief Allen David had given orders that this "social hop," commemorating -the first marriage in civil life, should be conducted in civil form. The -white boys were willing to teach the red ones and their partners the steps -of the new dance. - -The ballroom was lighted up with great pine wood fires, whose light shone -on the green leaves of the sugar pines and on the tan-colored faces of the -lookers-on. Singular spectacle!--children of a high civilization leading -those of wilder life into the mazes of this giddy pastime; and they were -apt scholars, especially the maidens. The music was tame; too tame for a -people who are educated to a love of exciting sports. - -The chiefs stood looking on, and, when occasion required, enforcing the -orders of the floor-managers, who were our teamsters, turned, for the -nonce, to dancing masters. I doubt if they would have been half as zealous -in a Sabbath school. But since dancing is a part of American civilization, -acknowledged as such by good authority, and since Indians have a natural -fondness for amusements, and cannot be made to abandon such recreation, -perhaps it was well that our teamster boys were qualified to teach them in -this, though they were not for teaching higher lessons. At our request we -were entertained with an Indian play. No phase of civilized life exists -that has not its rude counterpart in Indian life. This entertainment of -which I am writing was given by _professional_ players, who evinced real -talent. All the people took great interest in the preparations, inasmuch -as we had honored them by making the request. The theatre was large and -commodious, well lighted with huge log fires. The _foot-lights_ were of -pitch wood. The _boards_ were sanded years before, and had been often -carpeted with velvet green or snowy white. The "_Green-rooms_" were of -white tent cloths, fashioned for the purpose by brown hands, and were in -close proximity to the scene. The front seats were "reserved" for invited -guests. The rest was "standing room." Circling round in dusky rows stood -the patient throng. Nor stamps, nor whistles, nor other hideous noises -gave evidence of bad-breeding or undue impatience. No police force was -necessary _there_ to compel the audience to respect the players or each -other's rights. - -As the time to begin comes round a silence pervades the assembly. No huge -bill-posters, or "flyers," or other programme had given even an inkling of -the play. This was as it should be everywhere, for then no promises were -made to be broken, and no fault could be found, whether the play was good -or bad. The knowing ones, aware, by signs we did not see, that soon the -performance would commence, by motion of hand or eye would say, "Be -still." - -Now we hear a female voice, soft and low, singing, and coming from some -unseen lodge. It grows more distinct each moment and more plaintive, and -finally the singer comes into the circle with a half dance, the music of -her voice broken by occasional sobs, makes the circuit of the stage, -growing weary and sobbing oftener; she at last drops down in weary, -careless abandonment. This maiden was attired in showy dress, of wild -Indian costume, ornamented with beads and tinsel. Her cheeks and hair were -painted with vermilion. The frock she wore was short, reaching only to the -knee. Close-fitting garments of scarlet cloth, richly trimmed with beads, -and fringe of deer-skin she wore upon her ankles, with feet encased in -dainty moccasins. When she sat down, the picture was that of one tasting -the bitter with the sweets of life, in which joy and sorrow in alternate -promptings came and went. The sobbing would cease while she gathered -flowers that grew within her reach, arranging them in bunches, seemingly -absorbed in other thoughts, occasionally giving vent in half-stifled, -child-like sobs, or muttering in broken sentences, with parting lips, -complaints against her cruel father, giving emphasis with her head to her -half-uttered speech. - -Following the eyes of our Indian interpreter, whose quick ear had caught -the sound of coming steps, we saw a fine-looking young brave enter the -ring, crouching and silent as a panther's tread, and, scanning the -surroundings, he espies the maiden. We hear a sound so low that we imagine -it is but the chirping of a tiny bird; but it catches the maiden's ear, -who raises her head and listens, waiting for the sound, and then relapses -into half-subdued silence. Meanwhile the young brave gazes, with bright -eyes and parted lips, on the maiden. Again he chirps. Now she looks around -and catches his eye, but does not scream, or make other noises, until, by -pantomimic words, they understand they are alone. - -The warrior breaks out in a wild song of love, and, keeping time with his -voice, with short, soft, dancing step, he passes round the maiden, who -plays coquette, and seems to be fully on her ground. He grows more -earnest, and raises his voice, quickens his steps, and, passing close -before her, offers his love, and proposes marriage, speaks her name, and, -turning quickly again, passes back and forth, each time pleading his case -more earnestly, until the maiden, woman-like, feigns resentment, and he, -poor fellow, thinks she means what she does not, and slowly and sadly, in -apparent despair, retreats to the farther side of the stage. When he came -upon the scene, clad in his dress of deer-skins, hunting-shirt and -leggings, with moccasins trimmed with beads and scarlet cloth, his long -hair ornamented with eagle feathers, and neck encircled with the claws of -wild cayotes, his arms with a score of rings, his scarlet blanket girded -round his waist, and reaching nearly to the ground,--swinging to his -back, his quiver full of painted arrows, whose feathered ends shone above -his shoulder; his left hand clasping an Indian bow, while his right held -his blanket in rude drapery around him,--he was the very image of the real -live young Indian brave. But now, with blanket drawn over his shoulder, -covering his arms, while the feathers in his hair and the arrows were held -tightly to his head and neck, he seemed the neglected lover he thought -himself: - -Poor Ke-how-la, you do not appear to know that Ganweta is playing prude -with you. Ke-how-la breaks out afresh, in song and dance, and, circling -around the maiden, gives vent to his wounded pride, declares that he will -wed another, and, as if to retire, he turns from her. Ganweta, as all her -sex will do, discovers that she has carried the joke too far, springs up, -and, throwing a bunch of flowers over his head, begins to tell, in song, -that she dare not listen to his words, because her father demands a price -for her that Ke-how-la cannot pay, since he is poor in horses; but that, -if left to choice, she would be his wife, and gather roots, and dress -deer-skins, and be his slave. - -Ke-how-la listens with head half turned, and then replies that he will -carry her away until her father's anger shall be passed. - -Ganweta tells how brave and strong her father is, and that he intends to -sell her to another. - -Ke-how-la boasts of his skill in archery, and, dropping his blanket from -his shoulder and stringing his bow, quickly snatches an arrow from his -fawn-skin quiver, and sends it into a target centre, and then another by -its side, and still another, until he makes a real bouquet of feathered -arrows stand out on the target's face, in proof of his ability to defend -her from her father's wrath. - -Snatching his arrows, and putting them in place among their fellows, save -one he holds in his hand, he motions her to come, and, bounding away like -an antlered deer, he runs around the circle with Ganweta following like a -frightened fawn. They pass off the scene. The braves sent by the father -come on stealthily, scanning the ground to detect any sign that would be -evidence that the lovers had been there. Stooping low and pointing with -his finger to the tracks left, a warrior gives signal that he has found -the trail, and then the party starts in quick pursuit, following round -where Ke-how-la and Ganweta had passed, who, still fleeing, come in on the -opposite side, and, walking slowly backward, he, stepping in her tracks, -intending thus to mislead the pursuers, then, anon, throwing his arm -around her, would carry her a few steps, and, dropping her on the ground, -they would resume the flight. - -The pursuers appear baffled; but with cunning ways they find the trail, -and resume with quickened steps the chase. - -Suddenly Ke-how-la stops and listens. His face declares that he has -knowledge of the coming struggle,--that he must fight. Bidding Ganweta -haste away, he takes a station near a tree, and awaits the pursuers. They -seem to be aware that he is there, and, drawing their bows, prepare to -fight. See Ke-how-la expose his blanket, the pursuers letting two arrows -fly, one of them striking it, the other the tree. A twang from Ke-how-la's -bow, and a howl of pain, and a red-skinned pursuer in agony has an arrow -in his heart, and then the arrows fly in quick succession, until the hero -sends his antagonists to the happy hunting-ground of their fathers, and -with apparent earnestness he scalps his foes. - -With his trophies hanging to his belt, he calls, "Ganweta, Kaitch Kona -Ganweta!"--Beautiful Ganweta; but he calls in vain. While Ke-how-la was -fighting, a brave of another tribe carries off the shrinking maiden, and -escapes to his people. - -Ke-how-la takes the trail, and follows by the signs Ganweta had left on -her involuntary flight, and discovers her surrounded by his enemies. He -returns to his own people for assistance. He finds friends willing to -follow him. Ganweta's father is reconciled with him, and gives his consent -to his marriage when he shall have brought Ganweta home. A party is -formed, and after the war-dance and other savage ceremonies, they go on -the warpath. Then we see the warriors fight a sham battle with real -war-whoops and scalping ceremonies. The arrows fly, and the wounded fall, -and the victors secure the scalps and also the captive maiden, and, with -wild sports, return to the lodge of Ganweta's father. - -This performance lasted about three hours, and from the beginning to the -end the interest increased, winding up with a scalp-dance. - -I have never witnessed a play better performed, and certainly never with -imitation so close to reality. It demonstrated that talent does not belong -to any privileged race; that Indians are endowed with love for amusements, -and that they possess ability to create and perform. - -If it is urged that such plays foster savage habits among the Indians, -the excuse must be that they were true to the scenes of their own lives -and in conformity with the tastes of the people, as all theatricals are -supposed to be. - -It had one merit that many plays lack. Its actors were natural, and no -unseemly struts and false steps, or rude and uncouth exhibitions of -dexterity or unseemly attitudes, that make modest people hide their eyes -in very shame, were indulged in by the players. - -The Indians of Oregon and of the Pacific coast wear long hair; at least, -until they change their mode of life, they have a great aversion to -cutting it, and, in fact, it is almost the last personal habit they give -up. Before leaving this agency, I proposed to give a new hat to each man -who would consent to have his hair cut short. The proposition was not well -received at first, because of their old-time religious faith, which in -some way connected long hair with religious ceremony. It is safe to -assert, that, whenever an Oregon Indian is seen without long hair, he has -abandoned his savage religion. Before leaving, however, I was assured that -I might send out the hat for over one hundred. - -The following summer, when making an official visit, I took with me four -hundred hats. When the question was brought up, and the hats were in -sight, a flurry was visible among the men. The chief, Allen David, led the -way, begging for a long cut. A compromise was made, and it was agreed that -the hair should be cut just half-way down. With this understanding, the -barber's shop was instituted, and long black hair enough to make a Boston -hair merchant rich was cut off and burned up. - -The metamorphosis was very noticeable. Many ludicrous scenes were -presented in connection with, and grew out of, this episode. A great step -forward had been made, and one, too, that will not "slip back." - -When O-che-o came out of the room, after his head had been for the first -time in his life under a barber's hands, he presented a comical spectacle. -His children did not know him; some of his older friends did not recognize -in him the chief of other days. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - - OMELETS AND ARROWS--BIG STEAM-BOILERS. - - -An Indian game of ball is not exactly like America's great game of base -ball. It resembles, somewhat, the old game of shindy or bandy. The field -is one-fourth of a mile in length, and one-eighth in width. Stakes are -planted at either end, and also in the middle. The players pair off until -all are chosen who desire to play. Captains are elected who command the -players of each side, and take their stations at the middle stakes, -arranging their men on either side, each of whom is provided with a club -three feet in length, having a short crook at the lower end. The ball is -fashioned out of a tough knot of wood, and is about three inches in -diameter, and burnt by fire until it is charred slightly, thus making it -of black color. This game is called "ko-ho," and is won by the party who -succeeds in knocking the ball with the club to the home base at the -opposite end of the ground. - -A game of "ko-ho" attracts much attention; old and young, deaf, dumb, and -blind, all go to witness the sport; the latter, probably, to hear the -boisterous shouts that attend the playing. Sometimes it is made the -occasion for gambling, and then the excitement becomes intense. - -Another game is played, with two pieces of wood six inches long and about -one inch in diameter, securely connected by a thong of rawhide, about -four inches apart; the game, as in "ko-ho," being to toss this plaything -with straight clubs to a home base; the parties struggling as in the other -game. Foot-ball is not uncommon, and great contests are had over this game -also. - -Civilized American gambling cards are common, and are played in games that -have no existence among white people; though Indians are expert in all -common games, and become, like their white brother, infatuated, and gamble -with desperation. Gambling seems to be a passion among them. It is not -uncommon to see the younger men of tribes that are uncivilized, seated on -the ground, and, with a blanket spread over their limbs, all pointing -toward a common centre, gambling with small sticks of wood, the parties -alternately mixing their hands under the blanket, changing the sticks from -one hand to the other while they sing a low melody; and, when withdrawing -the hands, the other Indians point to the hand they suppose to be the -holder of the sticks, thus indicating the one selected as the winning -hand. When the bets are all made the holder opens both hands, and thus -declares the result. The favorite sport of the Indians is horse-racing; -but, like other people, they gamble on almost everything. Among them are -natural professional gamblers. This passion is a fruitful source of -poverty; and many complaints are made by young, green ones, against -_red_-legged sharps. - -An Indian woman filed a complaint against "Long John," an Indian gambler, -charging him with having swindled her son, a boy of eighteen or twenty -years of age, out of a number of horses that belonged to the family. She -asserted that they were poor; that the loss was too much to bear in -silence, and that, since her son was a boy, not a man, "Long John" ought -to return the horses. This famous gambler was ordered to appear. The case -was investigated. "Long John" pleaded guilty as charged in the indictment, -but offered the old Indian law as an excuse. He finally proposed to return -the horses, on condition that the boy would abandon the habit. The boy -promised; the property was returned; and the old woman went away happy in -the possession of her restored fortune; for it was to her what business -and home are to wealthy people. Under the new law gambling is prohibited -by a fine; but the Indians find ways to avoid the law, and gambling is -now, and will continue to be, common among them. - -These people have a beautiful country, with a cold climate, being at an -altitude of four thousand feet above the sea level. Snows of two to four -feet deep are not uncommon. The rivers and lakes are well supplied with -fish, the mountains with game, the land with berries and wild roots. - -Big Klamath marsh is situated twenty miles north of the Great Klamath -lake. It is six miles wide and twenty long, and receives its water from -the south side of the Blue mountains. This marsh is covered with a growth -of pond-lilies, that furnish immense supplies of wo-cus (seed of lily). It -is a great rendezvous for several tribes who come to gather wo-cus. The -main stem of this plant first blossoms on the top of the water, and, as -the seasons advance, the flower matures and rises above the surface one or -two feet, and forms a large pod, of four inches in length and three in -diameter. The Indians go out among the lilies in canoes, and gather the -bowls or pods while green, spread them out in the sun, and when cured they -are beaten with sticks until the seeds fall out. These are put in sacks -and carried home, cached (buried in cellars) until required for use. Then -the seeds are thrown into a shallow basket, with live coals of fire, and -roasted, after which it is ground by hand on flat rocks. - -It is a nutritious food, and, when properly prepared, not unpalatable. The -Klamaths use it in soups, and often prepare it by mixing like flour into -cakes, which they bake in the ashes. This article of wo-cus is abundant, -available, and altogether sufficient to furnish subsistence for all the -Indians in Oregon. To this wo-cus field the natives have for generations -past gone for supplies, and in the mean time to exchange slaves, gamble, -and hold great councils. Many stirring scenes have been enacted at this -place that would furnish foundation for romantic story or bloody tragedy. - -The lakes of Klamath are great resorts for the feathery tribes, which come -with the spring and sojourn through the summer. The people luxuriate on -the eggs of these wild fowls. They go out into the tall tule (grass) in -canoes, and collect them in large quantities. _"The egg season" lasts -until the hatching season is over_, the Indians cooking unhatched birds, -and eating them with as much avidity and as little thought of indecency as -New England people cook and eat clams, oysters, or herrings. - -The young fowls are captured in nets. The arrangement is quite cunning, -and, although primitive in construction, evinces some inventive genius. A -circular net is made three feet in diameter, and to the outer edge are -attached eight or ten small rods of half-inch diameter, and about fifteen -inches in length; three inches from the lower end, which is sharpened to a -point, the net is attached. The upper end of the rods are bevelled on one -side, and inserted into a rude socket, in the end of a shaft ten feet -long. - -Armed with this trap, the hunter crawls on the ground until he is within -safe distance of the mother-bird and her little flock, when, suddenly -springing up, the old birds, geese or ducks, as the case may be, fly away, -while the little ones flee toward the water. The Indian launches the shaft -with the net attached in such a way that the net spreads to its utmost -size, the sharpened points of the rods pierce the ground, and, the upper -end having left the socket on the shaft, stand in circular row, holding -the net and contents to the ground. - -The Klamath mode of taking fish is peculiar to the Indians of this lake -country. A canoe-shaped basket is made, with covering of willow-work at -each end, leaving a space of four feet in the middle top of the basket. -This basket is carried out into the tules that adjoin the lakes, and sunk -to the depth of two or three feet. The fishermen chew dried fish eggs and -spit them in the water over the basket, until it is covered with the eggs, -and then retire a short distance, waiting until the whitefish come in -large numbers over the basket, when the fishermen cautiously approach the -covered ends, and raise it suddenly, until the upper edge is above the -water, and thus entrap hundreds of fish, that are about eight inches in -length. These are transferred to the hands of the squaws, and by them are -strung on ropes or sticks and placed over fires until cured, without salt, -after which they are stored for winter use. This fish is very oily and -nutritious, and makes a valuable food. Indeed, this country is more than -ordinarily fruitful, and abounds in resources suited to Indian life. - -The lakes are well supplied with various kinds of trout. They are taken in -many ways; mostly, however, with hook and line. I remember, on one -occasion, going to a small slough making out of the lake among the tules. -Being prepared with American equipment of lines and flies, I was sanguine -of success; but I was doomed to disappointment so far as catching trout -with fly-hooks was concerned. I finally succeeded in capturing a pocketful -of large black army-crickets. The first venture with this bait was -rewarded by a fine trout of six pounds' weight. In one hour and a half I -had twenty-four fish, whose aggregate weight was one hundred and four -pounds. They were mostly golden trout, a species peculiar to Klamath lake. -They are similar to other trout, except in the rich golden color of their -bodies, and in the shape of their fins. Silver trout are sometimes caught -also, they taking their name from their silver sides and the color of -their flesh. Lake trout, another species, are very dark; they are sharp -biters, and very game when hooked. Salmon trout, as the name indicates, -resemble salmon in every way; so much so that none but an expert could -distinguish the two. - -Still another kind of the trout family are also in abundance, called dog -trout. They live on the younger fish of their own species; do not run in -schools, but solitary and alone, devouring the small ones. I have caught -them with the tails of little fish sticking in their mouths. Brook trout -may be found in the smaller streams; they are identical with those of New -England. - -The wild game consists of deer and elk, which are still abundant and -furnish subsistence; and, until these people sold their birthrights and -received in exchange therefor clothing and blankets,--a mere mess of -pottage,--afforded material for warming their bodies. These sources of -supply, together with the wild fowls, which congregate in innumerable -quantities, all go to make up a country well adapted to wild Indian life, -requiring but reasonable exertion to secure subsistence and clothing. - -Although the country is high and cold, and the major portion covered in -winter with deep snows, there are small valleys and belts of country where -snow never lies on the ground for any considerable length of time, and the -stock cattle and horses live through the winter without care. - -When the railroad shall have been built, connecting the lake country with -the outside world, it will afford large supplies of fish, game, wild -fowls, eggs, feathers, ice, and lumber of the choicest kinds. Already has -the keen eye of the white man discovered its many inducements and tempting -offers of business. - -Big Klamath lake is twenty miles wide and forty miles long; a most -beautiful sheet of water, dotted with small islands. Its average depth is, -perhaps, forty feet, surrounded on two sides with heavy forests of timber; -on the others, with valleys of sure and productive soil, when once -science shall have taught the people how to accommodate the agriculture to -the climate. This lake has a connection with those below, called Link -river, a short stream of but four miles, through which vast volumes of -water find outlet, over sweeping rapids, falling at the rate of one -hundred feet to the mile. - -The power that wastes itself in Link river would move machinery that would -convert the immense forests into merchandise, and put music into a million -spindles, giving employment to thousands of hands who are willing to toil -for reward. - -Nature has also favored this wonderful country with steam-power beyond -comparison; great furnaces under ground, fed by invisible hands, send the -steam through rocky fissures or escape-pipes to the surface. Near Link -river, two of these escape-pipes emit the stifling steam constantly. -Approaching cautiously, a sight may be had of the boiling waters beneath. -Lower down the hill it arises in a stream, sufficient to run a saw-mill, -coming out boiling hot, and flowing away in rippling current. Along the -banks of this stream flowers bloom the year round, and vegetation is ever -green for several rods from the banks. The scene from the ridge on the -north that overlooks Link valley is one of rare beauty. - -Standing in snow two feet deep, on a cold morning in December, 1869, my -eyes first took in the landscape. Surrounded by lofty pines, and, looking -southward, we caught sight of the Lost river county, the home of the -Modocs, bathed in sunshine, clear, cold sunshine; the almost boundless -tracts of sage-brush land, stretching away to the foot of the Cascade -mountains on the right, until sage-brush plain was lost in pine-wood -forest. On the left front we caught sight of Tu-le lake, lying calmly -beneath its crystal covering of glittering ice; and, still left, -Lost-river mountains, and beside them the stream whose water drank up the -blood of many battles in times past. Following its line toward its source, -we see a mountain cleft in twain to make passage for the waters of Clear -lake, after they have tunnelled Saddle mountains for ten miles, and come -again to human sight. - -We had been so entertained with the splendor of the winter scene, that we -had overlooked its grandest feature, until our fretful horses, which had -caught sight of it before we had, became restless and impatient to bathe -their icy hoofs in the beautiful valley at our feet, and refused longer to -wait for us to paint on our memory the panorama. - -Dismounting, we, too, caught sight of one of nature's wonderful freaks. -Down below us, in the immense amphitheatre, we discovered columns of steam -rising from the smooth prairie hill-side, ascending in fantastic puffs, -and mixing with the atmosphere; sometimes cut off, by sudden gusts of cold -winds, into minute clouds, that swing out and lose themselves in strange -company of fiercer breath from the mountains covered with snow and ice. - -Look again to the right, and see the constant steam vapor that comes with -hot breath from the boiling spring, where it runs in grandeur, and -gradually warms the soil and shrubbery that surrounds its channel. -Following the curve of this stream, see the clouds of steam decrease as it -flows out on the plain, until, at last, its warm breath is lost to sight -in the high tule grass of Lower Klamath lake. Come back along the line -and see the fringe of grass and flowers that exult in life, despite the -winter's cold; and other of nature's children, too, are standing with feet -in the soft banks, and inhaling the warm breath. See the long line of -sleek cattle and horses that have driven away the mule, deer and antlered -elk, and now claim mastership of what God has done for this strange -valley. Even dumb brutes enjoy this refuge from the cold storms of the -plains; thus cheating old winter out of the privilege of punishing them. - -Yielding to the importunity of our restless steed, we remount, and, giving -rein, are carried rapidly down the mountain side, at a pace that would be -dangerous on clumsy eastern ponies, until reaching the valley, and feeling -the soft turf beneath us, we improve the invitation to warm our hands at -this gentle outlet to one of nature's seething caldrons. - -Gathering a bouquet of wild flowers from this fairy garden, surrounded by -snows and ice, we resume our journey, for we are now bound for the home of -Captain _Jack_. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - - MODOC BLOOD UNDER A FLAG OF TRUCE--SEED SOWN - TWENTY YEARS BEFORE A HARVEST. - - -Since we are now en route to the Modoc country, and since they have taken -a place in modern history as a warlike people, and have enrolled their -names on the record of stirring events, it is well to give them something -more than a passing notice. - -In so doing, I shall confine my remarks to such facts as have come under -my own observation, and also those that are well authenticated. In memory -of the late tragedy in the "Lava Beds," in which I so nearly lost my life, -I approach this subject with a full determination to present the facts -connected therewith in a fair and impartial manner, without fear of -criticism from the enemies of the red man, or a desire to court undue -favor from his friends. - -The Modocs are a branch from a once powerful tribe of the Pacific coast, -and known as "La-la-cas," inhabiting the country drained by Klamath river -and lakes, also including the "Lost-river Basin," and extending inland -from the coast proper about three hundred miles, covering the territory of -what is now Siskiyou county, Cal., and parts of Jackson and Josephine -counties, of Oregon. They were warlike, as most uncivilized nations are, -when they become powerful. Surrounded with peoples of similar character, -they were often on the "warpath." - -The history of the great battles fought by the La-la-cas of olden time is -a fruitful subject for Indian stories by the descendants of the Klamaths -and Modocs; and from them, years ago, I learned about the rebellion so -nearly cotemporaneous with the American Revolution. - -That rebellion sprang from causes so nearly of the same kind as those -which prompted our forefathers to take up arms against Great Britain, that -the coincidence is strange indeed, though it could not have any connection -with the white man's war. To those who have given the subject of Indian -history a careful study, it is not new, that, while a monarch exercised -arbitrary power across the Atlantic, and dictated government and law to -the American colonies, many petty monarchs, also claiming the hereditary -right to rule on the strength of royalty and blood, were the governing -nations on the continent of America. This kind of royalty seems to have -been acknowledged and disputed by turns, for many generations; and, -perhaps, the La-la-cas may have passed through as many revolutions as -enlightened political organizations, though no other history than -tradition has made a record thereof. At all events it is part of the -history of the Modocs and Klamaths, that feuds and revolutions have been -of common occurrence, growing out of the desire for power. After all, -human nature is pretty much the same in all conditions of society, without -regard to color or race. - -The office of chief, among Indians of former times, was to the chieftain -what the crown was to a king. The function of chieftain among -semi-civilized Indians of to-day is to him what the office of President is -to General Grant, or it may be likened to the position of Louis Philippe -a few years ago, half attained through royal right, and half by force or -consent of the governed. - -This comparison is apropos according to the status of traditional and -hereditary law. - -With the La-la-cas, one hundred years ago, the prerogative of royalty, -though, perhaps, acknowledged in the abstract, was often disputed in the -distribution of honors. - -This "bone of contention," so fruitful of blood with civilized nations, -was one of the principal and moving causes of the separation of a band of -La-la-cas, who are now known as Modocs, from the tribe who are now called -Klamaths. - -There is a curious resemblance between the political customs of savage and -civilized nations. The royal house from whence came the hero of the Modoc -war--Captain Jack--was not exempt from the contentions common to royal -households, and it may be said, too, that while the branch to which he -belonged had furnished their quota of braves for many wars, they resisted -the taxes levied on them, and at last openly rebelled, and separated from -their ancient tribe on account of the exactions of tyrannical chiefs. - -That my readers may properly understand the subject now under -consideration, it is well to state, in a general way, that Indian nations, -singularly enough, follow in the footsteps of the people of Bible history. -Whether they derive the custom from traditional connection or not, I leave -to antiquarians to answer. - -Every nation is divided into tribes, and tribes are divided into bands, -and bands into smaller divisions, even down to families; each nation has, -or is supposed to have, a head chief; each tribe a chief; each band a -sub-chief; and so on, down, until you reach family relations. - -Each tribe, band, and even family, has in times of peace an allotted home, -or district of country that they call their own. They claim the privileges -that it affords, and are very jealous of any infringement on their rights. - -The Modocs inhabited that portion of country know, as "Lost-river -Basin,"--perhaps forty miles square,--lying east of the foot of "Shasta -Butte," possessing many natural resources for Indian life. It is doubtful -whether any other country of like extent affords so great and so varied a -supply as this district. - -Lost river is a great fishing country, affording those of a kind peculiar -to Tule lake and Lost river, in so great abundance as to be almost beyond -belief. - -But to resume the history of this band of Modocs. At or about the time -indicated as cotemporaneous with "the great event" in American civilized -history, the head chief of all the La-la-cas demanded of Mo-a-doc-us, the -chief of the Lost-river band of the La-la-cas, not only braves for the -warpath, but also that supplies of fish from Lost river should be -furnished. - -This demand was refused. Following the refusal, war was declared; and -Mo-a-doc-us issued his declaration of independence, throwing off his -allegiance from and to the head chief of the La-la-cas. The war that -followed was one of a character similar in some respects to the American -Revolution; the one party struggling to hold power, the other fighting for -freedom,--for such it was in reality. - -[Illustration: CAPTAIN JACK.] - -The Modocs and Klamaths tell of many battles fought, and brave men killed; -how the survivors passed their allotted time in mourning; how, at last, -the La-la-cas were defeated; and though no formal acknowledgment or -recognition of the independence of Mo-a-doc-us was ever bulletined to the -world, yet it was, in modern political language, "an accomplished fact." - -The followers of the La-la-cas have since been termed Klamaths. - -Without tracing the history of the Mo-a-docs through their many wars, I -pass over the intervening feuds until 1846, at which time they numbered -six hundred warriors, and were subdivided into bands, governed by -"Schonchin," a head chief, although his authority seems even then to have -been disputed, on the ground that he was not a legitimate descendant of -the great Mo-a-doc-us, and consequently not of royal blood. He won his -position as chief by his great personal bravery in battle. - -The father of Captain Jack was the former chief of the Lost-river Modocs. -He was killed in battle with the Warm Spring and Te-ni-no Indians, near -the head-waters of the Des-chutes river, in Oregon, at which time -Ki-en-te-poos (Captain Jack) was a small boy. - -I have taken some pains to ascertain reliable data as to the parentage and -birthplace of a man whose name has been on every tongue for the past year, -and state, most positively, that Captain Jack's parents were both Modocs -of royal blood, and that Captain Jack was born on Lost river, near the -"Natural Bridge," and very near the ground on which was fought the first -battle of the late Modoc war; and, further, that he never lived with any -white man; that he never has learned to speak any other than the language -of the ancient La-la-cas, or Mo-a-docs, although he may have understood -many words of the English tongue. - -You will have observed that the regard for royal honors was not extinct at -the time of the death of Jack's father, who seems to have left in the -hearts of his people the ambition to restore the ancient order of things, -by re-establishing the hereditary right to the chieftainship. This -sentiment, thus perpetuated, undoubtedly found a lodgment in the heart of -the boy, Ki-en-te-poos. - -To resume the review of the first war: As told by white men, it would -appear that a wanton thirst for blood impelled the Modocs to murder -defenceless emigrants. I doubt not that many innocent persons lost their -lives; still, with my knowledge of Indian character, I am not ready to say -that provocation was wanting. While I would be careful in making up my -estimate on the validity of Indian statements, I am still willing that the -Modocs' side of the causes of the first wars should be heard. - -Old Chief Schonchin says that it grew out of a misunderstanding as to the -identity of the _Modocs_, _Snakes_, and _Pitt-river_ Indians. The -emigrants had difficulties with the Snake Indians, through whose country -they passed in reaching Oregon and California; and that he never knew what -was the cause of the first troubles between them. The Snake Indians -captured horses and mules from the emigrants, and sold them, or gambled -them, to the Pitt-river Indians, who in turn transferred them, through the -same process, to the Modocs; and that the animals found by emigrants in -possession of the Modocs were recaptured, and hence war was at last -brought about. The story seems plausible, and is certainly entitled to -some respect, coming, as it does, from a man of the character of old Chief -Schonchin. I know there is a disposition to discredit any statement made -by an Indian, simply because he _is an Indian_, and more particularly when -it comes in conflict with our prejudices to accept it as the truth. Some -white men are entitled to credit; others are not. So it is with Indians, -and, if it were possible, the disparity is even greater among them than -among white men. - -Chief Schonchin, of whom I am speaking, commands respect from those who -know him best, and have known him longest. He does not deny that he was in -the early wars; that he did all in his power to exterminate his enemies. -In speaking of the wars with white men, he once remarked, in an evening -talk around a camp-fire: "I thought, if we killed all the white men we -saw, that no more would come. We killed all we could; but they came more -and more, like new grass in the spring. I looked around, and saw that many -of our young men were dead, and could not come back to fight. My heart was -sick. My people were few. I threw down my gun. I said, I will not fight -again. I made friends with the white man. I am an old man; I cannot fight -now. I want to die in peace." To his credit be it said, that no act of -his, since the treaty of 1864, has deserved censure. He is still in -charge of the loyal Modocs, at Yai-nax station, grieving over the -waywardness of his brother John and Captain Jack. - -He was not in the "Ben Wright" affair, although he was near when the -massacre occurred. His reason for not being present was because he -mistrusted that treachery was intended on the part of Wright; and, -further, that a "treaty of peace" was proposed by him, which was to be -accompanied with a feast, given by the white man; but that the talk was -"too good,"--"_promised too much_,"--and that, suspicious of the whole -affair, he kept away; that forty-six Modocs accepted the invitation to -feast with their white brethren, and that but five escaped the wholesale -butchery. Of these five, the last survivor was murdered, June, 1873, -during the cowardly attack on Fairchild's wagon, containing the Indian -captives, near Lost river, after the surrender of Captain Jack. - -Now, whether the Indian version of the Ben Wright affair is correct, or -not, that forty Indians were killed while under a flag of truce in the -hands of white men of the Ben Wright party, in 1852,--_there can be no -doubt_. The effects of this act can be traced all the way down from that -day to this, and have had much to do with making the Modocs a revengeful -people. - -The friends of Ben Wright deny that he committed an act of treachery; yet -there are persons in California who state positively that he _purchased -strychnine previous to his visit to the Modoc country, with the avowed -intention of poisoning the Indians_. Others, who were with him at the time -of the massacre, testify that _he made the attempt at poisoning_, and -finally, abandoning it, he resorted to the "peace talk" to accomplish his -purpose. The excuse for this unwarrantable act of treachery was to punish -the Modocs for the murdering of emigrants at Bloody Point, a few days -previous. - -This unparalleled slaughter was perpetrated on the shore of Tu-le lake, in -September, 1852. It occurred directly opposite the "Lava Bed," at a point -where the emigrant road touches the shore of the lake, after crossing a -desert tract of several miles, and where the mountains forced the road to -leave the high plains to effect a passage. For several hundred yards the -route ran along under a stony bluff, and near the waters of the lake. The -place was well-adapted for such hellish purposes. - -The emigrant train consisted of sixty-five men, women, and children, and -the whole line of wagons was driven down into this position before the -attack was made. The Indians, secreted in the rocks at either end of the -narrow passage, attacked their hapless victims both in front and rear. -Hemmed in by high rocky bluffs on one side and the lake on the other, they -were butchered indiscriminately. Neither age nor sex were spared, save two -young girls of twelve and fourteen years of age respectively, who were -taken prisoners, and one man, who escaped. - -This massacre was attended with all the circumstances of savage warfare. -Men were killed outright and scalped. Women were treated with indignities -_that words may not reveal. Even fiendish torture was surpassed, and human -language is too tame to express the horrible outrages committed on them._ -Children were tortured, some of them mutilated and dismembered, while yet -alive, before the eyes of their mothers. No page in all the bloody history -of Indian cruelties exceeds that of the massacre of emigrants at Bloody -Point, by the Modocs, in September, 1852. - -The two girls who were taken prisoners were allotted to some of the brave -warriors as wives. They survived for several years, and, according to -Modoc stories, were reconciled to their fate, adopting the manners and -customs of their captors. It is said that they taught the Modocs many -things pertaining to a civilized life, and that they exercised great -influence over them; that the Modoc women became jealous of their power, -and put them to death. - -Near the residence of Mr. Dorris, on Cottonwood Creek, is a rocky cliff -overlooking the valley. It was from this cliff the unfortunate captives -were thrown to the rocks below, ending their lives as victims to the -jealousy of the wives and mothers of their savage captors. Evidences of -this tragedy are in existence; human skulls, and, within a few years, -locks of long hair, unlike that of Indians, have been found on the spot -indicated as the place where these captives were destroyed. - -Ben Wright was a citizen of Y-re-ka. He was esteemed as a man of good -character and standing among his fellows in that early day. Born a leader, -he was selected by the miners to command a company of volunteers, who were -enlisted without authority of the Government of the United States, the -State of California, or the County of Sys-ki-you. - -This company was formed, under the common law of self-protection, in the -early days of California, when Indian outrages were of common occurrence. -In the absence of regular provision for protection, the miners and -settlers, in a spirit of patriotism, volunteered to punish Indians as well -as to guard the peace of the country. Be it remembered that the massacre -at "Bloody Point" was not the only act of savage ferocity committed by the -Modocs. For five years had they been murdering the worn-out emigrants who -were en route to California and Oregon. - -It was in harmony with frontier ideas of right, to punish these people for -their crimes, without taking into consideration the causes that may have -impelled them to bloody deeds. The victims were not responsible for the -acts of their predecessors on the line of travellers. However humane and -just we may feel, we cannot object to Ben Wright's motive, though all men -who possess correct ideas of justice may deprecate the manner of avenging -the wrongs committed. Had he slain the entire tribe in fair battle, no -just condemnation could have been pronounced against him. Had he avenged -their horrible crimes by ambushing them, by his skill and cunning, no man -would have censured him; _but to violate a flag of truce, under pretence -of peace-making_, was a wrong that fair-minded men, everywhere, condemn as -an _outrage against humanity and civilization_. - -If the Modocs had first been guilty of such acts of treachery, -"extermination" would justly have been the cry. Savage warfare is unworthy -of any people; but certainly it should never be surpassed by those -professing Christian civilization. Even in war they should endeavor to -teach the savage the higher laws that govern mankind. - -Without stopping to moralize further, let us pursue the main facts, as -they come following each other in succession. After the Ben Wright -massacre, hostilities were continued until 1864; at which time Elisha -Steel, Esq., of Y-re-ka, who was then acting superintendent for the -northern district of California, made an informal treaty with the various -bands of Indians, and who seems to have been more an arbitrator than a -government commissioner. At all events the articles of agreement were not -ratified by Congress. - -This treaty did not set forth that any consideration would be paid by the -Government for the possession of the Modoc country. Neither did it seek to -alienate the country from the Indians, but referred to the localities -where certain bands of Modocs, Schas-tas, Schas-ta-sco-tons, and Klamaths -should reside. There was also an agreement to keep peace with each other -and the whites. - -It was in this council that Captain Jack was first acknowledged as a -chief, and then only after an election was had by the band that had -repudiated Schon-chin; after which Steele declared him a chief, and named -him "Captain Jack," on account of his resemblance to a miner bearing that -name. That the Steele treaty was somewhat indefinite and unauthorized, was -given as a reason why it never was recognized by the general Government. - -There may have been other and more potent reasons, however; for the Modoc -country proper is about equally divided between Oregon and California, -though the home of Captain Jack and Schon-chin was on the Oregon side of -the line. At that time the hearts of our people were much moved in behalf -of the "poor Indian." Each State was anxious to furnish a home for him. -Whether Steele's treaty reached Washington before or after, does not -appear. The Superintendent of Oregon was instructed to "negotiate a treaty -with all the Indians in the Klamath country, including the Modocs." - -This council met in October, 1864. The Klamaths, and also the Modocs, were -represented in the council by their chiefs; the latter by Schon-chin and -his brother John, who was afterwards associated with Captain Jack. - -Captain Jack was recognized as a sub-chief. He participated in the -council; and, when terms were agreed upon, he signed the articles of -treaty in his Indian name,--Ki-en-te-poos. The idea that he was deceived -in the meaning of the treaty is absurd; though it has been repeated by -good men, without proper knowledge of the facts. - -An unwarrantable sympathy for Captain Jack has been the result,--unless, -indeed, all the Indians who were parties to the treaty are to be -commiserated for having sold their birthright for an insufficient -compensation. Old chief Schon-chin has never claimed any other than the -plain meaning of the words of the treaty; which was, substantially, that -what is known as Klamath Reservation was to be the joint home of the -Klamaths and Modocs. All the other country claimed by the two tribes was -ceded to the United States, on condition that certain acts should be -performed by the Government, in a specified time. All of which has been, -and is being done, to the satisfaction of the Indians who have remained on -the Reservation. I assert this to be substantially correct. That they -made a bargain that Captain Jack wished to repudiate is true. I do not -wonder that he should do so, in view of his inherent love of royalty and -his great ambition to be a chief, and the uncertainty of his tenure of -office should he remain on the Reservation, the discipline of which was -humiliating for one whose life had been free from restraint. - -The head men of the Klamaths all agree and state positively that the -treaty was fully interpreted and fairly understood by all parties, and -that Captain Jack and the whole Modoc tribe shared in the issue of goods -made at the council-ground by Superintendent Huntington, at the time of -making the treaty. The plea that Captain Jack was deceived, as -before-mentioned, is wholly unfounded. He not only understood and assented -to it, but took up his abode on the Klamath Reservation, where he remained -long enough to realize that Reservation life was not healthy for royalty. - -Perhaps he had begun to see that he was to change his mode of life; also -that Schon-chin was recognized as his superior in office; and it may be -that he discovered that Klamath was not as good a country for Indian life -as the Lost-river region. It is equally certain that he raised the -standard of revolt, and finally withdrew from the Reservation, and took up -his abode at his old home on Lost river; soon after which he stated to Mr. -John A. Fairchilds that he had been cheated, and that "the treaty was a -lie;" that he had not sold his country. - -He made the same statement to Esquire Steele, of Y-re-ka, who is a man of -a large and charitable heart, and who exercised great power over the -Indians, and, with his former knowledge of Captain Jack, accredited his -story concerning the swindle or cheat, and probably stated to Captain Jack -that he would try to have the matter adjusted for him. - -Steele wrote several letters to the department at Washington on this -subject, and also gave letters to Jack and his people, repeating therein -Jack's story about his being cheated, and commending him to the friendly -consideration of white people with whom he might come in contact. - -Some of these letters are still in existence. I myself have read several -of them, the tenor of which was in keeping with the statement already -made,--that Jack still claimed the country, and that he was a -well-disposed Indian, etc.; but there was not _one line_, so far as I -know, that could be construed to mean that the treaty _could or should he -repudiated_. - -That Steele had friendship for Jack, there can be no doubt; and that Jack -recognized Steele as his friend and adviser is equally certain; and -whatever influence Steele's advice may have had, it never was intended to -justify Jack in removing from the Reservation to which he belonged. I have -been thus particular in this matter, because Jack has used the name of -Steele in a way to mislead public opinion in regard to Steele's connection -with the Modoc rebellion. Jack's reason for leaving the Reservation in -1864 was, simply and substantially, that he had made a compact with which -he was dissatisfied. He not only misconstrued the friendship of Steele and -others, but misrepresented them in such a way as to rid himself of the -responsibility as much as possible. - -Following his career, we find that, in 1865, at the request of the -citizens of Lost-river Basin, Capt. McGreggor, commander of Fort Klamath, -made an unsuccessful attempt to return Jack's band to the Reservation; -and, also, that sub-agent Lindsay Applegate sought to remove him in 1866; -also, that in 1867 Superintendent Huntington visited the "Modoc country," -and that Capt. Jack and his warriors took a position on the opposite side -of Lost river, and said to him that, if he attempted to cross over, he -"would fire on him." Huntington, being unsupported, made no attempt at -crossing. He reported the matter, as others had done, to the department at -Washington; but no action was ordered. It will be seen that this same -rebel chief had eluded and defied the authority of the Government on these -three successive occasions; and yet the clemency and forbearance of the -Government were misconstrued by him and his misinformed sympathizers. - -In the latter part of 1869, while on an official visit to Klamath Agency, -the Modocs first engaged my attention; and hearing then the fact above -referred to, as a reason why he had refused to obey the commands of the -government, and believing that his return, without military force, was -possible, a consultation with Agent O. C. Knapp was held. We decided to -make another effort; accordingly a courier was despatched with a message -that we would meet him at Link river. The reply was to the effect that if -we wanted to see him we must come to his country; and, further, that he -did not care to see us. - -Notwithstanding this insult, we decided to visit the Modoc country in -person. Believing in the power of the right to accomplish the purpose, -even if force was necessary, we determined to go, "bearing the olive -branch;" and, also, at the same time, recognized the necessity of being -prepared for personal defence should any attack be made. A requisition was -made on Capt. Goodale, commander at Fort Klamath, for a detachment of -troops. - -To the first request we received a doubtful answer, because "he had not -the men to spare." I did not inquire of Capt. Goodale what the duties of -the soldiers were; but from others I learned that they were required for -"police duty," or sentry duty, which meant, probably, that one-half the -soldiers were needed to guard the other half, and maybe were to wait on -the officers of the fort. A few days previous, a number of enlisted men -had deserted, and those sent in pursuit "had failed to put in an -appearance at roll-call." - -Finally, the Klamath Indians succeeded in arresting the deserters and -bringing them under guard to the fort, receiving therefor a reward for so -doing. This fort was built, and has been kept up at an enormous expense, -to secure the peace of the country. It has been an advantage to both white -men and Indians,--the one finding a market for hay and grain; the other, a -market for the articles manufactured by their women,--moccasins, etc.; and -the men an opportunity to make greenbacks by hunting and arresting -deserters. - -Capt. Goodale finally detailed a small squad of men, under command of a -non-commissioned officer, for the purpose requested, as stated heretofore. - -We left Klamath Agency on the morning of the third of December, 1869, -destined for the home of the Modocs, accompanied by Agent O. C. Knapp, of -Klamath, I. D. Applegate in charge of Yai-nax, and W. C. McKay, together -with teamsters, guides, and interpreters; also, two Klamath Indian women. -Ordering the soldiers to follow us as far as Link river, there to await -further orders, we pushed on, leaving the teams with our supplies to -follow into the Modoc country on the morning of the twenty-second of -December, 1869. - -The route from Link river is through a sage-brush plain, and following -down the west bank of Lost river. - -Lost river is the outlet or connecting link between Clear lake and Tule -lake. After leaving the former, it flows under ground several miles, and -again coming to the surface, empties into the latter. For this reason it -was named "Lost river." It is a deep, narrow stream, with but few -fording-places. In March of each year it is a great fishery. None of the -same species of fish are found elsewhere; it possesses the appearance of a -species of white trout, excepting the head and mouth, which is after the -sucker species. The flesh is rich and nutritious, and so abundant are they -that they are taken with rude implements, such as sharpened sticks and -pitchforks, and are even caught with the hand, when they are running over -the ripples or fords. - -A courier sent by the Modoc Peace Commission, with despatches to Yai-nax, -having occasion to cross Lost river while en route, reported, on his -return, having difficulty in crossing this stream on account of the -immense numbers of fish running against the horse's legs, and frightening -him. A pretty big fish story, but not incredible. - -When within a few miles of the Modoc camp, we espied four Indians coming -on ponies. As we approached, they, forming a line across the road, -exclaimed "Kaw-tuk!" (Stop!) They were each armed with a rifle and -revolver. Our party carried, each man, a Henry rifle and a navy -six-shooter. A short parley ensued, they determining to know our business, -and would allow no farther advance until their demand was recognized. - -We stated, in substance, that we were anxious to see Captain Jack and his -people on important business. - -The Indians replied, "that they did not wish to talk with us; they had no -business with us, and that we had better turn back." Three times had they -defied, intimidated, or eluded officers of the Government previously, and -were now trying to evade a meeting by bluffing our party. - -We had started to visit these people, and, in western parlance, "we were -going." Pushing past the Indians, we started on a brisk gallop, they -turning around and running ahead of us. After a brisk ride of four miles -we came in sight of the Modoc town, situated on the western bank of the -river about one mile above the "Natural Bridge," and within sight of the -newly-made mounds of the State line. - -The "Natural Bridge" is a ledge of rocks, twenty feet in width, spanning -the river. It was used in early days of emigration, to cross the river. At -the time of our visit it was two feet under water, but on either bank, -approaching the bridge, were unmistakable evidences of wagon travel. On -the western side the old road leads out through the sage-brush plains, and -may be easily traced with the eye for several miles. This "Natural -Bridge" has been gradually sinking. The early emigrants crossed over it -when it was a few feet above the water; then, at a later date, the water -had risen one or two feet above it; and yet neither the river nor the lake -appear to be higher than they were when first visited by white men. - - - - - CHAPTER XX. - - BLUE EYES AND BLACK ONES, WHICH WIN?--TOBEY RIDDLE. - - -The Modoc town was composed of thirteen lodges, built after the model of -Klamath's Indian houses. A circular, oblong excavation, twenty or thirty -feet in length and twelve wide, is first made. Then posts, two feet apart, -are set in the centre and at each end. On these posts are placed timbers -running lengthwise of the structure. Poles, or split logs, fifteen feet in -length, are placed, with the lower end resting on the ground, while the -upper end is fastened to the tops of the posts. Matting, made of "tule -grass," is spread over the slanting timbers, and then the earth thrown -out, in making the excavation, is piled upon the matting to a depth of -twelve inches. No windows are made, and there is but one entrance which -opens between the timbers mentioned as resting on posts at the top of the -lodge. This long, narrow opening is approached from the outside by steps -made in the earthen covering. From the inside hangs a ladder made of -rawhide ropes. The windows, door, and chimneys are one and the same. The -first glance at these houses suggests war, and a second confirms the idea -that these people are always ready for an attack. - -On our arrival at the town it appeared to be deserted, excepting the few -Indians who returned with us. They having dismounted, one of them rushed -up the rude stairway outside the largest lodge, and disappeared. This was -the home of the "Chief." Our party dismounted and prepared to follow our -guide. A watchman on the house-top said, "One man come! no more!" I had -partly ascended the steps when the peremptory order came. It sounded -ominous, and recalled "Bloody Point," and "Ben Wright." It was too late to -turn back in the presence of savages. - -When I reached the door, at the top of the lodge, and through the opening -met the eyes of fifty painted warriors, I felt as if I was in the wrong -place; but I dare not then show any signs of fear, or retrace my steps. I -may not find words to express my thoughts and feelings as I descended the -rawhide ladder, half expecting a shower of arrows, or bullets; -half-wondering how they would feel. _I did not know then,--I have learned -since._ On descending, I was met with a cold reception, that froze my -blood; a feeling I cannot describe. Captain Jack looked in my face with a -sullen glitter in his eye, that no white man could imitate. He refused to -shake hands, to speak, or smoke, and in fact it was evident that I was not -only an unwelcome visitor, but was looked upon as an enemy. - -Coolly lighting my pipe, I began trying to make the best of a bad job; -meanwhile enduring the stare from all eyes,--and a stare of that kind that -none can understand who has never felt the same; an expression cold and -scornful, but burning with hatred, was on every countenance. I have beheld -but one other scene that was more indescribable, and that was the "Lava -Bed" tragedy on April 11th, 1873. A terrible kind of loneliness came over -me, and for a while I thought the chances _about even_ whether I would -get out again or not. - -Finally "Scarfaced Charley" broke the stillness by asking, "What you want? -What for you come? Jack he not send for you! He got no business with you! -He no don't want to talk! He in his country! What for you come here? You -not him ty-ee! He don't know you! Hal-lu-i-me-til-li-cum,--(you stranger)! -Captain Jack want to see you, him come your home! He no want you come -here! You go away! Let him 'lone! He no want talk you! You go away!" - -This is substantially the first Modoc speech I ever heard. The result, -however, was to break the ice, to open the way for conversation. I stated -then that I was a new chief, sent by the President, to care for all the -Indians, Modocs included, and that I was _their_ ty-ee. I had some new -things to talk about. Whether they were my friends or not, I was their -friend. I had come to see my boys, and I wanted a hearing. I was not -afraid to talk, not afraid to hear Captain Jack talk; I was a big chief, -and did not ask my own boys when to talk. When I had ended my first speech -to the Modocs, Captain Jack replied:-- - -"I have nothing to say that you would like to hear. All your people are -_liars_ and _swindlers_. I do not believe half that is told me. I am not -afraid to hear you talk." I then proposed to have my friends, who were -waiting outside, come in. This was agreed to, and Captain Jack produced a -parcel of papers, that had been given to him by various persons, including -letters from "Steele," also from Esq. Potter, and John Fairchild. These -were submitted to me, and treated with consideration, thereby securing a -certain kind of respectful hearing, on the part of Captain Jack, to the -proposition for him to provide a camp for our company. - -Having thus started negotiations, Jack proffered the use of his lodge, -saying that he had no muck-a-muck (meaning provision) that we could eat; -that his stores afforded only roots and dried fish, that he had no flour, -no coffee, no sugar, no _whiskey_, and did not think a white chief could -get along without these things, etc. He, however, ordered a camp prepared -for us, which was done by making small holes in the ground, two or three -feet apart, with "camas sticks,"--a sharp-pointed instrument, of either -iron, bone, or hard wood, and about three feet long, with a handle at the -upper end, generally in the shape of a cross, and is used very much as a -gardener does a spade, by Indian women in digging roots. Into these holes -were inserted willows, eight feet in length, forming a circle twenty feet -in diameter, lapping past at one point,--thus making an entrance, very -much like the opening of a circus pavilion,--the whole surrounded with -mattings, the upper part drawn in, thus contracting the yielding tops of -the willow poles until the camp was made to resemble a huge bowl, with -bottom out, in an inverted position. This kind of work is usually done by -Indian women; but, to the credit of the young men of the Modoc tribe be it -said, that they, in this instance at least, assisted them, and did not -allow their women to be mere help-meets, but principals in mechanical -enterprises of the kind named, including also "getting wood." Sage brush -is the principal fuel in this region of country; and since so much of the -Great Basin lying between the Rocky mountains on the east, and Sierra -Nevada, and Cascade mountains on the west, is covered with this kind of -growth, and since comparatively few of my readers may have ever seen it -for themselves, I may remark here, by way of explanation, that this "sage -brush" is a soft, flexible shrub, the woody part being porous, and filled -with a gummy substance; the bark is of a grayish color, soft and ragged, -and easily stripped off; the leaf is small, of such a color, shape and -taste as very much resembles the domestic plant, from which it takes its -name; the body is short, crooked and forked, seldom exceeds four inches in -diameter or four feet in height; burns readily, either green or dry, -making a very hot fire, though of short life, yielding abundant ashes and -beds of coals. - -A plentiful supply of this fuel was piled up around our camp. A fresh fish -was taken from the river by the Indians, which, when roasted in the -sage-brush embers, made a not unpalatable meal. We spread our -saddle-blankets down for bedding, placed one of the party "on guard," -while the remainder slept, or went through the motion of sleeping; for we -would not have cared for the Indians to know that we could not and dare -not sleep. The morrow came, and the wagons having brought our supplies, we -were prepared to offer a feast of coffee and sugar, hard-bread, beef, and -bacon. - -_No Modoc would eat_ until our party had partaken. Some folks may think -their good-breeding had taught them to defer to their superiors; but such -was not the case. The reason was expressed in these few words: "Remember -Ben Wright;" which was said in the Modoc language, thus explaining why -they did not partake. When, however, they had witnessed that the -provisions prepared for the feast were eaten by our party, they were -reassured, and another point was gained. - -Nothing so quickly dissolves the ice in an Indian breast as a feast. The -council was opened with Frank Riddle and his Modoc woman, Tobey, as -interpreter. I mention this fact, because they have become prominent -characters in the history of the late Modoc war. They had been sent for by -Captain Jack; in fact, he was not willing to proceed without them. - -Frank Riddle is a white man, about thirty years of age, a native of -Kentucky. He anticipated Greeley, going West when a very young man, and -engaged in mining at Y-re-ka, Cal. Twelve years ago, on a bright morning -in March, an old Indian rode up to Frank's cabin, and stopped before the -door. On a small pony behind the old man sat a young Indian girl, of Modoc -blood, twelve years of age. - -The man was of royal lineage, being a descendant of Mo-a-doc-us, founder -of the tribe, and was uncle of the now famous Captain Jack. After sitting -in silence, Indian fashion, staring in the cabin door for a few minutes, -he made a motion by a toss of his head, and pouted out his lips toward the -young squaw behind him. This pantomime said to Frank, "Do you want to buy -a squaw?" - -Frank was a fine-looking, dark-eyed young fellow, and withal a clever man, -of genial disposition, with native pride of ancestry, still holding to the -memory of his home, and the image of a fair-haired girl who had "swung -school-baskets" with him in the beach woods of Shelby county, Kentucky. -He shook his head. The old man's face indicated his disappointment. The -girl on the pony slowly turned away, followed by her father. - -Four days passed, and this Indian girl and her father again appeared at -Frank's cabin. In sign language she made known her wish to be his slave, -and that he would buy her from her father. The young Kentuckian, -chivalrous as his people always are, treated her kindly; but, remembering -his fair-haired girl, refused to instal this Indian maiden as mistress of -his home. Ten days passed; the dark-eyed girl came again, _alone_, -bringing with her a wardrobe, consisting of such articles as Indian women -manufacture,--sashes and baskets, shells, beads, and little trinkets. - -She was attired with woman's taste, conforming to the fashions of her -people. Her dark eyes, with long lashes, smooth, round, soft face, of more -than usual pretensions to beauty, lithe figure, and dainty feet in -moccasins, all combined to give a romantic air to the jaunty young maiden; -and, when animated with the promptings of love for the young Kentuckian, -made her an eloquent advocate in her own behalf. The chivalrous fellow -_hesitated_. He _pitied_. He _trembled_ on the brink. The dark eyes before -him pleaded. The blue eyes, far away, dissolved reproachingly from view. -The hopes of youth, and the air-castles that two loving hearts had built -in years agone, began to vanish. They disappeared, and--and in their stead -a rude cabin in romantic wilds, with a warm-hearted, loving, dusky-faced -companion, became a living, actual _reality_. - -The day following, the father of this Indian woman was richer by two -horses. The cabin of Frank Riddle put on a brighter air. The mistress -assumed charge of the camp-kettle and the frying-pan. The tin plates were -cast aside, and dishes of finer mould mounted the tables at the command of -a pair of brown hands. - -Riddle, having broken his vows, and forsaken his boyhood idol, set to work -now to make the untamed girl worthy to fill the place in his heart from -which she had driven another. She was apt at learning, and soon only the -semblance of a squaw remained in the dusky cheeks and brown hands. Seven -years pass, and Frank Riddle and his woman Tobey appear in the Modoc -council on Lost river, December, 1869. - -[Illustration: TOBEY AND RIDDLE.] - -We made the opening speech in that council, setting forth the reasons for -our visit and producing the treaty of 1864. Here Captain Jack began to -manifest the same kind of disposition that has been so prominent in his -subsequent intercourse with government officials,--a careful, cautious -kind of diplomacy, that does not come to a point, but continually seeks to -shirk responsibility. - -He denied that he was a party to the treaty of October, 1864, or that he -signed the paper. Doctor McKay, old Chief Schonchin, and sub-Chief Blo of -Klamath were brought forward, and his allegations disproved completely; we -fully and clearly establishing the fact that he was present at that treaty -council, and that he put his hand to the pen, when his mark was made; that -he accepted and shared with the other Indians the goods issued by -Superintendent Huntington in confirmation of the treaty. The amount of -goods issued I cannot state; but I find that Huntington had an -appropriation of $20,000, to meet the expenses of said treaty council, -and, I doubt not, issued $5,000 or $10,000 worth of goods. All agree that -it was a liberal supply of goods, and I believe it to be true. - -Captain Jack, seeing that "he was cornered," began to quibble about what -part of the Reservation he was to go on to. This was met with the -proposition that he could _have any_ unoccupied land. Finding his -objections all fairly met, he finally said, that, if he could live near -his friend, Link-river Jack, he _would go_. We began to "breathe easy," -feeling that the victory was ours, when the Modoc medicine-man arose, and -simply said, "Me-ki-gam-bla-ke-tu," (We won't go there); when, presto! -from exultation every countenance was changed to an expression of anxiety, -and every hand grasped a revolver. - -The moment was fraught with peril. The least wavering then, on our part, -would have precipitated a fight, the result of which would have been -doubtful as to how many, and who, of our party would have come out alive. -It is quite certain that, had a fight ensued, what has since startled our -people would have been anticipated, and that the name of Captain Jack -would have passed away with but little notice from among the savage -heroes. - -It was there I first heard those terrible words, a part of which have -since become famous, uttered but a moment before the attack on the Peace -Commission, on April 11, 1873--"Ot-we-kau-tux-e,"--meaning, in this -instance, "I am done talking;" or, when used in other connections, "All -ready!" or, "The time has come!" or, "Quit talking." The vocabularies of -all Indian languages are very small; hence, a word depends, to a great -extent, on its connection, for its meaning and power. It was just at this -point that the woman, Tobey Riddle, who has since proved her sagacity and -her loyalty, arose to her feet, and said in Modoc tongue to her people: -"Mo-lok-a ditch-e ham-konk lok-e sti-nas mo-na gam-bla ot-we,"--("The -white chief talks right. His heart is good or strong. Go with him now!") -Frank Riddle joined the woman Tobey in exhorting the Modocs to be quiet, -to be careful, using such words as tend to avert, what we all saw was -liable to happen any instant, a terrible scene of blood. - -Dr. McKay, whose long experience had given him much sagacity, arose -quickly to his feet, saying in English, "Be on your guard! Don't let them -get the drop on us." Captain Jack started to retire when I intercepted -him, saying, "Don't leave me now; I am your friend, but I am not afraid of -you. Be careful what you do! We mean peace, but are ready for war. We will -not begin; but if you do, it shall be the end of your people. You agreed -to go with us, and you shall do it. We are ready. Our wagons are here to -carry your old people and children. We came for you, and we are not going -back without you. You must go!" - -He asked "what I would do, if he did not." I told him plainly that we -would _whip him_ until he was willing. He then wanted to know _where_ my -men were that was to whip him. I pointed to my small squad of men. I shall -never forget his reply. "I would be ashamed to fight so few men with all -my boys." I replied, that it was force enough to kill _some Modocs_, -before we were all dead; that when we were killed more white men would -come. - -Not having very strong faith in his _pride_ about fighting so few men, I -informed him that I had soldiers coming to help us, but that we came on to -try _talking first_, and then when that failed we would send for them to -come; finally stating to him that he could make up his mind to _go_ with -us on the morrow, or _fight_, and that in the meanwhile we would be ready -at any time for him to begin, if he wished to. He said then what he -repeated many times to Peace Commissioners on last spring,--that "he would -not fire the first shot," but if we did, "he was not afraid to die." It -was finally agreed that he should have until the next morning to make -answer what he would do, and that at that time he should report his -conclusion. - -This ended my first official council with the Modocs. Captain Jack -withdrew to his lodge to have a grand "pow-wow," leaving our party to -determine what was the next thing for us to do. We realized that we were -"in great danger." No one dissented from the opinion that peril was -menacing our party. Our only hope was to put on a brave front. Retreat at -that hour was impossible, with even chances for escape. We despatched a -messenger, under pretence of hunting our horses,--we dared not send him -boldly on the mission without excuses,--with orders for our military squad -at Linkville, twenty-five miles from Modoc camp, to rendezvous at a point -within hearing of our guns, and that, in the event of alarm, to "charge -the camp," but in _no other_ event to come until the next morning. - -Having despatched the courier, we carefully inspected our arms, -consisting of Henry rifles and navy revolvers. Captain Knapp's experience -as an officer of the rebellion and McKay's longer experience as an Indian -fighter, together with the frontier life of the remainder, made our little -party somewhat formidable, though inadequate to what might at any moment -become a fearful trial of strength. - -In this connection it should be understood that at that time the Modocs -were very poorly armed with old muskets, and a few rifles and -old-fashioned pistols. - -The Indians have great reverence and unlimited faith in their -"medicine-men." This is peculiar to all Indians, but to none more so than -the Modocs. While our party were invoking Almighty aid and preparing for -the worst that might come, the Modoc medicine-man was invoking the spirits -of departed warriors for aid. While the medicine-man was making medicine, -Captain Jack was holding a council with his braves, discussing the -situation, depending somewhat on the impression to be made from the -medicine camp, and fully trusting therein. I have since learned that the -same man, who subsequently proposed the assassination of the Peace -Commission in the "Lava Bed," in 1873, made the proposition to kill our -party in 1869, which, to the credit of Captain Jack, he promptly opposed -at that time as he did the other. - -Now, if there had been a trial of strength between the good and the bad, -we should not have been worthy to represent Elijah; but the Modocs filled -the position of Ahab, and they made medicine and called loudly on their -gods, but failed therein, as Baal did Ahab. As men will do, our soldier -squad disregarded or overlooked the instruction to await the signal to -"charge camp," for the charge _was made_ in a style that would have done -great credit at any subsequent period in the late Modoc war. There was -_spirit_ at the bottom of this unexpected movement of the soldiers; not -such spirits as the Modoc medicine-man invoked, but regular "forty-rod -whiskey." - -On leaving Link river, they had secured the "company of a bottle," and, -the night being cold, they had resorted to its warming influences. The -consequence was that, when they arrived at the appointed place to await -orders, they forgot to stop, and came into the camp on full gallop. The -horses' feet on the frozen ground, the breaking of sage brush, rattling of -sabres, all combined, made a noise well calculated to produce sudden fear -in the minds of all parties. Our men were all under arms and discussing -the situation. - -The medicine-man was going through his incantations, accompanied by the -songs of the old women, whose sounds still linger on my ear, as they came -to our camp, wafted by the breeze from the lake. It was past midnight, and -still the great council was in session, debating the treachery proposed; -it had not been voted on at that time. Subsequent reports declare that -Schonchin's John had spoken in favor of the measure. Captain Jack was -making a speech against it at the time the soldiers appeared. - -For a few moments the scene was one of indescribable confusion; the -medicine-man cut short his prayers; the war council was broken up; and -Indian braves came out of the lodge without waiting for the ceremonies of -even savage courtesy, but "pell-mell" they went into the sage brush, each -one taking with him his arms. A guard was immediately placed, surrounding -the whole camp; Capt. Knapp giving orders to allow no one to pass the -picket lines. - -Few eyes closed in sleep that night; daylight disclosed a complete circle -of bayonets, and inside about two hundred men, women, and children; but -the brave Captain Jack was not there; nor was "Schonchin's John," or -"Ellen's Man," or "Curly Head Doctor;" they had retired to the "Lava Bed." -We issued an order for all Indians to form in a line; they were reassured -that no one should be harmed; that they should be protected, clothed, and -cared for, but that all the arms must be delivered up. This request -brought out professions and promises of friendship; but the order had been -made and must be obeyed. - -The Indians refused compliance, and a file of soldiers was ordered to -seize the arms; for a few moments the excitement was intense; every man of -our party stood ready for "business," while the arms of the Modocs were -seized, and a guard placed over them. The aspect presented by the Modoc -camp was one that will not soon be forgotten by our party; the old, the -young, the middle-aged, the crippled, and ragged, nearly all making -professions of loyalty, and rejoicing at the turn events had taken. - -Provisions were issued for them, and order made for them to gather up the -ponies and prepare for removal. This morning was the first time I heard -"Queen Mary's" voice; she is a sister of Ki-en-te-poos,--Captain -Jack,--and this fact gave her great power over him. She has been -pronounced "Queen of the Modocs," on account of her beauty and power; she -was, probably, the most sagacious individual belonging to the band. This -Indian queen has had many opportunities for _improvement_, having been -sold to five or six white men in the last ten years. - -While she has induced so many different men to buy her of her brother, she -has made each one, in turn, anxious to return her to her people; but not -until she had squandered all the money she could command. It has been -denied that Captain Jack was ever a party to these several matrimonial -speculations; but more strongly asserted, by those who ought to know, that -"Queen Mary" has been a great source of wealth to him. I am of that -opinion myself, after weighing all the facts in the case. - -On the morning in question Mary appeared to plead for her absent brother, -that he might be forgiven, saying that he was no coward, but that he was -scared; that he was not to blame for running, and that she could induce -him to return. It was finally arranged that she should go to the "Lava -Bed" in company with our guide, Gus Horn, and assure her brother that no -harm had befallen the camp, and none would fall on them. - -One day was spent in collecting the Indian ponies, taking Indian -provisions from the "caches," and negotiating with the runaways for their -return, which was not accomplished. The following morning the camp was -broken up, and all the Indians, big and little, old and young,--as we -supposed at the time,--were started to the Reservation. Some were on -ponies, many of them on our wagons, and perhaps a few on foot. - -We reached Link river, where fires had been made, beef and flour -prepared, and by nine, P.M., everybody seemed contented, except the -personal friends of the runaways. - -Messengers were kept on the road between our camp and the "Lava Beds" -almost constantly for the three days we remained at Link river. Finally -the great chief surrendered, and "came in," on assurances that "the -Klamaths should not be permitted to make sport of him, and call him a -coward for running from our small force." This, then, was the ultimatum, -and was accepted, and, as far as possible, kept faithfully on our part. - -The sight presented by Captain Jack and his men, when they arrived at Link -river, if it could have been witnessed by those who have taken so great an -interest in him, would have dispelled all ideas of a "Fennimore Cooper -hero." - -I cannot forbear mentioning an incident characteristic of the Modocs. -While waiting for Jack and his remaining braves, I accidentally learned -that an old woman had been left in camp on Lost river, and, asking for the -reason, was told that she was too old to dig roots, or to work, and they -had left her some wood and water, and a "little grub," enough for her to -die easy on. A pair of new blankets, bread, sugar and meat, were prepared -to send her; also a horse to ride, and volunteers asked for, to bring the -old woman in. Not a volunteer came forward, save a "young buck," who was -willing, _provided_ he could have the blankets and pony, should he find -her dead, or if she should die on the road. It needed no reflection to -understand that _that_ meant _murder_. - -After much difficulty, the family to whom the old squaw belonged was -found, and a man and woman sent after her, with the warning, that if they -failed to bring her they must suffer the consequences. They insisted on -being _paid_ in advance for their labor. They _were not paid_, but they -brought her in alive, but so weak that she had to be held on the horse, -the squaw sitting behind her. It is said the Indian has no gratitude, but -this old woman refuted that assertion. - -On the arrival of Captain Jack's party, arrangements were made to proceed -at once to Klamath Reservation. On the morning of Dec. 27th we started on -our way. At the request of Captain Jack and his representative men, the -squad of soldiers were sent forward to the fort; the Indians claiming that -their presence made the women and children afraid; and that, having -surrendered their arms, they were powerless to do harm, and had no desire -to turn back. It may be thought a strange concession to make; but with -their arms in our possession, we _made it_; thus proving our confidence in -Indian integrity, by relieving them of the presence of the soldiers. We -were safe, and had no fear of the result. - -The morning was intensely cold, and the road led over a high mountain -covered with snow to the depth of twenty inches. On the 28th we arrived at -Modoc Point, Klamath Reservation. We were met by a large delegation of -agency Indians. The meeting and peace-making of these people, who had been -enemies so long, was one of peculiar interest and full of incident, worthy -of being recorded. I pass over the first day, by saying that the Klamaths -were much chagrined when we issued an order, at the request of Jack, -against gambling. - -Had we not done so, much confusion of property and domestic relation would -have ensued. These people are inveterate gamblers, and in fits of madness -have been known to stake their wives and daughters on the throw of a -stick, sometimes a card. The second day we set apart for a meeting of -reconciliation. A line was established between the Modoc and Klamath camp, -and a place designated for the forthcoming meeting, at the foot of a -mountain and beneath a wide-spreading pine tree. - -The Klamaths formed on one side of the line, and awaited the arrival of -the Modocs, who came reluctantly, apparently half afraid; Captain Jack -taking a position fronting Allen David,--the Klamath chief,--and only a -few feet distant. There stood these warrior chieftains, unarmed, gazing -with Indian stoicism into each other's faces. No words were spoken for a -few moments. The thoughts that passed through each mind may never be -known, but, perhaps, were of bloody battles past, or of the possible -future. - -The silence was broken on our part, saying, "You meet to-day in peace, to -bury all the bad past, to make friends. You are of the same blood, of the -same heart. You are to live as neighbors. This country belongs to you, all -alike. Your interests are one. You can shake hands and be friends." - -A hatchet was laid in the open space, a twig of pine was handed each -chieftain,--Allen David and Captain Jack,--as they advanced, each stooping -and covering the axe with the pine boughs; planting their feet upon it, -they looked into each other's eyes a moment, and shook hands with a -long-continued grasp, but spoke no word. As each retired to his position -outside of the line, the sub-chiefs and head men came forward, two at a -time, and followed the example of the chieftains, until all had exchanged -the pledge of friendship, and then resumed their respective places. Allen -David broke the silence in a speech of great power,--and such a speech as -none but an Indian orator can make. I have listened to some of the most -popular speakers in America, but I do not remember ever having heard a -speech more replete with meaning, or one much more logical, and certainly -none exhibiting more of nature's oratory. It was not of that kind taught -inside brick walls, but that which God gives to few, and gives but -sparingly. I repeat it as reported by Dr. McKay. - -Fixing his eye intently on Captain Jack, and raising himself to his full -proportion of six feet in height, he began in measured sentences full of -pathos: "I see you. I see your eyes. Your skin is red like my own. I will -show you my heart. We have long been enemies. Many of our brave muck-a-lux -(people) are dead. The ground is black with their blood. Their bones have -been carried by the 'Cayotes,' to the mountains, and scattered among the -rocks. Our people are melting away like snow. We see the white chief is -strong. The law is strong. We cannot be Indians longer. We must take the -white man's law. The law our fathers had is dead. The white chief brought -you here. We have made friends. We have washed each other's hands; they -are not bloody now. We are friends. We have buried all the bad blood. We -will not dig it up again. The white man sees us. Soch-e-la Ty-ee.--God is -looking at our hearts. The sun is a witness between us; the mountains are -looking on us." Turning to the great tree, with a sublime gesture: "This -pine-tree is a witness, O my people! When you see this tree, remember it -is a witness that here we made friends with the Mo-a-doc-as. Never cut -down that tree. Let the arm be broke that would hurt it; let the hand die -that would break a twig from it. So long as snow shall fall on Yai-nax -mountain, let it stand. Long as the waters run in the river, let it stand. -Long as the white rabbit shall live in the man-si-ne-ta (groves), let it -stand. Let our children play round it; let the young people dance under -its leaves, and let the old men smoke together in its shade. Let this tree -stand there forever, as a witness. I have done." - -Captain Jack, on assuming an attitude peculiar to himself, with his eye -fixed intently on the Klamath chief, began in a low, musical voice, -half-suppressed, half hesitatingly: "The white chief brought me here. I -feel ashamed of my people, because they are poor. I feel like a man in a -strange country without a father. My heart was afraid. I have heard your -words; they warm my heart. I am not strange now. The blood is all washed -from our hands. We are enemies no longer. We have buried the past. We have -forgotten that we were enemies. We will not throw away the white chief's -words. We will not hide them in the grass. I have planted a strong stake -in the ground. I have tied myself with a strong rope. I will not dig up -the stake. I will not break the rope. My heart is the heart of my people. -I am their words. I am not speaking for myself. I speak their hearts. My -heart comes up to my mouth. I cannot keep it down with a sharp stick. I am -done." - -No doubt that, at the time of making this speech, Captain Jack really -meant all he said; and if he failed to make good his promises, there were -reasons that may not entitle him or his people to censure for the failure. -Certainly no peace-making could have been more sincere, or promised more -for the settlement of the Modoc troubles. The remainder of the day was -passed in exchanging friendships (ma-mak-sti-nas). Preparations were -completed for issuing annuity goods to the Modocs. - -Other Indians had been previously served, but this was but the second time -that the Modocs had ever received goods from the Government, in conformity -with the treaty stipulations of 1864. For five years the goods had been -regularly furnished and distributed to the Klamaths and the few Modocs who -remained faithful to the compact. If Captain Jack's band had not received -goods, it was not the fault of the Government or its agents, but because -they wilfully refused to obey the orders of Government officers, by -remaining away from the home they had accepted. - -The goods provided were of the best quality, delivered on contract, and -with packages unbroken, and in presence of Capt. Goodale, U. S. Army, then -in command of Fort Klamath; and they were distributed among his people. -Captain Jack and his head men were seated in the midst of a semi-circle, -with the other men on each side, the women in front, in half-circular -rows; the children still in front of these, on either hand. When all were -seated, the packages were broken, and the goods prepared for issue. -Captain Jack and his sub-chiefs received two pairs of blankets each, one -pair to each of his head men, and one blanket to every other man, woman, -and child, except _six very small children, who were given one-half a -blanket each_. They were all-wool, "eight-pound" Oregon blankets, and -overweighed, by actual test, nearly one-half pound per pair. In addition, -each man received a woollen shirt and cloth for one pair of pants; each -woman and child, one flannel dress pattern, with liberal supply of thread, -needles, and buttons. I have been thus particular about the facts -concerning this issue, because much sympathy has been manifested for the -Modocs on account of the wrongs said to have been practised against them. -After the distribution, the Modocs, proud of their new goods, retired to -their camps, on the shores of the lake. - -The "Peace Tree," under which the issue was made, was on a sloping -hill-side, overlooking the valley, and commanding a view of the camp of -Captain Jack. Let us see them, as they trudge homeward, with their rich -prizes. They do not go like the Indians with their blankets around them, -and feathers streaming in the wind. Since their retreat from the -Reservation they have associated with and learned many of the manners and -customs of civilized white people. Nevertheless they presented a -picturesque appearance,--old and young, loaded down with goods, flour and -beef, apparently happy; and I doubt not they were happy. - -Their camps, scattered promiscuously along the edge of the water, were -constructed of various materials. A few were ordinary tents, others made -over a frame of willow poles, covered with matting, blankets, wagon -sheets, and such other material as could be pressed into service. The -ponies are scattered over the plain, cropping the winter grass, or tied up -waiting for the owner's return. - -The inside of the camps are always "cluttered,"--a Yankee word, which -means in confusion and disorder. The women proceed to stow away the new -dresses in baskets and sacks, or spread them for bedding; the men to smoke -and wait until the feast is made ready from the supplies of flour and beef -provided. They have been cheated out of what some eastern people would -consider the best part of the beef,--the "head and pluck." That delectable -part of the animal had been captured by the waiting Klamath squaws at the -time of the slaughtering. Squaws have the smelling qualities of a war -horse, "that scents the battle from afar." At every slaughter they were -sure to arrive in time to secure the aforesaid "head and pluck," which, -with them, means everything except dressed meat. Even the feet are eaten. -First throwing them on the fire and burning them awhile, they then cut off -the scorched parts to eat. The foot is again conveyed to the fire, until -fairly charred; again stripped, and so on, until but little is left, and -that little does not resemble an ox's foot very much. - -The head is cooked in better shape. A hole is dug in the ground, in which -a fire is made, and, when burned down, the embers are removed, and the -head of the old Government ox is dropped in just as it left the butcher's -hands. Hair, horns, and all are covered up with ashes and coals, a fire -made over it and left to cook. After a few hours it is removed, and is -then ready to serve up; or rather it (the head) is placed upon the ground, -and the hungry Indians, each armed with a knife, surround it and proceed -to carve and eat. Portions that may be too raw are then thrown on the -coals and charred; even the bones are eaten. Among the old and poor -people, they carefully preserve their respective ox's feet, and, when in -want, throw them on the coals, and the meal is prepared in short order. - -Uncivilized Indians have no regular hour for meals, but generally each one -consults convenience, seldom eating together except on feast occasions. -Neither have they regular hours for sleeping or rising, each member of a -family or tribe consulting their own pleasure. - -While we watch the novel scenes of Indians "getting wood," water, cooking, -and eating, we see the enterprising young Klamaths--now released from the -order forbidding their hurrying down to the Modoc camps--hasten there, -some to renew old acquaintance, others to tell in soft tones to the -listening ears of Modoc maidens the tale that burdened their hearts, and -to negotiate for new wives; or it may be, through the mediation of a -"deck" of greasy cards, to persuade the Modocs to divide goods with them. - -These Klamath boys had received their new clothes a few days previous, and -had soiled them enough to make them comport well with Indian toilets. -While we are engaged making observations, cast the eye westward over the -valley of the Klamath, and see the huge shadows approach like great moving -clouds, until suddenly they start up the sloping hill-side towards us. -Look closely now at the sun resting a moment on the summit of Mount -McGlaughlin. See it settle slowly, as though splitting the crown of the -mountain in twain, until, while you gaze, he drops quickly out of sight. -Little children say he has burned a hole in the mountain, and buried -himself there. But, oh, the shadows have crept over us, and we feel the -chill which ensues. Look above and behind us, and see them climb the rocky -crags until we are all "in the shadow." - -We now see our teamster boys piling high the pitch-pine logs, and soon the -crackling flames begin to paint fresh shadows round us. The dark forms of -long-haired men gather in circles round the fire; for we are to have a -"cultus wa-wa," (a big free talk). White men and Indians change their base -as smoke or flame compels, and all, in half gloomy silence, wait the -signal to begin. A white man speaks first of his people, their laws, -religion, and habits; tells how law is made; how the white man found his -religion; the history of the Bible; extols his own faith, and labors to -reconcile in untutored minds the difference betwixt good and bad, right -and wrong, and by simple lessons to instil the great precepts of -Christianity. - -The red man listens with sober face and thoughtful brow. When opportunity -is made, he puts queries about many things they do not know. This is not -an official council, so all feel free to speak. An old Indian, with his -superstitious habits and ideas clinging to him, like a worn-out blanket in -tatters, clutching the old with one hand, and with the other reaching out -for the new, rises, and with great dignity tells of the religious faith of -his fathers, and makes apology for their ignorance and his own; says, "I -have long heard of this religion of the white man. I have heard about the -'Holy Spirit' coming to him. I wonder if it would ever come to my people. -I am old, I cannot live long. May be it has come now. I feel like a new -kind of fire was in my heart. May be you have brought this 'Holy Spirit.' - -"I think you have. When you came here first we were all in bad blood. Now -I see Klamaths, Modocs, Snakes, and Ya-hoo-skins, all around me like -brothers. No common man could do this. May be _you are a holy spirit_. -When I was a young man I saw a white man on his knee telling the 'Holy -Spirit' to come. May be the Great Spirit sent you with it." - -This old man, whose name was Link-river Joe, had attended a meeting held -by Rev. A. F. Waller, at the Dallas Methodist Mission, twenty years -before, and had still retained some of the impressions made at that time. - -Old man Chi-lo-quin said he had often heard that the white man could tell -when the sun would turn black a long time before it happened,--referring -to the eclipse,--and inquired how the white man knew so much. This was -explained until the old fellow said he thought he knew how it was; but I -doubt it. Thus the last night of 1869 wore away with questions and -answers. Finally we mentioned that "to-morrow will be the New Year." The -question was asked, how we knew it was so. Never have I seen an audience -of five or six hundred persons so eager for information. We proposed to -explain, and, holding up a watch, said to them, that when all the "little -sticks" on its face were in a row together, the old year would die in the -west, and another would be born in the east. The watch was passed around -while the explanation was being made. Allen David requested that, since -all could not see the watch, we should fire a pistol at the exact moment. -After assurance that it would cause no alarm, we held the pistol upward -above our heads, and announced,--"five minutes more and 1869 will be -dead,--four minutes now,--now but three." The stillness was almost -painful,--"Two minutes more, now but one,"--and five or six hundred red -men were holding breath to catch the signal,--all eyes watching the finger -that was to announce, by a motion, the event; the three hands on the face -of the watch were in range,--the finger crooked,--a blaze of light flashed -over the dusky faces, and a report went reverberating up the rocky cañons, -and before it died away, six hundred voices joined in an almost unearthly -farewell to "1869," and, quickly facing to the east, another wild shout of -welcome to "1870." - -The crowd slowly dispersed, leaving one white man and an interpreter -sitting by the smouldering fire, talking over the wonders of the white -man's knowledge and power, accompanied by old Chief Schon-chin, Captain -Jack, Allen David, and O-che-o. Thus was begun the year 1870. I was -surrounded then with elements of power for mischief that were only waiting -for the time when accident or mismanagement would impel one of these -chieftains--Captain Jack--to open a chapter with his finger dipped in the -heart's blood of one of the noblest of the American army, the lamented -Christian soldier, General Canby, who was then quietly enjoying a respite -from the labors of the rebellion, with the honors of a well-spent life -gathering in a clustering wreath around the great warrior's brow, settling -down so lightly that he scarcely seemed aware that he wore a coronet made -of heroic deeds and manly actions. He was looking hopefully to a future of -rest in the bosom of his family, and consoling himself that life's hardest -battles were over, and that when, in a good old age, the roll-call should -be sounded for him, his friends would answer in salutes of honor over his -grave. - -While we were shedding little rays of light on the darkened minds of our -hearers, a beardless Indian boy, with face almost white, was sporting with -his fellows, or quietly sleeping in his father's lodge, soothed to rest by -the rippling waters of Klamath lake. This boy--Boston Charley--was to send -the messenger of death through the heart of the eminent divine--Dr. -Thomas. That night Dr. Thomas was with his friends, watching on bended -knees before a sacred altar, waiting for the death of 1869 and the birth -of a new year, little dreaming that the crimson current of his life was so -soon to mingle with the blood of the other hero in recording the tragic -event of the year 1873. - -He, too, had fought the good fight of the cross for thirty long years, and -now felt the honors of his church gathering around his gray locks, and was -looking steadily forward to the hour when his Great Commander should call -him to his reward; hoping quietly and peacefully to gather up his feet in -God's own appointed time, and, bearing with him his sheaves, present them -as his credentials to a mansion of eternal rest. While old Chief -Schon-chin, with his long gray hair floating in the winds of the new-born -year, was opening his heart to the influx of light, sitting quietly by -the dying council fire, his brother John was brooding over his broken -hopes of careless life or high ambition, sitting moody and gloomy over his -own camp-fire, or dreaming of a coming hour when he might avenge the -insults offered his race. It may be he was living over the scenes of his -stormy life, while the hand that had that day received from my hands -pledges of friendship and Government faith was in three short years to -fire eleven shots at the heart that beat then in kindliest sympathy with -his race. - -The last hours of the dying year and the first of the new one had I given -from my life for the advancement of a race, whose very helplessness -enhanced the zeal with which I labored for them. I could not draw aside -the veil that hid the future, and see the gleaming eyes of Schon-chin -John, nor his left hand clutching a dagger while his right discharged -repeated shots at my breast. I did not then see my own body prostrate and -bleeding in the rocks of the Lava Bed, or my own beloved family surrounded -with sympathizing friends, eagerly watching the electric sparks speaking -words of hope and despair alternately; but I did see, somewhere in the -future, my hand running over whited page, telling the world of the way I -passed the watch-night of 1869. - - - - - CHAPTER XXI. - - BURYING THE HATCHET--A TURNING-POINT. - - -On the morning of January 1st, 1870, Captain Jack's band of Modoc Indians -was placed in charge of Captain Knapp, under favorable circumstances. -Supplies of beef and flour were secured and issued to them in sufficient -quantities. Indeed, they were better fed than other Indians belonging to -the agency. They had brought with them fish and roots, which, in addition -to rations issued as above referred to, was altogether sufficient; and, -having obtained from Agent Knapp the necessary implements, they began work -in good earnest, by cutting saw logs, making rails, and hewing house logs, -preparing to make a permanent settlement at Modoc Point. The arrangements -had been fully explained to the Klamaths, Wal-pah-pas, Snake Indians and -Modocs, at the peace-making under the great witness tree, and fully agreed -to by all parties. - -It was further agreed and understood, with the consent of the Link-river -Klamath Indians, who partially occupied the land so taken for the Modoc -home, that the Modocs were to share equally with them in the use of the -timber on the side of the mountains nearest to the new settlement. - -The land was designated lying adjacent, and the Modocs were to select the -particular tract that each might desire for a home, with the understanding -that they were to be the owners thereof, and that, when allotments of -land in severalty should be made, by order of the Government, as -stipulated in the treaty of 1864, the selection then made should be -ratified and confirmed to the occupant. With this understanding, Jack and -his people began improvements for a new home, and, I believe, with a full, -settled determination to make it permanent. - -No semi-savages ever went to work more cheerfully than did these people. -Whatever may have been their faults, or what of crime attached to them -since, this fact should be remembered,--that they did then acknowledge the -obligations of the treaty. Mark the succession of events, and you will -have some conception of the motives and reasons why the late unfortunate -Peace Commissioners, with the lamented Gen. Canby, continued its labors, -and protracted its efforts, to secure peace with the Modocs, even when -hope seemed forlorn, and the public press were hurling denunciations -against the "Peace policy," and the Commissioners especially. - -Gen. Canby knew all the circumstances, as did Dr. Thomas and myself, and -with a firm resolve to be just, we maintained silence, recollecting a -memorable saying, "Let them alone; they know not what they do." - -The Modocs worked with a will, and had made several hundred rails, and -hewn logs for houses, when avarice, stimulated by envy, brought about -quarrels between the Link-river Indians and Modocs; the former taunting -the latter, calling them hallo-e-me, tilli-cum (strangers); claiming the -timber, though admitting that they had agreed that the Modocs might cut -it, nevertheless, saying, "It is our timber; you may use it, but it is -ours. You make the rails, but we want some of them." - -Captain Jack's people recalled the understanding on the day of -peace-making. The quarrel grew warm, and Agent Knapp was appealed to, by -Captain Jack, to settle the difficulties. This was one of the -turning-points of a history that is reeking with blood. - -Capt. Knapp was an army officer who had been assigned to duty as Indian -agent. That he was a brave soldier, and had made a good record, is beyond -question. In his official dealings with the Indians he was honest, I doubt -not. He is the only agent that has ever had charge of Captain Jack's band -since the fall of 1864. - -Captain Jack and his friends have published to the world that they were -starved and cheated by Government agents while on Klamath Reservation in -1870. - -I believe the assertion wholly unfounded. Agent Knapp came to the work -having no heart in it; no knowledge of the Indian character; no faith in -them or their manhood; no ambition to elevate them. It is not to be -wondered at that he took but little pains with them beyond seeing that -rations were issued,--which I believe was done _promptly_. - -The position was unsought and undesirable, and one he wished to vacate. -Had Capt. Knapp been every way qualified for this duty; had his experience -given him knowledge of Indian character; had he sought the position, or -been selected for it on account of his fitness for this kind of labor, and -had his heart been in it; had he been fired with an ambition to do good, -by elevating a poor, unfortunate race,--he would have exercised more -patience when appealed to by Captain Jack in February, 1870, for redress; -he would have prevented all these bloody chapters in Indian history. - -Had Agent Knapp promptly interfered, tempering his action with justice, by -punishing Link-river Jack for annoying the Modocs, then the Modoc -rebellion would have been prevented. - -When Captain Jack appealed to Agent Knapp, the latter refused to admit -Jack within his office, heard his complaints impatiently, and sent him -away with orders to "go on with his work;" "that he would make it all -right." - -Jack returned to his home, and, naturally enough, the quarrel was renewed. -The Link-river Klamaths, having received neither reprimand nor punishment, -were emboldened, and became more overbearing than before. - -Captain Jack again applied for protection from further insult, and this -time Agent Knapp proposed to change the location of the Modocs to a point -on Williamson river, a few miles distant, and nearer the agency. - -For the sake of peace, and in obedience to orders, the Modocs changed -camp, and again began preparation for making homes. - -This brought Klamaths and Modocs in contact, and after Jack had made a few -hundred rails, and prepared a few hewn logs for houses, the Klamaths -rehearsed the Link-river speeches to them,--taunting them with being poor, -and claiming the country, though patronizingly saying, "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 by -the Modocs of the treaty and subsequent peace-making, the Klamaths -replied: "Yes, we know all that." "You can have timber, grass, and fish; -but don't forget they are ours." "We will let you stay." "It is all -right." Captain Jack went a _third_ time to Agent Knapp, who proposed to -_move them_ again, remarking that "next time he would _stay moved_," he -proposing to Jack to find a new location. - -Jack went to search for one; but whether he could not find a location, or -whether the constant annoyance on account of quarrels and removals had -killed his faith both in agents and Indian friendship, makes no -difference. He returned to his camp on Williamson river, called his people -together, and laid the whole matter before them. - -I have a report of that meeting by "Charley," a brother of Toby -Riddle,--an Indian who commands the respect of all who know him -personally. Although this report was made several months afterwards, I -believe it to be in the main correct. The substance was, that after all -were assembled, including the women and children and Link-river people, -Captain Jack stated the case, mentioning the several points as already -recited, and saying that he had looked at all the country, but did not -find any that he liked as well as Modoc Point, and that he had made up his -mind to leave the Reservation unless he could have that place for a house. - -Blo, a sub-chief of the Klamaths, said, "Tell Knapp so." Jack replied that -he _had talked_ to Knapp already three times; and that Knapp had _no -heart_ for him; and that he was afraid he was a bad man; that "he would -not keep the superintendent's words;" "that he intended to leave the -Reservation," and asked, "Who will go with me? Who wants to stay with a -man who has no heart for us?" - -Then ensued a protracted discussion, Charley Riddle and Duffy insisting on -remaining. The discussion was a stormy one, and continued until a late -hour; but in all the speeches no charge of starving or cheating was made. - -Finally the question went to a vote, and the proposition to leave was -carried by a large majority. It may be here remarked that neither of the -Schonchins was present, Schonchin John being at that time loyal, and -opposed to the rebellion; and that is about the only thing that can be -mentioned in his favor, except that he was a _poor shot_, as _I can -testify_. - -As soon as the vote was put and result known, active preparation was made -for departure; in fact, the result had been anticipated, for the horses -were all ready, the goods packed, and daylight next morning found Jack and -his people retracing the road they had gone over so hopefully eleven weeks -before. - -I will not spend time speculating on what were the thoughts and feelings -of that unfortunate band of people, while fleeing stealthily from their -new homes, but will simply say, that the little cavalcade carried with -them elements that have developed into hatred and revenge, which has since -shocked the moral sense of mankind by bloody deeds of savage warfare that -stand out on the country's history without a parallel. - -Returning to the old home on Lost river, and feeling that he was not under -obligations to obey law any longer, Captain Jack seems to have begun where -he left off; his young men and women visiting Y-re-ka and the mining -camps adjacent. - -A few weeks later Jack went to Y-re-ka himself, meeting his old friends, -who gave him welcome. The Modoc trade may have had something to do with -the success of more than one merchant in Y-re-ka. The presence of the -Modocs was hailed with pleasure, no doubt, by another class whose social -status in society was little better than the Modocs themselves. To these -people the Modocs told falsehoods about reservation life, and received in -return sympathy for their reputed wrongs, and encouragement in repeating -the falsehoods. In this way the belief that they were misused by -Government officials has obtained; an unjust censure has been publicly -aimed against worthy men. What more natural than the fact that the -dissolute portion of the Y-re-ka people should espouse the Modoc cause, -and that the better part of society should form their opinions from -stories circulated by friends of Modoc women? - -Mankind are prone to be swayed in the direction of self-interest, and, -when encouraged, any poor mortal may tell a falsehood so often that he -really believes it to be true. That Jack, too, confirmed such reports is -true, because in the sympathy he found were mingled words of -justification. Indeed, a plain, truthful statement of the facts, as they -were, was enough to insure him sympathetic advisers. - -It is true, then, when Captain Jack returned to Lost river, he was -strengthened and confirmed in his ideas of justification, and his -determination to remain off the Reservation. - -Nothing of grave import transpired until the spring of 1871, although -efforts were made in the mean time by the Indian Department, and by old -chief Schonchin, to induce Captain Jack to return. - -A home at Yai-nax was proposed, and in order that no reasonable excuse on -the part of Captain Jack could be found on account of Klamath Indians, and -to remove every obstacle, the Reservation was divided into distinct -agencies; the western portion being assigned to "Klamath" Indians, and the -eastern portion to "Snakes," "Walpahpas," and "Modocs." A district of -country was set apart exclusively for the latter. To this new home old -Schonchin removed with his people; and a portion of Captain Jack's band, -meanwhile, also, taking up homes. Commissary Applegate, at one time, was -hopeful that the whole Modoc tribe could be induced to come to the new -home at Yai-nax. Captain Jack visited it, and talked seriously of settling -on this location; but while he was hesitating as to what he should do, an -unfortunate tragedy was enacted, so natural to a savage state, which -completely changed the current of events. - -Captain Jack employed an Indian doctor to attend a sick child, and paid -the fees in advance,--which, be it understood, secured from the doctor a -guaranty; and in case of failure to cure, the life of the Indian doctor -was in the hands of the friends of the deceased. The child died, and -Captain Jack either killed the doctor, or ordered him to be killed. - -Under the old Indian laws this would have been an end of the affair; but -under the new order of things it was a crime. The friends of the murdered -man claimed that Captain Jack should be arrested and punished under white -men's laws for the offence. - -An unsuccessful attempt was made to arrest him. The country was in a state -of alarm; it was evident that war would be the result. - -Knowing all the facts in the case, I determined to make one more effort to -prevent bloodshed. Capt. Knapp had been relieved by an order of the Army -Department, and I was instructed by the Indian Department to place a man -in charge. Accordingly, John Meacham was sent by me to take Capt. Knapp's -place. About this time I received a letter from Hon. Jesse Applegate, in -regard to Modoc matters. His long experience as a frontier man gave his -opinion weight. He represented the Modocs with whom he had met, as willing -to meet me in council for the purpose of settling the difficulties then -existing. He further suggested, that the only sure way for permanent peace -was to give them a small Reservation at the mouth of Lost river,--the old -home of Captain Jack. He, being a practical surveyor, furnished my office -with a small map of the proposed Reservation. - -Realizing how much depended then on conciliatory measures, and having -confidence in Jesse Applegate's judgment, I forwarded his letter to Gen. -Canby, commander of the Department of the Columbia, with a request that -military action be delayed until another effort could be made to settle -the difficulties then existing between Captain Jack's band of Modocs and -the Reservation Indians. - -Gen. Canby issued the orders desired, and the command to make the arrest -was revoked. - -The following letter of Instruction to Commissary Meacham will explain the -situation. I associated with him on this mission, Ivan D. Applegate, who -was then in charge of Yai-nax station, Klamath Reservation. I also -requested Hon. Jesse Applegate to go with them. He did not find it -convenient, however, and the Commissioners named proceeded under the -following letter of instruction, Ivan Applegate being notified of his -appointment from my office in Salem. - - OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT INDIAN AFFAIRS, - SALEM, OREGON, August 2, 1871. - - JOHN MEACHAM, _Commissary, Klamath Agency_:-- - - I wish you to proceed at once to the Modoc country, and make one - more effort for peace. I am induced to make this request on - reading a long and intelligent letter from Hon. Jesse. - Applegate, who has had a talk with Captain Jack and Black Jim. - - It appears that they are anxious to see me, and that they are - willing to talk this matter over, and if possible avoid - bloodshed. It is impossible for me to go at present, on account - of "Umatilla Council." - - You can say to them that you represent _me_,--my _heart_, my - _wishes_, my _words_; and that I have authorized you to talk for - me. - - You are familiar with all the facts in the case, and do not need - especial instructions, except on one or two points: First, that - I will try to get a small reserve for them in their country; but - it will require some time to bring it about, and until such time - I desire them to go on to any unoccupied lands on Klamath - Reservation; that I will lay the whole matter before the - department at Washington, and put it through, if possible; that - you will protect them from insult or imposition from either - Klamaths, Snakes, or whites, until such time as the authorities - shall order otherwise. - - I mean by this that Captain Jack and men shall be free from - arrest until I am ordered to investigate the affair, and that he - shall, if ever arrested, have the benefit of trial by his peers - or white men, under civil law; on the condition, however, that - he and his people return to Klamath, and remain there, subject - to the authority of the Indian Department; that, if ordered to - trial, he will surrender himself and accomplices. - - You can say to him that, in the event I succeed in getting a - home for them on Lost river, they will be allowed their - proportion of the Klamath and Modoc treaty funds, with the - privilege of the mill at Klamath Agency to make lumber, etc.; - that, if I fail in this, they may elect to go into the Snake - country beyond Camp Warner, on the new Reservation to be laid - out there this fall. - - You can say further that, while I do not approve of their - conduct, I am not unmindful of their bad treatment by Captain - Knapp and the Klamaths, and that I do not wish to have them - destroyed; but, if they refuse to accept these terms, they will - be under military control and subject to military laws and - commands. - - You will confer with I. D. Applegate, and also with the - commander at Fort Klamath. I will request General Canby to delay - any order now out for the arrest of Jack until you have made - this effort to prevent war. - - I have requested I. D. Applegate to accompany you, and advise - with you, but this you will understand,--that _you_ are charged - with the mission. I think going as my _brother_ may give you - more influence. - - The Modocs can appreciate that, inasmuch as the Superintendent - could not come, he sent his _brother_. - - I have confidence in your coolness and sense of justice, and, - with I. D. Applegate as counsellor, I hope you may bring this - unhappy trouble (so heavy laden with death to many persons) to a - peaceful solution. - - Do not take more than two or three persons with you, and, - whatever the result of "the talk," you will be _faithful_ and - _true_ to _yourself_ and the _Indians_. Mr. Jesse Applegate is - somewhere out in that country. He is a _safe adviser_. I have no - doubt he will assist you in this hazardous undertaking. You will - report the result of this visit to this office promptly. - - In the event that the military commander at Fort Klamath may - have already gone after Jack and opened hostilities, I do not - wish you to take any desperate chances. - - This matter I leave to the circumstances that may exist on - receipt of this letter. I see clearly, from Jesse Applegate's - letter, that hostilities are imminent, and that many good men - may lose life and property unless the threatened hostilities are - prevented. - - I have never seen the time when we could have done otherwise - than as we have; but I fully realize that we may be held - responsible by the citizens of that country, who do not - understand the power and duties of the Indian Department. - - Go on this mission realizing that you carry in your hand the - lives and happiness of many persons, and the salvation of a - tribe of people who have been much wronged, and seldom, if ever, - understood. - - Very respectfully, - Your obedient servant, - A. B. MEACHAM, - _Supt. Ind. Affairs_. - -Under the foregoing letter of instructions the commissioners appointed -went into the Modoc country, having previously arranged, through Indian -messengers, to meet Captain Jack and five or six of his men. No agreement -was made in reference to arms, each party following the dictates of common -sense,--by being ready for _peace_, but prepared for _war_. The -commissioners took with them two persons, making up a party of four -well-armed men. It is humane and Christian to carry always the -olive-branch of peace, but it is unwise to depend on its sanctity for -protection when dealing with enraged savages. Well for Commissioner -Meacham and I. D. Applegate that they had forethought enough to go -prepared to defend themselves; for, had they not, the list of killed in -the Modoc war would have read somewhat different from its present roll of -names. There is no doubt that at the time these two young men went out to -meet these people, "Schonchin John," "Hooker Jim," and "Curly-haired -Doctor" were in favor of assassinating them, and were only prevented by -Captain Jack and Scarface Charley. The information comes through Indian -lips, but I believe it to be true. - -I desire the reader to note that this was the second time assassination -was proposed by these people, and each time frustrated by Captain Jack; -and, further, that I was subsequently informed each time of their intended -acts of treachery by Tobey Riddle, through her husband. - -The council was held in a wild, desolate region of country, many miles -from the nearest white settlement. Captain Jack and nearly all his men -were present, and _all armed_. - -It should be understood that at that time, as afterward in the Lava Bed, -the Modocs were suspicious of Captain Jack's firmness in carrying out the -wishes of his people. This feeling was augmented by Schon-chin John, who -was ambitious for the chieftainship, and constantly sought to implant -distrust of Jack's fidelity in the minds of the Modocs. This accounts for -more than the number agreed upon in this, and, in fact, in all subsequent -meetings. Jack, nevertheless, was the acknowledged chief, but not on the -old basis of theory of absolute power; he was only a representative chief. -That he had not absolute control over them was owing to his own act of -teaching them the republican idea of a majority ruling; or it may be that -the band had demanded this concession on his part. - -Nearly all of them had associated with white men, and had thereby acquired -crude ideas of American political economy. - -It was in this case of the Modocs a _curse_, instead of a _blessing_. Had -Jack exercised the old despotic prerogative of Indian chiefs, no war would -have ensued, no great acts of treachery would ever have been committed. He -could and would have buried in the grave, with other wrongs, the "Ben -Wright" affair; and while he would have clamored for liberty, in its -common-sense meaning, he would have held his people in check until such -times as our Government would have recognized his manhood and granted him -the priceless boon of a citizen's privileges. - -Captain Jack came into this council simply as a diplomatic representative -chief, and was not at liberty to do or say more than he was authorized by -the Indians in council. He set forth the grievances of his people,--which -were principally against the Klamath Indians, on account of the treatment -he had received while on the Reservation; and against the Government, for -not protecting him according to my promise made to him in December, -1869,--arguing that, since the Government failed to keep its compact, he -was released from his obligation to obey its laws; further, that the crime -of which he was charged--killing the Indian doctor--was not a crime under -the Indian laws, and that he should not be held amenable to a law that was -not _his law_. He declared that he could not live in peace with the -Klamaths; that his people had made up their minds to try no more, since -they had made two attempts. - -He said he "should not object to the white men settling in his country," -and that he "would keep his people away from the settlements, and would -prevent any trouble between white men and his Indians." - -The commissioners again offered him a home on any part of Klamath -Reservation that was unoccupied. This he positively declined. He was -assured of protection, but he referred to former promises broken. A -proposition was made, for him to prevent his people going into the -settlement until the whole subject could be submitted to the authorities -at Washington, and that a recommendation would be made to grant him a -small home at the mouth of Lost river. A rude map was made, showing the -proposed Reservation. With this he was satisfied, and made promises of -keeping his people away until such time as an answer could be had. - -The proposition was fully explained, and he was made to understand the -uncertainties as to when a decision would be made in this matter; he -agreeing that, if the decision was adverse to granting the new home on -Lost river, his people would go on to Klamath, at Yai-nax. - -With this agreement, well understood, the council closed, and the two -commissioners reported substantially as detailed. They escaped with their -lives because they were prepared to defend them. - -Hostilities were averted for the time being, and would have been for all -time had prudence and justice been exercised by those who held the power -to do this simple act. - -Ignorance of the true state of the case cannot be pleaded; the whole -matter was laid by me before the authorities at Washington, and the -recommendation made in conformity with the promise to the Modocs. - -In my official report for 1871 (see Report Commission Indian Affairs, -pages 305 and 306) I used the following language:-- - -"The Modocs belong by treaty to Klamath Agency, and have been located -thereon; but, owing to the overbearing disposition of the Klamath Indians, -they refuse to remain. - -"Unavailing efforts have been made to induce them to return; but they -persist in occupying their original homes, and, in fact, set up claim -thereto. During the past summer they have been a source of annoyance and -alarm to the white settlers, and at one time hostilities appeared -imminent. - -"The military commander at Fort Klamath made an unsuccessful effort to -arrest a few of the head men. Two commissioners were sent from the Indian -Department, and a temporary arrangement made whereby hostilities were -averted. The Modocs cannot be made to live on Klamath Reservation, on -account of the ancient feuds with the Klamaths. They are willing to locate -permanently on a small reservation of six miles square, lying on both -sides of the Oregon and California line, near the head of the Tule lake. -In equity they are entitled to a portion of the Klamath and Modoc annuity -funds, and need not necessarily be a burden to the Government; but, -according to the ruling of Commissioner Parker, they have forfeited these -rights. I would recommend that they be allowed a small reservation at the -place indicated above, and also a pro-rata division of the Klamath and -Modoc treaty funds for employés and annuities; otherwise they will -doubtless be a source of constant expense to the Government, and great -annoyance to the white settlements near them. Though they may be somewhat -responsible for not complying with the treaty, yet, to those familiar with -Indian superstition, it is not strange or unreasonable that great charity -should be extended to these people." - -Gen. Canby was also informed in regard to the arrangement made by the -commissioners; the order for their arrest was entirely withdrawn. - -Thus matters were in abeyance until the spring of 1872. The Modocs, -however, growing restless and impatient for a decision, began to annoy the -white settlers in the Lost-river country, doing various acts that were not -in harmony with the compact made with the commissioners in August -preceding. The white men, unwilling to endure the insolence of the Modocs, -petitioned for redress. These petitions were addressed to the Indian -Department, and to the Military Department, also to the civil authorities -of the State of Oregon. They recited the acts of which the Modocs were -accused, some of which were, "that they demanded rents for the lands -occupied by white men; claiming pay for the use of the stock ranches; -demanding horses and cattle; visiting the houses of settlers, and, in the -absence of the husbands, ordering the wives to prepare meals for them, -meanwhile throwing themselves on the beds and carpets, and refusing to pay -for the meals when eaten; feeding their horses with the grain of the -settlers, and, in some instances, _borrowing_ horses without asking the -owners." - -To the credit of Captain Jack be it told that _he_ was never charged with -any of these outrageous acts; but he was powerless to prevent his men from -annoying these people who had settled the country at the invitation of the -Government. - -This state of affairs could lead to but _one result_,--blood. The -petitions could not be disregarded. Action must be had, and that without -delay. General Canby was appealed to; having rescinded the order for the -arrest of Captain Jack the previous summer, he was slow to issue another -looking to the same end. He believed, as I did, that any attempt to compel -the Modocs to return to Klamath would endanger the peace of the country. -Captain Jack had failed to keep his part of the late contract, and had -thereby forfeited any claim to further clemency. - - - - - CHAPTER XXII. - - U. S. SENATORS COST BLOOD--FAIR FIGHT--OPEN FIELD. - - -While matters were thus in suspense a change was made in the office of -Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon, T. B. Odeneal, Esq., of -Oregon, succeeding to the Superintendency. He was a lawyer of ability, but -had a limited knowledge of Indian character, and still less of the merits -and demerits of this Modoc question. - -When appealed to he laid the matter before his superior in office at -Washington City, who was also a new incumbent, and had perhaps a slight -knowledge of the Modoc troubles. - -In a letter, dated April 11th, 1872, he instructed Superintendent Odeneal -to remove the Modocs to Klamath Reservation, _or locate them on a new -home_. In reply, Odeneal suggested that, since Klamath was the home set -apart for them in common with other Indians, it was the proper place for -them, and suggested they be removed thereto. In compliance with this -recommendation, he was instructed, in a letter of September 6th, 1872, to -remove the Modocs to the Klamath Reservation; _peaceably_ if you can, -_forcibly_ if you must. - -Meanwhile the Modocs were kept posted by the white men, who sympathized -with them, of the proposed movements. - -Captain Jack and his men sought advice of Judges Roseborough and Steele, -of Y-re-ka. Both these gentlemen advised them not to resist the authority -of the Government, but also promised, as _attorneys_, to assist them in -getting lands, provided they would dissolve tribal relations. I have -sought diligently, as a commissioner, for information on this subject, and -conclude that nothing further was ever promised by either Roseborough or -Steele. The hope thus begotten may have caused the Modocs to treat with -less respect the officers of the Government, and made them more insolent -toward settlers; but nothing of wilful intent can be charged to Steele or -Roseborough. - -It is in evidence that Superintendent Odeneal despatched messengers to the -Modoc camp on Lost river, November 26th, 1872, to order Captain Jack and -his people to go on to the Reservation, with instruction to the messengers -that, in the event of the refusal of the Modocs to comply, to arrange for -them to meet him (Odeneal) at Linkville, twenty-five miles from the Modoc -camp. - -They refused compliance with the order, and also refused to meet -Superintendent Odeneal at Link river, saying substantially "that they did -not want to see him or talk with him; that they did not want any white man -to tell them what to do; that their friends and advisers were in Y-re-ka, -Cal. They tell us to stay here, and we intend to do it, and will not go on -the Reservation (meaning Klamath); that they were tired of talk, and were -done talking." If credit were given to these declarations, it would appear -that some parties at Y-re-ka were culpable. Careful investigation -discloses nothing more than already recited, so far as Roseborough and -Steele were concerned, but would seem to implicate one or two other -parties, both of whom are now deceased; but even then no evidence has been -brought forth declaring more than sympathy for the Modocs, which might -easily be accounted for on the ground of personal interest, dictating -friendship toward them as the best safeguard for life and property; but -nothing that could be construed as advising resistance to legal authority; -and their statement in regard to advisers in Y-re-ka should not be -entitled to more credit than Captain Jack's subsequent assertion that "no -white man had ever advised him to stay off the Reservation." This latter -declaration was made during the late trials at Klamath by the "military -commission," at a time when the first proposition made to Superintendent -Odeneal's messengers in regard to Y-re-ka advices would have secured the -Modocs then on trial some consideration. - -The only thing said or done by any parties in Y-re-ka that has come well -authenticated, that could have had any influence with the Modocs in their -replies to Odeneal's message, is the proposition above referred to as -coming from Roseborough and Steele, to assist them as _attorneys_ to -secure homes _when_ they should have abandoned tribal relations, paid -taxes, and made application to become citizens. The high character both -these gentlemen possess for loyalty to the Government, and for integrity, -would preclude the idea that any wrong was intended. - -On receiving Captain Jack's insolent reply to his message, Superintendent -Odeneal made application to the military commander at Fort Klamath for a -force to "compel said Indians (Modocs) to go upon the Klamath -Reservation;" reciting the following words from the honorable Commissioner -of Indian Affairs: "You are hereby directed to remove the Modoc Indians to -Klamath Reservation; _peaceably_ if you possibly can, but _forcibly_ if -you must," and saying: "I transfer the whole matter to your department -without assuming to dictate the course you shall pursue in executing the -order aforesaid; trusting, however, that you may accomplish the object -desired without the shedding of blood, if possible to avoid it." - -He received the following reply:-- - - HEAD-QUARTERS, FORT KLAMATH, November 28th, 1872. - - SIR:--In compliance with your written request of yesterday, I - will state that Captain Jackson will leave this post about noon - to-day, with about thirty men; will be at Link river to-night, - and I hope before morning at Captain Jack's camp. - - I am, sir, very respectfully, - Your obedient servant, - JOHN GREEN, - _Major First Cavalry Commanding Post_. - - MR. T. B. ODENEAL, _Superintendent Indian Affairs_. - -These movements were intended to be made without the knowledge of the -Modocs. Superintendent Odeneal sent messengers to warn the settlers of the -proposed _forcible experiment_. Complaint has justly been made that there -were several parties unwarned. - -The Modocs had one especial friend in whom they relied for advice and -warning. This man's name was Miller. - -They called on him the day previous to Major Jackson's appearance at the -Modoc camp, and he, being ignorant of the movement told them, that "no -soldiers were coming." Some twelve settlers were unwarned, who lost their -lives thereby. - -Neglect on the part of those having the management of this matter resulted -in much blood. - -When Major Jackson was en route to the Modoc camp, some twenty-five white -men from Linkville and the surrounding country assembled and proposed to -accompany the expedition. - -It has been said that they went for the purpose of "seeing Major Jackson -and his thirty-five men get licked." At all events they were armed with -Henry rifles and revolvers. - -Frontier men are fond of sport, and the more it is embellished with danger -the more captivating it is to _them_. I do not say this with disrespect to -frontier men, but simply state a fact that is not generally understood. - -While it is true that they _play_ with dangerous weapons as carelessly as -a city dandy does with a switch cane or ivory opera-glass, they are, -nevertheless, as a class, true, honest, enterprising, great brave-hearted -men, who would scorn to do a mean thing. - -They have among them men who are irresponsible vagabonds, reckless fellows -who are driven from the cities and towns on account of their crimes. These -latter characters beget strife among the people, and when truth comes to -the front and speaks out, it declares that they are the _sole_ cause of -any difficulty between good white men and Indians. They are the first to -volunteer on occasions like this. As a class they are brave, fearless, -desperate, having little regard for human life, caring not how much bad -blood they evoke. But the idea that seems to prevail with eastern people, -that all frontier men are rough, bad men, is outrageously false in the -premises. Better men, braver men, more honorable, more enterprising men -cannot be found on this continent than thousands who ride on the swelling -breakers of advancing emigration. A moment's consultation with _justice_ -and _right_ would compel the law-makers, book-writers and newspaper -reporters, instead of constant, sweeping insinuations against frontier -men, to say encouraging words in their behalf, and to offer them every -facility to successfully plant the foundations of prosperous society on -the verges of American civilization. Honor to whom honor is due. - -The party of citizens who went down Lost river on the morning of the 27th -of November, 1872, were, _with one or two exceptions_, good, responsible -settlers. Their motives were honorable, their intentions were good; and if -serious results came out of the fact of their presence it was not because -they as a party were "bloodthirsty desperadoes." - -They went on the opposite side of the river, and took a commanding -position on a bluff overlooking the Modoc camp; which was located on the -very spot where my party met Captain Jack in 1869. - -The Modoc camp was divided by the river, Captain Jack, and fourteen men -with their families, occupying the west bank, where the plain slopes -gradually down to the water's edge; the background being covered with a -growth of sage brush. - -With Captain Jack was "_Schonchin John_," so named from being a younger -brother of the "Old chief Schonges;" "_Scar-face Charley_," so named on -account of a scar on his face; "_Black Jim_," so named on account of his -dark color; "_One-eyed Mose_," so called on account of defect in one eye; -"_Watchman_," who was killed in the first battle; "_Humpty Joe_," "_Big -Ike_," "_Old Tails_," "_Old Tails' boy_," "_Old Long-face_," and four -others. - -On the east side of the river was the "_Curly-haired Doctor_;" "_Boston -Charley_," named on account of his light color; "_Hooker Jim_" had lived -with old man Hooker; "_Slolax_," and ten others, with their families. - -Major Jackson, with his force, arrived at Jack's camp at about daybreak on -the morning of the 30th November, 1872. At the same time the citizen party -arrived opposite and near the camp of the Curly-haired Doctor. - -The Modocs were taken by surprise,--although they had reason to expect the -soldiers would come within a few days. - -They have since asserted that Odeneal's messengers had agreed to come -again before bringing soldiers; and, if possible, bring Supt. Odeneal with -them. - -It was a mistake that he did not go in person,--either with the messengers -in the first instance or after their return to Linkville. - -He might not have accomplished any good, but he would have prevented -severe criticism, and much blame that was laid at his door; inasmuch as -Jack subsequently asserted "that he would not have resisted, had Odeneal -come himself to him and made everything plain." Again, they had relied on -Miller for warning; hence his death. - -When Maj. Jackson arrived at the camp, and while he was placing his men in -position, an Indian, who was out hunting, made the discovery of Jackson's -presence, and either accidentally, or purposely, discharged his gun. This -called the Indians to their feet, and they instantly grasped their arms on -seeing themselves so nearly surrounded by soldiers. - -Maj. Jackson quietly commanded the Modocs to lay down their arms. Captain -Jack complied, and told his men to obey the order of Maj. Jackson. - -A parley ensued of half an hour, Captain Jack pleading for Jackson to -withdraw his men, while the major was explaining his order, and assuring -the Modocs that ample preparation had been made for them at Yai-nax. The -whole affair seemed to be settled satisfactorily, and I. D. Applegate, who -was with Maj. Jackson, went down to the banks of the river and told -_One-armed Brown_, the regular messenger of the Indian Department, who was -with the citizen party on the east side, that "everything was settled." -Brown mounted his horse, and started to make known the good news to Supt. -Odeneal, who was awaiting the result at Linkville. - -All the Modocs on the west side of the river had laid down their arms, -except Scar-face Charley, who was swearing and making threats. Maj. -Jackson commanded him, "Put down your gun." Scar-face refused; the major -ordered Lieut. Boutelle to disarm him,--who, on advancing to execute the -order, repeated it in emphatic words, not in harmony with savage notions -of decorum and decency. "Scarface" was enraged at the vile epithets -applied to him, and perhaps remembered just then that he had once seen, -from a chapparel thicket, a sight that had haunted him from his childhood, -namely, nothing less than armed white men chasing _his father_ with a -_lasso_ and catching him. He saw them hang him without a trial, or even -any proof that he was guilty of any crime. At all events, he drew his -pistol, and, saying that he "would kill one white man," discharged it at -the advancing officer; but so nearly simultaneous with Boutelle's pistol, -that even the latter does not know who fired first. This was the opening -gun of the Modoc war; the beginning of what ended on the gallows on the -third of November, 1873. - -Without stopping now to call up the intervening pictures, let us see how -the battle went. Very soon the entire force of soldiers was firing into -the Indian camps, and the fourteen Indian men were fighting back with -muzzle-loading rifles. - -The battle lasted three hours; the Indians, having taken cover of the sage -brush, finally withdrew, carrying with them the watchman who was killed, -and escaping with all their women and children. - -Maj. Jackson lost ten killed and five wounded; and on the reappearance of -the Indians, a few hours later, drew off his forces, leaving the Modocs in -possession of the battle-field. - -While all this was enacting on the west bank of Lost river, let us see how -the boys who went down to "take a look" got along as spectators. Mr. -Brown, hearing the report of arms, returned just in time to take an -active part in a performance that was not in the programme of fun as laid -out in the early morning. - -The citizens and Modocs on the east side could not stand the -pressure,--looking on and seeing a fair fight, within a couple of hundred -yards, without taking a part. The Modocs caught up their guns and rushed -down to the river, intending to reinforce Captain Jack. The citizens -sought to prevent them getting into their canoes; and, _somehow_, they -became very much interested in matters nearer home than Maj. Jackson's -fight. - -Who began the battle on the east side is a question of doubt,--both -parties denying it; but a lively fight was the result, and the citizens -drew off, leaving _three_ or _four dead friends_ on the ground -and--and--_one dead squaw_, with an infant corpse in her arms. - -It is not in evidence who was victor, but there is the record. The major -dispatched a messenger for reinforcements, who run the gauntlet of Indian -bullets, and barely escaped. - -From Indian lips I learn that in the first battle of which I have spoken, -Captain Jack did not fire a shot himself, though he directed the fight. - -On the occasion of the messenger being sent off by Maj. Jackson, Captain -Jack, who was secreted in the sage brush, ran after him and fired one or -two shots. - -Let us look now to the Modocs with Captain Jack. They did not go on the -warpath, but hastened to gather up their women and horses, and retired to -the Lava Bed. - -Scarface Charley remained behind, for a purpose that can scarcely be -credited. Those who doubt any real genuine manhood among Indians may -wonder when I declare that he remained to warn white men of the danger -threatening them. In two instances he saw white men, who were his personal -friends, going, as he knew, into certain death. In both instances he laid -hold of the bridle-reins of the riders' horses and turned them around, -and, pointing to the road whence they came, bade them "ride for life." - -They lost no time in heeding the warning given, and also in notifying the -settlers en route of the existence of open hostilities. - -By this means John A. Fairchild was notified of the dangers that -surrounded him and his family. - -Mr. Fairchild's name has become intimately connected with the Modoc war; -indeed, he played some of the thrilling parts of this tragic drama. He is -a man of forty years of age, a native of Mississippi; went West when a -boy, and engaged in mining. In the course of time he became a large -stock-raiser, and went, ten years ago, with his herds of cattle and -horses, into the Modoc country. - -_He_ soon learned a lesson that our Government has _not_, viz., that it is -cheaper to _feed_ Indians than to _fight_ them. Soon after his arrival he -arranged a treaty with the Modocs, paying them a small compensation for -the use of the country for stock uses. During the time, he has made the -personal acquaintance of nearly every Indian of Captain Jack's band. - -His home is situated on Hot Creek, near its rise at the foot of the -mountains that divide the Modoc from the Shasta country. - -It will be remembered that the head-quarters of the Peace Commission was -at Fairchild's ranch during the first days of its organization. This was -also the original home of a part of Jack's band. - -At the beginning of the late Modoc war some fourteen warriors and their -families were living near Mr. Fairchild's house; by his management of them -they were prevented from joining Captain Jack for several days. He, -together with Mr. Press Dorris, who lives near him, and is also a -stock-raiser, called together these fourteen men, including "Bogus -Charley" (who gets his name from his birthplace on Bogus creek), -"Shacknasty Jim" (so named from his mother), "Steamboat Frank" (so called -in honor of his squaw, whose name was Steamboat, because of her great size -and her habit of puffing and blowing like the aforesaid vessel), Ellen's -man George, and ten others,--who all distinguished themselves in the -war,--and started with them and their families to Klamath Reservation. -They notified Agent Dyer, of Klamath, of their coming, and requested him -to meet them and take charge of the Indians. - -Dyer responded, and, hastening to meet them on Klamath river, passed -through Linkville en route. While there he heard intimations of the danger -of passing through the town with the above-named Modocs. - -The news of the battle had reached Linkville, and the people were aroused -to madness at the sight of the mangled bodies of the soldiers and citizens -that had been brought in. It is not strange that such sights should call -out a demand for vengeance; that the citizens, feeling outraged, should -make threats. - -It is certain that a party left Linkville before Agent Dyer arrived, and -went in the direction of Bob Whittle's, where Fairchild and Dorris were -guarding the Hot Creek Modocs, now so anxious to reach the Reservation -that they might escape any kind of entanglement with the rebels. - -The party found Fairchild and Dorris fully prepared to protect those under -their charge, and no attack was made, whatever may have been the first -intention. On Mr. Dyer's arrival at this time, he stated his fears to -Fairchild and Dorris, which the Indians overhearing, _stampeded_, and went -directly to the Lava Beds, thus adding fourteen warriors to Captain Jack's -forces. All of them were brave men, and bad men, too, as the sequel will -show. The fright they had received at Bob Whittle's appears to have made -them even more anxious for war than those who had been engaged in the -Lost-river battle, on the 30th of November, 1872. - -Indian proof is abundant that Captain Jack, in anticipation of the coming -of the soldiers, had advised his men to surrender rather than fight; but, -even if forced to resist, in no event to attack citizens, saying, "If we -must, we will fight soldiers, not white men," meaning citizens. - -It is a fact that, so far as he was concerned, he sought to avoid -conflict. The Curly-haired Doctor was eager for blood--or, at all events, -he was rebellious, and constantly advised resistance to the authority of -the Government. - -His interference in the council of December, 1869, referred to in a former -chapter, and his sanction to the proposition to murder our party at that -time, and the subsequent proposal to assassinate the Commissioners sent -out in August, 1871, to arrange matters with them, all stand against him -previous to the opening of the war. - -But to return to the battle of Lost river. After a sharp fight, the -citizens having withdrawn to Dennis Crawley's house, the Modoc braves -assembled, and, through the advice of Hooker Jim, the Curly-haired Doctor, -with Steamboat Frank and three or four others, started on a mission of -vengeance. - -The acts of savage butchery committed by them are well known to the -world,--how they went to Mr. Boddy's house with their garments covered -with the life-blood of their victims, and, taunting the women, boasted of -their heroism, saying, "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 -hurt you." - -Thus from house to house they went, after killing the husbands and -fathers, until they had slaughtered thirteen persons,--Brotherton, -Schiere, Miller, and others, including one small boy, who resisted them. - -The reign of terror was complete. Who shall ever find words to describe -the horror of the night following this treacherous butchery? The women -left their homes to hunt for their murdered friends. In one instance, the -presence of a team without a driver gave the awful tidings. - -Leaving their dead, through the long dark night that followed, they made -their way through the trackless sage-brush plains to the nearest -settlement. With these people the Modocs had been on friendly terms, and -had never had any misunderstandings with the Indians. On the contrary, -they had shown by many acts of kindness their _good will_. They were -personally acquainted with the men who composed the murderous gang. This -was especially the case with Mr. Miller; he had been their steadfast -friend for years, and had furnished them provisions and ammunition but a -few days previously, and had further interested himself in their behalf, -in conjunction with Esquire Steele of Y-re-ka, in securing to them the -right to take up lands in common with other people. - -The murder of Miller seems the more inhuman when it is remembered that he -was killed by Hooker Jim. The latter declares that he did not know that he -was shooting at Miller. Otherwise he would not have committed the -treacherous deed. Miller had been on especial good terms with this -_desperado_. - -With my knowledge of Indian character, I am of the opinion that Hooker Jim -designedly killed Mr. Miller, because he believed that the latter had -purposely withheld from the Modocs the movement of Major Jackson. - -Loaded with plunder, and mounted on the horses they had captured, these -bloodthirsty savages made their way around the east side of Tule lake; -meeting Captain Jack and his warriors in the Lava Bed. I am indebted to -the Modocs themselves for many items of importance in this connection. I -give them for what they are worth, with the authority announced. Some of -them are doubtless correct, according to the authority quoted. - -On the arrival in the Lava Bed, Captain Jack denounced the murderers for -their bloody work, and particularly for the killing of Mr. Miller; he then -declared that the men who committed this outrageous crime should be -surrendered to the white men for trial; that a great mistake had been -made; and that unless these men were given up, the whole band would be -lost. The councils held were noisy and turbulent, threatening strife and -bloodshed. While this matter was under discussion, the Hot-Creek Indians, -who had stampeded from Whittle's Ferry, while they were en route to -Klamath Agency, arrived in the Lava Bed, adding fourteen braves to the -little band of desperadoes. The Hot-Creek Modocs, having become -demoralized by the threats they had overheard made against them, and being -influenced by the Curly-haired Doctor's promise of making medicine to -protect them, were ready to espouse the cause of the murderers. The whole -number of braves at this time was fifty-three, including the chief -himself. Thus, when the discussion was ended and the question was -submitted to a vote, a large majority was opposed to the surrender of the -Lost-river murderers. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII. - - MOURNING EMBLEMS AND MILITARY POMP. - - -Leaving the Modocs to wrangle over their troubles, suppose we listen now -to the wails of anguish and grief that burdened the air of the Lost-river -country, and especially at Linkville, when the mutilated bodies of the -slain citizens were brought in for interment. - -When the news of the Lost-river battle had spread over the -sparsely-settled country, a feeling of terror pervaded the hearts of the -people; but when, on the following morning, the grief-stricken, -heart-broken Mrs. Boddy, Mrs. Schiere and Mrs. Brotherton, arrived at -Linkville, after a long night of horrors, the excitement became intense. -Armed parties, taking with them wagons, repaired to the scene of this -awful tragedy. - -Let those whose lives are spent where they are protected by the strong arm -of law, go with me for a day, while we hunt up the victims of this -wholesale murder. - -Perhaps, if we are honest, and our hearts are open to conviction of truth, -and we are actuated by the impulses of Christian sympathy, we may suspend -our charitable emotions for the "noble red man," by the time we hear the -dull thud of the clods at Linkville cemetery mingle with the sobs and -shrieks of the widows and orphans. - -From one who was with a party who went out on this sorrowful mission, I -learned something of the scenes that met them. - -On arriving at the grove of timber where Brotherton was killed, they found -his body lying stark and cold, with his glassy eyes wide open. He had been -pierced by four Modoc bullets. Near him was found his axe, with the handle -painted with his own blood. Then another was found on a wagon, lying -across the coupling poles, with his face downwards. He, too, was stripped -of his clothing. - -Another was found a few rods from his work, with his bowels beside him, -and his heart taken from his body, and hacked to pieces. This was the work -of Hooker Jim. - -Thus the party went on from one to another, until thirteen bodies were -found. Some of them were off from roads, where they had evidently run in -their attempts to escape. - -While the kind-hearted settlers were performing this sad duty, they were -continually on the lookout for an attack. Let us follow this heavily-laden -train of wagons, and be with them when they arrive at Linkville. Can human -language depict the agony of that hour? We may tell of the outburst of -grief, when the widows gather around that solemn train, preparing to -unload its ghastly freight, and how, with frantic movements, they threw -themselves on the remains of husband, brother and father. But we may not -tell of the grief that overwhelmed their hearts in that darkest hour, when -beholding loved ones mangled and mutilated by the hands that had so often -received gifts from them, now so stiff and cold in death. - -There are moments in life when the great fountains seem broken up as if by -some terrific explosion, until even the very streams that otherwise would -flow out are dried up. - -Oh, how dark the world becomes to the wife and mother when the sunlights -of life go out, and they stand amid the gloom, unable to recognize the -hand of our heavenly Father! - -Slowly and sadly the sorrowing friends start up the hill with the remains -of Boddy and Schiere, while the bereaved and heart-broken widows follow -the sad funeral pageant. - -How can we bear to hear the cry of anguish that parts their lips when the -first clod of earth falls, with sepulchral noise, on the coffin lids that -cover the faces of their dead forever! - -My humane, kind-hearted reader, who has a soul overflowing with kindness -that goes out for "Lo! the poor Indian," look on this scene a moment, and -in your mind exchange your happy home for a cabin on the frontier wilds, -where you meet these Indian people, and where, from the fulness of a great -heart overflowing with "good will to man," you have uttered only kind -words, while you shared your homely fare with them in sympathy for their -low estate. Remember how often you have almost ruined your own family that -you might in part compensate them for their lost homes; how you have -dropped from your hands your own duties as a wife or mother that you might -teach these dark, sad-eyed savage women the little art of housewifery. -Think how many hours you have labored teaching them the ways of civil life -in dress and manners; while your memory of childhood's lessons in -Christianity reconciled you to the labor and the sacrifice with this -comforting assurance, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these, ye -did it also unto me." Remember all these, and then gaze on the dark -emblems of sorrow that envelop Mrs. Boddy, Mrs. Schiere, Mrs. Brotherton, -and tell me, have you still Christianity that enables you to say, "Thy -will be done," nor let your lips breathe out a prayer for power to avenge -your bursting heart? Will you censure now the brave and manly friends on -whose arms these widows lean, while they go back to a home with the -sunlight gone? If these friends, in sympathy with the bereaved, do swear -to anticipate a tardy justice, do you still have hard words for the -pioneers who brave danger and drink deeply from the fountain of bitter -grief when in madness they cry for revenge? - -It is one thing to sit through a life-time under the persuasive eloquence -of ministers who have never walked side by side with such sorrow, and -gradually form an ideal or real monitor in the soul, until human nature -seems lost in the divine power that prepares humanity for higher life, and -until we think we can at all times, when smitten on one cheek, turn the -other. It is quite another thing to break old family associations, and, -leaving the scenes of childhood behind you, with strong and brave hearts, -open the way for emigration; plant way-marks that point to a future of -prosperity; sow the seeds of civilization in unbroken wilds, fairly to -represent your race before the savage, and live in the exercise of a -religious faith that honest dealings and the overshadowing exercise of -brotherly love will be a sure guaranty of final reward. To go out on the -bleak plains of Lost river, and by industry and economy transform the -sage-brush deserts into fruitful fields, to rear the unpretentious cabins, -and open your doors to the thirsty and hungry of every race and color, and -then, when you have done all this, to stand in your cabin-door and smile -back at the waving fields, and listen to the lowing herds, while you -rejoice in your instrumentality in making the great transformation; -looking hopefully to a future, when, from neighboring valleys, shall come -up sounds of friendly recognition; longing for the hour when you may catch -sight of children returning from the country school, and for the advent of -the itinerant minister, who will bring with him a charter under which you -may work toward a brotherhood, whose ties will bind on earth and reunite -in heaven,--when, suddenly, more direful than mountain torrents or heaving -earthquake, comes athwart your life a scene like that enacted on Lost -river, _November 30th, 1872_. - -That scene, with all its horrors, has been repeated over and over again, -and will continue to be until this Government of ours shall come squarely -up to the performance of its duty, and shall have clothed worthy men with -power to do and make good its promises of fair and impartial justice to -each and all those who sit down under the shadow of its flag. - -Tell me truly, do you still feel scorn for the frontier people, whose -lives are embellished with episodes and tragedies like these that I have -here painted in plainest colors, and nothing borrowed from -imagination,--no, not even using half the reality in making up the -picture? - -My words cannot call back the dead, or flood the rude cabins of the -stricken and bereaved with sunshine and hope. No. There, on the hill, -beside Linkville, the thirteen little mounds lie out in winter's storm and -summer's sun; and they who prematurely sleep there will wake _no more_. - -There, on the plains, stand the vacant cabins where these once lived. -There, walking with the spirits of the departed by their sides, the widows -go; while orphans' faces wear reproach, in saddened smiles, against a -Government that failed to deal justly, and who, with light and careless -hand, pointed out its ministers of law without thinking once how much of -human woe and misery might be avoided by a few well-studied words of -command. - -The dead are buried, and the notes of coming strife succeed those of -bitter wailing; the winter's sun gleams from the brass mountings of -officers; the zephyrs of the mountain are mingling with martial music; the -great plains of sage brush are glittering with polished bayonets. The -United States are at length aroused. The State of Oregon, _too_, is waxing -very wroth. The doom of the Modocs is sealed; and _war!_ _war!_ _war!_ is -the word. - -From the half-dozen little military posts in the Lake country is seen -coming a grand army of--well--_two hundred soldiers_. "That's enough to -eat up Jack's little band. Keep cool, my dear friends. Let 'em go for 'em. -They need a _lickin'_ bad. There won't be a grease-spot left of 'em." - -(Such was the speech in a hotel not far from Linkville, Oregon.) - -"Look-er here, stranger, I'll bet you a hundred head of cows, that -Captain Jack licks them there two hundred soldiers like h--l; so I will. I -know what I'm talking about, _I do_. I tried them Modoc fellows long time -ago; they won't lick worth a d--m; so _they won't_. If Frank Wheaton goes -down there a puttin' on style like a big dog in 'tall rye', he'll catch -h--l; _so he will_. I'm going down just to _see_ the _fun_." - -"You're a crazy old fool. Frank Wheaton with two hundred soldiers will -wipe 'em out 'fore breakfast," suggested a listener. - -"Look-er here if I'm crazy the cows aint; come come, if you think I'm -crazy, come, up with the squivlents, and you can go into the stock-raisin' -business cheap. _You can._ - -"Major Jackson went down there tother day with forty men, and Jack hadn't -but fourteen bucks with him, and he licked Jackson out of his boots in no -time, and that was in open ground, and Jackson had the drap on the Ingens -at that; and by thunder he got the worst lickin' a man ever got in this -neck woods; _so he did_. Then another thing, Captain Jack aint on open -ground now; not by a d----d sight. He is in the all-firedest place in the -world. You've been to the 'Devil's garden,' at the head of Sprague river, -haven't you? Well, that place aint a patchen to that ere place where the -Injuns is now. I've been there, and I tell you, it's nearly litenin', all -rocks and caves, and you can't lead a horse through it in a week,--and -then the Injuns knows every inch of the ground, and when they get in them -there caves, why it taint no use talking, I tell you, you can't kill nary -an Ingen,--_you can't_. I'm a-going down just to _see_ the _fun_." - -The reporter who furnished me the foregoing speeches did not learn whether -a bet was made, or whether any army officers overheard the talk; but the -truth is, those who had this nice little breakfast job on hand were -somewhat of the opinion of the fellow whose "cows were not crazy, if he -was." They were willing to have _help_. - -This little Modoc affair was a favorable thing for Oregon and California, -in more ways than one. To the politician it was a windfall; for no matter -what the cause of war may have been, it is always popular to have been in -favor of the last war. It makes opportunity for brave men to win laurels -and undying fame. It clothes their tongues with themes for public harangue -until the last war is superseded by another. Then again it was a _heroic_ -thing to rush up to the recruiting office and _volunteer_ to _whip the -Modocs_. - -It is not at all likely that the movement of armies over railroads, or -toll-roads, or steamboat lines, was a desirable thing for a country where -there was no money in it. Then no man was base enough to wish for war for -motives so mean; neither could it be possible that any sane man, with -ordinary judgment, could see any speculations or chances for greenbacks in -war. - -Californians did intimate that the Oregonians were a little mercenary in -their anxiety for war; but with what unanimity our press repelled the mean -insinuation! - -_Our Governor_ very promptly sent forward two or three companies of -volunteers,--California, _but one_. - -Listen, ye winds, to the neighing steeds and clashing sabres, and see the -uniformed officers and the brave boys, all with faces turned toward the -Lava Beds, going down to vindicate the honor of the State whose soil had -been _invaded_ by a ruthless savage foe. - -The regulars are in camp near the Modocs, waiting for the volunteers to -come up. They come, with banners flying, and steeds prancing, and hearts -beating triumphant at the prospect of a fight. - -Some of these men were living several years ahead, when they could from -"the stump" tell how they bared their bosoms to the Modoc hail; how they -carried away Modoc scalps; how the ground was bathed in mingled blood of -Modoc and white men. - -The army now numbering four hundred, all told, of enlisted men, approaches -the Lava Beds. One or two companies encamp at Fairchild's. They drill; -they go through the mimic charges; they espy a few Modoc women and -children encamped on the creek near Fairchild's house,--they propose to -take them in. "Knits make lice,--let's take them, boys,--here goes." - -A middle-sized grey-eyed man, with his whiskers dyed by twenty years' -labor on "the coast," steps out and says, "No you don't, not yet. _Take me -first._ No man harms defenceless women where I am, while I am standing on -my perpendiculars." - -"Who are you?" says one fine-looking young fellow. - -"Try me, and you will find out that I am John Fairchild." These brave -fellows had not lost any Indians just then, they hadn't. Bah! - -"Who are your officers?" said Fairchild. - -The information was furnished, and soon the grey-eyed man was reading a -chapter not found in the Talmud, or the Bible either. As reported, it was -_eloquent_, though not _classical_. - -Preparations were being completed for a forward movement. One-half the -army was to move to the attack from the south, while the other was to move -down from the north. The 16th of January, 1873, the two wings were within -a few miles on either side. Orders were given to be in motion before -daylight the following morning. Some spicy little colloquies were had -between the members of the volunteer companies; some, indeed, between -officers. - -One brave captain of volunteers said to another, "I have but one fear, and -that is that I can't restrain my men, they are so eager to get at 'em; -they will eat the Modocs up raw, if I let 'em go." - -"Don't fret," said Fairchild; "you can hold them; they wont be hard to -keep back when the Modocs open fire." - -"I say, Jim, are you going to carry grub?" - -"No. I am going to take Modoc _Sirloin_ for my dinner." - -"I think," said a burly-looking fellow, "that I'll take mine _rare_." - -Another healthy-looking chap said he intended capturing a good-looking -squaw for a--dishwasher. (Good-looking squaws wash dishes better than -homely ones.) - -A number of humane, chivalrous, civilizing, kind people intended to -capture some little _Ingens_ for servants. One fellow declared that -Captain Jack's _pacing hoss_ should be his. - -To have heard the camp talk the night before the battle, you would have -supposed that sundown, next day, would find these brave men loaded with -Indian plunder and military glory, going toward home in fine style, with -great speeches in rehearsal to deliver to the gaping crowds, who would -hang, with breathless interest, on the words that they would deal out with -becoming modesty. - -That night was a long one to ambitious, noisy men; and, sad to say, a -_last_ one to some of the bravest of the army. - -But the guard is stationed for the night, the council of officers has been -held, and the moon settles slowly away; the soldiers sleep. The orders for -the morrow are understood, and quiet reigns throughout the hopeful camp. - -No doubt crosses the minds of the men, and, perhaps, of but few officers, -so sanguine are they of success. The greatest fear expressed was, that the -fight would not last long enough to give _all a fair show_ to win -distinction. - -Rest quiet, my poor, deluded countrymen! Some of you are taking your last -sleep but one,--the sleep of death. - -If you had asked the opinion of Maj. Jackson and John Fairchild, or Press -Dorris, they would have set your hearts at ease, about having an -opportunity to fight a little on the morrow. You will have a chance to try -your metal, never fear, my dear friends. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV. - - PEACE OR WAR--ONE HUNDRED LIVES VOTED AWAY BY - MODOC INDIANS. - - -Leaving our soldier friends to dream of glory to be won in the coming -battle, let us pick our way from their camp to the head-quarters of -Captain Jack. - -Our starting-point now is from a little grove of mountain mahogany trees -on a high plateau, a few miles south of the California and Oregon boundary -line, and within a short distance of the extreme southern end of lower -Klamath lake. The trees are dwarfed, stunted, and bent before the stormy -winds that have swept over them so continually. - -As we leave this military camp, a long, high, sharp ridge extends -northward and southward, falling away at either end to hills of lesser -height. Climbing to the top, and looking eastward, we see Tule lake, named -on the maps of this country Rhett lake. It is a beautiful sheet of water, -of thirty miles from north to south, and fifteen from west to east. We see -also, with a field-glass, across the lake, the lone cabins where the -strong hands of Boddy, Brotherton, and others have laid the foundation of -future homes. They stand like spirit sentinels on the plain. - -Look again at the trail leading out of the sage-brush plains; follow with -your glass down to where a high stone bluff crowds against the lake, and -forces the wagon trail into the edge of the water, until it disappears in -the high tule grass. - -In September, 1852, a long train of wagons, drawn by worn-out oxen, driven -by hardy, venturesome pioneers, came down that trail. - -_They never came out again_, save the two or three persons, as related in -a former chapter. - -That place is _Bloody Point_. - -Turn your glass northward, and see the trail emerge from the tule grass; -follow it until it turns suddenly westward and reaches the natural bridge -on Lost river. Turn your glass up the river one mile, and you see the -favorite home of Captain Jack, where we found him in 1869, and where Major -Jackson found him on the morning of "November 30th, 1872;" and, had you -been looking at that spot at 4 P.M. of the 23d day of April, 1873, you -would have descried a four-horse ambulance, with a mounted escort of six -men on either side, and standing in the front end of that ambulance a -woman, with a field-glass, eagerly scanning the surface of the lake. That -woman shows anxiety in her blue eye and earnest face while she changes the -direction of the glass, expecting each moment to catch sight of a boat -crossing the lake. She is cool, calm, and self-possessed, although no -other lady is nearer than twenty-four miles. - -There is a reason for her presence there; and she will need all her -self-command when the looked-for boat arrives. Why, that lone woman is -there, on that 23d day of April, we will tell you in good time. - -Turn your glass back now to Bloody Point, and follow down the shore of the -lake. Ah! there stands a white-looking object near a bluff that is black -with a low growth of trees. The white object is Miller's house, just as he -left it the morning before his _friend, Hooker Jim, murdered him_. The -black-looking bluff near it is where _Ben Wright_ met the Modocs, in a -peace talk, in 1852. Swing your glass round to the right, following the -shore of the lake, and, at the extreme southern end, you will see the -cabins of Lou-e Land, and near them Col. Barnard's head-quarters. - -The white tents of the soldiers look like tiny playthings, even under a -field-glass. Col. Barnard is there with one hundred "regulars," and one -company of "volunteers." Look closely, and you will see that half the -volunteers are red-skinned men. Their captain is a tall, fine-looking -white man, who addresses them in the ancient jargon of the Klamaths,--this -is Oliver Applegate. - -See the Indian soldiers, with each a white badge on his head; it is not an -army regulation cap, but is simply to prevent accident; that is, it is a -mark to distinguish the white man's ally from his enemy. - -In this camp are men about as anxious to march on the Modocs as those on -the north side; some of these red soldiers are the boys who made Jack's -stay on Klamath Reservation, in 1870, so uncomfortable. _They_ are -_loyal_, though, to the Government, and are willing to help the white men -exterminate their cousins (the Modocs). Then the _pro rata_ of annuity -goods will be so much the larger. They don't mean any harm to the Modocs, -although since 1864 they have been receiving regularly the price the -Government has paid for _the home of the Modocs_; except on one or two -occasions, when the latter were present. - -These red-skinned boys are anxious to capture the Modoc ponies; for, -running with Jack's band of horses, are several that once carried these -Klamath boys flying over the plains; until, in an evil moment, they were -weak enough to stake them, as many a poor, weak-minded, infatuated white -man has done his home, all on the hazardous chance of certain cards -turning up at the right time. Well, let these fellows take rest, for they -will need all their nerve before another day passes. - -Move your glass round to the right, what a sight do we see! A great -flat-looking valley stretches out south and west from the ragged shore -line of the lake. On the further boundary see the four low buttes standing -in a line; while behind Mount Shasta raises his white head, overlooking -the country around on all sides for hundreds of miles. - -This valley, lying so cold and cheerless, seems to have been once a part -of the lake. It is devoid of timber, save one lone tree, that stands out -on what appears to be a plain, of almost smooth prairie; but we forget we -are one thousand feet above this valley. - -Let us follow now the zigzag trail that leads to the gap just where the -valley and the lake unite. - -Better dismount, for wagons never have been, nor ever will go down that -bluff. Horses, indeed, need a _rough-lock_ to get down in safety. Oh! but -this _is_ steep; we are now half-way down,--let us rest, and meanwhile -take your field-glass and "see what we can see." Why! it don't look as it -did from the top of the bluff. Oh! I see now why you call this place the -"Lava Beds." From this stand-point it presents the appearance of a broken -sea, that had, when in wild commotion, suddenly frozen or crystallized; -except that the surface is a grayish color. Sage brush grows out from the -crevices of the rock, and, occasionally, "bunch grass" may be seen. - -Near the foot of the bluff is a small flat of a few acres that is free -from rocks. A bay from the lake makes up into the rocky field; then a long -point of stony land runs out into the lake. - -Follow the shore-line, and another bay, or arm of the lake, runs out into -the lava rocks. Look carefully, and, on the next point of lava rocks, -running into the lake, you will discover a gray smoke rising. There, if -you will steady your glass, you will see dark forms moving round about the -fire. - -They are not more than two miles from our point of observation, and this -is the 16th day of June, 1873. - -See that man standing above the others. He is talking. Wonder who he is, -and what he is saying. Since we are talking of Indians, suppose we adopt -Indian spiritualism, and in that invisible capacity we will hear and see -what is going on. - -We will pick our way over the dim, crooked trail, first in real person, -and take items as we pass along. The trail is very dim, it is true--only -seen by the rocks misplaced to make footing for the Indian ponies. Now we -wind around some low stony point, and pick our way down into a rocky -chasm. - -Slowly rising, we climb up twenty feet of bluff, and out on a plateau. -Looking carefully for the road, we follow a half-round circle of two -hundred feet on the left; and, sloping from every direction, the broken -lava rocks tend toward a common centre, forty feet below the level of the -plateau. As we pursue our way another great basin is in sight, of similar -character and proportion; and thus this plateau, that appeared almost -smooth from the mountain-top, is made up of a succession of basins, all -lined with broken rock, from the size of a dry-goods box to that of a -meeting-house. - -Just ahead, we see rising above the rocky plain a craggy ledge, standing -like an immense comb, the spikes of lava forming great teeth. On the right -and left it looks as if the teeth-like crags are broken midway, and our -trail is pointing to one of these breaks. - -Before reaching it, we see on either hand where the breaks are filled with -stones, piled in such a way that port-holes are left, through which the -Modocs propose to fire on the advancing foes when they come to the attack. - -Passing between upright spires of lava, we come out on a smooth plain of -fractured stones; and, passing near the end of the second little bay, we -find rough, sharp ledges rising to intercept our way. - -Picking our steps, we stand on the summit of the ledge. Shut your eyes now -while we pass over a chasm of thirty feet in depth, and with walls almost -perpendicular. Our bridge has been made by a gorge of loose rocks that -fill the chasm to its lips. Some of these have been rolled in by Indian -hands, and some by old Vulcan himself, when he spilled the lava there. - -Come, follow the trail,--now we stand a moment and, looking right and -left, we see great fissures and caverns that look dark and forbidding; -suggesting ambush. No danger here now,--_we left the Modoc sentinel behind -us_, at the huge comb-like ledge. He is not afraid of us, and all the -other Modocs are in council. Climbing a cliff that overlooks a deep, wide -chasm, we catch sight of the sage-brush fire, and suddenly half a hundred -warriors, in half dress of "Boston," half of savage costume,--some of them -are bare-armed, and have curious-looking figures on them made of paint. - -This is not safe now, for sharp eyes scan the surroundings, and while this -council is going on, the Modoc women are doing duty. Some of them are -piling on the sage brush to keep the fire going. Others are standing, -apparently pillars of stone; sphinx like, they gaze outward, for although -this council is being held in a place secure from gaze of pale-faced man, -the Modocs, Indian like, are ever on the alert, and do not intend to be -taken by surprise. Since this is not safe for us, we had better play -Indian spirit, if we would see and hear what is going on. What we lack in -catching the words in the spirit correctly, we will obtain from some -friendly Indian hereafter. See that fellow there; his face looks familiar; -yet he is not a Modoc. Oh! yes; we recognize him now; we saw him at the -peace meeting, taking the Modocs by the hand then, and afterwards taunting -them with their poverty and cowardice while they were on Klamath -Reservation in 1870. That fellow is _Link-river Jack_. He is a natural -traitor. - -He has crept cautiously into the Modoc camp to give them warning of the -soldiers coming. He is the Modocs' _friend now_; he tells them that a -large army is coming; that they are on the bluff almost within sight. - -This was not news; for the Modocs had counted the soldiers, man by man, -and knew exactly how many was in either camp. They knew, too, that half -the soldiers were citizens with whom they had dealt for years. Link-river -Jack tells them of the feeling outside against them; that peace may be had -on the surrender of the Modocs who killed the settlers. We did not hear -him tell them that if they would hold out a few days, the Klamaths and -Snakes would join them; but our friendly Indian asserts that he did. - -All eyes turn now to the chief, Captain Jack. He rises with stately mien -and says, "We have made a mistake. We cannot stand against the white men. -Suppose we kill all these soldiers; more will come, and still more, and -finally all the Modocs will be killed; when we kill the soldiers others -will take their places; but when a Modoc gets killed no man will come to -take _his_ place; we must make the best terms we can. I do not want to -fight the white man. I want no war; I want peace. Some of the white men -are our friends. Steele and Roseborough are our friends; they told us not -to fight the white men; we want no war; soon all the young men will be -killed. We do not want to fight." - -Old Schonchin John arose; his face was full of war; _he_ was in for a -fight. He recalled the "Ben Wright" massacre; he said, "We have nothing to -expect from the white men. We can die, but we will not die first. I won't -give it up; I want to fight. I can't live long. I am an old man." -Schonchin sat down. He had no hope for his life; his crimes were all -arrayed against him, and he knew it. - -Scar-face Charley rose to talk. He said, "I was mad on Lost river; my -blood was bad. I was insulted. I have many friends among the white men. I -do not want to kill them. We cannot stand against the white men. True, I -am a Modoc. What their hearts are, my heart is. May be we can stop this -war. I want to live in peace." - -Curly-haired Doctor, who was with the murdering gang in Lost river, arose -and said, "I am a Modoc. My hands are red with white man's blood. I was -mad when I saw the dead women and children on Lost river. I want war. I am -not tired. The white men cannot fight; they shoot in the air. I will _make -a medicine that will turn the white man's bullets away from the Modocs_. -We will not give up. We can kill all that come." - -The discussion is ended, and now comes the vote. They divide off,--those -who were for war walked out on one side, and those who favor peace on the -other. These people are democratic; _the majority rules_. - -The vote is of vast importance to others than the Modocs. One hundred and -fifty soldiers and many citizens are interested in that vote. Gen. Canby, -Dr. Thomas, and your writer, are to be very much affected by that vote. -Millions of dollars hang on the decision. - -Hold your breath while each man elects for himself. The chief, Captain -Jack, walks boldly out on the side of peace, but, O my God, few dare -follow him. The majority vote for blood, and gather around Schonchin John, -and the Curly-haired Doctor. The die is cast, war is inevitable; let us -see who is with Captain Jack. There goes "Scar-face Charley," "William" -(the wild gal's man), "Miller's Charley," "Duffey," "Te-he Jack," "Little -Poney," "Big Poney," "Duffey's Boy," "Chuckle-head," "Big Steve," "Big -Dave," "Julia's man,"--fourteen men, no more. - -The bloodthirsty villains who held the balance of power are, "Schonchin," -"Curly-head Doctor," "Bogus Charley," "Boston Charley," "Hooker Jim," -"Shacknasty Jim," "Steamboat Frank," "Rock-Dave," "Big Joe," "Curly Jack," -and the remainder of the band, numbering thirty-seven, all told. There are -two strange Indians there, also; they are Pitt river thieves, they do not -vote. The doctor's speech has done the work. These infuriated thirty-six -men believe in him, and his promise to make medicine that will turn the -bullets of the white men. This has more power than the clear, logical -reasoning of Captain Jack. Having turned the current of so many lives, the -doctor, exulting in his success, repaired to his cave to fulfil his -promise. - -Suppose we follow him and see how this thing is done. He calls the singing -women of the band together, and, having prepared roots and religious -meats, he builds a fire, and, with a great deal of ceremony, he places the -sacrifice thereon; then inhaling the smoke and odor of the burning mess, -he begins his religious incantations; calling down the good spirit, -calling up the bad spirit, and calling loudly for the spirits of the dead -Indians to come; while the women, having pitched a tune to his words, -begin to sing, and with their shoulders touching each other, they start -off in a rough, hobbly kind of a dance, singing meanwhile; and a drummer, -too, joins in with a hideous noise, made on a drain of peculiar shape, -with but one head of dried rawhide, or untanned buckskin, drawn tightly -over a rough-made hoop. - -Round go the singing dancers, and louder grow the voices of the doctor and -the women; both increasing in fury until exhausted nature gives proof of -the presence of the various spirits. - -The braves stand looking on to see what the prospects are; satisfied that -the medicine is getting strong enough, they saunter back to the cave of -the chief, where he sits with thoughtful brow, planning in a low voice the -defence of the morrow; repeating again, "This is the last of my people; I -must do what their hearts say; I am a _Modoc_, and I am not afraid to -die." Then giving orders for the fight,--designating where each man should -be stationed, and appointing women to carry water and ammunition to the -various stations, while they fight,--he inspects the arms, and estimates -how long the powder and lead will last, tells the women to mould bullets -for the old-fashioned rifles; he then turns sadly away to his sister, -Queen Mary, and declares that he is now going to do what he thought he -never would do,--"fight the white man." - -We leave the howling doctor and the sad chief and return to the soldier -camp on the top of the bluff. The sentinels are walking the rounds; all is -quiet, and the boys are taking their rest,--some of them their last rest -save one. Ah! Jerry Crook, you jumped down from a stage-driver's box to -help whip the Modocs. Your heart is beating steadily now; it will beat -wildly for a few minutes to-morrow afternoon, and then its pulsations will -cease forever. George Roberts, too, has left a good position to come on -this mission, promising, as he fondly hopes, a dream of glory, which he -will share with his comrades when hereafter he cracks his whip over the -teams of the Northwest Stage Company. Enjoy it now, my dear fellow, for -the vote in yonder camp has sealed your fate. Others may tell how bravely -you died, but you will not live to tell of the shout of victory that the -M-o-d-o-c-s will send over your dead body to-morrow night. Sleep soundly, -my soldier boys; thirty of you will not answer the roll-call after the -battle of the morrow. - -Brave Gen. Frank Wheaton, why do you still walk back and forth, arm-in-arm -with Col. John Green and Maj. Jackson? You do not feel so sanguine about -to-morrow. Jackson has said something that has driven sleep from your -eyes. You might find comfort in consulting Gens. Miller and Ross, and Col. -Thompson, of the "Salem Press," and Capt. Kelley, of the "Jacksonville -Times." They are State militia officers, it is true, but they are old -Indian fighters, and can tell you how quickly you can whip Captain Jack in -the morning. They are leading men, who may be _hard to restrain_, but they -will take the advance. Don't say a word to Capt. John Fairchild; he knows -the Modocs, as does Press Dorris. They know the Lava Beds, too; they have -hunted cattle over this country, and understand the lay of it better than -any white men in the camp. - -_They_ are not so _very confident_. They said, to-day, to some impatient -boys, "Don't fret; you will get enough _to do you_ before you see your -mother again. The Modocs are _on it_ sure!" - - - - - CHAPTER XXV. - - MODOC STEAK FOR BREAKFAST--GRAY-EYED MAN ON THE - WARPATH. - - -Four A.M., _January 17th, 1873_.--The tattoo is beaten, and the soldiers -throw aside their blankets. They dress themselves; the blankets are rolled -together; the men sit around, the mess-table on the ground, and partake of -coffee and "hard tack." The volunteer State militia also jump out from -under _their_ blankets, and, making their toilets as soldiers do, prepare -for _duty_ and _glory_. - -The weather is cold, very cold. Breakfast is over, and the order to "Fall -in" sounds through the camp. The blue uniforms take places like -automatons; the roll is called. "Here!" "Here!" comes out along the line. -Poor fellows! somebody else must answer for some of you to-morrow; you -cannot do it for yourselves. - -The line of march is taken. The California volunteers, under the gray-eyed -man, lead the way toward the bend of the ridge. Cautiously they approach -the river. It is not daylight yet; they _must go slow_. Look over the -valley below us--the day begins to dawn. Oh, yes; you are looking at the -upper side of a great bank of fog. The signal that was to be given Col. -Barnard "to move" cannot be made. But he will come to the attack on the -south at the same time with the assault from the north. - -The soldiers are unencumbered by blankets and knapsacks; they have left -them with a guard at camp, _expecting_ to return in a few hours. They move -cautiously down the bluff into the misty scene below. The cavalry-men are -dismounted, leaving their horses in camp, and answer to the call of the -bugle. The two hundred men are at the foot of the bluff, at the edge of -the Lava Beds. - -The lines are formed; each company is assigned a position. In the dim -daylight, mixed with fog, they look like ghostly mourners out on the -rampart of the spirit world. Hark! "Forward--_march!_" rings out in the -cold morning air, and the bugle repeats "Forward--march!" The line moves, -stretching out along the foot of the bluff. The regulars advance very -steady, for Maj. Jackson's company that was in the Lost-river fight were -in no great hurry to hear the music of battle again. - -The volunteers start off rapidly, while Gen. Ross and Col. Thompson say, -"Steady, boys,--steady." "Steady, my boys," repeats Capt. Kelley, of the -Oregon volunteers. - -"Go slow, boys, go slow. You'll raise 'em directly," says the gray-eyed -man, who commands the Californians. Cautiously the line moves over the -rocky plain. On, still on--no Modocs yet. On again they go through the -thick fog. "Just as I expected; they've left. I knew they wouldn't stand -and fight when the volunteers got after them."--"They knew we was a -comin'." Such speeches were made by men who were hungry for "_Modoc -sirloin_." "Steady there; we'll raise them pretty soon," says gray eyes. -"They haint run; they're _thar sure_. Go slow, boys; keep down, boys--keep -down _low_, boys." - -Hark! again; what is that rumble, like a train crossing a great bridge? -Bang--bang--bang--bang comes through the fog bank. "Barnard's opened on -'em. Now we will go. Hurrah! We will take 'em in the rear. Hurrah! hurrah! -hurrah for h--l," sings out a Modoc-eating fellow. - -"That's right; every man hurrah for the country he's going to," comes from -a quiet regular on the left. - -Through the mist a gleam shoots out, and then a rattle of muskets just in -front of the advancing line. Hey! what means that? Did Roberts stumble and -fall? Yes, he fell, but he cannot get up again; his blood is spurting from -his neck on the rocks. Look to the right. Another has fallen to rise no -more. - -"Fire!" says Col. Green. "Fire!" says the bugle. "Fire!" say the volunteer -officers, and a blaze of light burst forth along the line. To see the -flame from the guns, one would suppose they saw the enemy on some cliff -above them, although the Modoc flame was on a level. - -[Illustration: MODOCS ON THE WARPATH.] - -Perhaps the Modocs have changed their base. No, that cannot be, for, see! -again it blazes out just in front, and, oh, see the soldiers fall. - -On the right of our line, among the rocks, a level blaze follows the Modoc -volley. There is somebody there who knows what he is about. "Charge!" -rings out the voice of Green. "Charge!" repeats the bugle. The line moves -forward at a double-quick, over the rough waves of hardened lava. - -On, on, still on the shattered line moves, for several hundred yards. -Still no howl of pain from Modoc lips. - -"They've run," exultingly shouts a voice; but before the echo of that -voice had repeated the lie, through the rocky caves another blazing line -appears in front. Bang, bang, now comes from the further side; again a -charge is ordered, and, climbing over chasms and caverns, the now broken -line move as best they can; no groan of agony tells of Modocs with -bayonets or bullets pierced. No eye has seen a redskin, but four hundred -pairs of ears have heard the Modoc's war-whoop, and four hundred hearts -have trembled at the sound. - -The line still moves forward, firing at the rocks, and--and another brave -white man falls. - -The investment must be completed; junction must be made with Col. Barnard. -Where are the volunteers? The gap in the line must be closed. Where is -Capt. ----? The caves answered back, "Where?" - -But Donald McKay, the scout, says "They are behind the ledge yonder, lying -down." - -"Order them up," says Gen. Frank Wheaton. - -An aide-de-camp fails to open communication with them. - -The gallant Green is trying now to close up the line. "Forward, my men," -he shouts. "Mount the cliff." The foremost man falls back pierced with -Modoc bullets. Green quickly leaps upon the cliff--a dozen rifles from the -cave send flame and balls at him. "Come, my men. Up, up," and another man -reels and falls. "Come up," again shouts the brave colonel, still standing -with the bullets flying around him. Another blue blouse appears, and it, -too, goes backward; thus the little mound of dead soldiers grew at the -foot of the cliff, until, at last, the gray-eyed man, taking in the -situation, points out to his men the Indian battery that commanded this -position, and then the sharp, quick rifles, mingle smoke and bullets with -the muskets and howitzers, and Green's men pass over the cliff. - -The fog is lifting now, but scarce an Indian yet seen. Still the circle of -bayonets contracts around the apparently ill-starred Modoc stronghold. - -Take a station commanding a view of the battle. Do you hear, amid all this -din of exploding gunpowder, the shrieks of mangled white men, and the -exulting shouts of the Modocs? Look behind you; the sun is slowly sinking -behind Mount Shasta, tired of the scene. The line is broken again, and, -where a part of it had stood, see the writhing bodies in blue, half -prostrate, some of them, and calling loudly for comrades to save them. - -A council is called by Gen. Wheaton; the fighting goes on; the line next -the lake gives back. "Draw off your men!" is the order that now echoes -along the faltering lines; the bugles sound "Retreat." The men are -panic-stricken. Hear the wounded, who understand the bugle-call, shouting -to comrades, "Do not leave us." The volunteers halt; they return to the -rescue. The Modoc fire is fearful. One of the wounded men is reached in -safety, but when two of his comrades lift him up, one of them drops. - -Fairchild's men now go to the rescue, crawling on their faces; they almost -reach the two wounded men; one of the rescuers falls; they cannot be -saved. One wounded man begs to be killed. "Don't leave me alive for the -Modocs." The cry is in vain. _The army of four hundred men are on the -retreat._ They fall back, followed by the shouts and bullets of the -Modocs, and soon leave the voices of the wounded behind them. Is it true -that our army is retreating now from fifty savages? - -Is it possible that our heroes, who _were to dine on "Modoc sirloins,"_ -are scrambling over the rocks on empty stomachs, after a ten-hour fight? -Is it true that the cries for help by wounded soldiers are heard only by -the _Modocs_? Yes, my reader, it _is_ true. Every effort to save them cost -other lives. - -Our army grope their way in darkness over the rocks they had passed so -hopefully a few hours since. They climb the bluff, expecting an attack -each minute; the wounded, who are brought off the field, are compelled to -await surgical aid until the army can be placed in a _safe position_. - -The camp on the north is reached, and, without waiting for morning, they -fall back to "Bremer's" and "Fairchild's." - -When the roll is called in the several companies thirty-five regulars and -volunteers fail to answer. Their dead bodies lie stark and cold among the -rocks. The Modoc _men_ disdain to hunt up victims of the fight. The squaws -are permitted to do this work. It is from Modoc authority, that they found -two men alive at daylight next morning, and that they stoned them to -death; finally ending this long night of horror by one of the most cruel -deaths that savage ingenuity could suggest. Look now in the Modoc camp -when the squaws come in, bearing the arms and clothing of the fallen -United States soldiers. See them parade these before the Indian braves. -See those young, ambitious fellows, with those curious-looking things. -Here are "Hooker Jim," "Bogus Charley," and "Boston Charley," "Shacknasty -Jim," "Steamboat Frank," and several others, holding aloft these specimens -of God's handiwork and their own. - -You ask, What are they? - -Go to yesterday's line of battle, scan the rocks closely, and you will see -some of them are dyed with human gore; look closely, and you will see a -bare foot, may be a hand, half-covered with loose stones; examine -carefully, move the rocks, and you will find a mutilated white body there, -and if you will uncover the _crushed head_ you will see where the articles -came from that the Modoc braves are showing with so much pride. - -Suppose you count the Modoc warriors now. We know they had fifty-three -yesterday morning, for we have the names of all the men of the whole -tribe, and we have taken pains to ascertain that every man who did not -belong to Captain Jack's band was at "_Yai-nax_," under the eye of the old -chief "Schonchin" and the Government agent, while the battle of yesterday -was going on, except three Modocs--Cum-ba-twas--and they were with Capt. -Oliver Applegate's company during the fight. There is no miscount. -Fairchild, Applegate, Dorris, and Frank Riddle know every one personally. -Call the roll in Jack's camp, and _every man will answer to his name_, -except one man who was wounded in a skirmish on the 15th, with Col. -Perry's company of regulars. This statement is correct, notwithstanding -the Telegraph said the Modocs had _two hundred men in the fight_. - -Listen to Curly-haired Doctor. He is saying, in his native tongue, "I -promised you a medicine that would turn the white man's bullets. Where is -the Modoc that has been struck with the white man's bullets? I told you -'Soch-a-la Tyee,' the Great Spirit, was on our side. Your chief's heart -was weak; mine was strong. We can kill all the white men that come." - -Schonchin John says: "I felt strong when I saw the fog that our -medicine-man had brought over the rocks yesterday morning. I knew we could -kill the soldiers. We are _Modocs_." - -The chief (Captain Jack) arose, all eyes turn toward him, and in -breathless silence the council awaits his speech. - -He does not appear to share in the general rejoicing. He is thoughtful, -and his face wears a saddened look. He feels the force of the doctor's -speech; Schonchin's also. He knows they are planning for his removal from -the chieftainship. - -"It is true we have killed many white men. The Modoc heart is strong; the -Modoc guns were sure; the bullets went straight. _We are all here_; but -hear me, O muck-a-lux (my people). The white men are many; they will not -give up; they will come again; more will come next time. No matter how -many the Modocs kill, more will come each time, and we will all be killed -after a while. I am your voice. My blood is _Modoc_. I will not make peace -until the Modoc heart says '_peace_,' We will not go on the warpath again. -Maybe the war will stop." - -After the several braves have recounted the various exploits they have -performed, the council adjourns. - -See the squaws bringing great loads of sage brush. They are preparing for -a grand scalp dance. This is to be a great demonstration. The women dress -in best attire and paint their faces, while the men, now wild with -triumph, prepare for the ceremonies of rejoicing. - -The drum calls for the dance to commence. They form around the fire on the -bare rocks, each warrior painted in _black and red_, in figures rudely -made on their arms and breast, indicating the deeds they may boast of. -Each bears on the ramrod of his gun the scalps _he_ has _taken_. The -medicine-man begins a kind of prayer or thanksgiving to the Great Spirit -above, and to the bad spirit below, for the success they have won. The -dances begin,--a short, upright hop, singing of the great deeds of the -Modocs, the warriors meanwhile waving the ramrods with the scalps. - -Round and round they move, stepping time to the rude music, until they are -exhausted. The blood of the warriors is at fighting heat. - -The chief takes no part. He is ill at ease; his mind is busy with great -thoughts concerning the past and the future of the Modoc people. - -Leaving the Modocs to exult and quarrel alternately, let us hunt up our -disappointed army. A part of them have returned to Col. Barnard's camp at -Lone Lands; another part, the volunteers, have collected at Fairchild's -ranch. Great, unauthorized councils are being held; a hundred men give -wise opinions. Gen. Frank Wheaton is declared "incompetent," and some -underhand work is going on to have him relieved of his command. It will -succeed, although he was brave and skilful, and did as well as any other -man could have done under the circumstances. - -But that is not the question now, he _must_ be relieved; it is enough that -he did not succeed, and it is necessary now to send a new man and let him -_learn_ something of the country. True, Gen. Wheaton has experience and -would know how to manage better than a new man. Political power is -triumphant, and this worthy man is humbled because he could not perform an -_impossibility_. He had raw recruits, that were unskilled in Indian wars, -and he was attacking with this force the strongest natural fortress on the -continent. - -Let us listen to some of the pretty speeches being made in the volunteer -camp. - -"I tell you aint them Modocs nearly thunder though? But the 'regulars' -fired from the hip; they could not _get down_ and draw a fine bead." - -"It takes _Volunteers_ to fight Ingens. Ruther have one hundred volunteers -anytime than a regiment of 'regulars.'" - -"The captain says he's going to raise a new company, picked men; and then -the Modocs will get h--l. Won't they though?" - -Our unpopular gray-eyed man strolled into the volunteer camp. He is a -little caustic sometimes. Sauntering up to the fellow who was so brave a -few days before, he said:-- - -"How did you like your 'Modoc sirloin,' eh? putty good, eh? didn't take it -raw, did you? Where's that feller who was going to bring home a -good-looking squaw for a--dishwasher? Wonder how he likes her about this -time? Where's that _other_ fellow who was going to ride Captain Jack's -_pacing hoss_? - -"Wonder if those boys who were spoiling for a fight are out of danger? - -"Say, boys, there's some old squaws over there near the spring; they aint -got any guns, aint no bucks there; may be you can take _them_." Tossing -his head a little to one side, a habit of his when full of sarcasm, he -went on to ask the captain of a certain company, "if he found any -difficulty in holding his boys back. Where was _you_ during the fight, -anyhow? I heard Gen. Wheaton asking for you, but nobody seemed to know -where you was, 'cept Donal' McKay, and he said you was down on the point; -said he saw your general there with a mighty nice breech-loading _bird -gun_, and that once in a while some of you would raise your heads and look -round, and then Shacknasty Jim would shoot, and you would all lie down -again. - -"Now, captain, let me give you a little bit of advice; it won't cost you -nothing. When you raise _another_ company to fight the _Modocs_, don't you -take any of them fellows that you can't hold back, nor them fellows who -want to eat Modoc steaks _raw_; they aint a good kind to have when you get -in a tight place. Why, Shacknasty Jim could whip four of them at a time. -Them kind of fellers aint worth a continental d--m for fightin' Modocs. -Better leave them fellers with their mammies." - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI. - - OLIVE BRANCH AND CANNON BALLS--WHICH WILL WIN? - - -A few days after this battle Captain Jack sent a message to John Fairchild -and Press Dorris, proposing a "talk," telling them that they should not be -molested, and agreeing to meet them at the foot of the bluff, near the -Modoc camp. Messrs. Fairchild and Dorris, accompanied by one other white -man and an Indian woman (Dixie), visited the Lava Beds. - -The meeting, as described by Fairchild, was one of peculiar interest. -Those who _had been_ friends, and _then enemies_ and at war, without any -formal declaration of peace, coming together in the stronghold of the -victorious party, presents a phase of Western life seldom witnessed. The -white men, fully armed, ride to the Indian camp with the squaw guide. The -Modocs had observed them with a field-glass while they were descending the -bluff, two miles away. - -On their arrival, the men who had so earnestly sought each others' lives -stood face to face. A painful silence followed, each party waiting for the -other to speak first. The Modocs approach and offer to shake hands. "No, -you don't, until we understand each other," said Fairchild; and continued, -"We came here because we learned that you wanted to talk peace. We are not -afraid to talk or to hear you talk. We were in the battle. We _fought you, -and we will fight_ again unless peace is made." - -Captain Jack replied, that "the Modocs knew all about who was in the big -battle, but that should not make trouble now. We are glad you come. We -want you to hear our side of the story. We do not want any war. Let us go -back to our homes on Lost river. We are willing to pay you for the cattle -we have killed. We don't want to fight any more." - -Such was the substance of Captain Jack's speech; to which Fairchild and -Dorris replied, that they were not authorized to make any terms, but would -do all they could to prevent further war. - -These men visited the Modoc camp from humane and kindly motives; yet -tongues of irresponsible parties dared to speak slanderous words against -these men who ventured where their vilifiers would not have gone for any -consideration. Their motives were questioned, and insinuations unworthy -the men who made them, never would have been made had the characters of -Fairchild and Dorris been better understood. - -The results of the battle of Jan. 17th had startled the public mind, and -especially the authorities at Washington City. On investigating the cause -of the war, it was thought that some mistake had been made. The citizens -of Oregon who were then in Washington, headed by Gen. E. L. Applegate, -consulted with Attorney-General Williams on the subject of the Modoc -troubles. Inasmuch as a vast amount of ink has since been wasted in -expressing indignation against the Modoc Peace Commission, I herewith -submit the subjoined letter from Gen. Applegate, of Oregon, to the "Oregon -Bulletin," which gives a fair, and, I believe, true statement of the -circumstances attending its conception. I was not present at the -conference referred to, neither was I consulted as to the propriety of the -movement, either by the Honorable Secretary or the Oregon delegation. -Secretary Delano is qualified to defend his own action, and I only suggest -that, with the representations set forth, he acted wisely in the course he -pursued. - -Although I did not advise the appointment of a Peace Commission, I declare -that it was right, and no blame can be justly attached to either the -Commission or the appointing power, if it was not a success. - -The principle of adjusting difficulties by such means is in harmony with -justice and right. Let those who _burned_ the Honorable Secretary in -effigy remember the continued stream of denunciation that was poured out -against the Commission by a portion of the secular press of the Pacific -coast, and the reason why the peace measures failed may be better -understood. - - LETTER FROM WASHINGTON CITY. - - _How the "Peace Commission," was formed--An Account from General - Applegate--His Agency in the Matter._ - - WASHINGTON, D. C., January 29th, 1873. - -EDITORS BULLETIN: I "arise to explain" that, since coming to this city I -have been meddling somewhat with public affairs. You know the Indian -question is one which I think I have a right to express an opinion upon. I -ought to know something of Indians and Indian affairs; and, believing that -a wrong policy in regard to the Modocs might involve the country in a -tedious and expensive Indian war, without a sufficient degree of good -being accomplished by it to justify the losses, delays, and expenses -incurred, could not avoid undertaking such action as I believed might the -most quickly hasten a settlement of the trouble. - -The fame abroad of Indian wars and dangers in our State is very injurious -to the cause of immigration. A great many good people are confirmed in an -opinion, which has been very considerably entertained heretofore, namely, -that Oregon is yet an Indian country, and that the settlements are at all -times in imminent danger of the tomahawk and scalping-knife. - -My policy with Indians may be denominated the "pow-wow" policy. A matter -has not only to be thoroughly explained to an Indian, but it must be -explained over and over; and the fact is, that thirty years of observation -convince me that Indians can be talked into any opinion or out of it by -the men in whom they have confidence, and who understand the proper style -of Indian talk. Consequently, I was in favor of sending some man as a -Peace Commissioner to the Modoc country to pow-wow with these Indians and -settle the difficulty. "Jaw-bone" is cheaper than ammunition; and the fact -is, that all comes round to this at last, and always has. This might just -as well be done at first, it seems to me, as to go through all the ups and -downs, and expense of blood and treasure and long-delayed peace, with the -bad effects abroad on the State, and then come to it. - -I was, therefore, in favor of sending Mr. Meacham to that country -immediately as a peace officer, to turn the whole thing into a "big -talk," instead of letting it go on and getting into a big war. - -This policy was agreed upon by as many of the Oregonians as could be got -together. Styling ourselves an "Oregon delegation," we called upon -Attorney-General Williams, and submitted the matter to him. We promptly -received a note from the attorney-general, stating that Secretary Delano -would be glad to see us in regard to this matter, and on Saturday, the -25th, we called upon him. We found him a pleasant gentleman, with a very -serious business expression about his face. He heard our statements and -opinions with great patience, and requested a statement in writing of our -views, for the purpose of bringing the matter before the cabinet and -President. The following is the said document, which was signed by the -aforesaid Oregon delegation:-- - - WASHINGTON, D. C., January 27th, 1873. - - _Hon._ C. DELANO, _Secretary Interior_:-- - -DEAR SIR: We would most respectfully submit the following notes or -memoranda, in compliance with your request, on the 25th, that we should -embody in writing the views which we had just expressed on the situation -of affairs in the Klamath and Modoc country, in Southern Oregon:-- - -The Indians and military are incompatible. They cannot peaceably dwell in -contact. Soldiers should not be allowed to go on an Indian Reservation at -all. An agent in charge of an Indian Reservation should have the right to -determine who should be about the Reservation. - -The Modocs and the Klamaths have been at war as far back as tradition -knows. The Klamaths persecute the Modocs when the Modocs are on the -Klamath Reservation, because this Reservation is in the country of the -Klamaths. This is a most irritating cause of discontent with the Modocs. -The near vicinity of the Modocs to the ancient home of their fathers adds -to their discontent. Moreover, the Modocs do not understand that they have -justly parted ownership with their old home. The Modocs are desperate. -Their disposition now is to sell their lives as dearly as possible; not to -submit to the military. Active military operations should be suspended -immediately. Soldiers should remain in guard only (the regulars) of the -settlements against a raid by those Indians until a peace officer reports -on the situation. - -_Because_ to undertake to drive those Indians to the Reservation by force -would involve a considerable loss of life and property, and great expense -to the Government. - -_Because_ war and bloodshed in such close proximity to Klamath and Yai-nax -would produce disaffection among all those Indians, which would -continually augment the force of the insurgents, and even endanger a -general uprising and breaking up of those Reservations; and discontented -Indians from everywhere would seek the hostile camp, and make out of a -little misunderstanding a great war. - -_Because_ to force Indians on to a Reservation by arms, and keep them -there against their will, would require a standing army or a walled-up -Reservation. - -_Because_ those Indians already know that the Government is able to -annihilate them. There is nothing, therefore, to be gained in merely -making them feel its power. Their extermination would not be worth its -cost. And, moreover, they look to the Government to protect them against -local mistake and wrong. - -_Because_ they cannot, under the present juncture of affairs, be taught by -force the justice of the Government; for, to them, it is an attempt by -force to enforce an injustice--to force them to abandon their own home and -leave it unoccupied, while they are quartered upon the Klamaths; to use -the wood, water, grass, and fish of their ancient enemies, and endure the -humiliation of being regarded as inferior, because dependants; and -particularly so since those Indians had been quieted for some time with -the assurance that their request for a little Reservation of their own -would be favorably considered. They, therefore, considered the appeal to -the military to be premature, as a definite answer to their petition had -never been had. Different tribes of Indians can be better harmonized -together where none can claim original proprietorship to the soil. - -The Klamaths, Yai-nax, and Modocs all ought to be removed to the Coast -Reservation, a portion of which, lying between the Siletz and Tillamook, -west of the Grand Ronde, capable of sustaining a large population, remains -unoccupied, abounding in fish, game, and all the products of the soil to -which Indians are accustomed. - -A peace commissioner should hasten to the scene of trouble as coming from -the "Great Father" of all the people, both whites and Indians, with full -authority to hear and adjust all the difficulties. - -On account of his personal acquaintance with those Indians and their -implicit confidence in him, we would respectfully suggest and recommend -Hon. A. B. Meacham as a proper man to appoint as a peace commissioner for -the adjustment of difficulties with those tribes and the carrying out of -the policy herein indicated.--[SIGNED AS ABOVE STATED.] - - * * * * * - -The day following the filing of the above set of "_Becauses_" and -recommendations, I received a note inviting me to the Interior Department. -When notified of my appointment as Chairman of the Commission, I then -expressed doubts of its success, giving, as a reason, the intense feeling -of the western people against the Modocs and any peace measures; also as -to the safety of the commission in attempting to negotiate with a people -who were desperate, and had been successful in every engagement with the -Government forces. - -It is well known at the department in Washington that I accepted the -appointment with reluctance, and finally yielded my wishes on the urgent -solicitation of the Hon. Secretary of the Interior. The fact that I knew -the Modocs personally, and that I had been successful, while -Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon, in managing them peaceably in -1869, was given as one reason. Another was, the sympathy I had for them on -account of the treatment of them by the Klamaths; and another still, -humanity for the soldiers whose lives were imperilled by the effort to -make peace through blood, and charity for a poor, deluded people, whose -religious infatuation and hot blood had forfeited their right to life and -liberty. My heart was in sympathy, too, with the poor, bereaved wives and -mothers, made so by Modoc treachery; but I did not believe that doubling -the number of widows and orphans would make the griefs of the mourners -less, or lighter to be borne. - -The sands of the sage-brush plains had drank up the blood of a score of -manly hearts; immersing the lava rocks in blood could not make the dead -forms to rise again. - -With these feelings, and fully realizing the danger attending, and -anticipating the opposition that would be raised against the commission, I -left Washington on the 5th of February, 1873, with the determination to do -my whole duty, despite these untoward circumstances. The other members of -the commission were Hon. Jesse Applegate, a man of long experience on the -frontier, possessed of eminent qualities for such a mission, aside from -his personal knowledge of existing hostilities, and personal acquaintance -with the Modocs, and Samuel Case, who was then acting Indian Agent at -Alsea, Oregon. Mr. Case has had long experience and success in the -management of Indians; these qualities were requisite in treating with a -hostile people. _Both these appointments were made on my own -recommendation, based on a personal acquaintance with these gentlemen, -believing them fitted for the difficult task assigned the commission._ I -accepted the chairmanship more cheerfully, when informed that Gen. Canby -would act as counsellor to the commission, knowing, as I did, his great -experience among Indians, and the ability and character which he would -bring to bear upon the whole subject of the Modoc trouble. I knew him to -be humane and wise, and I had not the slightest doubt of his integrity. - -The following letter of instructions was furnished for the guidance of the -commission. - -With these, and the appointment of Messrs. Applegate and Case, I went to -the head-quarters of Gen. Canby, then at Fairchild's Ranch, twenty-five -miles from the Modoc camp in the Lava Beds. - -I arrived at Fairchild's Ranch on the 19th of February, where I found -General Canby, Hon. Jesse Applegate, and Agent Samuel Case. - -The Commission was duly organized, and immediately began operations -looking towards the objects sought to be accomplished. - -Communication with the rebel camp had been suspended after the visit of -Fairchild and Dorris. To reopen and establish it was the first work. This -was not easy to do under the circumstances. There were several Modoc -Indian women encamped near head-quarters; but it was necessary to have -some messenger more reliable. Living but a few miles distant, was a man -whose wife was a Klamath, and who was on friendly terms with the Modocs. -This man, "Bob Whittle," was sent for, with a request to bring his wife -with him. On his arrival, we found him to be a man of sound judgment, and -his wife to be a well-appearing woman; understanding the English language -tolerably well. - -A consultation was had, and we decided to send this Indian woman and her -husband, Bob Whittle, and "One-eyed Dixie," a Modoc woman, with a message -to the Modocs in the Lava Beds. The substance of this message was, that a -commission was then at Fairchild's ready to talk over matters with them. -This expedition was very hazardous. - -These messengers left head-quarters early on the morning of the 21st of -February, all of them _expressing doubt about ever returning_. Fairchild's -Ranch (our head-quarters) is situated at the foot of a mountain -overlooking the route to the Lava Beds, for several miles. We watched the -mounted messengers until we lost sight of them in the distance, wondering -whether we should ever see them again. - -Talk of _heroism_ being confined to race, color, or sex! nonsense; here -were two women and a man, venturing where few men would have _dared_ go. - -They returned late on the same day, unharmed, and reported having been in -the Modoc camp; and bringing with them, in response to our message, the -reply, that the Modocs were willing to meet John Fairchild and Bob -Whittle, at the foot of the bluff, for the purpose of arranging for a -council talk with the commission. - -Messrs. Fairchild and Whittle were despatched on the following morning, -accompanied by Matilda Whittle and "One-eyed Dixie." Mr. Fairchild was -instructed to announce the object of the commission, and, also, who were -its members, and to arrange to meet the representative men of the Modocs, -on some midway ground, with such precautionary measures as he might -consider necessary. - -He was also instructed to explain to them the meaning of an -armistice,--that _no act of war would be committed by us, or permitted by -them, while negotiations for peace were going on_. The meeting with -Captain Jack was had by Fairchild and party; the object stated, and the -_personnel_ of the commission made known. Captain Jack's reply was that he -was _ready to make peace_; that he did _not wish to fight_, but he was not -willing to come out of the Lava Beds to meet us. "I understand you about -not fighting, or killing cattle, or stealing horses. Tell your people they -need not be afraid to go over the country while we are making peace. My -boys will stay in the rocks while it is being settled; _we will not fire -the first shot_. You can go and hunt your cattle; no one will shoot you. -We will not begin again first. I want to see Esquire Steele. I am willing -to meet the commissioners at the foot of the bluff, but I don't want them -to come with soldiers to make peace. The soldiers frighten my boys." - -The messengers returned, accompanied by two Modoc warriors, who were to -carry back our answer. These Modocs were Boston Charley and Bogus Charley. -We refused to go to the foot of the bluff unless accompanied by an escort -of soldiers, but proposed to meet them on open ground, "_all armed_" or -"_all unarmed_." It was agreed that Esquire Steele should be sent for. -Bogus and Boston returned to the Modoc camp with the results of the -interview. Steele was invited to head-quarters. Gen. Canby requested by -telegraph the appointment of Judge A. M. Roseborough as a commissioner; -the request was granted, and, on the morning of the 23d, Steele and -Roseborough arrived. - -The commission now numbered four. The Modocs had refused to accept all -propositions for a meeting that had been made them, so far. Communication -was now had, almost daily, between the commissioners and Captain Jack, -Frank Riddle and his wife Tobey acting as messengers and interpreters. The -Modocs came to our camp in small numbers,--there they came in constant -communication with "squaw men" (white men who associate with Indian -women), whose sympathy was with them. - -From these they learned of the almost universal thirst for vengeance,--of -the indictments by the Jackson county courts against the "Lost-river" -murderers; the feelings of the newspaper press; the protest of the -Governor of Oregon; all of which was carried into the Modoc camp by such -men as Bogus and Boston Charley. I stop here to say that these two men -were well fitted for the part they played in the tragic event of which I -am writing. Bogus Charley was a full-blooded Modoc, whose father was lost -in some Indian battle. This boy was born on a small creek, called by the -miners Bogus creek; hence his name. He was not more than twenty-one years -old at this time. He had lived with white men at various times,--knew -something of civilized life,--was naturally shrewd and cunning; the -Indians called him a "double-hearted man;" and my readers will honor them -for their intelligence by the time we reach the gibbet, where Captain Jack -answered for this man's crimes. - -His counterpart may be found in civil life in finely dressed and -smooth-talking white men,--who are the scourges of good society,--persons -who are all things to all men, and true to none. Boston Charley was still -younger,--not over nineteen at the time justice caught him by the neck and -suspended him over a coffin at Fort Klamath, November 3d, 1873. He was so -named on account of his light complexion and his cunning; and as the -Indian said, "Because he had two tongues; one Indian and one white." His -father, a Modoc, died a natural death. He had no personal cause for his -treachery, and perhaps charity should have been extended _to him_, and his -life spared, because he was "_a natural-born traitor,_" according to Modoc -theology, and not to blame for his acts. - -However, such were the two principal messengers from the Modoc camp to -ours,--plausible fellows, who could lie without the slightest scruples. -They came, and were fed and clothed; they _went_, with their hearts full -of falsehoods that had been told them by whiskey-drinking white villains. -They, too, were plausible fellows; talked with the old-fashioned -"D----n-nigger-any-how" sort of a way. - -Under such circumstances it was a somewhat difficult thing to arrange a -council with the Modocs on reasonable terms. True, the Modocs did say that -they had been told by white men that if Gen. Canby and the commissioners -ever got them in their power they would _all_ be hung. But who would -believe a Modoc? This was simply an excuse; and, then, no one in all that -country would have done such a thing. That was a Modoc lie. Nobody but -Modocs ever tell lies. On the contrary, _every white man was honest_. They -all wanted _to stop the war_. Of course they did. Intimate anything else, -and you would get a hundred invitations to "target practice" in -twenty-four hours; or else you would _fall in a fit_, and never get up -again, caused by _remorse_ of conscience for injuring some unnamed -individual. - -On the arrival of Judge Roseborough and Esquire Steele the commission was -convened; a canvass of the situation was had. The proposition was made for -Mr. Steele to visit the Modoc camp. He consented to go, believing that he -could accomplish the object we had in view. He was _unwisely_ instructed -to offer terms of peace. This should not have been done. No terms ever -should have been offered through a _third party_,--Messrs. Roseborough, -Case, and Applegate voting for this measure. No one questioned Mr. -Steele's integrity or his sagacity, but many did question the propriety of -sending propositions of peace to the Modocs through a third party. This -gave them the advantage of refusal, and of the advantage of discussion in -offering alternatives. Mr. Steele was authorized to say that an amnesty -for all offenders would be granted on the condition of removal to a new -home on some distant Reservation, to be selected by the Modocs; they, -meanwhile, to be quartered on "Angel Island," in San Francisco harbor, as -_prisoners_ of war, and fed and clothed at Government expense. Mr. Steele -was accompanied on this mission by Fairchild and "Bill Dad" (correspondent -of the "Sacramento Record"), and also one or two other newspaper -correspondents,--Riddle and wife as interpreters. - -They went prepared to remain over night, taking blankets and provisions. -The Modocs received them with evident pleasure. - -After the usual preliminaries were over, the peace talk began. Captain -Jack made a long speech, repeating the history of the past, throwing all -the responsibility on to the messengers sent by Superintendent Odeneal, -denying that either he or his people had ever committed crime until -attacked by the soldiers; that he was anxious for peace. Mr. Steele made -the proposition to come out of the Lava Beds and go to a new home. - -Steele's speech was apparently well received, and an arrangement was made -whereby several Modocs were to return with him to the head-quarters of the -commission. Nothing of an alarming character occurred. The party returned -in the afternoon of the second day, accompanied by "Queen Mary" (sister of -Captain Jack), "Bogus Charley," "Hooker Jim," "Long Jim," "Boston -Charley," "Shacknasty Jim," "Duffy," "William," "Curly-haired Jack." - -We were on the lookout, and when the now enlarged party came in sight they -made an imposing appearance. Steele was in advance, and, raising his hat, -saluted our ears with the thrilling words, "They accept peace." Couriers -to ride to Y-re-ka were ordered, despatches prepared for the departments, -and the various newspapers. A general feeling of relief was manifest -everywhere around camp. We felt that a great victory over blood and -carnage had been won, and that our hazardous labors were nearly over. -Letters of congratulation were being prepared to send to friends, and all -was happiness and joy, when our gray-eyed friend, who was with the party, -put a sudden check on the exuberant feelings, by saying, "I don't think -the Modocs agreed to accept the terms offered. True, they responded to -Steele's speech, but _not in that way_. I tell you they do not understand -that they have agreed to _surrender yet, on any terms_." - -Mr. Steele repeated his declaration, and the speeches, as reported by -"Bill Dad," were read, from which it appeared they had greeted Steele's -peace-talk with applause. The Modocs, who came in with Steele and his -party, were called up and questioned as to the understanding. They were -reticent, saying they came out to _hear_ what was said, and not to _talk_. - -No expression could be obtained from them. Of the success of his mission, -Steele was so confident that he proposed to return the next day to Captain -Jack's camp, and reassure himself and the commission. He accordingly -started early the next morning, accompanied by the Modocs who came out -with him, and "Bill Dad" (the scribe). Mr. Fairchild was invited, but he -declined with a peculiarly slow swinging of his head from side to side, -that said a great deal; especially when he shut his eyes closely, while so -doing. Riddle, also, objected to going, but consented to let his wife -Tobey go. - -The party left behind them some minds full of anxiety, especially when -reflecting on Fairchild's pantomime. - -The Modocs, who were returning with Steele, reached the stronghold some -time before he did. On his arrival, the greeting made his "_hair stand on -end_,"--he saw fearful possibilities. It required no words to convince him -that he had been _mistaken_. He realized, in a moment, the great peril of -the hour. The slightest exhibition of fear on his part would have closed -up his career, and the scribe's, also. Steele's long experience with the -Indians had not fully qualified him to understand them in council; but it -_had_ taught him that _real_ courage commands respect even from infuriated -savages. - -He sought to appear indifferent to the changed manner, and extended his -hand to the chief, who exchanged the greetings with great caution, though -giving Steele to understand that he was still his friend. - -The council was opened, the chief remarking that they had _not yet shown -their hearts_; that his friend Steele had missed some of his words. - -Steele replied that he was their friend, and that he would not, knowingly, -misrepresent them. - -Schonchin accused him of being a traitor to the Modocs, and of telling -falsehoods about them; and, more by manner than by word, intimated that he -was done talking peace, showing a bad heart in his action, sufficiently to -enlighten Steele on the most important thing in the world to him, namely, -that Schonchin did not intend to give Steele another opportunity to -misrepresent the Modocs. - -Steele's courage and coolness saved him. He said to Schonchin, "I do not -want to talk to a man when his heart is bad. We will talk again -to-morrow." - -The council was dissolved, the Modocs scattering about the camp, or -gathering in little squads, and talking in low tones. - -The indications were, that the time for saying prayers had come, at least -for Steele and Bill Dad. - -Captain Jack and Scar-faced Charley demonstrated that manhood and fidelity -may be found even in Indian camps. They, without saying in words that -Steele and Bill Dad were in danger, told them to sleep in Jack's camp, and -proceeded to prepare the night-bed. Our messengers trustingly lay down to -rest, if not to sleep, while Scar-faced Charley, Jack and Queen Mary, -stood guard over their friends. Several times in the night, Steele looked -from under the blankets, to see each time his self-appointed guards -standing sentinel in silence. - -All night long they remained at their posts, and it was well for Steele -and Bill Dad that they did; otherwise they would have been sent off, that -very night, to the other side of the "dark river." - -The morning came and the council reassembled; the signs of murder were not -wanting. Angry words and dark hints told the feeling. - -Steele, relying on the friendship of Captain Jack and Scarface Charley, -proposed that he would return to the head-quarters of the commission, and -_bring with them all the commissioners the next day_. - -This strategy was successful. He was permitted to depart on his promise to -lead the commission to the Modoc slaughter-pen. On his arrival at our camp -he looked some older than when he left the morning previous. - -He admitted that he had been mistaken, detailing, without attempt at -concealment, that he had escaped only by promising that the commission -should visit the Lava Beds unarmed; but with candor declared that if they -went they would be murdered; that the Modocs were desperate, and were -disposed to recall the Ben Wright affair, and dwell upon it in a way that -indicated their thirst for revenge. - -The department at Washington was informed by telegraph, and also by -letter, of the progress of negotiations from time to time, and _always, -without exception, by the advice and approbation of Gen. Canby_. - -On Steele's return, as Chairman of the Peace Commission, I telegraphed -the facts above referred to, and that it was the opinion of the -commission, concurred in by Gen. Canby, that treachery was intended, and -that the mission could not succeed, and that we were awaiting orders; to -which we received the following reply:-- - - DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, March 5, 1873. - - A. B. MEACHAM, _Fairchild's Ranch, via Yreka, Cal._: - - I do not believe the Modocs mean treachery. The mission should - not be a failure. Think I understand now their unwillingness to - confide in you. Continue negotiations. - - Will consult President, and have War Department confer with - General Canby to-morrow. - - C. DELANO, - _Secretary_. - -The camp wore a gloomy aspect. The soldiers who had been with Maj. Jackson -on Lost river, and with Gen. Wheaton in the Lava Beds, were anxious for -peace on any terms. - -Another fight was not desirable. They were real friends to the Peace -Commission. The field-glasses were often turned toward the trail leading -to the Lava Beds. - -Late one evening, a small squad of Modocs were seen coming. Hope began to -dawn again on the camp. When they arrived, "Queen Mary," speaking for her -brother, proposed, that if Gen. Canby would send wagons and teams to meet -them half way, the Modocs would all come out and surrender. - -The proposition was accepted, the commission decided _three to one_, to -turn the whole matter over to Gen. Canby; meanwhile awaiting the -confirmation of the Secretary of the Interior of the above action. - -Gen. Canby, accepting the charge conferred by this unwarranted action of -our board, assumed the management of affairs; and the chairman could only -look on, giving opinions when requested by Gen. Canby, though confident -that it was not the intention of the Department of the Interior to -transfer this matter to the Department of War at that time. The telegraph -station was at Y-re-ka, sixty-miles from head-quarters; hence two to three -days were required to receive replies to telegrams. - -Gen. Canby, anxious for peace,--as, indeed, he always was, from humane -motives toward his soldiers and the Indians also, because he believed in -the principle,--attempted to settle the difficulties, and, knowing it to -be the policy of the President, accepted the terms offered. Mary and the -men who came out with her returned to the Lava Beds, with the distinct -understanding that the teams would be sent _without_ a squad of soldiers -to a point designated, and that on the following Monday all the Modocs -would be there. - -When Gen. Canby assumed the control of this affair, he conducted his -councils without Riddle and his wife as interpreters, although they were -present, and were in Government employ by the commission. - -For some reason he became prejudiced against them, and did not recognize -them as interpreters. This fact was observed by the Modocs, and they were -anxious to know why this was so. - -Before leaving, "Boston," who was with Mary, signified to Tobey (Mrs. -Riddle), that she would not see him again, saying: "If you ever see me, I -will pay you for the saddle I borrowed." - -Tobey, feeling incensed at the treatment received, was reticent, and, -Indian-like, kept quiet, saying nothing of her suspicions. - -The day before the time for surrender another messenger came from the -Modocs, saying that they could not get ready, that they were burning their -dead, but promising that two days hence they would surely come. - -Gen. Canby accepted the apology, and assured the messenger that the teams -would be sent. - -Meanwhile, the report went out that the war was over, much to the disquiet -of those who were anxious to secure U. S. greenbacks. - -The day previous to the proposed surrender, Riddle and his wife expressed -to me their opinion, that if the teams were sent they would be _captured_, -or that no Modocs would meet them, to surrender. - -I sought an interview with Gen. Canby, giving him the opinions I had -formed from Riddle's talk. - -The general called Riddle and his wife to his quarters. They repeated to -him what they had previously said to me. He consulted Gen. Gilliam, and -concluded that Mrs. Riddle either did not know, or was working into the -hands of the Modocs, or, perhaps, was influenced in some way by those who -were opposed to peace. - -At all events, on the morning fixed upon, the teams were sent out, under -charge of Mr. Steele. Many an anxious eye followed them until they passed -out of sight. - -The hours dragged slowly by for their return; but so sanguine were Gen. -Canby and Gen. Gilliam that tents were prepared for their accommodation, -one was designated as "Captain Jack's Marquee," another "Schonchin's," and -so on, through the row of white canvas tents. - -Mr. Applegate was so certain that they would come that he left the -head-quarters for home, and reported en route: "The war is over. The -Modocs have surrendered." - -The soldiers were ready and anxious to welcome the heroes of the Lava -Beds. The sentiment was not universal that the wagons would return loaded -with Indians. - -Our keen-sighted, gray-eyed man shook his head. "I don't think they will -come. They are not going to Angel Island, as prisoners of war, just yet." - -Riddle and wife were in distress; their warning had been disregarded, -their opinions dishonored, their integrity doubted. - -Every field-glass was turned on the road over which the wagons were to -come. _Four o'clock P.M._, no teams in sight. _Five_,--no Indian yet; and, -finally, as the shadow of the mountain fell over the valley, the glasses -discovered, first, Mr. Steele alone, and soon the empty wagons came slowly -down the road. - -Darkness covered the valley, and also the hearts of those who really -desired peace. But a new hope was now revived in the hearts of those who, -from near and afar, were clamoring for the blood of the Modocs. - -Another delegation arrived from the Modoc camp, saying, "The Modocs could -not agree; they wanted more time to think about it." - -The truth is, that they failed to agree about capturing the teams. Jack -and Scar-face were opposed to it. The authorities at Washington were -informed of this failure, also; and they replied to the commission, -"Continue negotiations." Mr. Case resigned; Judge Roseborough returned to -his duties on the bench. - -Gen. Canby notified the Modocs that no more trifling would be tolerated. -Recruits were coming daily,--one company, passing near the Lava Beds, -_captured about thirty Modoc ponies_. Gen. Canby moved his head-quarters -to Van Bremen's, a few miles nearer the Lava Beds. - -I suggested to General Canby, that the capture of horses was in violation -of the armistice, and that they should be returned. The general objected, -saying, that they should be well cared for and turned over when peace was -made. - -Dr. Eleazer Thomas, of California, at the request of Senator Sargent, was -added to the commission, as was, also, Mr. Dyer, agent of the Klamath -Indians. - -Dr. Thomas brought with him a long and successful experience as a minister -of the Methodist Church. He had lived on the Pacific coast for eighteen -years; but he had little experience or knowledge of Indians. Being a man -of great purity of character and untiring energy, coupled with a humane -heart and active hand, he threw himself into this new mission with -earnestness, and was impatient to begin to do something towards the -accomplishment of _peace_. - -Gen. Canby was sending out exploring parties of armed mounted men -occasionally,--the ostensible object of which was to obtain a better -knowledge of the country around the Lava Beds, with a view to moving the -army nearer the Modocs. The commission was not informed of these -expeditions, or their objects, by Gen. Canby, but through other parties. - -On one occasion, Dr. Thomas went out with a company, and while surveying -the Lava Beds at a distance, they met several Modocs, with whom he talked, -and succeeded in reopening communication. - -A delegation of Indians visited the new camp at Van Bremens. Every effort -made through them to secure a meeting with the Board of Commissioners and -Modocs failed. - -Gen. Canby notified the Modoc chief of his intention to change the -position of the army, so that the communications might be more easily -made; and, also, that he would not commence hostilities against them -unless they provoked an attack. - -Captain Jack's reply was, that he would not "fire the first shot;" but, -through his messengers, he asked a return of his horses. - -Indians have great love for their horses. When a small company of the -Modoc women came in asking for their ponies, they were denied them, but -were permitted to go under guard to the corral and see them. It was a -touching scene,--those Indian women caressing their ponies. They turned -sadly away, when compelled, by orders, to leave the corral. - -The fact is, several of these ponies had already been appropriated for the -use of _young_ soldiers, at home, when the war should be over. - -On the last day of March, 1873, the camp at Van Bremens was broken up, and -the army was put in motion for the Lava Beds. - -I was never shown any order from either department, at Washington city, -that authorized this movement, though I do not doubt Gen. Canby felt -justified in so doing. - -The commission was notified--not consulted. We were under instructions "in -no wise to interfere with the army movement, but always, as far as -possible, to confer and co-operate with Gen. Canby." - -Four days were occupied in moving. We arrived at the top of the bluff -overlooking this now historic spot of rocks, about noon of the second day. - -How little we knew then of the near future, when Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas -would be carried, in rough-made coffins, _up_ the zigzag road that we went -down on that day! - -Our new camp was pitched near the foot of this high bluff, and immediately -on the shore of the lake. From it, with a field-glass, we could see Capt. -Jack's people moving around their rocky home, not more than one mile and a -half, air-line, though two miles around by land. - -While my memory is still green with the scenes that followed, and I have -not justified and will not justify or seek to palliate the crimes of the -Modocs, still I cannot forget some of the meditations of the half hour I -sat with Dr. Thomas, when half-way down the bluff, up which I was not to -go at all, and the doctor only as a corpse. - -I have recollections yet of a part, at least, of the conversation between -us. We were representing one of the most powerful governments in the -world, and bearing peace and human kindness in our hearts, while passing -us, as we sat, were the sinews of war,--armed soldiers by the hundred. -Cannon were being dragged down the hill, tents were being erected, and all -the circumstance of military power and display was at our feet or above -us, hastening to compel an infuriated, misguided people to acknowledge the -authority of our Government. - -Over yonder, within range of our glasses, were a half-hundred men, -unlettered, uncivilized, and infuriated by a superstitious religious -faith, that urged them to reject the "olive-branch" which we came to offer -them. - -We could see beyond them another army of ten times their number, camping -nearer to them. - -The doctor was moved by deep feeling of compassion for them, and spoke -very earnestly of their helpless condition,--benighted in mind, without -enough of the great principles of Christian justice and power to recognize -and respect the individual rights of others. Doomed as a race, hopeless -and in despair, they sat on their stony cliffs, around their caves, and -counted the men, and horses, and guns, that came down the hill to _make -peace_ with them, turning their eyes only to see the sight repeated. - -Look nearer at the boys with blue dress, as they pass us, bearing camp -equipage. Many of the men are going down this hill to _stay_, unless we -can make peace with the Modocs. Our hearts grow sick at the thoughts -suggested by our surroundings. - -Mutually pledging anew to stand together for peace as long as there was a -hope, we slowly followed down to the camp. - -I cannot forbear mentioning an accident of the evening. - -Gen. Canby's tent was partly up when I passed near him. He said, "Well, -Mr. Meacham, where is your tent?"--"It has not come," I replied. - -The general ordered the men to pull up the pins and move his tent to the -site we had selected for ours. It was only by the most earnest entreaty on -our part that he countermanded the order, and then only on our promise to -share his tent with him, if ours was not put up in time for us to occupy -for the night. - -On the day following our arrival a meeting was had with the Modocs. On our -part, Gen. Canby, Gen. Gilliam, Dr. Thomas, Mr. Dyer and myself, Frank -Riddle and Tobey as interpreters. Some of our party were armed; others -were not. Riddle and his wife Tobey were suspicious of treachery, and -said, as we went, "Be sure to mix up with the Modocs; don't let them get -you in a bunch." - -"Boston," who had come to our camp to arrange for the meeting, led the -way. We saw arising, apparently out of the rocks, a smoke. When we arrived -we found Captain Jack, and the principal men of his band, and about -half-a-dozen women standing by a fire built in a low, rocky basin. - -Dr. Thomas was the first to descend. He did not seem to observe, indeed he -did not observe, that we were going entirely out of sight of the -field-glasses at our camp. - -The place suggested treachery, especially after Riddle's warning. I -scanned the rocks around the rim of the basin, but did not see ambushed -men; nevertheless, I had some misgiving; but it was too late to retreat -then, and to have refused to join the council would have invited an -attack. The greetings were cordial; nothing that indicated danger except -the place, and the fact that there were three times as many Indians as -"Boston" had said would be there. One reassuring circumstance was the -presence of their women. But this may have been only a blind. After -smoking the pipe of _peace_ the talk opened, each one of our party making -short speeches in favor of peace, and showing good intentions. The chief -replied in a short preliminary talk; Schonchin also. We stated our object, -and explained why the soldiers were brought so closely,--that we wanted to -feel safe. - -Thus passed nearly an hour, when an incident occurred that caused some of -our party to change position very quietly. - -Hooker Jim said to Mr. Riddle, "Stand aside,--get out of the way!" in -Modoc. Some of us understood what it meant. Tobey moved close to our party -and reprimanded Hooker. Captain Jack said to him, "Stop that." - -This lava bed country being at an altitude of four thousand five hundred -feet, and immediately under the lee of high mountains on the west, is -subject to heavy storms. - -While we were talking, a black cloud overspread the rocks and a rain-storm -came on. - -Gen. Canby remarked that "We could not talk in the rain." Captain Jack -seemed to treat the remark with ridicule, though the interpreters omitted -to mention the fact. He said "The rain was a small matter;" that "Gen. -Canby was better clothed than he was," but "he (Jack) would not melt like -snow." - -Gen. Canby proposed to erect a council tent on half-way ground, where -subsequent meetings could be held. - -This proposition was agreed to, and just as the storm was at its height. - -No agreement was made for another meeting, although it was understood that -negotiations would be continued. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVII. - - CAPTAIN JACK A DIPLOMAT--SHOOT ME IF YOU DARE. - - -On the following day the council tent was erected in a comparatively -smooth plot of land, in the Lava Beds, care being taken to select a site -as far as possible from rocks that might answer for an ambuscade. - -This place was less than one mile from our camp, and a little more than a -mile from the Modocs. Meanwhile the signal corps had established -communication between the two army camps. The signal station at our camp -was half way up the bluff, and commanded a view of the council tent, and -of the trail leading to it from the Modoc stronghold, as it did of the -entire Lava Beds. - -Col. Mason's command being on the opposite side of Captain Jack's -head-quarters, from our camp, the three were almost in a line. -Communication was also established between the army camps, with boats -going from one to the other, and, in doing so, passing in full view of the -Modocs. - -The Modocs were permitted to visit the head-quarters during the day, and -to mix and mingle with the officers and men. The object of this liberty -was to convince them of the friendly intentions of the army, and also of -its power, as they everywhere saw the arms and munitions of war. They were -also permitted to examine the shell mortars and the shells themselves. - -On one occasion Bogus Charley and Hooker Jim observed the signal telegraph -working, and inquired the meaning of it. They were told by Gen. Gilliam -that he was talking to the other camp; that he knew what was going on over -there; they were also informed that Col. Mason would move up nearer to -their camp in a few days, and that he, Gen. Gilliam, would move his camp -on to the little flat very near Captain Jack's. "But don't you shoot my -men. I won't shoot your men, but I am going over there to see if -everything is all right." Gen. Gilliam also informed them that, "in a few -days, one hundred Warm Spring braves would be there." - -These things excited the Modocs very much. Bogus Charley questioned -General Gilliam, "What for you talk over my home? I no like that. What for -the Warm Springs come here?" Receiving no satisfactory reply, they went to -Fairchild, who was in camp, and expressed much dissatisfaction on account -of the signal telegraph, and the coming of the Warm Spring Indians. - -On the 5th of April Captain Jack sent Boston Charley, with a request for -old man Meacham to meet him at the council tent, and to bring John -Fairchild along. This message was laid before the board. It was thought, -both by Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas, to be fraught with danger. I did not, -and I assumed the responsibility of going this time; inviting Mr. -Fairchild, and taking Riddle and his wife as interpreters, I went. - -[Illustration: WI-NE-MAH (TOBEY).] - -Judge Roseborough arrived in camp, and came on after we had reached the -council tent. - -Captain Jack was on the ground, accompanied by his wives and seven or -eight men. On this occasion he talked freely, saying, substantially, that -he felt afraid of Gen. Canby, on account of his military dress; and, also, -of Dr. Thomas, because he was a Sunday doctor; but "now I can talk. I am -not afraid. I know you and Fairchild. I know your hearts." He reviewed the -circumstances that led to the war, nearly in the order they have been -referred to in this volume, and differing in no material point, except -that he blamed Superintendent Odeneal for not coming in person to see him -while on Lost river, saying, "that he would not have resisted him. Take -away the soldier, and the war will stop. Give me a home on Lost river. I -can take care of my people. I do not ask anybody to help me. We can make a -living for ourselves. Let us have the same chance that other men have. We -do not want to ask an agent where we can go. We are _men_; we are not -women." - -I replied, that, "since blood has been spilled on Lost river, you cannot -live there in peace; the blood would always come up between you and the -white men. The army cannot be withdrawn until all the troubles are -settled." - -After sitting in silence a few moments, he replied, "I hear your words. I -give up my home on Lost river. Give me this lava bed for a home. I can -live here; take away your soldiers, and we can settle everything. Nobody -will ever want these rocks; give me a home here." - -Assured that no peace could be had while he remained in the rocks, unless -he gave up the men who committed the murders on Lost river for trial, he -met me with real Indian logic: "Who will try them,--white men or Indians?" - -"White men, of course," I replied, although I knew that this man had an -inherent idea of the right of trial by a jury of his peers, and that he -would come back with another question not easy to be answered by a citizen -_who believed in equal justice to all men_. - -"Then will you give up the men who killed the Indian women and children on -Lost river, to be tried by the Modocs?" - -I said, "No, because the Modoc law is dead; the white man's law rules the -country now; only one law lives at a time." - -He had not yet exhausted all his mental resources. Hear him say: "Will you -try the men who fired on my people, on the east side of Lost river, by -your own law?" - -This inquiry was worthy of a direct answer, and it would seem that no -honest man need hesitate to say "Yes." _I did not_ say yes, because I knew -that the prejudice was so strong against the Modocs that it could not be -done. I could only repeat that "the white man's law rules the -country,--the Indian law is dead." - -"Oh, yes, I see; the white man's laws are good for the white man, but they -are made so as to leave the Indian out. No, my friend, I cannot give up -the young men to be hung. I know they did wrong,--their blood was bad when -they saw the women and children dead. _They_ did not begin; the white man -began first; I know they are bad; I can't help that; I have no strong -laws, and strong houses; some of your young men are bad, too; _you_ have -strong laws and strong houses (jails); why don't you make your men do -right? No, I cannot give up my young men; take away the soldiers, and all -the trouble will stop." - -I repeated again: "The soldiers cannot be taken away while you stay in the -Lava Beds." Laying his hand on my arm, he said, "Tell me, my friend, what -I am to do,--I do not want to fight." I said to him, "The only way now for -peace is to come out of the rocks, and we will hunt up a new home for you; -then all this trouble will cease. No peace can be made while you stay in -the Lava Beds; we can find you another place, and the President will give -you each a home." He replied, "I don't know any other country. God gave me -this country; he put my people here first. I was born here,--my father was -born here; I want to live here; I do not want to leave the ground where I -was born." - -On being again assured that he "must come out of the rocks and leave the -country, acknowledge the authority of the Government, and then we could -live in peace," his reply was characteristic of the man and his race:-- - -"You ask me to come out, and put myself in your power. I cannot do it,--I -am afraid; no, I am not afraid, but my people are. When you was at -Fairchild's ranch you sent me word that no more preparation for war would -be made by you, and that I must not go on preparing for war until this -thing was settled. I have done nothing; I have seen your men passing -through the country; I could have killed them; I did not; my men have -stayed in the rocks all the time; they have not killed anybody; they have -not killed any cattle. I have kept my promise,--_have you kept yours_? -Your soldiers stole my horses, you did not give them up; you say 'you -want peace,' why do you come with so many soldiers to make peace? I see -your men coming every day with big guns; does _that_ look like making -peace?" - -Then, rising to his feet, he pointed to the farther shore of the lake: "Do -you see that dark spot there? _do you see it?_ Forty-six of my people met -Ben Wright there when I was a little boy. He told them he wanted to make -peace. It was a rainy day; my people wore moccasins then; their feet were -wet. _He smoked the pipe with them._ They believed him; they set down to -dry their feet; they unstrung their bows, and laid them down by their -sides; when, suddenly, Ben Wright drawing a pistol with each hand, began -shooting my people. Do you know how many escaped? _Do you know?_" With his -eye fixed fiercely on mine, he waited a minute, and then, raising one -hand, with his fingers extended, he answered silently. Continuing, he -said: "One man of the five--Te-he-Jack--is now in that camp there," -pointing to the stronghold. - -I pointed to "Bloody Point," and _asked him how many escaped there_? He -answered: "Your people and mine were at war then; they were not making -peace." - -On my asserting that "Ben Wright did wrong to kill people under a flag of -truce," he said: "_You_ say it is wrong; but your _Government_ did not say -it was wrong. It made him a tyee chief. Big Chief made him an Indian -agent." - -This half-savage had truth on his side, as far as the Government was -concerned; as to the treachery of Ben Wright, that has been emphatically -denied, and just as positively affirmed, by parties who were cognizant of -the affair. It is certain that the Modocs have always claimed that he -violated a flag of truce, and that they have never complained of any -losses of men in any other way. I have no doubt that this massacre had -been referred to often in the Modoc councils by the "Curly-haired Doctor" -and his gang of cut-throats, for the purpose of preventing peace-making. - -Captain Jack, rising to full stature, broke out in an impassioned speech, -that I had not thought him competent to make:-- - -"I am but one man. I am the voice of my people. Whatever their hearts are, -that I talk. I want no more war. I want to be a man. You deny me the right -of a white man. My skin is red; my heart is a white man's heart; but I am -a _Modoc_. I am not afraid to die. I will not fall on the rocks. When I -die, my enemies will be under me. Your soldiers begun on me when I was -asleep on Lost river. They drove us to these rocks, like a wounded deer. -Tell your soldier tyee I am over there now; tell him not to hunt for me on -Lost river or Shasta Butte. Tell him I _am over there_. I want him to take -his soldiers away. I do not want to fight. I am a Modoc. I am not afraid -to die. I can show him how a Modoc can die." - -I advised him to think well; that our Government was strong, and would not -go back; if he would not come out of the rocks the war would go on, and -all his people would be destroyed. - -Before parting, I proposed for him to go to camp with me, and have dinner -and another talk. He said "he was not afraid to go, but his people were -afraid for him. He could not go." - -This talk lasted nearly seven hours, and was the only full, free talk had -with the Modocs during the existence of the Peace Commission. - -I left that council having more respect for the Modoc chief than I had -ever felt before. No arrangement was made for subsequent meetings, he -going to his camp, to counsel with his people. We returned to ours, to -report to the Board of Commissioners the talk, from the notes taken. Judge -Roseborough, who had been present a portion of the time, and Mr. -Fairchild, agreed with me that Captain Jack himself wanted peace, and was -willing to accept the terms offered; but he, being in the hands of bad -men, might not be able to bring his people out of the rocks. - -Gen. Canby, Dr. Thomas, and Mr. Dyer were of the opinion that, inasmuch as -Captain Jack had abandoned his claim to Lost river, which he had always -insisted on previously, he might consent to a removal. We did not believe -that his people would permit him to make such terms. We were all more -anxious than before to save Captain Jack and those who were in favor of -peace. Accordingly, it was determined to make the effort, Gen. Canby -authorizing me to say, through a messenger, that, if Captain Jack and the -peace party would come out, he would place the troops in position to -protect him while making the attempt. - -Tobey Riddle was despatched to the Modoc camp with the message, fully -instructed what to say. On her arrival, Captain Jack refused a _private_ -conference, saying, "I want my people all to hear." The proposition was -made, the vote was taken, and but eleven men voted with Jack to accept the -terms, the majority giving warning that any attempt to escape would be -attended with chances of death to all who dared it. Captain Jack replied -to the message: "I am a _Modoc_, and I cannot, and will not, leave my -people." The reason was evident--he _dared_ not, knowing that his own life -and that of his family would pay the penalty. - -This vote in Tobey's presence gave a knowledge as to the number of peace -men in the Modoc camp. On her return to our camp, one of the peace men -(the wild girl's man), having secreted himself behind a rock near the -trail, as she passed, said to her: "Tell old man Meacham and all the men -not to come to the council tent again--they get killed." Tobey could not -stop to hear more, lest she should betray her friend who was giving her -the information. She arrived at the Peace Commission tent in camp in great -distress; her eyes were swollen, and gave evidence of weeping. She sat on -her horse in solemn, sullen silence for some minutes, refusing to speak -until her husband arrived. He beckoned me to him, and, with whitened lips, -told the story of the intended assassination. The board was assembled, and -the warning thus given us was repeated by Riddle, also the reply of -Captain Jack to our message. A discussion was had over the warning, Gen. -Canby saying that they "might talk such things, but they would not attempt -it." Dr. Thomas was inclined to believe that it was a sensational story, -got up for effect. Mr. Dyer and myself accepted the warning, accrediting -the authority. - -On the day following, a delegation composed of "Bogus," "Boston," and -"Shacknasty," arrived, and proposed a meeting at the council tent; saying -that Captain Jack and four other Indians were there waiting for us to meet -them. I was managing the talks and negotiations for councils, and without -evincing distrust of Boston, who was spokesman, said we were not ready to -talk that day. While the parley was going on, an orderly handed Gen. Canby -a despatch from the signal station, saying, "_Five Indians at the council -tent, apparently unarmed, and about twenty others, with rifles, are in the -rocks a few rods behind them_." This paper was passed from one to another -without comment, while the talk with Boston was being concluded. We were -all convinced that treachery was intended on that day. - -Before the Modocs left our camp, Dr. Thomas unwisely said to Bogus -Charley, "What do you want to kill us for? We are your friends." Bogus, in -a very earnest manner, said, "Who told you that?" The doctor evaded. Bogus -insisted; growing warmer each time; and finally, through fear, or perhaps -he was too honest to evade longer, the doctor replied, "Tobey told it." -Bogus signalled to Shacknasty and Boston, and the three worthies left our -camp together; Bogus, however, having questioned Tobey as to the -authorship of the warning, before leaving. Riddle and his wife were much -alarmed now for their own personal safety. Up to this time they had felt -secure. The trio of Modocs had not been gone very long, when a messenger -came demanding of Tobey to visit the Modoc camp. She was alarmed, as was -Riddle. They sought advice of the commission,--they thought there was -great danger. _I did not._ - -A consultation was had with General Canby, who proposed to move -immediately against the Modocs were Tobey assaulted. With this assurance -she consented to go. In proof of my faith in her return I loaned her my -overcoat, and gave her my horse to ride. She parted with her little boy -(ten years old) several times before she succeeded in mounting her -horse,--clasping him to her breast, she would set him down and start, and -then run to him and catch him up again,--each time seeming more -affected,--until at last her courage was high enough, and, saying a few -words in a low voice to her husband, she rode off on this perilous -expedition to meet her own people. Riddle, too, was very uneasy about her -safety; with a field-glass in hand he took a station commanding a view of -the trail to the Modoc camp. This incident was one of thrilling interest. -We could see that Indian woman when she arrived in the Modoc camp, and -could see them gather around her. They demanded to know by what authority -she had told the story about their intention to kill the commission. She -denied that she had; but the denial was not received as against the -statement of Bogus. She then claimed that she dreamed it; this was not -accepted. The next dodge was, "The spirits told me." Believers as they are -in _Spiritualism_, they would not receive this statement, and began to -make threats of violence; declaring that she should give the name of her -informer, or suffer the consequences. Rising to a real heroism, she -pointed with one hand, saying, "There are soldiers there," and with the -other, "There are soldiers there; you touch me and they will fire on you, -and not a Modoc will escape." Smiting her breast, she continued: "I am a -Modoc woman; all my blood is Modoc; I did not dream it; the spirits did -not tell me; one of your men told me. I won't tell you who it was. _Shoot -me, if you dare!_" - -On her return she gave an account of this intensely thrilling scene as -related, and it has been subsequently confirmed by other Modocs who were -present. Captain Jack and Scar-face Charley interfered in her behalf, and -sent an escort to see her safely to our camp. She repeated her warning -against going to the peace tent. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVIII. - - WHO HAD BEEN THERE--WHO HAD NOT. - - -Let us change the scene, and transfer ourselves to the marquee of Gen. -Gilliam. Gen. Canby is sitting on a camp-chair, and near him Col. Barnard. -On the camp-bedstead sits Gen. Gilliam, and by his side Col. Mason; the -chairman of the Peace Commission on a box almost between the parties. The -talk is of Modocs, peace, treachery, Ben Wright, battle of 17th January, -the stronghold. Gen. Gilliam remarks, addressing Gen. Canby: "Well, -general, whenever you are through trying to make peace with those fellows, -I think I can take them out of their stronghold with the loss of -_half-a-dozen men_." Canby sat still, and said nothing. Gilliam continued: -"Oh, we may have some casualties in wounded men, of course; but I can take -them out whenever you give the order." Silence followed for a few moments. - -Gen. Canby, fixing his cigar in his mouth and his eye on Col. Mason, sat -looking the question he did not wish to ask in words. - -Col. Mason, seeming to understand the meaning of the look, said: "With due -deference to the opinion of Gen. Gilliam, I think if we take them out with -the _loss of one-third of the entire command, it is doing as well as I -expect_." - -The portly form of Col. Barnard moved slowly forward and back, thereby -saying, "I agree with you, Col. Mason." Col. John Green came in, and, to -an inquiry about how many men it would cost, he replied evasively, saying, -"I don't know; only we got licked on the 17th of January like ----. Beg -your pardon, general." Canby continued smoking his cigar, without fire in -it. Here were four men giving opinions. One of them had fought rebels in -Tennessee, and was a success there; the other three fought rebels also -successfully, and Modocs in the Lava Beds _unsuccessfully_. They knew -whereof they were talking. The opinions of these men doubtless made a deep -impression on the mind of the commanding general, and, knowing him as I -did, I can well understand how anxious he was for peace when he had the -judgment of soldiers like _Green_, Mason, and Barnard, that, if war -followed, about one in three of the boys who idolized him _must die to -accomplish peace through blood_. - -Move over one hundred yards to another marquee; the sounds betoken a -discussion there also. Young, brave, ambitious officers are denouncing the -Peace Commission, complaining that the army is subjected to disgrace by -being held in abeyance by it. - -Their words are bitter; and they mean it, too, because fighting is their -business. Col. Green, coming in, says, in angry voice, "Stop that! the -Peace Commission have a right here as much as we have. They are our -friends. God grant them success. I have been in _the Lava Beds once_. -Don't abuse the Peace Commission, gentlemen." The fiery young officers -respect the man who talks; they say no more. - -Come down a little further. Oh, here is the Peace Commission tent, and -around a stove sits the majestic Dr. Thomas, grave, dignified, thoughtful. -Mr. Dyer is there also, quiet and meditative, with his elbows on his -knees, and his face is buried in his hands; Meacham occasionally -recruiting the sage-brush embers in the stove with fresh supplies of fuel. -A rap on the tent-pole. "Come in," and a fine-looking, middle-aged officer -enters. Once glance at his face, and we see plainly that he has come for a -_growl_. - -After the compliments are passed, Col. Tom Wright--for it was he--begins -by saying that he wanted to growl at some one, and he had selected our -camp as the place most likely to furnish him with a victim. "All right, -colonel, pitch in," says Meacham. - -The doctor just then remembered that he had a call to make on Gen. Canby. -"Well," says the gallant colonel, "why don't you leave here, and give us a -chance at those Modocs? We don't want to lie here all spring and summer, -and not have a chance at them. Now you know we don't like this delay, and -we can't say a word to Gen. Canby about it. I think you ought to leave, -and let us clean them out." - -I detailed the conversation had in Gen. Gilliam's marquee, and also -expressed some doubts on the subject. - -"Pshaw!" says Col. Wright. "I will bet two thousand dollars that Lieut. -Eagan's company and mine can whip the Modocs in _fifteen minutes_ after we -get into position. Yes, I'll put the money up,--I mean it." - -"Well, my dear colonel, you might just say to Gen. Canby that he can send -off the other part of the army, about nine hundred men besides your -company and Eagan's. As to our leaving we have a right to be here, and we -are under the control of Gen. Canby; and as to moving on the enemy, Gen. -Canby _is not ready until the Warm Spring Indians arrive_. I am of the -opinion that no peace can be made, and that you will have an opportunity -to try it on with the Modoc chief." The colonel bade me "good-night," -saying that he felt better now, since he had his growl out. - -It is morning, and our soldier-cook has deserted us, and deserted the army -too. It seems to be now pretty well understood that no peace can be made -with the Modocs, and several of the boys have deserted. Those who have -_met_ the Modocs have no desire to meet them _again_. Those who have not, -are demoralized by the reports that others gave; and since the common -soldiers serve for pay, and have not much hope of promotion, they are not -so warlike as the brave officers, who have their stars to win on the field -of battle. Money won't hire a cook, hence we must cook for ourselves. -Well, all right; Dyer and I have done that kind of thing before this, and -we can again. - -While we are preparing breakfast a couple of soldiers come about the fire. -"I say, capt'n, have you give it up tryin' to make peace with them Injuns -there?" - -"Don't know; why?" we reply. - -"Well, 'cause why them boys as has been in there says as how it's nearly -litenin'; them Modocs don't give a fellow any chance; we don't want any -Modoc, we don't." - -"Sorry for you, boys; we are doing all we can to save you, but the -pressure is too heavy; guess you'll have to go in and bring them out." - -Squatting down before the fire, one of them, in a low voice, says, "Mr. -Commissioner, us boys are all your fre'ns,--_we are_; wish them fellers -that wants them Modocs whipped so bad would come down and do it -theirselves; don't you? Have you tried everything you can to make peace?" - -"Yes, my good fellow, we have exhausted every honorable means, and we -cannot succeed." - -"Bro. Meacham, where did you learn to make bread? Why, this is splendid. -Bro. Dyer, did you make this coffee? It's delicious." So spoke our good -doctor at breakfast. - -"Good-morning, Mr. Meacham," said Gen. Canby, after breakfast. "Who is -cooking for your mess now?" - -"Co-pi, ni-ka,--myself." - -"What does Mr. Dyer do?" - -"He washes the dishes." - -"Ha, ha! What does the doctor do?" - -"Why, he asks the blessing." - -The general laughed heartily, and as the doctor approached, said to him, -"Doctor, you must not throw off on Bro. Dyer." - -Explanations were made, and these venerable, dignified men enjoyed that -little joke more heartily than I had ever seen either of them, on any -other occasion. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIX. - - UNDER A WOMAN'S HAT--THE LAST APPEAL. - - -The commission had on all occasions expressed willingness to meet the -Modocs on fair terms, saying to them, "Bring all your men, all armed, if -you wish to; station them one hundred yards from the council tent. We will -place a company of equal number within one hundred yards on the other -side. Then you chiefs and head men can meet our commission at the council -tent and talk." To this and all other offers they objected. The commission -and the general also were now convinced that no meeting could be had on -fair terms. The authorities at Washington were again informed of this -fact. Dr. Thomas was a man of great perseverance, and had great faith in -the power of prayer. He spent hours alone in the rocks, near our camp, -praying. He would often repeat: "One man with faith is stronger than an -hundred with interest only." Few men have ever lived so constantly in -religious practice as did Dr. Thomas. The Modocs, having been foiled in -their attempt to entrap the commission, sent for Riddle, saying they -"wanted his advice." Riddle went, under instructions, and talked with -them. Nothing new was elicited. Riddle again warned the commission of the -danger of meeting the Modocs unless fully armed for defence. He confirmed -the opinion already expressed, that _Captain Jack_, was in favor of peace; -but that he was in the hands of bad men, who might compel him to do what -was against his judgment. Gen. Canby, always acknowledged as having power -to control the commission, nevertheless conceded to it the management of -the councils. He never presided, and seldom gave an opinion, unless -something was said in which he could not concur; but _no action was had_, -or _message sent_, or _other business ever done, without his advice and -approval_. - -On the morning of April 10th I left head-quarters, to visit Boyle's camp, -at the southern end of the lake, leaving Dr. Thomas in charge of the -affairs of the Peace Commission, little dreaming that action of so great -importance would be had during my absence. After visiting Maj. Boyle's, I -returned by Col. Mason's camp, and there learned, through the signal -telegraph, that a delegation of Modocs was at the commission tent, -proposing another meeting. I arrived at the head-quarters late in the -evening, and then learned from Dr. Thomas that an agreement had been made -to meet five unarmed Indians at the council tent on the following day at -noon. I demurred to the arrangement, saying, "that it was unsafe." The -doctor was rejoicing that "God had done a wonderful work in the Modoc -camp." The Modoc messengers, to arrange for this unfortunate council, were -not insensible to the fact of the doctor's religious faith, and they -represented to him that "_they had changed their hearts; that God had put -a new fire in them, and they were ashamed of their bad hearts_. They now -wanted to make peace. They were willing to surrender. They only wanted the -commission to _prove their faith in the Modocs by coming out to meet them -unarmed_." - -This hypocrisy caught the doctor. He believed them; and, after a -consultation with Gen. Canby, the compact was made. The doctor was shocked -at my remark, that "God has not been in the Modoc camp this winter. If we -go we will not return alive." Such was my opinion, and I gave it -unhesitatingly. The night, though a long one, wore away, and the morning -of _Good Friday, April 11th, 1873_, found our party at an early breakfast. - -While we were yet at the morning meal Boston Charley came in. As the -doctor arose from his breakfast this imp of the d----, from the Modoc -camp, sat down in the very seat from which the doctor had arisen, and ate -his breakfast from the _same plate_, drank from the _same cup_, the doctor -had used. - -While Boston was eating he observed me changing boots, putting on old -ones. I shall not soon forget the curious twinkle of this demon's eyes, -when he said, "What for you take 'em off new boots? Why for you no wear -'em new boots?" he examined them carefully, inquired the price of them, -and again said, "Meacham, why for you no wear 'em new boots?" The villain -was anxious for me to wear a pair of twenty-dollar boots instead of my old -worn-out ones. I understood what that fellow meant, and I did not give him -an opportunity to wear my new boots. - -From Indian testimony it is evident that in the Modoc camp an excited -council had been held on the morning of the 11th. Captain Jack, Scar-face -Charley, and a few others had opposed the assassination, Jack declaring -_that it should not be done_. Unfortunately, he was in the minority. The -majority ruled, and to compel the chief to acquiesce, the murderous crew -gathered around him, and, placing a woman's hat upon his head, and -throwing a shawl over his shoulders, they pushed him down on the rocks, -taunting him with cowardice, calling him "a woman, white-face squaw;" -saying that his heart was changed; that he went back on his own words -(referring to majority rule, which he had instituted); that he was no -longer a Modoc, the white man had stolen his heart. Now, in view of the -record this man had made as a military captain, his courage or ability can -never be doubted, and yet he could not withstand this impeachment of his -manhood. 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." - -When he had once assented he was bloodthirsty, and with coolness planned -for the consummation of this terrible tragedy. He asserted his right to -kill Gen. Canby, selecting Ellen's man as his assistant. - -Contention ensued among the braves as to who should be allowed to share in -this intended massacre. - -Meacham was next disposed of. - -Schonchin, being next in rank to Captain Jack, won the _prize_; glad he -did, for he was a _poor shot_ with a pistol. Hooker Jim was named as his -second in this _ex parte_ affair; sorry for that, for he was a marksman, -and had he kept the place assigned him, some one else would have written -this narrative. - -Dr. Thomas, the "Sunday Doctor," was the next in order. There were several -fellows ambitious for the honor, for so they esteemed it. Boston Charley -and Bogus were successful. These two men had accepted from the doctor's -hands, on the day preceding, each a suit of new clothes. - -To Shacknasty Jim and Barncho was assigned the duty of despatching Mr. -Dyer. Black Jim and Slo-lux were to assassinate Gen. Gilliam. When -Riddle's name was called up, Scar-face Charley, who had declared this -"whole thing to be an outrage _unworthy_ of the Modocs," positively -refused to take any part, arose and gave notice that he would defend -Riddle and his wife, and that if either were killed he would avenge their -death. - -These _preliminaries_ being arranged, Barncho and Slo-lux were sent out -before daylight, with seven or eight rifles, to secrete themselves near -the council tent. - -The manner of the assault was discussed, and the plan of shooting from -ambush was urged but abandoned, because it would have prevented those who -were to conduct the pretended council, from sharing in the honors to come -from that bloody scene. The details completed, Captain Jack said to his -sister Mary, and to Scar-face Charley, "It is all over. I feel ashamed of -what I am doing. I did not think I would ever agree to do this thing." - -When this tragedy was planned, another was also agreed upon. Curly-haired -Doctor and Curly Jack, and a Cumbatwas, were to decoy Col. Mason _from his -camp, and kill him also_. - -Bogus Charley had come into our camp the evening previous, and remained -until the next morning. He was there to ascertain whether any steps were -taken to prevent the consummation of the hellish design. Boston's visit -was for the same purpose. It is almost past belief that these two men, -who had received at the hands of Gen. Canby, Gen. Gilliam, and the Peace -Commission, so many presents of clothing and supplies, could have planned -and executed so treacherous a deed of blood. Bogus was the especial -favorite of Generals Canby and Gilliam; indeed, they recognized him as an -interpreter instead of Riddle and wife. He was better treated by them than -any other of the Modoc messengers. It is asserted, most positively, that -_Bogus was the man who first proposed the assassination of Canby and the -Peace Commissioners_. - -The morning wears away and the commissioner seems loath to start out. The -Modoc messengers are urgent, and point to the council tent, saying, that -"Captain Jack and four men waiting now." Look at our signal station half -way up the mountain side. The men with field-glasses are scanning the Lava -Beds. Gen. Canby has given orders that a strict watch be kept on the -council tent and the trail leading to it from the Modoc camp. The officers -of the signal corps were there when the morning broke. They have been -faithful to the orders to watch. The sun is mounting the sky. It is almost -half way across the blue arch. Bogus and Boston are impatient; saying that -"Captain Jack, him get tired waiting." Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas have been -in consultation. Riddle is uneasy and restless, and as Canby and Thomas -walk slowly to Gen. Gilliam's head-quarters, he says to Meacham, "Do not -go. I think you will all be killed if you do."--"Then come to Gen. -Gilliam's tent and say so there," suggests Meacham. - -The commissioners approach the tent. Gen. Canby meets Col. Green and one -or two other officers, stopping at the tent door, and continued talking, -while the remainder of the commissioners enter. Gen. Gilliam is reclining -on his bed, he is sick this morning, _very sick_. Gen. Canby remarks from -the tent door; "Go on, gentlemen, don't wait for me; I will be in -presently." - -Riddle again repeats the warning: "Gentlemen, I have been talking with my -wife; she has never told me a lie, or deceived me, and she says if you go -to-day you will be killed. We wash our hands of all blame. If you must go, -_go well armed_! I give you my opinion, because I do not want to be blamed -hereafter." Riddle retires and Gen. Canby enters. Riddle's warning is -repeated to him. The general replies: "I have had a field-glass watching -the trail all the morning; there are but four men at the council tent. I -have given orders for the signal station to keep a strict watch, and, in -the event of an attack, the army will move at once against them,"--meaning -the Modocs. Dr. Thomas expressed his determination to keep the compact, -saying that he is in the hands of God, and proposes to do his duty and -leave the result with his Maker. He thinks Riddle and his wife are -excited; that they are not reliable. "I differ from you, gentlemen; I -think we ought to heed the warning. If we do go, we must go armed; -otherwise we will be attacked. I am opposed to going in any other way." - -Mr. Dyer says: "I agree with Mr. Meacham; we ought to go prepared for -defence. We ought to heed the warning we have had." Gen. Canby repeats, -"With the precaution we have taken there can be no danger." Dr. Thomas -also saying, "The agreement is to go unarmed; we must be faithful on our -part to the compact, and leave it all in the hands of God." - -Previous to starting, Dr. Thomas goes to the sutler's store and pays for -some goods bought for the Modocs the day previous, when this compact was -made. From this act it would appear that he has doubts about the result. -Indeed, to another gentleman he says that he is not _sure that he will -return_; but "I will do my duty faithfully, and trust God to bring it out -all right." Gen. Canby is holding council with Gen. Gilliam and other -officers. He leaves them, coming to his own marquee, says something to his -faithful orderly,--Scott,--then to Monahan, his secretary, and then, in -full dress he walks to the "Peace Commission tent," where he is joined by -Dr. Thomas and _starts for the council tent_. Side by side they walk away. - -The doctor is dressed in a suit of light-gray Scotch tweed. The officers -and men are standing around their tents, talking of the danger ahead. They -differ in opinion, and all declare their readiness to fly to the rescue in -the event of treachery. Bogus is with the general and the doctor. He -carries a rifle; it is his own. In that rifle is a ball that will crush -through the brain of Dr. Thomas in less than two hours. Having seen them -start, Bogus hastens to the council tent, scanning the route as he goes, -to make sure that no soldiers are secreted among the rocks. - -A few moments since, Meacham and Fairchild were in earnest conversation. -Meacham says, "John, what do you think? is it safe to go?"--"Wait here a -minute, and let me have another talk with Bogus; I think I can tell," says -Fairchild. After a few minutes he returns, whittling a stick. Slowly -shaking his head, he says, "I can't make out from Bogus what to think. I -don't like the looks of things; still he talks all right; may be it's all -on the square." Meacham replies, "_I must go_ if the general and the -doctor do." Fairchild goes again to Bogus; but the general and doctor are -starting. Bogus is impatient, and cuts short the talk. Meacham is hurrying -to the tent. He seats himself on a roll of blankets, and with a pencil -writes,--let us look over his shoulder and see what: - - LAVA BEDS, April 11th, 1873. - - MY DEAR WIFE:-- - - You may be a widow to-night; you shall not be a coward's wife. I - go to save my honor. John A. Fairchild will forward my valise - and valuables. The chances are all against us. I have done my - best to prevent this meeting. I am in no wise to blame. - - Yours to the end, - - ALFRED. - - P. S.--I give Fairchild six hundred and fifty dollars, currency, - for you. - - A. B. M. - -"Here, John, send these to my wife, Salem, Oregon, if I don't get back." - -Mr. Dyer approaches, and says, "Mr. Fairchild, send this parcel to Mrs. -Dyer."--"Mr. Dyer, why do you go, feeling as you do? I would not if I were -in your place. I must go, since I am the chairman of the commission, or be -disgraced." Mr. Dyer replies, "_If you go, I am going. I will not stay, if -all the rest go._" - -By the tent door the Indian woman is weeping, while holding a horse by a -rope. Standing beside her is a white man, and also a boy ten years old. -They are talking in Modoc, and we may not know what they are saying. That -little group is Frank Riddle and his wife Tobey, and their little boy -Jeff. Their warning has been disregarded. They are loth to give up their -efforts to save the commissioners and Canby. - -"Tobey, give me my horse; we must go now." - -"Meacham, you no go; you get kill. You no get your horse. The Modocs mad -now; they kill all you men." She winds the rope around her waist, and -throws herself upon the ground, and, in the wildest excitement, shrieks in -broken sobs, "Meacham, you no go; _you no go! You get kill! you get -kill!_" - -Can the man resist this appeal to save his friends and himself? His lips -quiver and his face is white; he is struggling with his pride. His color -changes. Thank God, he is going to make another effort to prevent the doom -that threatens! He calls to Canby and Thomas. They await his approach. -Laying a hand on the shoulder of each, he says, "_Gentlemen, my cool, -deliberate opinion is that, if we go to the council tent to-day, we will -be carried home to-night on the stretchers; all cut to pieces_. I tell -you, I dare not ignore Tobey's warning. I believe her, and I am not -willing to go." - -The general answers first: "Mr. Meacham, you are unduly cautious. There -are but _five_ Indians at the council tent, and they dare not attack us." - -"General, the Modocs _dare do anything. I know them better than you do, -and I know they are desperate. Braver men and worse men never lived on -this continent than we are to meet at that tent yonder._" - -The general replies, "I have left orders for a watch to be kept, and, if -they attack us, the army will move at once against them. We have agreed to -meet them, and we must do it." - -Dr. Thomas remarks, "I have agreed to meet them, and I _never break my -word. I am in the hands of God. If He requires my life, I am ready for the -sacrifice._" - -Meacham is still unwilling to go, and says, "If we must go, let us be well -armed." - -"Brother Meacham, the agreement is to go _unarmed_, and we must do as we -have agreed." - -"_But the Modocs will all be doubly armed. They won't keep their part of -the compact; they never have, and they won't now._ Let John Fairchild go -with us, him and me with a revolver each, and I will not interpose any -more objections to going. Do this, and I pledge you my life that we bring -our party out all right. I know Fairchild. I know he is a dead shot, and -he and I can whip a dozen Indians in open ground with revolvers." - -"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, _God does not drop revolvers down just when and where you -need them_." - -"My dear brother, you are getting to be very irreligious. _Put your trust -in God. Pray more, and don't think so much about fighting._" - -"Doctor, I am just 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 these Modocs, and I know that -they won't keep their word, and I want to be ready for trouble if it -comes. I don't want to go unarmed." - -"The compact is to go unarmed, and I am not willing to jeopardize our -lives by breaking the compact." - -"Well, since we must go, and I am to manage the talk, I will grant to them -any demand they make, rather than give them an excuse; that is, if they -are armed,--as I know they will be,--and more than five Indians will be -there, too." - -Gen. Canby replied, "Mr. Meacham, I have had more or less connection with -the Indian service for thirty years, and I _have never made a promise that -could not be carried out. I am not willing now to promise anything that we -don't intend to perform._" - -"Nor I," breaks in the doctor. "That is why Indians have no confidence in -white men. I am not willing to have you make a promise that we don't -intend to keep." - -"Hear me, gentlemen, I only propose doing so in the event that the Modocs -have broken the compact by being armed. I don't believe in false promises -any more than you do, only in such an event; and I tell you I would -promise anything an Indian demanded before I would give him an excuse to -take my life, or yours. I say that is not dishonest, and my conscience -would never condemn me for saving my life by such strategy." - -The general and the doctor both insist on making no promise that is not -_bona fide_. Meacham's efforts to prevent the meeting fails. He turns -slowly, and with hesitating steps goes towards the peace tent in the camp. -Canby and Thomas start off side by side. Meacham turns again:-- - -"Once more, gentlemen, I beg you not to go. I have too much to live for -now; too many are depending on me; I do not want to die. If you go, I must -go to save my name from dishonor." - -"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, the squaw _has_ scared Meacham; that's true. _I am afraid; I have -reason to be._ But we will see before the sun sets who is the worst -scared." - -O my God! They refuse to turn back. Their fate is sealed. The action of -these few minutes involves so much of human woe; so much blood, so many -valuable lives, so much of vast importance to _two_ races. Oh, how many -hearts must bleed from the decision of that hour! We feel sad as they walk -away. Is it true that the stately form of the gallant Christian soldier is -to fall on the rocks, pierced with Modoc bullets, and that savage hands -will in two short hours rudely strip from him the uniform he so proudly -wears? Can it be that a Modoc bullet will go crashing through the head -that has worn well-earned laurels so long? Must the noble heart that now -beats with kindest throbs for even those who are to murder him so soon, -beat but two hours more, and then alone on the gray rocks of this wild -shore cease its throbbing forever? Can it be that the lofty form of Dr. -Thomas will fall to rise no more; that the lips that have so eloquently -told of a Saviour's love will turn white until the blood from his own -wounds smothers the sound of his last prayer, while impious hands strip -him of his suit of gray, and mock him in his dying moments? - -Let us not look at that picture longer, but follow the other commissioner -back to the waiting, anxious friends who gather around the door of the -Peace Commission tent. He does not step with his usual quick motion; his -heart is heavy, and visions of a little home, with weeping wife and -children, enter his mind. Funeral pageants pass and mourning emblems hang -now over his soul. But he is firm, and his closed lips declare that his -mind is made up. - -"Fairchild, promise me upon your sacred honor, one thing. Will you -promise?" - -The gray-eyed man with earnest face answered,-- - -"I promise you anything in my power, Meacham." - -"Promise me, then, that, if my body is brought in mutilated and cut to -pieces, you will bury me here, so that my family shall never be tortured -by the sight. Do you promise?" - -"O Meacham, you will come back all right." - -"No, no; I won't. I feel now that I won't; there is no chance for that. I -tell you, John, there is but one alternative,--_death_ or _disgrace_. I -can die; but my name never has been and never shall be dishonored." - -Fairchild draws his revolver from his side and says, "Here, Meacham, take -this; you can bang brimstone out of 'em with it." - -"No, no; John, I won't take it, although I would rather have it than all -your cattle; but if I take that revolver, everybody will swear that I -precipitated the fight by going armed in violation of the compact. No, -John, I wouldn't take it if I knew I never could come back without it, and -taking it would save me. I won't do it. My life would not be worth a cent -if I did. I wanted you to go, but the general and the doctor objected; so -there's no use in talking; I am going." - -A man passes close to Meacham and drops something in a side pocket of his -coat. His hand grasps it, and his face indicates hesitation. The other -says, in a low tone, "It's sure fire;--it's all right." 'Tis a small -Derringer pistol, and it is not thrown out of the pocket. Dyer caught -sight of this little manoeuvre, and he goes into his tent and quickly -slips a Derringer into his pocket. - -The Indian woman is weeping still. She refuses to let go the rope of -Meacham's horse, until the command is repeated, and then she grasps his -coat, and pleads again: "You no go; you get kill." - -"Let go, Tobey. Get on your horse. All ready? Mr. Dyer, there is no other -way to do." - -Riddle is pale, but cool and collected. He says, "I'm a-goin' a-foot; I -don't want no horse to bother me." The Indian woman embraces her boy again -and again, and mounts her horse. Meacham, Dyer, Riddle, and his wife are -starting. - -Fairchild says, "Meacham, you had better take my pistol. I would like to -go with you, but I s'pose I can't." - -"No; I won't take it. Good-by. Keep your promise." - -"Good-by, Maj. Thomas. Cranston, good-by. Good-by, Col. Wright. Be ready -to come for us; we'll need you." - -"Don't go off feeling that way. I wouldn't go if I felt as you do," says -one. - -"We will have an eye out for you," says another. - -They are gone, and we will follow. Canby and Thomas are just rising out of -a rocky chasm near the council tent. Meacham and his party are going -around by the horse trail. Words can never tell the thoughts that pass -through their minds on that ride. The soldier who goes to battle takes -even chances in the line of his profession; the criminal may march with -steady nerve up the steps that lead him to the gallows; but who can ever -tell in words the thoughts, feelings, and temptations of these men, going -to meet a people under a flag of truce that had been dishonored by their -own race within sight of the spot where they are to meet these people, -after the earnest warning they had received? - - - - - CHAPTER XXX. - - ASSASSINATION--"KAU-TUX-E"--THE DEATH PRAYER - SMOTHERED BY BLOOD--RESCUED. - - -While these two parties are wending their way to the council tent, let us -see what is going on around it. On the side opposite from the camp a small -sage-brush fire is burning. It is not at the same spot where the fire was -built when Meacham and Roseborough had the long talk with Captain Jack a -few days since. Why this change? Think a moment. The council that day was -in _full view of the signal station_. This fire is _behind the council -tent, and cannot be seen from the station_. Around the fire loose stones -are placed. This looks suspicious. But who are those fellows dressed like -white men, sitting around that fire? Ah! they are Modocs waiting for the -commissioners. That man with a slouched hat and well-worn gray -coat,--nearest the tent, is Captain Jack. He looks sad and half -melancholy, and does not seem at ease in his mind. - -Near him sits old Schonchin, the image of the real savage. His hair is -mixed with gray. His face indicates that he is a villain. - -That fellow who appears restless, and walks back and forth, is Hooker Jim. -He is not more than twenty-two; _his_ face tells you, at a glance, that he -is a _cut-throat_. He is tall, stout-built, very muscular, and would be an -ugly customer in a fight. He is accredited with being the best -"_trailer_," and the closest marksman in the Modoc tribe. - -That other young fellow, with feminine face, and hair parted in the -middle, is a brave and desperate man. That is Shacknasty Jim. - -That dark-looking man, who reminds you, at the first view, of a snake, is -Black Jim. He is of royal blood, and half-brother of Captain Jack. His -hair is cut square below the ears, and, take him altogether, he is a -bad-looking man. - -The light-colored, round-faced, smooth-built man, who stands behind the -chief; is "Ellen's Man." He is young, and is really a fine-looking fellow. -He does not _appear_ to be a bad man, but he _is_; and you will think him -the worst of the company before we lose sight of him. - -The talk around that council fire would freeze your blood could you hear -it. They are making arrangements for the carnival of death that they -propose holding. - -The chief is nervous, and speaks of his regret that this thing is to be. -"Ellen's Man" proposes to take his place if he lacks courage. "I do not -lack courage, but I do not feel right to kill those men. If it is the -Modoc heart, it shall be done," replies the chief. - -Walk out towards the Modoc camp forty steps, and lying behind a low ledge -of rocks are two boys, Barncho and Slolux. They are very quiet, but under -each one we see several rifles. They are both young, and have -_volunteered_ to play this part in the tragedy soon to be enacted. - -Near them is another man, crouching low, and in his hand he holds a gun, -with its muzzle pointing towards the tent. His face indicates a much -older man than he really is. He is not there to take a part in the -proceedings of the coming meeting, except in a certain contingency. There -is a something about him that declares him to be a man of more than -ordinary stamp. This is Scar-face Charley, and if, in the slaughter that -is to ensue, Riddle or his wife should fall, the rifle that that man -grasps will talk in vengeful tone, with deadly effect, upon the murderer. - -Look behind you at the council fire. Eight Indians are there now, and the -new-comers have familiar faces. They are _Bogus_ and _Boston_, just -arrived from head-quarters. They are telling the others who are coming, -that they are all unarmed. - -Boston intimates something like regret or faltering in the purpose. Bogus -declares that he will "Do it alone, if all the others back out. Kill these -men, and the war will stop. It will scare all the soldiers away." - -Hist! here comes Gen. Canby, with the brass buttons on his coat glittering -in the sunlight; and Dr. Thomas, also, who is so well worthy to walk by -the side of the general. The Indians arise and greet them cordially. Gen. -Canby takes from his pocket a handful of cigars, offering one to each. -They accept them from his hand, while in their hearts they have determined -on his death. The general and all the Indians are smoking now. The -thoughts of the general will never be known; not even whether he had any -suspicion of their intentions. - -[Illustration: GEN. CANBY.] - -Meacham and his party are approaching. They ride up very near the council -fire,--Meacham to the right, Dyer and Mrs. Riddle to the left. Riddle -passes to the left of the tent, looking in as he comes to the council. - -Meacham is taking off his overcoat before dismounting. Why is this? The -weather is not warm. There is a reason for this strange action. - -Before reaching the tent the matter had been discussed by the four persons -of that party. Riddle declared that if attacked he would save himself by -running, Mr. Dyer saying there was no hope of escape in any other way. -Meacham considered running impracticable and hopeless, and suggested that, -"if we stand together, we can, with the aid of the Derringer, get a -revolver for Riddle, and then we can all be armed in quick time." Dyer and -Riddle adhered to the plan of escape they had proposed, Meacham still -saying that it was hopeless, and adding, "I cannot run; but I will sell my -life as dearly as possible." The Derringer is in his _under coat_. - -As they ride up, they see clearly that the council fire is _behind_ the -tent, _out of sight of the signal station_, and that the Modocs are all -armed with revolvers secreted under their clothing. - -The Indians welcome the party with a cordiality that is very suspicious. -They are good-humored, too; another confirmation of the worst fears. Even -before the party dismount, they are saluted by the Modocs with -hand-shaking and other demonstrations. - -Dyer is the first to alight from his horse. He looks a little pale. Tobey -quietly dismounts, securing her horse to a small sage brush near the -council. Meacham still sits upon his horse, apparently listless, as if in -doubt. He is fighting a battle with his pride. His family are in his -thoughts, and also another family of little orphans of a much-loved -brother. He glances at the face of Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas. His mind is -made up. He dismounts, dropping the halter of the horse upon the ground. -He intends that "Joe Lane" (the horse) shall have a chance for escape. But -"Joe Lane" is well known among the Modocs. They have seen him before, and -they fix their eyes on him now, impatient to feel him flying over the -plains. Perhaps they are making a calculation of his value as an offset to -several of the ponies captured from them by Maj. Biddle a few days -previous. - -See the manoeuvring going on by both parties. The Modocs are seeking to -separate themselves from the white men, while Dyer, Meacham and Riddle are -seeking to prevent the formation of a tableau of white men. Canby stands -erect and firm, not seeming to notice the game that is playing before his -eyes. His pride will not permit him to notice or to shun what is evidently -the intention of the Modocs. Dr. Thomas does not see what is going on, or, -if he does, so strong is his faith in God that he does not fear. Dyer and -Riddle are outside on either hand, not wishing to join the group. - -Meacham, now satisfied that the party are entrapped, is walking carelessly -a few steps towards the camp. Perhaps he is going to make a signal to -those at the lookout. If that was his intention, he abandons it; for just -beside him are a pair of small, bullet eyes that watch his every movement. - -The party _feel_ that not the motion of even an eye is lost by the Modocs. -They see everything, and, while all are apparently on the best of terms, -all are on the lookout for any sign or intimation of danger. Not a motion -is made unobserved. Still, no unkindly words are spoken; indeed, all -parties _appear_ to be in cheerful humor. - -Appearances are deceitful sometimes, and especially in this instance. One -party is intending to commit an unparalleled crime; the other, suspicious -of their intention, awaits the issue, not quite without hope, but almost -in despair. - -The white men do not seem anxious to begin the council. The Modocs are -trying to appear careless. - -What does that mean? Bogus is going out towards a low cliff, carrying his -rifle with him. Watch him a moment. While standing on a prominent rock, he -is scanning the ledge that runs towards the soldiers' camp. _Ah, yes! he -is looking for sage brush with which to feed the fire._ Now he has laid -down his gun and breaks off the brush and returns to the council. That, -then, was the _pretended_ object of his trip. Curious that in _all former -councils_ the Modoc women have performed this work, but that _none_ of -them are here _now_! - -Hooker Jim is on the alert, and if you will watch his eye you will see -that it glances often in the direction of the soldiers' camp. Something -excites his suspicion, and the other Indians, except Captain Jack, follow -his gaze; and the white men, too, discover some one's head above the -rocks. All arise to their feet. Is the terrible affair to begin now? Wait -a moment and keep your eyes divided, watching the _intruder_ and the -Modocs. The former is looking around him, as if hunting for some lost -article. The latter are nervous, and a hateful fire is burning in their -eyes. The moment is one of intense peril. The least motion of distrust -now on the part of the white men will precipitate the bloody scene, -awaiting only for a signal to begin. - -Mr. Riddle recognizes the intruder as Mr. Clark, who is hunting lost -horses. - -"Why for he come here? We no want him," says Boston Charley. - -"Mr. Dyer, will you go out to Mr. Clark and send him back?" requests Mr. -Meacham. - -Mr. Dyer rides out to the man, and, after explaining to him the desire of -the commissioners, returns to the council fire. Oh, how near we were to -witnessing a horrible murder! But it is averted for the moment, and we -breathe again. - -Meacham is in charge of the council talk, and finally sits down near the -fire, and Captain Jack takes a seat directly opposite him, and so close -that their knees almost touch. The council talk begins. - -Meacham says, "We have come to-day to hear what you have to propose. You -sent for us, and we are here to conclude the terms of peace, as your -messengers of yesterday requested." - -To this Captain Jack replies, "We want no more war. We are tired, and our -women and children are afraid of the soldiers. We want them taken away, -and _then_ we can make peace." - -Meacham says, "Gen. Canby is in charge of the soldiers. He is your friend. -He came here, because the President sent him to look out for everybody and -to see that everything goes on all right." - -Captain Jack replies, "We do not want the soldiers here. They make our -hearts afraid. Send them away, and we can make everything all right." - -Meacham continues, "Gen. Canby has charge of the soldiers. He cannot take -them away without a letter from the President. You need not be afraid. We -are all your friends. We can find you a better home than this, where you -can live in peace. If you will come out of the rocks and go with us, we -will leave the women and children in camp over on Cottonwood or Hot Creek, -and then we shall need the soldiers to make other folks stay away, while -we hunt up a new home for you." - -Riddle and his wife are both essential to a careful rendering of the -speeches. Riddle is interpreting the Modocs' speeches into "Boston talk," -and Tobey is translating the white men's speeches into the -"Mo-a-doc-us-ham-konk"--(Modoc language). Hence they are both giving -closest attention. Riddle stands now just behind the chairman of the -commissioners. Tobey is sitting a little to the left. Gen. Canby seats -himself upon a rock on Meacham's right, about three feet distant. Old -Schonchin sits down in front of him. Dr. Thomas bends a sage bush, and, -laying his overcoat upon it, also sits on the left and in the rear of -Meacham. - -Hooker Jim is restless and very watchful; sometimes standing immediately -behind Captain Jack, and occasionally walking off a few steps, he scans -the rocks in the direction of the soldiers' camp, and saunters back again, -always, however, in front of the white men. Keep an eye on him; he is -making now a declaration by his acts that will stop your heart's blood. - -"Joe Lane," the horse, is just behind Captain Jack, standing a mute and -unsuspecting witness of the act now being played. - -Watch that demon, Hooker Jim! See him stoop down, and while his eye is -fixed on Meacham, he is securing "Joe Lane" to a sage bush, pushing the -knot of the halter close to the ground. He slowly rises, and, while -patting the horse on the neck, calling him by name, and telling him he is -a "fine horse," still keeping his eye on Meacham, with his left hand he -takes the overcoat from the saddle, and with a stealthy, half-hesitating -motion, slowly inserts his arm in the sleeve, and then without changing -his position or his eyes, quickly thrusts his right arm in the other -sleeve, and with a heavy shrug jerks the coat squarely on his shoulders; -and, having buttoned it up from top to bottom, smiting his breast with his -hand, he says, "Me old man Meacham, now. Bogus, you think me look like old -man Meacham?" My dear reader, he does not fasten that horse for Meacham. -He does not put on the coat because he is cold, nor merely as a joke. No, -he does not mean anything of that kind. He intends to make sure of the -horse and coat, and, at the same time, provoke a quarrel, and make the way -easy for the bloody attack. - -Meacham fully understands the import and intention of this side-play, but, -with assumed indifference, remarks, "Hooker Jim, you had better take my -hat also," at the same time lifting it from his head. Watch the play on -that scoundrel's face as lie replies, "No. Sno-ker gam-bla sit-ka -caitch-con-a bos-ti-na chock-i-la"--("I will, by-and-by. Don't hurry, old -man.") - -This speech completes the declaration of what they intended to do. There -can be no longer any doubt as to the purpose of these bloodthirsty -desperadoes. O God! is there no help now? Can nothing be done to save our -friends? They read their fate in Hooker's action. They realize how -fearfully near the impending doom must be. Every face is blanched; but no -words of fear are uttered. Dyer, with a face of marble, walks slowly to -his horse, now on the right of the group, and, going to the farthest side -of him, pretends to be arranging the trappings of his saddle with his face -towards the council fire. Riddle, pale and aghast, makes excuse to change -the fastenings of the saddle on his wife's horse, which stands behind Dr. -Thomas. Tobey, who has been sitting in front of the doctor, with a half -child-like yawn throws herself carelessly at full length on the ground, -resting on her elbows. Every act tells, too plainly to be mistaken, how -each one feels and what they are expecting. - -Both Dyer and Riddle intend to be covered by their horses when they start -on a run for life. Tobey evidently does not intend to be in the way of the -bullets that are now lying quietly on their beds of powder in the little -iron chambers of the pistols under the coats of the red devils. She sees -clearly that the storm, which is evidently coming up with a great black -hurrying cloud from the west, will precipitate the effusion of blood that -is now leaping and halting in the veins of the doomed men who sit almost -motionless, waiting, watching, listening for the signal of death to be -given, wondering how it will come. Will it be from ambushed men, a volley, -a sting, and a war-whoop; and then, while the soul is making its exit, -will the eye, growing dim, behold the infuriated monsters, with gleaming -knives uplifted, spring on the helpless body? Will the ear, as life ebbs -away, be lulled by streams of blood trickling on the rocks? Are angels -hovering near to convey their souls away? Is God omnipresent? Is He -omniscient? Is He omnipotent? Does he hear prayer? Will not God interpose -now when human aid is beyond reach? - -Oh, how the mind recalls the past, outstripping the lightning flash, while -it passes in review the scenes from the cradle to this hour!--all the -bright and happy days; the dark clouds and direful storms that have swept -over the soul, and realizing the still more awful agony of the farewell -greetings of sad-faced Hope leaving the heart; for until this last act of -Hooker Jim's she had lingered lovingly on the threshold undecided. Words -may not tell the anguish, the gloom, the terrible loneliness without her -presence. Every heart breathes a prayer for her return. "Oh, come back to -us now; be with us in this expiring hour of life's last midnight!" - -Thank Heaven, she comes again clad in garments, not as in days past, made -up of ambitions and worldly dreams, but in shining robes of spotless -purity and immortal light, and she whispers, "Be of good cheer, the -journey is short, and it is but a change from one life to another;" and -though the voyage be stormy and the night be dark it will end in a morning -of eternal day in the beautiful sunlit summer-land where sorrows come no -more. - -Meacham turns towards Gen. Canby and invites him to talk. Every movement -is scrutinized by the Modocs. Meacham has made an excuse to look Gen. -Canby in the face. He sees plainly that the general understands the -situation. Will he, oh! will he not promise to remove the soldiers on the -demand that has been so often made? It would avert the tragedy. It would -save the lives that are banging on his words. Will he do it? Surely, now, -when convinced, as he must be, that the threat will be executed, will he -not feel justified in yielding? Now that the Modocs have absolved him from -all obligations to them, will he grant their request; or will the high and -extraordinary sense of honor that controlled his reply to Meacham in the -morning, when the latter proposed to grant "any demand made, rather than -give the assassins an excuse for murder," control him now? Every eye is on -him. The Modocs understand that he is chief. - -He stands upright in form, and character as well. He looks the great man -he is. His face alone shows the intensity of his feelings. His lip quivers -slightly, as it always does under excitement. He speaks slowly:-- - -"Tobey, tell these people that the President of the United States sent the -soldiers here to protect them as well as the white men. They are all -friends of the Indians. They _cannot be taken away without the President's -consent_. Tell them that when I was a young man I was sent to move a band -of Indians from their old home to a new one. They did not like me at -first, but when they became acquainted with me they liked me so well that -they made me a chief, and gave me a name that signified 'Friend of the -Indian.' I also removed another tribe to a new home; and they, too, made -me a chief, and gave me a name that meant 'The tall man.' Many years -afterwards I visited these people, and they came a long distance to meet -me, and were very glad to see me. Tell them I have no doubt that sometime -the Modocs will like me as those people did, and will recognize me as -their friend." - -As the general sits down, Meacham turns to Doctor Thomas, and invites him -to speak. _The doctor drops forward on his knees_, and, with his right -hand on Meacham's left shoulder, says, "Tobey, tell these people, for me, -that I believe the _Great Spirit_ put it into the heart of the President -to send us here to make peace. We are all children of one Father. Our -hearts are all open to him. He sees all we do. He knows all our hearts. We -are all their friends. I have known Gen. Canby eight years; I have known -Mr. Meacham fourteen years, and I have known Mr. Dyer four years. I know -all their hearts are good. They are good men. We do not want any more -bloodshed. We want to be friends of yours. God sees all we do. He will -hold us all responsible for what we do." - -The doctor resumes his seat. Captain Jack is ill at ease. His men are -watching him closely. They evidently distrust him. - -Meacham has almost decided in his mind that when the attack is made -Captain Jack will throw himself in the breach, and, if he takes part at -all, it will be with the white men. - -The chief is slow to give the signal to begin. He is not in position -according to the programme arranged in the morning. He had hoped that the -demand for the withdrawal of the troops would be complied with. He sits -now with his hands on his knees, staring into Meacham's face. He meets a -gaze intense as his own. What are the thoughts of his mind? He is -wavering. Perhaps he may refuse to sanction the butchery. He feels that -his own people are watching him. Suddenly, rising to his feet, he turns -his back on the white men. He is walking away from them. See! he stops! -Schonchin springs to the seat Captain Jack has left, and, with eyes -gleaming with the pent-up fury of hell, begins to talk. His voice is loud, -and betokens great excitement. How savage he looks now, while he says, -"Give us Hot Creek for a home, and take the soldiers away." - -"Maybe we cannot get Hot Creek for you," replies Mr. Meacham. - -Then Schonchin says, "I have been told we could have Hot Creek." - -Meacham asks, "Did Fairchild or Dorris say you could have it?" - -"No," replied Schonchin; "but Nate Beswick said we could have Hot Creek." - -"Hot Creek belongs to Fairchild and Dorris," says Meacham. "We can see -them about it, and if we can get it you may have it." - -"_Take away your soldiers and give us Hot Creek, or quit talking. I am -tired of talking. I talk no more_," shouts Schonchin in loud tones, and -with eyes burning with passion. - -The interpreter is rendering the speech, but, before it is finished, -Captain Jack, who has returned to the group, and is standing a step behind -Schonchin, gives a signal, and the Modoc war-whoop starts every one -present to his feet (except Tobey, who lays close to the ground); catching -the sound, and oh! the sight, too, of Barncho and Slolux coming with the -rifles. - -"Jack, what does that mean?" demands Meacham. - -The answer came quickly. Captain Jack, thrusting his right hand under the -left breast of his coat, draws a six-shooter, and shouts in a loud voice, -"_Ot-we-kau-tux!_"--("All ready!") - -[Illustration: THE ASSASSINATION SCENE. - - 1. General Canby. - 2. Colonel Meacham. - 3. Doctor Thomas. - 4. Tobey Riddle, reclining. - 5. Frank Riddle. - 6. Mr. Dyer. - 7. Captain Jack. - 8. Schonchin. - 9. Boston Charley. - 10. Shacknasty Jim. - 11. Hooker Jim. - 12. Ellen's Man. - 13. Bogus Charley. - 14. Black Jim. - 15. Horse held by Riddle. - 16. Horse held by Dyer. - 17. Horse.] - -Holding the barrel with his left hand, and cocking the pistol with his -right, he points it at Gen. Canby's head, touches the trigger, and -explodes the cap, but does not the powder. Quickly he revolves the -cylinder, and again presents it to the petrified general, who stands -unmoved. Why, oh, why does he not close on the monster, and wrench the -weapon from him? Quick, general, quick! He is too late. Another instant, -and a shot is passing through his head. He does not fall, but turns and -flees. Jack and "Ellen's Man" pursue him until he falls on the rocks. They -close on him. Captain Jack holds him by the shoulder, while the other cuts -him across the neck. In the fall his chin struck on the rocks and -shattered his lower jaw. The monsters strip him of every article of -clothing, while he is struggling in the agonies of death. Barncho comes up -now, and "Ellen's Man" snatches a rifle from his hands, and, pointing at -the general, discharges it, and another ball passes entirely through his -head. They turn him on his face, and leave him in the last agony of a -horrible death, while, with his uniform on their arms, they go back to the -council tent. - -Look towards the soldiers' camp. Two men are running. The foremost one is -Dyer, and following him is Hooker Jim, who fires repeatedly at Dyer, who -turns, and pointing his pistol, Jim drops to avoid the shot. Dyer resumes -his run for life, and the other follows until Dyer has widened the space -between them so much that Hooker Jim, fleet as he is, abandons the chase, -and returns to join the other murderers. - -Over towards the lake two other men are running. The foremost one is Frank -Riddle. The pursuer is Black Jim, who fires rapidly at Riddle; in fact, he -is not trying to hit him, because he knows that Scar-face Charley is -watching, and if Riddle falls by a shot from Black Jim, Black Jim himself -will fall by Scar-face Charley's rifle. - -[Illustration: BLACK JIM.] - -Simultaneously with Jack's first attack on General Canby, Boston Charley's -first shot struck Dr. Thomas in the left breast, above the heart. The -doctor drops partly down, and catches with his right hand, and with the -other uplifted towards his assassin, begs him to shoot no more, as he has -already received a death-wound. Bogus joins Boston. They permit the doctor -to get upon his feet, and start to run, when they trip him and he falls -again. They taunt him with his religion, saying, "Why don't you turn the -bullets? Your medicine is not strong." The doctor rises again and walks a -few steps, when they push him down, still ridiculing him. Again he pleads -for them to spare his life. They laugh in his face and say, "Next time you -believe a squaw, won't you?" Once more--and it is the last time that he -will ever walk in that bruised and mangled body--the doctor rises to his -feet, and, going a few steps, pleading with his inhuman tormentors for -mercy, and with his Maker for mercy on them, he falls to rise no more. -Slolux joins them, and Bogus, placing the muzzle of a gun towards the -doctor's head, sends another bullet crashing through it. The red devils -now strip him of his clothing, jesting and mocking his words of prayer, -and finally turn him face downwards, while through the blood from the -wounds on his lips he cries, "Come, Lord--" and the prayer is smothered -forever. - -When the signal for the attack was given, Schonchin was in position, and, -springing to his feet, he draws a revolver from his left side, and, with -his other hand, unsheathes a knife. He is so near his victim that he dare -not trust to a pistol alone. He is very much excited, and is not so quick -as the others in cocking his pistol. - -Meacham draws his Derringer, and pushing the muzzle squarely against the -heart of Schonchin, pulls the trigger, but, alas! it does not fire. Why? -Oh! why? He tries again, and still the hammer does not fall. He now -discovers that it is but _half-cocked_. Too late! too late! Schonchin -thrusts _his_ pistol forward, almost touching Meacham's face. The latter -jumps back and stoops, while the ball from Schonchin's pistol tears -through the collar of his coat, vest, and shirt on the left shoulder, so -close that the powder burns his whiskers and the bullet bruises him. He -runs backwards with the pistol now ready for use, but with Schonchin -pursuing him and firing as fast as he can until his pistol is empty. Now -he drops it on the ground, and, _drawing another from his right side_, he -continues the attack, but dare not close on the Derringer still in the -hands of Meacham. Why does not the pursued man fire? He is a good shot. -Why don't he drop the old scoundrel? He was very much frightened when the -attack began, but, like a soldier in battle, he has passed that, and is -terribly cool now. He dare not risk his only shot, for fear of missing -Schonchin, and because of the danger of hitting Tobey, for she is now -interposing for his life, and, putting her hand on Schonchin's pistol, -turns it away again and again, while pleading, "Don't kill him! don't kill -Meacham! He is the friend of the Indians." Slolux joins Schonchin, and, -with his gun, strikes the woman on the head, while Shacknasty, snatching -it from him, says, "I'll fetch him," at the same time sitting down and -taking deliberate aim. Meacham, striking his breast with his left hand, -shouts, "Shoot me there, you cowardly red devil!" Tobey strikes down the -gun. Shacknasty threatens her, and again takes aim and fires just as -Meacham leaps over a low ledge of rocks and falls. "I hit him, high up! He -is all right!" shouts Shacknasty. - -Meacham now decides to fire his _only_ shot, and pushing the pistol up -over the rocks, carefully raises his head, with it thrown back, and just -as his eye comes above the rocks, he sees Schonchin sitting with his -revolver resting on his knee. Instantly a flash and a sting, and a ball -strikes Meacham in the forehead, between the eyes. Strange freak of the -bullet that passes under the eye-brow and out over the left eye, but does -not blind the other eye. Meacham now fires at Schonchin, who leaps up and -falls on the rocks, wounded. Almost at the same instant a ball passes -through Meacham's right arm. The pistol drops. Another ball cuts away the -upper part of his right ear, and still another strikes him on the right -side of the head and glances off. He quivers, and his limbs are -outstretched, denoting the death-struggle. Shacknasty is the first to -reach him, and he proceeds to strip him of his clothing, first pulling -his boots off, then his pantaloons, and, while taking off his coat, tears -the vest down at the side and throws it away. Then he strips him of his -shirt, for it is a good one, and Shacknasty saves it for his own use. - -While he is unbuttoning the shirt at the neck, Slolux comes up, and, -placing the muzzle of the gun close to the temple of the wounded man, sets -the hammer, and as he raises it up to his face to get it in range, -Shacknasty pushes it away, saying in Modoc, "You needn't shoot. He is -dead. He won't get up." Hearing the voice of Captain Jack calling, they -leave the scene, saying to Tobey, "There lies another of your brothers, -you white-hearted squaw! Go and take care of him. You are no Modoc." - -This hour seems to have inherited even the wrath of the Almighty. The -blackness of unnatural night hangs over this scene of blood. Gen. Canby's -limbs have straightened on yonder rocks, but a few steps to the west, and -his stark body looks ghastly in the awful gloom. Twenty yards to the east -the form of Dr. Thomas, his body half stripped and covered with blood, is -still convulsing, while his face presses the cold rocks. - -The chief calls again to the red-handed demons and bids them flee to the -stronghold. They gather around him with the clothing of the slain still -dripping blood upon their feet. They are exulting by wild shouts of -half-satiated thirst for blood. While glancing towards the soldiers' camp -they reload their arms. - -"I am going to have old man Meacham's scalp to put on my shot-pouch," says -Boston, passing the doctor's clothing to a companion standing near. - -"_He has no scalp_," breaks in Hooker Jim, "_or I would have it myself_." - -Boston now runs to where the bleeding man is lying, and takes from his -pocket a small two-bladed, black-handled knife which had been taken from -the pocket of a soldier who was killed in the January battle. The Indian -woman is wiping the blood from the mutilated face, now upturned with -closed eyes. Boston thrusts her aside, and with his left hand, still red -with the blood of Dr. Thomas, grasps the largest locks, and makes a stroke -with the knife. The woman remembers that the prostrate man over whom -Boston is bending has been _her_ benefactor, and that through his official -action, in 1869, he compelled Frank Riddle to make her a _lawful wife_, -and that, had it not been for this man, she would now, perhaps, be a -_cast-off squaw_. She cannot restrain her indignation, but rushes against -the red cut-throat and hurls him back on to the rocks. He rises and -threatens to take her life if she again interferes, taunting her with -being a "white woman." Stamping on the prostrate man's head, he places one -foot on his neck, and renews his attempt to secure an _ornament for his -shot-pouch_, swearing because he found no better scalp, but saying that he -would take one ear with it. With his left hand resting on the head, he -cuts square down to the skull a long, half-circular gash preparatory to -taking off the side lock and ear, too, with his knife. - -Tobey now resorts to strategy to accomplish what she cannot do otherwise. -Looking towards the soldiers' camp she claps her hands and shouts, -"Bos-tee-na soldiers. Kot-pumbla!"--("The soldiers are coming!") Boston, -without waiting to ascertain the truth of the warning, starts suddenly -and leaves the woman alone with the dead. - -Tobey's warning to Boston has reached the ears of the band of murderers at -the council fire, who, hastily putting the slightly wounded old sinner, -Schonchin, on "Joe Lane," while the blood-stained uniform of Gen. Canby -and the gray suit of the doctor, together with Meacham's clothes, are -lashed on Dyer's horse, turn away, leaving Boston behind, who grasps the -rein of Tobey's horse. She shouts to Jack, who turns and orders Boston to -leave him. - -Jack and his party scamper over the rocks, looking back, expecting to hear -the guns of the white soldiers who are coming to the rescue. - -Tobey again wipes the blood from the face of her benefactor, and, stooping -down, places her hand over his heart. "It stop! It stop!" she cries. With -her finger she opens his eyes. They do not see her. They are overflowing -with blood from the wound in his face and on his head. Again with her -dress she wipes the blood from his face. She straightens his limbs and -body. Then, standing alone a moment, with three dead men in sight, she -sorrowfully mounts her horse and starts for the soldiers' camp. - -While this scene of terror is being enacted at the council tent, another, -a little less bloody, is in progress on the opposite side of the Modoc -stronghold, the plans for which have been mentioned. Curly-haired Jack -(Cum-ba-twas) and Curly-haired Doctor have gone out towards Col. Mason's -camp, with a flag of truce, to decoy the "Little Tyee" (Col. Mason) among -the rocks. But he is an old Indian fighter, and cannot be caught by such -devices. - -Maj. Boyle is there, and, notwithstanding the fact that on the day before -Meacham had told him of the threatened treachery, he proposes to Lieut. -Sherwood to go out and meet the flag of truce. The major was Indian agent -at Umatilla, and had been successful in managing peaceable Indians. He had -been with Gen. Crook in Arizona, also; and, having confidence in his -sagacity to manage still, he volunteered to go now. - -Having obtained the consent of Col. Mason, they leave the picket-line -behind them and the guard of the day on the lookout. They go cautiously, -and, when within hailing distance, the Modocs, under cover of the flag of -truce, ask for the "Little Tyee." - -"He will not come," replies Boyle. The quick eye of the major catches -sight of a musket behind the flag of truce. He turns and flees, calling on -Sherwood to "Run! run for your life!" - -They run. But see! Sherwood falls! A bullet from the musket of -Curly-haired Jack has broken his thigh. The guard rush to the rescue. The -Modocs fire a volley, and then flee to their stronghold, pursued by the -guard. The signal-station at Mason's camp says, "Boyle and Sherwood -attacked, under a flag of truce." Capt. Adams, of the signal corps, on the -bluff above Gilliam's camp, receives and dictates it to his secretary, -who, after writing, sends it to Gen. Gilliam, in the camp, one hundred -yards below. The general reads the dispatch, and calls for Dr. Cabanis to -come in, while he writes a message to send by the doctor, informing the -commissioners of the attack on Mason's men. The general has written but a -line, when Maj. Biddle, who has the other glass at the signal station, -shouts, "_Firing on the commissioners!_" The officers order the men to -"Fall in!" Soon the bugle repeats the assembly call. The men spring to -their arms, and in a few moments the five hundred men are ready to rush to -the rescue. Each company forms in line in the order in which they are -encamped,--Col. Miller's company occupying the left front, Lieut. Eagan's -next on the left, and Maj. Throckmorton taking his position behind Eagan's -company; the cavalry companies are on the right. - -Gen. Gilliam is astounded, petrified. He hesitates; he does not give the -order to march; he seems bewildered. Maj. Biddle rushes down from the -signal station and cries, "I saw Canby fall." The men are frantic. They do -not understand the delay. The officers swear, and threaten to move -_without_ orders. - -Gen. Gilliam now awakes from his lethargy, and gives the order, "March, -and deploy from the left in skirmish line!" - -"_Forward!_" shouts Col. Miller. - -"Forward!" rings out along the lines, while Maj. Riddle's bugle sounds -"Forward!" Maj. Thomas is ordered to remain with his battery and guard the -camp. - -Now that the order to march is given, the men go flying towards the scene -of blood in skirmish line. Behind the army are the surgeons with the -stretchers. - -The newspaper reporters are there, also, and foremost among them "Bill -Dad" of the "Sacramento Record." While waiting for orders Bill Dad says to -a citizen, "I will give you fifty dollars to carry my message to Yreka -ahead of all others. Yes, seventy-five!" - -"All right," responds the man, anxious to make money out of the occasion. -Other reporters engage couriers. - -Col. Miller nears the council tent, urging his men on. He is behind them, -pushing them forward, expecting every moment to see a Modoc blaze of fire -in front. They soon after meet Dyer, who, breathless, says, "They are all -killed but me." Soon after they discover Riddle, who cries, hurriedly, -"They are all killed." But now they meet Tobey, who sobs, "_Canby, Thomas, -Meacham, all_ 'kill.'" - -Thirty minutes have passed, and Meacham is struggling to get upon his -feet. He hears a voice. "Up, on the left! Forward, my boys!" Faintly the -sound reaches his ears. "Steady, right! Up! up on the left, you d----d -scoundrels!" Distinctly and clearly he hears the words, "Steady, right! -Guide, centre!" Then the sound of men's feet on the rocks mingles with the -words of command. The men near the centre level their guns. - -"That's an Indian," says one of the men. - -"Don't shoot, he's a white man!" shouts Col. Miller. - -The line passes over the wounded man still in skirmish order, as they -expect a Modoc volley. As they pass, Dr. Cabanis comes up and says, "Bring -a stretcher here. Take Meacham. He's not dead." - -"I am dead! I am dead!" murmurs the wounded man. - -The soldiers lift the mutilated body on a stretcher. - -"Water! water! give me water!" moans the wounded man. - -The doctor puts a canteen of _brandy_ to his lips. The lips refuse. - -"_I can't drink brandy._ I am a temperance man," says Meacham. - -"Stop your nonsense. No time for temperance talk now. Down with it! down -with it!" cries the doctor. - -"Am I mortally wounded, doctor?" asked Meacham. The surgeon hastily -thrusts his finger into the several wounds and replies, "Not unless you -are wounded internally." - -"I am shot through the left shoulder," said the wounded man. - -"Now, boys, for the hospital! Quick! Lose no time, and we will save him," -cries the doctor. - -"I hit Schonchin in the right side. He fell over just in front of me," -says the man on the stretcher. - -"Never mind Schonchin," says the doctor. "We'll look out for him. Here, -take some more brandy. Now, boys, quick! He'll stand it until you reach -the hospital." - -Four pairs of strong hands grasp the handles of the stretchers, and four -other pairs carry the arms, and walk beside to relieve the carriers. A -soldier covers the man with his coat as they hurry along. Listen, now, to -the sad wail of young Scott, Canby's orderly, who was with him through the -war of the Rebellion. When he reaches the body of his beloved general, who -was more than a father to him, he throws himself on the prostrate form, -and, frantic with grief, raves like a madman. "Bill Dad" and a soldier -lift him up and cover the body with their coats. - -Men with stretchers come up, and, while they lift the general, Bill Dad -cuts the side of the council tent out and covers him over. Strange that -this council tent should become Gen. Canby's winding-sheet! The body of -Dr. Thomas is also placed on a stretcher, and it, too, is covered with a -part of the tent. It is his winding-sheet, also. - -While these affairs are taking place at the scene of the terrible tragedy, -the quartermaster, at the camp, is putting the hospital in order for the -reception of patients, ordering cooks to prepare food for the men, packing -mules with supplies, stretchers, water-casks, and such other things as are -necessary for the men while fighting, never doubting but that they will be -needed. The animals are ready and waiting for orders from the general -commanding. - -But lo! behold! The glistening bayonets above the rocks _come nearer_! The -army of five hundred men are _returning to camp_. "Why is this?" ask the -men. "Why did we not follow the murderers to their den?" demand the -officers. - -"We shall not be ready to attack them until the Warm Spring Indians come," -replies the general, who a few days since thought "he could take the -Modocs out with the loss of half-a-dozen men." Why did not Col. Mason -follow up the Modocs who attacked Sherwood and Boyle? _Because he could -not move without orders, and the orders were not given._ - -Three or four horsemen are waiting while a dozen pencils are rattling over -paper. The burden of each despatch is the assassination. "Modoc treachery! -Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas killed; Meacham mortally wounded; Dyer and -Riddle escape." How much these hasty lines will tell, and how many hearts -will feel a dark shadow fall over them when the electric tongue of fire -repeats this message to the world! - -"Fifty dollars extra, if you get my despatch into the telegraph office -ahead of the others," says Bill Dad, as he hands the paper to his courier. -Away goes the courier up the steep and rugged bluff. - -"One hundred dollars if you get to the office in Y-re-ka, first," says -another reporter, in a whisper, to his courier, who dashes off close -behind the first. - -Another rider is mounted and waiting for the word to start. Gen. Gilliam's -adjutant hands this man a sealed envelope. It contains an official -telegram for the authorities. - -"Lose no time! Off with you!" says Adjutant Rockwell. And now three riders -are urging their horses up the hill. Y-re-ka is eighty-three miles -distant. A long race is before them. The evening is dark and gloomy, but -the clouds pass away, and the moon shines on three men galloping together, -mile after mile. Sunrise finds two of them still together. One of them, as -they near a ranch, swings his hat and shouts. A man in shirt-sleeves runs -to a stable and brings a fresh horse to the man who signalled him. The -rider dismounts, and, while changing the saddle from his horse to the -fresh one, tells the awful tidings. The other rider urges his horse on, -on, for he, too, has a fresh horse but a few miles ahead. On he goes, and -looking behind him sees his rival coming. He comes up and passes, saying, -"Good-by, George!" - -Twenty minutes more and both are mounted on fresh horses, one leading, but -now in sight of each other. One is casting an eye backwards over his -shoulder; the other is pressing the sides of his horse. The gap closes -up. Y-re-ka is now in sight, and they are galloping side by side. Both are -sitting erect, and the music of jingling spurs is in harmony with the -stride of the horses. One mile more, and somebody wins. It all depends on -"bottom." The spurs cease to jingle. They are muffled in the bleeding -sides of the panting horses. - -What a race! One is an iron-gray, the other a Pinto horse. The rider of -the gray, reaching back with his spurs, rakes his horse from the flank -forward, leaving a vermilion trail where the spurs have passed. With -extended head and neck, and lengthened stride, he goes ahead a few yards. -With another application of spurs, the switch of the horse's tail touches -his rider's back. - -"Ah, ha! I've got you now!" shouts the rider of the Pinto, as he comes up -like the moving of a shadow, and leaves the gray and his rider behind. One -hour more, and the lightnings of the heavens are repeating the messages, -and sending them over mountains and plains, to almost the farthest ends of -the earth. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXI. - - HARNESSED LIGHTNING CARRYING AWFUL TIDINGS--HE - "MAKES IT"--A BROKEN FINGER WON'T DISFIGURE A - CORPSE. - - -It is night, and in the solders' camp a wail of anguish is heard coming -from the tent nearest Gen. Canby's late quarters. Grief weighs down the -heart of Orderly Scott, who is giving vent to his anguish in stifled sobs -and vows of vengeance on the perpetrators of the foul deed. He rises from -his bed, and, with face half buried in his hands, looks again on the -mangled form of his benefactor, and, in renewed paroxysms of grief, is -borne away by his friends. - -The sound of hammer and saw disturbs the midnight hour, while the -carpenters are transforming the wooden gun-cases into coffins for the -dead. Two are in progress, but the mechanics are economizing the rough -boards, for the probabilities are that the _third_ will be needed on the -morrow. - -The steward is holding a lamp while Drs. Semig and Cabanis are dressing -the wounds of the only patient in the hospital tent. He is unconscious, -while the ugly, ragged wound in his face is being carefully bound, and the -long crooked cut on the left side of the head is being closed with the -silver threads, and his ear is being stitched together. He flinches a -little when the flexible silver probe is following the trail cut through -his right arm made by the pistol ball that struck it outside of the -wrist, and, passing between the bones of the fore arms, came out on the -inside, midway between the hand and elbow. The left hand is laid out on a -board, and the wounded man is told that "the forefinger must come off." - -"Make out the line of the cut, doctor," says Meacham. - -"There, about this way," the doctor replies, while with his scalpel he -traces a cut nearly to the wrist. - -"I can't hold still while you do that, without chloroform," says Meacham. - -The doctor feels his pulse, and says, "You have lost too much blood to -take chloroform." - -"Then let it stay until I am stronger," rejoins Meacham. - -For once doctors agree, one of them saying, "The finger would not -disfigure a corpse very much." - -"Please ask Gen. Gilliam to send to Linkville for my wife's brother, Capt. -Ferree," comes from the bloodless lips of the wounded man. - -"My dear fellow," replies the kind-hearted doctor, "the general sent a -courier for him hours ago." - -This thoughtful act of kindness, on the part of Gen. Gilliam, has touched -the heart of the sufferer. When he awakes again Capt. Ferree was bending -over him and remarking, "He will be blind if he recovers, won't he, -doctor?" - -"He won't be very handsome, that's a fact," says the nurse. - -In the Modoc camp, when the murderous bands arrive with their scanty -plunder, a general quarrel ensues, and bitter reproaches are heard against -Hooker Jim for not securing Mr. Dyer, and against Curly Jack and -Curly-haired Doctor, for the escape of Maj. Boyle, and on account of the -clothing taken from the murdered men. Captain Jack claims the uniform of -Gen. Canby. Bogus and Boston divide the clothing taken from Dr. Thomas, -and Shacknasty Jim, Hooker Jim and old Schonchin are awarded the clothing -and effects of Meacham. - -Preparations are making for defence, as the Indians do not doubt that an -attack will be made immediately. Many bitter recriminations are uttered; -but it is war, war to the last man! They hush all their quarrels in the -necessity for united action. They pledge themselves to fight until the -_last man_ is dead. The Curly-haired Doctor calls his assistants around -him and begins the _Great Medicine Dance_. All night long the sound of -drum and song is heard. The Modocs expect every moment to hear the signal -of their sentinel on the outposts announcing the "soldiers!" No sleep -comes to this camp to-night. - -The morning comes, but no blue-coats are seen among the rocks. The army of -one thousand men _are not ready yet_. - -The Modocs exult; they are jubilant; they have _scared_ the Government. -"_It is afraid. It will grant us, now, all we ask._" Captain Jack and -Scar-face Charley do not assent to this unreasonable view of the -situation. - -"The soldiers will come. Our victory is not complete. We must fight now -until all are dead. The Modoc heart says 'We must fight!'" Captain Jack -affirms. - -Saturday morning, April 13th, finds the three camps side by side, and each -on the lookout for an attack. - -Strong hands are bearing two rough-looking boxes up the steep bluff. In -the foremost one is the body of Gen. Canby; in the other, all that is -mortal of Dr. Thomas. Slowly they mount the rugged hill. They reach the -waiting ambulances. The bodies are each assigned an escort. Sitting beside -Gen. Canby's coffin are his adjutant, Anderson, and the faithful Scott. - -How changed the scene! a few hours since all were hopeful. Now, all are in -despair, crushed under the affliction of the hour. While they move -cautiously under escort, the terrible news is flashing along thousands of -miles of telegraph lines, over mountains, under rivers and oceans. Before -the sun sets the hearts of millions of people are beating in sympathy with -the bereaved. Extras and bulletins are flying from a thousand presses. The -newsboys of America are shouting the burden of the terrible telegram. The -Indians along a thousand miles of the frontier have already learned that -something of dreadful import has happened. - -About the middle of the afternoon of this day a woman sitting in her room -on State street, Salem, Oregon, raises her eyes, turning them towards the -street. Perhaps the sound of steps on the wooden pavement attracts her -attention. She sees two familiar faces turned towards her window. "Oh, see -her! How pale she is!" She drops her work, and runs hastily to meet the -two gentlemen. - -"Is he dead? Is he dead? Tell me! Has my husband been killed by the -Modocs?" the woman cries. - -The gentlemen are speechless for the moment, while the lady pleads. They -dare not speak the truth too plainly, now; she cannot bear it. - -[Illustration: DOCTOR THOMAS.] - -One of them replies, "Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas have been killed by the -Modocs, and Mr. Meacham is sli--" "mortally wounded!" shrieks the lady -sinking to the floor. - -Three young persons are coming home. The eldest is a young lady of -eighteen. The lad that walks beside her is her brother of sixteen; and the -other is an auburn-haired girl of fourteen. There is something in her -appearance that connects our thoughts with the mutilated, almost bloodless -man who is lying in the hospital in the Lava Beds. - -They turn the corner leading out of the Plaza and in sight of home. They -see men and women hurrying across the front yard. - -"Has father been killed by the Modocs?" bursts from their lips as they -fly. - -Dr. Hall meets them and says, "Your father is slightly wounded. He is not -dead." - -The three frightened children gather around the _tearless_, pale-faced -mother, who says, "Don't deceive me. I am strong now. I can bear it. Tell -me the worst." - -The friends exchanged glances. Dr. Hall shakes his head, slightly -motioning towards the elder girl, whose face is buried in the bosom of -Mrs. Dr. Smith. - -"George, run to the telegraph office and bring the despatch," says the -mother to her son. "I must know the truth." - -The boy bounds away towards the office, and is met by Prof. Powell, who -says, "Come back, George. I will go home with you, and tell your mother -all about it." - -The two return, and the professor, with faltering voice reads the -despatch: "Canby and Thomas killed. Meacham mortally wounded." The -marble-faced wife arises, saying, "I am going to my husband." Her friends -remonstrate with her. - -"I am going to my husband. Do not hinder me," she repeats. - -"My father! my father!" cries the elder daughter, as she is borne to her -room. - -"My father will not die. He must not die. _My father will live_," the -younger daughter insists. Her brother is trying to hide his tears while he -talks hopefully. - -"Father is a very strong man. He may get well. I think he will," he says. - -It is midnight, and sympathizing friends are in the sitting-room and -parlor. The daughters and son have sobbed themselves to sleep. The mother -and wife, with bloodless face, is on bended knees, and, with uplifted -hands clasped, is whispering a prayer. - -At this moment her brother is bending over her husband three hundred miles -away, watching his breathing; while thoughts of a widowed sister and her -orphan children sadden the heart of the veteran who has passed through the -war of the Great Rebellion. A silent tear drops on the mangled face -beneath him. - -Donald McKay, "the scout," with seventy-two picked men, is dismounting at -Col. Mason's camp. Leaving them, he is challenged by the picket guard and, -passing in, reports himself to the officer of the day. - -His men stand waiting his return. Meanwhile we will go close enough to -inspect them. They are dressed in the uniform of the soldiers of the -United States. Their arms are the same, and in the moonlight they appear -to be "Regulars." If the wounded man in the hospital were here they would -salute him with, "Tuts-ka-low-a?" ("How do you do, old man Meacham?") And -he would reply, "Te-me-na, Shix-te-wa-tillicums." ("My heart is all -right.") - -These boys are Warm Spring Indians, and the same men who were in the -council tents in 1856, when the Government swindled them and their fathers -out of their homes in the beautiful "Valley of the Tygh." They were also -in the revival meeting at the Warm Springs Agency in 1871, when the -Superintendent of Indian Affairs, who now lies in yonder hospital, and -Agent John Smith, took so many red hands in their own and recognized a -brotherhood with them. They are the same men, too, who have for years -past, each Sunday morning, joined their beloved agent in prayer and song. -They have left behind them humble homes, in a poor country, where the -Government placed them, and where it still keeps them by the strong arm of -the law, without consulting their wishes,--a home they cannot leave, even -for a day, without a "pass." Their manhood was acknowledged in making a -treaty; but denied as soon as the compact was completed, until in 1866, -when the Government found it had an expensive war on hand with the Snake -Indians, and then it offered these men the privilege of volunteering to -whip the Snake Indians. This offer they accepted, and were rewarded for -their services with a few greenbacks, worth fifty cents on a dollar, and -an invitation to a new treaty council, in which they were _cheated_ out of -a reserved right to the fisheries on the Columbia river, near "The -Dalles;" and then they were summoned back to their unsought homes, subject -to the whims and caprices of Government officers, who were given positions -as a reward for political services. True, they agreed to the terms, and -they must be made to stand by them whether their pledges were made freely -and voluntarily, or under the shining bayonets of an army, and by reason -of the superior diplomatic talent of the Government officials who -outwitted them. It makes no difference. They are Indians, and -three-fourths of the people of the United States _believe_ and _say_ that -"the best Indians are all under ground." - -Anxious to demonstrate their loyalty to a Government that has been so good -to them, and to establish their right to manhood's privileges, when an -opportunity offered, they enlisted by the advice and consent of their -agent, and, followed by his prayers, they are here to-night under the -famous scout, Donald McKay. - -He evidently is not a "Warm Spring Indian," yet they trust him, knowing, -from their experience with him in the Snake campaign of 1866, that he is -thoroughly reliable. Donald McKay is half brother to Dr. Wm. C. McKay. His -mother was a Cayuse woman. Being a man of extraordinary endowments, which -fit him for a leader, he has taken an active part in all recent Indian -wars of the Northwest. His _name alone_ carries a warning to refractory -"red-skins." - -As Donald approached his men on his return from head-quarters, several -voices inquire if "old man Meacham is dead." Quietly leading their horses -inside the picket line, they unpack the kitchen, mule and blanket ponies. - -It is now Sunday morning, the 13th of April. The sun finds couriers on the -road to Y-re-ka, bearing despatches announcing that "Meacham is sinking. -The surgeons have extracted four bullets from his wounds. The Modocs -cannot get away." - -A sad, anxious woman is leaving the depot at Salem, Oregon, destined for -the Lava Beds. At home her children are in tears, realizing how dark the -clouds of sorrow may become. - -The childless widow of Gen. Canby sits with _broken heart_, in her parlor -in Portland, Oregon. - -The family of Dr. Thomas, in Petaluma, Cal., are kneeling around the -family altar, and a bereaved widow is praying for resignation to this -dispensation of Providence,--is praying for strength to say "Thy will be -done on earth as it is in heaven." - -Monday morning, April 14th, opens amid the noises of camp life; the drum -and bugle calls, and human voices join in songs of praise. They are -strange sounds for a military camp on the eve of battle. There is an -uncommon accent to them, but they sound familiar. What! The sounds come -from the lips of men who were born in wild camps among the mountains of -Eastern Oregon. Can it be that these red men have so far advanced in -Christian civilization that they are now doing what not one of the five -hundred white men have the courage to do? Yes, my reader, _it is true_ -that the Warm Spring Indians, who have learned from Agent John Smith these -songs of praise and the honor that is due to God, are faithful to their -pretensions, and _are worshipping_ Him, and seeking strength to sustain -them in the coming strife. - -Blush, now, will you not, you who prate so loudly of the superiority of -the white men! of his sense of right controlling his actions! Here are -_red men_, who are but a few years removed from savage life, _living_ the -"_new religion_"--Christians in real earnest, and shaming the hypocritical -pretenders whose cant and whine make liberal-minded people turn away in -disgust. You Christian Indian-hater, look at these red-skinned people, and -learn a lesson in Christian honesty and moral courage! - -The shadows of Van Bremers mountain come slowly over the Lava Beds. In the -Modoc camp the "medicine-man" is conducting the war-dance and working the -blood of Modoc hearts up to fighting heat. He promises his people that he -will make a medicine that will turn the soldiers' bullets away. He points -to the great battle of January, and its results, to inspire confidence in -him. The chief is saddened, and fully realizes the situation. He is -desperate, and is resolved to fight to the bitter end. He has already -appointed the places for each of the warriors. He tells his people that -the hated Warm Spring Indians are now in the soldiers' camp. He reminds -them that these people are their enemies; that it was the Warm Spring and -Tenino Indians who killed his father. He counsels them to remember his -father's death. He knows that a thousand white soldiers are there and that -the "big guns" will reach his stronghold. - -Some of his followers have superstitious faith enough in the medicine-man -to believe that they will outlive the war, and to believe the white men -are conquered already. The chief knows better. - -In the soldiers' camp preparations are making for the assault. The -Coehorn shell-guns are made ready for putting on the backs of mules. Food -for the soldiers has been prepared. The guard is stationed. The soldiers -in either camp well understand that the morrow's sun will witness another -bloody struggle. Those of them who were in former battles shrink from this -one, knowing how nearly impregnable the "stronghold" will be. - -"I say, old man, there is a little bit of fun going on. I wish you could -be up to see it." Thus spoke Capt. Ferree to Meacham, and continued, "You -know Long Jim--a Modoc prisoner--is under guard. Well, the boys are going -to give him a _chance_ to run for his life without the knowledge of Gen. -Gilliam. They have everything all fixed, and I'll bet fifty dollars he -'makes it!' They have him in the stone corral, and the plan is to station -the boys outside next to the Lava Beds and leave one or two men to guard -him. They will pretend to sleep, and Jim will jump the wall, and then the -boys will let him have it. Two to one he gets away! I thought I would just -tell you, so you wouldn't get scared to death, thinking the Modocs were -attacking the camp." - -This man, Long Jim, had pretended to desert the Modoc camp during the -peace negotiations. He had a bullet extracted from his back while in the -commissioners' camp, several weeks before. He was afterwards caught while -acting as an emissary to other Indians, and, by order of Gen. Canby, was -being detained under guard as a prisoner. Hence his presence. He stoutly -denied having any desire to return to Captain Jack's camp. - -The officers are assembled in Col. Green's quarters. They are celebrating -a half-solemn, half-sentimental ceremony that is sometimes indulged in -before an engagement. To a listener who lies in a hospital it sounds -somewhat as does the medicine war-dance in the middle camp. Indeed, its -results are the same, although the design is different. In the Modoc camp, -the dance and medicine are for the purpose of invoking spiritual aid and -stimulating the nerves of the braves to heroic deeds. In the soldier camp -the intention is to celebrate the stirring scenes passed, to exchange -friendship, to blot out all the personal differences that exist, and -pledge fidelity for the future. - -They tell stories and pass jokes and witticisms until a late hour. Before -adjournment they join in singing a song that is sung nowhere else and by -no other voices. The wounded man in the hospital tent hears only the -refrain. It sounds melancholy, and has a saddening effect. - - "Then stand by your glasses steady, - This world's a round of lies-- - Three cheers for the dead already, - And hurrah for the next who dies"-- - -rings out from the lips of brave men who dread not the strife of battle -under ordinary circumstances; but to meet an enemy who is so thoroughly -protected by chasms and caverns of rock does not promise glory that -inflates men's courage previous to battle. - -Col. Tom Wright and Lieut. Eagan drop into the hospital, and, sitting down -beside the wounded commissioner, assure him that they will remember Canby -and Thomas, and will avenge his own sufferings. They retire with -expressions of hope for his recovery. They meet Maj. Thomas and Lieut. -Cranston coming to pay a visit. Exchanges of sympathy and friendship -follow, and they return to quarters to sleep before the battle, leaving -behind them but one wounded man. He is peering into the future, wondering -_who_ of all the five hundred men and officers will be his _first -neighbor_. - -The camp is quiet. Midnight has passed. The relief guard has been -stationed. In the corral Long Jim is _sleeping_. He shows no sign of any -intention to escape. The guard _is discouraged_. The boys outside are -impatient. What if Jim should not make the attempt? It would be a huge -joke on the boys who planned this little side scene. Truth is, nearly -everybody who is in the secret is cursing Jim for a fool that he don't try -to escape. A consultation is held. Something must be done. "I'll fix it," -says a "little corporal." Going to the corral he says, "Don't go to sleep -and let the prisoner get away." Everything becomes quiet and the two -guards sit down, one at each side of the corral. - -"I'm so d--d sleepy I can't keep awake," says one to the other. - -"Sleep, then. I won't say a word," rejoins his companion. "He can't get -away from me. He's sleeping himself." - -The first speaker soon hangs his head and _sleeps_. Soon the other's chin -rests on his breast and he begins to _snore_. Long Jim slowly raises _his_ -head. All is quiet. There sit the two guards, sleeping. One is snoring. -Jim listens. His love for his own people and for liberty burns in his -heart. He has picked up many items that would be valuable. He knows that -the attack will be made on the morrow. His friends must be notified. He -listens a moment, and then, cautiously laying aside his blanket, he stands -erect. One of the guards sits in the gateway of the corral. The wall -around him is higher than his head. He cannot see over it. Laying his -hands on the stone and summoning all his strength he _springs_. A blaze at -either end of the corral, then bang! bang! go the guns outside like the -firing, of a string of China crackers, only louder. Twenty shots are -fired, and still Jim does not fall. He reaches the outer picket line. _Two -more guns are fired off_, lighting up the track for the runaway, and still -he flies. The boys reload and send a parting volley in the direction Jim -went. - -"_He 'made it'; and a madder set of fellows you never saw._ I knew they -couldn't hit him. I've tried that thing, and it can't be done." I need not -tell my readers who uttered this remark. - -You may suppose that this little episode, "just before the battle," roused -the camp. No such thing occurred. Gen. Gilliam, it is true, jumped to his -feet, but was reassured when he was told that it was nothing--only Long -Jim escaping. - -Before daylight this distinguished individual was "a-tellin' the Modocs -the news," as one of the sleeping guard declared. So he was, with his -clothing pierced by half-a-dozen bullets, but "with nary a wound." - - - - - CHAPTER XXXII. - - HORIZONTAL PYROTECHNICS--THE SCALP MIRACLE--KILLED - IN PETTICOATS--THE PRESENTIMENT. - - -It is four o'clock on the morning of Tuesday, the 14th of April. The men -are silently falling into line. The mules are groaning under the heavy -weight of "mounted pieces," or loaded with stretchers and other -contrivances for carrying the dead and wounded. The soldiers do not seem -to realize that some of their number will _return on these mules_, wounded -and helpless, or dead. Perhaps each one thinks and hopes that it will be -some one other than himself. From the immense preparations for war it -would seem that Captain Jack and his followers must be taken in a few -minutes. One thousand men and seventy-two Warm Spring Indians are taking -position around the ill-starred chieftain's fortress. He is not ignorant -of their presence. His old women and children are hidden away in the caves -of the Lava Beds. The young women are detailed to attend the warriors with -water and ammunition. The Modocs are better armed than during the last -battle. Some of their guns were captured from fallen soldiers on the 17th -of January. A large quantity of ammunition that was taken has been changed -to suit the old rifles. - -The men are at the stations assigned them. They are divested of all -unnecessary clothing, and their limbs are bandaged by folds of rawhide. -They are awaiting the attack. Each warrior holds a position made -impregnable by the formation of the rocks, or the condition in which the -great convulsions of nature which produced this indescribable country, -left them. - -The sun is driving away the darkness, and soon the battle must begin. - -In the hospital a veteran of the Second Iowa Cavalry is sitting beside the -wounded man, and preparing him for the shock that his nerves will feel. - -"Don't get scared, old man! It will begin very soon, and you will -presently have company enough," he says. - -The hospital attendants are making ready to care for the wounded. -Mattresses are placed in rows on either side. In a small tent, near by, a -surgeon is laying out lint and bandages. - -The Iowa veteran is standing at the door, saying to Meacham, "I will tell -you when it opens. I can see the fire before you will hear the sound and -feel the jar. Don't get frightened, and think that the mountain is coming -down on you, old man. There goes the signal rocket. Now look out!" - -An instant more and the shells and howitzers join in a simultaneous demand -for the Modoc chief to surrender. The earth trembles while the reports are -reverberating around and through the chasms and caverns of the Lava Beds, -and before they have finally died away, or the trembling has ceased, -another sound comes in a continuous roar, proceeding from the left, and by -the time the belt of fire has made the circuit, it repeats itself again -and again. But no smoke of rifles is seen coming from the stronghold. -"Charge!" rings out by human voice and bugle blast, and a returning -series of bayonets converge. On they go, nearing a common centre. No -Modocs are yet in sight. The soldiers, now upright, are hurrying forward, -when suddenly, from a covert chasm and cavern, a circle of smoke bursts -forth. The Modocs have opened fire. The men fall on the right and left, -around the circle. "Onward!" shout the officers. "Onward!" But the men are -falling fast. The charge must be abandoned. The bugle sounds "Retreat!" -The line widens again, the soldiers bearing back the dead and wounded. -They now seek cover among the rocks. The wounded are sent to the hospital, -by way of the lake, in boats or on the mule-stretchers. The battle goes -on. The wounded continue to arrive. The shadows of the mountains from the -west cover the Lava Beds, and still the fight goes on. A volley is heard -near the hospital. - -"What's that?" asked the startled patient. - -"Burying the dead," quietly responds the veteran nurse. - -A few minutes pass, and another volley is fired, and another soldier is -being laid away to rest forever. Still another, and another yet; until -five volleys announce that five of the boys who started out with United -States rifles in the morning are occupying the narrow homes that must be -theirs forever. - -At irregular intervals during the night the fight is continued. The Modocs -are constantly on duty. The soldiers relieve each other, and are in -fighting condition when Tuesday morning comes. No cessation of firing -through the day. No rest for the Modocs. - -One of the camp sutlers, well known all over the West as a game fellow, -unable to restrain his love for sport, and being PAT-riotic, goes to -quartermaster Grier and demands a _breech-loader_, and also a _charger_ to -ride, saying he wanted to do something to help whip the Modocs. Mr. Grier -informed _Pat_ that he could _not_ issue arms without an order. Pat was -indignant, and made application successfully to a citizen for the -necessary outfit for war. He mounted Col. Wright's mule and repaired to -the scene of action. - -On reaching the line of battle he looked around a few minutes, and, to a -word of caution given him by an officer, replied, "Divil an Indian do I -see. I came out to git a scalp, and I'm not goin' home without it." - -The officer who had given him the friendly advice watched the bold sutler -as he kept on his way with his "Henry," ready to pick off any Modoc who -might be imprudent enough to show his head. The soldiers shout, "Come -back! come back!" but on goes the fearless sutler, carefully picking his -way. Look very closely, now, and we can see what appears to be a _moving -sage-bush_. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, it creeps over the ledges. If -Pat would only look in the right direction he could see it and have a -chance at the travelling bush; and as he is a good shot, he _might_ -scatter the leaves, besides boring a hole through _Steamboat Frank's_ -head. A puff of smoke comes out of the now immovable bush, and the report -mingles with the roar of battle. Pat's mule _drops_ under him, and he -slips off and takes cover behind a low rock. The mule recovers its feet, -and, with almost human sense, makes its way back to the soldiers' line. -Pat, anxious to discover his man, raises his head above the rocks. Whiz! -comes another bullet, so close that Pat drops back quietly,--indeed, so -very quietly that the soldiers report him dead; and noble-hearted Pat is -named among the slain. But let us see how he really is. After lying -contented awhile, he again slowly lifts his head, and another shot comes -so close that Pat again drops behind the rock, and a second time the -soldiers shout, "They've got him this time, sure!" - -Not so, however. Pat is not hurt yet. Again and again he attempts to move -from behind the rock, scarcely large enough to protect him, and each time -Steamboat fires. No one who knows Pat McManus ever doubted his courage, -but he deserves credit, also, for remembering that "Discretion is the -better part of valor." He finally arranges himself for a "quiet snooze -behind the rock," as he expressed it, and awaited the welcome shades of -evening. He then crawls out to the soldier line. It is said that he stood -the fire of the soldiers who mistook him for an Indian, until he shouted -to them, "Dry up, there! It's me! Don't you know a white man on his knees -from an Injun on his belly?" - -Directly west of Captain Jack's stronghold is a flat an almost level plain -of lava rocks of six hundred yards in width, but commanded by the -stronghold, while it does not offer protection to those who attempt to -hold it. To complete the investment it is necessary to take this "flat." -Lieut. Eagan is ordered to the execution of this enterprise. He is a -daring leader, and, calling to his men to follow, moves forward. It is -known to be a hazardous undertaking, but Eagan is just the man. Away he -goes, jumping from one rock to another, calling to his men: "Come, my -boys! come!" he cries. But suddenly the Lava Rocks in front belch forth -Modoc bullets, and the gallant lieutenant _drops_. Then a soldier, and -then another. Eagan shouts, "Fall back!" Pell-mell they go, stooping, -jumping and shouting, leaving the brave fellow alone, while his men take a -position where they can prevent the Modocs from capturing their leader. - -Dr. Cabanis,--who seems to bear a charmed life, hearing of Eagan's fall, -goes to him. The Modocs open fire on him. Steadily the gallant doctor -moves forward, sometimes taking cover as best he can, again moving, half -bent, from rock to rock, and when he reaches the wounded man a shout goes -up from the soldiers. The wound is dressed, and the doctor, unable to -_carry_ his patient, leaves him and returns again to the line. - -While this battle is going on, two coaches of the Northwest Stage Company -meet, one going north and the other south. Observing a custom common among -western stage people, they halt and exchange news items. In the stage -going north is the body of Gen. Canby, in charge of his adjutant, -Anderson, and Orderly Scott. In the other stage is Mrs. Meacham, -accompanied by a stranger. Indeed, she has found a new escort at almost -every station, who would announce himself as "your husband's brother." -Members of this brotherhood have been informed by telegraph all along the -road that "A Brother's Wife is _en route_ for the Lava Beds. Look out for -her wants. See that she is escorted and send the bills to No. 50, F. A. -M., Salem." - -Anderson goes to the other coach. Mrs. Meacham anxiously inquires, "Did -you see my husband after he was wounded?" - -"I sat beside him half an hour," he replies. "He is doing well." - -"Will he recover?" questions Mrs. Meacham. "Is he mortally wounded?" - -"We hope he will get well. His wounds are not necessarily fatal," replies -the adjutant. "A great deal," he continues, "depends on good treatment. -_Your brother_ is with him. Everything that can be done is being done." - -Anderson walks sadly back to his charge of the lamented general. - -The driver of the other stage dismounts and accosts Mr. Anderson as he -resumes his seat. - -"Is there any hope for Mr. Meacham?" he asks. - -"Not the least in the world; but his wife must not know it now," replies -Anderson, in a low voice; but O my God! _loud enough for the quick_ ears -of Mrs. Meacham to catch the words. - -The drivers take up the lines. The stages pass. In one Gen. Canby's body -is being borne to his heart-broken wife. In the other a heart-broken wife -is going to her husband, with the thought that she would be northward -borne in a few days, with her husband confined in a dark coffin. The -southern-bound stage reaches Jacksonville. The strange gentleman assists -Mrs. Meacham to alight, and attends to her baggage while the change of -coaches is being made. He then introduces another stranger to Mrs. Meacham -as "your husband's brother, who will go to Y-re-ka with you." - -It is Wednesday evening when the stage is slowly climbing Siskiyou -mountain. The occupants are but two, one a lady. She does not speak. _She -has no hope now._ The gentleman is silent. He, too, has lost hope in the -recovery of the lady's husband. - -[Illustration: BRINGING IN THE WOUNDED.] - -Lieut. Eagan is being carried to his tent. The hospital is full of -patients groaning with pain. Near the door lies a Warm Springs Indian -scout. The surgeons are probing his wound, while he laughs and talks to -the attendants, making sarcastic remarks about "the Modocs using powder -that couldn't shoot through his leg." - -The Iowa veteran announces to his brother-in-law that his wife will be in -Y-re-ka that night. - -The Modocs are out of water. The ice they had stored in the caves is -exhausted. They determine to cut their way to the lake, but a few hundred -yards distant. They concentrate their forces, and, enveloped in sage -brush, they crawl up near the line of soldiers and open fire in terrible -earnest. Soldiers fall on right and left. The Modocs yell and push their -line. The white soldiers are massing to resist. The fire is awful. Peal -after peal, volley after volley, and still the Modocs hold their ground. -All night long the Modoc yell mingles with the rattle of musketry, and the -shouts of defiance from the soldiers. One party is fighting in -desperation; the other from duty. - -While this battle is raging, the stage-coach from the North arrives at -Y-re-ka, and stops at the hotel. A gentleman says a few words to the -driver. The street-lamp before Judge Roseborough's door throws its light -on the faces of several ladies and gentlemen who stand waiting to receive -the lady passenger. She is met with warm-hearted kindness, although every -face is new. Supper is waiting. Every effort is made for the lady's -comfort. She weeps now, although this great sorrow of her life had seemed -to dry up the fountain of tears until the warm hearts and kind words of -strange voices had touched, with melting power, her inner soul. A short -sleep, and she arises, to find a four-horse carriage awaiting to bear her -to the Lava Beds. A new escort takes his place beside her. - -Just after daylight, and while leaving the Shasta valley, a few miles out -of Y-re-ka, the driver announces a courier coming from the Lava Beds. As -he approaches, he draws from his "cantena"--a leather pocket carried on -the saddle-front--a paper, and, waving it while he checks his panting -horse, says, "For Mrs. Meacham." Oh, the power of a few words! How they -can change darkness into light! The letter read as follows:-- - - LAVA BEDS, Tuesday Eve., April 15. - - DEAR SISTER: Your husband will recover. His wounds are doing - well, but he will never be very handsome any more. - - Your brother, - - D. J. FERREE. - -This inveterate joker cannot resist the temptation to mix the colors of -the rainbow in all he does. But we forgive him. - -This morning, as the sun dispels the darkness, the Modocs abandon the -attempt to reach the lake. For two days and nights they have fought -without sleep. They are suffering from thirst and long-continued fighting; -but _no signs of surrender are anywhere visible_. The chief has called a -council. It is decided to evacuate on the approach of night, and the -braves are ordered to hold their fire unless to resist a charge. - -A few of the Modocs have passed outside the lines by way of the "open -flat," and are crawling towards the soldiers' camp at the foot of the -bluff. Gen. Gilliam, Dr. McEldry and others have passed over the route -unharmed. The horse-stretchers have passed and repassed with their mangled -freight. The pack-ponies are all busily engaged, and the team horses, that -were ordered by the quartermaster into service, are employed in carrying -the dead. The pack-trains and teams belong to private citizens, and have -been employed by the Government in carrying and hauling supplies. It was -not expected, however, that they would be required to carry bleeding and -mangled human freight. - -"Necessity knows no law." In the beginning of the battle, the citizen -teamsters were ordered to this place for duty. Among them was a -fair-haired boy of nineteen years of age, who had trained his team horses, -on the first and second days of the battle, to walk between the poles that -made the mule-stretchers. The poles were about twenty feet long, and at -either end a stout strap was attached to each. These straps were thrown -across the saddles on the horses, one being immediately in front of the -other, and between them canvas was secured to the poles, thus constituting -a "horse-stretcher." This boy had proved himself very efficient, and had -won the commendation of the officers, and the gratitude of the wounded -men. Dr. McEldry had requested the quartermaster to continue young Hovey -in the service, because in managing the stretchers he was careful and -trustworthy. - -A presentiment had this morning filled the mind of this noble young fellow -with dread. He made application to Quartermaster Grier to be excused from -further duty with the stretchers, stating his reasons. Mr. Grier expressed -his sympathy with him and endeavored to allay his fears, remarking that -Dr. McEldry had paid him a high compliment for his efficiency and -requested him--Mr. Grier--to send him out again this morning. - -The boy--_too brave to refuse_, although no law could have compelled him -to go, though his horses might have been pressed into service--assented, -remarking that, notwithstanding he had made _several trips safely_, he -should _not get back from this one_. - -After preparing his horses for this unpleasant labor he goes to a citizen -friend, and gives him his watch and other valuables, saying that he _did -not expect to return_, as he had had a presentiment that he would not; and -he gave to this friend a message to his father, another for his mother, -and mentioning the names of his _brothers and sisters_, left a _few words -of love for each_. The grandeur of character and heroism exhibited by this -boy stand out among the few instances that are given to mankind in proof -of the divinity that controls human action. Nothing but godlike attributes -could have sustained young Hovey when calmly performing those manly -actions which entitle his name to be enrolled among the heroes of the age. -So let it be recorded, and let it stand with the nineteen summers he had -lived, _accusing_ and _condemning_ those who so _wildly howled_ for blood -when the Peace Commissioners were laboring to prevent what might have -been only a terrible phantasmagoria, but which has become an awful -reality. - -Young Hovey, accompanied by one assistant only, started on his way to the -battle-field with four horses and two stretchers. No guard was deemed -necessary, because it was understood that the Modocs were surrounded and -"could not escape," and it was so reported, by the general commanding, to -his superiors. Hovey and his companion had passed by the scene of the -tragedy of the Peace Commissioners but a few rods, and but a few hundred -yards behind Gen. Gilliam, when, from the cover of the rocks, a Modoc -bullet, shot by Hooker Jim, went with a death-dealing power through his -head. The monsters, not content with his death and the capture of his -horses, rush upon him, and while he is yet alive, scalp him, strip him of -his clothing, and then, with inhuman ferocity, the red fiends crush his -head to a shapeless mass with huge stones. His companion escapes unhurt. - -This outrage was committed almost within sight of the army, which was -investing the stronghold, and the camp at the bluff. - -Having despatched young Hovey, the Modocs then turned towards the latter -camp. Lieut. Grier, who was in command, immediately telegraphed to Col. -Greene, in command at the Lava Beds, that "The Modocs were out of the -stronghold and had attacked the camp." He, also, called together the -citizens and his own forces, as Assistant Acting Quartermaster, and, -arming them, prepared to resist. But a few shots were fired by the -Indians; however, one or two balls landed among the tents near the -hospital. The Modocs presently withdrew. - -The day is passing away with the almost useless expenditure of powder and -shells. However, there was a _shell sent_ in yesterday that did not -explode when delivered, and the Modocs are anxious to see what is inside -of it. How to do so is a question in the Modoc mind. Several plans are -tried unsuccessfully, until an old Cum-ba-twas, with jaws like a cougar, -taking it in his hands and clinching the plug with his teeth, produces a -combustion that _he does not anticipate_. _That shell does execution. In -fact_, _it is worth about five hundred thousand dollars to the -Government_, rating its services pro rata with the total cost of killing -Modoc Indians. When the plug starts, the head of the old fellow who is -holding it goes off his body in a damaged condition. Another younger man, -who stands by waiting the result of the experiment, is blown all to -pieces, cutting his scalp into convenient sizes for the soldiers to divide -to advantage. - -Two or three old Indian women pass through the lines to the water. A young -brave dons woman's clothes and comes to the line. After slaking his thirst -he starts to return. Something in his walk creates a suspicion. - -"That's a man," says a soldier. - -The Indian runs. _A dozen rifles command, "Halt!" The Indian halts._ The -soldiers _take five or six scalps off that fellow's head_, and would have -taken more, had the first ones been less avaricious. However, soldiers are -kind-hearted and unselfish fellows, and the scalps are _again divided_, so -that, at last, ten or twelve are happy in the possession of a scalp. - -It is now five P.M. Let us see how the several parties are situated at -this time. Couriers are _en route_ to Y-re-ka with despatches, telling the -world about the terrible slaughter, and, _by the authority_ of the general -in command, assuring the powers that be, in Washington, "The Modocs cannot -escape. They are in our power. It is only a question of time. We have them -'corralled.'" - -In Portland, Oregon, an immense concourse of citizens are awaiting the -arrival of the train bearing the remains of Gen. Canby. The streets are -hushed. The doors of business houses are closed. A general feeling of -sorrow is everywhere manifest. Officers of the army and a delegation from -a Great Brotherhood are there. On every hand flags are at half mast. -Emblems of sorrow meet the eye. The grief-stricken widow sits in her room, -cold, comfortless, inconsolable. - -The Fraternal and Church Brotherhoods and thousands of mourning friends -crowd the wharf in San Francisco, eagerly watching the coming of a steamer -from Vallejo with flags at half mast. This boat is bringing home for -interment the body of another great man, whose spirit went to its Maker in -company with the Christian General, for whom the city of Portland, Oregon, -mourns. Nearest to the dark tabernacle two young men are standing. They -are the sons of Dr. Thomas. - -While the two cities of the western coast are exchanging telegraphic words -of sympathy, kind-hearted friends are filling a parlor where three -sorrowing children are weeping without the presence of parents. The -friends are repeating the hopeful telegrams of the Iowa veteran, and -assuring them that their mother is with their father by that time as she -left Y-re-ka the previous morning. - -At this hour a young physician is hurrying to the bedside of an aged man, -who has passed threescore years and ten, near Solon, Iowa. A glance at his -face and we are reminded of the wounded Peace Commissioner in the Lava -Beds, three thousand miles away. Five days ago he had read the telegram -that said, "Meacham mortally wounded." He threw himself on his bed then, -saying, "If my son dies I never can rise again,--my first-born soil who -went with me through all my dark hours on the frontier, twenty-five years -ago. Must he die? Can I bear it? Thy will be done, O Lord!" - -For five days has he laid hanging between life and death. His physician -has watched the telegraph, and now, with the words of the Iowa veteran, he -is hurrying to the bedside of his patient. - -"Your son will recover!" the doctor exclaims before reaching him. - -The white-haired man rises on his elbow, saying, "Do I dream? Is it true, -doctor? Will my son live?" - -About this hour, away up on Wild Horse Creek, Umatilla County, Oregon, a -young man is writing a letter that seems to come from an overcharged heart -submerged in grief. The letter runs as follows:-- - - MEACHAM RANCH, WILD HORSE CREEK, April 17th, 1873. - - MY DEAR NEPHEW:--I have just heard of the death of your - father.... Eleven months since we kneeled with him beside your - Uncle Harvey's coffin and pledged our lives to care for his - widow and orphan children.... You and I, George, are all that - are left to care for two widows and two families of orphans. ... - The stroke is heavy to be borne.... I will try to be a father to - them. We must be men. - - Your uncle, - - JOHN MEACHAM. - -Again we stand on the bluff, at this hour, overlooking the Lava Beds. In a -little tent among the hundred others the Iowa veteran is telling his -brother-in-law that his wife will be in camp by seven. A courier arrives -saying that the Modocs are hanging about the trail leading down the -mountain. The officers are aware of the near approach of Mrs. Meacham. -They decide that she cannot come to the camp with safety. A detachment is -ordered to escort Commissioner Dyer up the mountain to meet her and take -her to Linkville. - -While he is working his way under escort, the Modocs are seen creeping -towards the road. At the top of the mountains Dyer meets the ambulance. He -assures the woman that she cannot reach the camp; that her husband is well -cared for, and that she must go back to a place of safety. - -She remonstrates, saying, "I must--I _will_ go to my husband." She alights -from the ambulance and starts on foot, but is intercepted and forced to go -again to the ambulance, with the assurance that "_her husband will be sent -out to her within a day or two_". - -No language can portray the feelings and emotions of this woman when, -after travelling three hundred miles on stages and in ambulances over the -Cascade mountains, through a hostile country, she is compelled to turn -back when within three miles of her wounded husband, with those ominous -words saying, like a funeral dirge, "_Your husband will be sent out to you -in a few days_". - -While she is yet pleading for the privilege of seeing him the mountain's -sides reverberate with the sounds of rifle shots coming up from a point -half way to the camp, volley answering volley. While she is in a -half-unconscious condition, the team drawing the ambulance is turned -about, and the guard take their places on either side, and the team moves -away towards the frontier. - -When the woman returns to consciousness, she exclaims, "Take me to my -husband! I must see him before he dies." - -The kind heart of Mr. Dyer is moved. He pleads with her to abandon the -attempt, consoling her with Christian assurances that "God does all things -well." With the guard in skirmishing order the party hurries away. - -The mutilated body of young Hovey is lying stark and cold, beside the road -where he fell. - -Sundown is announced by the repeated volleys of musketry at the cemetery, -as the bodies of the soldiers are laid away in their last sleep. - -The friends of the young lad obtain permission, and the necessary -facilities, from the quartermaster, to bring in his body. A coffin is -prepared, and in it is placed what was, a few hours since, a noble-hearted -youth full of life. - -A part of the army is resting, and a part is bombarding the Modocs. -Captain Jack has kept the "flat" cleared, and now, while the shot and -shell are being tumbled in around his camp, he draws his people out under -cover of darkness, and leaves the soldiers to fire away at his empty caves -until morning, when another order to charge is made, and the lines close -slowly up with great care, like fishermen who feel sure they have a big -haul, until they land the seine, and discover that a great rent has let -the prize escape. See the soldiers' line! How carefully it contracts to -the centre, the soldiers expecting each moment that the Modocs will make a -break, until, at last, the lines come together like a great draw-string, -only to reveal the fact that _no Indians are there_, except one old man, -whom all declare to be Schonchin, who was wounded by Meacham's Derringer -last Friday. _He shall not escape_, and a dozen bullets pass through him. -He falls over, and the men gather around and scalp the old fellow. - -"Meacham shall have a lock of his hair," says one; and he cuts it from -_one of the scalps_. - -Then the old Indian's head is severed from his body, and kicked around the -camp like a foot-ball, until a surgeon interferes, and saves it from -further indignities by sending it to the camp, where the face was -carefully skinned off, and "put to pickle" in alcohol. The men shout and -hurrah while exploring the caves, expecting to find Captain Jack, like a -wolf at bay, somewhere, determined to "die in the last ditch." Instead of -Modocs, they find the remains of soldiers who have been killed, ammunition -that had been captured, and dried beef that had not been required; but no -evidence of any "_Modoc bodies having been burned_." - -While they were rejoicing in the capture of this great natural fortress of -the Modoc chief, _he_ was in a new position with his people, resting and -recruiting from the three days' battle, and so near his old "stronghold" -that he could hear the reports of the soldiers' muskets when they finished -up the supposed Schonchin. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIII. - - MUSIC DON'T SOOTHE A SAVAGE--FIGHTING THE DEVIL - WITH FIRE A FAILURE--"WE'LL BURY THE OLD MAN - ALIVE." - - -The expectant man has waited, watched, listened for the sound of a voice -that would bring joy to him. His attendant carefully breaks the -disappointment, fearing the consequences. - -Friday morning, and a Warm Springs soldier is sitting beside the -commissioner. A look at his face, and we recognize him as the man who -stood out so long in the meeting at Warm Springs Agency, in 1871. - -Pia-noose had come in to vent his feelings and to express his friendship. -After the usual ceremony of salutation on his part, he remarked that the -white men did not know how to fight Modocs. "_Too much music._ Suppose you -take away all the music, all the big guns, all the soldiers, and tell the -Warm Springs, 'Whip the Modocs,' _all right_. Some days we get two men, -some days we get more, and by and by we get all the Modocs. Warm Springs -don't like so much music,"--referring to the bugle. - -This morning Gen. Canby's remains are lying in state in Portland, and a -whole city weeps with the widow who does not--cannot look on the beloved -face. - -In San Francisco bells are tolling, and a vast concourse of sad-hearted -citizens are following the dark-plumed hearse that conveys the Rev. Dr. -Thomas to his last resting-place in Lone Mountain Cemetery. - -Mrs. Meacham is sitting in a small parlor at Linkville, and expecting each -moment the arrival of a courier that will confirm her worst fears. Mrs. -Boddy--whose husband was murdered last November by the Modocs--is with -her. The two mingle their tears. They are kindred, now that sorrow has -united them. - -Gen. Gilliam has called a council of war, and plans for future operations -are being discussed. The hospital gives out a sad murmur of mingled moans, -curses, and groans. Two soldiers are going toward the burying-ground; one -carries a _spade_, the other a small, plain, straight box, in which is the -leg of a soldier going to a waiting-place for him. Riddle and his wife, -Tobey, are cooking and washing for the wounded. Riddle often calls on -Meacham, bringing refreshments prepared by his wife. Col. Tom Wright calls -on Meacham this morning. A spicy colloquy ensues. He remarks that the -Modocs are nearly "h--l." Meacham says, "Where is your two thousand -dollars now? Suppose you and Eagan took them in fifteen minutes, didn't -you?" Col. Wright: "Took 'em, _not much_,--we got the prettiest licken -ever an army got in the world." Meacham: "What kind of a place did you -find, anyhow, colonel?" Col. Wright: "It's no use talking; the match to -the Modoc stronghold has not been built and never will be. Give me _one -hundred picked men_, and let me station them, and I will _hold_ that place -against _five thousand men,--yes, ten thousand_, as long as ammunition and -subsistence last. That's about as near as I can describe it. Oh, I tell -you it is the most impregnable fortress in the world! Sumter was nowhere -when compared with it." Meacham: "What kind of a fighter is Captain Jack, -colonel?" Col. Wright: "Fighter; why, he's the biggest Ingen on this -continent. See what he's done; licked a thousand men, killed forty or -fifty, and has not lost more than _three_ or _four_ himself. We _starved_ -him out, we _didn't whip_ him. He'll turn up in a day or two, ready for -another fight. I tell you, Jack's a big Ingen." - -Let us see where this distinguished individual and this gallant band of -heroic desperadoes are at this time. From the signal-station on the -mountain side, above Gilliam's camp, we can look over the spot, but they -are so closely hidden that we cannot locate them; not even a curl of smoke -is seen. Follow the foot of the bluff around three miles, and then strike -off south, or left, two miles more, and amid an immense jumble of lava -rocks we find them. Go carefully; Indian women are on the picket-station, -while the warriors sleep. Since sundown last evening they passed _between_ -the soldier camp and the council tent and brought water to the famishing. -A man sits upon a jaded horse, at the gate of a farm-house, near Y-re-ka. -Children are playing in the front yard. A watch-dog springs to his feet -and gives warning by loud barking. A stout-built man looks out from a barn -to ascertain the meaning, while a middle-aged woman comes to the kitchen -door. The whole, together, is the picture of a western farmer's -home,--happiness and contentment. The horseman takes in the scene, and -while he views the photograph he recognizes in it the home of young -Hovey. A painful duty is his. He hesitates. He knows that his words will -send a dark shadow over this household. The farmer comes towards him. The -dog is hushed; the children cease their sports; the mother stands waiting, -waiting, listening, and the throbbing of her own heart prepares her for -the awful tidings. "Is this Mr. Hovey?" the horseman says, while from his -inside coat pocket he withdraws a letter. "That is my name," the farmer -replies. "I have a letter for you, Mr. Hovey?" The children gather around -the father, looking attentively at him and the horseman, while the latter, -with trembling hand, passes the envelope that is so heavy ladened with -sorrow. "Where's the letter from?" asks the anxious mother, while the -father tears it open. "The Lava Beds," replies the horseman, turning away -his face. The paper shakes in the hands of the farmer, while his face -changes to ashy paleness. "What is it, father? Oh, what does the letter -say?" cries the mother, as she comes to his side and glances over his arm. -Let us not intrude on this scene of sorrow. - -Hanging to _Hooker Jim's_ belt is a fair-haired scalp, still fresh; the -blood of young Hovey still undried upon Hooker's clothing, giving him no -more concern than if it had come from the veins of a deer or an antelope. -The lock of hair had once been blessed by the hands of a tender mother, -who for nineteen years had watched over her first-born son. Now it is -dishonored, used only as a record by which a savage makes proof of -excellence in performing feats of fiendish heroism. - -The "Iowa Veteran," with an eye always out for sport, remarks, "Old man, -there's going to be some lively fun in a few minutes; wish you could see -it. There's fourteen Indians going for water, and a company has started -out to capture them. Two to one the Modocs lick 'em." Taking a station at -the tent door, he continued: "I'll keep you posted, old man; keep cool. -The Modocs are taking position. They aint more than _eight hundred_ yards -from here. Now look out,--the fun will begin pretty soon." _Bang_, _bang_, -and there is a rattling of rifles mixed with the Modoc war-whoop. "Here -they come back, _carrying_ three men; but the Modocs are following up. -Don't that beat the devil and the Dutch?" remarks the irate veteran; -"you've seen a big dog chase a cayote until the cayote would turn on him, -and then the big dog would turn tail and run for home with the cayote -after him, haven't you? Well, that's exactly what's going on out here now. -This whacks anything I ever witnessed, by Jupiter! _Two_ to one, the -Modocs take the camp. By gorry, old man, don't know what we are to do with -you. You can't run; you can't fight; you are too big for me to carry; -_wish I had a spade_, _I'd bury you now until the fun_ is all over; but -it's too late. Can't help it, old man, you needn't dodge; it won't do any -good; just lay still, and if they come, _play dead on 'em again_. _You can -do that to perfection_, and there aint a darn bit of danger of their -trying to get another scalp off of you. Too big a prairie above the timber -line for that. 'Boston' was a darn fool to try it before." - -While this speech is being made, the Modocs are coming towards the soldier -camp, firing occasional shots in among the tents. "By Goshens, we'll have -fun now. They're a-going; shell 'em; ha! ha! ha! Shell a dozen Modocs! -_Ha! ha! ha! don't_ that beat _sulphur king_ out of his boots? Ha! ha! ha! -Steady, old man, steady now. Keep cool. They're ready to fire. The Indians -are in plain sight! Yip-se-lanta; there it goes, screeching, screaming, -right in among the rocks where the Modocs are, and explodes." The smoke -clears up. The Indians come out from behind the rocks, and, turning -sideways to the soldier camp, pat their shot-pouches at the Boston -soldiers. Shell after shell is fired and each time the Modocs take cover -until they explode, and then, with provoking insolence, they pat their -shot-pouches at an army of five hundred men,--that is, what is left of -that army. "Cease firing!" commands Gen. Gilliam, from the signal-station. -The shell guns are covered with the nice canvas housing. The Modocs now -organize an artillery battery, and, taking position, elevating their -rifles to an angle mocking the shell guns, Scar-faced Charley stands -behind and gives the order, "Fire!" and the Modoc battery is now playing -on a camp where there are no rocks for cover. Several shots spit down -among the Boston soldiers. - -"I went with Grierson through Alabama, with Sherman through Georgia, but -that whacks anything ever I saw. _Two_ to one they attack the camp, by -thunder! and if they do they'll take it sure. B'gins to look pretty -squally, old man. If they come, your only show is to play dead. You can do -it. I don't like to leave you, but I'll have to do it, no other chance. -We'll come back and bury what they don't burn up." - -The gray-eyed man, Fairchild, comes to the tent-door and engages the -veteran in a talk. "I say, captain, don't you wish we had Capt. Kelly's -volunteers here now? Wouldn't they have a chance for Modoc steaks, eh? -They're the fellows that could take the Modocs. I've been out home and -just come in. Where are the Warm Springs' scouts all this time?" The -veteran--Capt. Ferree--replies: "Oh, they are out on the other side of the -Lava Beds _surrounding_ the Modocs; to keep them from getting away." -Fairchild: "They aint going to leave here, no fear of that. But did you -ever see anything like this morning's performances?--fourteen Indians come -out, kill three men, insult the whole camp, mock the shell guns, threaten -the camp, scare everybody most to death, and then retire to their own -camp. That caps the climax. Say, old man Meacham, how you making it, -anyhow? Going to come out, aint you? You wasn't born to be killed by the -Modocs, that's certain. That old bald head of yours is what saved you, old -man, no mistake." Veteran: "I've just been telling him that I'll have a -spade on hand next time the Modocs come, so I can _bury_ him until the -fun's over." Fairchild: "Bully! that'll do; just the thing. I think you -had better _have_ the hole _ready_. No telling what _might happen_. Them -Modocs mighty devilish fellers; just like 'em to attack the camp; and if -they do they'll take it, sure; wish we had the Oregon volunteers here now -to protect us." - -Four P.M.--and a long line of carriages are returning from Lone Mountain, -leaving Dr. Thomas with the dead. - -Another long line of mourners are following a hearse down Front street, -Portland, to the steamer Oriflamme, which has been detailed by Ben -Holliday to bear the remains of Gen. Canby to San Francisco. The widow is -supported by the arms of officers. Anderson and Scott walk beside the -hearse. A city is weeping, while they pay respect to the memory of the -noble-hearted Christian General, who hears not the signal gun of -departure. Couriers are bearing despatches to Y-re-ka. "The Modocs cannot -escape; we have them surrounded. The Warm Springs scouts are out on the -outpost. The Modocs cannot escape. Lieut. Sherwood died last night. Lieut. -Eagan, improving. Meacham may recover, though badly mutilated and blind." -The salute of honor over the grave of young Hovey announces his burial by -the kindly band of army officers. - -"Extermination to the Modocs!" says Gen. Sherman. "Extermination," repeat -the newspapers. "Extermination," says an echo over the Pacific coast. -Extermination is the watchword everywhere. "It does look like -extermination, that's a fact, with half a hundred upheaving graves filled -with soldiers near the camp; a hospital overflowing with wounded; an army -demoralized, and lying passive seven days after the assassination of Gen. -Canby and Dr. Thomas; while every day the Modocs waylay and kill unguarded -men almost in sight of camp, strip and scalp them, and then heap rocks on -their bodies. This looks like extermination, but not of the _Modocs_. -Perhaps it suits those who were so free with denunciation of the Peace -Commission. But whether it does, or not, this condition of the plan of -_extermination_ is to some extent attributable to the infuriated, -senseless, cowardly, and unmanly opposition that was made against Canby -and the Peace Commissioners, who _saw_ and _felt how costly in human life -a peace made through the death-dealing bullets must be_. - -Saturday morning, and Modoc emissaries are crawling into the camps of the -_Klamaths_, _Snakes_, and Wall-pa-pahs, endeavoring to induce these people -to join the Modocs in the war. They paint in glowing colors the great -success they have had, and declare that the time has come when red men -should unite against a common enemy. It cannot be denied that in every -Indian camp along the frontier line _there were sympathizers with the -Modocs_; but nowhere were they in sufficient force to precipitate a -general war, although the new religion proclaimed by "Smoheller" had found -followers everywhere, and was gaining strength by every victory won by -Captain Jack. How nearly the frontier came to witnessing a great Indian -war is not understood by the people of the Pacific coast. - -A Warm Springs Indian, who does not belong to the scouts, is going -carefully along the northern shore of the lake. His destination is -Linkville. His mission is to bear a letter to Mrs. Meacham. The letter -contains a message that will cause her almost to leap for joy:-- - - LAVA BEDS, Saturday, April 19, 1873. - - ... Hire an escort and meet us at the mouth of Lost river - to-morrow at noon, and we will deliver your _handsome husband_ - over to you in pretty good shape.... We will cross the lake in a - boat. Be on time.... - - D. J. FERREE. - -Saturday passes away without an episode that is worthy of record. Not a -Modoc has been seen. The scouting parties have brought no tidings of them. -The sentinels walk the rounds. The surgeons are visiting the wounded. The -hospital gives out moans, and furnishes another victim for the grave-yard, -and a volley of muskets says, "Farewell, comrade!" Meacham is counting the -hours as they pass. He is impatient. The long night wears away, and -morning breaks at last. Another messenger is stealing away along the lake -shore. An ambulance, with a mounted escort of citizens, is drawing toward -the mouth of Lost river. "Are you ready to take me to meet my wife?" says -a voice in a small tent. "No; the surgeon says _the air is raw_, _and the -lake is too rough_. We have sent a message to your wife that we can't go," -replies Capt. Ferree. After a few minutes' silence the disappointed man -replies, "_That is not the reason. The wind does not blow._" Very serious -thoughts are passing through the minds of both the hearer and the -speakers. "I want to know why I am not going."--"The doctor says you could -not stand it to go; the lake is too rough."--"You and the doctor are -cowardly. You think I am going to die."--"If you force me to be candid, I -must tell you the truth. The doctor says you have not more than _twenty -chances in a hundred to recover_." - -Another silence of a few minutes, and the invalid replies, "_I'll take the -twenty chances._ I must live; I have so many depending on me." - -"If you pass midnight, the doctor says you _may live_." - -The ambulance, with the mounted escort, is standing on the battle-ground -of November 30th, 1872. A woman is in the front end, with a field-glass, -scanning the lake. No boat is in sight. Her hopes and fears alternate, -when she suddenly catches sight of the messenger on the lake shore. The -glass drops from her hands, and she sinks down on the seat and waits the -coming of the messenger. He holds out the letter. The woman grasps it, and -as she reads, her lips quiver. "Why, oh why is this? _The air is not -chilly. The lake is not rough._" Words are too poor to express the -torturing suspense that follows while the ambulance carries her back to -Linkville. Hope sets alternately with despair in the heart. For ten days -has this woman felt the presence of each as circumstances bade them come -and go. Two more days is she yet to walk beneath a sky that is half hidden -by dark clouds. 'Tis midnight, Sunday. The surgeon, De Witt, and Capt. -Ferree are sitting beside the woman's husband. - -"I can tell you in another hour. If he comes out of this well, he is all -right." Dr. De Witt, with his finger on the patient's pulse, nods to -Ferree, "He is all right." The patient awakes, and finds the doctor there. -"How am I, doctor, shall I live?"--"I think you will, my dear fellow. _You -have passed the crisis._" "Thank God!" comes from every lip. "Keep quiet; -don't get excited. We can save you now, but you had a very close call. _If -you had been a drinking man all the surgeons in Christendom could not have -saved you._ Rest quiet until morning, and I will come in again." Oh, what -a change a few hours have wrought! Yesterday the sun went behind a dark -cloud, and the invalid withstood the shock of "_Twenty out of a hundred_" -for life. Now the sun of life comes again, and makes the vision clear of a -loving family, home and friends. The transitions from despair to hope -have been so frequent with this man that he can scarcely realize that he -is again led by the angel of hope. - -It is morning. Dr. De Witt and Capt. Ferree are in council. "I think he is -on the safe side if he is careful," remarks the doctor. Another messenger -is despatched to Linkville, with a letter making another appointment at -the mouth of Lost river for the next day. - -Donald McKay is in camp to receive orders. He reports that his scouts have -circled the Lava Beds. "The Modocs have not escaped; they must be in there -somewhere." Couriers arrive bringing newspapers, containing obituary -notices of Gen. Canby, Dr. Thomas, and _A. B. Meacham_. Fairchild, Riddle, -and Ferree were in Meacham's tent, reading. Ferree remarks, "See here, old -man, they have had you dead. You can know what the world will say about -you when you _do_ die. Some of them say very nice things. Here's one -fellow that knows you pretty well.... 'Meacham _was_ a man of strong will -and positive character, who made warm friends and bitter enemies.'" ... -"There, that will do; when I die I want those words put on my tombstone," -replies Meacham. "Here, how do you like this? ... '_Served him right._ He -knew the Modocs better than any other man; why did he lead Canby and -Thomas to their death? On his skirts the blood must be,' ... Here is -another that's pretty good. This fellow has found out you aint dead, and -he is mad about it. It's a Republican organ, too, at that.... 'If Meacham -could be made to change places with Canby or Thomas few tears would be -shed. He is responsible for all this blood. _He knew_ the Modocs. _They_ -did not. We are not disappointed. We expected that this fanatical -enthusiast would do some foolhardy thing, and we can only regret that he -did not suffer instead of innocent men.' ... There, how do you like that, -old man? That's what you get for not being a general or a preacher. They -pay you a high compliment,--sending Canby and Thomas to their death. Big -thing, old man! You are somebody. Now, I'll tell you if you don't get -through to straighten this thing out I'll do it, if it costs my -life."--"Call on me, captain, I know that Meacham did all in his power to -prevent the meeting," says Riddle. Fairchild remarks, "If they had -listened to Meacham, they would have been alive now. I know what I am -saying, I know all about the whole thing, and I know that Meacham did his -best to keep them from going. I can tell those newspaper men some things -they would not like to hear. They abused Meacham all the way through, -while Canby escaped their slander, when he was in truth as much a peace -man as Meacham, and more too. I have been with the commission. All I have -to say is that it was a d----d cowardly contemptible thing from the -beginning to the end the way the Oregon papers '_went for_' the peace -policy. I guess they are satisfied now. They wanted war, and they've got -it. The _Modoc-eating_ Oregon papers and volunteers haven't lost any Modoc -themselves. Better send some more volunteers down here to eat up the -Modocs, like Capt. ----'s company did the day that Shacknasty Jim held a -whole company for seven hours in check, d----n 'em." Capt. Ferree replies, -"Fairchild, you had better go slow. Almost every editor in Oregon is a -_fighting man_. Two or three of them were down here once, and they may -come again for more Modoc news, and if they run across you you're gone -up." Fairchild: "Yes, they're '_on it_,' seen 'em try it. Shacknasty tried -'em. One of them came down here looking for Squire Steele, of Y-re-ka, and -when a man pointed out Steele to him, this fighting editor rode out of his -way to keep from meeting him. It's a fact! An other one was going to scalp -old Press Dorris. He didn't fail for the same reason that Boston Charley -did on the old man there,--cause he hadn't any hair;--no, that wasn't the -reason. He rode _too good a horse himself_; that's why. Press was around -all the time. He didn't keep out of the way; fact is, Press was anxious -for the scalping to begin. If any of those fighting editors come down -here, well, set Shacknasty after them, and then you'll see them _git_. Bet -a hundred dollars he can drive any two of them before him."--"Look here, -here's something rich," says Ferree, turning the paper: ... "'Gov. Grover -will call out volunteers to assist the regulars. They will make short work -of it. The regulars are eastern men, and cannot fight Indians -successfully.'" Fairchild says, "_That's rich. One thousand soldiers here -now_, and more Oregon volunteers coming, to _whip fifty Modocs_. All -right; the more comes the _more scalps_ the Modocs will take; that's about -what it'll amount to." - -Monday passes slowly away to join the unnumbered days of the past. No -sound of war is heard. Quiet reigns until the sunset volley announces that -the decomposed lava is covering up another one of the fruits of the demand -for blood, and the cry for vengeance went up so loudly that even the -Modocs in the Lava Beds heard it. - -_Tuesday morning._ The ambulance is leaving Linkville, escorted by a -mounted guard of citizens, destined to the Lost-river battle-ground. Hope -is leading the woman who is making this second journey to this historic -place. The miles are long to her who has been so many days alternating -between joy and sadness. Surely, she will not be disappointed this time. - -"Old man," Dr. DeWitt says, "_you cannot go this morning_. I think it is -unsafe, and it may cost your life."--"_I'm going; I'll take the risk. I -cannot bear to disappoint my wife again._" A stretcher is brought to the -side of the mattress whereon the speaker lay. Strong arms lift the -mattress and man upon it. When he was carried on the stretcher, a few days -since, he weighed one hundred and ninety-six pounds, less the blood he -left on the rocks. Now he weighs one hundred and fifty pounds. "Lieut. -Eagan's compliments, with a request for Mr. Meacham to _call on him before -leaving_." The stretcher is carried into Lieut. Eagan's tent, and set -beside the wounded officer's cot. The salutations commonly given are -omitted, or half performed. Eagan lays his hand on Meacham's arm and says, -"How do you make it, old man?"--"First-rate, I guess. I am going home. Are -you recovering from your wound?"--"Very fast. Be about in a few days. Want -to help finish up this job before I go home."--"Good-by, -Eagan."--"Good-by, Meacham." - -These men were old-time friends, and this parting was suggestive of sad -thoughts. Both wounded. Will they ever meet again? - -As the latter is being borne to the shore of the lake, a half cry is heard -from Tobey. "I see him, Meacham, one time more. May be him die. I no see -him 'nother time." A small white hull boat is waiting in the little bay. -Lieut. M. C. Grier, A. A. Q. M., is managing the preparations for the -departure. With thoughtful care every possible arrangement is made. -Mattresses, awnings, oarsmen, buckets for bailing, and arms for defence -are provided; and while many officers of the army gather around the boat, -the wounded man is carried on the stretcher and carefully laid on a -mattress. "Old Fields" is placed in command. Dr. Cabanis sits in the -stern; the veteran beside the wounded. The departure is made with "God -bless you!" from the officers. A small squad of armed men are starting up -the lake shore to prevent the possibility of the Modocs capturing the -party in the boat. - -Steadily the soldier oarsmen pull along near the land, while the -inveterate jokers, Dr. Cabanis and Capt. Ferree, beguile the time in -story-telling and witticisms; some of them at the expense of the man on -the mattress. "Say, Meacham, what will you give me not to tell _how much -brandy_ you drank the other day while you was on the stretcher at the -council tent? It's all right for you to humbug the Good Templars by saying -that you never drink; but you can't pull the wool over my eyes. No man -ever drank a _canteen full_ the _first drink_, as you did that day; it -won't do, Meacham." - -Suddenly a dark cloud moves up, and a strong wind comes off the shore. -Landing is out of the question; to put to sea in a whitehall boat with -eight men in it, and nearly to the edge, is hazardous. But there is no -alternative. The prow cuts across the waves, the water leaps over the bow. -Fields, Ferree, and two of the oarsmen, bail for life, now, while Cabanis -holds her head to the sea. "Steady, boys, or we'll swamp her," says -Fields. "Old man, _playing dead_ won't save you this time; if we swamp her -you had better _pray like old Joe Meek did_. Promise the Lord to be a good -man if he will save us this one time more."--"Save the brandy, doctor, we -may need it if we get out into the water," says Fields, and continues, -"Steady, boys, steady! I'll be ---- if she don't swamp. Look out, boys, -what you're doin'." The waiting woman in the ambulance catches sight of -the boat as it rises on the crest of a wave and sinks again into the -trough of the sea. Language is not competent to describe her emotions as -she holds the glass on the threatening scene before her. One moment, -hope,--another, _despair_; there, again, as the boat comes in sight, she -thanks God; a moment more, and prayer moves her lips. "Can it be that he -could live through all he has suffered only to be drowned?" - -"Fear not, brave woman, the Hand that was let down out of the dark cloud -that passed over the bloody scene when your husband was in a storm of -bullets, will calm these waters. Your husband's work is not yet finished!" - -"That was a close call, boys. _I tell you it was_; but we are all right -now," says old Fields. "They are there waiting for us," remarks Ferree. -"Is Mrs. Meacham there? Can you see her?"--"Yes, yes, old man; she is -there, standing in the wagon, looking at us with a glass. Lay still, old -man, she is there. You'll be with her pretty soon."--"Thank God!" goes up -from the mattress. "How far off are we now, Fields?"--"'Bout a mile. Be -patient. Yes, old man, there's your wife, sure. She is standing on the -ground now, looking through a glass. Be patient, old man; I'll introduce -you to her. She wouldn't know who it was,--if I didn't tell her." - -The "old man" was wondering if it is possible; shall I see her again? Am I -dreaming? Is this a reality? Won't I wake and find it all a delusion? Oh, -how slow this boat! "How far now?"--"Only a little piece; keep cool, -you'll be there in a few minutes," quietly remarks Fields. Ferree, putting -his finger on his lips, nods and smiles at his sister. - -That smile has lifted despair once more from this woman's heart. But a -moment since she had caught sight of the whitened face of her husband, so -motionless and pale. She felt a pain in her heart, for she thought him -dead. Now, her brother's smile has reassured her; but "Why does my husband -lie so still?" The keel of the boat grinds on the gravelled margin of the -river. Fields jumps ashore, with rope in hand. The woman stands beside the -ambulance; she does not come to meet the party. Her joy is too great; she -must not, dare not, now express her feeling. - -"Well, Orpha, here's the old man; he is not very pretty, but he's worth a -dozen dead Modocs yet." The "old man" is carried to the ambulance, and -placed on a mattress, and his wife sits beside him, reunited after a -separation of five months, during which time one of them had passed so -close to the portals that death had left the marks of his icy fingers -upon him; and the other through a terrible storm of grief and suspense. -The driver mounts his box; the veteran beside him. The escort mount their -horses and range themselves on either side. The Modocs have not been heard -of for several days and may be looking around their old home to waylay -travellers. "Old Dad Fields" calls his crew; Dr. Cabanis cautions the -driver about fast-driving, and also "the old man" about humbugging -temperance people. The boat leaves the shore, the oars dip the waters. The -driver cracks his whip, and one party is returning to the soldiers' camp; -the other is crowding forward to Linkville, half expecting to see a blaze -of rifles from the sage bush. Twenty-five miles yet to-night. Over all the -smooth road they go at a gallop. At midnight a light glimmers in the -distance. It is Linkville. The moon is up, and shines now on _thirteen -little mounds_ by the roadside, beneath which sleep thirteen men who were -killed by the Modocs last November. Uncle George's nurse is waiting at the -hotel door to receive the old man Meacham once more. Thank God for big, -noble-hearted men like Uncle George and his partner, Alex. Miller! "The -old man" is sleeping, but wakes up with a start as he has done every hour -since the eleventh of April. The glaring eyes of old Schonchin, the horrid -yells, the whizzing bullets, all come fresh to the brain when left without -direction of his will. He wakes with a sudden start to find himself in a -comfortable room, a soft hand on his brow; a familiar voice of affection -reaches his ear, and he falls away to sleep again, soothed by the low -murmur of a woman's prayer. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIV. - - AMEN OUT OF TIME--FRIENDLY ADVICE FROM ENEMIES--BETRAYED. - - -Ten _o'clock, Wednesday morning_, April 22d, Meacham is being transported -to Ferree's ranch at the south end of the Klamath lake twelve miles from -Linkville. We have been here before. It was on the 27th of December, 1869, -when conducting Captain Jack's band on to Klamath Reservation. _Then_ -Captain Jack acknowledged the authority of the Government and was -endeavoring to be a man. _Now he is an outlaw._ After a stormy passage -across Tule lake last night, Fields and Dr. Cabanis landed at Gilliam's -camp. The surgeons are visiting the hospitals. Some of the patients are -improving, but on one poor fellow we see the signet of the grim monster. -The sunset gun tonight will not disturb him. - -Lieut. Eagan is still improving. Fairchild is in camp, and assuring Gen. -Gilliam that as "soon as the Oregon volunteers arrive, the Modocs will -throw down their guns and come right out and surrender;" Riddle and wife -in camp also, and assisting to care for the sick. "Muybridge," the -celebrated landscape artist, of San Francisco, is here with his -instruments, photographing the "Lava Beds," the council tent, and the -scene of the assassination. "Bunker," of the "San Francisco Bulletin," is -on the ground reporting for his paper. "Bill Dad," with his long hair -floating in the wind and a pipe in his mouth, slipshod and sloven, still -hovers around to keep the readers of the "Record" posted. - -Gen. Gilliam is consulting with his officers; they are indignant at the -inaction manifested. Donald McKay and his Warm Springs Indians are -scouting under the direction of army officers. Both Donald and his men are -disgusted with the _red-tape way of fighting_ Modocs. - -Captain Jack and his people are quiet this morning. They are so closely -hidden that even the sharp eyes of Donald McKay cannot discern their -whereabouts. Captain Jack's men are anxious to be on the warpath; but the -chief restrains them. They, in turn, reproach him with want of courage. He -insists that they must act on the defensive. Bogus, Boston, Shacknasty Jim -and Hooker Jim are rebellious and threaten to desert. Couriers are bearing -despatches to Y-re-ka announcing that "_the Modocs cannot escape_." - -A gun from the deck of the "_Oriflamme_" tells the people of San Francisco -of her arrival with the remains of Gen. Canby. An immense concourse of -citizens escort the hearse to the head-quarters of the army. - -The widow sits in a carriage, with unmoistened eyes, while the populace -pay homage to the great character of her husband. The body of Dr. Thomas -is quietly resting with the dead, while he in spirit is enjoying the -glories of eternal life; his last sermon preached, his trials over. - -The three children of Meacham are drying their tears, and thanking God -that they are not fatherless, and for the love of a brotherhood that -brings to their home sunshine in the faces and words of Secretary -Chadwick and Col. T. H. Cann, who have called this morning. - -Away up in Umatilla, a young man, who has been bowed down with grief over -a second great bereavement, this morning reads to the little orphans that -climb on his knees, and their widowed mother, the telegram signed by Capt. -Ferree, announcing the recovery of his brother. His joy is unbounded. A -great load has been lifted from his shoulders and his heart. - -Midway between the oceans and near Solon, Iowa, in the sitting-room of an -old homestead, a group is kneeling around a family altar. The bent form of -a silver-haired man is surrounded by his aged second wife, his two living -daughters; and perhaps, too, the invisible presence of _two_ daughters and -two sons that have gone before, and _their own_ mother, are also there. -His voice is tremulous while he leads in prayer and recounts that half of -his family has gone and half remains; blesses God that the dark sorrow -that threatened them has passed away, and invokes Heaven's blessings on -the living loved ones. - -_Thursday morning_, and we are in a cabin at Ferree's ranch. The -proprietor enters, holding a letter in his hand. "See here, old man, I -don't know but what you have jumped out of the frying-pan into the fire. -How does this suit you?" - - KLAMATH AGENCY, Thursday morning, April 23. - - FRIEND FERREE:--Be on your guard. The Klamath Indians were in - war council last night.... We have sent our women and children - to Fort Klamath for safety.... - - L. S. DYER, - _Agent Klamath_. - -"That don't look wholesome for us, old man; but you are all right, you can -_play dead_ on 'em again, and they _can't scalp you nohow_. We are pretty -well stockaded and well armed. We can play them a merry string, if they do -come. If we have to fight, why, you can't do much, that's so, except as -old man Jones did at the camp-meeting last year. He said he couldn't -_preach_, he couldn't pray _much_, but he could say _Amen_ as well as -anybody; and all through the meeting old Father Jones was shouting 'Amen!' -'_A-men!_' until they stopped the old fellow. Didn't I never tell you -about that? Well, brother Congar was preaching brimstone pretty lively, -and Father Jones was shouting Amen occasionally. Brother Congar was saying -to the congregation, 'If you don't repent and be baptized, you'll all go -to hell, shure as you're born,'--'Amen! Thank God!--Amen!' shouts Father -Jones. Brother Congar stops. 'Father Jones, you didn't understand what I -was a-sayin,'--'Yes, I guess I did, Bro. Congar, you told me if we come -over here that, whenever you said anything powerful smart, I was to say -'Amen!' You said you couldn't preach _worth a cent_ unless I did, and I've -done it, so I have. If it aint satisfactory, I quit and go back -home,'--'Amen!' shouted brother Congar, and went on with the preaching. -Now all we will ask of you, 'old man,' is to say 'Amen,' but don't act the -fool about it like Father Jones did, that's all. We'll tend to -administering sulphur in broken doses, if they try to take us in. Don't -think there's any danger though. Dyer isn't over the scare he got in the -race with _Hooker Jim_ yet." - -_Friday morning, April 24th._--The army at the Lava Beds is performing -some masterly feats of inactivity that would have been a credit to Gen. -McClellan on the peninsula. The wild fowls that fly over the Lava Beds -look down on the army of a thousand recuperating after the big battle of -last week. Col. Miller is in charge of Captain Jack's stronghold. The Warm -Springs are divided up, and assigned to duty with the different squadrons -of cavalry. Quartermaster Grier is having a coffin made and a grave -prepared for a soldier that is dear to somebody somewhere, who is in -blissful ignorance of his fate. - -_Ferree's Ranch, Sunday morning, April 25, '72._--A horseman arrives, and, -taking Ferree aside, he informs him that a reliable friendly Indian had -come in to Linkville and reported that it was understood that Meacham had -killed Schonchin, and that some of Schonchin's friends had been to -Yai-nax--an Indian station on Klamath Reservation--and learned that -Meacham was at Ferree's. Further, that it was thought advisable that he be -immediately removed to Linkville, lest the Modocs should make an attack on -the ranch, seeking revenge for the death of Schonchin. The ambulance is -ordered out, and the convalescent Peace Commissioner was again on wheels. -Here we take leave of our inveterate joker--the Iowa veteran--Capt. Ferree -leaving him to administer "_saltpetre_ and _blue-pills_" to the red skins -in the event of an attack. - -_Lava Beds, Gilliam's Camp, Sunday morning, April 26th._--Something is to -be done to-day. The location of the Modocs has been ascertained through -the efforts of the Warm Springs Indian scouts. A reconnoissance of the new -stronghold is ordered. The detachment designated for this purpose -consisted of sixty-six white men and fourteen Warm Springs Indians under -McKay; the whole under command of Capt. E. Thomas of 4th Artillery. First -Lieut. Thomas Wright--spoken of in this volume as Col. Wright of Twelfth -Infantry, a son of the gallant old General Wright--is of the party, and in -immediate command of his own and Lieut. Eagan's companies. - -Lieut. Arthur Cranston and Lieut. Albion Howe of Fourth Artillery, Lieut. -Harris also of the Fourth, Assistant Surgeon B. Semig, H. C. Tichnor as -guide, Louis Webber, chief packer, and two assistants; the whole, -exclusive of Warm Springs scouts, seventy-six. I may be pardoned for -making more than mere mention of this expedition and the manner of its -organization, because of its results; to understand it fairly, it should -be stated that the parties named, except the Warm Springs scouts, were all -of the army camp at the foot of the bluff, the head-quarters of Gen. -Gilliam, commander of the army in the Modoc campaign. - -The Warm Springs scouts were encamped near the old Modoc stronghold, and -had been ordered to join the command of Capt. Thomas, while _en route_, or -at the point of destination, which was a low butte or mound-like hill, on -the further side of the Lava Beds, from the several camps. The outfit of -this reconnoitring party, aside from the men and arms, consisted of a -small train of pack mules. This train of packs was suggestive. Tacked on -to the _apparahos_--pack-saddles--were subsistence and medical stores for -the party, and also several _stretchers_. The object of the reconnoissance -was to ascertain whether the field-pieces could be planted so as to -command the new position of the _Modoc General, Jack Kientpoos_. Shells -had done _wonderful execution_ in the three days' battle, and, of course, -were _the thing to fight_ MODOCS with; provided, however, that the fools -of the Modoc camp were not all dead; for it is an undoubted fact that out -of only two or three hundred tossed into the Modoc stronghold, _one of -them had done more execution_ than _all the bullets fired by the soldiers_ -in the three days. - -Capt. Thomas was instructed, in "no event, to bring on an engagement." The -point of destination was in full view of the signal station at Gilliam's -camp, and not more than three miles distant. The command proceeded with -skirmishes thrown out, and proper caution, until their arrival at the foot -of the butte. The Warm Springs scouts had not joined the command. Capt. -Thomas remarked that, since no Indians were to be seen, the command would -take lunch. Lieut. Wright replied, that "_when you don't see Indians is -just the time to be on the look out for them_." The skirmish guards were -called in, and the whole command, except Lieut. Cranston and twelve men, -sat down to bivouac for an hour; Cranston, in the mean time, remarking -that he "was going to raise some Indians," proceeded to explore the -surroundings. In so doing he passed entirely out of sight of the main -party. The foot of the butte is similar to other portions of the Lava -Beds, thrown into irregular ledges, or cut into chasms and crevices. - -[Illustration: WARM-SPRING INDIAN PICKETS.] - -Now Cranston has passed over a ledge, when suddenly from the rocks, that -had been so quiet, a volley of rifles opens on both parties. It is not -known whether Cranston and his men all fell on the first fire; it is, -however, probable that _he_ did not, as his remains were afterwards found -several rods from where he was last seen by the survivors. Capt. Thomas's -party were thrown into confusion. He ordered Lieut. Harris to take a -position on the hill-side, and when the point was reached, Harris found -that the enemy was _still above_ him and commanding his new position. His -men were falling around him, and he was compelled to fall back, leaving -two dead and wounded. - -In making the retreat, Lieut. Harris was mortally wounded. The scene that -followed is without a precedent in Indian warfare. Every commissioned -officer was killed, except Surgeon Semig, who was wounded; and of the -sixty-six enlisted men but _twenty-three_ reached head-quarters. - -Donald McKay and his scouts hurried to the scene, and arrived in time to -prevent the annihilation of the entire party. That the soldiers were -demoralized at the suddenness of the attack, there is no doubt. It seems -to have had an unusual combination of circumstances attending the carnage. -That Capt. Thomas should have permitted himself to be surprised by an -enemy, for whose destruction he was at that time seeking a location for -the batteries, is strange, especially after the warning suggestions of -Lieut. Wright, whose long experience on the frontier--of almost a -life-time--should have given weight to his views. Strange, too, that -_every officer_ should have fallen so early in the attack, and that Donald -McKay, with his Warm Springs, should have been thirty minutes behind time, -and then, when coming to the rescue, should have been held off by the fire -of the soldiers, who mistook him and his men for Modocs, and compelled -them to remain out of range so long that the soldiers were nearly all -killed or wounded before Donald was recognized. - -Singular that this butchery should have continued three hours in sight of -the signal station before reinforcements were ordered to the rescue. -Indeed, it is stated on good authority, that soldiers who escaped made -their way into camp one or two hours before Col. Green was ordered to go -to the scene with his command. Singular, indeed, that fifty-three men were -killed or wounded by twenty-four Modocs, on ground where the chances were -even for once, and _not one of the twenty-four Modocs was wounded_. - -What is still more unaccountable is, that the Modocs should have become -_surfeited_ with the butchery, and desisted from satiety, calling out in -plain Boston English,--"_All you fellows that aint dead had better go -home. We don't want to kill you all in one day._" - -This speech was heard by soldiers who still live, and for the truth of -which abundant evidence can be had. We have it on Modoc authority that -Scar-face Charley made this speech, and repeated it several times, and -that he insisted that the Modocs should desist, because his "heart was -sick seeing so much blood, and so many men lying dead." - -Follow the advancing wave of civilization from ocean to ocean, and no -parallel can be found living, on printed page, or tradition's tongue. -_Seventy-six well-armed men_, with equal chances for cover, shot down by a -mere handful of red men, until in charity they _permitted twenty-three_ to -return to camp! - -Can we understand how this was done? It seems incredible, and yet it is -true. While we shudder, and in our rage vow vengeance on the perpetrators, -we are compelled to admit that there was behind every Modoc gun _a man_ -who was far above his white brother in fighting qualities. Much as we are -inclined to underrate the red man, we are forced to admit that -_twenty-four men_ leaving a stronghold, and going out among rocks that -gave even chances against them, was an act of heroism that if performed by -white men would have immortalized every name, and inscribed them among the -bravest and most successful warriors that this country has produced. -Performed by a band of red-handed Indians, it is scarcely worthy of -mention. While we do most _emphatically_ condemn all acts of treachery, no -matter by whom committed, we are not insensible to emotions of admiration -for acts of bravery, no matter by whom performed. In speaking of this -battle Gen. Jeff. C. Davis says, "It proved to be one of the most -disastrous affairs our army has had to record. Its effects were very -visible upon the morale of the command, so much so that I deemed it -imprudent to order the aggressive movements it was my desire and intention -to make at once upon my arrival, in order to watch the movements of the -Indians." - -What, is it so, that with all the slaughter reported from time to time, -Captain Jack still has men enough left to cause an army of _one thousand_ -to wait for recuperation and reinforcements before again attacking him? - -This battle was fought on the 26th of April, ten days after the three -days' battle. Curious that "the press," or that portion of it that was so -loud in denunciation of the Peace Commissioners, did not find fault, and -enter "_protest_" against the delay. The commission has been "_out of the -way_" since the 11th inst., and three days' battle has been fought, and -one day's slaughter withstood, and it has not cost much over half a -hundred lives, that were required to satisfy the clamor for vengeance, and -now why not raise your trumpet notes again, brave editors, and a -proportionate howl for vengeance? You are safely seated behind your -thrones, where no shot could reach you. - -Why don't you howl with rage because a few "_cut-throats_" have murdered -ten per cent. of an army of a thousand, _"who were hired to fight and die -if need be"? You did not want peace except "through war."_ You have done -your part to secure the shedding of blood. Are you satisfied now when, -through the failure of the Peace Commission, so many men have yielded up -their lives? This short apostrophe is intended for those who _appropriate_ -it; not for the really brave editors who were fearless enough to defend -"The humane policy of the President and Secretary Delano," in the face of -a clamor that filled the country from the 1st of February to the 11th of -April 1873. - - BATTLE OF DRY LAKE. - -_Morning of the 10th, of May, 1873._--Fourteen days have passed, and Gen. -Canby has been placed in his tomb, Indianapolis, Indiana. The widow, -grief-stricken and heart-broken, is with her friends. Orderly Scott has -been ordered to report at Louisville, Kentucky; Adjutant Anderson, to -head-quarters, Department Columbia. The emblems of mourning are everywhere -visible around the home of Dr. Thomas. Meacham is at his home in Salem, -Oregon, recovering rapidly, and with a heart full of gratitude and kindly -feelings to Dr. Calvin DeWitt, U. S. A., who brought him safely through -the hospital at the Lava Beds. - -The mother of Lieut. Harris is sitting beside her wounded son, in the -hospital at Gillam's Camp. Gen. Jeff. C. Davis has assumed command of the -expedition against the Modocs. Captain Jack and his people have left the -Lava Beds. Dissensions are of every-day occurrence among them. Bogus and -Hooker Jim, Shacknasty, and "Ellen's man" are contentious and quarrelsome. - -Read the telegram of Jeff. C. Davis to Gen. Schofield, and we may know -something of what has occurred:-- - - HEAD-QUARTERS IN THE FIELD, Tule Lake, Cal., May 8, 1873. - - I sent two friendly squaws into the Lava Beds day before - yesterday; they returned yesterday, having found the bodies of - Lieutenant Cranston and party, but no Indians. Last night I sent - the Warm Springs Indians out. They find that the Modocs have - gone in a southeasterly direction. This is also confirmed by the - attack and capture of a train of four wagons and fifteen animals - yesterday P.M. near Supply Camp, on east side of Tule lake. The - Modocs in this party reported fifteen or twenty in number; - escort to train about the same; escort whipped, with three - wounded. No Indians known to have been killed. I will put the - troops in search of the Indians with five days' rations. - - JEFF. C. DAVIS, - - _Col. Twenty-Third Infantry, Com. Dept._ - -In his final report, Nov. 1st, 1853, he says:-- - - Hasbrouck's and Jackson's companies, with the Warm Springs - Indians, all under command of the former, were immediately sent - out in pursuit, and signs of Indians were found near Sorass - lake, where the troops camped for the night. On the morning of - the 10th the Indians attacked the troops at daylight; they were - not fully prepared for it, but at once sprang to their arms, and - returned the fire in gallant style. The Indians soon broke and - retreated in the direction of the Lava Beds. They contested the - ground with the troops hotly for some three miles. - - The object of this hasty movement of the troops was to overhaul - the Indians, if out of the Lava Beds, as reported, and prevent - them from murdering settlers in their probable retreat to - another locality. This object was obtained, and more. The troops - have had, all things considered, a very square fight, and - whipped the Modocs for the first time. But the whole band was - again in the rocky stronghold.... - -Gen. Davis does not state all the facts in the case. While it is generally -admitted that Captain Jack _was whipped_ this _time_, it is also true that -Donald McKay and his Warm Springs Indian boys turn up _at the right time -again_ and assist in driving the Modocs three miles, recapturing the -horses that were taken from the escort a few days since. Two Warm Springs -scouts were killed in this fight, but their _names have never been -reported_. - -Captain Jack appears in this fight in Gen. Canby's uniform. One Modoc was -certainly killed this morning, because _his body was captured_. There can -be no mistake; several persons saw it with their naked eyes,--so they did, -oh! This Modoc, whose name was George, "Ellen's man," was Captain Jack's -assistant in the murder of Gen. Canby. His death was the signal for new -quarrels among the Modocs, which ultimated in the division of the band, -and made it possible for the _thousand_ men to _whip_ the _remainder_. -The seceding Modocs, who are double-dyed traitors, were _Bogus Charley_, -_Hooker Jim_, _Shacknasty Jim_, _Steamboat Frank_, and ten others, mostly -Hot Creek Indians, and the same, except Hooker Jim, who were driven back -to the Lava Beds after they had started under escort of Fairchild and -Dorris to the Klamath Reservation, last December, ten days after the -Lost-river battle, by the howl for _blood that came_ up from every -quarter. At that time they had committed no crimes; had not been in battle -or butchery. After joining Captain Jack they had espoused the cause of the -murderers who killed the Lost-river settlers. They were not indicted, and -had less excuse than any other Modocs. Their home in "Hot Creek" was -several miles from any scene of slaughter on either side. They had -steadily opposed every peace measure offered, while Bogus had played his -part so well that he was the favorite of the army officers, and had -friends among the white citizens; he had instigated the assassination of -the Peace Commissioners, laid the plans, and even slept in the camp of -Gen. Canby, and ate his breakfast off the general's table, and to his -friend Fairchild declared, even after Canby and Thomas had started for the -Lava Beds, that there was no intention of killing the Peace Commissioners. - -The cause of the quarrel between these men and Captain Jack was the fact -that the few deaths that had occurred among the Modocs had been of those -who did not belong to Jack's immediate family or band. They accused him of -placing the outside Indians--Hot Creek and Cum-ba-twas warriors--in the -front of the battles. - -He replied that they had voted every time for war and against peace -proposals. The quarrel increased, and after the defeat at Dry Lake, -Captain Jack rebuked them for forcing the band into that fight against -their will. The death of "Ellen's man" brought the crisis. We see the band -who started into the war with fifty-three braves, after having -accomplished more than any band of an equal or proportionate number of -men, of any race or color, in any age or country, quarrelling among -themselves, now divided into two parties; one of whom, with _fourteen_ -men, _every one of whom had_ voted for war, turning traitor to his chief, -and offering themselves as scouts against him _without promise of amnesty_ -or other reward. Such perfidy stands unparalleled, and _alone_, as an act -that has no precedent to compare it with. The succeeding events are -clearly told in Gen. Davis' report. - - The chief could no longer keep his warriors up to the work - required of them, lying on their arms night and day, and - watching for an attack. These exactions were so great, and the - conduct of the leader so tyrannical, that insubordination sprang - up, which led to dissensions, and the final separation of the - band into two parties; they left the Lava Beds bitter enemies. - The troops soon discovered their departure, and were sent in - pursuit. Their trails were found leading in a westerly - direction. Hasbrouck's command of cavalry, after a hard march of - some fifty miles, came upon the Cottonwood band, and had a sharp - running fight of seven or eight miles. The Indians scattered, in - order to avoid death or capture. The cavalry horses were - completely exhausted in the chase, and night coming on he - withdrew his troops a few miles' distance to Fairchild's ranch - for food and forage. - - Indians captured in this engagement expressed the belief that - this band would like to give themselves up if opportunity were - offered. When given this, through the medium of friendly - Indians, they made an effort to obtain terms, but I at once - refused to entertain anything of the kind; they could only be - allowed safe-conduct through the camp to my head-quarters when - they arrived at the picket-line. They came in on the 22d of May, - and laid down their arms, accompanied by their old women and - children, about seventy-five. - - To learn the exact whereabouts of the Indians was now very - important, and I determined to accept of the offered services of - a Modoc captive; one who, up to the time of their separation, - was known to be in the confidence of his chief, and could lead - us to the hiding-place of the band. He was an unmitigated - cut-throat, and for this reason I was loth to make any use of - him that would compromise his well-earned claims to the halter. - He desired eight others to accompany and support him, under the - belief his chief would kill him on sight; but three others only - were accepted, and these of the least guilty ones. They were - promised no rewards for this service whatever. Believing the end - justified the means, I sent them out, thoroughly armed for the - service. - - After nearly three days' hunting they came upon Jack's camp on - Willow creek, east of Wright lake, fifteen miles from - Applegate's ranch, to which I had gone, after separation from - them at Tule lake, to await their return and the arrival of the - cavalry. - - The scouts reported a stormy interview with their angry chief. - He denounced them in severe terms for leaving him; he intended - to die with his gun in his hand; they were squaws, not men. He - intended to jump Applegate's ranch that night (the 28th), etc. - - On the return of these scouts, I immediately sent Capt. E. V. - Sumner, aide-de-camp, back to the rendezvous, at Tule lake, with - orders to push forward Capts. H. C. Hasbrouck's and James - Jackson's commands to Applegate's ranch, with rations for three - days in haversacks, and pack-mules with ten days' supply. All - arrived and reported by nine o'clock A.M., the 29th, under - command of Maj. John Green, their veteran cavalry leader since - the commencement of the Modoc war, in excellent spirits. The - impenetrable rocky region was behind them; the desperado and his - band were ahead of them, in comparatively an open country. - - After allowing the animals an hour's rest the pursuit was - renewed, and about one o'clock P.M. Jack and band were "jumped" - on Willow creek near its crossing with the old emigrant road. - This stream forms the head-waters of Lost river. It was a - complete surprise. The Indians fled in the direction of Langell - valley. The pursuit from this time on, until the final captures, - June 3d, partook more of a chase after wild beasts than war; - each detachment vying with each other as to which should be - first in at the finish. - - Lieut. Col. Frank Wheaton, Twenty-first Infantry, reported to - me, in compliance with his orders, from Camp Warner, on the 22d, - at Fairchild's ranch. He was placed in command of the District - of the Lakes, and the troops composing the Modoc expedition. - - After making necessary disposition of the foot troops and - captives at Fairchild's ranch, he came forward to Clear lake, - and joined me at Applegate's with Perry's detachment of cavalry; - these troops were at once sent to join the hunt. Most of the - band had by this time been run down and captured; but the chief - and a few of his most noted warriors were still running in every - direction. - - It fell to the lot of these troopers to catch Jack. When - surrounded and captured he said his "legs had given out." Two or - three other warriors gave themselves up with him. - - Though called for, no reports have been received of these - operations from the different detachment commanders; hence - details cannot be given. - - As soon as the captives were brought in, directions were given - to concentrate the troops, and all captives, etc., at Boyle's - camp on Tule lake. There the Oregon volunteers, who had been - called into the field by the governor, turned over a few - captives they had taken over on their side of the line. It is - proper to mention, in this connection, that these volunteers - were not under my command. They confined their operations to - protecting the citizens of their own State. Yet on several - occasions they offered their services informally to report to me - for duty in case I needed them. No emergency arose requiring me - to call upon them. - - By the 5th of June the whole band, with a few unimportant - exceptions, had been captured, and was assembled in our camp on - Tule lake, when I received orders from the General of the Army - to hold them under guard until further instructions as to what - disposition would be made of them. It was my intention to - execute some eight or ten of the ringleaders of the band on the - spot; these orders, however, relieved me of this stern duty,--a - duty imposed upon me, as I believed, by the spirit of the orders - issued for the guidance of the commander of the Modoc - expedition, immediately after the murder of the Peace - Commissioners; as well as by the requirements of the case, - judging from my stand-point of view, a commander in the field. I - was glad to be relieved from this grave responsibility. I only - regretted not being better informed of the intentions of the - authorities at Washington, in regard to these prisoners after - capture. In accordance with instructions, as soon as the - attorney-general's decision was received, I ordered a military - commission for their trial, and with that view moved them to - Fort Klamath, as a more suitable place to guard and try them. - Six were tried and convicted of murder; four have been executed; - two have had their sentences commuted to imprisonment for life - by the President. - - A few days after these executions took place at Fort Klamath, on - the 3d ultimo, the remainder of the band was started to their - new homes in Wyoming territory; they are probably there by this - time. - - The number of officers killed in this expedition is eight; - wounded, three; total, eleven. Enlisted men killed, thirty-nine; - wounded, sixty-one; total, one hundred. Citizens killed, - sixteen; wounded, one; total, seventeen. Warm Springs Indian - scouts killed, two; wounded, two; total, four. Grand total, - killed and wounded, one hundred and thirty-two. A large number - of the killed were murdered after being wounded and falling into - the hands of the Indians. (See accompanying list of killed and - wounded, marked D.) - - During the Modoc excitement many of the Indian tribes of Oregon, - Idaho, and Washington territory showed a very discontented - feeling, and strong sympathies with the hostile tribe. The - settlers seemed much alarmed in some localities. To meet this - state of affairs I thought it best to organize as large a force - as practicable, and make a tour through the country en route to - the proper stations of the troops. The march was made through - Eastern Oregon and Washington territory; it was about six - hundred miles. The cavalry was commanded by Maj. John Green, the - foot-troops by Maj. E. C. Mason. The march was well conducted by - these commanders, and well performed by the troops. I was - gratified to see that with the capture of the Modoc band the - excitement ceased. All the tribes throughout the department are - now perfectly quiet. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXV. - - LAST HIDING-PLACE--HANGING-MACHINE UNTRIED--MODOC - BUTCHERS OUTDONE. - - -For an account of the immediate circumstances attending the final -surrender of the Modoc chieftain, I subjoin the following from the pen of -Samuel A. Clarke, of Salem, Oregon, who was on the ground, and had -abundant opportunity to learn the facts and incidents connected therewith. -He was correspondent for the "New York Times," from which paper of June -17, 1873, this graphic account of one of the most important events of 1873 -is taken:-- - - BOYLE'S CAMP, TULE LAKE, Modoc Country, - Tuesday, June 3, 1873. - - The Modoc campaign is considered at an end. The eight or ten of - the lately hostile band who have not been captured dare not - commit any depredations, and efforts are being made to secure - them without further contest. It remains to sum up the last few - days, and present the facts of the capture of Captain Jack and - his band, and I am now prepared to give a full and complete - statement of the closing movements of the campaign. - - The beginning of the end was when Bogus Charley and his band of - Cottonwoods and Hot Springs Indians, which means those who were - brought up in the vicinity of Dorris' and Fairchild's ranches, - which are on the creeks so called, came in and surrendered, - about two weeks ago. The attempt made to surprise the train and - camp at Sorass lake, over three weeks ago, was a failure, and - though the Indians inflicted some damage, they still suffered - defeat, being driven off with the loss of most of their own - horses and their loads. This discouraged them, and disaffection - took place. The troops followed them up persistently; many who - had supported the war with reluctance complained of their fate; - bickerings led to separation, and Captain Jack was left with - scarce more than half his force to carry on the desperate - struggle as he could. - - I have described the manner of the campaign in former letters, - and told how three squadrons of cavalry and artillery mounted, - accompanied by detachments of Warm Springs Indians, have been - put in the field. Then came the startling proposition from Bogus - Charley, Steamboat Frank, Hooker Jim, and Shacknasty Jim, that - they would join the troops and act as guides, and lead them to - Captain Jack. They gave it as their opinion that Jack and his - men would be either at Willow creek, in the cañon east of Clear - lake, or at Cayote Springs, south-east of there, or at a place - ten miles from Boiling Springs, on Pitt river, hard to find and - easily defended; or, fourth, at a cañon near Goose lake, much - further off, on the very verge of Modoc territory. They inclined - to the opinion that he was at Willow creek, because it is a - strong natural position, and in a good neighborhood for a supply - of roots, herbs, game, and fish; and the result proved that - their first surmise was correct. - - General Davis and a squad of cavalry left with them eight days - ago, and proceeded to Boyle's camp, east and south of the Lava - Beds, whence the four renegades proceeded on their way Tuesday, - a week ago, to hunt for the Modoc trail. They were entirely - successful, and returned the next day with an interesting - account of their expedition. Striking out south of Tule and - Clear lakes, they found and followed the trail to Willow creek - cañon, fifteen miles east of Applegate's ranch on Clear lake. As - they approached they found Modoc pickets out four miles in - advance; the pickets went with them to within about a quarter of - a mile of the Modoc camp, and the Modoc warriors, twenty-four in - all, came out and formed a line. Jack ordered the spies to give - up their guns; but they refused to do so, and retained their - guns in their hands during all the talk that followed. The - Modocs wanted to know what they came for, and who sent them; - they recognized that they rode Fairchild's horses, and wanted to - know how that came. The four Peace Commissioners gave for answer - the precise facts that had occurred; stated the fact of the - surrender of Fairchild's place, of all the Cottonwoods, and the - way they had been treated, and advised them all to give up the - war and do the same. - - At that point Bogus Charley and his comrades wanted to have a - free talk with their old friends, but Captain Jack forbade it. - He said he would never surrender; he didn't want to be hung like - a woman, without resistance, but was determined to die fighting - with his gun in his hand, as a warrior should. He told them not - to talk any more about surrender, to go back to the whites and - stay with them if they wanted to, but never to come back to him - again, for if they did he would certainly kill them. He wanted - to receive no more messages and hear no more talk. - - But Jack's power was evidently on the wane; he was no longer a - dictator, with unlimited confidence and authority. Scar-faced - Charley and some of the rest very deliberately declared they - would talk; they told Bogus they were tired of fighting, and - didn't want to be driven around all the time, afraid of their - lives, and obliged to live like dogs. They complained bitterly - of their hardships and poverty, and that they could not see - their friends as of old time. Bogus told them that the soldiers - and Warm Springs Indians were coming right after them; that Gen. - Davis had ordered them to hunt the Modocs down, and they would - do so. Then they wanted to know when the soldiers would come; - the answer was, at any place and at any moment. Some of them - bitterly asked if they four were intending to bring the soldiers - there; but Bogus evaded that by saying the soldiers would come - anyhow. Despite Jack's command, and his refusal to talk, the - four spies had a long, free conversation with their old - associates, and the result was to greatly increase the - demoralization existing in their ranks. The talk ended without - any promise being made, and the four spies returned the next - afternoon, and were intercepted at Applegate's ranch, on Clear - lake, Gen. Davis having in the mean time removed to that place. - The spies were detained there, and word was sent to have the - troops immediately move, and the next morning (Thursday), at - daybreak, they were in motion, bound for the last Modoc - stronghold. - - The Modoc spies seem to have acted in the most perfect good - faith. They, with Fairchild in company, went with the troops, - which were under command of Col. Green, and led them directly - to the place, warning them as they drew near that they might be - ambushed, and advising every necessary precaution. The troops, - in three squadrons, each with a detachment of Warm Springs - Indians, moved to within three miles of the Modoc camp about - eleven o'clock Thursday morning, and were then divided. - Hasbrouck and his command, guided by Hooker Jim, taking the - north side of the cañon; Col. Green and the remaining force, - with Steamboat Frank as their guide, going on the south side; - Fairchild and the other two spies being in company. The Modocs - seem not to have dreamed that the troops could reach them so - soon, and had no strict watch out. No one was seen until within - less than a mile of Jack's centre, when the troops ran on four - Modoc sentinels. Frank gave advice to surround the camp by - sending men around and over a little mountain, and, this being - done, a march was ordered and the Warm Springs got within three - hundred yards of three Modocs, who hallooed not to shoot, and - wanted to know what they were bringing so many men there for; - they wanted to talk. Fairchild and the Modoc guides were sent - for, and a talk had. Boston Charley came over to see Fairchild, - and laid his gun down; the Warm Springs Indians all laid their - guns down, and came over and shook hands with him in the most - amicable manner. Movements were stopped to give opportunity for - the surrender of the band, and a talk was progressing, when an - unfortunate accident made the Modocs scatter in apprehension. - Modoc Frank, one of the guides, happened to have his gun - accidentally discharged by the hammer catching as he turned his - horse. The Modocs evidently supposed that Boston Charley, who - had been sent to talk, had been shot, and that caused a - stampede, and prevented the surrender that evening. Boston said - they all wanted to quit the fight, and he was told to go back - and tell them all to come in and lay down their arms. While he - was attempting to do this, Hasbrouck's men closed up on the - other side and made him prisoner, not knowing the errand he was - engaged on. Donald McKay sent word over to let him go free, as - the Indians wanted to come in; but Boston had been delayed an - hour and a half, and he came back at dark with word that the - Indians had all run away, except seven squaws, including Captain - Jack's sister and some children, who were captured. - - At early day, on Friday, the troops moved up each side of the - cañon, skirmishing for three miles, when scouts came in and - reported that the trail led off north, toward Gainox, and laid - on high ground, where it was difficult to track. The troops - followed it until noon, when they struck Langell's valley in - twelve miles. The Modocs were in scattered bands. About one - o'clock Fairchild, the Modoc guide, and some Warm Springs - Indians struck a plain trail, and followed it for about six - miles north-east, and discovered three bucks ahead, who called - back and then ran away. They were headed off, and ran down into - a cañon and hid. During the day thirteen bucks and a number of - women got into the same cañon, and were discovered by the Warm - Springs Indians. A few shots were fired by Captain Jack himself, - but it was thought that he didn't try to hit anybody, and only - fired to keep them off. They called to each other, and - Scar-faced Charley came down off the bluffs and talked with Dr. - Cabanis. Scar-face said Captain Jack was there, and they all - wanted to give up. Dr. Cabanis went up and talked with Jack, who - wanted to know what they would do with him. He said he would - surrender the next morning; it was late then, and their women - were tired. He said they were out of food and clothes; that - their feet were sore, and that all hands would come in in the - morning and give up their guns. - - That happened on Friday evening, the 30th of May. The troops - then went down to Lost river, five miles, and camped. Dr. - Cabanis and Modoc Mose, one of the captured Indians, afterwards - went back to the Modoc camp, and carried them a supply of bread, - and stayed all night. They returned the next morning with the - word that Jack had gone before their return, and left behind - some pretext that he went to find a better camp on the bluff. - But that morning Scar-faced Charley came in and laid his gun - down, and did it with an exceeding sorrowfulness, as if he felt - and understood all that he surrendered in doing so. Scar-face is - more respected than any other Indian, and there is much sympathy - felt for him among the whites, as he went to war unwillingly, - and has done his work in open warfare, and not been engaged in - any savage and merely murderous work. He is considered the best - and bravest of the entire Modoc band of braves. Next came - Sconchin John, the old villain, who drove the tribe to war more - than almost any other man, and who is considered responsible for - many of the inhuman acts committed. He laid down his repeating - rifle, with a look of the most profound and savage mistrust and - gloomy sorrow. His manner was untranslatable, for he had much - to dread, and all his fears and half his hate of white men were - visible in his sullen manner. The lesser lights then came up in - turn, and went through the form of surrender. There were twelve - or thirteen in all who gave up their guns, and all of them gave - evidence of gloomy terror. They were shown a place to camp on - Lost river, in Langell's valley, and the next morning were sent - with Fairchild, Lieut. Taylor, of the artillery, and sixteen - mounted light-battery men, to Gen. Davis' quarters, at Jesse - Applegate's, on Clear lake. - - In the mean time Gen. Davis had sent Maj. Trimble, with his - squadron, including some Warm Springs scouts, with young - Applegate and Jesse Applegate's nephew, Charley Putnam, as - guides, to intercept Captain Jack, in an easterly direction. - They struck the trail ten miles north-east, and followed it five - miles south, back to the Willow creek cañon, below the first - Modoc place of retreat or stronghold. Then part of the force - crossed to the south side and skirmished up the cañon. The - scouts soon discovered a Modoc man, named Humpy Joe, a - hunchback, who is half-brother to Captain Jack. He asked for - Fairchild, and Charley Putnam told him he was on the other side - of the creek, and asked where Captain Jack was. Humpy said he - was down the creek, hid in the rocks, and would surrender - to-morrow. Charley said they had him surrounded, and he must - surrender now. He and Maj. Trimble went with Humpy Joe, who - called for Captain Jack to come forth, and the famous chief - stepped boldly out on a shelf of rock, with his gun in his hand. - He showed no timid fear or trepidation, and his conduct - commanded the admiration of those who were his captors, for a - certain sort of native dignity was apparent, and even in defeat, - and at the moment of his surrender, the great Modoc chief was - self-possessed, and acted a manly part. Major Trimble went up to - him and demanded his gun. He also asked if Fairchild was there, - and, learning that he was near, gave up his trusty Springfield - rifle, a remodelled breech-loader. Thus ended the Modoc war, for - its soul and leading spirit of evil stood there a captive, with - his arms given up, and powerless for future evil. There were two - others with him, and four squaws and their children made up the - list of prisoners taken at that time. Captain Jack had two - wives, and one of them had a bright little girl of six years - old. - - Captain Jack then walked coolly up to where the Warm Springs - Indians were, and they, with a commendable spirit of - forbearance, and no doubt with an appreciation of the heroism - that had so long and successfully resisted them, laid down their - guns, and all around shook hands with the Modoc chief. They - talked some with him; but he is not much of a talker either in - English or Chinook, and his half brother, Humpy Joe, did most of - the talking. Captain Jack then called up the squaws and - children, and they were all mounted behind the Warm Springs - Indians, and started for Gen. Davis' camp, ten miles distant. It - would seem as if the Modoc chief must have felt crest-fallen, - and have been humiliated to find himself mounted in the same - manner; but those who saw it say that, mounted behind a Warm - Springs Indian, he still bore himself with dignity, and sat - there like a Roman hero, as my informant graphically expressed - it. He never moved a muscle or bore evidence in his look that he - felt humiliated at his defeat. He bowed to Fairchild as he - passed him, but made no other sign. - - Captain Jack was looking rather shabby when discovered, and was - allowed to don his better suit before being taken to - head-quarters; for it is not too much to say that the chieftain - was in a very dirty guise; his favorite wife, too, was looking - rather untidy; the wife improved her attire by the very simple - process of donning a new delaine dress, not exactly made in the - latest style, but she put it on over the plainer calico, which - was too much soiled to be presentable. I do not learn that any - portion of Gen. Canby's dress was found when he was taken. - - [Illustration: SCHONCHIN AND JACK IN CHAINS.] - - He was taken, under guard, to the Modoc camp on Clear lake, - where the rest of the prisoners were placed. This happened - Sunday afternoon, June 1. The Warm Springs Indians were jubilant - over the fact that they had finally run the fox to earth. - Captain Jack's stoical fortitude must have been sorely tried as - he rode, a captive, behind one of them; for, as the procession - moved, it assumed the appearance of a triumph, and he formed a - part of and listened to the triumphal chant, the song of - victory, that swelled along the line of his captors as they bore - him away to await his fate. But they who saw it say he gave no - token, by look, or word, or act, that would have shown that he - was interested, or that he resented the rejoicing over his - defeat. Again the song of triumph rose and swelled as they - approached the camp on Clear lake, and rode into the presence of - Gen. Davis and Gen. Wheaton. The commander-in-chief can - certainly congratulate himself that his well-directed efforts - have been successfully rewarded, and that the efficiency of the - army has been maintained under extraordinary circumstances. The - Warm Springs band came up to head-quarters, ranged in a long - line, with their strange, wild chant ringing on the air, and - delivered their prisoners, who were ordered under guard with the - rest. - - A greater humiliation still awaited the discomfited Modoc chief. - Gen. Davis ordered leg-shackles to be made for Captain Jack and - Schonchin, and toward evening they were led out to be ironed. - Great excitement pervaded the Modoc camp as these leaders were - taken from it, and led away, they knew not where. They were - taken to the blacksmith under a guard of six men, and for the - first time Jack showed apprehension. As his guards passed where - Fairchild stood, he stopped and asked his old friend where they - were taking him. I allude to Fairchild here as his friend, - because, while he has never excused their war conduct, he has - been always, for many years, well acquainted with them, and has - possessed great influence over them. They have learned to place - great confidence in him, and have never found it misplaced. So - in all their movements of surrender they have wanted to have him - present, and have done it at his advice when otherwise no one - could have induced it. He gave Captain Jack no answer but to - tell him kindly to go on with the men, and he went on - unhesitatingly. He may have thought he was going to execution, - but he went on nevertheless. At Fairchild's suggestion, - Scar-face Charley was sent for to act as interpreter. Scar-face - speaks good English, and he explained to Jack and Schonchin that - they were to be shackled to prevent any attempt at escape. They - made the most earnest protestations that they had surrendered in - good faith; that they had no desire to get away, and under no - circumstances should make such an attempt. It was really an - affecting scene to witness the grief with which they submitted - to have the shackles placed on them; but when they saw that - their fate was inexorable, they made no complaint or resistance, - though they keenly felt the indignity, but stood silently to let - the rivets tighten to bind them in chains they will never cease - to wear, for it is probable they will be tried by a military - tribunal, and that they will suffer the penalty of their crimes - as soon as the form of a trial and securing of evidence to - convict them can be gone through with. - - The short and decisive campaign that has resulted in practically - ending the Modoc war has been a rough one. The troops were fully - equipped, and the horses all shod and in good order; but the ten - days' scouting through a terribly rough country has left men and - horses considerably worse for wear. It is now ordered that the - troops under Col. Mason shall move to this place from - Fairchild's ranch. This place will be head-quarters until the - whole matter is wound up. There are still eight or ten Modoc - warriors out; but they will not undertake to make a fight, and - only time and good management are required to lead them also in - and bring the end. - - Captain Jack maintains a gloomy reserve, and will not converse - with his captors on any subject. It is safe to say that he will - make no explanation or revelations, but die and make no sign. - Bogus Charley says all the men expect to die, and await their - fate without fear. Captain Jack himself has no fears of what the - result may be, and waits it with stoical fortitude. He will die - heroically, I have no doubt, for he has evidently less regard - for life than the rest of the Modoc warriors. - -This was substantially the end of the great Modoc war. The closing scenes -were very exciting. Some of them are worthy of mention as having an -immediate bearing on the question of Peace and War as between the -_superior race_ and the original _inheritors_ of the soil. - -Time, June 8th, 1873. Location of the scene, Rocky Point, near the mouth -of Lost river.--Characters in this tragedy: first, _Civilized -Christianized white men_; second, Helpless Modoc captives. - -James Fairchild--a brother to John A., the "gray-eyed man"--left -Fairchild's ranch on the morning of the 8th, with a four-mule team, and a -wagon filled with Modoc _men_, _women_, and _children_, who had -surrendered and were entirely unarmed. - -Very little things sometimes turn the current of great events. When -leaving Fairchild's ranch on the morning in question, the entire party -consisted of seventeen Modoc captives and the brothers Fairchild. Among -the captives were Bogus Charley and Shacknasty Jim. Before arriving at -Lost river the party divided, James Fairchild driving the team and going -by a longer route, on account of crossing Lost river at a wagon ford; John -A. Fairchild, together with Shacknasty Jim and Bogus on horseback, going -by a shorter route. The latter party, not mistrusting danger, continued on -their way, not waiting for the team to come up to the junction of the -roads. - -While James was crossing the river he encountered a body of Oregon -volunteers, under command of Capt. Hizer. The soldiers gather around the -wagon and question Fairchild. He explains to them that the Indians under -his care are Modoc captives, all of them Hot Creeks; that he is taking -them to the head-quarters of General Davis on "the peninsula," to deliver -them up; that none of them have been accused of being parties to any -murder or assassination. This seems to satisfy the soldiers, and they -retire to their camp. Fairchild passes on towards his point of -destination. After proceeding a few miles he sees two men going towards -the road, with the evident intention of intercepting him. The Indians in -the wagon also make the discovery, and beg Fairchild to turn back, to save -them. He feels that trouble is brewing. He looks in vain for his brother -John and the Indians that are with him. The two men have halted by the -roadside. Fairchild comes up to them. They order him to halt, and -accompany the order with a heavy "_persuader_" in close proximity to his -head. The music made by "_spring steel_" under the manipulation of a man's -hand has but two notes,--a short tick and a long click; and then the -"_persuader_" is ready for business. Fairchild, hearing this kind of -music, _halts_, and to the "Get down, you old white headed ----," etc., -demands, "By whose authority?" "By mine. I am going to kill them Ingens, -and you too, ---- you!" - -One of the civilized white men cuts the mules clear of the wagon. -Fairchild leaps to the ground, still clinging to the lines. The unarmed -captive women beg for mercy. They plead with Fairchild to save them. They -raise imploring hands and cry, "Don't kill! don't kill!" The four Indian -warriors are mute; they know resistance is in vain. Fairchild entreats the -white men to desist. The muzzle of a needle-gun is within six inches of -his ear. A shot, and _"Little John's" brains_ are scattered over the women -and children. Another, and "_Te-hee Jack_" is floundering among them. -Another, and "_Poney's_" blood is spurting over his wife and children. -Still another shot, and "_Mooch_" falls among shrieking squaws. One more, -and _"Little John's" wife_ is shot through the shoulder. The five are -writhing in the death agony together, and the blood of the victims is -streaming through the floor of the wagon and dropping in puddles on the -ground beneath. A dust is seen rising from the road. The civilized white -murderers decamp in haste, leaving Fairchild holding to his mules, while -the uninjured Modoc women are extricating themselves from the dead bodies -which had fallen on them. The blood of this civilized butchery still drops -from the wagon. Sergeant Murphy and ten men, Battery A, of the Fourth -Artillery, came upon the scene. The civilized _butchers_ are fleeing. _No -effort_ is made to arrest them. Sergeant Murphy had not been ordered to -arrest them, and, of course, he had no right to arrest _white men without -an order_. Capt. Hizer's company of Oregon volunteers is within a few -miles also. The country is open; the murderers have but a few miles the -start. But Capt. Hizer has _no orders_ to arrest white men either. He is -not there for that purpose; and no one can censure him because he did not -catch the civilized _white murderers_. Those men were seen by Fairchild -before and behind the wagon. They were on the watch for _John Fairchild_. -Had he and his party been with the team when the attack was made, the -census return of that county would not have been quite so large as it is, -especially on the Anglo-Saxon civilized list. _Pity he was not there_, for -_he_ is "a dead shot." The commiseration is due, however, to the community -that furnished homes for the fellows who covered themselves with glory by -performing this heroic feat. True, they dare not boast of it _now_, but -they will by and by. The grand jury of Jackson County _did not_ find bills -of indictment against them. No effort has ever been made to discover the -names of the perpetrators of this deed. True, there were those that -claimed to know who the persons were, but they never tell; neither would -they tell, if placed on the witness stand. I would not have my reader -suppose that the _people_ of Oregon approved of the crime--very far from -it. They condemned it in unstinted terms, and with one voice shouted, -"Shame! Shame!" So they would have done if the tables had been turned. No -State in the Union has a more orderly, law-abiding, peace-loving people -than Oregon; none that venerates justice more highly. True, they have -sometimes been lenient to the white men of bad character. But no more so -than other States where votes are necessary to elevate men to power. Like -all other peoples they are tender-hearted towards _all_ men who control -votes. As a people they are brave, without a doubt; but among them -occasionally may be found specimens of _cut-throats_, who kill unarmed -people; and once in a great while, just as in the States of Massachusetts -or New York, an editor who does the same kind of work with his pen, when -he thinks he can do it with impunity. But the respectable editors, there -as elsewhere, have learned sense enough to let a man alone when he is -down, until they are sure he can't get up before they kick him. With great -unanimity those of Oregon and the whole Pacific coast denounce the killing -of helpless, unarmed Indians, as they did the killing of settlers after -the battle of Lost river, Nov., 1873,--only not quite strong enough to -_justify_ the authorities in making _any_ efforts to bring the offenders -to _justice_. - -The scene changes to a military camp on the "peninsula," at the south end -of Tule lake. A hundred white tents declare this to be the head-quarters -of the army that whipped the Modocs,--that is to say, the army to whom the -Modoc traitors turned over their chief. One hundred and twenty poor, -miserable specimens of humanity are under guard. There is great rejoicing -over the victory. The Modoc women and, children are contented, in one -sense at least,--they are well fed, and have rest. The Government teams -have just arrived from the mountains with timber. The quartermaster's -forces are engaged in rough carpenter work. Curious-looking building they -are erecting,--looks something like a country butcher's windlass; but it -is not that, for there is more of it. The Modoc captains wonder what it is -for. They are unsophisticated in civilized modes of appeasing outraged -justice. - -Scar-face Charley asks a soldier, "What for that thing they make?" - -"To hang Modocs," laconically replies Mr. Soldier. - -A wail of savage woe breaks the air. The medicine-man says he "can beat -that thing." - -"May be so, Curly-haired Doctor; but unless some other medicine interferes -you can have a chance to try it, and, in the mean time, to reflect on the -inhuman manner in which you and Hooker Jim killed Brotherton, Boddy, and -others." - -Not far from the gallows we see an artist with his camera, and going -toward it two men under guard. One of them shouted "Kau-tux-ie" at the -council tent the 11th of April. The other one was his right-hand man then. -They are inseparable now, as they have been for years past; but this time -a few links of log chain, as well as bloody crimes, unite them. They cast -anxious eyes towards the gibbet. They meet John Fairchild, and ask him -where they are going. "Go on; it's all right," he replies. They take -places before the camera. The artist lifts his velvet cloth, and Captain -Jack looks squarely at what appears to him to be "a big gun." To his -surprise the big gun is again covered up, and he is then assured that it -will not shoot. It was under such circumstances that the likeness of -Captain Jack, which accompanies this book, was taken. Old Schonchin is -next made a target. They smile when led away, for they had _expected to -die_. - -Some satisfaction to know that the old fellow endured suspense, even if it -was temporary. They are taken back to the guard-house, and, as they march -under escort, they see Hooker Jim, Bogus Charley, Shacknasty Jim, and -Steamboat Frank, walking around unfettered, unguarded, well clothed, well -fed, and well armed. The chief restrains himself until he arrives at the -tent used for guard-house, then he gives way to a tempest of passion, and, -in true Indian style, declaims against the injustice of what he sees and -feels. True, Captain Jack, you are wearing chains that _properly belong to -those villains_. True, you pleaded with all your eloquence for peace, and -against the assassination of the commissioners. True, they voted against -you. True, that Bogus first proposed to kill Gen. Canby, and that he was -also first to betray you to your enemies. It is also true, that for this -double treachery he is now being rewarded with liberty. True enough, that -that cut-throat, Hooker Jim, is the very man that put the woman's hat on -your head, and taunted you to madness, until at last you yielded against -your judgment, and consented to commit the first great crime of your life. -True, that he was the man who followed your trail, day and night, like a -hound, until he pointed the steps of the soldier to your last -hiding-place. It is for this _damnable act of treachery to you that he is -now being rewarded_. True, also, that Steamboat Frank and Shacknasty Jim -fired as many shots at the commissioners as you did; and that they, too, -voted against you while you were trying to make peace, and that they boast -yet of the number of soldiers they have scalped. They joined Bogus and -Hooker Jim in hunting you, carrying each a breech-loading rifle, and -wearing the uniform of the United States soldiers, and were with your -captors when your star fell. It is for these last-named heroic acts that -they are now enjoying the boon for which you have pleaded all your life, -from the same Government that pets them, and almost fawns upon them as -heroes. Certainly your cup is full of grief, while theirs runs over with -joy. If you were a _white man_ we would commiserate you, and half the -people of America would join in an effort to save you; but you are an -Indian. No Indian can be an "honorable man;" the idea is an insult to -every _Irishman_, and _German_, and the whole Caucasian race besides. You -are simply unfortunate in being born in the land of the free, and the home -of the brave, with a _red skin_. Better you had been born across the sea, -and with any brogue in the world on your tongue. If you had only been -blessed with a _white skin_, and had that kind of manhood that would have -permitted you to wear some rich man's collar, fawn upon and toady to the -whims and caprices of your masters, at the sacrifice of your own -self-respect, and that of the rest of mankind, then your crimes might have -been condoned. But you are _now_ a _citizen_, and you may enjoy a -citizen's privilege of being punished for other men's crimes as well as -your own. - -Gen. Davis has invited the settlers of the Lost-river country, to "come in -and identify the murderers, and stolen property captured from the -Modocs." Among others who availed themselves of the opportunity are two -women. We have seen them before,--the first time on the afternoon of -November 29th, 1872, when the red-handed villain who walks around camp, -the _lion_ of the day,--Hooker Jim,--came to them with his hands red with -the heart's blood of their husbands; and again, when a funeral procession -was slowly wending its way to the Linkville cemetery. We recognize them as -Mrs. Boddy and her widowed daughter, Mrs. Schiere. Gen. Davis, with the -heart of a true man and soldier, receives them kindly, and assigns them to -a tent; patiently listens to the sad story of their great bereavement. - -He calls on them again, taking with him Hooker Jim and Steamboat Frank. -Mrs. Boddy identifies Hooker as one of the Indians concerned in the -massacre. When questioned as to the robbery of Mrs. Boddy's house, Hooker -Jim replies, "I took the short purse, and _Long Jim_ took the other -purse." - -The women are much excited and are crying. They lose self-control. Mrs. -Boddy, drawing from her pocket a knife, dashes at Hooker Jim's breast. -Mrs. Schiere, with a pistol, attempts to shoot Steamboat Frank. The man -who would not brook insult from Gen. Nelson could not see these women -commit a crime; with almost superhuman strength and agility he disarms -both women before they have sipped from the cup of revenge, accidentally -receiving a slight wound in one hand from the knife held by Mrs. Boddy. -The savages stand unmoved and make no effort to escape. Let the reader be -charitable in judgment on the actions of these widows. They were alone in -the world. Their protectors had fallen by the hands that have since been -washed by a _just Government_, when in its dire necessity it accepted -their services as traitors. Ah! double traitors to a reluctant, but brave -leader. If the men who killed the unarmed captives in Fairchild's wagon -yesterday can go unpunished after killing Indians that had not harmed -them, let charity extend to these broken-hearted women, nor censure them -for a thirst for vengeance, especially when they realized that justice has -hid her face to these inhuman monsters who are reeking with blood, and -guilty of the most damnable treachery. True, these are women; but the -accident of sex does not change nature, and never should be urged against -those whose wrongs drive them to desperation. - -The quarter-master's carpenters are putting on the finishing strokes to -the extempore instrument of a _partial_ justice to be administered without -even the farce of an _ex-parte_ trial. The _trap_ is being arranged. Eight -or ten ropes are hanging from the beam. Gen. Davis is preparing a -statement of the crimes committed _by the_ captives, and, also, his -verdict, which he proposes to read to these unfortunate subjugated -warriors before he tests the strength of the dangling ropes with -live-weight. A courier arrives from Y-re-ka. A message is received by Gen. -Davis, ordering him to hold the prisoners subject to further instructions -from Washington. - -The work on the hanging-machine is suspended. The Modoc medicine-man -assures his friends that he has won another victory. Gen. Davis is -thoroughly chagrined. _The disappointment is great._ Modocs enjoy it; -white man does not. The brittle thread of life has been strengthened for -the temporary benefit of a few vagabonds whose existence is no blessing to -mankind outside of the Modoc blood; whose death would cause a shout of joy -over the civilized world. Not because it would bring back the dead, and -cause them to stand in the flesh again, but because justice has been done -to a man with a red skin who dared claim the privileges of manhood; and, -being denied, had resisted a good Government in which he had no part. - -The scaffold stands untried. Nobody knows whether it is a good -hanging-machine or not. The camp is broken up; the war is over, and the -Modocs are _now_ where they can be _controlled_. They are _en route_ to -Fort Klamath, under guard. - -The chieftain who, a few weeks since, was over-matching the best military -talent of the army, holding in abeyance twenty times the number of his own -forces, and defying a great, strong Government, is now a captive and in -chains, compelled to travel under an _escort_ over the route he had passed -so often in the freedom of days gone by. Familiar objects greet his eyes -as he raises them from the last look he will ever take of the scene of his -glory as a chief; and his shame as an outlaw. - -The first place of historical interest on this last ride of the Modoc -chief, as he leaves "the peninsula," is where Ben Wright killed nearly as -many warriors as Captain Jack has had in his command. If the angel of -justice accompanies this conquering army with its dejected captives, she -will cover her face while it passes the spot where Modoc blood watered -the ground _under_ a _flag_ of _truce_, when she remembers that the -perpetrators of that deed were _honored_ for the act. A few miles only, -and the vacant cabin of Miller stands, accusing Hooker Jim, the murderer -of its builder and owner, for _his_ treachery, and upbraiding a Government -that excuses _his_ crimes, because he can be made useful in hunting to the -death the chief who led where such a villain forced him to go. - -Justice uncovers her face when this army reaches Bloody Point, for now she -remembers that it was here that a train of emigrants were waylaid and -cruelly butchered, and she shows no favors to the descendants of those who -committed the crime. Again the eye of the conquered chief glances over the -scene of his childhood, and, too, over the field where he fought his first -battle. Since it would be pronounced sickly "sentimentalism" to ponder -over the scenes of such a man's boyhood, and lest we should offend some -_white man's_ fine sense of pride that he is a white-skinned man, though -he may have little else of which to boast, we pass along up Lost river, -with simply recalling the fact, that this man's--Captain Jack's--early -home abounds with _traditional literature_ connecting his name with the -savage scenes of the past, and linking it with the tragic events of -1872-3. - -The conquering army marches over the spot where the white murderers "wiped -out" some of the wrongs committed against _our race_. The tramping of -soldiers' feet and the iron-shod hoofs of mule teams erases the dark spots -in the road, where the tokens of requited vengeance were painted by the -dropping blood from Fairchild's wagon on the eighth of June. - -_This blood does not cry out_ loud enough to catch the ear of the sober, -honest-faced angel who has been perching on the victorious emblem of the -free white American! No danger that those dark spots will ever trouble -that great angel. The blood that made them was drawn from the wrong kind -of veins for that. - -While the army marches over the trail, effacing footprints of the fleeing -avenger, a shot is heard. Quick almost as lightning flash every soldier's -hand grasps his arms. The thought that the Modocs are attempting escape -passes through every mind. "Halt!"--rings out the cavalry bugle. Above one -of the Government wagons a small puff of smoke is rising in the clear -morning air, while behind and beneath it the spattered drops of blood -announce that another tragedy is now being enacted. The wagon halts, and -now through the floor the current runs in streams, while its splashing on -the ground makes melody for ears of white men and soothes the dying senses -of _Curly-haired Jack_. - -A few words of explanation, and the fact is established that _treason_ is -still among the Modocs, treason to the Government of the United States, -committed _by Curly-haired Jack_, in blowing out his own brains, thus -cheating the aforesaid government out of the great privilege of hanging -him for the murder of Lieut. Sherwood, under a flag of truce, on the -eleventh of April, 1873. - -Poor, conscience-stricken self-murderer! his body is mixed up again with -his native land, and his friends are denied the privilege of mourning for -him. - -The army, with its costly coterie of famous guests, encamps at Modoc camp -on Klamath Reservation. This is the spot where Captain Jack and his people -settled in the beginning of 1870. How changed the fortunes of this man! -_Then_ his limbs were free, though his manhood was half disputed; _now_ -every motion of his limbs rings clanking music in his ear, constantly -reminding him that his manhood has obtained recognition at the cost of -life and liberty. _Then_ he was restless under the restraints of -civilization, because it denied to him a clear pathway to its privileges -and blessings; _now_ he is passive under the persuasive influence of a -power that compels his crushed spirit to submission. _Then_ he was the -hero chief of Hooker Jim and Bogus Charley, and the daring band that -surrounded him; _now_ he is the humbled, crest-fallen victim of _their -treachery_. - -_He_ sits behind a guard whose glittering bayonets warn him of the folly -of resistance. _His betrayers_, unfettered, ramble over the ground where -the Modocs had begun their new home in 1870. - -_He_ steals glances at the great witness tree where Modocs and Klamaths -buried the hatchet. _They_ dance with joy over the results of its -resurrection. - -The army moves out of camp. The captive chief catches sight of four -rough-hewn timbers on the left of the road. These were once designed for -use in making that chief a house, wherein he was to have passed through -probation, looking toward his ultimate attainment of citizenship under the -"Humane Policy of the Government." - -The Klamaths, who badgered him into the abandonment of his new home in -1870, have not disturbed the house-logs referred to. They never will; and -the probabilities are that these logs will remain as monuments, marking -the sepulchure of broken hopes. - -A few miles before reaching Fort Klamath the cavalcade passes through -_Council Grove_,--the place where Klamaths and Modocs made the treaty of -1864 with the United States. - -At last the shattered companies of soldiers reach the fort, having left -behind them many of their comrades; but having in charge a distinguished -prisoner and his companions. When they pass inside the irregular circle of -forest trees that shut Fort Klamath up into a grand amphitheatre, the -outside is shut out from four, at least, of the prisoners forever. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVI. - - TAKING A SAFE LOOK AT A SUBDUED LION--POWER BEHIND - BAYONETS--WEAKNESS UNDER CHAINS. - - -A Portion of Fort Klamath, mentioned in the last chapter, is used as a -court-room. A long, narrow table stands near the middle of the hall. At -the farther end of the table sits Lieut.-Col. Elliott, First Cavalry, to -his right Capt. Hasbrouck of Fourth Artillery, and Capt. Robert Pollock, -Twenty-first Infantry. On the left, Capt. John Mendenhall, Fourth -Artillery, and Second Lieut. George Kingsbury, Twelfth Infantry. These -officers are all in new uniform, and make a fine impression of power. At -the other end of the table sits Maj. H. P. Curtis, Judge Advocate; also in -uniform near him, Dr. E. S. Belden, short-hand reporter. To the right of -Col. Elliott, sitting on a bench, four men,--_red men_,--Captain Jack, -Schonchin, Black Jim, Boston Charley. All these men were at the council -tent the 11th of April last, and participated in the murder of Gen. Canby -and Dr. Thomas. Lying on the floor are two others. They are the men who -jumped from the ambush with the rifles, and uttered the yell that sent -terror to the hearts of the Peace Commissioners,--Barncho and Slolux. -Behind Maj. Curtis two other familiar faces,--Frank Riddle and his wife -Tobey. - -At a side table reporters are sitting. At either end of the room a file of -soldiers stand with muskets ornamented with polished bayonets. These are -necessary, for the prisoners might kill somebody if the bayonets were not -there! Hooker Jim, Bogus, Shacknasty and Steamboat are standing near the -door, unfettered and unguarded. _They_ don't need guarding, for they are -soldiers now themselves, and have done more to close up the Modoc war than -the "Army of a Thousand." - -They are real live heroes, and they feel it too. If anything is yet -wanting to make this scene complete, it is fully made up by the soldiers, -who now enjoy a safe look into the eyes of the Modoc chief. - - SECOND DAY. - - FORT KLAMATH, July 5, 1873. - - The commission met at 10 A.M., pursuant to adjournment. - - Present, all of the members of the commission, the - judge-advocate, and prisoners. - - The proceedings of the last meeting were read and approved. - - The judge-advocate then read before the commission the order - convening the commission, which is interpreted to the prisoners. - - The commission then proceeded to the trial of the prisoners: - Captain Jack, Schonchin, Black Jim, Boston Charley, Barncho - (_alias_ One-Eyed Jim), and Slolux, Modoc Indian captives, who - being called before the commission, and having heard the order - convening it read, it being interpreted to them, were severally - asked if they had any objection to any member present named in - the order, to which they severally replied in the negative. - - The members of the commission were then duly sworn by the - judge-advocate; and the judge-advocate was then duly sworn by - the president of the commission; all of which oaths were - administered and interpreted in the presence of the prisoners. - - The judge-advocate asked the authority of the commission to - employ T. F. Riddle and wife as interpreters, at $10 a day, - which authority was given by the commission. - - T. F. Riddle and wife (Tobey) were then duly sworn to the - faithful performance of their duty in the interpretation of the - evidence and proceedings as required, in the presence of the - prisoners, which oath was interpreted to the prisoners. - - The judge-advocate then presented to the commission E. S. - Belden, the official short-hand reporter, who was then duly - sworn to the faithful performance of his duty; which oath was - duly interpreted to the prisoners. - - The prisoners were then severally asked by the judge-advocate if - they desired to introduce counsel; to which they severally - replied in the negative; and that they had been unable to - procure any. - - The prisoners were then severally duly arraigned on the - following charges and specifications:-- - - _Charges and specifications preferred against certain Modoc - Indians commonly known and called as Captain Jack, Schonchin, - Boston Charley, Black Jim, Barncho, alias One-Eyed Jim, and - Slolux, alias Cok._ - - CHARGE FIRST.--"Murder in violation of the laws of war." The - specification in substance was the murder of Gen. E. R. S. Canby - and Dr. Eleazer Thomas. - - CHARGE SECOND.--"Assault with intent to kill in violation of the - laws of war." Specification second. "Assault on the - Commissioners. Attempt to kill A. B. Meacham and L. S. Dyer." - - "All this at or near the Lava Beds, so-called, situated near - Tule Lake, in the State of California, on or about the 11th day - of April, 1873." - - To which the prisoners severally pleaded as follows:-- - - To first specification, first charge, "Not guilty." - To second specification, first charge, "Not guilty." - To first charge, "Not guilty." - To first specification, second charge, "Not guilty." - To second specification, second charge, "Not guilty." - To second charge, "Not guilty." - - T. F. RIDDLE, a citizen and witness for the prosecution, being - duly sworn by the judge-advocate, testified as follows:-- - - _Question by judge-advocate._ Were you present at the meeting of - the commissioners and General Canby, referred to in the charges - and specifications just read? _Answer._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ On what day was it? _A._ On the 11th of April, I believe, - as near as I can recollect. - - _Q._ Were the prisoners at the bar present on that occasion? - _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ You identify them all? _A._ Yes, sir; I identify all but - Barncho and Slolux. I saw them, but I didn't know them. They - were some seventy-five yards behind me; they came up behind. - - _Q._ Is Captain Jack the principal man in this Modoc band? _A._ - Yes, sir. - - _Q._ What is he? Describe him. _A._ He is a chief amongst them. - He has been a chief since 1861, I believe. - - _Q._ What position did Schonchin hold among the Modocs? _A._ I - never knew him to be anything more than just a common man - amongst them until, within the last year, he has been classed as - Captain Jack's sub-chief, I believe; they call it a "Sergeant." - - _Q._ Black Jim? _A._ He has been classed as one of his - watch-men, they call them. - - _Q._ Boston Charley? _A._ He is nothing more than a high - private. - - _Q._ Barncho? _A._ He is not anything. - - _Q._ Slolux? _A._ He is not anything. - - _Q._ Are they all Modocs? _A._ Yes, sir; they are classed as - Modocs; one of them is a Rock Indian, or a "Cumbatwas." - - _Q._ Were they all present at this meeting of the 11th of April? - _A._ Yes, sir. Barncho and Slolux was not in the council. They - came up after the firing commenced. - - _Q._ What connection did you have with the peace commissioners - from the beginning? _A._ I was employed by General Gilliam to - interpret, and then from that I was turned over to the peace - commissioners; but I acted as interpreter all of the time--all - through their councils. - - _Q._ Did you ever receive any information which led you to - suppose it was a dangerous matter for the commissioners to - interview these men? _A._ Yes, sir; the first that I learned was - when I stopped at Fairchild's. They agreed to meet the wagons - out between Little Klamath and the Lava Beds, and all of them - come in, women and children. They said Captain Jack - sent word that if General Canby would send his wagons out there, - they would send his women and children in. - - _Q._ Where you present at the killing of General Canby and Mr. - Meacham? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ Had you received any information which led you to think - that it was dangerous? _A._ Yes, sir, I had; my woman, some week - or ten days before that, went to carry a message into Jack's - cave, where he was living, and there was an Indian called - William--he followed her after she started for home back to - camp, he followed her out. - - _Q._ How do you know this? _A._ My woman told me. - - _Q._ In consequence of some information which you received, what - did you then do? Did you speak to the commissioners about it? - _A._ Yes, sir; I told them I received information, and then I - went to the peace commissioners and told them it was dangerous - to go out there any more to meet them, and I advised them not to - go. While I was at Fairchild's, this Hooker Jim, he came there - and took me out one side and told me, "If you ever come with - them peace commissioners to meet us any more, and I come to you - and push you to one side, you stand back one side and we won't - hurt you, but will murder them." - - _Q._ Do I understand you to say you then cautioned the - commissioners? _A._ Yes; I told them of it. - - _Q._ What did you say? _A._ I told them what Hooker Jim told me; - and I said I didn't think it was of any use to try to make peace - with those Indians without going to the Lava Beds, right where - they were. I said, "I think the best way, if you want to make - peace with them, is to give them a good licking, and then make - peace." - - _Q._ Did you tell them what Hooker Jim said? _A._ Yes, sir; and - at another time, I believe it was the very next time after we - were out in the Lava Beds--after General Gillam had moved over - to the Lava Beds--we met, and Hooker Jim came to me after we got - to the ground where we were to hold our council, and he took - hold of me and said, "You come out here and sit down;" and he - pushed me as he said he would. I said "No." - - _Q._ When was this? _A._ I don't remember the date; it was some - time in April. - - _Q._ The first or second meeting? _A._ The first meeting after - Hooker Jim had told me this at Fairchild's. - - _Q._ Where they the same, or other commissioners? _A._ It was - General Canby, Dr. Thomas, and Mr. Dyer, and Judge Roseborough, - I believe, was along, if I am not mistaken; I won't be positive. - Hooker Jim came to me and caught hold of me, and pushed me one - side, and said, "You stand out here." I told him "No;" that I - had to go and talk and interpret for them; and my woman here - spoke up to him to behave himself, and not go doing anything - while he was there; and he then said, "Well, go and sit down." - - _Q._ Did you visit the Lava Beds before the massacre; and, if - so, did you go alone, or with some one else? _A._ The first time - I went in there was with Squire Steele. Fairchild-- - - _Q._ (Interrupting.) Very shortly before the massacre, did you? - _A._ Well, I was in there. - - _Q._ State why you went in there. _A._ I was in there on the - 10th of April. My woman and me went in there, and took a written - message in there from the peace commissioners. I read and - interpreted it to Captain Jack, and I told him then, after I - interpreted it to him, that I gave him a notice; and I told him - to bring it the next day when he met the commissioners, to bring - it with him. He threw it on the ground, and he said he was no - white man; he could not read, and had no use for it. He would - meet the commissioners close to his camp--about a mile beyond - what they called the peace tent. He said he would meet them - there and nowhere else. - - _Q._ A mile nearer the Lava Beds than the peace tent? _A._ Yes; - he said that was all he had to say then. I could hear them - talking around, and sort of making light of the peace - commissioners--as much as to say they didn't care for them. - - _Q._ What was the tenor of this message you say you read? _A._ - It was a statement that they wished to hold a council with them - at the peace tent next day, to have a permanent settlement of - the difficulties between the whites and the Indians; they wanted - to make peace, and move them off to some warm climate, where - they could live like white people. - - _Q._ Where is that note you carried? _A._ It is lost. - - _Q._ Did Captain Jack say anything about arms in reference - to the meeting? _A._ Yes, sir; he said he would meet - them five men without arms, and he would do the same--he would - not take any arms with him. - - _Q._ That he would meet them at the place he fixed--one mile - nearer the Lava Beds? _A._ Yes, sir; one mile nearer the Lava - Beds. - - _Q._ Five men, without arms, and he would also go without arms? - _A._ Yes, sir. - - The COURT. Five, including himself? _A._ Yes, sir. - - The JUDGE-ADVOCATE. What did he say about the proposition to - move him from the Lava Beds? _A._ He said he knew no other - country only this, and he did not want to leave it. - - _Q._ Did he say anything about a desire for peace? _A._ Yes; he - said if they would move the soldiers all away he would make - peace then, and live right there were he was, and would not - pester anybody else; he would live peaceably there. - - _Q._ Was Captain Jack alone in this interview when you talked - with him? _A._ No, sir; these other men were around with him, - sitting down. - - _Q._ These prisoners here now? _A._ Some of them. - - _Q._ Did he do all or only a part of the talking? _A._ That - evening he done all of the talking--that is, he was the only one - that had anything to say to me in regard to this affair. - - _Q._ Did you see anything there which led you to suppose that - they intended hostilities? _A._ Yes, sir; I did; I saw that they - had forted up all around the cave. - - _Q._ Did they seem to be well provisioned? _A._ They had just - been killing several beeves there that day. - - _Q._ Which of these men were there at the time? _A._ Boston was - there--most all of these that are here. - - _Q._ Can't you name them? _A._ There was Boston, Black Jim was - there, and Barncho; I don't remember whether Schonchin was there - or not at the time the conversation was going on. - - _Q._ Did you go back to the commissioners then? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ State the facts about it. State what followed after your - return to the commissioners. _A._ I went back and went to the - peace commissioners' tent with Jack's message that he would meet - them five unarmed, and he would do the same; he would have five - men with himself, and go without arms; and I told him they - were forted all around there, and they had been killing - beef; and I thought it was useless to try to make peace any - longer; and if Captain Jack would not agree to meet at the tent, - and if I were in their places I would not meet them any more. - - _Q._ What did the commissioners then reply or decide upon? What - decision did they come to? _A._ They held a council between - themselves. I was not at their council. - - _Q._ Was your visit the day before the assassination? _A._ Yes, - sir; I seen General Canby that evening,; and I told him I had a - proposition to make to him. He was out, and I met him, and he - wanted to know what it was; I told him that if I was in his - place, if I calculated on meeting them Indians, I would send - twenty-five or thirty men near the place were I expected to hold - the council, to secrete themselves in the rocks there; that they - would stand a good show to catch them, if they undertook to do - anything that was wrong. General Canby said that that would be - too much of an insult to Captain Jack; that if they knew of - that, they might do an injury then; he would not do that. - - _Q._ Did you hear him say that? _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ Did they determine to meet him, or not? _A._ they sent to - me the next morning, then, to come down to the peace - commissioners' tent. - - _Q._ Was Captain Jack informed that they would not go to that - place one mile nearer? _A._ Yes, sir; Bogus Charley went in that - evening before the murder, right ahead of me, into General - Gilliam's camp and stayed all night. He staid at my camp, and - the next morning the peace commissioners decided that they would - not meet Captain Jack in this place where he wanted to meet - them, and sent a message out by Bogus and Boston for them to - meet him at the peace commissioners' tent, the peace tent, and - they were gone about an hour; and they came back again and said - that Captain Jack was there with five men. - - _Q._ (Interrupting). You heard it? _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ Jack was to meet them where; he was where? _A._ He was at - the peace tent. - - _Q._ Captain Jack sent back a message then by Bogus and Boston - that he would meet them at the peace tent with five men? _A._ - Yes, sir; but they were not armed, and he wanted the peace - commissioners to go without arms. - - _Q._ He sent that message, and you heard it? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ What advice, if any, did you then give the commissioners? - _A._ My woman and me went down to the peace commissioners' tent - and she went to Mr. Meacham; I saw her myself at the first, - though I told him not to meet them. - - _Q._ Were you at the peace commissioners' tent when you gave - them this advice? _A._ The peace commissioners' tent in General - Gillam's camp. - - _Q._ Not the large peace tent? _A._ No; the peace commissioners' - tent. He wanted to know why, and I told him they intended to - murder them, and that they might do it that day if everything - was not right; and my woman went and took hold of Mr. Meacham - and told him not to go; and held on to him and cried. She said, - "Meacham, don't you go!"--I heard her say so myself--"for they - might kill you to-day; they may kill all of you to-day;" and Dr. - Thomas, he came up and told me that I ought to put my trust in - God; that God Almighty would not let any such body of men be - hurt that was on as good a mission as that. I told him at the - time that he might trust in God, but that I didn't trust any in - them Indians. - - _Q._ Did any of the other commissioners make any reply? _A._ Mr. - Meacham said that he knew there was danger, and he believed me, - every word I said, and he believed the woman, and so did Mr. - Dyer. He said he believed it; and he said that he felt like he - was going to his grave. I went then to General Canby and asked - him if General Gillam was going out. He said "No." I said, I - want your commissioners then to go to General Gillam's tent with - me. - - _Q._ Did they go? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ Was Tobey with you? _A._ No, sir; she was not with me then; - she was standing holding her horse. - - _Q._ State what occurred at General Gillam's tent. _A._ We went - down with Mr. Meacham, General Canby, Dyer, and Dr. Thomas; and - General Canby walked down with us. General Canby did not go into - the tent, but the other three went in; that is, Mr. Dyer, - Meacham, and Dr. Thomas, and I went in to General Gillam and - said, "General Gillam, these men are going out to hold council - with them Indians to-day, and I don't believe it is safe. If - there is anything happens to them, I don't want no blame laid on - me hereafter, because I don't think it is safe for them - to go, and after it is over I don't want nothing laid on me;" - said I, "I am not much afraid of the Indians; but I will go - before I will be called a coward." - - _Q._ State what followed then. _A._ Well, before we got through - the conversation there, General Gillam--that is, there was not - anything more--and then General Gillam gave a big laugh, and - said if the Indians done anything, that he would take care of - them, and we started out, and General Canby and Dr. Thomas - started on ahead; Mr. Meacham went to Tobey (my wife), and asked - her if she thought the Indians would kill him; and she said, "I - have told you all I can tell you;" she said, "they may kill you - to-day, and they may not." - - _Q._ You heard this? _A._ Yes. "But," says she, "don't go." By - that time General Canby and Dr. Thomas had got some one hundred - yards ahead of us. Bogus Charley walked out; General Canby and - Dr. Thomas walked; Mr. Dyer, Meacham, and Tobey rode horseback. - - The COURT. Did Bogus Charley walk out with you? _A._ Yes; him - and me were behind. - - The JUDGE-ADVOCATE. Where was Boston Charley at this time? _A._ - If I am not mistaken he was with General Canby and Dr. Thomas. - - _Q._ Did you finally arrive at the peace tent? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ And whom did you find there? _A._ I found Captain Jack, - Schonchin, and Black Jim (Ellen's man), who is dead, they say, - Shacknasty Jim, and Hooker Jim. - - _Q._ Were there any others? _A._ There were no others; well, - Boston, he went out with us, and Bogus Charley; there were eight - of them there. - - _Q._ Eight were there in the party? _A._ In the council; yes, - sir. - - _Q._ What took place after you met these Modocs whom you have - named--between the commissioners and they? _A._ Well, we all sat - down around a little fire we had there, built, I suppose, some - twenty or thirty feet from the peace tent. There was some sage - brush thrown on, and we were all sitting around the little fire, - and General Canby gave them all a cigar apiece, and they all sat - around there and smoked a few minutes, and then they went to - talking; General Canby, I think, though I won't be certain, - made the first speech, and told them that he had been dealing - with the Indians for some thirty years, and he had come there to - make peace with them and to talk good; and that whatever he - promised to give them that he would see that they got; and if - they would come and go out with him, that he would take them to - a good country, and fix them up so that they could live like - white people. - - _Q._ Did you interpret all of this to the Indians? _A._ Yes, - sir. - - _Q._ So that they understood it? _A._ Yes, my wife and me did - together. - - _Q._ Was that the summary of General Canby's speech? _A._ That - was about the substance of his speech, with the exception that - he told them that he had a couple of Indian names; that he had - taken Indians on to a reservation once before, and that they all - liked him, and had given him a name. - - _Q._ General Canby said that? _A._ Yes. They sat and laughed - about it. I disremember the name now. - - _Q._ Do you know who spoke next? _A._ Mr. Meacham spoke next, - and he told them he had come there to make peace with them; that - their Great Father from Washington had sent him there to make - peace, and wipe out all of the blood that had been shed, and to - take them to some country where they could have good homes, and - be provided with blankets, food, and the like. - - _Q._ That was Mr. Meacham's speech? _A._ Yes, sir. Dr. Thomas, - he said a few words. He said the Great Father had sent him there - to make peace with them, and to wipe out all the blood that had - been shed, and not to have any more trouble, to move them out of - this country here,--that is, the place where they were stopping. - - _Q._ Mr. Riddle, do you know whether the Lava Beds are in the - State of California? _A._ Yes, sir; they are. I could not be - certain what the extent of them is; it may be possible a small - portion of them is in Oregon. - - _Q._ How near the Lava Beds was General Gillam's camp? _A._ It - was about two miles and a half from Jack's stronghold. - - _Q._ How near to the Lava Beds was the peace tent? _A._ It was - right on the edge of it. - - _Q._ What distance from General Gillam's quarters or camp? _A._ - I think about three-quarters of a mile. - - _Q._ Did any Modocs reply to those speeches? _A._ Captain Jack - spoke. - - _Q._ What did he say; can you remember? _A._ Yes, I can - recollect some of what he said. He said that he didn't want to - leave this country here; that he knew no other country than - this; that he didn't want to leave here; and that he had given - up Lost river; and he asked for Cottonwood and Willow Creek; - that is over near Fairchild's. - - _Q._ Is Cottonwood Creek the same as Hot Creek? _A._ They are - two different creeks. - - _Q._ What did he mean by giving up Lost river? _A._ He said - there was where the fight had taken place; and that he didn't - want to have anything more to do there. He said he thought that - was what the fight took place about,--that country there; he - said the whites wanted it. - - _Q._ What fight do you refer to? _A._ The first fight, where - Major Jackson went down to bring them down on the Reservation; - that was in November, 1872. - - _Q._ Did Captain Jack demand Willow Creek and Cottonwood Creek? - _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ That is, the land around this place? _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ To live on? _A._ Yes, sir; he wanted a reservation there. - - _Q._ Then what was said, or what occurred? _A._ Mr. Meacham, - then he made another speech, and he told Captain Jack: "Jack, - let us talk like men, and not like children," and he sort of hit - him on the knee or shoulder,--probably hit him on the shoulder - once or twice, or tapped him,--he said, "Let us talk like men, - and not talk like children." He said, "You are a man that has - common sense; isn't there any other place that will do you - except Willow Creek and Cottonwood?" And Mr. Meacham was - speaking rather loud, and Schonchin told him to hush,--told him - in Indian to hush; that he could talk a straight talk; to let - him talk. Just as Schonchin said that, Captain Jack rose up and - stepped back, sort of in behind Dyer's horse. I was interpreting - for Schonchin, and I was not noticing Jack. He stepped a few - steps out to one side, and I seen him put his hand in his bosom - like-- - - _Q._ (Interrupting). Did you perceive, as soon as you got there, - that these men were armed? _A._ Yes, sir; I did; I could see - some of them were. - - _Q._ In what way did you observe that? _A._ I saw these sticking - out of their clothes. - - _Q._ You saw what? _A._ They were revolvers. - - _Q._ Did Captain Jack at this interview represent this band? - _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ And these other men listened and appeared to concur? _A._ - Yes, sir. - - _Q._ Were they there as representatives of the band? _A._ Yes, - sir; I suppose they were. - - _Q._ You say Captain Jack got up and went to the rear, and you - saw him put his hand to his breast? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ What then occurred? _A._ Well, he stepped back and came - right up in front of General Canby, and said, in Indian, "All - ready, boys,"--and the cap bursted, and before you could crack - your finger he fired. - - _Q._ You say this? _A._ Yes, sir; and after the cap bursted, - before you could crack your finger, he fired and struck General - Canby under the eye, and the ball came out here (showing). I - jumped and ran then, and never stopped to look back any more. I - saw General Canby fall over, and I expected he was killed, and I - jumped and ran with all my might. I never looked back but once, - and when I looked back Mr. Meacham was down, and my woman was - down, and there was an Indian standing over Mr. Meacham and - another Indian standing over her, and some two or three coming - up to Mr. Meacham. Mr. Meacham was sort of lying down this way - (showing), and had one of his hands sticking out. - - _Q._ You saw General Canby fall, you say? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ Did he continue to lie where he fell? _A._ He was not when - they found him; he was about thirty or forty yards from there. I - did not see him get up. - - _Q._ As soon as Captain Jack fired, what then occurred? _A._ - They commenced firing all around. I could not tell who was - firing except Schonchin here; I see him firing at Mr. Meacham, - but the others were kind of up in behind me, and they were - firing, and I did not turn around to look to see who it was. I - thought it was warm times there. - - _Q._ Did any other Indians come up? _A._ Just as the fire - commenced I see two Indians coming up packing their guns. - - _Q._ What do you mean by "packing their guns"? _A._ They were - carrying them along in their arms. - - _Q._ How many had each man? _A._ I could not tell; it looked - like they had some two or three apiece. - - _Q._ Can you identify those men? _A._ No, sir, I cannot. I did - not stop to look to see who they were. I saw they were Indians. - - * * * * * - - TOBEY, Riddle's wife, an Indian, called for the prosecution, - being duly sworn, testified as follows:-- - - _Question by the judge-advocate._ What is your name; is your - name Tobey? _Answer._ Yes. - - _Q._ Did you think they were going to kill the commissioners - that day? _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ What made you think so? _A._ There was one of the other - Indians told me so. - - _Q._ Who told you? _A._ William; Whim they call him. - - _Q._ How long before the meeting did Whim tell you this? _A._ It - was about eight or ten days. - - _Q._ What did Whim say to you? _A._ He said not to come back any - more; to tell the peace commissioners not to meet the Indians - any more in council; that they were going to kill them. - - _Q._ Did you tell General Canby not to go? _A._ I did not tell - General Canby; I told Meacham and Thomas. - - _Q._ Did Mr. Meacham believe you? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ Did he say he believed you? _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ What was done with the bodies of Dr. Thomas and General - Canby? _A._ They stripped their clothes off of them. - - _Q._ Did you see them do that? _A._ I seen them strip Dr. - Thomas. I saw Steamboat Frank taking Dr. Thomas's coat. - Steamboat Frank was one of the three that came up. - - * * * * * - - The above questions and answers were duly interpreted to the - prisoners by the sworn interpreter, Riddle. - - The judge-advocate then asked the prisoners severally if they - desired to cross-examine the witness, to which they replied in - the negative. - - The commission had no question to put to the witness. - - L. S. DYER, a citizen, called for the prosecution, being duly - sworn, testified as follows:-- - - _Question by the judge-advocate._ State your name. _Answer._ L. - S. Dyer. - - _Q._ What is your business? _A._ I am a United States Indian - agent. - - _Q._ Of the Klamath agency? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ Does that include the Modocs? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ Do you recognize the prisoners at the bar? _A._ I do. - - _Q._ Do you recognize them all? _A._ No, sir. - - _Q._ Who is that one with a handkerchief on his head? _A._ - Captain Jack. - - _Q._ Who is the next one this way? _A._ John Schonchin. - - _Q._ And this one? _A._ Boston,--sometimes called Boston - Charley. - - * * * * * - - _Question by commission._ I understood you to say that - Superintendent Meacham got these Modocs back into the - Reservation once or twice before. _Answer._ Once before. - - _Question by commission._ With or without the assistance of the - military? _Answer._ He had a few soldiers. I only know this from - the records and reports in the office. - - * * * * * - - The foregoing questions and answers were all duly interpreted to - the prisoners. - - The commission thereupon adjourned to meet on Monday next, the - 7th instant, at 10 A.M. - - H. P. CURTIS, - _Judge-Advocate of Commission_. - - THIRD DAY. - - FORT KLAMATH, OREGON, July 7, 1873. - - The commission met pursuant to adjournment. - - Present, all the members named in the order, the judge-advocate, - and the prisoners. - - The proceedings of the previous session were read and - approved. - - SHACKNASTY JIM, a Modoc Indian, a witness for the prosecution, - having been first cautioned by the judge-advocate of the - punishment of false swearing, was then duly sworn. - - _Question by judge-advocate._ What is your name? _Answer._ - Shacknasty Jim. - - _Q._ Do you remember when General Canby was killed? _A._ Yes; I - know. - - _Q._ Were you present. _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ Did you know that he and the commissioners were to be - killed. _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ How did you know it? _A._ They had a talk at night. - - _Q._ When was this talk? How long before? _A._ The evening - before. - - _Q._ Who talked? _A._ Most of the Indians; the two chiefs were - talking. - - _Q._ What two chiefs? _A._ Captain Jack and Schonchin. - - _Q._ Did you hear them state they meant to kill them? _A._ I - didn't hear them say they were going to kill them. - - _Q._ What did you hear them say? _A._ I heard them talking about - killing the commissioners: that is all I heard them say. I - didn't hear them say who was going to do it. - - _Q._ How long before the meeting of the peace commissioners when - General Canby was killed was this talk? _A._ I almost forget. I - don't want to lie. I have forgotten how many days it was. - - _Q._ What Indians were at that meeting of April 11, when General - Canby was shot? _A._ Schonchin, Captain Jack, Ellen's man - (dead). I was there, and Black Jim, Boston, Bogus Charley, and - Hooker Jim; there were eight. - - * * * * * - - STEAMBOAT FRANK, a Modoc witness for the prosecution, duly - sworn, being duly warned against the consequences of perjury. - - _Question by judge-advocate._ What is your name? _Answer._ I am - called Steamboat Frank. - - _Q._ Were you present at the death of General Canby? _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ How did you get there? _A._ I was about as far as from - here to the end of the stables (about four hundred - yards) when the firing commenced. - - _Q._ Whom, if any one, were you with there? _A._ With Scar-faced - Charley. - - * * * * * - - The judge-advocate now called BOGUS CHARLEY as witness for the - prosecution, who, being first cautioned of the consequence of - perjury, was duly sworn, and testified as follows:-- - - _Question by judge-advocate._ What is your name as commonly - called? _Answer._ Bogus Charley. - - _Q._ Were you present at the death of General Canby? - - _A._ Yes. - - * * * * * - - HOOKER JIM, a Modoc, a witness for the prosecution, being first - cautioned of the consequence and punishment for perjury, was - duly sworn. - - _Question._ What is your English name? _Answer._ Hooker Jim. - - _Q._ Were you present when General Canby was killed? _A._ I was. - - _Q._ Did you know he and the commissioners were to be killed? - - _A._ I did. - - _Q._ Are you now a friend to Captain Jack? _A._ I have been a - friend of Captain Jack, but I don't know what he got mad at me - for. - - _Q._ Have you ever had a quarrel or fight with him? _A._ I had a - quarrel and a little fight with him over to Dry lake, beyond the - Lava Beds. - - _Q._ How did you know the commissioners were going to be killed? - - _A._ Captain Jack and Schonchin--I heard them talking about it. - - _Q._ Where were they when you heard them? _A._ At Captain Jack's - house. - - _Question by commission._ What part were you detailed to take in - it, if any, in murdering the commissioners? _Answer._ I ran Dyer - and shot at him. - - _Question by commission._ Had you agreed to kill one of the - parties before the attack? - - _Answer._ I said I would kill - one if I could. - - _Question by judge-advocate._ Do you like Captain Jack now, or - dislike him? - - _Answer._ I don't like him very well now. - - * * * * * - - The judge-advocate then asked each one of the prisoners, - successively, if they desired to cross-examine this witness, to - which they replied in the negative. - - * * * * * - - WILLIAM (WHIM), Modoc, called for the prosecution, and warned - against the penalties of perjury, was then duly sworn. - - _Question by judge-advocate._ What is your name? _Answer._ Whim, - or William. - - _Q._ Were you with the Modoc Indians in the Lava Beds? _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ Do you remember when General Canby was killed? _A._ Yes, I - know that they went to kill him. - - _Q._ Did you know that he was going to be killed? _A._ Yes, I - knew they were going to kill him. - - _Q._ Did you know they were going to kill the peace - commissioners? _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ Were you at the killing? _A._ No, I didn't go. - - _Q._ How did you know they were going to kill them? _A._ I heard - Jack and Schonchin talking about it. - - _Q._ Any one else? _A._ That is all that I heard say anything - about it. - - _Q._ How long was this before the killing? _A._ I don't know - exactly, but it was eight or ten days. - - _Q._ Did you speak to anybody about it? _A._ Yes, I told about - it. - - _Q._ Whom? _A._ I told this woman here (Tobey, Riddle's wife). - - _Q._ What did you tell her? _A._ I told her to tell the peace - commissioners not to come; that I did not want to see them - killed. - - * * * * * - - The judge-advocate then asked each prisoner, successively, if he - desired to cross-examine this witness; each answered in the - negative. The commission desired to put no questions. - - * * * * * - -While this man is under examination as a witness, A. B. Meacham enters the -court-room. The prisoners fix their eyes on him steadfastly. -Until now, they had doubted his recovery from his wounds. - - * * * * * - - A. B. MEACHAM, citizen, called for the prosecution, duly sworn, - testified as follows:-- - - _Question by judge-advocate._ What is your name? _Answer._ - Alfred B. Meacham. - - _Q._ Are you a citizen of the United States? _A._ I am. - - _Q._ What position did you hold in connection with the late war - with the Modocs? _A._ I was appointed by Secretary Delano as - chairman of the peace commissioners, as special commissioner. - - * * * * * - - _Q._ Now state what occurred next. - - _A._ During the day the propositions that were made by Boston, - that is, on Thursday, were accepted by Dr. Thomas, and an - agreement made to meet Captain Jack and five men, unarmed, at - eleven o'clock; all parties unarmed at the council tent on - Friday. I knew this agreement to have been made by Dr. Thomas on - the evening of the 10th, on my return from Boyle's camp that - night. - - _Q._ Did he give it to you officially? - - _A._ Yes, sir. When I started on the visit to Boyle's camp, I - said to Dr. Thomas, if occasion requires my presence in any - business, you will act in my capacity as chairman of the - commission; and as acting chairman of the commission he made - this arrangement, and so notified me. - - _Q._ After that what followed? - - _A._ I protested against the meeting, but subsequently yielded - to the opinions of Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas,--Mr. Dyer and I - dissenting. - - _Question by judge-advocate._ Had General Canby a weapon on his - person? - - _A._ Not that I am aware of. - - _Q._ Had Dr. Thomas? - - _A._ I know he had not. - - * * * * * - - All the foregoing testimony was faithfully interpreted to the - prisoners. - - The commission thereupon adjourned to meet at 9:30 A.M. - to-morrow morning. - -The prisoners are remanded to the guard-house. They hesitate, and cast -anxious glances at Meacham, who is exchanging salutations with members of -the court. - -MEACHAM. "Have the prisoners no counsel?" - -Col. ELLIOTT. "They have been unable to obtain counsel. The usual question -was asked them." - -MEACHAM. "It seems to me that, for the honor and credit of the Government, -and in order to have all the facts drawn out and placed on record, counsel -should have been appointed." - -Col. ELLIOTT. "We are perfectly willing, and would much prefer it; but -there is no lawyer here, and we must go on without." - -MEACHAM. "I have no disposition to shield the prisoners from justice, but -I do feel that to close up all gaps, and make the record complete, all the -circumstances should be drawn out. Not because anything could be shown -that would justify their crimes, but because it is in harmony with right -and justice. Sooner than have it said that this was an ex-parte trial, I -will appear myself as their counsel,--by your consent." - -Col. ELLIOTT. "Certainly, we are willing, and if you say you will appear -as their counsel, we will have your name entered on the record. Certainly, -Mr. Meacham, we are more than willing. It would be an act of magnanimity -on your part that is without a precedent. You know all the facts in the -case and could, perhaps, bring them out better than any other man." - -MEACHAM. "I know that my motives would be misconstrued, and I would have -another storm of indignation hurled upon me by the press. But that does -not intimidate me; I only fear my strength is not sufficient. It is only -sixty days since the assassination, and I have been twice across the -continent, and am still feeble. However, I will report to you to-morrow -morning my conclusion." - -Judge-Advocate CURTIS remarks: "Mr. Meacham, I wish you would take hold of -this matter; there is no one else that can; and, if you will, every -courtesy shall be extended to you. The witnesses can be recalled for -cross-examination. I should be better satisfied to have counsel for the -prisoners." - -MEACHAM. "I will take the matter under consideration, and in the mean time -I desire an interview with the prisoners." - -Col. ELLIOTT. "Most certainly, you can apply to the 'officer of the day,' -and he will make the necessary order." - -In the guard house, Captain Jack and Schonchin are brought out of the cell -chained together. There is music in the clanking chain that sounds harsh, -severe, and causes a shudder, which soon gives way before the logic of -justice. These chieftains come with slow steps and eyes fixed intently on -Meacham. They extend their hands in token of friendly greeting. Meacham -refuses. "No, Captain Jack, your hands are red with Canby's blood; I -cannot, now." - -Schonchin still holds out the same hand that fired repeated shots at -Meacham. - -"No, Schonchin, _your_ hands are red with my own blood; I cannot, I will -not now." - -Schonchin places his hand on Meacham's arm. He presses it slightly. An -Indian grunt signals his satisfaction with his experiment. He _now -realizes that Meacham is not dead. Up to this time he had been doubtful._ -He looks with intense interest at the wounds he had made in his effort to -kill this man on the 11th April. - -Captain Jack is anxious to talk about the trial. Meacham inquires, "Why -did you not have a lawyer to talk for you?" - -CAPTAIN JACK. "I don't know any lawyer that understands this affair. They -could not do me any good. Everybody is against me; even the Modocs are -turned against me. I have but few friends. I am alone." - -MEACHAM. "You can talk yourself. The newspapers say, '_Captain Jack has -spoken for his race_; now let extermination be the cry.'" - -CAPTAIN JACK. "I know that the white man has many voices: they tell one -side, they do not tell the other." - -MEACHAM. "Tell the other yourself. You can talk: Now speak for your race. -Tell the other side. The world will read it." - -Fixing his eye on Meacham very intently Captain Jack says, "Meacham, you -talk for me." - -MEACHAM. "No, Captain Jack, I cannot talk for you. I saw you kill Gen. -Canby. I cannot talk for you. If you had shot me as Schonchin did, I would -talk for you. As it is, I cannot. I will not talk for Schonchin; he was -all the time in favor of blood." - -SCHONCHIN breaks in, saying, "I did not kill you; you did not die. I am an -old man. I was excited; I did not shoot good. The others all laughed at -me; I quit. You shoot me. You don't want me to die. You did not die." - -CAPTAIN JACK. "I cannot talk with the chains on my legs. My heart is not -strong, when the chain is on my leg. You can talk strong. You talk for -me." - -An hour later, Meacham is in consultation with his friends, including the -army surgeon. There is but one opinion in regard to Meacham offering -himself as counsel for the Modocs, aside from the newspaper -comments,--that it will cost him his life. He is not sufficiently -recovered from the shots of the Lava Bed tragedy of April 11th. - - JULY EIGHTH. FOURTH DAY. - -Military commission assembled. Meacham has decided that he _cannot_ appear -as _counsel_ for the prisoners. - -They are brought into court; proceedings of previous meeting read and -approved; H. R. Anderson, lieutenant of Fourth Artillery, duly sworn. His -evidence was chiefly in regard to Gen. Canby's relation to the Government, -the Army, and the Peace Commission. - - _Q._ What command did he hold, if any, at the time of his death? - _A._ Department of the Columbia, and adviser to the peace - commission under telegraphic instructions from Washington. - - _Q._ Was he in receipt of instructions from any source as to the - course he was to pursue; was he receiving instructions from time - to time? _A._ Yes, sir, from time to time; from commanding - General of the Army. - - _Q._ What kind of instructions were they? Did you see them - yourself? _A._ Yes, sir; generally telegraphic instructions. - - _Q._ What was their nature? What did they instruct him to do? - _A._ Instructed him to use his utmost endeavors to bring about a - peaceable termination of the trouble. - - _Q._ What relation did he hold with the peace commissioners? - _A._ He was ordered down there to consult and advise with them. - - _Q._ Do you remember General Canby's initials? _A._ E. R. S.; - his full name was Edward Richard Sprigg Canby. - - * * * * * - - HENRY C. MCELDERY, assistant surgeon U. S. A., called for - prosecution, sworn, testified as follows:-- - - _Question by judge-advocate._ Did you see the body of General - Canby after his decease? _A._ I did, sir; I saw it on the field - on the evening of April 11. - - _Q._ Was the general dead? _A._ Yes, sir; he was quite dead when - I saw him. - - _Q._ Please describe his condition. _A._ He had been entirely - stripped of every article of clothing. He had three wounds on - his body, and several abrasions of the face. One of the wounds, - apparently made by a ball, was about at the inner canthus of the - left eye. The edges of that wound were depressed, as if the ball - had entered there.... - - _Q._ Did you see Dr. Thomas's body? _A._ I saw him. There were - several gunshot wounds in his body, but I don't recollect - sufficient to swear to the exact locality of each one. - - _Q._ What was your opinion as to the cause of his death? _A._ I - think the gunshot wound over his heart was the cause of his - death. - - _Q._ Did he die of wounds received on that day? _A._ I think the - wounds that I saw were sufficient to cause his death; yes, sir. - - TESTIMONY FOR DEFENCE. - -Scar-face Charley is sworn, and testifies at length; the main feature of -which is that they have been encouraged by the Klamath Indians to resist -the Government. - -[Illustration: SCAR-FACE CHARLEY.] - -Dave--a Modoc--is next called. His testimony is of similar character, -endeavoring to involve other Indians with the Modocs.... - -One-eyed Mose is sworn for defence; nothing new is elicited from this -witness. Captain Jack states that he had no further testimony to offer. -He is informed by the court that he is at liberty to make a statement. He -rises with some hesitation; first casting his eyes at his chains, he -mutters in his native tongue, that he "cannot talk very well with the -irons on his legs;" he proceeds to scan the court and spectators -deliberately. The sight of uniforms and bayonets does not inspire the -chieftain. It is evident that he feels the hopelessness of his cause; that -he is no longer the brave, strong man that he was when free and -untrammelled. There were elements in this man's character, before his -subjugation, that qualified him to make a strong effort. He is now -unmanned, and the chief who has made so great a name as a warrior is now a -mere pettifogger. Few passages in his speech are worthy of a place in -history. The whole burden of it is to shift the responsibility from his -own shoulders. He does not refer to his troubles on Klamath Reservation; -censures his own people; censures Major Jackson for the manner of the -first attack, exonerates Roseborough and Steele of ever giving him bad -advice; asserts positively that he was always in favor of peace; that the -Hot Creek squaws reported that the Peace Commissioners intended burning -him and his men; that he had reason to believe that they intended to kill -him. Hooker Jim was the leader of the war-party; asserts that he was -constantly ridiculed by Hooker and others; called a "squaw" and a coward; -that the scouts, Hooker, Bogus, Steamboat Frank and Shacknasty, were all -in favor of killing the commissioners; Hooker especially "wanted to kill -Meacham;" finally, that the majority of the tribe have overruled him and -driven him against his judgment into crime. Take his speech all in all, -it was not up to the record he made as a fighting man. He concludes by -saying he did not know how to talk in such a place with irons on his feet. - -Schonchin makes a short speech, blaming others for his misfortunes, -especially the Klamath Indians. Major Curtis reviews only so much of the -testimony and speeches as refer to Maj. Jackson, clearing his name from -unfair imputation. - -The court again adjourns, a few minutes after which Col. Lewis, a lawyer -of Colusi, Cal., arrives, and is much chagrined to find "the trial over," -as he intended to offer his services as counsel for the prisoners. Too -late. The trial is closed. It would not have changed the result, although -it might have changed the record of testimony. So ends the trial of the -murderers of Canby and Thomas. The findings of the court cannot be -doubted, although they are not made known. This trial has been conducted -with fairness on the part of the Government; but it was, after all, a -one-sided tribunal, from the fact that the prisoners had no counsel. Those -who constituted the court were all men of character; exhibited no -partiality or injustice toward the unfortunate red men, whose lives were -in their hands. While no censure rests on the court, it is, nevertheless, -a cause of complaint that Hooker Jim, Bogus Charley, Steamboat Frank, and -Shacknasty Jim, who were the worst men of the Modoc tribe, should be -allowed to go free from arrest and trial. Gen. Davis had made no promises. -He expected they would be tried and convicted, and sentenced to -imprisonment for life. The argument that was used by Judge Advocate -Curtis, that they had been of invaluable service as scouts, and had done -so much to bring the Modoc war to an end, is not based on sound principles -of right; but for these very men Canby and Thomas would not have died; -peace would have been made, and more than one hundred lives would have -been saved. That it was policy to pardon these men as an encouragement to -other Indians to betray their people is not good logic, when it is -understood that they were the real instigators of the treacherous deeds of -the Modocs. If the Modocs were a nation at war with the Government, all -were alike entitled to be treated as prisoners of war. If they were simply -part and parcel of the people of the United States, then they were not -enemies, and no action of a military judge-advocate could absolve them -from the crime of murder, committed on the citizens of Oregon in Nov., -1872. - -As the matter was settled, no one had a voice in regard to putting them on -trial except the judge-advocate, and he exercised only a presumptive -prerogative. - -The finding of the court has been approved. Captain Jack, Schonchin, Black -Jim, Boston Charley, Barncho and Slolux, are sentenced to death. The third -of October has been designated as the day for the execution. - -Gov. Grover, of Oregon, has demanded the attention of the Government to -the subject of the indictments. If any action has ever been taken it has -not been made public. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVII. - - THE EXECUTION--THE ROYAL CHIEF OUT OF CHAINS. - - -The Modocs, men, women, and children, who were not placed on trial, were -confined in a stockade near the fort, except the traitor scouts, who -enjoyed the liberty of the camp, and were the heroes of the day. - -At various times between the trial and the execution, the prisoners were -permitted to visit the stockade. Their families were also allowed to visit -them occasionally in the "guard-house." - -On leaving Fort Klamath, after the trial and before the execution, I -visited the prisoners, and shook hands with them, in token of forgiveness -as far as I was concerned. - -I was satisfied that justice would be meted out to those who had been -placed on trial. Captain Jack seemed to correctly anticipate the result, -and questioned me as to his fate, expressing a great dread of being -hanged. - -He said that but one side of the story had been told; that he had no -friends to talk for him. I assured him that he had been fairly dealt with; -that the officers who had tried him were all good men and had not done and -would not do him injustice, and that I would write out a fair statement of -all the facts for everybody to read. - -He clung to my hand to the last moment. I left him with feelings of -commiseration for him, and with a firm resolution to keep my promise, to -tell his story for him. - -It is now October 2d, 1873. A long scaffold is erected; a more finished -machine than the one on the peninsula. Ghastly and gloomy, it stands out -on the open plat of meadow, with six ropes hanging from the beams. - -The traitor scouts seem to take great interest in this instrument of -death, which they have unjustly escaped. - -Whether conscience troubles these worthies is a matter of some doubt; but -that they were exempt from execution was a very satisfactory arrangement -to them,--though to no one else, except their own families. - -On the day before the execution, Gen. Wheaton, accompanied by a Catholic -priest (Father Huegemborg), Post Chaplain, with Oliver Applegate and Dave -Hill, a Klamath Indian, as interpreter, visited the prison for the purpose -of informing the doomed men of the sentence. - -The venerable father opened the painful interview by shaking hands with -the convicts. He told them that Christ died for all men; that if they -accepted him they would be saved. The prisoners listened attentively to -every word. This was especially the case with Captain Jack, and Schonchin. - -Gen. Wheaton then requested the chaplain to inform them of the decision of -the President. He did so in a few feeling words. While it was being -interpreted to them not a muscle moved; no sound was heard save the voice -of the speakers. - -The scene was a very impressive one. After a few moments of awful silence, -the lips of the fallen chief began to move. His voice was soft, low, and -scarcely audible:-- - -"I have heard the sentence, and I know what it means. When I look in my -heart I see no crime. I was in favor of peace: the young men were not -ready for peace,--they carried me with them. I feel that while these four -men--Bogus, Shacknasty, Hooker, and Steamboat--are free, they have -triumphed over me and over the Government. When I surrendered I expected -to be pardoned, and to live with my people on Klamath land." - -When asked by Gen. Wheaton, which member of the tribe he wished to take -charge of the people, he evinced some emotion. After a short pause, he -replied, "I can think of no one; I cannot trust even Scar-faced Charley." -He asked if there was no hope of pardon. When assured that the sentence -would be executed, he again asked if both sides of the case had been laid -before the President. - -On being told that the President had been informed of all that had been -done, and that he need not entertain any hope of life, but to pay -attention to what the chaplain said, he replied, "I know that what he says -is good, and I shall follow his advice. I should like to live until I die -a natural death." - -Slolux, one of the young Modocs who carried the rifles to the council tent -on the morning of the assassination, was next to speak. He denied any part -in the terrible crime, as did Barncho. - -Black Jim, half-brother to Captain Jack, spoke next. He was anxious to -live that he might take care of the tribe; saying, "I don't know what -Captain Jack and Schonchin think of it." Jack shook his head. Jim -continued, "If the white chief's law says I am guilty of crime, let me -die. I am not afraid to die. I am afraid of nothing. I should like to hear -the spirit man's talk." - -Captain Jack again asked that the execution be delayed until his speech -could be laid before the President, as perhaps he did not know who it was -that instigated the murder of Canby and Thomas. This request also was -denied. Boston Charley was the speaker; he created a sensation:-- - - A GUILTY INDIAN. - - You all know me; during the war it seemed to me that I had two - hearts--one Indian and the other white. I am only a boy, and yet - you all know what I have done. Although a boy I feel like a man, - and when I look on each side of me I think of these other men as - women. I do not fear death. I think I am the only man in the - room. I fought in the front rank with Shacknasty, Steamboat, - Bogus and Hooker. I am altogether a man, and not half a woman. I - _killed_ Dr. Thomas, assisted by Steamboat and Bogus. Bogus said - to me, "Do you believe that these commissioners mean to try to - make a peace?" I said, "I believe so." He said, "I don't; they - want to lead us into some trap." I said, "All right--I go with - you." I would like to see all my people and bid them good-by - to-day. I would like to go to the stockade to see them. I see - that if I were to criminate others it would not amount to - anything. I see it is too late. I know that other chief men were - not at the bottom of that affair, and they did not take so - prominent a part in the massacre as the younger men. I know but - little, but when I see anything with my eyes, I know it. - -[Illustration: BOSTON CHARLEY.] - - BOSTON'S REASONS FOR THE MASSACRE. - - Boston was then asked why they killed Canby. He said that all - the presents they had received had no influence on them, and - they suspected Canby and the commissioners of treachery, and - their hearts were wild. After the young men had decided to kill - the commissioners, he told Bogus he was afraid. Bogus said, - "Don't be afraid; I can kill him." After that Captain Jack said - he would go and prevent it. The object of Bogus going in that - night to camp was to remove any suspicion from General Canby's - mind. The young warriors thought that Canby, Thomas, Meacham, - and Gillam were powerful men, and that the death of these tyees - would end all further trouble. When they saw Dyer coming in - place of Gillam, they decided to kill them all. When Bogus came - into the soldiers' camp he told Riddle's squaw that he was going - to kill Canby and the commissioners. She said, "All right; go - and kill them." I am telling what I know to be the truth-- - nothing more. - -Boston's reference to the part taken by the chief caused Captain Jack to -speak once more, and it was his last that has found record. He seemed -anxious to have Hooker and Bogus put on trial,--finally concluded, "If I -am to die I am ready to go to see my great Father in the spirit world." -Schonchin was the last to speak:-- - - The Great Spirit, who looks from above, will see Schonchin in - chains, but He knows that this heart is good, and says, "You - die; you become one of my people." - - I will now try to believe that the President is doing according - to the will of the Great Spirit in condemning me to die. You may - all look at me and see that I am firm and resolute. I am trying - to think that it is just that I should die, and that the Great - Spirit approves of it and says it is law. I am to die. I leave - my son. I hope he will be allowed to remain in this country. I - hope he will grow up like a good man. I want to turn him over to - the old chief Schonchin at Yainax, who will make a good man of - him. I have always looked on the younger men of our tribe as my - especial charge, and have reasoned with them, and now I am to - die as the result of their bad conduct. I leave four children, - and I wish them turned over to my brother at Yainax. It is doing - a great wrong to take my life. I was an old man, and took no - active part. I would like to see those executed for whom I am - wearing chains. - - In the boys who murdered the commissioners I have an interest as - though they were my own children. If the law does not kill them, - they may grow and become good men. - - I look back to the history of the Modoc war, and I can see - Odeneal at the bottom of all the trouble. He came down to - Linkville with Ivan Applegate; sent Ivan to see and talk with - Captain Jack. If Odeneal came by himself, all the Modocs would - go to Yainax. I think that Odeneal is responsible for the murder - of Canby, for the blood in the Lava Beds, and the chains on my - feet. I have heard of reports that were sent to Y-re-ka, - Ashland, and Jacksonville, that the Modocs were on the warpath, - and such bad talk brought Major Jackson and the soldiers down. - - I do not want to say my sentence is not right; but after our - retreat from Lost river I thought I would come in, surrender, - and be secure. I felt that these murders had been committed by - the boys, and that I had been carried along with the current. If - I had blood on my hands like Boston Charley, I could say, like - him, "I killed General Canby"--"I killed Thomas." But I have - nothing to say about the decision, and I would never ask it to - be crossed. You are the law-giving parties. You say I must die. - I am satisfied, if the law is correct. - - I have made a straight speech. I would like to see the Big Chief - face to face and talk with him; but he is a long distance off,-- - like at the top of a high hill, with me at the bottom, and I - cannot go to him; but he has made his decision,--made his law, - and I say, let me die. I do not talk to cross the decision. My - heart tells me I should not die,--that you do me a great wrong - in taking my life. War 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_! - -This was the last speech made by the Modoc convicts. - -The chaplain came forward and offered a most eloquent prayer, full of -pathos and kindly feeling for the condemned. - -Let us look on this scene a moment; it may humanize our feelings. The -prison is but a common wooden building, 30 by 40 feet, and known as the -"guard-house." It is on the extreme left of and facing the open "plaza" or -"parade-ground," in the centre of which stands a flag-pole, from whose top -floats the stars and stripes. A veranda covers the door-way, before which -are pacing back and forth the sentries. - -Before entering cast your eye to the right, about one hundred yards, and a -square-looking corral arrests your attention. This is the stockade. It is -constructed of round pine poles, twenty feet long, standing upright, with -the lower ends planted in the ground. Through the openings we see human -beings peeping out, who appear like wild animals in a cage. A partition -divides this corral. In the further end Captain Jack's family and a few -others are encaged; in the nearer one the Curly-haired Doctor's people. In -front walk the sentinels. Outside, at the end of the stockade, nearest the -guard-house, there are four army tents; in these four tents are the -families of Hooker Jim, Bogus Charley, Steamboat Frank, and Shacknasty -Jim, and these Modoc lions are with them, probably engaged in a game of -cards. Scar-faced Charley also enjoys the privilege of being outside; but -he does not engage in sports, or idle talk, oftenest sitting alone in -gloomy silence. - -Passing the guards as we enter the room, a board partition stands at our -right, cutting off one-third of the guard-house into cells; the first -cell has been the home of Boston, Slolux and Barncho, since their arrival -at the fort. The next is where Captain Jack and Schonchin have passed the -long, painful hours of confinement, meditating on the changes of fortune -that have come to them. - -In front, and running alongside the opposite walls, are low bunks raised -twenty inches from the floor. Sitting around on these bunks are the -thirteen Modoc Indians,--prisoners,--six of whom have just learned from -official authority their doom. - -Gen. Wheaton is in full uniform. The white-haired chaplain is near the -centre of this curious-looking group. Oliver Applegate and Dave Hill are -with him. Officers and armed soldiers fill up the remaining space. Outside -the building are soldiers, citizens, and Klamath Indians, crowding every -window. - -The tremulous voice of the kind-hearted chaplain breaks the solemn -stillness with a short sentence of prayer. Applegate translates the words -into Chinook to Dave Hill, who repeats them in the Modoc tongue. Sentence -after sentence of this prayer is thus repeated until its close. - -The good old man who has performed this holy ministry bursts into tears, -and bows his head upon his hands. In this moment every heart feels moved -by the eloquence of the prayer, and a common emotion of sympathy for those -whose lives were closing up so rapidly. - -Gen. Wheaton terminates this painful interview by assuring the convicts -that, as far as possible, their wishes should be respected. - -In the name of humanity, do we thank God for noble-hearted men like Gen. -Wheaton, who rise superior to prejudice, and dare to extend to people of -low degree the courtesies that all mankind owe the humblest of our race, -when, in life's extremities, the heart is dying within the body. The women -and children are coming to take a last farewell of their husbands and -fathers. Who that is human could look on this grief-stricken group, while -listening to the notes of agony making a disconsolate march for their -weary feet on this painful pilgrimage, and not bury all feelings of -exultation and thirst for revenge toward this remnant of a once proud, but -now humbled race; notwithstanding to the ear come despairing sobs of woe -from the lips of Mrs. Boddy, Mrs. Brotherton, Mrs. Canby and Mrs. Thomas, -on whom the great calamity of their lives burst like a thunder-bolt from a -clear sky, shattering their hearts, and leaving them sepulchres of human -happiness, illuminated only by the rainbow of Christian faith and hope, -spanning the space from marble tomb to pearly gate? - -These semi-savage Modoc women, with crude and jumbled ideas, made up of -half-heathen, half-Christian theology, had not the clear, well-defined -hopes of immortality that alone bear up the soul in life's darkest hours. - -True, they had been cradled through life in storm and convulsions. For -eleven months they have heard the almost continuous howl of a terrible -tempest surging and whirling around and above them. They have listened to -rattling musketry, roaring cannon, and bursting shells. They have seen the -lightnings of war, flashing far back into their beleaguered homes in the -rocky caverns of the "Lava Beds;" but with all these terrible lessons, -they were not prepared to calmly meet this awful hour. - -Human nature, unsupported by a living, tangible faith, sunk under the -overshadowing grief, and struggled for extenuation through the effluence -of agony in wild paroxysms of despair. - -We might abate our sympathy for them in the reflection that they are -lowly, degraded beings, incapable of realizing the full force of such -scenes; but it would be an illusion, unworthy of a highly cultivated -heart. - -God made them too, with all the emotions and passions incident to -mortality. Circumstances of birth forbade them the wonderful transmutation -that we claim to enjoy. When we pass under the clouds of sorrow, the angel -Pity walks beside us, arm in arm with sweet-faced Hope, whose finger -points to brighter realms; with _them_, Pity, alone. - -The sun is setting behind the mountains; the grief-stricken group are -returning to the stockade, leaving behind them the condemned victims of -treachery. - -Their betrayers--Hooker, Bogus, Shacknasty and Steamboat--are invited by -the officers to an interview with their victims; all decline, save -Shacknasty Jim. This interview roused the nearly dead lion into life -again; the meeting was characterized by bitter criminations. The other -heartless villains, after declining the interview, requested Gen. Wheaton -to give them a position where they could witness the execution on the -morrow. - -Let us drop the curtain over this sad picture, and turn our attention to -the quartermaster and his men, who are just in front of the guard-house. -He has a tape line in his hand, and, with the assistance of one of his -men, is measuring off small lots, squaring them with the plaza; see him -mark the spot, while a soldier drives down a peg; and then another, about -seven feet from it. He continues this labor until _six_ little pegs are -standing in a row, opposite another row of like number. - -Hooker, Steamboat, and Bogus Charley are leaning on the fence, looking at -the men who are now with spades butting the soil in lines, conforming to -the pegs. - -Bogus asks, "What for you do that?"--"Making a new house for Jack," -answers a grave-digger, lifting a sod on his spade. - -This is a little more than Bogus could stand unmoved. He turns away, and, -meeting the eyes of Boston, who looks out between the iron bars of his -cell, Bogus mutters, in the Modoc tongue, a few words that bring Barncho -and Slolux to the window. - -The three worthies look out now upon a scene that very few, if any three -men in the world ever did--that of the digging of their own graves. It is -but a thin partition that separates these convicts from their chiefs, -Captain Jack and Schonchin, who are aroused from the condition into which -the parting scene had left them, by a tapping on the wall. If the last -trial was crushing on them, what must have been the force of Boston's -speech, through that wall, telling them that the earth was already opening -to receive their bodies. - -The sheriff of Jackson County, Oregon, is on hand, and he has a business -air about him too. - -Justice sent him on this mission, after the red demons, who want a front -seat at the show to-morrow. Will justice or power triumph? We shall see, -when he presents his credentials to Gen. Wheaton, whether a State has any -rights that the _United States_ is bound to respect. - -An offer of _ten thousand_ dollars is made to Gen. Wheaton for the body of -Captain Jack. He indignantly spurns it. This accounts for the future home -of the Modoc chief being located under the eyes of Uncle Sam's officers. -It is now nearly ready for occupation; the mechanics are putting on the -finishing touches to his narrow bed; he is not quite ready yet to take -possession; he is waiting for Uncle Sam to arrange his _neck-tie_, and -read to him his title-deed. - -Boston looks out through the iron bars, and sees the sods up-thrown, that -are to fall on his lifeless heart to-morrow. - -What a contemplation for a sentient being; watching the grave digger -hollowing out his own charnel-house! - -Barncho and Slolux also share in this unusual privilege. How the thud of -the pick, with which the earth was loosed, must have driven back to the -remotest corner of each heart the quickened blood! - -The retreat sounds out far and wide over the camp and fortress, and sweeps -its music through the cracks of the stockade and prison cells, mingling -with the weird, wild shrieks of the despairing Modoc women and children. - -Midnight comes, and still the prayers are offered up, and incantations are -going on; sleep does not come to weary limbs. - -The morning breaks. Fortress and camps, stockade and prison cells, are -giving signs of life. - -The sun is climbing over the pine-tree tops, and sending rays on the just -and the unjust, the guilty and the innocent. - -The roads leading to the fort are lined with the curious, of all colors, -on wheels and horse. At 9.30 A.M., the soldiers form in line, in front of -the guard-house. - -Col. Hoge, officer of the day, enters and unlocks the doors of the cells, -and bids the victims come forth. Every day, from the 20th of February to -the 11th of April, had this command, and even invitation, been extended to -them. _Then_ it was to come forth to _live_ free men; _now_ it is to come -forth to die as felons. To the former they turned a deaf ear, and answered -back with insult, strange as it may appear. To the latter they arose with -chains rattling on their limbs, and, with steady nerve, turned their backs -on their living tombs, to catch a sight of their new-made graves yawning -to receive them. - -Then they were surrounded with daring desperadoes, whose crimes bade them -resist. Now, by no less brave men, whose polished arms compel submission. -Then the chief was pleading for his people, surrounded, overruled by -traitorous villains. Now, he is surrounded by men who will soon take his -life, and let the villains live to chide justice by their blood-covered -garments and double-dyed treason. - -A four-horse team stands in front of the guard-house, in which are four -coffins; the six prisoners mount the wagon. The chief sits down on one of -these boxes, Schonchin on another, Black Jim on the third, and Boston -Charley on the fourth, Barncho and Slolux beside him. A glance over the -heads of the guards shows six open graves; there are but four coffins in -the wagon. What means this difference? But few of all the vast assembly -can tell. The chief's thoughts are busy now trying to solve the problem. -Perhaps he is not to die; an uncertain glimmering of hope lights up his -heart. The cavalcade moves out in line passing near the stockade. The -prisoners catch sight of their loved ones; they hear the cries of -heart-broken anguish. - -Gen. Wheaton refrains from the use of the Dead March. The column goes -steadily on, marching for one hundred yards, then turns to the right, and -the scaffold comes in view; it marches square to the front, then turning -to the left, directly towards it, and when within a few yards, the column -opens right and left, while the team with the victims of crime drives to -the foot of the steps that lead to the ropes dangling in the air above. It -stops. Again the stern, manly voice of Gen. Wheaton commands. The first -time the Modocs heard that voice was on the 17th of June, 1873, when -supported by loud-talking guns. Then they answered back defiance from the -caverns of the stronghold. All day long he coaxed them then with powder -and shell; now he speaks with the silent power of a hundred glittering -sabres backing his words, and the Modocs answer with the clashing chains -on their legs. "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first." - -This royal-blooded chief was the _last_ to enter the vortex of crime; he -is the _first_ to rise on the ladder of justice. - -The chains are now cut from his limbs. He stood unmoved when they were -riveted there; he is equally firm now. - -Again the problem of the four coffins and six graves engages his mind, -while the chisel parts the rivets. Schonchin is next to stand up while his -fetters are broken. Then Boston, next Black Jim; and the good blacksmith -wipes the perspiration from his brow with his leathern apron, straightens -himself ready for this kindly work to Barncho and Slolux. - -Behind are _six_ graves,--above are _six_ ropes,--in the wagon are _four_ -unchained men and _four_ empty coffins. The suspense is ended by a word -from General Wheaton to the blacksmith, and a motion with his sword -towards the ladder, while his eyes meet first the Chief, then Schonchin, -next Black Jim, and rest a moment on Boston Charley. Steadily the four men -march up the seven steps that lead to the _six_ dangling ropes. Barncho, -with Slo-lux, still sits in the wagon below. - -The mourning Modoc captives in the stockade have an unobstructed view of -the scene, three hundred yards away; they count _four_ men going up the -ladder,--they see _six_ ropes hanging from the beam above them. - -"_Four loyal Modoc lions, who did so much to bring the war to a close_," -are standing with folded arms within the hollow square near the scaffold. -Scar-faced Charley is sitting on a bench on the opposite side of the -stockade, with his face buried in his hands. He will not witness the -death-struggles of his dying chieftain. - -It is now 10 A.M., October 3d, 1873. The four men are led on to the drop; -their arms and legs are pinioned. Captain Jack is placed on the right; -next to him, Schonchin, then Black Jim, and then Boston Charley. Four -hempen cords hang beside them,--_two_ swing clear to the left; the _two_ -villains who broke the long armistice on the eleventh of April with a -war-whoop are resting on other men's coffins in the wagon below. - -The four men are standing on a single strand that holds the drop. One -stroke of an axe would end this terrible drama, now. The polished blade is -waiting for the dreadful work. JUSTICE perches with folded wings on the -beam above. Her face is blanched. She says, "My demands would be satisfied -with imprisonment for life for these helpless, blood-stained men,--'twould -be more in harmony with my Father's wishes; but those whom he has sent me -to serve, clamor for blood, for life. If this must be, why the two men in -the wagon below? Why the four unfettered villains yonder? I cannot -understand by what authority I am compelled by my masters to witness this -partiality. _Here, over these betrayed victims do I enter my solemn -protest._ I see before me another power that evokes my presence, the State -of Oregon, represented by Sheriff McKenzie, in whose hands I see a paper -signed by Gov. Grover, and bearing my own countersign." With faith in the -power of the general Government, she folds her wings and sits calmly -watching Corporal Ross of Co. G, twelfth Infantry, adjust the instrument -of death to Captain Jack's neck. It differs from the one used by this -chief on Gen. Canby, but is equally sure; and the chief's nerves are even -steadier now than they were when he shouted, "Kau-tux-a." - -Corporal Killien measures the diameter of Schonchin's neck with the end of -another rope. The old chief's eyes do not glare now as they did when he -drew from his side a knife with one hand, and a pistol with the other, and -shouting, "Blood for blood!"--chock-e la et chock-e la,--fired eleven -shots at the chairman of the "Peace Commission." He was excited then; _he -is cool now_. - -Private Robert Wilton is putting a halter on Black Jim's neck, while -Private Anderson is fixing a "neck-tie" that will stop the voice that -taunted Dr. Thomas, in his dying moments, with the failure of his God to -save him. - -Justice smiles on Anderson's hand while he performs this worthy act in -vindication of her honor. - -The ropes are all adjusted; the soldiers who have performed this last -personal act walk down the steps. - -Forty millions of people, through a representative, read a long list of -"wherefores" and "becauses," including the finding and sentence of the -courts, to the patient men standing on the drop, thousands of eyes -watching every movement. - -At last the adjutant reads the following short paper from the _forty -million_, to the _four_ men on the scaffold; the _two_ men in the wagon. - - EXECUTIVE OFFICE, August 22, 1873. - - The foregoing sentences, in the cases of Captain Jack, - Schonchin, Black Jim, Boston Charley, Barncho, alias One-eyed - Jim, and Slolux, alias Cok, Modoc Indian prisoners, are hereby - approved; and it is ordered that the sentences in the said cases - be carried into execution by the proper military authority, - under the orders of the Secretary of War, on the third day of - October, eighteen hundred and seventy-three. - - U. S. GRANT, - _President_. - -While the words are being interpreted the adjutant draws another paper -from a side pocket in his coat. In a clear voice he reads sentence by -sentence, while the majestic form of Oliver Applegate repeats, and Dave -Hill interprets into the Modoc tongue:-- - - (General Court Martial Orders, No. 84.) - - WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, - WASHINGTON, September 12, 1873. - - The following orders of the President will be carried into - effect under the direction of the major-general commanding the - Division of the Pacific:-- - - EXECUTIVE OFFICE, September 10, 1873. - - The executive order dated Aug. 22, 1873, approving the sentence - of death of certain Modoc Indian prisoners, is hereby modified - in the cases of Barncho, alias One-eyed Jim, and of Slolux, - alias Cok; and the sentence in the said cases is commuted to - imprisonment for life. Alcatraz Island, harbor of San Francisco, - California, is designated as the place of confinement. - - U. S. GRANT, - _President_. - - By order of the Secretary of War. - - E. D. TOWNSEND, - _Adjutant-General_. - -_Justice_ whispers, "What does that mean?" Those two men voted for the -assassination on the morning of the 11th of April, and volunteered to bear -the guns to the scene of slaughter. - -The chaplain offers a prayer, the last notes of Dave Hill are dying on -the air as he finishes the words in the Modoc tongue. - -A flash of polished steel in the sunlight and the axe has severed the rope -that held the trap, and the thread of _four_ stormy lives at the same -instant, and _four_ bodies are writhing in mid-air. An unearthly scream of -anguish rises from the stockade, much louder, though no more -heart-rending, than escaped the lips of Jerry Crook and George Roberts on -the 17th of Jan., or from young Hovey on the 18th of April, while Hooker -Jim and Bogus Charley were scalping him and crushing his head with stones. - -The four bodies are placed in the four coffins, and Barncho and Slo-lux -ride back to the guard-house beside them. - -The sheriff of Jackson County presents to the commanding officer the -requisition of the governor of Oregon for Hooker Jim, Curly-haired Doctor, -Steamboat Frank, and other Modocs. The following telegrams explain the -result:-- - - JACKSONVILLE, OREGON, October 4, 1872. - - To JEFF. C. DAVIS, U. S. A., _Commanding Department of Columbia, - Portland, Oregon_:-- - - At the hour of the execution of Captain Jack and his - co-murderers at Fort Klamath, on yesterday, the sheriff of - Jackson County was present with bench-warrants and certified - copies of the indictments of the Lost-river murderers, and - demanded their surrender to the civil authorities of this State - for trial and punishment. A writ of _habeas corpus_ has also - been issued by Justice Prime, of the circuit court of Jackson - County, commanding that the indicted murderers be brought before - him, and cause be shown why they are withheld from trial. I - respectfully ask that you communicate the proceedings to - Washington, and that final action in the premises be taken by - order from there. - - L. F. GROVER, _Governor, Oregon_. - -To which was received in reply:-- - - Shown by the Secretary to the President in Cabinet to-day. It is - understood, the orders to send all the Modocs to Fort E. A. - Russell, as prisoners of war, given the 13th September, 1873, - will be executed by Gen. Schofield, and no further instructions - are necessary. Signed, - - E. D. TOWNSEND, - - _Adjutant-General_. - -Thus was the matter disposed of, no further action being taken in regard -to this question. - -Gov. Grover expressed what he believed to be the wishes of the people of -the Pacific coast, when he demanded the surrender of the Indians who had -been indicted by the local authorities. The President and cabinet were -actuated, doubtless, by humane and charitable motives in thus disposing of -a serious question. - -Knowing all the facts in the case, I do not believe it was just, or wise, -to cover the worst men of the Modoc tribe with the mantle of charity, for -turning traitors to their own race, and at the same time to sanction the -sentence of death on the victims of their treachery. - -The terrible tragedy is closed,--it only remains to dispose of the -survivors, after having placed the four dead bodies in the ground, and -filling up the two empty graves, sending the intended occupants to San -Francisco Bay. The living are ordered to the Quaw-Paw Agency, Indian -Territory. Here is the official statement:-- - - FORT MCPHERSON, NEB., November 1, 1873. - - EDWARD P. SMITH, _Indian Commissioner, Washington, D. C._:-- - - Modocs consist of thirty-nine men, fifty-four women, sixty - children. Detailed report by families forwarded to Department - head-quarters October 30. - - J. J. REYNOLDS, _Colonel Third Cavalry_. - -_Thirty-nine men!_ Why, Captain Jack had _never_ more than fifty-three men -with him, all told. Call the roll, let us see where they are now:-- - -1. _Captain Jack._ A voice from--well, it's uncertain where,--a slanderous -rumor says, from a medical museum, Washington city,--answers, "_Here_." - -2. _Schonchin. "Here,"_ comes up from one of the graves in the -parade-ground, Fort Klamath. - -3. _Boston Charley. "Here,"_ whispers a spirit, hanging over one of the -graves in the same cemetery. - -4. _Black Jim. "Here,"_ comes up through the thick sod beside "Boston." - -5. _Ellen's Man. "Here,"_ answer scattered bones that were drawn off the -Dry-lake battle-ground, by a Warm Springs scout, with a reatta, and now -bleaching in among the rocks of the Lava Beds. - -6. Shacknasty Jake, from a skull which furnished several scalps during the -three days' battle, when its owner was killed in petticoat, comes in -hollow voice, "_Here_." - -7. Shacknasty Frank; the ashes of a warrior who was wounded in a skirmish -on the fifteenth of January, and died in the Lava Beds, answers, "_Here_." - -8. _Curly-haired Jack._ The answer comes from the bones of a suicide, -muttered up through the blood of Sherwood, "_Here_." - -9. _Big Ike._ The remnants of a brave who stood too near the valuable -shell, on the third day of the big battle, answers in broken accents, -"_H-e-r-e_." - -10. _Greasy Boots. "Here,"_ is answered by the ghost of the brave killed -the day before the battle of January 17th. - -11. _Old Chuckle Head._ On a shelf, in a certain doctor's private medical -museum, a skeleton head rattles a moment, and then answers, _"Here."_ - -12. _One-eyed Riley._ The bones of the only brave who fell in Lost-river -battle answer, "_Here._ I fell in fair battle; I don't complain." - -13. _Old Tales._ The ghost of Old Tales answers, that he was killed by a -shell, and murmurs, "_Here_." - -14. _Te-he Jack_-- - -15. _Mooch_-- - -16. _Little John_-- - -17. _Poney_-- - -A dark spot in the road between Fairchild's ranch and Gen. Davis camp -shakes, upheaves, and with thunderous voice proclaims in the ears of a -Christian nation, "_Here_ we fell at the hands of your sons after we had -surrendered. 'VENGEANCE!'" - -Fifty thousand hearts, in red-skinned tabernacles on the Pacific coast, -respond, "WAIT." - -Seventeen voiceless spirits have answered the roll-call who were sent off -to the future hunting-ground by United States _sulphur, saltpetre and -strong cords_. - -Seventeen from _fifty-three_, leaving _thirty-six_,--the returns say, -_thirty-nine_. - -How is this? Look the matter up, and we shall find that "_Old Sheepy_" and -his son Tom Sheepy, who never fired a shot during the war,--in fact, was -never in the Lava Beds,--are compelled to leave their home with Press -Dorris and go with the party to Quaw-Paw. - -Another,--a son of Old Duffey,--who remained at Yai-nax during the war, -sooner than be separated from his friends, joins the exiles on their -march. Now all are accounted for, and the record here made is correct. - -The other side we have told from time to time in the progress of this -narrative. The cost of this war has not yet been footed up. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVIII. - - THE TWO GIBBETS. - - -A gloomy picture fills the eye from the height of the bluff whence we took -our first view of the Lava Beds, Jan. 16th, 1873. The whited tents are -there no more. The little mounds at the foot rest heavy on the breasts of -the fallen. No curling smoke rises from savage altar, or soldier camp. The -howl of cayote and cougar succeed the silver bugle, calling to the banquet -of blood. Wild birds, instead of ascending ghosts, fill the air above, and -their screams follow the weird wild songs of the medicine-men. The caverns -answer back to bird and beast--no more to savage war-whoop, or bursting -shell. The cannon are cooled by a winter's frost, while a winter's storms -have given one coating to the scars left on the lava rocks by the iron -hail. The dark spots, painted by mad hands, dipped in the blood of heroes, -grow dim. A rude, unfinished gibbet stands out on the deserted promontory -of the peninsula, a reproachful proof of a soldier's unwarranted haste, a -token of a nation's prudence; while another rude scaffold, which justice -left half-satisfied, also remains at Fort Klamath, defiant and -threatening, and upbraiding her ministers for unfair dispensation in -sparing the more guilty, while writing her protest on the blood-stained -hands of the felons who provoked her wrath, as she follows them to the -land of banishment. - -The lone cabins, made desolate by the casualties of war, are again -inviting the weary traveller to rest. The ranchmen of the Modoc country -follow the cattle trails without fear. The surviving wounded are trying to -forget their scars, or hobbling on crutch or cork. Tall grasses meet, fern -and flowers bloom over the graves of loved ones, bedewed with the tears of -the widows and orphans of a nation's mistake in refusing to recognize a -savage's power for revenge, until recorded by scars on the maimed hands -and mutilated face of his biographer, and proclaimed by the marble shaft -whose shadows fall over the breast of the lamented Canby, near _Indiana's_ -capital, and by the tomb of the no less lamented Dr. Thomas, which keeps -silent vigils with those of Baker and Broderick, on the hallowed heights -of Lone mountain, San Francisco. - -The broken chains of the royal chief hang noiseless on the walls of his -prison cell. His bones, despised, dishonored, burnished, sepulchred in the -crystal catacomb of a medical museum, represent his ruined race in the -capital of a conquering nation; and the survivors of his blood-stained -band, broken-hearted, mourn his ignominious death, shouting their anguish -to listless winds in a land of exile. He lives in memory as the recognized -leader in the most diabolical butchery that darkened the pages of the -world's history for the year eighteen hundred and seventy-three. - -The Congress of the United States devotes itself to the payment of the -cost of the war; while the results stand out ghastly monuments, calling in -thunder-tones on a triumphant nation to stop, in its mad career; _to -think_; upbraiding it for the inhuman clamor of power for the blood of -heroic weakness, until it thwarted President Grant's policy of doing -right, _because it was right_; at the same time applauding him for his -courage in proposing, and his success in consummating, a settlement on -peaceful terms with a powerful civilized nation, with whom we had cause of -estrangement. - -If it was bravery that courted the accusation of cowardice, while it -grandly defied impeachment by proposing to settle a financial difference, -involving questions of national honor, in the case with England, on -amicable terms; it was infinitely more patriotic, more humane, more just, -and more godlike, boldly to declare that a weak and helpless people should -be treated as men,--should be tendered the olive-branch, while the cannon -were resting from their first repulse. - -The civilized world joins in honoring him in the former case; cowardly -America burns in effigy his Minister of the Interior for failure in the -latter; while on neither magistrate nor minister should fall the blame. On -whom, then, should it fall? Where it belongs,--on the American people as a -nation. If you doubt it, read the history written by our own race, and you -will blush to find from Cape Cod bay to the mouth of the Oregon, the -record of battle-grounds where the red man has resisted the encroachments -of a civilization that refused him recognition on equal terms before the -law. You will find that these battle-grounds have been linked together by -trails of blood, marked out by the graves of innocent victims of both -races, who have fallen in vindication of rights that have been by both -denied, or have been slain in revenge by each. You will find scarce ten -miles square that does not offer testimony to the fact that it has been -one continuous war of races, until the aborigines have been exterminated -at the sacrifice of an equal number of the aggressive race. - -You will find that in almost every instance where the white man and the -Indian have met in conference, the latter has been overmatched with -diplomatic schemes, plausible and captivating on the surface, while behind -and beneath has always lurked a hidden power, that he dared not resist in -open council. - -You will find that notwithstanding the Indian has made compacts under such -circumstances as have alienated his home and the graves of his fathers, he -has been almost always true and faithful to his agreements, until -justified by _his_ ethics, in abandoning them on account of the _breach_ -by the _other party_ to the compact. - -You will find that a few bad white men, who have always swung out in the -van of advancing immigration, and have without commission or authority -represented the white race socially, have offered the Indian the vices, -and not the virtues, of Christian civilization; and when the facts are -known, you will find that these few bad white men have been the real -instruments of blood and treachery, nearly always escaping unpunished, -while the brave and enterprising frontiersman has unjustly borne the -stigma and censure of mankind; if, surviving the tomahawk and -scalping-knife, he has stood up in defence of a home, to which his -government invited him. - -As I proposed in the outset to _confine_ myself to facts of personal -knowledge, or those well authenticated from other sources, and to write of -the Indians of the North-west, and of Oregon especially, I leave it to -others to review the history of other portions of the country, and, in -pursuance of my own plan, I beg to introduce a witness to sustain the -assertion, that civilization has refused the Indian admission on equal -terms with other races,--a witness who was born and raised on the frontier -line; whose whole life has been spent in Oregon; one whose statement will -not be questioned where he is known,--Captain Oliver C. Applegate, who has -given me, on paper, a few of the many incidents coming under his own -personal observation, which he has in times past related to me around -camp-fires in the wild region of the lake country of Oregon. - - SWAN LAKE, OREGON, Sept. 10, 1873. - - Hon. A. B. MEACHAM:-- - - _Dear Friend_,... A Klik-a-tat Indian, named Dick Johnson, came - to my father's house in the Willamette valley, and worked for - him on his farm, prior to the year 1850. In that year my father - removed to the Umpqua valley, and soon after Dick Johnson, with - his wife (an Umpqua), and mother and step-father, called the - "Old Mummy," followed up and asked permission to cultivate a - small portion of my father's farm. This they were allowed to do. - They cultivated these few acres in good style, and found time to - labor for father and other farmers, for which they received good - remuneration. - - In 1852, Dick Johnson, under the encouragement of my father, - Uncle Jesse, and other friends, took up a claim in a beautiful - little valley about ten miles from Yoncalla, where my people - resided. This place was so environed by hills that it was - thought the whites would not molest Dick there. Aided by the old - man and his brother-in-law, Klik-a-tat Jim, who came from the - upper country to join him, Dick improved his farm in good style, - built good houses and out-buildings, and fenced hundreds of - acres. He was frugal, enterprising and industrious, and - emulated the better white people in every way possible, and was - so successful in his farming enterprises that he outstripped - many of his white neighbors. His character was above reproach, - and, beside sending his little brother to school, he was always - seen with his family at church on the Sabbath day. - Unfortunately, there were greedy, avaricious white men living in - the vicinity of Dick Johnson, who coveted his well-improved - little farm. Eight of them--disguised--went to his place late - one afternoon, and found Dick chopping wood in the front yard. - They shot him in cold blood, and, as his lifeless body fell - across the log on which he was chopping, his step-father ran - from the house unarmed, and was shot also. The women, after - being beat over the heads with guns and revolvers, finally made - their escape to the woods, and took refuge under the roof of a - friendly neighbor. - - Klik-a-tat Jim--who came from mill about the time the old man - was shot--was fired on several times, some bullets cutting his - clothing, but, jumping into his house at a window, he got his - gun, and the cowardly assassins fled. Although there was immense - excitement throughout the country when this outrage was - committed, and a hundred men assembled to bury Dick Johnson and - the old man like white men, as they deserved, an ineffectual - attempt was made to bring the offenders to justice, and _they - actually lived for years upon the farm, enjoying the benefits of - poor Dick Johnson's labor_. Our laws then scarcely recognized - the fact that the Indian had any rights that were worthy of - respect, and this most atrocious crime had to go unpunished, - thus encouraging the Columbia Indians to greater desperation - under Old Kam-i-a-kin, in the war of 1866-1867. Well it would - be, for the good name of the American people, if we could point - to but one isolated case of this kind; but truth and candor - compel us to admit, that too many Indian wars have been - occasioned by the greed and ruffianism of our own race. - - * * * * * - - Many years ago, during the first Modoc war, the Klamaths say - that a band of Modocs was pursued by troops from the Modoc - country, out by Yainax, and to the vicinity of Silver lake, - where the Modocs managed to elude their pursuers. The troops - (probably a detachment of Gen. Crosby's California Volunteers), - not liking to be foiled in their efforts to take a few scalps, - returned by Klamath marsh, Williamson river, and Big Klamath - lake, butchering in cold blood several unresisting Klamaths. - Even this did not occasion trouble with the Klamaths, many of - whom tried to incite the nation to a war of revenge.... - - Ever truly yours, - - (Signed) O. C. APPLEGATE. - -To sustain the declaration that the Indian has been overmatched and -outwitted in treaty council, I propose to introduce a witness whose long -life on the frontier qualifies him to speak; whose great talents, and -intimate acquaintance with the politics and wants of the North-west, -secured him a seat for six years in the Senate of the United States, and -who is now (1874) a member of Congress; one who was also a Superintendent -of Indian Affairs in Oregon, and knows whereof he speaks. I refer to Hon. -James W. Nesmith. In his official report for the year 1857, page 321 -Commissioners' Report, he says:-- - - My own observation in relation to the treaties which have been - made in Oregon leads me to the conclusion that in most instances - the Indians have not received a fair compensation for the rights - which they have relinquished to the Government. - - It is too often the case in such negotiations that the agents of - the Government are over-anxious to drive a close bargain; and - when an aggregate amount is mentioned, it appears large, without - taking into consideration that the Indians, in the sale and - surrender of their country, are surrendering all their means of - obtaining a living; and when the small annuities come to be - divided throughout the tribe, it exhibits but a pitiful and - meagre sum for the supply of their individual wants. The - Indians, receiving so little for the great surrender which they - have made, begin to conclude that they have been defrauded; they - become dissatisfied, and finally resort to arms, in the vain - hope of regaining their lost rights, and the Government expends - millions in the prosecution of a war which might have been - entirely avoided by a little more liberality in their dealings - with a people who have no very correct notions of the value of - money or property. A notable instance of this kind is exhibited - in the treaty of September 10, 1853, with the Rogue-river - Indians. That tribe has diminished more than one-half in numbers - since the execution of the treaty referred to. They, however, - number at present nine hundred and nine souls. - - The country which they ceded embraces nearly the whole of the - valuable portion of the Rogue-river valley, embracing a country - unsurpassed in the fertility of its soil and value of its gold - mines; and the compensation which those nine hundred and nine - people now living receive for this valuable cession is forty - thousand dollars, in sixteen equal annual instalments of two - thousand five hundred dollars each, a fraction over two dollars - and fifty cents per annum to a person, which is the entire means - provided for their clothing and sustenance. - - When those Indians look back to the valuable country which they - have sold, abounding, as it does, with fish and game and rich - gold fields, it is but natural that they should conclude that - the $2.50 per annum was a poor compensation for the rights they - relinquished. It is true that the Government can congratulate - itself upon the excellence of its bargains, while the millions - of dollars subsequently spent in subduing those people have - failed to convince them that they have been fairly dealt with. - - Even the treaties which have been made remain, with but few - exceptions, unratified, and of the few that have been ratified - but few have been fulfilled. - - Those delays and disappointments, together with the unfulfilled - promises which have been made to them, have had the effect to - destroy their confidence in the veracity of the Government - agents; and now, when new promises are made to them for the - purpose of conciliating their friendship, they only regard them - as an extension of a very long catalogue of falsehood already - existing.... - -That the Indian has been overcome by power may be established by the fact, -that in the treaty council of 1855, whereby "_The Confederate Bands of -Middle Oregon_" were compelled to accept Warm Springs Reservation as a -home, by the threats and presence of an armed force of the Government. -This I state on the authority of Dr. Wm. C. McKay, who was secretary for -the council. - -That the Indian has been faithful to his compacts, I submit the testimony -of a veteran, who has fought them forty years,--General Harney. - - HUMANE TREATMENT OF THE INDIANS. - - General Harney, before the House Committee on Military Affairs, - to-day, gave his opinion that if the Indians were treated fairly - there would never be any difficulties with them. He had known - but two instances in which they ever violated the treaty - stipulations, and in these the Indians were to be excused, for - the treaties had grown old before they were sought to be - enforced, and the chiefs and head men who made them were all - dead. The troubles with the Indians were principally caused by - fraudulent agents and by whiskey dealers. - -That the Indian has not been the aggressor in the wars of Oregon, I refer -to one of the bloodiest that has ever cursed this young State, in proof. - -From Hon. George E. Cole, now Postmaster, Portland, Oregon, I learned some -of the facts in this case. No man stands fairer than Mr. Cole as a man of -integrity and honor. In proof of this assertion his present position, in -one of the most respectable federal offices in the State, is cited. - - In the fall of 1851, a party of miners, returning from a - successful gold-hunting expedition to California, encamped on an - island in Rogue River. All was peace and quiet. _No war, no - blood, no treachery._ The Indians were in joint occupation of - the beautiful valley of Rogue river with the white men, whose - cabins and farms dotted the more beautiful portions of the - country. - - After the miners have made camp two Indians visit them,--a - common thing for Indians to do. They are invited to partake of - the supper,--an act of courtesy never omitted in wild life,--and - they accept. The day passes into night. The Indians prepare to - return to their own camps. The miners object, and, _through fear - that they_ might be surprised in the night, demand that the - Indians remain. The Indians remonstrate. The miners are more - solicitous for them to stay, their anxiety to leave being - _construed_ as ominous of intended treachery. The Indians, also, - suspecting the same thing on the part of the miners, _break to - run_, and both of them are shot down and scalped. - - The miners resume their journey. The friends of the Indians miss - them. Their scalpless bodies are found on a timber drift in the - river below. The Rogue-river war, with all its horrors, was the - result. - -That it was the most terrible that has ever devastated Oregon, let us call -to the stand another unimpeachable witness,--Gen. Joel Palmer,--and we -shall learn something of the reasons why it was so. Gen. Palmer, in his -annual official report as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the year -1856, page 200, says in speaking of this Rogue-river war:-- - - In every instance where a conflict has ensued between volunteers - and hostile Indians in southern Oregon, the latter have gained - what they regard a victory. It is true that a number of Indian - camps have been attacked by armed parties, and mostly put to - death or flight; but in such cases it has been those unprepared - to make resistance, and not expecting such attack. This, though - lessening the _number_ of the Indians in the country, has tended - greatly to exasperate and drive into a hostile attitude many - that would otherwise have abstained from the commission of acts - of violence against the whites. - - The avowed determination of the people to exterminate the Indian - race, regardless as to whether they were innocent or guilty, and - the general disregard for the rights of those acting as friends - and aiding in the subjugation of our real and avowed enemies, - have had a powerful influence in inducing these tribes to join - the warlike bands. - - It is astonishing to know the rapidity with which intelligence - is carried from one extreme of the country to another, and the - commission of outrages (of which there have been many) by our - people against an Indian is heralded forth by the hostile - parties, augmented, and used as evidence of the necessity for - all to unite in war against us. - - These coast bands, it is believed, might have been kept out of - the war, if a removal could have been effected during the - winter; but the numerous obstacles indicated in my former - letters, with the absence of authority and means in my hands, - rendered it impracticable to effect it. - -Continuing the subject, he further says:-- - - A considerable number of the Lower Coquille bands had been once - induced to come in, but by the meddlesome interference of a few - _squaw men_ and reckless disturbers of the peace, they were - frightened, and fled the encampment. A party of miners and - others, who had collected at Port Orford, volunteered, pursued, - and attacked those Indians near the mouth of Coquille, killing - fourteen men and one woman, and taking a few prisoners. This was - claimed by them as a _battle_, notwithstanding no resistance was - made by the Indians. - -This witness clearly establishes the fact, that unarmed and unresisting -Indians were attacked and shot down like wild beasts, and that -"extermination" was the war cry of the white men. He confirms, too, the -statement in regard to the rapidity with which intelligence is transmitted -from one tribe to another, and its effect. - -Do you wonder at the Modocs refusing to surrender, with so much to remind -them of the white man's bloodthirsty deeds? See the last quotation from -Gen. Palmer, and remember that these fourteen men and one woman were -killed _after_ the surrender, and in the attempt to escape. - -White men were accustomed to regard the Indian as the synonym for -treachery and savage brutality. Let us see how this matter stands in the -light of what has been already written, after adding one or two other -instances from the many that crowd thickly forward for a place on the -witness-stand. - -Judge E. Steele, a lawyer of high character, a resident of Y-re-ka, Cal., -since 1851, and also an ex-superintendent of Indian Affairs, in reporting -an Indian difficulty in 1851, relates:-- - - That while hunting for two Indians who had committed some - offence, we fell in with Ben Wright, who, learning from a squaw - with whom he was living that the Indians had taken that course, - he, with a band of Shastas, had started in pursuit and - intercepted and captured them. We came in together, and took the - Indians to Scott valley, and there gave them a fair trial, - proving their identity by both white men and Indians, and the - Indian testimony and their own story, all of which was received - in evidence. One was found guilty, and the other acquitted and - set at liberty. Our present superintendent of public - instruction, Professor G. K. Godfrey, was one of the jury. - During our absence the people remained under great excitement, - as all kind of rumors were afloat; and our company was so small, - and I had started into a country inhabited by hordes of wild - Indians, and those of Siskiyou mountain and Rogue-river valley - notoriously hostile and warlike. Old Scar-face, learning of the - difficulty at Rogue river, contrary to advice given him when we - left, had come out from the cañon, appeared on the mountain - lying east of Y-re-ka, as the Indians afterward told me, for the - purpose of letting the whites know the trouble, as the roads - were guarded by the Indians on the mountains, so that - travellers could not pass. As soon as he was seen, a wild - excitement ensued, and a company started in pursuit. Scar-face, - seeing the danger, fled up the Shasta valley, on foot, his - pursuers after him, well mounted. After a race along the hills - and through the valleys for about eighteen miles, he was finally - captured and hung upon a tree, at what is now called Scar-face - Gulch. - -In speaking of a trip to Rogue-river valley he says:-- - - We had got out of provisions, and when, at the mouth of Salmon - river, we made known our destination to the chief, Euphippa, he - took his spear and caught us some fish, but would take no pay. - - In 1854 or 1855 there was one more excitement in Scott's valley - by the whites fearing an attack from the Indians, from the fact - that they had held a dance and gone back into the hills. Here it - may be well to state a custom among all those upper country - Indians, which, not being generally understood by our people, - has led to much difficulty. It is, at the commencement of the - fishing season, and at its close, they hold what is called a - fish-dance, in which they paint and go through all the - performances of their dances at the opening and closing of war. - They also hold a harvest dance, when the fruits and nuts get - ripe, but this is of a more quiet character, more resembling - their sick dance, when they try to cure their sick by the - influence of the combined mesmerism of a circle of Indians, in - which they are in many instances very successful. But to return - to my subject. Hearing of the gathering of the whites, and - knowing the danger to our people and property if a war was then - inaugurated, I got on my horse and rode to the place of - rendezvous. After consulting, it was determined to fall upon the - Indian camp at about daylight next morning, as it was thought - that at that hour they could be mostly killed and easily - conquered. I returned to my house, took my young Indian, Tom, - and started, by a circuitous trail in the mountains, for the - Indian camp, and before morning had them all removed to a safe - place. In a few days all fears were quieted and harmony restored - without the loss of any lives or destruction of property. About - this time a young Indian from Humbug creek, visiting the - Scott-valley Indians, had stopped at an emigrant camp and stolen - two guns. Word was brought to me. I sent for Chief John, and - required him to bring the guns and Indian, which he did. I tied - and whipped the Indian, and then let him go. Late in the fall, - afterwards, I was sitting near the top of the mountain back of - my house, witnessing a deer drive by the Scott-valley Indians on - the surrounding hills, when I heard a cap crack behind me in a - clump of small trees. Getting up and immediately running into - the thicket, I discovered an Indian running down the opposite - slope of the mountain. I returned to my house, and sent Tom - after Chief John, and from him learned that when he left, this - Humbug Indian was there. I directed him to bring him to my - house, which he did next morning. The Humbug Indian told me it - was not the first time he had tried to kill me, but that his gun - had failed him, and now that he and all the Indians thought that - I had a charmed life. I gave him a good talk, which impressed - him much, and then unbound him, and told him to go and do well - thereafter. He was never known to do a bad act afterward, but - was finally killed by the Klamath-lake Indians, about a year - afterwards. - -Of another affair, occurring in 1855, he says:-- - - Learning of the difficulty, and judging the Indians were not - wholly to blame, I proposed to Lieutenant Bonicastle, then - stationed at Fort Jones, and Judge Roseborough to accompany me, - and with Tolo, another Indian, to visit their company, and - arrange terms of peace. We went and spent two days with them - before arriving at a solution of the difficulty. During this - time they several times pointed their guns at us with a - determination to shoot, but as often were talked into a better - turn of mind, and finally agreed to go and live at Fort Jones, - and remain in peace with the whites. The third day thereafter - was settled upon for their removal, when Bonicastle was to send - a company of soldiers to escort and protect them. In the next - day a white man, who had a squaw at the cave, went out, unknown - to us, and told the Indians he was sent for them, and thereupon - they packed up and started for Fort Jones with him, one day - ahead of time agreed upon. On their way in at Klamath river, - about twenty miles from Yreka, they were waylaid, and their - chief, Bill, shot from behind the brush and killed. They kept - their faith, nevertheless, and came in, when I explained it, so - they were satisfied. This was _known to the Modocs, and they - talked of it on our last visit to the cave._ Occasionally - thereafter I was applied to only on matters of trifling moment - and easily arranged, until my appointment to the Indian - superintendency, in the summer of 1863, for the northern - district of California. In this narration I have passed over - several Rogue-river wars without notice, as I had nothing to do - with them; also the Modoc war of 1852, which took place whilst I - was away at Crescent City; therefore all I know of that was - hearsay; but I know it was generally known that Ben Wright had - concocted the plan of poisoning those Indians at a feast, and - that his interpreter Indian, Livile, had exposed to the Indians, - so that but few ate of the meat, and that Wright and his company - then fell upon the Indians, and killed forty out of forty-seven - and one other died of the poison afterward. There is one of the - company now in the county who gives this version, and I heard - Wright swearing about Dr. Ferrber, our then druggist (now of - Valejo), selling him an adulterated article of strychnine, which - he said the doctor wanted to kill the cayotes. That the plan was - concocted before they left Yreka defeats the claim now made for - them, that they only anticipated the treachery of the Indians. - Schonchin was one of the Indians that escaped, and in late - interview then he made this as an excuse for not coming out to - meet the commissioners. The story of the Indian corresponds so - well with that I have frequently heard from our own people, - before it became so much of a disgrace by the reaction, that I - have no doubt of the correction in its general details. At the - time others, as well as myself, told Wright that the transaction - would at some time react fearfully upon some innocent ones of - our people; but so long a time had elapsed that I had concluded - that matter was nearly forgotten by all, and nothing would come - of it, until the night of my second visit in the cave, when - Schonchin would get very excited talking of it as an excuse for - not going out. The history of that night you have probably seen - as it was given by an article in the "Sacramento Record" and - "San Francisco Chronicle," for which paper he was corresponding; - he was made wild; he was with me the whole time after.[5] A - final peace was made with the Modocs, but the year is now out of - my mind; but about 1857 or 1858 they came to Yreka with horses, - money, and furs to trade and get provisions and blankets. On - their way out they were waylaid at Shasta river, as was claimed - by Shasta Indians, and seven killed, robbed and thrown into the - river. Many of our citizens thought white men were connected - with this murder, and it is probably so. The Shasta Indians - retreated; they claim that but few of their people were engaged - in the massacre, but it was mostly done by the white people, in - their negotiations for peace in the spring of 1864, mentioned - hereafter. - -[5] Refers to the Ben Wright massacre. - -Col. B. C. Whiting, another ex-superintendent of Indian Affairs, says, "In -1858 a party of white men went to an island in Humboldt bay, California, -and murdered, in cold blood, one hundred and forty-nine men, women, and -children, who were _suspected_ of being connected with other Indians who -were at war with white men;" and that "no effort was ever made to bring -the murderers to justice." - -One more witness,--one whose statement was made with chains on his limbs, -and while he was on trial for his life at Fort Klamath, July, 1873. -Captain Jack says:-- - - I wanted to quit fighting. My people were all afraid to leave - the cave. They had been told that they were going to be killed, - and they were afraid to leave there; and my women were afraid to - leave there. While the peace talk was going on there was a squaw - came from Fairchild's and Dorris's, and told us that the peace - commissioners were going to murder us; that they were trying to - get us out to murder us. A man by the name of Nate Beswick told - us so. There was an old Indian man came in the night and told us - again. - - The INTERPRETER. That is one of those murdered in the wagon - while prisoners by the settlers. - - CAPTAIN JACK (continuing). This old Indian man told me that Nate - Beswick told him that that day Meacham, General Canby, Dr. - Thomas, and Dyer were going to murder us if we came to the - council. All of my people heard this old man tell us so. And - then there was another squaw came from Fairchild's, and told me - that Meacham and the peace commissioners had a pile of wood - ready built up, and were going to burn me on this pile of wood; - that when they brought us into Dorris's they were going to burn - me there. All of the squaws about Fairchild's and Dorris's told - me the same thing. After hearing all this news I was afraid to - go, and that is the reason I did come in to make peace. - -Add to all this the fact, that the popular cry was war, of which the -Modocs were aware, as they were of all the incidents referred to in this -chapter; and the further discouraging knowledge that no efforts had ever -been made to punish offenders for crimes committed on their race; and a -candid mind may be enlightened as to the cause of the failure of the Peace -Commission sent out by President Grant in 1873. - -The seed was sown while he was carrying on business at Galena, or fighting -rebels around Vicksburg. The harvest came while he was in power. It was -rich in valuable lives. It was costly in treasure. - -It was a natural yield. It came true to the planting. The seed was sown -broadcast, and harrowed deep into human hearts by the constant repetition -of insult and wrong, irrigated often by the blood of the Indian race. It -slumbered long (sometimes apparently dead, save here and there an -outcropping giving signs of life), so long, indeed, that Judge Steele -thought "the matter was nearly forgotten by all," until Schonchin called -it up during one of Steele's visits to the Lava Beds in 1873. - -If the harvest _was_ delayed in part, it was none the less prolific when -it came. The _reapers_ were few, but their _sheaves_ were many, and bound -together with the lives of the humble, the great, the noble, the good. - -Does my reader yet understand why the policy, under which we settled a -great matter of difference with a great nation, was not successful in -settling a small matter with a small nation? Does he see, now, on whom the -blame rests? - -I hear some one answer:-- - -"On the frontier men, of course." - -Not too fast, my friend. While it is true that each succeeding wave of -immigration to the border line has borne on its crest a few bad men mixed -with the good, it is also true that the great majority of the frontier men -were of the latter class,--brave, fearless pioneers as God has ever -created for noble work; rough, unpolished men and women, with great hearts -that opened ever to their kind. I assert here, in reiteration, that -nowhere in all this broad land can be found men and women of larger hearts -and nobler aims than frontier people. As far as their treatment of the -Indian tribes is concerned, I assert, fearless of contradiction, that -three-fourths of them are the Indians' best friends; and that, if -dissensions arise, they are caused by bad white men, who mix and mingle -with the Indians, and, by their wilful acts of dissipation, provoke -quarrel and bloodshed, thereby involving good citizens. When once blood is -spilled, the Indian too often feels justified, by his religion, in -wreaking vengeance on the innocent. They retaliate; and hence border -warfare reigns, and the bloody chapter is repeated over and over again, -until "Extermination" rings along the frontier-line, and both races take -up the cry. - -The question has been asked twice ten thousand times, What is the remedy? -For two hundred years, political economists, statesmen and philosophers -have been proposing, experimenting, and failing in schemes and plans for -the Indian. Never yet have they come squarely up to duty as American -citizens and Christian patriots should, and recognized the manhood of the -Indian, treating him _as a man_, dealing justly and fairly with him, -redressing his wrongs, while punishing him for his crimes. - -In plain words, we have never, as a nation, experimented in our management -of the Indian race of America, with a few plain laws that were first -written on the marble tablets of Sinai, and sent along down succeeding -ages, between the 12th and 19th verses of the 20th chapter of Exodus. Nor -have we always remembered the 31st verse of the sixth chapter of St. -Luke:-- - -"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." - -If, as we proudly assert, we, as a nation, are the rich inheritors of the -priceless boon of liberty, then let us be the champions of human rights. - -If we are the friends of the weak and oppressed, let us protect those -whose claim upon us is based upon a prior inheritance, and whose weakness -has been our strength. - -If we would welcome the exiled patriot from other lands, let us give the -hand of fellowship to those whose birthright to this land cannot be -disputed. - -If our civilization is the most exalted on the face of the earth, then let -us be the most magnanimous in our treatment of the remnants of a people -who gave our fathers the welcome hand. - -If we would be just, then let us remember that our civilization has -refused them, and _them alone_, its benefit. - -If we honor bravery, let us remember that they have resisted _only when -oppressed_. - -If we reverence the high and noble principles of fidelity in a people, let -us not forget that, of all the nations of the earth, the Indian is the -most faithful to his compact. - -Let us as a nation, reading our destiny in the coming future by the light -of the hundred stars upon our flag, be true to God, true to ourselves, and -true to the high trust we hold. - -While we shake hands with the Briton and our brothers of the South, over -the battle-fields of the past, let us not withhold from these people our -friendship. - -While we forget the crimes of others, let us bury in one common grave all -hatred of race, all thirst for revenge. - -While we are strong enough and brave enough to defy the taunts of the -civilized world for proclaiming the advent of the hour when the song of -the shepherds on the plains of Bethlehem shall become the motto of a -Christian nation,--"Peace and good will to men,"--let us not live a lie, -and prove our cowardice by shouting "EXTERMINATION" against a race fast -fading away. - -Let us not fall from our high estate by debasing a grand national power in -a triumph over a civilization inferior to our own. - -Let us gather up and care for these people, redeem the covenant of our -fathers, fulfilling our high mission. - -Let us uphold the hands of our rulers who declare a more humane policy, -and let it be the crowning glory of the American statesman to proclaim to -the world that the glad time so long foretold has come, when "The wolf, -also, shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the -kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a -little child shall lead them." - - - - - APPENDIX TO CHAPTER SIX. - - - ONEATTA, YAQUINA BAY AGENCY, October 1, 1871. - - SIR:--I have the honor of submitting this my eighth and last - annual report of the affairs of Siletz agency. - - I closed my term of service as agent on the 1st day of May, - 1871, at which time, as you are already aware, I turned over the - agency to my successor, Hon. Joel Palmer. Since then I have been - busily engaged in making up my final papers. This task, I regret - to say, is not yet entirely finished. The delay has been owing - to some irregularities, occasioned by a change of employés, and - to other causes over which I have had no control. I shall now, - however, push the work forward with all possible dispatch, and - shall soon have my papers fully completed. I ask, for that - purpose, your indulgence, and that of the department, for a - short time. - - I presume it will hardly be expected that I should at this time - enter into the usual details concerning the affairs of the - agency. All the important facts which have not been communicated - to the department by myself heretofore will, undoubtedly, be - embodied in the first annual report of my successor. He will - find it convenient, if not necessary, in introducing himself - officially to the department, to give some sort of a summary of - the condition of the affairs of the agency at the time he took - charge. I feel, therefore, that it would be altogether a work of - supererogation for me to go over that ground in detail. As this - is my last report, after a somewhat protracted term of service - in charge of Siletz agency, I think it not inappropriate that I - should present here a few statements of facts in the history of - the dealings of the Government with these Indians, in order to - show some of the difficulties with which I have had to struggle. - I shall also presume somewhat upon your indulgence by offering - some suggestions, prompted by my own experience, concerning the - future management of the Indians over whom I have so long had - control. - - I have had charge of Siletz agency for eight years, and in that - time have had to encounter many stubborn obstacles to the - successful management of its concerns. I think, too, that I may - say, without vanity, that I have _overcome_ many such obstacles. - It is not an easy matter, even under the most favorable - circumstances and with all possible helps, to conduct - successfully the affairs of an Indian agency. To a race - accustomed, as the Indians have been, to the licentious freedom - of the savage state, the restraints and dull routine of a - reservation are almost intolerably irksome. It is not wonderful, - therefore, that they should be often fractious and impatient of - control, or that, even when reduced to complete submission to - the regulations imposed upon them, they should, in many - instances, become sullen and unteachable. To manage such a - people in such a condition with any degree of success requires - unceasing, anxious labor. Yet this is the duty imposed upon - almost every Indian agent in the United States. But in addition - to these difficulties, which are incident to Indian management - everywhere, there are some which are peculiar to Siletz agency. - There are at this agency some fourteen tribes and parts of - tribes of Indians, numbering, in the aggregate, at the time I - took charge, about 2,000. Separate treaties were made with all - of these different tribes in 1855, at the conclusion of what is - known as the "Rogue-river War," in Southern Oregon. Some of - these treaties have been, in part, confirmed and complied with - by the United States Government, but most of them have been - entirely and persistently disregarded. In expectation, however, - of the immediate ratification of all the stipulations entered - into, the Indians were all removed from their lands in the - Rogue-river country to Siletz reservation at the close of the - war above referred to. Here they have been kept ever since as - prisoners of war, supported by a removal and subsistence fund, - appropriations for which, varying from $10,000 to $30,000, have - been annually made by Congress. For sixteen years this scant, - irregular, and uncertain charity, doled out to them from time to - time, has been the only evidence they have received that they - were not utterly forgotten by the Government. For sixteen years - they have been fed upon promises that were made only to be - broken, and their hearts have sickened with "hope deferred." - For sixteen years they have seen the white man gathering in - annually his golden harvests from the lands which they - surrendered; and for all those sixteen long, weary years they - have waited, and waited in vain, for the fulfilment of the - solemn pledges with which the white man bought those lands. What - wonder is it that, suspicious and distrustful as they are by - nature, they should, under such tuition, cease to have any faith - in the white man's word, or to heed his solemn preachments about - education and civilization? Who can blame them if, after such an - experience, they come to regard the whole white race, from the - Great Father down, as a race of liars and cheats, using their - superior knowledge to defraud the poor Indian? And is it amazing - that, with such an eminent example before them, they should grow - treacherous and deceitful as they grow in knowledge; or that - they should use every possible exertion to escape from the - restraints which, as they believe, the white man has imposed - upon them only for the purpose of defrauding them? In my - judgment it is safe to assert that by far the greater part of - their restiveness and indocility is justly attributable to this - cause. I am fully satisfied that it has more than doubled the - difficulty of controlling and managing them for the past eight - years. So thoroughly have I appreciated this fact, that I have - again and again urged, in my annual reports, the necessity of - entering into treaties with the Indians at this agency who are - not now parties to any stipulations. Feeling as I do that the - neglect with which these Indians have been treated in this - particular has been most unwise as well as grossly unjust, I - cannot permit this last opportunity of expressing myself - officially on the subject to pass without again earnestly urging - a speedy correction of this grievous error and wrong. - - Notwithstanding the many embarrassments with which I have had to - contend in the management of the affairs of this agency, I am - fully satisfied that no Indians on this coast have made any more - rapid advancement than those under my charge, in industry and - civilization. When I entered upon the discharge of my duties as - agent, eight years ago, I found the Indians in almost a wild - state, kept together and controlled by military force. This - condition of things rapidly disappeared; and for the past four - or five years I have succeeded in keeping the Indians generally - upon the reservation, and in controlling them without any other - aid than a very small corps of employés. And when I turned over - the agency to my successor the state of discipline was far - better than it was at any time when the agent had the assistance - of a detachment of soldiers to enforce his orders. Besides, the - Indians have, many of them, attained a comparatively high degree - of proficiency in the useful arts. About all the mechanical work - needed on the reservation can now be done by them. Indeed, so - great has been the improvement among them in every respect that, - in my judgment, many of them are to-day capable of becoming - citizens of the United States, and should be admitted to - citizenship as soon as circumstances will permit. Knowing as I - do the liberality of your views on the subject of the equality - of men, I feel confident that you will spare no effort in your - power to bring about this state of things at as early a day as - possible. - - Before closing this report permit me to make one suggestion as - to the management of the Indian agencies under the system lately - adopted by the Government. I am satisfied that, under this - system, it would be a matter of economy, as well as a benefit to - the Indians, to place the whole subject under the immediate - control of the superintendent, doing away with agents entirely. - Each reservation could be managed by a sub-agent appointed by - the superintendent, and subject to his supervision and control. - The superintendent should then be held strictly responsible for - the management of the reservations or agencies within his - jurisdiction, and the various sub-agents and employés should be - made accountable to him alone. The disbursements could be made - by the superintendent, and the accounts for the whole - superintendency could be kept in his office. The advantages of - this system would, undoubtedly, be great. It would reduce - considerably the machinery of the Indian Department, and would - simplify all its processes. Besides, it would render those who - had the management of the different reservations amenable for - their conduct not to a distant authority, but to one at home. - Their acts would thus be judged, and condemned or approved, as - the case might require, in every instance by one who would have, - to a great extent, a personal acquaintance with all the - circumstances. Under the present arrangement the Indian - Department is little better than a gigantic circumlocution - office, in which everything is done by indirect and circuitous - methods. Every agent renders his account, and is responsible - (nominally) to the central office at Washington, and not to his - immediate superior. In this labyrinth of routine and red-tape - official incompetency and dishonesty may often hide securely. On - the other hand, wise management and worth frequently escape - notice altogether, or receive censure instead of commendation. - In fact, there are in each superintendency so many different - centres of power and influence, each of which must be watched - from the head of the department, that the view is distracted and - bewildered, and official accountability degenerates into a mere - farce. The superintendent, though he has a sort of supervision - of the different agencies, is yet really powerless to correct - abuses which may come to his notice. His subordinates are not - responsible to him, and he can do no more than report their - incompetence or misconduct to the common superior of all, and - then await the tedious processes of circumlocution. His - jurisdiction is, in fact, merely formal, rather than actual, and - he is not responsible for the conduct of his subordinates; there - is but little motive for him to exercise even the slight power - which he has. The only remedy is to give him full authority over - all the agents and sub-agents, and to make him personally - accountable for their official acts. - - I think that the necessity for this change is now more urgent - than ever before. As a religious element has been infused into - the management of Indian affairs, and as agents are appointed - upon the recommendations of the different churches, there is - danger that, in the search for piety in those who aspire to - office, certain other very respectable and necessary qualities - may be lost sight of. It is quite as needful that appointees - should have some talent for affairs as that they should have the - spirit and form of godliness; yet the former does not always - accompany the latter. Many very good and pious men are but - children in the business of the world. It is also a fact of - common experience that if religious bodies are left to select - men for responsible positions of any sort, they are apt to - choose them more on account of their zeal in the service of God - or of some gift of exhortation or prayer, than on account of - capability for business. I know that thus far the President has - been very fortunate in his selections of men to carry out his - new "Indian policy;" but depending, as he must, upon the - recommendation of church organizations in these matters, he is - liable hereafter to make the mistake I have mentioned, and - appoint men to office whose piety constitutes their only fitness - for the positions they are called upon to all. It is in view of - this danger that I particularly recommend the propriety of - making the change suggested above. - - With many thanks for the distinguished consideration which I - have received at your hands in my official dealings with you, I - have the honor to be, your most obedient servant, - - BEN. SIMPSON, - _Late United States Indian Agent_. - - HON. A. B. MEACHAM, - _Superintendent Indian Affairs in Oregon_. - - - - - APPENDIX TO CHAPTER EIGHT. - - - OFFICE SUPT. INDIAN AFFAIRS, SALEM, OREGON, May 23, 1870. - - SIR:--Having just returned from an official visit to Grand Ronde - Reservation, I desire to call attention to a few items that are - of importance:-- - - _First._ The Indians have an unusual crop in prospect. - - _Second._ They fully realize the advantages to result from - having lands allotted in severalty, and therefrom arise - questions which I propose to submit. (See paper marked "A.") - - _Third._ The mills built fifteen years since are totally unfit - for service, for the reason that they were not located with good - judgment, in this that they were built on a low, flat, muddy - piece of river bottom, composed of alluvial deposit that washes - away almost like sand or snow, having neither "bed rock nor hard - pan" for foundation, constantly settling out of shape and - damaging machinery, besides being threatened with destruction at - every overflow. - - The lower frames of both mills, but more especially that of the - saw-mill, are so rotten that they would not stand alone if the - props and refuse slates from the saw were removed. - - The flour mill is a huge, unfinished structure, supported on - wooden blocks or stilts, and double the proper dimension, with - an old patched-up wooden water-wheel that has been a constant - bill of expense for ten years; machinery all worn out, even the - bolting apparatus rat-eaten and worthless, but with one 42-inch - French Burr, that, together with mandril, are as good as new. - - The saw-mill is the old-fashioned "Single Sash" with flutter - wheel, only capable, when in best repair, of making 600 to 1,000 - feet of lumber per day; but utterly worthless at present for - several reasons, the chief of which is want of _water_. The - "dam" was originally built about one-quarter of a mile above the - mills, at an enormous expense to Government, across a stream - (that is four times as large as need be for such mill - purposes), with soft, flat alluvial porous banks and mud bottom. - - The history of said dam is, that it has broken _twenty times_ in - fourteen years, each time carrying away _mud_ enough at the ends - of the dam to make room for each successive freshet. - - I _believe that history_, since inspecting the "works," as - evidence is in sight to show where thousands of days' work have - been done, and many greenbacks "sunk." - - I called to my assistance Agent Lafollette and George - Tillottson, of Dallas, Polk County, a man acknowledged to be the - most successful and practical mill-builder in our State, who - stands unimpeached as a gentleman of honesty and candor. The - result of the conference was, that it would require $5,000 to - build a dam that would be permanent; that all the lower - frame-work of both mills would require rebuilding at a cost of - $2,000, and that at least $1,000 would be required to put - machinery in good working condition; and, when all was done, - these people would have only tolerable good old mills, patched - up at a cost of $8,000. - - But mills are indispensable civilizers, and _must_ be built. I - am determined to start these Indians off on the new track in - good shape. - - There are three several branches coming in above the old mills, - any one of which has abundant motive power. On one of these - creeks a fall of thirty feet can be obtained by cutting a race - at the bend of a rocky cascade, taking the water away from the - danger of freshets, and building the mills on good, solid - foundations, convenient of access by farmers and to unlimited - forests of timber. - - Mr. Tillottson estimates the total cost of removing the old - mills and such parts as are useful, and rebuilding on the new - site a first-rate No. 1 double circular saw-mill, with Laffelle - turbine water-wheel, all the modern improvements attached; same - kind of water-wheel for flour-mill, with new bolting apparatus, - etc., at about $4,000, exclusive of Indian labor. - - I submitted, in full council, to the agent and Indians, the - proposition to apply funds already appropriated for the repair - of agency buildings, a portion of the Umpqua and Calapooia - School Fund, that has accumulated to upwards of $5,000, and so - much of Annuity Fund as may be necessary to this enterprise, on - the condition that the Indians were to do all but the - "mechanical work." - - The matter was fully explained, and, without a dissenting voice, - they voted to have the mills, if furnished tools, beef and - flour. - - The agent has now on hand a considerable amount of flour. For - beef, I propose to use a number of the old, worn-out oxen, as - they are now fifteen or twenty years old, worthless for work and - dying off with old age. - - To sum up, I have put this enterprise in motion, and propose to - have the new saw-mill making lumber in sixty days, and the - flour-mill grinding in ninety days. - - I now ask permission to apply the funds I have named to this - object, fully satisfied in my own mind that it is for the - benefit of these people. If it cannot be granted, then I will - insist on funds, that may be so applied, being furnished from - the general funds of the department. These Indians _must_ have a - mill; besides, it would reflect on the present administration of - Indian affairs, to turn them over to the world without that - indispensable appurtenance of civilization. - - Klamath Mill is a monument of pride, and has done much to redeem - the reputation of our department; and I propose, when I retire, - to leave every reservation supplied with substantial - improvements of like character. Klamath flour-mill is now under - way, and will grind the growing crops. - - Going out of the ordinary groove, and wishing you to be fully - posted about such transactions, is my apology for inflicting - this long communication. - - Very respectfully, - Your obedient servant, - A. B. MEACHAM, - _Supt. Indian Affairs in Oregon_. - - HON. E. D. PARKER, - _Commissioner, etc., Washington, D. C._ - - * * * * * - - "A." - - I respectfully ask for instruction in regard to Indian lands; - and as the time for allotment is near at hand, it is necessary - that some points be settled, for instance:-- - - _First._ Where there is more land suitable for settlement on a - reservation than is required to fulfil treaty stipulations, - shall more than the said stipulated number of acres be set apart - to the individual Indian? - - Some of the reservations will have an excess, and others will - fall short of the amount required to comply with treaty - stipulations. In some instances, where the excess is small, it - would seem proper to divide _pro rata_. It does not appear that - any of these tribes are on the _increase_; hence no necessity - exists for lands to be held in reserve to any considerable - amount for future allotment. When possible, I would favor giving - them more than the treaty calls for. - - _Second._ When less land than is necessary to comply with treaty - is found, must the number of acres be cut down so that a - proportionate allotment can be made? Or may unoccupied - government lands outside be allotted to Indians belonging to the - reservation? - - Instances will occur of this kind, as at Warm Springs, where - insufficient lands can be found, and a few families who are well - advanced and capable of taking care of themselves could be - located outside. I am in favor of that plan, and suggest, if - approved, some instructions be given the land officers, so that - said location can be legally made. - - _Third._ May Indians not on reservation be allotted lands on - reservation, and may they be allotted government lands not on - reservation? - - There are Indians in this State, that have never yet been - brought in, that can be induced to locate under the system of - allotment. And when all parties consent, they should be allowed - to do so. Again, some of these people have advanced - sufficiently, by being among white persons, to locate and - appreciate a home. And there are a few instances where the - whites would not object to their being located among them. - - They _must have homes_ allotted them somewhere, and the sooner - it is done the better for the Indians. - - _Fourth._ Are not Indians who have never been on reservation, - citizens, under late amendments to the constitution; and have - they not the right, without further legislation, to locate - lands, and do all other acts that other citizens may rightfully - do? - - I am fully aware of the political magnitude of this question; - but while I am "superintendent" for the Indians in Oregon, they - shall have all their rights if in my power to secure them, - whether on or off reservations. - - _Fifth._ Are white men or half-breeds, who are husbands of - Indian women, who do now belong, or have belonged, to any - reservation, considered as Indians, by virtue of their marriage - to said Indian women in making the allotment of lands? - - I understand that all half-breed men living with Indians on - reservations are considered Indians (but always allowed, - nevertheless, to vote at all _white men's elections_). But there - are several Indian women, in various parts of the country, who - are married to white and half-breed men, and the question is - asked, whether they are not entitled to land. - - Again, there are Indian women living with white men, but not - married, who have children that should have some provision made - for them. - - _Sixth._ May the allotment be made immediately on completion of - survey, without waiting for survey to be approved? - - For many reasons it is desirable that the allotment be made as - early as possible, so that the people may prepare for winter. - They are very impatient, and I hope no unnecessary delay will be - made. - - _Seventh._ Is a record to be made by and in local land office of - surveys and several allotments? Is record of allotment to be - made in county records, and if so, how is the expense to be met? - - These people are soon to be as other citizens, and stand on - equal footing. I have no doubt about the propriety and necessity - for making these records, but so as to close up all the gaps, I - want to be instructed to have it done. - - A. B. MEACHAM, - _Superintendent Indian Affairs in Oregon_. - - DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, - WASHINGTON, D. C., June 28, 1871. - - SIR:--I have received your communication of the 23d ultimo, - asking, among other things, instructions concerning certain - questions which present themselves for settlement in the - allotment of lands in severalty to Indians upon reservations in - the State of Oregon. - - In reply to the first inquiry therein propounded, you are - informed that, where there is more land suitable for settlement - on a reservation than is required to fulfil treaty stipulations, - more than the number of acres named in said treaty cannot be set - apart to each individual Indian, but the excess must be held in - common for the benefit of the whole tribe or band occupying the - reservation. - - Secondly. Where less land is found upon a reservation than is - necessary to give to each individual or family the full quantity - specified in the treaty, the number of acres so allotted may be - reduced so as to give each person or family a proportionate - share of the entire quantity available for purposes of - allotment; but unoccupied government lands lying outside of the - boundaries of the reservation cannot be used to complete the - quantity required to fulfil the treaty stipulation. - - Thirdly. Indians not residing on a reservation cannot receive - allotments of lands thereon, neither will unoccupied public - lands be allotted to them. - - Fourthly. Indians residing on a reservation, and living in a - tribal capacity, do not become citizens of the United States by - virtue of any of the recent amendments to the constitution of - the United States. Their political status is in no wise affected - by such amendments. - - Fifthly. In case where white men or half-breeds have married - Indian women, and said white men or half-breeds have been - adopted into and are considered members of the tribe, and are - living with their families on the tribal reservation, allotments - may be made to them in the same manner as if they were native - Indians. - - In cases where Indian women are married to white or other men, - and do not now live on or remove to a tribal reservation - previous to the time of making the allotments, they will not be - entitled to receive land in severalty. - - The children of Indian women living with but not married to - white men will not be allowed selections of land unless they - shall take up their residence with the tribe upon the - reservation. - - Sixthly. The allotments must not be made until subdivisional - surveys are completed and approved by the proper authority. - - Seventhly. No record is necessary to be made in the local land - office, or the county records of the county or counties wherein - the several reservations are situated of the survey or - allotment thereof. - - Your suggestions regarding the erection and repair of mills and - mill-dams, etc., and the application of funds therefor, will be - made the subject of a future communication. - - Very respectfully, - Your obedient servant, - E. S. PARKER, - _Commissioner_. - - A. B. MEACHAM, ESQ., - _Supt. Indian Affairs, Salem, Oregon_. - - * * * * * - - OFFICE SUPT. INDIAN AFFAIRS, SALEM, OREGON, May 30, 1870. - - CHAS. LAFOLLETTE, _Agent Grand Ronde_:-- - - SIR,--Mr. Tillottson reported to this office on yesterday. We - have decided to proceed with the saw-mill as soon as you can - have Indian laborers to assist. It is desirable that we push - this enterprise, and, in order to do so, it would seem necessary - for you to "_call in_" enough to make a gang of say twenty - workingmen; and as soon as this is done notify Mr. Tillottson at - Dallas. I have ordered all the tools required to be forwarded to - you at Dayton; and have no doubt they will be awaiting your - orders. I think you can send immediately without fear of - disappointment. In the mean time you will arrange _subsistence_ - for the Indian with my parties. It would be well also to assist - Mr. Tillottson about a boarding-place. My arrangement is, that - "the mechanics are to board themselves" with him; he to have the - entire control of the works, we to furnish the laborers. When he - is dissatisfied with the services, to certify to the time - through your office, and forward to me for payment. I think it - best not to transfer funds until an answer is obtained from the - commissioner in regard to diverting the funds. We cannot expend - or anticipate a fund not yet remitted, as I find a rule laid - down to that effect. If we meet with a favorable reply we will - then proceed with the flouring-mill. You may find employment, - while waiting for tools for Mr. Reinhart, at such wages as you - may agree upon. Hoping you will give this enterprise sufficient - attention to secure success, etc., - - I am respectfully, - Your obedient servant, - A. B. MEACHAM, - _Supt. Indian Affairs, Oregon_. - - * * * * * - - OFFICE SUPT. INDIAN AFFAIRS, SALEM, OREGON, Dec. 19, 1874. - - L. S. DYER, ESQ., _Commissary in charge Grand Ronde_:-- - - SIR,--Col. Thompson, surveyor, has been employed by me to assist - you in making the allotment of lands on Grand Ronde. - - Herewith find the only instructions furnished this office, - which, together with the copies of treaties in your office, it - is hoped may be sufficient guide in making the allotment. - - As arranged during my late visit, all matters of dispute about - priority of rights, etc., must be settled by a Board, consisting - of Commissary L. S. Dyer, Col. D. P. Thompson and W. P. Eaton, - or any other you may designate; if Mr. Eaton is unable to act; - and, on request of the Indians, you will add to said Board three - Indians, who are not _interested_ parties in any matter under - consideration by your Board. - - Great patience may be required in settling the differences that - will arise, and I trust that you will, at all times, bear in - mind that you are laboring for a race who are docile and - reasonable when they are made fully to understand the wherefore, - etc., of any proposition. - - I regret that the Commissioner of Indian Affairs has not - furnished this office with more specific instructions in the - premises. - - This order to make allotment is in anticipation of orders from - the commissioner, which, I have no doubt, will be forwarded at - an early day. At all events, the necessity of immediate action - is obvious. - - July 20th, Wm. R. Dunbar was instructed to enroll all the - Indians of Grand Ronde Agency, including those of Nestucker and - Tillamook. Mr. Dunbar reported the enrolment complete, a copy - of which you will find in your office. - - It is possible that some changes have occurred in the - arrangement of families, of which you will take note, and - correct the same in making statement of allotment. - - You will also be particular to see that the original and present - name and tribe, together with sex, estimated age, and - relationship to families with whom they are residing at the time - of allotment, be identified with the number of the particular - tract allotted to such person or family. - - In this connection it is necessary, in cases of plurality of - wives, that each man shall designate one woman to be his legal - wife, and all others to be members of his family, with the - privilege of forming other marriage relations, taking with them - the lands allotted in their respective names. - - Orphan children, who are _attached_ to families, must have the - same rights. - - It would seem proper that, so far as possible, these people - should be allowed to retain their present homes, and to adjust - their respective rights among themselves; but it will be - necessary, in some cases, to assume control and adjudicate - differences. - - Inasmuch as there are several treaties in force with the Grand - Ronde Indians, in the complications arising therefrom I would - advise that the treaty with Willamette Valley Indians be adopted - as the guide, without regard to the other treaties. - - Let the allotment be uniform to all persons entitled to lands, - as per instructions of commissioner in reply to queries, and - above referred to. - - Should any number of your people elect to remove to Nestucker, - and there take lands in severalty, it would seem right, perhaps, - to do so. Land will be ordered, surveyed at the places above - referred to, and possibly also at Salmon river. - - I do not know of any other instructions or laws to guide you, - except this: In absence of law, do justice fairly and - impartially. Law is supposed to be in harmony with justice and - common sense; and, if it is not, it is _not good law_. - - Fully realizing the difficulties in your way in fulfilling this - order, and having confidence in your integrity and ability, I - can only say, in conclusion, push this matter through, and - furnish this office, at an early day, full report of your - doings, together with statistical table of allotments made under - the rules and instructions furnished you. - - It may be observed, by reading the several treaties, that the - amount of land stipulated to be allotted differs somewhat in the - amounts specified. - - From surveyors' reports, it appears that there is some - deficiency of lands suitable for Indian settlement, and since - the several tribes are mixed up, and to avoid confusion, I have - indicated the treaty with the Indians of the Willamette Valley - as the proper one to govern your action. - - Now, if the question should be raised by the Umpquas, and they - refuse to accept the amount named in the treaty referred to - (Willamette Valley), you will propose to the Umpquas to have the - excess claimed by them set off to them of timber lots; or - otherwise let the whole matter stand for further instructions. - Should the question come up at an early day please notify me, - and, if possible, I will in person adjust the matter. - - I think, however, that if you make the proposition to the - Indians to settle it _before_ allotment, they will agree to the - Willamette treaty, and I will arrange for the acknowledgment, on - their part, of the fulfilment of treaty on the part of the - Government hereafter. - - Very respectfully, - Your obedient servant, - A. B. MEACHAM, - _Superintendent Indian Affairs in Oregon_. - - - - - ANNOUNCEMENT. - - -The undersigned, to whom alone Mr. Meacham has been pleased to give space -for an advertisement in "The Wigwam and Warpath," will soon publish a -work, whose title will be: "THE CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS, IN ITS RELATION TO -THE DAY LABORER, THE BUSINESS MAN, THE PROFESSIONAL MAN AND THE SCHOLAR." - -The work is designed to furnish a key to success, not alone or chiefly in -the art or means of acquiring wealth, but success in a higher and nobler -sense, indicating some of the best methods of reaching the intellect and -the heart, as well as the purse. - -The work is mainly a result of the author's own experiences and -struggles--an outgrowth of the practical methods by which he has secured, -at least, many of the objects not altogether unworthy of his ambition and -hopes. - -The unfolding of the grand principles or laws of _Compensation_, even in -every-day life, to which the author devotes some space, will, it is -believed, have a tendency to increase the faith, or, at least, quiet the -fears, of those who are often crushed by what appears to them the heavy -strokes of Providence, or the inevitable fiat of Destiny; but, rightly -understood, proves to be the true Magician of Life, which evokes light -from shadows, and a calm from storms. - - D. L. EMERSON. - -BOSTON, July, 1875. - - - - - * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber's note: - -Blank pages have been deleted. Illustrations may have been moved. - -Footnotes now follow the referencing paragraph. - -Paragraph formatting has been made consistent. - -The publisher's inadvertent omissions of important punctuation have -been corrected except for one unmatched quotation mark. - -The following list indicates any additional changes made. The page number -represents that of the original publication and applies in this etext -except for footnotes and illustrations since they may have been moved. -{from}[to]: - - Page Change - - v THE {BIRTH-PLACE}[BIRTHPLACE] OF INDIAN LEGENDS - xiv the Modocs--Why {Modocas}[Modocs] Rebelled-- - xv BURYING THE HATCHET--A {TURNING POINT}[TURNING-POINT]. - xxii LAST {HIDING PLACE}[HIDING-PLACE]--HANGING-MACHINE UNTRIED - 13 tripped the light fantastic {moccason}[moccasin] trimmed with - 37 "No," says Flip., that {wont}[won't] do." - 38 a scene occurred that {Bierdstadt}[Bierstadt] should have had - 53 very {nutricious}[nutritious] and well adapted to grazing. - 62 begun on the bosom of {Ya Quina}[Ya-quina] Bay. - 88 {with, I doubt, not good intentions} - [with, I doubt not, good intentions]. - 100 your {doomed}[doom] is sealed." - 121 the whites outside of the Reservation.{"}[] - 123 lumber belonging to {he}[the] Indians - 123 the {allottment}[allotment] of land to these people. - 129 than any on Siletz. {}["]She is stout; she can work; - 130 min-a-lous.{}["] {}[("]If I don't go, I will die."{}[)] - 181 against the sale of their lands.{}[[4]] - 184 and {belives}[believes] in woman's rights. - 198 remarking dryly, {}["]Me-si-ka wake cum-tux ic-ta mamook - 202 differing from {ladies}[ladies'] riding-whips - 210 {etsablished}[established] as "Indian fighters." - 212 {General Cook}[General Crook] being the _right man in - 212 the theology of Gen. {Cook}[Crook], - 220 sometimes crossing deep, dark {canons}[cañons], - 222 we encamped near {Canon}[Cañon] City, - 240 in charge consulted {O-che-o-and}[O-che-o and] Choe-tort. - 249 and had been {diposed}[disposed] of by the agent, - 255 that he, Parker, was of {}["]_their own race_." - 296 in the heart of the boy, {Kien-te-poos}[Ki-en-te-poos] - 312 burning with hatred, was on {on }[]every countenance. - 313 and did not ask my own boys when to talk.{"}[] When - 316 Tobey, as {intepreter}[interpreter]. - 382 There {wont}[won't] be a grease-spot left of 'em." - 384 but with what {unaminity}[unanimity] our press repelled - 400 the {bankets}[blankets] are rolled together; - 400 jump out from under _their_ {bankets}[blankets], - 433 the commission {}[decided,] _three to one_, - 437 Indians {visted}[visited] the new camp - 471 stretchers; all cut to pieces_.{"}[] I tell you, - 508 mechanics are {econonizing}[economizing] the rough boards, - 510 No sleep comes to this camp {to night}[to-night]. - 531 {street-lamps}[street-lamp] before Judge Roseborough's door throws - 558 to put to sea in a {white hall}[whitehall] boat - 562 and was {endeaving}[endeavoring] to be a man. - 567 Col. Wright of {Twelth}[Twelfth] Infantry, - 576 night. {One}[On] the morning of the 10th - 582 the closing {movments}[movements] of the campaign - 612 and Judge {Roseborourgh}[Roseborough], - 680 rings along the {frontierline}[frontier-line], - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WIGWAM AND WAR-PATH; OR THE ROYAL -CHIEF IN CHAINS*** - - -******* This file should be named 40938-8.txt or 40938-8.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/0/9/3/40938 - - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: Wigwam and War-path; Or the Royal Chief in Chains - Second and Revised Edition - - -Author: A. B. (Alfred Benjamin) Meacham - - - -Release Date: October 5, 2012 [eBook #40938] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WIGWAM AND WAR-PATH; OR THE ROYAL -CHIEF IN CHAINS*** - - -E-text prepared by Bryan Ness, Henry Gardiner, and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made -available by Internet Archive/American Libraries -(http://archive.org/details/americana) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 40938-h.htm or 40938-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/40938/40938-h/40938-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/40938/40938-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive/American Libraries. See - http://archive.org/details/warpathwigwam00meacrich - - -Transcriber's note: - - The original publication has been replicated faithfully except - as shown in the TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE at the end of the text. - - To preserve the alignment of tables and headers, this etext - presumes a mono-spaced font on the user's device such as - Courier New. - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -WIGWAM AND WAR-PATH; OR THE ROYAL CHIEF IN CHAINS. - -by - -HON. A. B. MEACHAM, - -Ex-Superintendent of Indian Affairs and Chairman of the Late Modoc -Peace Commission. - -Illustrated by Portraits of -The Author, Gen. Canby, Dr. Thomas, Capt. Jack, Schonchin, -Scar-Faced Charley, Black Jim, Boston Charley, -Tobey and Riddle, Eleven Other -Spirited and Life-Like Engravings, -of Actual Scenes from Modoc Indian Life, as -Witnessed by the Author. - -SECOND AND REVISED EDITION. - - - - - - - -Boston: -John P. Dale and Company, -27 Boylston Street. -1875. - -Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1875, by -A. B. Meacham, -In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. - -Press of -Rockwell and Churchill, -33 Arch Street, Boston. - - - - - PREFACE. - - -The Hon. A. B. Meacham has committed to me the difficult and delicate, yet -delightful task of revising the manuscript and arranging the table of -contents of the present work. - -I have endeavored to review every page as an impartial critic, and have, -as far as possible, retained, in all its simplicity and beauty, the -singularly eloquent and fascinating style of the gifted author. The -changes which I have made have been, for the most part, quite -immaterial--no more nor greater than would be required in the manuscript -of writers commonly called "learned." In no case have I attempted (for the -attempt would have been vain) to give shape and tone to the writer's -thoughts. His mind was so full, both of the comedy and the tragedy of his -thrilling narrative, that it has flowed on like a mighty torrent, bidding -defiance to any attempt either to direct or control. - -None, it seems to me, can peruse the work without being charmed with the -love of justice and the fidelity to truth which pervade its every page, as -well as the manly courage with which the writer arraigns _Power_ for the -crime of crushing _Weakness_--holding our Government to an awful -accountability for the delays, the ignorance, the fickleness and treachery -of its subordinates in dealing with a people whose very religion prompts -them to wreak vengeance for wrongs done them, even on the innocent. - -For the lover of romance and of thrilling adventure, the work possesses a -charm scarcely equalled by the enchanting pages of a Fennimore Cooper; -and, to the reader who appreciates truth, justice, and humanity, and -delights to trace the outlines of such a career as Providence seems to -have marked out for the author, as well as for the unfortunate tribes -whose history he has given us, it will be a reliable, entertaining, and -instructive companion. - -Mr. Meacham's thirty years' experience among the Indian tribes of the -North-west, and his official career as Superintendent of Indian affairs in -Oregon, together with his participation in the tragic events of the Lava -Bed, invest his words with an authority which must outweigh that of every -flippant politician in the land, who, to secure the huzzas of the mob, -will applaud the oppressor and the tyrant one day, and the very next day -clamor mercilessly for their blood. - - D. L. EMERSON. - -BOSTON, Oct. 1, 1874. - - - - - INTRODUCTION. - - -The chapter in our National history which tells our dealings with the -Indian tribes, from Plymouth to San Francisco, will be one of the darkest -and most disgraceful in our annals. Fraud and oppression, hypocrisy and -violence, open, high-handed robbery and sly cheating, the swindling agent -and the brutal soldier turned into a brigand, buying promotion by -pandering to the hate and fears of the settlers, avarice and indifference -to human life, and lust for territory, all play their parts in the drama. -Except the negro, no race will lift up, at the judgment-seat, such -accusing hands against this nation as the Indian. We have put him in -charge of agents who have systematically cheated him. We have made -causeless war on him merely as a pretext to steal his lands. Trampling -under foot the rules of modern warfare, we have made war on his women and -children. We have cheated him out of one hunting-ground by compelling him -to accept another, and have robbed him of the last by driving him to -frenzy, and then punishing resistance with confiscation. Meanwhile, -neither pulpit nor press, nor political party, would listen to his -complaints. Congress has handed him over, gagged and helpless, to the -bands of ignorant, drunken and brutal soldiers. Neither on its floor, nor -in any city of the Union, could his advocate obtain a hearing. Money has -been poured out like water to feed and educate the Indian, of which one -dollar in ten may have found its way to supply his needs, or pay the debts -we owed him. - -To show the folly of our method, examine the south side of the great -lakes, and you will find in every thirty miles between Plymouth and Omaha -the scene of an Indian massacre. And since 1789 we have spent about one -thousand million of dollars in dealing with the Indians. Meanwhile, under -British rule, on the north of those same lakes, there has been no Indian -outbreak, worth naming, for a hundred years, and hardly one hundred -thousand dollars have been spent directly on the Indians of Canada. What -is the solution of this astounding riddle? This, and none other. England -gathers her Indian tribes, like ordinary citizens, within the girth of her -usual laws. If injured, they complain, like other men, to a justice of the -peace, not to a camp captain. If offenders, they are arraigned before such -a justice, or some superior court. Complaint, indictment, evidence, trial, -sentence, are all after the old Saxon pattern. With us martial law, or no -law at all, is their portion; no civil rights, no right to property that a -white man is bound to respect. Of course quarrel, war, expense, -oppression, robbery, resistance, like begetting like, and degradation of -the Indian even to the level of the frontiersman who would plunder him, -have been the result of such a method. If such a result were singular, if -our case stood alone, we should receive the pitiless curses of mankind. -But the same result has almost always followed the contact of the -civilized and the savage man. - -General Grant's recommendation of a policy which would acknowledge the -Indian as a citizen, is the first step in our Indian history which gives -us any claim to be considered a Christian people. The hostility it has met -shows the fearful demoralization of our press and political parties. -Statesmanship, good sense and justice, even from a chief magistrate can -hardly obtain a hearing when they relate to such long-time victims of -popular hate and pillage as our Indian tribes. Some few men in times past -have tried to stem this hideous current of national indifference and -injustice. Some men do now try. Prominent among these is the author of -this volume. Thirty years of practical experience in dealing with Indians -while he represented the Government in different offices; long and -familiar acquaintance with their genius, moods, habits and capabilities, -enable and entitle him to testify in this case. That, having suffered, at -the hands of Indians, all that man can suffer and still live, he should -yet lift up a voice, snatched almost miraculously from the grave, to claim -for them, nevertheless, the treatment of men, of citizens, is a marvellous -instance of fidelity to conviction against every temptation and injury. -Bearing all over his person the scars of nearly fatal wounds received from -Indians, he still advocates Grant's policy. Familiar with the Indian -tribes, and personally acquainted with their chiefs, with the old and -young, men and women, their sports and faith, their history and -aspirations, their education and capacity, their songs, amusements, -legends, business, loves and hates, his descriptions lack no element of a -faithful portrait; while his lightest illustrations have always beneath -the surface a meaning which cannot fail to arrest the attention of the -American people, and enable them to understand this national problem. -Never before have we had just such a witness on the stand. Brilliant and -graphic in description, and exceedingly happy in his choice of topics, he -gives us pages startling and interesting as a novel. While his appeals -stir the heart like a clarion, he still keeps cautiously to sober fact; -and every statement, the most seemingly incredible, is based on more than -sufficient evidence. I _commend this book to the public_--study it not -only as accurate and striking in its pictures of Indian life, but as -profoundly interesting to every student of human nature,--the picture of a -race fast fading away and melting into white men's ways. His contribution -to the solution of one of the most puzzling problems of American -statesmanship is invaluable. Destined no doubt to provoke bitter -criticism, I feel sure his views and statements will bear the amplest -investigation. His volume will contribute largely to vindicate the -President's policy, and to enable, while it disposes, the American people -to understand and do justice to our native tribes. - - (Signed,) - - WENDELL PHILLIPS. - - - - - LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. - - - PAGE. - - HON. A. B. MEACHAM _Frontispiece._ - - GEN. CANBY 480 - - DOCTOR THOMAS 512 - - THE LONE INDIAN SENTINEL 8 - - THE BULL-DOG TRADE 26 - - FAREWELL TO ONEATTA 73 - - THE BIRTHPLACE OF INDIAN LEGENDS 142 - - GRAND ROUND AGENCY 109 - - THE HORSE RACE 197 - - CAPT. JACK 295 - - TOBEY AND RIDDLE 320 - - MODOCS ON THE WAR-PATH 404 - - WI-NE-MAH (TOBEY) 444 - - ASSASSINATION SCENE 492 - - BRINGING IN THE WOUNDED 531 - - WARM SPRING INDIAN PICKETS 568 - - SCHONCHIN AND JACK IN CHAINS 588 - - BOSTON CHARLEY 641 - - BLACK JIM 495 - - SCAR-FACE CHARLEY 632 - - - - - CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER I. - - EARLY REMINISCENCES--POW-E-SHIEK'S BAND. - - PAGE - - The Author's Fears and Hopes--A Bit of Personal History--Two - Great Wrongs--Early Reflections--Removal of Pow-e-shiek's Band - in 1844--The Lava Beds--Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas referred to-- - Even-handed Justice--Captain of an Ox Team--Sad Scene - Preparatory to Pow-e-shiek's Departure--The White Man Wanted - It--It is a Fair Business Transaction--A Gloomy Picture-- - Government Officials Move Slow--(The Lone Indian Sentinel)--A - Fright in Camp--The Welcome--Cupid's Antics--An Indian - Maiden's Ball Dress--The Squaw's Duties--The Indian's - Privileges--End of the Journey--The Return--The Conscientious - Church Member--Throngs of Emigrants--A Great Contrast and a - Glowing Picture--Yankee Boys and Western Girls--A Strange - Mixture--The People of Iowa--The Nation's Perfidy towards the - Savage 1 - - - CHAPTER II. - - OVERLAND--BLOOD FOR BLOOD. - - Pow-e-shiek Visits his Old Home--His Recognition of the Writer-- - He Spends the Winter--His Character--The Ceremonial Smoke, and - the Writer's Mistake--Pow-e-shiek's Return--"Van," the Indian - Pony--Crossing the Plains--Indian Depredations--What Provokes - Them--The Murdered Indian--The Loaned Rifle--Arresting Indians - on "General Principles"--They are Slain on "General - Principles," also--The Butchery of Indian Women and Children-- - The Bloody Deeds of White Men--The Indian's Revenge 24 - - - CHAPTER III. - - INDIANS AND MINERS. - - Two Letters--Why they are Introduced--Lee's Encampment--Gold - Fields of Idaho and Eastern Oregon, in 1863--Tides of - Adventurers--Means of Transportation--Umatilla City--The - Saddle Train--The "Kitchen Mule"--Walker's Line--Novel Method - of Securing Ponies--Indians Hunting Lost Horses--Sublime - Mountain Scenery--Punch and Judy--A Stalwart Son of Erin--He - Buys an Indian Pony--His Rich Experience Therewith--A Scene - Worthy of the Pencil of a Bierstadt--"Riding a Bottle"--The - Indian's Friends Denounced--Indian Integrity--Striking - Examples--Tin-tin-mit-si, the Rich Old Indian Chief--"Why - White Men are Fools" 32 - - - CHAPTER IV. - - DIAMOND-CUT-DIAMOND. - - Treaty with the Government--The Annual Visits--Indians and - Whiskey--The White Man's Advantage, and the Indian's - Privilege--Punishment for Intoxication--Indian "Muck-a-muck"-- - The Salmon and their Haunts--Ludicrous Scenes--Financial - Revenge--The Oregon Lawyer's Horseback Ride--He is Sadly - Demoralized--His Scripture Quotations--Fourth of July - Celebration--Disappointed Spouters--Homli's Sarcastic Speech-- - His Eloquence and His Resolve--A Real Change--Three Tribes - Unite--A Fair Treaty--Umatilla Reservation--Gorgeous - Description of an Earthly Paradise--Homli's Return 45 - - - CHAPTER V. - - POLICIES ON TRIAL--"ONEATTA." - - The Author Appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs--Not a - Political Friend of President Johnson--An Indian "Agency"-- - Description of a Hunting-Ground--Shipwrecks--Signal Fires--Why - they are Built--A Tradition--Perilous Adventure of Two - Chieftains--A "Big Canoe" Saved from Wreck--They are Rewarded - with many Curious Gifts--The Squaw's Surprise--The Pappoose's - Fears--The Chase--Squaws Disrobed--A Good Time Generally--The - Chiefs Fright--He is Reassured--Comes Alongside the Ship--Love - at First Sight--A Battle without the War-whoop--The Chief - Boards the Ship--The Scene on Deck--The Chief's Departure--The - Lovers, Oneatta and Theodore--The Chief's Consent--The Dance-- - Lover's Conquest--The Betrothal--The Ship Ready to Depart--The - Marriage on Board--Farewell to Oneatta 57 - - - CHAPTER VI. - - SENATORIAL BRAINS BEATEN BY SAVAGE MUSCLE--PLEASANT - WAY OF PAYING PENALTIES. - - The Legend in the Last Chapter--Why it is Introduced--Siletz - Agency--Oyster Beds and Timber Lands--The same "Old Story" - Rehearsed--The Boat Race--Indian _vs._ United States Senator-- - The Horse Race--Congressional Avoirdupois--Crossing the Siletz - River--Civilized Indians--A Rare Scene--Euchre Bill--Biting - off Heads--The Indian School--Too-toot-na--His Wife Jinney-- - Her Financial Skill--Her Husband's Hope--Doomed to - Disappointment--Indian Court Day--Hickory Clubs _vs._ - Blackstone--The Attendants at Court--The First Case--A Woman's - Quarrel--Appropriating a Horse--Wounded Honor--An Agreeable - Penalty--The Lone Chief--Indian Bashfulness--The Agent's - Fears--Old Joshua Speaks--His Eloquence--His Request is - Granted--Religious Influences--A Language of One Hundred - Words--Christianity and Common Sense--The Dialogue--Logs on - Indian Graves--Why Placed there--Religions of the Indians - Discussed Further On--Indian Agent Ben Simpson--His Report--He - Arraigns the Government--Joel Palmer's Report--Political - Preacher and the Christian Agent--The Treachery of the Former-- - A Plea for the Siletz Indians--Base White Men and a Cruel - Government--The Sad Story Repeated--A Ray of Hope--Alsea - Agency--The Alsea Indians--Their Character Peaceable and - _therefore_ Neglected--Crime Rewarded by the Government-- - Virtue Punished--The Destiny of the Alsea Tribe--A Stern - Rebuke and a Prophecy 74 - - - CHAPTER VII. - - PHIL SHERIDAN'S OLD HOME--WHAT A CABIN COST. - - Grand Round Agency--Indian Houses--Cost of a Board--Gen. Phil - Sheridan--A Romance of a Young Chief--The Family from - Missouri--The Red-skinned Archer and Pale-face Gunner--Their - Trial of Skill--Fight with the Grizzly--The Wounded Hunter-- - The "Medicine Man"--Santiam and the Pale-faced Maiden--The - Disappointment--Faithful to Her Vows--Description of the - Valley Resumed--The Writer's First Visit--The Indians There-- - Their Progress in Civilization--Ceremonious Hand-shaking--The - Writer's Remarks--Replies by Joe Hutchins and Louis Neposa--A - Peculiarity of Indian Eloquence--Speeches by Black Tom and - Solomon Riggs--The Writer's Speech--Its Effect--Wapto Davis's - Plain Talk--Joe Hutchins' Sarcasm--Result of the Council 101 - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - STOPPING THE SURVEY--WHY. - - Official Correspondence--What the Indians Need--Important - Questions Asked--Commissioner Parker's Reply. (See Appendix)-- - The Mills Built--Indian Laborers--A Misunderstanding--The - Indian's Rights--They are Wronged--A Protest--Interesting - Letter Relating to Allotment of Lands. (See Appendix)-- - Singular Request--Reason for It--An Act of Justice--The Indian - Parade--The Indian's Speech in English--The Writer's Reply-- - Wapto Speaks--Catholics _vs._ Methodists--Father Waller--An - Episode--Leander and Lucy--Love and Law--Old and New--The - usual Course of True Love--Marriage Ceremony--No Kissing--The - Dance--The Methodist Pastor and the Priest--The Catholics - Liberal (?)--A Stupid Preacher--Common Sense in Religion-- - Indian Comments--Defective Schools--Unwritten History of Grand - Round Agency--Old and Forsaken 120 - - - CHAPTER IX. - - THE AGED PAIR--BIRTHPLACE OF LEGENDS. - - The Scene Changes--The River Steamer--The Railroad--The Battle - Ground--Causes of War and Slaughter--A Legend of the Cascades-- - Battles--Divine Interpositions--Soul-stirring Traditions--The - Waiting Dead--Sacrilegious Hunters--McNulty, the Noble - Captain--Mount Hood--Mount Adams--Sublime Scenery--The Dalles-- - The Salmon Fishery--Its Value--Habits of the Salmon-- - Commencement of the Fishing Scenery--Indian Superstition-- - Methods of Catching and Curing Salmon 138 - - - CHAPTER X. - - DANGEROUS PLACE FOR SINNERS. - - Warm Spring Agency--Indians in Treaty Council--Intimidated by - Government Troops--Pledges Unfulfilled--John Mission and Billy - Chinook--They become Converts to Christianity--Treachery of - the Government--Why? because the Indians are Peaceable-- - Journey to the Agency Continued--Crossing the Stream--Fire and - Brimstone--A Perilous Descent--The Author's Report--This - Agency a Fraud--Climate of Warm Springs--Character of the - Indians Here--The Two Treaties--The Indians Declare they were - Deceived--A Great Injustice--Unfitness of the Warm Spring - Agency--Captain John Smith--His Character--His Communication-- - A Careful Perusal Urged 150 - - - CHAPTER XI. - - THE PARSON BROWNLOW OF THE INDIAN SERVICE. - - Captain Smith's Letter--His Opinion of Catholics--The Indian - Council--An Indian Leads in Prayer--Appearance of this - Council--It was like a Methodist Revival Scene--The Head - Chief's Speech--He abjures Polygamy--The Author's Reply--Mark - wants to Change his Name--He selects the Name of Meacham-- - Marks' Second Wife, Matola--Her Speech--John Mission speaks-- - Speech of Billy Chinook--Hand-shaking and Enrolling Names-- - Pi-a-noose--His Speech--Two Kinds of Indians on this Agency-- - The Trial Policy of the Government 160 - - - CHAPTER XII. - - NO PLACE LIKE HOME--SQUAWS IN HOOPS AND CHIGNONS. - - Umatilla Agency--The Council--Its Object--The Purchase by the - Government of the Reservation--A. B. Meacham's Speech--Many - Indian Speeches (See Appendix, Chap. XII.)--The Council Fairly - Conducted--Religion of the Umatilla Indians--Wealth a Curse to - Them--They Take the First Prizes--They are Haughty, Proud and - Intractable--"Susan," the Widow--Her "Receptions"--The Dance-- - Women's Rights--Susan a Good Catholic. 181 - - - CHAPTER XIII. - - "HOW-LISH-WAMPO," KING OF THE TURF--A DEAD THING - CRAWLS. - - Indian Sportsman--How-lish-wampo, the Famous Horseman--Pat and - the Indians Once More--French Louie, the Confident Sport--He - is Beaten and Fleeced--Returns on Ponies Given in Charity--Joe - Crabb and His Important Race-Horse--His Groomsmen and - Attendants--Skirmishing Preparatory to the _Great Race_--Joe - Crabb is Shrewd--The Wild Indian is Shrewder--Indian Method of - Training Horses--Intense Interest in the Race--Throngs of - Visitors--Holding the Stakes--Indian Honor--Indians not Always - Stoical--They are _Enthusiastic_ Gamblers--Never Betray their - Emotions--Consummate Strategy of Indian "Sports"--The - Appearance of the two Race-Horses--Preliminary Manoeuvres--The - Start--The Indian Horse Ahead--Wild Excitement--The Fastest - Time on Record--All Good Indians Three Feet Under Ground--Fine - Opportunity for Sport--Challenge to Commodore Vanderbilt, - Robert Bonner, Rev. W. H. H. Murray, _or Any Other Man_-- - Habits of the Indian Horses--The Cayuse Horse--An Indian - Train--The Squaw's Outfit--Indian Etiquette--Indian Wives who - Want to be Widows--Indian Maidens--Many of the Umatillas - Civilized--The Prospect of the Umatillas 185 - - - CHAPTER XIV. - - SNAKE WAR--FIGHTING THE DEVIL WITH FIRE. - - The Snake War--Alleged Cause of the War--Manner of Warfare-- - Charley Winslow and Nathan Dixon--H. C. Scott and Family, and - Wheeler, all Victims of the War--Eighty Chinamen Murdered-- - Indians Butchered in Turn--Jeff Standiford and His Band of - Butchers--Stone Bullets and Iron Slugs--The Art of Killing - Indians--Joaquin Miller--General Lee--Stonewall Jackson-- - General Grant--Capture of the Daughter of a "Warm Spring" - Chief--General Crook calls for Indian Scouts--The Bounty - Offered--The McKay Brothers--A White Chief Fights like a - Savage--Privilege of Scalping Granted--On the War Path--The - Last Battle--The Surrender--A Pile of Scalps--Snake Hair - Playing Switch for White Ladies--Visit to Snake Country--After - a Long Leap Coming Out Smiling--Castle Rock--Old Castle of Jay - Cook--Panting Charger--A Game Chicken in the River--Adams - Laughing and Weeping--A Real Native American--In a Basket--In - College--Baking Bread in a Frying Pan--Jimmy Kane the Indian - Cook--Making Mathematical Calculations--The Test--Seasoning - the Supper--Clothes Don't make the Man--General Crook under a - Slouch Hat--Tah-home and Ka-ko-na--Transmutation--Fine - Feathers--Arrival at Camp Harney 207 - - - CHAPTER XV. - - THE COUNCIL WITH THE SNAKE INDIANS--O-CHE-O. - - A Camp Scene--Peace Council with the Snake Indians--Announcing - the Presence of Ka-ko-na--Their Representations--Colonel Otis-- - Old Winnemucca Sent For--A Bloodthirsty Chief--His Wives-- - Their Savage Mode of Life--Indian Women Socially--Result of - the Council--Both Parties Came Armed--The Medicine Man--A - White and Red Doctor Disagree--A Warning--Incantation of a - Medicine Man--Strange and Cruel Treatment of the Sick--"Big - Foot"--A Beautiful Custom--The Fire Telegraph--Spiritualism-- - O-Che-Oh and Allen David--A Peaceful Talk in Seven Tongues-- - The Old Squaw and Her Heartless Sons--A Gloomy Picture of - Savage Life--The Snakes' Home--Their Future a Problem--Climate - of this Region--Enemies to--Novel Method of Capturing them-- - Crickets for Food--A Cricket Press--Warriors who Eat their - Foes--An Embryo Indian War--How it Can be Avoided--Tah-home - and Ka-ko-na in Tribulation--Power of Medicine Men--Stronger - than love--Wild Men Shrewd in Such Matters--Heart-Broken - Squaw--Proposition to Elope--Fear of Pursuit--No Compromise - 224 - - - CHAPTER XVI. - - OVER THE FALLS--FIRST ELECTION. - - Resuming the Journey--Klamath Reservation--Saying Prayers--The - Accident--Value of a Dead Mule--Different Tribes on the - Reservation--Klamaths never Enemies of the Whites--Lindsey - Applegate--The First Election--White Men Imitated--The Result-- - Allen David Elected Chief--His Character--He is an Orator of - Great Power--Preparation for the "Big Talk"--The Scenes in the - Council--The Big Camp Fire--Tah-home and Ka-ko-na in Great - Distress--Indian Strategy Winked at by an Officer--It - Succeeds--The Lovers in a Snow-storm--Outwitted and Glad of - It--Allen David Opens the Council--His Thrilling Speech--The - Author's Official Report--Another Speech from the Red-skinned - Orator--The Author's Reply--Joe Hood--Various Speeches Bearing - on the Indian Question--Official Correspondence--Address to - the Klamath Indians--Their Attention--The Indian Allen David-- - His Wonderful Eloquence--Extracts--The Author's Reply--Speech - of Joe Hood--The Reconciliation--The Preparation--The Speeches - of Allen David and Captain Jack--The Author's Views of - Thieving Officials--An Appeal for Justice--The Request of - Klamaths 245 - - - CHAPTER XVII. - - KLAMATH COURT--ELOPEMENT EXTRAORDINARY. - - Wife Robbery--Divorce made Easy--Names of Uniformed Officers - Withheld--Why--Blo's Searching Questions--The Law One-sided-- - Little Sally--The New Court--A Novel Scene--The Court Opened-- - Sally's Complaint--Her Husband's Views--The Baby's Heart half - his and half his Wife's--Sally and her Husband Want to be - Re-married--The Bride's Outfit--A Serious Ceremony--A Pledge - that White Men don't Take--Indian Modesty--Who Kissed the - Bride--Case Number Two--The Sentence--The Dance--Indian - Theatre--The Actor--A Wild, Exciting Play--The Indian's - Dramatic Power 262 - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - - OMELETS AND ARROWS--BIG STEAM-BOILERS. - - Indian Games--Long John, the Gambler--The Wocus Fields--How it - is Prepared for Food--Egging and Fishing--A Bird's Nest - Described--Trout-fishing--Various Kinds of Trout--Game--Big - Klamath Lake--Link River--Nature's Steam-power--The Country of - the Modocs--A Grand Scene--Bound for the Home of Captain Jack - 279 - - - CHAPTER XIX. - - MODOC BLOOD UNDER A FLAG OF TRUCE--SEED SOWN - TWENTY YEARS BEFORE A HARVEST. - - The Modoc War--The Origin of the Modocs--The La-la-kas--The - Great Indian Rebellion and the American Revolution--The Office - of Indian Chief--Captain Jack--Form of Government among Indian - Tribes--The Home of the Modocs--Why Modocs Rebelled--The - Modocs in 1846--Schonchin--The Father of Captain Jack--Account - of the Latter--Cruelties Perpetrated by the Modocs--Causes of - the First Modoc Wars--Two Sides of the Question--Chief - Schonchin's Reason for Killing White Men--The "Ben Wright" - Massacre--Slaughter of Emigrants--Horrible Cruelties--The - Squaw's Jealousy--Ben Wright--His Character--His Infamous Act - of Treachery--Treaty with the Modocs in 1864--Why it was not - kept by Captain Jack--The Oregon Superintendent makes a - Treaty--It is now being Ratified--Captain Jack understood the - Treaty--He Rebels--Says he was Deceived--Attempt to Force him - to return to the Reservation--His Insulting Language--Lost - River--A Fish Story--Difficulties in the way of meeting - Captain Jack 289 - - - CHAPTER XX. - - BLUE EYES AND BLACK ONES--TOBEY RIDDLE. - - Captain Jack's Apology--He Makes a Camp for his Visitors--The - Modoc Women not Slaves like other Indian Women--Sage Brush-- - The Modocs would not Eat First--The Reason--Tobey and Frank - Riddle--Riddle's Romantic Career--Truth Stranger than Fiction-- - He Discards his First Love--His Indian Wife--They act a part - in his Story--Captain Jack's Falsehood Exposed--The Government - Appropriations--Captain Jack Quibbles but Yields--He is - Overruled by the Medicine Man--A Critical Moment--Indian - Vocabularies--Tobey's Good Sense and Loyalty--Riddle and Tobey - Avert a Scene of Blood--Mr. Meacham's Bold Speech to Captain - Jack--The Strategy of Meacham's Party--Two Powers Invoked-- - Representatives of Elijah and Ahab--The Soldiers who are sent - for do not Respond as Ordered--They, too, are under the - Influence of _Spirits_--They Rush into Camp--An Exciting - Scene--The Parley with the Modocs and its Results--Queen Mary-- - Her Rare Opportunities--She Pleads for her Brother, and Gains - her Point--Jack Surrenders--An Incident--Arrival at the - Klamath Reservation--Reconciliation between Two Chieftains-- - Ceremony of Burying the Hatchet--Allen David, the Famous - Indian Orator--His Remarkable Speech--Captain Jack's Reply-- - Allotment and Distribution of Goods--"Head and Pluck"--Indian - Mode of Cooking Meats--A Gorgeous Scene--A Big Council Talk-- - Link River Joe's Solemn Speech--An Impressive Watch-meeting-- - The Writer's Peculiar Position--The Dim Fore-shadowing 311 - - - CHAPTER XXI. - - BURYING THE HATCHET--A TURNING-POINT. - - A Settlement of Old Difficulties--Trouble Ahead--The Modocs - Taunted with their Poverty--Agent Knapp--His Character-- - Captain Jack Applies to Knapp for Protection--Is Treated - Coolly--Schonchin John--Captain Jack and his Band Leave - Klamath--Old Schonchin Removes to Yainax--Captain Jack - Contemplates making his Home there--An Unfortunate Occurrence - Prevents--One more Effort for Peace--Jesse Applegate--Letter - of Instructions to John Meacham--It is Conciliatory but Firm-- - Departure of The Commission--Humanity and Common Sense-- - Fortunately the Commissioners go well Armed--Assassination - Intended--Prevented by Captain Jack--His Loyalty Doubted by - the Modocs--Schonchin Intrigues for the Chieftainship--Captain - Jack only a Representative Chief--Republican Ideas for once a - Curse--Captain Jack Argues the Cause of his People with Great - Skill and Force--He Refuses to go on to the Reservation again-- - Agrees to go to Lost River--How Bloodshed Might Have Been - Avoided--The Author's Reports referred to--The Modocs become - Restless--They Violate their Pledges--The White Settlers - Annoyed--They demand Redress and Protection--Captain Jack not - blamed by the Whites--He was Powerless 342 - - - CHAPTER XXII. - - U. S. SENATORS COST BLOOD--FAIR FIGHT--OPEN - FIELD. - - Change in the Indian Superintendency--T. B. Odeneal Appointed-- - His Qualifications for the Office--Did not Understand the - Indians--The Modocs Ordered to Klamath Reservation--They - Refuse to go--Captain Jackson Ordered to the Modoc Camp-- - Twelve Settlers go to see the Fun--Character of Frontiersmen-- - Who are Responsible for Indian Wars--Situation of Jack's Camp-- - Number of his Braves--Arrival of the Soldiers and Citizens-- - They come Unexpected--A Fatal Mistake--First Gun of the Modoc - War--First Battle--Modocs Victorious--Fight on the other side - of the River--Inglorious Results to the White--Reinforcements - sent for by Major Jackson--Captain Jack and his Braves retire - to the Lava Beds--Scar-face Charley remains behind--His - Strange Motive for so doing--John A. Fairchild--He learns an - Important Lesson--His Humanity and Wisdom--White Citizens cry - for Vengeance--Fourteen Modocs agree to return to Klamath--Why - they rejoined Captain Jack--The latter always for Peace--The - curly-haired Doctor wanted War--He and other Modocs Commit - Horrid Crimes--Seventeen Whites Butchered--The Scene that - followed--The Victims of the Slaughter--Friends of the - Murderers--The Author's Authority for many of his Statements-- - Captain Jack denounces the Murderers, and demands that they - shall be surrendered to the Whites--Is overruled 361 - - - CHAPTER XXIII. - - MOURNING EMBLEMS AND MILITARY POMP. - - "Wails of Anguish"--"Intense Excitement"--"A Scene of Woe seldom - Equalled"--"A Sublime Portraiture of Frontier Life"--"Who - shall say Vengeance on The Avenger"--"The Government called to - a Rigid Account"--"War Succeeds Sorrow"--"The Grand Army of - Two Hundred"--"Opinions that _are_ Opinions, and the Reasons - for them"--"A Job before Breakfast not accomplished"--"Benefit - of the War to Oregon and California"--"The Politicians and - Speculators' Opportunity"--"Four Hundred White Soldiers"-- - "Proposition to slay Modoc Women and Children"--"A Little - Gray-eyed Man Objects"--"A good deal of Buncombe and of - anticipated Glory" 377 - - - CHAPTER XXIV. - - PEACE OR WAR--ONE HUNDRED LIVES VOTED AWAY BY - MODOC INDIANS. - - A Descent to the Lava Bed--Tule Lake--The Lone Woman with a - Field Glass--The Deserted White House--The Dark Bluff--The - Red-skinned Loyal Soldiers--The Solitary Tree--Description of - the Lava Bed--Link River Jack the Natural Traitor--Council - among the Modocs--Jack Still for Peace--Earnest Speeches on - both sides--The Curly-headed Doctor decides the Momentous - Question--The Vote is for War--How the Doctor makes Medicine-- - Captain Jack Plans the Battle--A Lost Warning to the Sleepers - 388 - - - CHAPTER XXV. - - WARPATH. - - 4 A.M., January 17, 1873--Preparation for the Battle--The - Conflict Begins--The Deadly Modoc's Bullets--Where are the - Volunteers--The Battle Rages with fearful Loss of Life--Orders - to Retreat--The Wounded to be Rescued--Vain Attempt, the - Victims Scalped--Modoc Rejoicings--Speeches of the Victors-- - Captain Jack not so Enthusiastic--General Wheaton's Defeat-- - Comments of the Volunteers--The Sarcasm of the Gray-eyed Man - 400 - - - CHAPTER XXVI. - - OLIVE BRANCH AND CANNON BALLS--WHICH WILL WIN? - - The Peace Commission Appointed--Terms of Peace unwisely Proposed - to the "Modocs"--The "Modocs" seem to accept the Terms--Joy in - Camp--It is suddenly Dampened--The Great Mistake of Steele, - the Messenger--The Fearful Crisis--A Most Suitable Time to say - Prayers--Honor among Savages--The Messenger's Strategy--It - Saves his Life--His Report--The Author's Dispatch to - Washington--The Reply--Anxiety and Gloom in Camp--Modoc - Messengers--What they Propose--Commission in the hands of - General Canby--Prejudiced against Tobey--The Modocs offer to - Surrender--Wagons sent to Receive Them--Their Intentions--They - Fail to Agree--Modoc Horses Captured--General Canby won't - return them 413 - - - CHAPTER XXVII. - - CAPTAIN JACK A DIPLOMAT--SHOOT ME IF YOU DARE. - - The New Camp--The Modocs Allowed to Visit the Camp--Reasons for - it--The Seven Hours' Talk with Captain Jack--The Diplomatic - Savage--His Skill in Debate--His Logic and his Eloquence--He - has Right on his Side--This the Only Extended Talk with the - Modocs--Capt. Jack's Graphic Description of the "Ben Wright" - Massacre--This Cold-blooded Butcher Rewarded by our - Government--Full Report of this Meeting--Another Effort for - Peace--Tobey's Mission--The Result--She is Warned by a - peace-loving Modoc--The Reports to the Commission--Some do not - Believe Her--The Indiscretion of Rev. Dr. Thomas--Stirring - News from the other Camp--Assassination Intended--Tobey is - Sent for by the Modocs--She Goes--Affecting Farewell to - Husband and Child--A Thrilling Scene in the Modoc Camp--True - Heroism--"I am a Modoc Woman; Shoot Me if You Dare"--The Camp - Moved--Strange Surroundings and Sad Reflections--An Incident-- - Peace Council with the Modocs--Their Hostile Intentions - Foreshadowed--The Storm--Proposal to Adjourn--It is Treated - with Contempt by Jack--Says he shall not Melt like Snow--The - Council Adjourns 443 - - - CHAPTER XXVIII. - - WHO HAD BEEN THERE--WHO HAD NOT. - - General Gilliam's Opinion about Taking the Modocs--Colonel - Mason's Opinion--Difference in Judgment--Another Discussion - Going On--Colonel Greene Speaks--Colonel Tom Wright in - Commissioners' Tent--A Growl--Wager Offered--Proposition to - Send Away Nine Hundred Soldiers--Waiting for the Warm Springs-- - Desertion--Common Soldiers' Opinion--They Want Peace-- - Commissioners' Cooking--Work Divided--Canby Enjoys a Joke-- - "Don't Throw Off on Bro. Dyer" 457 - - - CHAPTER XXIX. - - UNDER A WOMAN'S HAT--THE LAST APPEAL. - - New Efforts for Peace--Dr. Thomas' Faith--It Avails Little-- - Riddle Appealed to--The Author's Fatal Absence--Modoc Cunning-- - The Guileless Betrayed--The Author's Fears--The Compact Made-- - The Last Breakfast--The Indian Judas--He Wants Meacham to Wear - his New Boots--The Modoc Council--Captain Jack and Scar-face - Oppose the Massacre--The Former Taunted with being a White - Squaw--Being only a Representative Chief he Yields to the - Majority--The Bloody Work Allotted to Each--Another Butchery - Agreed upon--The Warning Repeated but Unheeded--Canby and Dr. - Thomas are Determined to go--The Latter Seems Doubtful of the - Result--The Farewell Letter--Tobey and Riddle Implore them not - to go--Meacham Makes One More Effort to Save Life--He Pleads - with Dr. Thomas and General Canby--A Sad Scene and a Terrible - Resolution--The Derringer Pistol--Departure for the Scene of - Slaughter 462 - - - CHAPTER XXX. - - ASSASSINATION--"KAU-TUX-E"--THE DEATH PRAYER - SMOTHERED BY BLOOD--RESCUED. - - The Scene near the Council Tent--Several Desperate Modocs - Described--Preparing for the Carnival of Death--The Boy - Murderers and their Weapons--Bogus and Boston Announce the - Approach of the Commission--Why does Meacham Remove his - Overcoat--The Modocs Suspiciously Cordial--Fighting a Battle - with Pride--Appearance of the Commissioners--Hooker Jim's - Strange Movements--The Intruder Near the Council Tent--The - Butchery for the Time Being Averted--Hooker-Jim's Ominous - Movements--He puts on Meacham's Overcoat--"Me old man Meacham - now"--This Act is instantly Interpreted--All are Conscious of - their Impending Doom--Reflections During the Fleeting Moments-- - What will General Canby Say--Will he Accede to the Demand of - the Modocs and thus Avert Death--Will he Take the Soldiers - Away--He Breaks the Silence--Duty Dearer than Life--Death - before Dishonor--Dr. Thomas's Last Speech--What will Captain - Jack do now--Will he Give the Signal--He Changes Places with - Schonchin--The Manner of the Latter--The Attack Begins-- - General Canby the First to Fall--His Horrible Death--Dyer is - Shot at by Hooker-Jim--He Makes his Escape--Riddle Pursued by - Black Jim--The Latter Fires at Random--The Reason--The Bloody - Work of Boston and Hooker-Jim--Dr. Thomas's Tragic End--His - Murderers Taunt him with his Religion--Why don't he Turn the - Bullets--Schonchin, his Dagger and his Pistol--Meacham - Attacked by Schonchin--Slolux and Shack-Nasty Jim--The - Struggle for Life--Tobey's Efforts to save Him--The Dreadful - Scene of the Tragedy--Boston as a Scalper--The Squaw Tobey-- - Her Strategy--Another Bloody Tragedy Planned but not Executed-- - Lethargy followed by Vigorous Action--Meacham Discovered--The - Stretcher--Brandy--"No Time for Temperance Talk"--The Council - Tent a Winding-sheet--Rewards to the Couriers--The - Eighty-three Mile Race--The Gray and the Pinto--The Exultant - Winner 478 - - - CHAPTER XXXI. - - HARNESSED LIGHTNING CARRYING AWFUL TIDINGS--HE - MAKES IT--A BROKEN FINGER WON'T DISFIGURE A - CORPSE. - - Making Coffins in the Lava Bed--The Patient in the Hospital--A - Broken Finger will not Disfigure a Corpse--The Commotion in - the Modoc Camp--The Disputes--Common Interest a Strong Bond-- - The Great Medicine Dance--The Modocs Exultant--The Wife's - Suspense--The Dreadful News--Its Effect on Wife and Children-- - First Robbed by the Government, then its Defenders--Our - Nation's Perfidy--The Sorrowful Hearts at Home--Prayer and - Praise in Camp--A Lesson for Bigots and Cowards to Learn--The - Medicine Man in the Modoc Camp--He Fires the Modoc Heart-- - Capt. Jack Despondent--Long Jim--Novel Scene in the Soldier's - Camp--The Murder of the Commission to be Avenged--Long Jim - Escapes--Much Powder Wasted--"Nary a Wound" 508 - - - CHAPTER XXXII. - - HORIZONTAL PYROTECHNICS--THE SCALP MIRACLE--KILLED - IN PETTICOATS--THE PRESENTIMENT. - - Preparations for Another Battle--Stretchers for the Wounded-- - Mattresses and Lint--The Wounded Man in the Hospital Expects - Company--The Iowa Veteran--The Signal for Battle--It Begins-- - Re-echoing of Cannon--The Assault--No Response Yet--Volleys - from the Concealed Foe--The Retreat--The Dead and Wounded--The - PAT-riotic Sutler--The Walking Sage Brush--The Wounded Pony-- - Pat's Head in Danger--The _Flat_ Assaulted--Lieut. Eagan - Falls--The Two Stages--The Remains of the Lamented Dead--The - Bereaved Widow and the Stricken Wife--The Wounded Warm Spring - Indian--He Ridicules Modoc Powder--The Modocs out of Water-- - The Lady Passenger--Sympathy Extended--On Her Way to the Lava - Beds--The Welcome Letter--Still Alive, but Handsome No Longer-- - The Battle for Water--The Fair-haired Boy--His Terrible - Presentiment--Courage Triumphs--His Lost Messages to Friends-- - The Dread Reality--The Unexploded Shell does Execution--A - Scalp Cut to Suit--The Indian Plays Squaw--He is Suspected and - _Numerously_ Scalped--Military Bombast--Mourning for the Dead-- - Remains of Canby and Thomas--The Stricken Parent--The Wife's - Disappointment and Anguish--The Modocs Withdraw--The Soldiers - Deceived--They Surround Vacant Caves 522 - - - CHAPTER XXXIII. - - MUSIC DON'T SOOTHE A SAVAGE--FIGHTING THE DEVIL - WITH FIRE A FAILURE--"WE'LL BURY THE OLD MAN - ALIVE." - - Watching and Disappointment--Visit of Pia-noose to Meacham--Gen. - Canby's Remains in Portland, Oregon--Burial of Dr. Thomas-- - Burying a Leg--Col. Wright's Opinion of the Modocs--Modocs in - New Camp--Young Hovey's Father Informed of his Death--Modocs - Attack Gilliam's Camp--"You can Play Dead, Old Man"--Scar-Face - an Artillery Officer--The Gray-eyed Man--Proposition to Bury - "The Old Man" Alive--Burial of Young Hovey--Extermination-- - Indian Sympathy with Capt. Jack--Warm Spring Messenger to - Linkville--Another Disappointment for Mrs. Meacham--Twenty - Chances in a hundred for Life--The Twenty Chances Win--Hope - Dawns--Another Messenger Sent--Donald McKay in Camp--Reading - News to Meacham--Fairchild's Opinion of Oregon Press--Ferree's - Warning to Fairchild--His Reply--Gov. Grover Calls out - Volunteers--Meacham's Departure for Home--Storm on the Lake-- - Old Fields--A Sailor--Dr. Cabanis a Joker--Mrs. Meacham - Watching the Boat--Her Thoughts--The Meeting--Ferree's - Introduction--Meacham on an Ambulance--Arrival at Linkville-- - Big-hearted Men--Soft Hand and a Whispered Prayer 543 - - - CHAPTER XXXIV. - - AMEN OUT OF TIME--FRIENDLY ADVICE FROM ENEMIES--BETRAYED. - - Meacham at Ferree's--Then and Now--Capt. Jack--Another Scene in - the Hospital--Maybridge--Bunker Bildad--Modocs Impatient to be - on the Warpath--Gen. Canby's Remains in San Francisco--The - Silver-haired Man in Iowa--The Warning against the Klamaths-- - Old Father Jones and Brother Congar--The Misunderstanding-- - Administering Saltpetre--Army Recruiting--Making Another - Coffin--Meacham Again in Danger--Iowa Veteran Ready to Dose - out Blue Pills--Location of Modocs--Reconnoissance Ordered-- - Defeat of Thomas and Wright--Scenes of the Slaughter--Warm - Springs to the Rescue--Cranston's Death--Thirty-four Modocs - Fighting Eighty Soldiers--Peace Commissioners not in the Way-- - Lt. Harris's Mother in Camp--Gen. Davis's Report of the Fight-- - Modocs Leave the Lava Beds--Dry Lake Battle--Modocs said to be - Whipped for Once--Treason of Hooker Jim to Bogus--Gen. Davis's - Summary of Succeeding Events 562 - - - CHAPTER XXXV. - - LAST HIDING-PLACE--HANGING-MACHINE UNTRIED--MODOC - BUTCHERS OUTDONE. - - Vivid Account of the Surrender of the Modoc Chiefs--Butchery by - "_Brave Civilized_" White Men--Oregon Laws--The White Butchers - not Arrested--Men who have Political Influence--The Gallows--A - Strange Sight to the Modocs--The Harmless Cannon--The Wails of - Anguish--Legal Justice--The Most Bloody Hands Escape--The - Courier's Arrival--General Disappointment--A Summary of Scenes - and Events 582 - - - CHAPTER XXXVI. - - TAKING A SAFE LOOK AT A SUBDUED LION--POWER BEHIND - BAYONETS--WEAKNESS IN CHAINS. - - A Fort Turned into a Court-House--The Prisoners at the Bar-- - Those Glittering Bayonets--The Prisoners Arraigned--The Trial - Begins--A. B. Meacham in Court--Have the Prisoners no - Counsel?--Schonchin and Capt. Jack--They Extend their Hands to - Meacham--He Repels Them--The Reason for it--Meacham Advised by - his Physician not to Appear as Prisoner's Counsel--The Trial - Goes On--Indian Testimony--They Seek to Shift the - Responsibility--Capt. Jack not Himself; "He cannot Talk with - Irons On."--Hooker-Jim's Weak Defence--The Modoc's Attorney - Arrives Too Late--The Most Guilty Modocs Escape Punishment-- - The Mistake of the Judge Advocate--The Finding of the Court-- - The Death Sentence 607 - - - CHAPTER XXXVII. - - THE EXECUTION--THE ROYAL CHIEF OUT OF CHAINS. - - Modocs in the Prison and Stockade--New Hanging-Machine--The - Announcement of the Death Sentence--The Fallen Chief--His - Speech--Boston Charley's Speech--Schonchin's--The Enraged - Modocs--The Unfettered Traitors--Scar-faced Charley--A Solemn - Scene and an Eloquent Prayer--A White Man in Tears over Red - Men's Sorrows--Once Proud, Now Humble--Thunder-bolt from a - Clear Sky--Marble Tomb and Pearly Gate--Jumbled Theology-- - Whirling Tempest--Roaring Cannon--Lightning Flashing and - Darkened Homes--Passing under the Cloud Alone--Anxious for a - Good Seat--Six Graves--Boston has a Rare Privilege--Short - Questions and Short Answers--More than Bogus could Stand--A - Sheriff among Soldiers--State Rights--United States--A Big - Offer for a Corpse--Under the Eye of Uncle Sam--The Prisoners - Waiting for Marching Orders--The Command: "Come Forth"--Then - and Now--Leaving Living Tombs for Permanent Homes--Solving the - Problem of _Six_ Graves and _Four_ Coffins--In Sight of the - Scaffold--Last in Crime--First to Mount the Ladder--The Chains - Drop Off--Six Graves--Six Ropes--Six Prisoners--Four Coffins-- - Four Unfettered Convicts--Suspense Succeeds Certain Death-- - Last March--A Single Strand and a Gleaming Axe--On the Drop - Waiting--Sitting on a Coffin Watching--Justice Making a - Protest--Forty Millions of People Talking at Once--What They - Say--The Problem Solved--Justice Surprised--The Last Prayer-- - The Drop--Calling the Modoc Roll--The Missing--Where They Are-- - Tragedy Ended 636 - - - CHAPTER XXXVIII. - - THE TWO GIBBETS. - - Mementoes of the Horrid Butchery--A Nation's Justice towards the - Strong, and its Tyranny over the Weak--Grant's Humane Policy-- - On Whom should the Blame Fall--The Answer--Witnesses Summoned - to Prove the White Man's Perfidy--O. C. Applegate--His Record - of Bloody Deeds--Hon. J. W. Nesmith--His Intimate Acquaintance - with Indian Affairs--His Unequivocal Testimony--Dr. Wm. C. - McKay's Testimony--General Harney Bears Witness to the - Indian's Good Faith--The Indians Not the Aggressors in the - Oregon War--Testimony of Hon. Geo. E. Cole--Mutual Fear - resulting in Butchery--The Rogue River War--The Result-- - Another Unimpeachable Witness, Gen. Joel Palmer--His Terrible - Arraignment of the Whites--Judge Steele--Ben Wright's Plot to - Poison the Indians--Colonel Whiting--Forty-nine Indians - Butchered--A Tribute to Frontier Men--A Simple Remedy for the - _Great Wrong_ 663 - - - - - WIGWAM AND WARPATH. - - - - - CHAPTER I. - - EARLY REMINISCENCES, POW-E-SHIEK'S BAND. - - -"Oh, that mine enemy would write a book!" With that ominous warning -ringing in my ears, I sit down to write out my own observations and -experiences, not without full appreciation of the meaning and possible -reiteration of the above portentous saying. In so doing I shall endeavor -to state plain facts, in such a way, perhaps, that mine enemies will avail -themselves of the privilege. - -Hoping, however, that I may disarm all malice, and meet with a fair and -impartial criticism, based on the principles of justice both to myself and -to the peoples of whom I write, I begin this book with the conviction that -the truths which I shall state, though told in homely phrase, will -nevertheless be well received by the reading public, and will accomplish -the purposes for which it is written; the first of which is to furnish -reliable information on the subject under consideration, with the hope -that when my readers shall have turned the last leaf of this volume they -may have a better understanding of the wrongs suffered and crimes -committed by the numerous tribes of Indians of the north-west. - -Born on the free side of the Ohio river, of parents whose immediate -ancestors, though slave-holders, had left the South at the command of -conscientious convictions of the great wrong of human bondage, my earliest -recollections are of political discussions relating to the crime against -God and humanity; of _power_ compelling _weakness_ while groaning under -the oppression of wrongs to surrender its rights. - -Coupled with the "great wrong" of which I have spoken, occasionally that -other wrong, twin to the first, was mentioned in my father's family; -impressed upon my mind by stories I had heard of the treatment of Indians -who had in early days been neighbors to my parents, driven mile by mile -toward the setting sun, leaving a country billowed by the graves of their -victims mingled with bones of their own ancestors. What wonder, then, -that, while rambling through the beech woods of my native State, I should -speculate on the remnants of ruined homes which these people had left -behind them, and walk in awe over the battle-fields where they had -resisted the aggressive march of civilization? - -While yet in childhood my parents migrated to what was then the "Far -West." Our new home in Iowa was on the outskirts of civilization, our -nearest neighbors being a band of Sacs and Foxes,--"Saukees." This was the -beginning of my personal acquaintance with Indians. - -The stories that had kindled in my heart feelings of sympathy and -commiseration for them were forgotten for a time in the present living -history before my eyes. - -I was one of a party who in 1844 assisted the Government in removing -Pow-e-shiek's band from the Iowa river to their new home in the West. The -scenes around the Indian village on the morning of their departure were -photographed on my mind so plainly that now, after a lapse of thirty -years, they are still fresh in my memory, and the impressions made on me, -and resolves then made by me, have never been forgotten, notwithstanding -the terrible dangers through which I have since passed. - -The _impression_ was, that _power_ and _might_ were compelling these -people to leave their homes against their wishes, and in violation of -justice and right. The resolution was, that, whenever and wherever I -could, I would do them justice, and contribute whatever of talent and -influence I might have to better their condition. - -These impressions and resolutions have been my constant companions through -a stormy life of many years on the frontier of Iowa, California, and -Oregon. - -The bloody tragedy in the Lava Beds, April, 1873, through which the -lamented Christian soldier, Gen. Canby, and the no less lamented eminent -preacher, Dr. Thomas, lost their lives, and by which I had passed so close -to the portals of eternity, has not changed my conviction of right, or my -determination to do justice to even those who so earnestly sought my life. -Narrow-minded, short-sighted men have said to me, more than once, "I -reckon you have suffered enough to cure all your fanatical notions of -humanity for these people!" - -I pity the heart and intelligence of any man who measures principles of -justice and right by the gauge of personal suffering or personal -interest. It is unworthy of enlightened Christian manhood. - -"By their works ye shall know them." So may these people of whom I write -be adjudged in the lights of 1874; so shall this nation be adjudged; so -judge ye the author of this book. - -The spring of 1845, Pow-e-shiek's band of Sacs and Foxes were removed from -their home on Iowa river, twenty-five miles above Iowa City, Iowa, to -Skunk river, one hundred miles west. Eighteen or twenty teams were hired -by the Government to convey the household goods and supplies. - -Among the number who furnished teams, my father was one, and I went as -captain of the ox-team. The Indians were assembled at the "Trading Post" -preparatory to starting. While the wagons were being loaded, some of them -were gathering up their horses and packing their goods, ready for -shipment; others were making the air vocal with wails of grief over the -graves of their friends, or from sadness, consequent on leaving the scenes -of a life-time. - -I wonder not that they should reluctantly yield to inexorable fate, which -compelled them to leave their beautiful valley of the Iowa. "_The white -man wanted it_," and they must retreat before the onward march of empire, -notwithstanding their nationality and their ownership of the country had -been acknowledged by the Government, when it went into treaty-council with -them for the lands they held. This was not on the plea of "eminent -domain," but on account of the clamor for more room for the expanding -energies of a growing population. - -"The white man wanted it," tells the story, as it has been repeated, time -after time, since the founding of the Colonies in America. - -I do not know that, in this instance, any advantage was taken of these -Indians, except that advantage which the powerful always have over the -weak. But I do know that if they had been allowed a choice, they never -would have consented to leave the graves of their fathers. 'Twas easy to -say, "It was a fair transaction of selling and buying." - -So is it a business transaction when a man buys the lots adjoining your -own, and builds high walls on three sides, erects powder magazines and -glycerine manufactories, corrupts city councils, and, by means of extra -privileges and excessive taxation, compels you to sell your valuable -property for a mere song, by saying, "Take my price for your property, or -run the risk of being blown up." - -Is it a fair "business transaction," after he has thus forced the trade? - -What though he does faithfully pay the contract-price? Does it atone for -the first moral wrong, in legally forcing the sale? And how much more -aggravated the injury becomes, when, through his agents, or his sons, he -"legitimately," under various pretences, permits the unfortunate seller to -be robbed, by paying him off in "chips and whetstones," that he does not -desire nor need, so that in the end he is practically defrauded out of his -property, and finds himself at the last payment, homeless and penniless. - -All done, however, under the sanction of law, and in the shade of -church-steeples, and with sanctimonious semblance of honesty and justice. - -The picture is not overdrawn. The illustration is fair, or, if deficient -at all, it has bean in excess of advantage to the principal, not the -victim. The latter has accepted the situation and suffered the -consequences. - -To return to Pow-e-shiek's band leaving their home. Who shall ever recount -the sorrows and anguish of those people, while they formed in line of -march, and turned their eyes for the last time upon the scenes that had -been all the world to them? What mattered it though they realized all the -pangs their natures were capable of, in those parting hours, with the -uncomfortable promises that the ploughshare of civilization would level -down the graves of their fathers, before their retreating footprints had -been obliterated from the trail which led them sadly away? They were -"Injins;" and they ought to have been in better luck than _being_ -"Injins." - -Such was the speech of a white man in whose hearing I had said some word -of sympathy on the occasion. I did not like the unfeeling wretch then, and -have not much respect for him, or for the class he represents. Now I may -have charity and pity, too, for all such. Charity for the poverty of a -soul so devoid of the finer sensibilities of "common humanity that make -mankind akin;" pity for a heart overflowing with selfishness, made -manifest in thoughtless or spiteful speech. - -The trying hour in the lives of these Indian people had come, and the long -cavalcade moved out along the line of westward march, wagons loaded with -corn and other supplies. The old men of the tribe, with darkened brows and -silent tongue, sat on their horses; the younger ones, with _seeming_ -indifference, in red blankets, feathers, and gaudy paints, moving off on -prancing ponies, in little squads, to join the funeral pageant; for so it -was. They were leaving the cherished scenes of childhood to hunt for -sepulchres in the farther West. - -The women, young and old, the drudges of the Indian household, as well as -homes, where the sunlight of civilization _should_ warm the hearts of men, -and move them to truer justice, were gathered up, and preparing their -goods for transportation, while bitter tears were flowing and loud -lamentations gave evidence of the grief that would not be repressed, and -each in turn, as preparations were complete, would lift the -pappoose-basket with its young soul to altitudes of mother's back or -horse's saddle, and then, with trembling limbs, climb to their seats and -join the sad procession, adding what of woful wailing seemed necessary to -make the whole complete with sights and sound that would bid defiance to -painter's skill or poet's words, though, in the memory of those who beheld -it, it may live as long as the throbs of sympathy which it kindled shall -repeat themselves in hearts that feel for human sorrow. - -The first day's journey measured but four miles; the next, six; and at -most never exceeded ten or twelve. I did not understand, then, why we went -so slow. It may have been necessary to "kill time," in order to use up the -appropriation for the removal. When "camp" was reached, each day the -wagons were "corralled;" that is to say, were drawn together in a circle, -one behind another, and so close that when the teams were detached, the -"pole" laid upon the hind wheel of the next forward wagon would close up -the gap, and thus complete the "corral," which was to answer the double -purpose of "penning the oxen when being yoked up," and also as an -extempore fort in case of attack by the Sioux Indians. - -The wick-e-ups--Indian tents--were scattered promiscuously around, as each -family might elect. After dinner was over the remainder of Uncle Sam's -time was spent in various ways: horse-racing, foot-racing, card-playing, -shooting-matches by the men, white and red, while the women were doing -camp-work, cooking, getting wood, building lodges, etc.; for be it -understood, an old-style Indian never does such work any more than his -white brother would rock the cradle, or operate a laundry for his wife. -The old men would take turns standing guard, or rather sitting guard. At -all events they generally went out to the higher hills, and, taking a -commanding position, would sit down all solitary and alone, and with -blanket drawn around their shoulders and over their heads, leaving only -enough room for vision and the escape of smoke from their pipes. - -In solemn silence, scanning the surroundings, hour after hour thus wore -away. There was something in this scene suggesting serious contemplation -to a looker-on, and I doubt not the reveries of the lone watchman savored -strongly of sadness and sorrow, _may be_ revenge. - -[Illustration: THE LONE INDIAN SENTINEL.] - -Approaching one old fellow I sought to penetrate his mind, and was -rewarded by a pantomimic exhibition, more tangible than "Black Crook" ever -witnessed from behind the curtains, while recuperating his wasted -energies that he might the more seemingly "play the devil." - -Rising to his feet and releasing one naked arm from his blanket, he -pointed toward the east, and with extended fingers and uprising, coming -gesture quickly brought his hand to his heart, dropping his head, as if -some messenger of despair had made a sudden call. He paused a moment, and -then from his heart his hand went out in circling, gathering motion, until -he had made the silent speech so vivid that I could see the coming throng -of white settlers and the assembling of his tribe; and then, turning his -face away with a majestic wave of his hand, I saw his sorrow-stricken -people driven out to an unknown home; while he, sitting down again and -drawing his blanket around him, refused me further audience. Perhaps he -realized that he had told the whole story, and therefore need say no more. - -Often at evening we would gather around some grassy knoll, or, it may be, -some wagon-tongue, and white and red men mingled together. We would sit -down and smoke, and tell stories and recount traditions of the past. -Oftenest from Indian lips came the history of wars and dances, of scalps -taken and prisoners tortured. - -At the time of which I write the "Saukies" were at variance with the -"hated Sioux," and, indeed, the latter had been successful in a raid among -the herds of the former, and had likewise carried away captives. Hence the -sentinels on the outpost at evening. - -Just at dusk one night, when the theme had been the "Sioux," and our -thoughts were in that channel, suddenly the whole camp was in a blaze of -flashing muskets. We beat a hasty retreat to our wagons--which were our -only fortifications--with mingled feelings of fear and hope; fear of the -much-dreaded Sioux, and hope that we might witness a fight. - -My recollection now is that _fear_ had more to do with our gymnastic -exercises round about the wagon-wheels than _hope_ had to do with getting -a position for observation. But both were short-lived, for soon our -red-skinned friends were laughing loud at our fright, and we, the victims, -joined in to make believe we were not scared by the unceremonious flight -of a flock of belated wild geese, inviting fire from the warriors of our -camp; for so it was and nothing more. Still it was enough to make -peace-loving, weak nerves shake, and heated brain to dream for weeks after -of Sioux and of Indians generally. I speak for myself, but tell the truth -of all our camp, I think. - -The destination of our chief, Pow-e-shiek, and his band was temporarily -with "Kisk-ke-kosh," of the same tribe, whose bands were on Desmoines -river. There is among all Indians, of whom I have any knowledge, a custom -in vogue of going out to meet friends, or important personages, to assure -welcome, and, perhaps, gratify curiosity. - -When we were within a day or two of the end of our journey, a delegation -from Kisk-ke-kosh's camp came out to meet our party, and, while the -greeting we received was not demonstrative in words, the younger people of -both bands had adorned themselves with paint, beads, and feathers, and -were each of them doing their utmost to fascinate the other. The scene -presented was not only fantastic, but as civilized, people would exclaim, -"most gay and gorgeous," and exhilarating even to a looker-on. - -At night they gathered in groups, and made Cupid glad with the battles -lost and won by his disciples. Then they danced, or, to ears polite, -"hopped," or tripped the light fantastic moccasin trimmed with beads, to -music, primitive, 'tis true, but music made with Indian drums and rattling -gourds. They went not in waltz, but circling round and round, and always -round, as genteel people do, but round and round in single row, the -circling ends of which would meet at any particular point, or all points, -whenever the ring was complete, without reference to sets or partners, and -joining in the hi-yi-yi-eia-ye-o-hi-ye-yi; and when tired sit down on the -ground until rested, and then, without coaxing or renewed invitation, -joining in, wherever fancy or convenience suited; for these round dances -never break up at the unwelcome sound of the violin,--not, indeed, until -the dancers are all satisfied. - -The toilets were somewhat expensive, at least the "outfit" of each maiden -cost her tribe several acres of land,--sometimes, if of fine figure, -several _hundred_ acres,--and not because of the long trails or expensive -laces, for they do not need extensive skirts in which to dance, or laces, -either, to enhance their charms; for the young gentlemen for whom they -dressed were not envious of dry goods or fine enamel, but rather of the -quality of paint on the cheeks of laughing girls; for girls will paint, -you know, and those of whom I write put it on so thick that their beaux -never have cause to say, "That's too thin." - -The boys themselves paint in real genuine paint, not moustaches alone, -but eye-brows, checks, and hair. They wore feathers, too, because they -thought that feathers were good things to have at a round dance; and they -followed nature, and relieved the dusky maidens of seeming violation of -nature's plain intention. - -As I shall treat under the head of amusement the dances of Indians more at -length, I only remark, in this connection, that the dance on this -occasion, while it was a real "round dance," differed somewhat from round -dances of more high-toned people in several ways, and I am not sure it was -not without advantage in point of accommodation to the finer feelings of -discreet mammas, or envious "wall-flowers." At all events, as I have said -on former pages, the whole set formed in one circle, with close rank, -facing always to the front, and enlarged as the number of the dancers -grew, or contracted as they retired; but each one going forward and -keeping time with feet and hands to the music, which was low and slow at -first, with short step, increasing the music and the motion as they became -excited, until the air grew tremulous with the sounds, rising higher and -wilder, more and more exciting, until the lookers-on would catch the -inspiration and join the festive ring; even old men, who at first had felt -they could not spare dignity or muscle either, would lay aside their -blankets until they had lived over again the fiery scenes of younger days, -by rushing into the magnetic cordon, and, with recalled youth, forget all -else, save the soul-storming fury of the hour, sweetened with the charm of -exultant joy, over age and passing years. - -And thus the dance went on, until at last by degrees the dancers had -reached an altitude of happiness which burst forth in simultaneous shout -of music's eloquence, complete by higher notes of human voice drawn out to -fullest length. - -The dance was over, and the people went away in groups of twos and threes. -The maidens, skipping home to the paternal lodge without lingering over -swinging gates, or waiting for answering maids to ringing bells, crept -softly in, not waking their mammas up to take off for them their -lengthened trails, but perhaps with wildly beating hearts from the dance -to dream-land. - -The young braves gathered their scarlet blankets around them, and in -couples or threes, laughing as boys will do at silly jest of awkward maid -or swain, went where "tired Nature's sweet restorer" would keep promise -and let them live over again the enchanting scenes of the evening, and -thus with _negative_ and photograph would _feel_ the picture of youth -their own. - -The older men, whose folly had led them to display contempt for age, went -boldly home to lodge where the tired squaws had long since yielded to -exhausted nature, and were oblivious to the frolics of their _liege -lords_. - -Mrs. Squaw had no rights that a brave was bound to respect. It was _her_ -business to carry wood, build lodges, saddle his horse, and lash the -pappoose in the basket, and do all other drudgery. It was _his_ to wear -the gayest blanket, the vermilion paint, and eagle-feathers, and ride the -best horses, have a good time generally, and whip his squaws when drunk -or angry; and it was nobody's business to question _him_. He was a _man_. - -Now, if my reader has failed to see the picture I have drawn of Indian -dances, I promise you that, before our journey is ended, I will try again -a similar scene, where the music of tall pine-trees and tumbling torrents -from hoary mountains will give my pencil brighter hues and my hand a -steadier, finer touch. - -The arrival of our train at the camp of Kisk-ke-kosh called out whatever -of finery had not been on exhibition with the welcoming party who had come -out to meet us. And when the sun had gone down behind the Iowa prairies -the dances were repeated on a larger scale. - -The following day we were paid off and signed the vouchers. Don't know -that it was intended; don't know that it was not; but I do remember that -we were allowed the same number of days in which to return that we had -occupied in going out, although on our homeward journey we passed each day -two or three camps made on the outward journey. I ventured to make some -remark on the subject, suggesting the injustice of taking pay for more -time than was required for us to reach home, and a nice kind of a -churchman, one who could drive oxen without swearing, said in reply, "Boys -should be seen and not heard, you little fool!" - -He snubbed me then, but I never forgot the deep, earnest resolve I made to -thrash him for this insult when "_I got to be a man._" But, poor fellow, -he went years ago where boys _may_ be heard as well as seen, and I forgive -him. - -We met the rushing crowds who were going to the "New Purchase"; so eager, -indeed, that, like greedy vultures which circle round a dying charger and -then alight upon some eminence near, or poise themselves in mid air, -impatient for his death, sometimes swoop down upon him before his heart -has ceased to beat. - -So had these emigrants encamped along the frontier-line, impatient for the -hour when the red man should pull down his wigwam, put out his -council-fires, collect his squaws, his pappooses, and his ponies, and turn -his back upon the civilization they were bringing to take the place of -these untamed and savage ceremonies. While the council-fire was dying out, -another was being kindled whose ruddy light was to illuminate the faces, -and warm the hands of those who, following the westward star of empire, -had come to inherit the land, and build altars wherefrom should go up -thanks to Him who smiled when he created the "beautiful valley" of the -Iowa. - -How changed the scene! Then the gray smoke from Indian lodge rose slowly -up and floated leisurely away. Now from furnace-blast it bursts out in -volume black, and settles down over foundry and farm, city and town, -unless, indeed, the Great Spirit sends fierce tempests, as an omen of his -wrath, at the sacrilege done to the red man's home. - -_Then_ the forest stood entire, like harp-strings whereon the Great Spirit -might utter tones to soothe their stormy souls, or rouse them to deeds in -vindication of rights he had bequeathed. - -_Now_ they live only in part, the other part decaying, while groaning -under the pressure of the iron heel of power. - -Bearing no part in sweet sounds, unless indeed it be sweet to hear the -iron horse, with curling breath, proclaiming the advance of legions that -worship daily at Mammon's shrine, or bearing forward still further -westward the enterprising men and women who are to work for other lands a -transformation great as they have wrought for this. - -Then on the bosom of the river the red man's children might play in light -canoe, or sportive dive, to catch the mimic stars that seemed to live -beneath its flow, to light the homes of finny tribes who peopled then its -crystal chambers. - -_Now_, it is turgid and slow, and pent with obstructions to make it flow -in channels where its power is wanted to complete the wreck of forests -that once had made it cool, fit beverage for nature's children, or is -muddied with the noisy wheels of commerce, struggling to rob the once -happy home of Pow-e-shiek, of the charms and richness of soil that -nature's God had given. - -The prairies, too, at that time, were like a shoreless sea when, half in -anger, the winds resist the ebb or flow of its tides; or they may be -likened to the clouds, which seem to be mirrored on their waving surface, -sporting in the summer air, or, at the command of the Great Spirit, hurry -to join some gathering tempest, where He speaks in tones of thunder, as if -to rebuke the people for their crimes. - -Where once the wild deer roamed at will is enlivened now by the welcome -call of lowing herds of tamer kind. - -The waving grass, and fragrant flowers, too, gave way to blooming maize of -finer mould. - -The old trails have been buried like the feet that made them, beneath the -upturned sod. - -And now, while I am writing, this lovely valley rings out a chant of -praise to God, for his beneficence, instead of the weird wild song of -Pow-e-shiek and his people at their return from crusades against their -enemies. - -Who shall say the change that time and civilization have wrought, have not -brought nearer the hour, "When man, no more an abject thing, shall from -the sleep of ages spring," and be what God designed him, "pure and free?" - -No one, however deeply he may have drank from the fount of justice and -right, can fail to see, in the transformation wrought on this fair land, -the hand of Him whose finger points out the destiny of his peculiar -people, and yearly gives token of his approbation, by the return of -seasons, bringing rich reward to the hands of those whom he has called to -perform the wonders of which I write, in compensation for the hardships -they endured, while the transit was being made from the perfection of -untamed life to the higher state of civilization. - -While we praise Him who overrules all, we cannot fail to honor His -instrumentalities. - -The brave pioneers, leaving old homes in other lands to find new ones in -this, have made sacrifices of kindred, family ties, and early -associations, at the behest of some stern necessity (it may be growing out -of bankruptcy of business, though not of pride and honor, or manly -character), or ambition to be peers among their fellows. - -Or, mayhap, the change was made by promptings of parental love for -children whose prospects in life might be made better thereby, and the -family unity still preserved by locating lands in close proximity, where -from his home the father might by some well-known signal call his children -all around him. Where the faithful watch-dog's warning was echoed in every -yard, and thus gave information of passing events worthy of his attention -enacting in the neighborhood. Where the smoke from cabin chimneys high -arose, mingled in mid air, and died away in peaceful brotherhood. Where -the blended prayer of parent and child might go up in joint procession -from the school-house-churches through the shining trees that answered -well for steeples then, or passing through clouds to Him who had made so -many little groves, where homes might be made and prepared the most -beautiful spots on earth for final resting-place, where each, as the -journey of life should be over, might be laid away by kindred hands, far -from the hurrying, noisy crowds, who rush madly along, or stop only to -envy the dead the ground they occupy, and speculate how much filthy lucre -each sepulchre is worth. - -Others went to the new country with downy cheeks of youth, and others -still with full-grown beards, who were fired with high ambition to make -name, fame, home, and fortune, carrying underneath their sombre hats -bright ideas and wonderful possibilities, with hearts full of manly -purposes, beating quickly at the mention of mother's name or father's -pride, sister's prayer or brother's love. - -And with all these to buoy them up, would build homes on gentle slope, or -in shady grove, and thus become by slow degrees "one among us." - -I was with the first who went to this new country, and I know whereof I -write. I know more than I have told, or will tell, lest by accident I -betray the petty jealousies that cropped out; when Yankee-boys, forgetting -the girls they left behind them, would pay more attention to our western -girls than was agreeable to "us boys." - -Others there were who had followed the retreating footsteps of the -Indians. These were connecting links between two kinds of life, savage and -civilized. Good enough people in their way, but they could not bear the -hum of machinery, or the glitter of church-spires, because the first drove -back the wild game, and the devotees who worshipped beneath the second, -forbade the exercise of careless and wicked noises mingling with songs of -praise. - -A few, perhaps, had fled from other States to avoid the consequences of -technical legal constructions which would sadly interfere with their -unpuritanical ways. But these were not numerous. The early settlers, taken -all in all, possessed many virtues and qualifications that entitled them -to the honor which worthy actions and noble deeds guarantee to those who -do them. They had come from widely different birth-lands, and brought with -them habits that had made up their lives; and though each may have felt -sure their own was the better way, they soon learned that honest people -may differ and still be honest. And to govern themselves accordingly, each -yielded, without sacrifice of principle, their hereditary whims and -peculiar ways, and left the weightier matters of orthodoxy or heterodoxy -to be argued by those who had nothing better with which to occupy their -time than to muddle their own and other people's brains with abstruse -themes. - -The "early settlers" were eminently practical, and withal successful in -moulding out of the heterogeneous mass of whims and prejudices a common -public sentiment, acceptable to all, or nearly so. And thus, they grew, -not only in numbers but in wealth, power, intelligence, and patriotism, -until to-day there may be found on the once happy home of Pow-e-shiek a -people rivalling those of any other State, surpassing many of them in that -greatest and noblest of all virtues, "love for your neighbor." - -No people in all this grand republic furnished truer or braver men for the -holocaust of blood required to reconsecrate the soil of America to freedom -and justice, than those whose homes are built on the ruins of -Pow-e-shiek's early hunting-grounds. Proud as the record may be, it shall -yet glow with names written by an almost supernal fire, that warms into -life the immortal thought of poets, and the burning eloquence of orators. - -We are proud of the record of the past, and cherish bright hopes of the -future. But with all our patriotic exultations, memory of Pow-e-shiek's -sacrifices comes up to mingle sadness with our joy. Sadness, not the -offspring of reproach of conscience for unfair treatment to him or his -people by those who came after he had gone at the invitation of the -Government, but sadness because he and his people could not enjoy what -other races always have, the privilege of a higher civilization; sadness, -because, while our gates are thrown wide open and over them is written in -almost every tongue known among nations, "Come share our country and our -government with us," it was closed behind him and his race, and over those -words painted, in characters which he understood, "Begone!" - - - - - CHAPTER II. - - OVERLAND: BLOOD FOR BLOOD. - - -In 1846 Pow-e-shiek came with his band to visit his old home. We were -"early settlers" then, and had built our cabins on the sloping sides of a -bluff overlooking the valley below. From this outpost we descried the -bands of piebald ponies and then the curling smoke, and next the poles of -his wick-e-ups (houses); and soon we saw Pow-e-shiek coming to make known -his wish that he might be permitted to pasture his stock on the fields -which we had already robbed of corn. The recognition in me of one who had -assisted in removing his people seemed to surprise and please him, and for -a moment his eye lit up as if some fond reality of the past had revived -the friendship that had grown out of my sympathy for him in his dark hour -of departure from his home. And when I said, "This is my father, and my -mother, these my sisters and my brothers, and this place is our home," he -gave to the welcoming hands a friendly grasp in evidence of his good -intentions, and then assured us that no trouble on his part should grow -out of his coming, and that, if his young men should do any dishonest -acts, he would punish them; that he had come back to spend the winter once -again near his haunts of olden times, perhaps to kill the deer that he -thought white men did not care about since they had so many cattle and -swine. We accepted his assurance, and believed him to be just what he -pretended,--a quiet, honest old chief, who would do as he agreed, nor seek -excuse for not doing so. - -The dinner hour had passed, but such as we had my mother set before him, -and he did not fail to do full justice to everything upon the table. He -made sure that his pappooses should complete what he began by making a -clean sweep into one corner of his blanket to bear it to his lodge. After -dinner he drew out his pipe, and filling it with Kin-ni-ki-nick (tobacco), -and lighting it with a coal of fire, he first sought to propitiate the -Great Spirit by offering up to him the first puff of smoke; next the -devil, by blowing the smoke downward, and saved the third for himself; and -after that he offered to the fourth person in his calendar, my father, the -privilege of expressing his approval. But, as he was not a smoker himself, -he passed the pipe to his oldest son, intimating his desire that he should -be represented by proxy. I, willing to do his bidding, in friendship for -our guest, _it may be_, or perhaps from other personal motives, soon -reduced the Kin-ni-ki-nick to ashes and handed back the empty pipe to -Pow-e-shiek. I knew not that I had transgressed the rules of politeness -until afterwards, when I offered a pipe to our strange-mannered guest, he, -with dignity, drew a puff or two and then passed it back, with an -expression of countenance which declared unmistakably that it was meant -for reproof. - -If I felt resentment for a moment that a savage should presume to teach me -manners, I do not feel that I was the only one who might be greatly -benefited by taking lessons of unsophisticated men and women of other -than white blood; not alone in simple politeness, but also in regard to -right and justice, whose flags of truce are never raised _ostensibly_ to -insure protection, but _really_ to intimidate the weak and defenceless, -who dared to stand up for the God-given rights to home and country. - -Pow-e-shiek made preparations to return to his lodge, and we, boy-like, -followed him out of the cabin door, and while he was saying good-by he -espied a fine large dog that we had, named Van, though the name did not -indicate our politics. Pow-e-shiek proposed to trade a pony for "old Van," -and we were pleased at first, because we thought the pony would do to ride -after the "breaking team" of dewy mornings in the spring. But when we -learned that "Van" was wanted by the chief to furnish the most substantial -part of a feast for his people, we demurred. "Old Van," too, seemed to -understand the base use to which he was to be put, and reproached us with -sullen side-looks; and the trade was abandoned, and would have been -forgotten only that Van was ever afterward maddened at the sight of -Pow-e-shiek or any of his race. - -The winter passed, and our red neighbors had kept their promise, for -although neither the granary nor any other building was ever locked, -nothing had been missed, and our mutual regard seemed stronger than when -the acquaintance was renewed. When spring had fully come, Pow-e-shiek, -punctual to his promise, broke up his camp and went away. - -[Illustration: BULL-DOG TRADE.] - -Occasionally, for years afterwards, his people came back to visit; but _he -no more_. - -Years have passed, and he has joined the great throng in the happy -hunting-grounds. - -When the gold fever was at its height, in 1850, in company with others I -journeyed overland to the new Eldorado. While en route, we heard much of -Indians, of their butcheries and cruelties; I think there was good -foundation for the stories. Indeed, we saw so many evidences of their -handiwork, in new-made graves and abandoned wagons demolished, that there -could be no reasonable doubt of their savage treatment of those who came -within their power. - -While _I do not now, never have, and never will attempt to justify their -butcheries, yet it is but fair that both sides of the story be told_. - -When our party was at "Independence Rock," in 1850, and no Indians had -disturbed the passing travellers, near where we were then, we "laid over" -a day, and within the time a man came into camp and boasted that he had -"knocked over a _buck_ at a distance of a hundred yards," and when the -query was made as to the whereabouts of his game he produced a _bloody -scalp_. He gave as an excuse that the Indians had frightened an antelope -he was trying to kill, and that he shot the Indian while the latter was -endeavoring to get away. Is it unreasonable to suppose that the friends of -the murdered Indian, when he came not to the lodge at nightfall, would -hunt him up, and that, when his brother or friend saw his scalpless head, -he should avow to avenge his death? - -Doubtless he did avenge both himself and his tribe, and he may have slain -many innocent persons in retaliation for this foul deed. - -As to the cause of the Indian troubles on the Humbolt river, during the -summer of 1850, I know nothing. Probably they originated in some lawless -act similar to the one above described. In September following I loaned a -rifle to a miner who was going out on a prospecting tour. On his return he -proposed to buy it, saying that "it was a good one, he knew, because he -tried it on an Indian, shooting from one bluff to another; and," said this -civilized white man, "I dropped him into the river, and he went where all -good Injuns go." - -Later in the season two friendly Indians came into the town of "Bidwell's -Bar," and, although no evidence was produced against them, they were -arrested on "general principles," it was said; and while threats were made -of hanging them on "general principles" too, _better_ counsels prevailed, -and they were placed in charge of a guard, who were to convey them to -"Long's Bar," and turn them over to the sheriff to be held for trial. - -_The guard returned in a short time, and reported that the prisoners had -"slipped down a bank and were drowned."_ It was, however, understood that -they were killed by the guard "to save expense." Following this accident -several white men were murdered by Indians, it was said, although the -murdered men, it was evident, had met death through _other instrumentality -than bows and arrows_. - -A company was raised to go out and punish the offenders. On their return -they reported grand success in finding Indian rancheros, and in the -wholesale butchery they had committed. Do you wonder that twenty or thirty -white men were _riddled with arrows within a short time, after such manly -conduct, by the brave butchers of Indian women and children_? - -I have not at hand the data from which to mention in detail the various -Indian wars that harassed the miners of California. Suffice it that they -were of frequent occurrence, and, indeed, continued until the mountain -bands of Indians were broken up. If the truth could be heard from the lips -of both the living and the dead, we should hear many things _unpleasant to -the ears of white men_ as well as Indians, and, perhaps, discreditable to -both. I doubt not such revelation would support the declaration I here -make,--that _bad white men_ have always been the instigators of the bloody -deeds through which so many innocent persons have passed on to the other -life. - -The proofs are not wanting in almost every instance in support of this -statement. That the Indian is vindictive, is true; that he is brave, -cunning, and inhuman to his enemies is also true; but that he is faithful -to his compacts, whenever fairly dealt with, is _not less true_. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - - INDIANS AND MINERS. - - - WALLA-WALLA, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, - - February 4th, 1863. - - DEAR BROTHER (_Suisun City, Cal._):-- - -I have found a good country and more business than I can manage alone; -come and help me. Better leave your family until you can see for yourself. -You may not like it, though I do. Money is plenty, everything new, and -prices keyed up to old "forty-nine" times. - - Your brother, - - H. J. MEACHAM. - - LEE'S ENCAMPMENT, FIFTY MILES SOUTH OF WALLA-WALLA, - ON TOP OF BLUE MOUNTAIN, March 6, 1863. - - MY DEAR WIFE (_Suisun, Cal._):-- - -"Eureka." Come; I am camping in four feet of snow, and cooking meals in a -frying-pan, and charging a dollar; selling "slap jacks" two bits each; -oats and barley at twelve cents, and hay at ten cents per pound, and other -things at same kind of prices; can't supply the demand. Go to William -Booth, San Francisco, and tell him to ship you and the children with the -goods, to Walla-Walla, Washington Territory, via Portland, Oregon, care -Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express. - - A. B. MEACHAM. - -These two letters are copied here, to carry the reader and the writer over -a period of twelve years, leaving behind whatever may have transpired of -interest to the work now in hand, to be taken up on some other page, in -proper connection with kindred subjects of later date. - -Lee's Encampment is located near the summit of the Blue Mountains in -Oregon, on the great highway leading from the Columbia river to the rich -gold fields of Idaho and Eastern Oregon. It is fifty miles south of -Walla-Walla, and is also one of the out-boundaries of the Umatilla Indian -Reservation, occupied by the Walla-Walla, Cayuse and Umatilla Indians. - -The roads leading out from the several starting-points on the Columbia -river, to the mines above-mentioned, converge on the Reservation, and, -climbing the mountain's brow, on the old "Emigrant trail," cross over to -Grand Round valley. - -During the spring of 1863, the great tide of miners that flowed inland, to -reach the new gold fields, necessarily passed through the Reservation, and -thence via Lee's Encampment. This circumstance of location gave abundant -opportunity for observation by the writer. Of those who sought fortunes in -the mines, I might write many chapters descriptive of the motley crowds of -every shade of color and of character, forming episodes and thrilling -adventures. But my purpose in this work would not be subserved by doing -so, except such as have bearing on the subject-matter under consideration. - -Of the thousands who landed at Umatilla City and Walla-Walla, en route to -the "upper country," few brought means of transportation overland. There -were no stages, no railroads; and what though Haley & Ish, Stephen Taylor, -and many others, advertised "saddle trains to leave for the mines every -day of the week, at reasonable rates," which were, say, sixty dollars, on -ponies that cost perhaps forty dollars; yet there were hundreds that could -not get tickets even at those rates. The few who engaged _reserved seats_ -were started off on saddle-horses of various grades, under the charge of a -"conductor," whose principal duty was, not to collect fares, but to herd -the kitchen mules,--every train had with it one or more animals on whose -back the supplies and blankets were carried,--and indicate the camping -places by pulling the ropes that loosed the aforesaid kitchens and -blankets, when, like other trains, at the pull of the rope, the whole -would stop, and not be startled into unnecessary haste by "twenty minutes -for dinner" sounded in their ears. One or more nights the camp would be on -the Reservation, thus bringing travellers and Indians in contact. - -I have said that many could not get places, even on the backs of mules, or -Cayuse ponies. Such were compelled to take "Walkers' line," go on foot and -carry blankets and "grub" on their backs. The second night out would find -them also on the Reservation, and those who had the wherewith, purchased -horses of the Indians; some, perhaps, without consulting the owners. Not -stealing them! No. A white man would not do so mean a thing; but ropes are -suspicious things when found in the pack of one of "Walker's" passengers, -and if a pony was fool enough to run his head into a noose, the handiest -way to get clear of him was to exchange with some other man of similar -misfortune, and then it was not stealing in the eyes of honest white men. - -If the Indian missed his property, and, hunting along the line, found him -under a white man, you might suppose he could recover his horse. Not so, -my lord! Not so. The white man had proof that he had bought him of some -other man, may be an Indian. Such was sometimes the case, for I do not -believe that all men are honest, white or red; and these red men were not -behind the white in sharp practice; and it is safe to say, that those of -whom I am writing now were peers of those who sought to outwit, them. - -The horses of saddle trains would sometimes "stray away,"--often those of -freighters,--and, since time was money, and strangers might not understand -the "range," the Indians were employed to hunt for the straying animals, -and paid liberally if they succeeded; and thus it _made the stock of other -trains restless_, _and often they_ would run away--and so the business -increased, and the Indians grew wealthier, notwithstanding their own -sometimes followed off a rope in the hands of white men. - -The road, along which this stream of miners poured, left the valley of -Umatilla on the Reservation, leading up the mountains. Near the foot of -the hill, but with a deep ravine or gulch intervening, and on another -hill,--part really of the valley, though sloping toward the former,--was -The "Trading Post,"--Indian's sutler store. 'Twas here that saddle trains -and "Walker's line," halted for the night, or "to noon" and rest, after -travelling a fourteen-mile "stretch." - -The "Walker" passengers were already worn out, with heavy packs of picks -and pans, bottles and blankets. The situation of the post, with reference -to the mountain, was to an observer like standing on the sloping roof of -one house and measuring the "pitch" of the one adjoining, making it seem -much steeper than it really is. So with this mountain. True, it required a -broad upward sweep of vision to take in the height. On the first bench, -one mile above, the trains and men seemed to be transformed into dogs and -boys. On the second bench, two miles up, they looked still smaller. On the -third, three miles up, they very closely resembled Punch and Judy driving -a team of poodles. The Indians found here a market for their horses, and -sometimes did a livery business, in Indian style. - -A stalwart son of Erin, standing against the wall of the store to "rest -his pack," after looking at the trail leading up the mountain, said to the -merchant doing business there, "I say, misther, is it up that hill we go?" -Hearing an affirmative answer, he looked again at each bench, his brow -growing darker the higher his eye went; at length he gave vent to his -estimate of the undertaking by saying, "By the howly St. Patrick, if me -own mother was here in the shape of a mule, I'd ride her up that hill, -sure! I say, Misther Injun, wouldn't you sell us a bit of a pony for to -carry our blankets an' things over the mountain with?" - -The Indian had been in business long enough to understand that, and -replied, "Now-wit-ka mi-ka pot-luetch. Chic-a, mon, ni-ka is-cum, -cu-i-tan!"--"Och! Mister Injun, don't be makin' fun of a fellow, -now, will ye? It's very sore me feet is, a-carrying me pick and -pan and cooking-traps. Why don't you talk like a dacent American -gentleman?"--"Wake-ic-ta-cum-tux," said Tip-tip-a-noor, the Indian. "Don't -be playin' your dirty tongue on me now, or I'll spoil your beautiful face -so I will." - -Drawing his arms out of the straps that had kept the pack in position on -his shoulders, and lowering it "aisy," to save the bottle, he began to -make demonstrations of hostile character, when Mr. Flippin, the -post-trader, explained that Tip-tip-a-noos had replied to his first -request, "Yes, you show the money, and I will furnish the horse;" and he -had replied to the second, "I don't understand you."--"And is that all he -says? Shure, he is a nice man, so he is. Shan't I swaten his mouth wid a -dhrop from me bottle?"--"No," says Flip., "that won't do."--"Away wid yees; -shure, this is a free counthry, and can't a man do as he plases with his -own?"--"Not much," replied Flip. "I say now, Mike, will you join me in the -byin' of a bit of a pony for to carry our blankets and things?" - -The man addressed as Mike assented to the proposal, and soon -Tip-tip-a-noos brought a small pinto calico-colored horse; and after some -dickering the trade was completed by Pat, through pantomimic signs, giving -Tip to understand, that if he would follow down into the gulch, out of -sight of Flip., he would give him a bottle of whiskey, in addition to the -twenty dollars. - -The pony was turned over to Pat and Mike. The next move was to adjust the -packs on the Cayuse. This was not easily done. First, because the pony did -not understand Pat's jargon; second, they had not reckoned on the absence -of a pack-saddle. Flip., always ready to accommodate the travelling -public, for a consideration, brought an old cross-tree pack-saddle, and -then the lash-ropes,--ropes to bind the load to the saddle. Pat approached -the pony with outstretched hands, saying pretty things in Irish brogue; -while Mike, to make sure that the horse should not escape, had made it -fast to his waist with a rope holding back, while Pat went forward, so -that at the precise moment the latter had reached the pony's nose, he -reared up, and, striking forward, gave Pat a blow with his fore-foot, -knocking him down. Seeming to anticipate the Irishman's coming wrath, he -whirled so quick that Mike lost his balance and went down, shouting, -"Sthop us, sthop us; we are running away!" Pat recovered his feet in time -to jump on the prostrate form of Mike, going along horizontally, at a -furious gait, close to the pony's heels. The Cayuse slackened his speed -and finally stopped, but not until Mike had lost more or less of clothing, -and the "pelt" from his rosy face. - -When the two Irishmen were once more on foot, and both holding to the -rope, now detached from Mike's waist at one end, and buried into the -wheezing neck of the Cayuse at the other, a scene occurred that Bierstadt -should have had for a subject. I don't believe I can do it justice, and -yet I desire my readers to see it, since the renowned painter -above-mentioned, was not present to represent it on canvas. - -Think of two bloody-nosed Irish lads holding the pony, while he was -pulling back until his haunches almost touched the ground, wheezing for -breath, occasionally jumping forward to slacken the rope around his neck, -and each time letting Pat and Mike fall suddenly to the ground, swearing -in good Irish style at the "spalpeen of a brute" that had no better -manners, while Mr. Indian was laughing as he would have done his -crying,--away down in his heart. Flip., and _others_ looking on, were -doing as near justice to the occasion as possible, by laughing -old-fashioned horse-laughs, increasing with each speech from Pat or Mike. - -Occasionally, when the Cayuse would suddenly turn his heels, and fight in -pony style, Pat would roar out Irish, while the horse would compel them to -follow him, each with body and limbs at an angle of forty-five degrees, -until his horseship would turn again, and then they were on a horizontal -awhile. Securing him to a post, Pat said, "Now, be jabers, we've got him." -After slipping a shirt partly over his head, to "blind" him, they proceed -to sinche--fasten--the pack-saddle on him, and then the two packs. When -all was lashed fast, and a hak-i-more--rope halter--was on his nose, they -untied him from the post, and proposed to travel, but Cayuse did not -budge. Mike pulled and tugged at the halter, while Pat called him pretty -names, and, with outspread hands, as though he was herding geese, stamping -his foot, coaxed pony to start. No use. Flip. suggested a sharp stick. Pat -went for his cane, like a man who had been suddenly endowed with a bright -idea. After whittling the end to a point, he applied it to the pony. - -The next speech that Irishman made was while in half-bent position. With -one hand on the side of his head, he anxiously addressed Tip. "Meester -Injun, is me ear gone--Meester Injun, what time of night is it now? I say, -Meester Injun, where now is the spalpeen of a pony?" - -Mike had let go of the rope soon after Pat applied the sharp stick, and -was following the retreating blankets and bottles, ejaculating, "The -beautiful whiskey! The beautiful whiskey!" - -When Pat's eyes were clear enough, Meester Injun, without a smile, pointed -to the valley below, where frying pans and miners tools were performing a -small circus, much to the amusement of a band of Cayuse horses, who were -following Pat's pony with considerable interest. - -I don't think the goods, or the whiskey either, were ever recovered by Pat -and Mike, but I have an idea that "Tip-tip-a-noor" had a big dance, and -slept warm under the blankets, and possibly a big drunk. - -Of course, reader, you do not blame Irishmen for their opposition to "The -Humane Policy of the Government." - -The Indian, however, if detected in unlawful acts, was sure of punishment -under the law, no matter though he may have been incited to the deed by -whiskey he had bought of white men, who vended it in violation of law. -This commerce in whiskey was carried on extensively, notwithstanding the -efforts of a very efficient agent to prevent it. - -Men have started out on "Walker's line," carrying their blankets, and in a -day or two they would be well mounted, without resorting to a "rope" or -money to purchase with, and obtain the horses honestly too; that is to -say, when they practised self-denial, and did not empty the bottles they -had concealed in their packs. One bottle of whiskey would persuade an -Indian to dismount, and allow the sore-footed, honest miner, who carried -the bottle, to ride, no matter though the horse may have belonged to -other parties. I have heard men boast that they were "riding a bottle," -meaning the horse that bore them along had cost that sum. - -Such things were common, and could not be prevented. Young "Black Hawk" -learned how to speak English, and make brick, and various other arts, -through the kindness of the Superintendent of the State's Prison. These -things he might never have known, but for the foresight of some fellow who -disliked the fare on "Walker's" line. - -The question is asked, "What was the agent doing?" He was doing his duty -as well as he could, with the limited powers he possessed. But when he -sought to arrest the white men who were violators of the laws of the -United States, he was always met with the common prejudices against Indian -testimony, and found himself defeated. But, when he was appealed to for -protection against Indian depredations, he found sympathy and support, and -few instances occurred where guilty Indians escaped just punishment. - -I knew the agent well, and doubted not his sense of justice in his efforts -to maintain peace.--If he did not mete out even-handed justice in all -matters of dispute between white men and Indians, the fault was not his, -but rather that of public sentiment. When colored men were "niggers," the -Indian "had no rights that white men were bound to respect." - -He who proclaimed against the unjust administration of law so unfavorable -to the Indians, in courts where white men and Indians were parties, was -denounced as a fanatical sentimentalist, and placed in the same category -with "Wendell Phillips" and "Old John Brown," whose names, in former -times, were used to deride and frighten honest-thinking people from the -expression of sentiments of justice and right. - -I wish here to record that, although we did a large amount of business -with white men and Indians, we never had occasion to complain of the -latter for stealing, running off stock, or failing to perform, according -to agreement, to the letter, even in matters left to their own sense of -honor. - -On one occasion, "Cascas," a Reservation Indian, who was under contract to -deliver, once in ten days, at Lee's Encampment, ten head of yearlings, of -specified size and quality, as per sample, at the time of making the -bargain, brought nine of the kind agreed upon and one inferior animal. -Before driving them into the corral, he rode up to the house, and calling -me, pointed to the small yearling, saying that was "no good;" that he -could not find "good ones" enough that morning to fill the contract, but -if I would let the "Ten-as-moose-moose"--small steer--go in, next time, he -would drive up a "Hi-as-moose-moose"--big steer--in place of an ordinary -yearling. If I was unwilling to take the small one, he would drive him -back, and bring one that would be up to the standard. - -I assented to the first proposition. Faithful to the promise, he made up -the deficiency with a larger animal next time, and even then made it good. - -Another circumstance occurred which asserted the honesty of these Indians. -After we had corralled a small lot of cows purchased from them, one -escaped and returned to the Indian band of cattle, from which she had -been driven. Three or four years after, we were notified by the owner of -the band that we had four head of cattle with his herd. True, it was but -simple honesty, and no more than any honest man would have done; but there -are so many who would have marked and branded the calves of that little -herd, in their own interest, that I felt it worthy of mention here to the -credit of a people who have few friends to speak in their behalf. -Notwithstanding their lives furnish many evidences of high and honorable -character, yet they, very much like white men, exhibit many varieties. - -In pressing need for a supply of beef for hotel use, I called on -"Tin-tin-mit-si," once chief of the Walla-Wallas (a man of extraordinary -shrewdness, and possessed of great wealth, probably thirty thousand -dollars in stock and money), to make a purchase. He, silently, half in -pantomime, ordered his horse, that he might accompany me to the herds. -Taking with us his son-in-law, John McBerne, as interpreter, we soon found -one animal that would answer our purpose. The keen-eyed old chief, with -his blanket drawn over his head, faced about, and said, "How much that cow -weigh?"--"About four hundred and fifty pounds," I answered. "How much you -charge for a dinner?"--"One dollar," I responded. "How much a white man -eat?" said "Tin-tin-mit-si." I read his mind, and knew that he was -thinking how to take advantage of my necessity, and, also, that he was not -accustomed to the white man's dinner. I replied, "Sometimes one -pound."--"All right," quoth Indian; "you pay me four hundred dollars, then -what is over will pay you for cooking."--"But who will pay me for the -coffee, sugar, butter, potatoes, eggs, cheese, and other things?" I -replied. - -While Johnny was repeating this speech the old chief moved up closer, and -let his blanket slip off his ears, and demanded a repetition of the -varieties composing a Christian dinner; and, while this was being done, he -looked first at the interpreter, then at me, and said, in a surly, dry -tone, "No wonder a white man is a fool, if he eat all those things at -once; an Indian would be satisfied with beef alone." - -After some mathematical calculations had been explained, he agreed to -accept forty-five dollars, a good, round price for the cow. And I drove -away the beast, while "Tin-tin-mit-si" returned to his lodge to bury the -money I had paid him along with several thousand dollars he had saved for -his sons-in-law to quarrel over; for the old chief soon after sent for his -favorite horse to be tied near the door of his lodge, ready to accompany -him to the happy hunting-grounds, where, according to Indian theology, he -has been telling his father of the strange people he had seen. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - - DIAMOND-CUT-DIAMOND. - - -It was understood, in the treaty stipulation with the Government and these -people, that they were to have the privilege of hunting and grazing stock -in common with citizens on the public domain. In the exercise of this -right, they made annual journeys to Grand Round and other valleys, east of -the Blue mountains, driving before them, on these journeys, their horses. -They were often thus brought in contact with white settlers, and sometimes -difficulties occurred, growing, generally, out of the sale of intoxicating -liquors to them by unprincipled white men. - -Indians are not better than white men, and, when drunk, they exhibit the -meaner and baser qualities of their nature as completely as a white man. -Deliver us from either, but of the two, an intoxicated white man has the -advantage; he is not held responsible to law. The Indian has one privilege -the civilized white brother is not supposed to enjoy. He can abuse his -family, and as long as he is sober enough can whip his squaw; but woe be -to him when he gets past fighting, for then the squaw embraces the -opportunity of beating him in turn, and calls on other squaws to assist in -punishing her lord for past as well as present offences. - -The chiefs generally watch over their men, to prevent the purchase of -liquor by them. "Homli," chief of the Walla-Wallas, sometimes punished -his braves in a summary manner for getting drunk, using a horsewhip in the -public streets. However worthy the example, I believe that it was not -often followed by others of either race. - -The annual visits of which I have spoken occurred in the latter part of -June, when the mountain sides of Grand Round valley were offering tempting -inducements in fields of huckleberries. The valley, too,--where not -enclosed and turned to better use,--was blooming with Indian -"muck-a-muck," a sweet, nutritious root called ca-mas, with which the -Indian women filled baskets and sacks, in which to carry it to their homes -for winter use. - -The beautiful river of Grand Round was inviting the red men to war against -the shining trout and salmon, that made yearly pilgrimage to greater -altitudes and cooler shades, there to woo and mate, and thus to people the -upper waters with finny children, who would, in time of autumn leaves, go -to the great river below, and come again when mountain snows, now changed -to foaming torrents, hastened to the river's mouth, and tempting salmon -flies had come from their hiding places, and swarmed on bush and bank, to -lure the fish onward and upward, or beguile them to the fisher's net, or -hidden spear, if, perchance, they were warned away from angler's line, or -escaped the lightning arrow of Indian boys. - -Then, too, this beautiful garden of the mountains wore its brightest hues -on plain and sloping hills and cultured field. The farmers were idle then, -and often went to join the red men in racing horses, and chasing each -other in mimic wars. Sometimes the two would engage in trades of wild -Cayuses (Indian horses), teaching each other how to tame these fiery -steeds. Great circus shows were these, in which the red man might for once -laugh at the white man's clumsy imitations of red men's daily recreations. - -Again, the red man had sweet revenge for sharper practice which he had -felt at the hands of his white brother. Selecting some ill-natured beast, -whose tricks he well knew, he would offer him at a price so low, that some -white man who was tired of going to his neighbors for a ride, or had a -hopeful son anxious to imitate little Indian boys in feats of -horsemanship, would purchase him. Then fun began, to witness which the -town sometimes turned out. The colt, unused to civilized bit or spur, -would, like his former owner, show contempt for burdens he was not made to -bear without "bucking." When, with bridle and saddle, and rider, all new, -surrounded by scenes unlike his coltship's haunts, he was called upon to -forward move, he would stand as if turned to marble, until by persuasion -of whip and spur he'd change his mind. Then, with a snort, a bound, or -upward motion of his back, his nostrils buried in the dust, he'd whirl and -whirl until the rider dizzy grew, of which circumstance he seemed aware, -when, with all his power brought into quick use, he sent the rider in -mid-air or overhead, and straightway bent each bound toward his former -home, followed by loud shouts of laughter, made up of voices joined of -every kind and age, except perhaps that of the disgusted father--who had -sundry dollars invested in furniture on the runaway's back--and the crying -boy in the dust. - -The chances against the new owner's boy ever "putting on much style" on -that pony were not very numerous. Fearing as much, the next proposition -was to sell the pony back to "Mr. Injun" at a heavy discount; which was -done much against the wishes of the dethroned boy, whose aspirations for -western honor were thereby "nipped in the bud." - -A lawyer of "La Grande," celebrated for his shrewdness in business -generally, and who was the father of several enterprising sons, made an -investment in Cayuse stock, for the benefit of the aforesaid boys, and -fearing that he, too, might go in mourning over the money thus spent, in -fatherly tenderness determined that he himself would ride the pony first. - -The horse was saddled, and led by a long rope to the office door. The -lawyer said, "Now, Charley, I'll fool that pony, sure. I'm little, you -know, and he'll think I'm a boy." The rope was made fast to an -awning-post, and then, in presence of a hopeful audience, he mounted -slowly, though in full lawyer's dress, a bell-crowned "plug" (hat) -included. When softly springing in the stirrups, to assure himself all was -right, and confident that his "nag" was there, subject to his will, he -essayed to display his horsemanship. But pony was not ready then. The -lawyer called for whip and spurs, and without dismounting they were -furnished, and while holding out his foot to have the spur put on, -remarked that "he did not half like the white of the pony's eye. But, boys, -I'll stick while the saddle does." With sober face and eye fixed on the -ears in front, he coaxed again, and with soft speech sought to change the -pony's mind. But he was not ready now, until he felt the rowel stick into -his sides, and then away went horse and rider together, to the end of the -rope, where the pony stopped, though the lawyer did not, until his head -had struck the crown of his hat; and not then even, but, going at a -furious rate, the lawyer, hat, and torn trowsers had landed all in a heap -on the other side of the street; the awning-post gave way, and the -lawyer's Cayuse went off, with a small part of the town following him. - -The language used by him on this occasion consisted not of quotations from -Blackstone, or the Bible either, unless in detached words put strangely in -shape to answer immediate use. It is not safe to say anything about -fooling ponies, in court or elsewhere, in the town of La Grande, unless -the speaker wants war. That lawyer, although a stanch Republican, and -liable to be a candidate for Congress, is strongly opposed to President -Grant's peace policy with Indians,--the Umatilla Indians in particular. - -To say that Chief Homli and his tribe enjoyed little episodes, growing out -of horse-trading with the citizens of La Grande, is too gentle and soft a -way of telling the truth, and have it well understood, unless we add the -westernism "hugely." - -These visits had other beneficial results than those growing out of trade, -since they extended over the Fourth of July, when all the people of the -valley came together to celebrate the "nation's birthday," when, with fife -and drum, the country-folks would join with those in town, who "marched up -a street and then marched down again," to the willow-covered stand, where -readers and orators would rehearse, one, the history of the "Declaration," -the other, repeat some great man's speech. - -The tables groaned beneath the loads of viands, spread by gentle women's -hands. The reader and the orator of the day would take positions at either -end, and the meek chaplain in between, while the bashful country boys -would lead up their girls, until the table had been filled. Homli and his -people, dressed in Fourth-of-July regalias, would look on from respectful -distance, and wonder what the reader meant, when he said, "All men are -born free and equal," and wondered more to hear a wicked orator protest -that the "flag above was no longer a flaunting lie." The Indians were then -serving in the house of a foolish old man, named Esau. When fair lips -refused longer to taste, and manly breast was filled too full for -utterance, Homli and his people were invited to partake. Some of his -people accepted the gift of the remnants; but he, Homli, never. - -In the absence of better pastime, the crowd would come again to the grand -stand, to give opportunity for disappointed spouters to ventilate pent-up -patriotism. Homli, too, made a speech, and with keen rebuke referred to -days gone by, when white men had come to his lodge, and craved his -hospitality; how his women had culled their berry-baskets to find -something worthy of the white man's taste, and how the finest trout had -been offered in proof of friendship for the stranger guest, and boasted -that he had given the finest horses of his band to help the stranger on, -and sent an escort of trusty braves to direct him over all doubtful -trails. He boasted, too, that no white man's blood had ever stained his -hand, even when he was strong, and they were weak; then, with well-made -gesture, pointed to the valley, once all his own, and covered with -antelope and feathery tribes. No houses, fields, or barns marred then the -beautiful valley of the mountain. Turning half around, he gazed at people -and town, and sadly motioned to the mountain-sides, robbed of fir and -pine, and seemed to drink in, what, to him, was desolation made complete. -With eye half closed, he mused a moment, and then broke forth like some -brave soul that had mastered self, and was reconciled to the inexorable -destiny that his mind had seen in store, declared that he would be a man -himself, with white man's heart, and that his people would yet join with -pride in the coming celebrations. - -The triumph of civil hopes over savage mind was complete, and when the -change was realized by the lookers-on, they gathered round the chieftain, -and gave him welcome to a brotherhood born of a nation's struggles to -redeem mankind, when the white men were few and Homli's people numerous as -the stars that looked down on the rivers of this beautiful land. Who shall -remember the mild reproof of Homli, when he, under the humane and -enlightened policy of the Government, shall have made good this -declaration to be a white man in heart and practice? - -Little things sometimes move in harmony until they unite, and make up an -aggregate of causes, whose combined power becomes irresistible for good or -ill to peoples, tribes, and nations. - -The chieftain of whom I write had, at various times, felt the thongs that -bound him to his savage habits loosening, little by little, until at last, -under the influence of the patriotic joy of freemen, he himself had -stepped from under a shadow that was once a benison, but had now, because -of his enlightenment, become a barrier to his happiness. - -The change was real, and the heart that had come laden with reproach to -his neighbor, and felt the sting of slighted manhood, now exulted in the -recognition he had found in the sunshine of American Independence, and the -warm hands of freedom's sons, who bade him welcome to a better life. - -No human brain can correctly measure the influence of such events. Homli, -as I have said, was a chief of the Walla-Wallas, who, in conjunction with -the Umatillas and Cayuses, occupied the reservation spoken of as -"Umatilla" (horse-heaven), it being the original home of the tribe bearing -that name. In 1856, the three tribes above named united in treaty council -with the Government, represented by the lamented J. I. Stevens and General -Joel Palmer. - -This treaty was conducted with firmness and on principles of justice, the -Indians having, in this instance at least, half "the say." By the terms -agreed upon, a portion of country was reserved by the three tribes for a -permanent home, to be held jointly by them. It is located on one of the -tributaries of the Columbia, known as the Umatilla river. The -out-boundaries measured one hundred and three miles, covering a country -possessing many natural advantages, conducive to Indian life, and of great -value in the transfer of these people from a barbarous to a civilized -condition. - -Its surface is diversified with rich prairie lands, producing an excellent -quality of bunch grass,--so called because of its growing in -tussocks,--covering not more than half the surface of the round, the -remainder being entirely devoid of vegetation, very nutritious and well -adapted to grazing. - -The mountains are partly covered with forests of pine and fir, valuable -for commercial and building purposes. The streams are rapid, with bold -shores, abounding in latent power, waiting for the time when labor and -capital shall harness its cataracts to machinery, whose music will denote -the transformation process going on in the forest of the mountain; the -fleeces from the plain, and in the cereals they contain, in embryo, for -better use than shading herds of cattle and Indian horses, or its fleeces -made traffic for traders and shippers, who enrich themselves by taking -them in bulk and returning in manufactured exchanges; or for its fields to -lie dormant and idle, while commerce invites and starving people clamor -for bread they might be made to yield. - -True, its almost unbroken wilderness, echoing the call of cougar or cayote -(ki-o-te); its tall grass plains, tangled and trembling with the tread of -twenty thousand horses; its valleys decked with carpets of gorgeous -flowers,--fit patterns for the costumes of those who dance thereon,--or -speckled with baby farms, belonging to red-skinned ploughmen, or shaded by -the smoke of council wigwams; its waters sometimes shouting, as if in -pain, while hurrying headlong against the rock, or, laughing beneath the -balm-wood trees at the gambols of its own people, or, divided into an -hundred streams, go rushing on, still playing mirror for the smiling faces -of the youths, whose hearts and actions take pattern after its own -freedom; true, indeed, that this lovely spot of earth seems to have been -the special handiwork of the Almighty, who had withheld from other labors -the choicest gems of beauty, that he might make a paradise, where youth -could keep pace with passing years, until the change of happy -hunting-grounds should be noted only by the wail of weeping widows, or -sighs of sorrowing orphans. - -'Twas to this Indian paradise that Homli returned from his summer visit, -his heart laden with new feelings of pride; for he had been recognized as -a man. If he did not then begin to enjoy the realization of his hopes, -there were reasons why he did not that few have understood. - -Born to a wild, free life, possessed of a country such as few over enjoy, -with a channel of commerce traversing his home; brought in constant -contact with white men, some of whom, at least, he found to be soulless -adventurers, ever ready to take advantage of his ignorance of trade; -confused and bewildered by the diversity of opinions on political and -religious subjects; witnessing the living falsehood of much of civilized -life; but half understanding the ambitions of his "new heart," or the -privilege he was entitled to; with the romance of his native education in -matters of religion, its practical utility to satisfy his longings that -reached into the future, or to meet the demands of conscience, where duty -led him, or anger at insult drove him; the performance of its ceremonies, -connecting social with religious rites,--added to these the power that his -red brethren who were yet untouched by the finger of destiny, and were -luxuriating in idle, careless life, enhanced by the sight of the hardened -hands and sweating brows of those who sought to find admission to circles -where labor insures reward; confused when witnessing the enforcement of -laws "that are supposed to be uniform in operation," by the outrageous -partiality shown; treated with coldness and distrust, because of his -color; envied of his possessions, to which he had an inalienable right, by -deed from God, and confirmed by the government of the United States; -compelled to hear the constant coveting of others for it, and to hear -government denounced because it did not rob him of his home; to see -distrust in every action toward him; his manhood ignored, or crushed by -cruel power; his faith shaken; treated as an alien, even in his -birthplace; taunted with the threat that when he planted his feet on -higher plains, he should be crowded off, or forced to stand tottering on -the brink; his fears aroused by the threats he overheard of being finally -driven away; of speculations on the future towns that should spring up -over the graves of his fathers, when he was not there to defend -them,--added to all these discouragements the oppressions of his would-be -teachers, in moral ethics and religion; demanding his attendance on -ceremonies that were intangible, incomprehensible, to his mind, made more -unbearable by the tyranny of his red brethren, growing out of their -recognition of church-membership, and the consequent arrogance, even -contempt, with which they spoke of his religious habits and ceremonies; -unable to reconcile the practices of these people with the precepts of -their priest; ostracised from those, who, while untouched by the hand of -Christianity, had mingled voice and prayer with him in wilder worship; -finding friends among white men, whose hearts were true, but who, instead -of soothing his troubled feelings by patiently teaching him charity and -liberal-minded views touching matters of religious practice of his -Catholic friends and their ministers, would pile the fagots on the burning -altar 'twixt him and them, increasing distrust, making the breach wider, -thus becoming alienated from the other chiefs, How-lish-wam-po, of Cayuse, -and We-nap-snoot, of the Umatillas, and those of their tribes who had been -led, by ministrations of priest and chief, to the solemn masses of the -church: if then Homli failed to be a "white man" in heart, on whom does -the responsibility rest? - -I have not dealt in fiction, but have stated the circumstance plainly, the -truth of which will not be questioned by those whose personal knowledge -qualifies them for passing judgment, unless, indeed, it be those whose -minds have been trained to run in narrow, bigoted grooves, whose hearts -have never felt the warming influences of the high and pure love for truth -that characterizes a noble Christian manhood, and whose measure of right -is made by the petty and selfish interest of himself, who, with the -judgment of a truckling demagogue, barks for pay in popular applause or -political reward. - -For the present, I leave my readers to chide Homli for his failure, if, -indeed, they can, with the facts before them. As to the responsibility, I -shall discuss the subject fully and fearlessly on some future page of this -work, where the argument for and against the several "policies" may be -made and applied in a general way in the consideration of the subject of -"Indian civilization." - - - - - CHAPTER V. - - POLICIES ON TRIAL--"ONEATTA." - - -In the fall of 1866, the "Oregon Delegation," in Washington, proposed the -name of the author of this book for appointment as Superintendent of -Indian Affairs in Oregon. - -President Johnson, on inquiry, learned that he was not a "Johnson man," -and, of course, refused to make the nomination. - -The recommendation of the author's name was made without his solicitation -or knowledge. On the accession of President Grant, the recommendation was -renewed, the nomination was made and confirmed by the Senate of the United -States; bonds filed, oaths of office administered, and notice given to my -predecessor; and on the 1st of May, 1869, I assumed the duties of the -office indicated. - -The new administration had the Indian question in transit, between three -policies: The old way, "_Civil Service_," "_The War Department Policy_," -and General Grant's "_Quaker Policy_." - -With good intention, doubtless, the several policies were put on trial. - -Oregon superintendency and all its agencies were assigned to the tender -care of the War Department policy, and I was ordered to turn over my -office to an officer of the army, even before I had performed an -important official duty. Remonstrance was made by the people of Oregon -against the change. - -A compromise was effected. I was retained as Superintendent, and Hon. Ben. -Simpson, Agent at Siletz, and Capt. Charles Lafollette, Agent at Grand -Round also of the civil service policy. The remainder of the agencies were -assigned to officers of the army. This mixing up of elements was somewhat -embarrassing for a time. - -I began again my official duties. From the records in the Superintendent's -Office, Salem, Oregon, I learned the location and something of the -condition of the several agencies under my charge. - -"_The Coast Reservation_," covering three hundred miles of the Pacific -coast, embraced several stations, or agencies, comprising not more than -one-third the territory within its boundaries. It had never been ceded to -the Government, neither acquired by conquest, but was set apart by an act -of Congress for the benefit of the several tribes of the Willamette -valley. It is partly timbered and generally mountainous. It abounds in -resources suitable to Indian savage life. - -Once this wild region had been peopled with deer and elk, whose plaintive -call had led the cougar to his feast, or quickened the steps of the -huntsman, whose steady nerves enabled him to glide through the tanglewood, -bearing with him images of his children (who, dependent upon his archery, -awaited his return); and of faithful clutchmen (squaws), whose eyes would -kindle at sight of hunter, laden with fruits of the chase, that were to be -food and clothing for her little ones. These forest trees had stood -sentinels, guarding its people, from the gaze of tamer huntsmen, and from -the rough ocean winds that sweep the coast; or, uttering hoarser sounds, -or sighing songs, warning of coming storms, that sometimes beat the -white-winged ship, laden with merchandise, from foreign lands, against the -rocky shore (whose caverns were the refuge of sea-lions), or, echoing back -Pacific's roar, were waiting for the debris from wrecks of stately crafts, -or coming of sea-washed mariners. - -Then, at such perilous times, the peoples of this wild western verge of -continent would, in pure charity, build warning-fires on higher bluffs, at -nightfall, and thus give signals of danger; or, mayhap, they sometimes -built them to decoy, in order to avenge insult (or wrong, real, or -imaginary) of some former seaman, who had repaid them for good will by -treacherous act of larceny of some dusky maiden, or black-eyed boy, or -stalwart warrior, carried away to other lands. - -Tradition's living tongue has furnished foundation for the pictures I have -made. And many times to listening ears the story has been told, changed -only in the name of maiden, or boy, or braves, as date or location gave -truth to the sorrowing tale. - -Living still, on a home set apart by the State, are two chieftains of a -western tribe, whose people tell, in story and in song, how, at a certain -sign of danger to a ship, they went out over the breakers in a hollow-tree -canoe, to meet the white "tyee" of the "great canoe," and in pity for the -poverty of his knowledge of sea line had proffered him shelter in a quiet -nook of land-locked ocean, until such time as the Great Spirit might give -evidence of anger past, by smiling on the boisterous waves that had made -sport of man's puny efforts to control his own going. - -These chieftains, in dainty craft, had won the captain's confidence, and, -by consent of favoring winds and rolling seas, with trust he follows past -lone rocks that stand above the sunken reef, and through the foamy -passage, guarded by "headlands" on either side; past bars, unseen, that -break huge rollers into waves of shorter measure; past, still past, the -homes of fishermen on shore, until at last his sails flapped approval on -the mast, the keel complains of unaccustomed touch, and anchors dropped in -fathoms short to the bed of a bay that gives evidence of welcome, by -sending its sands to surface, speckled with mica or sparkling with grains -of gold. - -Thus the white man's big canoe found rest, and sailors crowded the rail to -give signs of gratitude to the strange, strong-armed pilots. - -The captain let down his stairs, that they might come on deck and exchange -mutual feelings of each heart. On the one hand, that of thankfulness, that -misfortunes make mankind akin, and used such occasions to teach the lion -that the mouse may be his master when circumstances bring his ability into -demand. - -The white man felt gratitude, and made proof of it by loading the red -man's "hollow tree" with rich stores of choice sugars from the islands, -blankets made in colder zones; with clothing that illy fitted the red -man's limbs; with lines, and nets, and hooks, and spears of foreign make, -and with weapons of fiery breath and noisy mouth, that poorly mated the -bow and arrow, though mating good by force of execution the loss in -warning talk. - -The chieftains, too, gave back, with answering hand and smiling face, the -gladness of their hearts that they had found opportunity to serve the -white man. - -When they departed, the "tyee" bade them come _again_. This was a great -day for the chieftain's _household_, when they landed beneath the willow -trees near their e-li-he (home). The women, with great, wondering eyes at -the sight of so many ic-tas (goods), began to unload the "hollow-tree -canoe," and, as each article new to them came in sight, they would wonder -and chatter and try them on, until at last they stood clothed in sailor's -garb, of jacket, pants and shoes. To their camps they came, loaded with -the precious freights, and, coming to their own, the little ones would cry -and run, shouting, "Hal-lu-me, til-li-cum" (strangers); nor would they -trust to their mothers' voices until they had put aside their costumes. - -These chiefs still laugh at the surprise they felt at sight of what they -supposed to be the new-found friends, until the merry cluchmen (women) -shouted, "Cla-hoy-em-six, tyee?" (How do you do, chief?) They quickly rose -from their cougar skin and panther's pelt, caught the bogus sailors, and -quickly robbed them of their borrowed clothes. - -That night, while the sun was going to rest in his bed of flaming billows, -on the ship's deck and on the sand of the red man's floor, happy hearts -bade each "Good-night." The white man was happy now that his home was -gently rocked by flowing tides. The red men, happy with their -til-li-cums, retailing in guttural notes their great adventures, and -dancing the pot-lach dance (giving dance), would stop, and with their -hands divide the prizes won, without thought of shells, or Indian coin, or -white man's chick-a-mon (money). When "to-morrow's sun" had climbed over -the craggy ledges of the coast mountain, and sent out his fiery messengers -to announce his coming, they came to the vessel's deck, and found no -watchman there. They peeped into the forecastle and cabin, and waked the -slumberers up to welcome the new morn begun on the bosom of Ya-quina Bay. - -At the Indian lodge, the soft voice of cluchman, mingling with the murmur -of rippling rills, that from snow-banks high on the mountain side came -hurrying down to quench the thirst of sailor or of savage; maybe, the -briny lips of the sea-monster or salmon fish, that come in to rest from -surging waters and bask awhile in the smooth currents of the bay. - -The chiefs arose and made breakfast on foreign teas and island sugars, and -when in new attire, with cluchman in beads and fine tattoo (an adornment -of savage tribes), with noses pierced by long polished shells, that made -an uncouth imitation of a dandy's moustache, with pappoose in basket hung -with bells, or lashed to boards with wild-deer thongs, and slung on -mother's back, secured with sealskin belts worn on the brow. To make the -whole a complete picture of Indian life, the dogs were taken in, and then -sitting in the prow to give command, the "hollow-tree canoe" was pointed -toward the ship. The loud hurrah of sailors, that was intended to give -welcome, was at first construed to be a warning, and quick the -"hollow-tree canoe" was turned about, each paddle playing in concert to -carry the frightened visitors away, while cluchmen and maidens, with -woman's privilege, screamed in terror of expected harm. - -The chief soothing them, and looking back descried the tyee captain, with -beckoning hand and signs recalling him to fulfil his purpose, and make the -visit. He bade the oarsman cease, and, while his canoe moved on from -acquired motion, though slower going, while he backward gazed, he, with -noiseless paddle, again brought the prow towards the sides of the "big -canoe." - -Slowly and cautiously he, with his precious cargo, floated nearer and -nearer still, with eyes wide open, to detect any sign of treachery, -sometimes half stopping at suggestions of frightened mothers or timid -maidens, and then anon would forward move; still, however, with great -caution, until at last the two canoes were rocking on the gentle tide in -closest friendship. - -The seamen who made this welcome port came on deck, with a sailor's pride -of dress, wide-legged trowsers, and wider collars to their shirts over -their shoulders falling, and with wide-topped, brimless caps. When the -new-comers had passed their fright, and the old chief had climbed on deck -to be sure that all was safe, he called his family, and, though the jolly -tars went down to assist them, they remained waiting for some further -proof of friendship. - -While their eyes were upward turned, and Jack's were downward bent, two -pairs (at least) met midway, and told the old, old tale over again. - -On deck, and leaning over the rail, stood a youthful sailor, with deep, -earnest eyes. These had met the gaze of another, the daughter of the pilot -chief. Silently the arrows flew; and, without honeyed word, or war-whoop, -the battle went on, until, by special invitation of looks, Oneatta came -aboard, and stood beside the smiling pale-face; and soon the older women -followed with the baby baskets until all were there except the dogs, who -cried at the partiality shown to the master and his family. - -The scene on deck was novel. The tyee captain and the chief were teaching -each other the words with which to give token of hospitality and -gratitude; half-sign, half-word language 'twas, though, in which exchanges -of friendly sentiments were told. - -The sailors, with the women and maidens, had organized a school, on a -small scale. Merry laughter often broke at the clumsy efforts of white -man's tongue to imitate Indian wa-wa (talk). The little ones received the -touch of rough fingers on dimpled chin, and turned like frightened fawns -away to listen to the tinkling of the little bells above their heads. - -The chief had brought with him richest offerings of venison and fish; the -women, specimens of handiwork in beads and necklaces, which they offered -in exchange for such articles of bright-hued colors as the sailors might -have bought in other lands. - -The bargains were quickly made, each side proud of success in securing -something to remind them of the visit. - -The chief signified his intention to return to his home on the beach, when -the good captain, not to be outdone in matters of courtesy, brought fresh -supplies of various kinds, and had them stowed away in the "hollow-tree -canoe." - -When the parting came, to prove his good will, the tyee captain promised -to return the visit. Oneatta had said to Theodore, the sailor, "Come;" and -he, with eyes doing service for his lips, had made promise. The red chief -and his family withdrew, and soon they were riding the laughing waves in -the "hollow-tree canoe." - -Thus the day had passed and joined the happy ones gone before it; and -bells had called the sailors to the deck, and the Indian chief reposed his -limbs on the uncut swath of willow grass, and waited for the approach of -night, that he might, by signal fires, call his kinsmen to the pil-pil -dance; a dance in honor of each Indian maiden when she "comes out." - -Oneatta had demanded of her parents this honor, and, since custom allowed -this privilege, she on that day reached an era in her life, when she chose -to be no longer a child. - -Her father, the chief, wondered at this sudden change of manner wrought, -but, yielding to his doating child, gave his assent. The picture I am -making now is true to the life of many a maiden, who may follow Oneatta's -history, whose faces take their hue of colors that give token of their -race. - -Some of them may recall their "coming out" 'neath dazzling chandeliers, on -carpets of finest grain, in dresses trailing long, in which they stepped -with timid gait to softest music, of silver lyre, or flute, or many-voiced -piano. - -But Oneatta's parlor was lighted up with glittering stars, that had done -service long, and brighter grew to eyes of each new belle, who had, from -time to time, lent first a listening ear to soft-voiced swain. - -The carpets were brightest green, and sanded by waves stranded on the -beach at the flowing of the tide. - -The music was grandly wild, a combination of the hoarse drum, or angry -roar of sea-lions, mingling with the deep bass voice of waves, breaking on -the rocks, while, soft and low, the human notes came in to make the -harmony complete to ears long trained to nature's tunes. - -The maiden, whose heart was now tumultuous as the scenes around her, had -dressed with greatest care in skirts of scarlet cloth, embroidered with -beads and trimmed with furs of seal and down of swan. Her arms, half -bared, were circled with bands of metals; her neck, with hoofs of fawns, -or talons of the mountain eagle; pendent from her ears, rattles of the -spotted snake; the partition of her nose held fast a beautiful shell of -slender mould; her cheeks, rosy with vermilion paints; while in her raven -hair she wore a gift from her pale-faced lover, brought from some far-off -shore, intended for some other than she who wore it now. It was but a -tinsel, yet it fitted well to crown her whose eyes were dancing long -before her beaded slippers had touched time upon the sanded floor. - -The circular altar, built of pebbles of varied colors, was lighted up with -choicest knots of pine from fallen trees. - -The watch on board the "big canoe" was set, and down its swinging stairway -the tyee captain, mate, and sailors descended to the waiting boat; then -softly touched the oars to smiling waves, and steady arms kept time to -seamen's song in stern and bow, guided, meanwhile, by the altar fire. Over -the glassy bridge they flew, and touched the bank beside the "hollow-tree -canoe." - -With hearty hand the chieftains bade them welcome, and gave silent signal -for the dance to begin, while the tyee captain and his men took station at -respectful space. The dancers came, and, forming round the maiden's altar -fires, awaited still for her to come from lodge. - -The pale-faces, lighted up with blaze from knotty wood, with folded arms -and curious wonder stood gazing on the scene. - -One among the number had scanned the merry circle of bashful Indian boys -and timid girls; his face bespoke vexation at his disappointment, for he -had failed to catch the eye of Oneatta. - -She came, at length, tripping toward the festive throng, and spoke to him -ere the dance began, not by smile, or deed, or word, but in Cupid's own -appointed way, that never lies. He, as every other swain can do, read it -in her eyes, and made answer in ways that do not make mistake. - -When the circle had closed round the altar, the song of gladness broke -forth from the lips of the tattooed and painted red chins, and from the -drum of hoarser sound, and then the happy dancers, without waiting for -partners, went with lithesome step in gay procession round. Louder rang -the music, quicker grew the steps, each time round; the little invisible -arrows flew from sailor-boy to Indian maiden, and from maiden to -sailor-boy; glancing each against the other, would rustle and then go -straight to target sent, until at last the maiden tired grew, her bosom -overladened with the arrows Cupid's quiver had supplied. She bade the -dancers stop, and with native grace, and stately step, she stood beside -her lover without a thought of wrong; for she was Nature's child, and had -not felt the thongs of fashion's code, which forbid her to be honest. - -Her tiny hand was pressed between the hard palms of the captive sailor, -for he had been fighting a battle where each is conquered only to be a -conqueror. - -Oneatta led the sailor-boy to join those who, with wondering eyes, had -waited for her return. He took his place beside his tutor now, to learn -how a step unused by tamer people might make speech for joy and gladness. - -The dance was ended. Pale faces, and red ones, too, had lost sight of the -stars, and were lulled to sleep by the rocking tides or muffled song of -rippling waters, or by the breakers beating the rocky shores of Ya-quina. - -Day followed day, and each had a history connecting it with its yesterday -and prophesying for the morrow. The sailor-boy went not on duty now, for -his "chummies" stood his watch. He spent much time at the e-li-he of the -tree chief, or with Oneatta went out in a small canoe to watch the -fishermen spear the fattened salmon. - -Sometimes they rambled on the mountain side beneath the mansinetta trees, -and exchanged lessons in worded language. He told her of his home, where -cities and towns were like the forest of her native home; of people who -outnumbered the stars above, and of bright-colored goods, of beautiful -beads and shells; and by degrees he won her consent to go from her native -land, to leave country and kindred, all for the sake of the promised -happiness he could give. - -The sailor made confident of his captain, and glowing pictures painted of -his princess, and what he would do with her when to his mother's home he -came. - -The honest captain found objection to the plan of carrying her away, and -sent for "Tyee John" (for so they called the chieftain then), and made him -understand how the young people had become betrothed. - -The face of Tyee John grew dark at first, and he was impatient to be gone; -but kindly words and presents hinted at brought him to consider. He -proposed that the sailor-boy should become one of his tribe, and make his -home with them, and then he could be his son. - -The conference was transferred to the e-li-he of Tyee John. The sailor -would not consent to remain on this wild shore, and made vows to come -again and bring Oneatta. - -At length by rich presents given, and promises of more when he should -come, the compact was made, to the joy of the Indian maiden and her sailor -lover. - -The sea gave a favoring breeze. The sails repaired, the tyee captain made -known his will to ride again the bounding waves. Oneatta bade farewell to -sorrowing mothers, sisters, brothers, giving each a token to keep until -her coming. O foolish Oneatta! you know not what you do! You act now from -example of your fairer sisters, who listen to the wooing notes of foreign -lips. We pity you as we do them. You have not thought how strange will be -the customs, manners and life of those with whom you are to mingle. A time -may come when you will long for the caresses of your rude mother, to hear -the merry shouts of brothers, to gaze into the face of your dark-eyed -father; perhaps long to hear love in native accents spoken by the young -brave who has given you choicest gems of ocean's strand and mountain -cliffs. - -We see you yet when your kinsmen tell of you in song, or story, your dark -eyes brimming with tears of hope and sorrow mingled. - -You reach the side of the "big canoe." We see the brave and manly -sailor-boy, who hastened to catch your trembling hand, and help you up the -swinging steps, and when on deck you stand, we see the sailor's chums, -from the ship-yards above, gaze down on you and him, with glances half of -envy, and half of pleased surprise. - -And now we see you startle at the fierce command of the mate, to heave the -anchor up, then their response drawn out in lengthened "Aye-aye, sir," and -singing, while they work, the seamen's song; and how wide your dark eyes -open at sight of whitened sails, outspreading like some monster swan, and -the troubled, anxious look you give to the humble e-li-he of childhood, as -it passed away, as if moving in itself, and the headlands that seem -floating towards you, and the great water that came rushing to meet you. - -We see, too, your father, Tyee John, in his "hollow-tree canoe," leading -the way, and pointing to some sunken rock, or shallow bar, or hidden reef, -until he rounds to in proof of danger past to the "big canoe." - -How its huge white wings fold up at a signal from the tyee captain! And -then your father comes board, and stands in mute attention to the -ceremonies of seamen's marriage law. And you, in innocence, give heed to -word or sign until you are bound in law to the fortunes and freaks of a -roving sailor-boy. - -When Tyee John turns away, hiding his tears in his heart, while yours run -down your cheeks, we see him reach his canoe, and you hanging over the -sides of the ship to catch a last glance of his eye. - -[Illustration: FAREWELL TO ONEATTA.] - -And then the white wings are spread again, and soon he grows so small that -his paddle seems but a dark feather in his hand, and your old home -recedes, and you have caught the last glimpse you ever will, of the -mountain sinking in the sea, and you, _alone_,--no, not alone, for your -sailor-boy is with you, now drying the tears from your dusky cheeks. - -Oneatta, we leave you, with a prayer that your life may not be as rough as -the seas that drove the "big canoe" into Quina bay. Whether your hopes -have blossomed into fruition, or have been blasted, we know not, nor if -you still live to be loved or loathed. We only know that your -silver-haired sire sits on the stony cliff, overlooking the mouth of the -harbor, and watches passing sails, or hastens to meet those that anchor, -and repeat the old question over and over, Me-si-ka, is-cum, -ni-ka-hi-ak-close, ten-as-cluchman, Oneatta? (Have you brought back my -beautiful daughter, Oneatta?) - -When Cupid comes with pale-faced warrior to the dusky maiden now, they -repeat the warning tale, with Ni-ka-cum-tux Oneatta. (I remember -Oneatta.) - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - - SENATORIAL BRAINS BEATEN BY SAVAGE MUSCLE--PLEASANT - WAY OF PAYING PENALTIES. - - -The story I have related is but one of the many that belong to this -region, and for the truth of which, witnesses still live, both whites and -Indians; another reason I introduce it here is to show my readers who may -think otherwise, that Indians--savage as they are at times, often made -savage by their religion--have _hearts_. Again and again shall I refer in -this work to the red man's emotional nature, and to his religion. I cannot -do so too often, as the reader will admit before he turns the last leaf. - -This agency is located west of the coast range of mountains, and bordering -on the Pacific Ocean. The valleys are small, irregular in shape, fertile -and productive, with prairies interspersed with forests of fir; -picturesque almost beyond description. At some points the mountains reach -out into the ocean, forming high headlands whereon are built light-houses, -to guard mariners against the dangers of the coast. Long white sandy -beaches stretch away for miles, and are then cut off by craggy bluffs. - -At the southern boundary of Siletz--two miles from the line--may be found -a beautiful bay, navigable inland for thirty miles. The banks are varied -in altitude; undulating hills, with rich alluvial bottom lands -intervening. The greatest width of bay is perhaps four miles, and -occasionally cut into channels by beautiful islands narrowing inland to -receive the small river Ya-quina. Midway between the mouth of the river -and the ocean entrance to the bay, extensive oyster-beds exist. - -This "Chesapeake" of the Pacific was once a part of Siletz reservation. -The discovery of the oyster-beds, and also of the numerous forests of -timber accessible to navigation, attracted the attention of the white men; -and the old, old story was again rehearsed,--"_The white men wanted -them._" - -That it was wanted by the white men was _sufficient_, and no ambitious -candidate for Legislature or Congressional honors _dare_ oppose the -violation of a solemn compact between the United States Government and the -Indians, who had accepted this country in compensation for their homes in -Umpyua and Rogue river valley. It was _cut off_, and given to commerce and -agriculture in 1866. - -That an equivalent was ever made to the Indian does not appear from any -records to which I have had access. It is, however, asserted, that a small -sum was invested in stock cattle, for the benefit of Siletz Indians. There -are two approaches to Siletz from the valley of Willamette; the principal, -via Ya-quina river and bay; the other, over the mountain by trail. My -first visit was by the former. In September, 1869, in company with Hon. -Geo. H. Williams, then U. S. Senator, now Attorney General of the United -States, Judge Odeneal, since my successor in office, and other citizens, -we reached the head of navigation late on the evening of the 12th. We -remained over night at "Elk Horn Hotel." The following morning, in the -absence of steamer, we took passage in small row-boats, propelled by -Indians. - -The adventures of the day were few, only one of which I shall refer to -now. Our U. S. Senator, who had done much for reconstruction in the -Senate, challenged one of our Indians for a trial of muscle at the oars. -The challenge was accepted, and senatorial broadcloth was laid aside, and -brain and muscle put to the test. After a short race the prow of our boat -ran into the bank on the side where brains was at work. For once at least, -muscle proved more than a match for brains, and, besides, an Indian had -won a victory over a great tyee. Now although our senator had proven -himself a match for other great senators in dignified debate, he was -compelled to listen to the cheers of our party in honor of a red man's -triumph over him. I doubt if those who of late defeated him, when a -candidate for the highest seat in our halls of justice, felt half the -gratification that "To-toot-na-Jack" did that morning when the tyee -dropped the oar, exhausted and disgusted with his failure to hold even -hand with a red brother, who was _not a senator_. - -After a row of twenty miles, we landed within a half hour's ride of -Siletz. The agent, Mr. Simpson, met our party with saddle-horses. - -While en route a horse-race was proposed; the dignified gentleman turning -jockey for the nonce. In fact, the entire party engaged in a run. The road -passed over low hills, covered with timber and tall ferns. While the -Congressional and Indian Departments were going at a fearful speed, a -representative of the latter went over his horse's head, and soon felt -the weight of the United States Senate crushing the Indian Department -almost to death. - -The parties referred to will recognize the picture. - -This was not the first time, or the last either, that the Senate of the -United States has "been down on the Indian Department." - -Without serious damage, both were again mounted, and soon were fording -Siletz river,--a deep, narrow stream, whose bed was full of holes, -slight--"irregularities," as defaulters would say. - -We crossed in safety, except that one horse carried his rider into water -too deep for wading. It matters not who the rider was, or whether he -belonged to Congress or the Indian Department. - -On reaching the prairie a sight presented itself, that gives emphatic -denial to the oft-repeated declaration, that Indians cannot be civilized. - -Spread out before us was a scene that words cannot portray. The agency -building occupied a plateau, twenty feet above the level of the valley. -They were half hidden by the remnants of a high stockade that had been -erected when the Indians were first brought on to the agency fresh from -the Rogue-river war. At that time a small garrison was thought necessary -to prevent rebellion among the Indians, and to secure the safety of the -officers of the Indian Department. - -It was, doubtless, good judgment, under the circumstances. Here were the -remnants of fourteen different tribes and bands, who had been at war with -white men and each other, and who, though subjugated, had not been -thoroughly "_reconstructed_." - -They were located in the valley, within sight of the agency, and were -living in little huts and shanties that had been built by the Government. - -Each tribe had been allotted houses separated from the others but a few -hundred yards at farthest. They drew their supplies from the same -storehouse, used the same teams and tools, and were in constant contact. -They had come here at the command of the United States Government, in -chains, bearing with them the trophies of war; some of them being -fair-haired scalp-locks, and others were off red men's heads. Think for a -moment of enemies meeting and wearing these evidences of former enmity; -shaking hands while each was in possession of the scalp-locks of father or -brother of the others! - -But, at the time of the visit referred to, no sentinel walked his rounds. -No bayonet flashed in the sunshine on the watch-tower of the stockade at -Siletz. The granaries and barns were unbarred; even Agent Simpson's own -quarters were unlocked day and night. Fire-arms and tools were unguarded; -Indians came and went at will, except that Agent Simpson had so taught -them that they never entered without a preliminary knock. The Indian men -came not with heads covered, but in respectful observance of ceremony. - -The kitchen work and house-keeping were done by Indian women, under the -direction of a white matron. The agent's table afforded the best of -viands. Tell the world that Indians cannot be civilized! Here were the -survivors of many battles, who, but a few short years since, had been -brought under guard, some of them loaded with chains, and with blood on -their hands, who were living as I have described. - -Sometimes, it is true, the remembrance of former feuds would arouse the -sleeping fires of hatred and desire for revenge amongst themselves, and -fights would ensue. But no white man has ever been injured by these people -while on the Reservation, since their location at Siletz. - -This statement is made in justice to the Indians themselves, and in honor -of those who had control of them, both of whom merit the compliment. -Amongst these people were Indian _desperadoes_, who had exulted in the -bloody deeds they had committed. One especially, braver than the rest, -named Euchre Bill, boasted that he had _eaten the heart of one white man_. - -This he did in presence of Agent Simpson, during an effort of the latter -to quell a broil. The agent, always equal to emergencies, replied, by -knocking the fellow down, handcuffing him, and shutting him up in the -guard-house, and feeding him on bread and water for several days, after -which time he was released, with the warning that, the next time he -repeated the hellish boast, he would "not need handcuffs, nor bread and -water." Bill understood the hint. The agent remarked to us that "Bill was -one of his main dependants in preserving order." - -During our visit we went with the agent to see Euchre Bill. He was hewing -logs. On our approach he dropped the axe, and saluted the agent with -"Good-morning, Mr. Simpson," at the same time extending his hand. When -informed of the personality of our party, Bill waved his hat, and made a -slight bow, repeating the name of each in turn. - -We looked in on the school then in progress; we found twenty-five children -in attendance. They gave proof of their ability to use the English -language, and understand its power to express ideas; the lessons were all -in primary books. Their recitations were remarkable. Outside of books they -had been instructed in practical knowledge, and answered readily in -concert to the questions, Who is President of the United States? What city -is the capital? Who is Governor of Oregon? Where is the capital located? -Who is Superintendent of Indian Affairs? What year is this? How many -months in a year? When did the count of years begin? Who was Jesus Christ? -And many other questions were asked and readily answered. The boys were -named George Washington, Dan Webster, Abe Lincoln, James Nesmith, Grant, -Sherman, Sheridan,--each answering to a big name. "Dan Webster" delivered -in passable style an extract from his great prototype's reply to Hayne. -The school also joined the teacher in singing several Sunday-school hymns, -and popular songs. Short speeches were made by visitors and teachers. We -were much encouraged by what we saw, and left _that_ school-house with the -belief that Indian children can learn as readily as others when an -opportunity is given them. I have not changed my conviction since; much of -its prosperity was due to the teacher, William Shipley, who was fitted for -the work and gave his time to it. We also called at some of the little -settlements. The agency farm was tilled in common; notwithstanding we saw -many small gardens around the Indian houses, growing vegetables, and in -one or more "_tame flowers_." At one place several men were at work on a -new house, some of them shingling, others clinking cracks. One man was -hewing out, with a common axe, a soft kind of stone for a fire-place. - -We entered the house of "Too-toot-na Jack," the champion oarsman. He -welcomed his vanquished rival in the boat-race above referred to, and his -friend, and offered one an arm-chair, and stools to the remainder. His -wife came in, and Jack said, "This is my woman, Too-toot-na Jinney. She is -no fool either. She has a cooking-stove in the kitchen." Jinney was much -older than her husband; but that was not unusual. She was a thrifty -housewife, and was a financier,--had saved nearly one thousand silver -half-dollars; and what she lacked in personal charms, on account of -tattooed chin and gray hairs, she made up, like many a fairer woman, in -the size of the buckskin purse wherein she kept her coin. Jack seemed -fully to appreciate the good qualities of his "woman;" not because he had -access to her fortune, but because _she_ was old and _he_ was young, and -the chances were that _he_ would be at _her_ funeral. - -That hope has made many a better fellow than Too-toot-na behave with -becoming reverence for his wife. But "many a slip 'twixt cup and lip" -applies to all kinds of people. Jack never realized on _his investment_. -_He_ went _first_, and Jinney is now a rich widow, and has no doubt -marriage offers in abundance. - -We were present on "court day," the agent holding it for the adjustment of -all kinds of difficulties among his people. In such cases he appoints -juries from among the bystanders, always taking care to select such as had -no tribal affinities with the parties to the suit. He had a sheriff in -every tribe, and on occasions where their own friends were interested he -summoned others to act. He _himself_ was the _court and high sheriff_, and -always _sat_ with a large hickory cane, called "Old Moderator." - -My readers may smile at this kind of a gavel; but it was a practical and -useful thing to have in such courts,--much more potential than Blackstone -or any other kind of commentaries, unless, indeed, it be the last revised -edition of Samuel Colt. - -The records of that court were sometimes made on untanned parchment; by -which I mean, my poor, unsophisticated reader, that these Indian citizens -would sometimes forget very willingly to observe the decorum due before -that august tribunal, and fall to making a record for themselves and on -one another with fists, clubs, whips, knives, pistols, and other lively -weapons, until the good Judge Simpson completed that record by a vigorous -application of the aforesaid hickory club, and some of the citizens had -editions for personal adornment. - -The walls of the court-room had transcript fragments done in carmine,--or, -to be better understood, in "claret." Court day had been announced to the -visitors while at breakfast. The senator had been a successful lawyer -before entering the political arena; the judge was then in the enjoyment -of a lucrative practice; the superintendent had done something in the law -line in county courts before justices of the peace. - -The court-room was crowded, the doorways and windows were occupied, and -black shining eyes were glistening through every crack, all anxious to see -and hear. These people, of Siletz especially, were apt imitators, and -more readily fell in with the vices and frivolities of civilization than -with its virtues and proprieties. - -The assembly was composed of the greatest variety of character, color, -costume, and countenance ever found in any court-room. Women were there, -learning law. Perhaps, they had, woman-like, intuitively snuffed the purer -air of freedom that is soon to sweep over our beautiful country and blast -the hopes of demagogues who now _rule_, without _representing_, the better -portion of the people. - -Old chiefs were there to learn wisdom, to take with them to the -hunting-grounds above. Don't chide them, reader. They never had an even -chance in this life; let them have it in the next, if possible. - -The boys were there, and why not? They were looking forward to a time when -an Indian will be as good as a negro, if they behave as well. They had an -eye to political and pecuniary affairs. In fact, the people were all there -except camp-watchers and sick ones. - -When our party were seated, the "Moderator" touched the floor, and soon -all was silent. - -These Indians are fond of "law," and since the old law and new--that is to -say, Indian and white men's--were somewhat mixed up, it was a difficult -matter to execute justice uniformly. Agent Simpson, being a practical man, -had not sought to enforce the white men's law any further than the Indian -comprehended it. - -The Indian lawyers were on hand ready for business. The first case called -was for assault and battery. The court and the visitors had been partial -witness of the little fight, which occurred the day previous to the trial, -on the "Plaza," in front of the agent's head-quarters. The contestants -were clutchmen (women); _the cause of war_, the only thing that women ever -fight about,--_a man_. - -The statement in court was to the effect that one woman had stolen another -woman's husband. The parties were arraigned, the statement made concerning -the case, and the matter compromised by sending both parties to the "Sku -Kum" House (Guard House). - -The next case called was that of a man charged with unlawfully using a -horse belonging to some one else. The accused was ordered to pay for the -offence about what the real service of the animal was worth; no damages -were allowed. The third case was somewhat similar to the first. - -One of Joshua's people--name of a tribe--claimed damage for insulted -honor, and destruction of his domestic happiness. - -A Rogue-river Indian had, very much after the fashions of civilized life, -by presents and petty talk, persuaded the wife of the aforesaid warrior to -elope with him. The old history of poor human nature had been repeated. -The villain deserted his victim, and she returned to her home. Her -husband, with observing eyes discovered more ic-tas (goods) in the woman's -possession than could be accounted for on honorable grounds, and demanded -an explanation. She made "a clean breast," and agreed to go into court -with her husband and claim _damages_, not divorce; for I have before -remarked that Indians were eminently practical. The husband demanded -_satisfaction_. The accused, whose name was "Chetco Dandy," would have -accorded him the privilege of a fight; but that was not the satisfaction -demanded. The husband had made his ultimatum. _Two horses_ would settle -the unpleasantness. Chetco, however, owned but one. The court decided that -he should make ten hundred rails, and deliver the horse to the injured -husband, with the understanding that the latter was to _board_ him while -doing the work. - -I can't resist a query: how long a white man, under such arrangements, -would require to make ten hundred rails. The husband was satisfied, his -honor was vindicated, and he owned another horse. After the docket was -cleared, a council talk was had. - -These people had been placed here by the Government, in 1856, numbering -then, according to Superintendent Nesmith's report for 1857, 2,049 souls, -representing fourteen bands; and although, in 1869, they numbered little -more than half as many, they kept up tribal relations, at least so far as -chieftainship was concerned. In the council that day one or two of the -chiefs represented tribes in bands of ten or twenty persons; and one poor -follow, the last of his people, stood alone without constituency. He was a -chief, nevertheless. - -I cannot report here the reflection that such a circumstance -suggests,--only that he, with the usual solemn face of an Indian in -council, seemed the personification of loneliness. - -The speeches made by these people evinced more sense than their appearance -indicated. They were dependent on the Government, and felt their -helplessness. When the usual speeches had been made preliminary to -business talk, I said to them that I was gratified at the advancement they -had made, considering the circumstances, and that I was willing for them -to express their wishes in regard to the expenditure of money in their -interest. - -They were loth to speak on this matter, because they had never been -consulted, and a recognition of their manhood was more than they had -expected. After some deliberation, during which they, like bashful boys, -asked one another, each nudging his neighbor to speak first, old Joshua at -last arose, half hesitatingly, and said, "Maby, I don't understand you. Do -you mean that we may say what we want bought for us? Nobody ever said that -before, and it seems strange to me." - -I had consulted the agent before making this experiment, and he had -doubted the propriety; not because he was unwilling to recognize their -manhood in the premises, but he feared they would betray weakness for -useless articles, and thereby bring derision on his efforts to civilize -them. Perhaps it might establish a precedent that would be troublesome -sometimes. - -He exhibited great anxiety when Old Joshua rose, lest he would disgrace -his people by asking for beads, paint, and powder, and lead, and scarlet -cloth. I can see that agent yet, with his deep-set eyes fixed on the -speaker, while he rested his chin on his cane. Old Joshua spoke again, -and, though he was considered a "terrible brave on the warpath," and had -passed the better portion of his life in that way, now when, for the first -time in his life, he was called upon to give opinions on a serious -matter, concerning the investment of money for his people, he appeared to -be transformed into a _man_. He _was_ a man. Hear him talk:-- - -"I am old; I can't live long. I want my people to put away the old law -(meaning the old order of things). I want them to learn how to work like -white men. They cannot be Indians any longer. We have had some things -bought for us that did us no good,--some blankets that I could poke my -finger through; some hoes that broke like a stick. We don't want these -things. We want _ploughs_, _harness_, chick-chick (_wagons_), _axes_, good -hoes, a few blankets for the old people. These we want. We have been -promised these things. They have not come." - -The agent's face relaxed; his eyes changed to pleased surprise. Other -chiefs spoke also, but after the pattern that Joshua had made, except that -some of them complained more, and named a former agent, who came poor and -went away rich. No Indian suggested an unwise investment. We assured them -that they should have the tools and other goods asked for; and _that -promise was kept_, much to the gratification of the Indians and agent. - -I have not the abstract at hand, but I think I purchased for them soon -after $1,200 worth of tools and twenty sets of harness, and that a few -blankets were issued. - -But, to resume the council proceedings. These people were clamorous for -allotments of land in severalty. Their arguments were logical, they -referring to the promises of the Government to give each man a home. The -land has been surveyed, and, if not allotted to them, I do not know why -it has not been done. - -The subject of religion was discussed at some length. The agent, willing -to advance "his people," had given them lessons in the first principles of -Christianity. He had taught them the observance of Sunday, had forbidden -drinking, gambling, and profanity. He invited ministers to preach to them, -and, when necessary, had been their interpreter. There were several -languages represented in the council; the major portion of the Indians -understood the jargon, or "Chi-nook," a language composed of less than one -hundred words; partly Indian, Spanish, French, and "Boston." The latter -word is in common use among the tribes of Oregon and Washington Territory -to represent white men or American. - -The Christian churches have enjoyed the privilege of ministry to these -people since they were first located on the Reservation. - -The Catholic priests, who had baptized some of these people, were very -zealous. Occasionally, the Methodist itinerant called and preached to -them. The labors of neither were productive of much good, because they did -not preach with simplicity, and could not, therefore, preach with power. -It would be about as sensible for a Chinaman to preach to Christians, as -for the latter to preach to Indians in high-flown words, abstruse -doctrines, or abstract dogmas. One case will illustrate. - -A very devout man of God visited the agency, with, I doubt not, good -intentions. He preached to these people just as he would have done to -white men. He talked of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world; besought -them to flee from the wrath to come; that Jesus Christ was the Saviour of -the red men as well as white men; that he had died for the sins of the -world; that he rose again the third day and ascended into heaven. - -The discourse was interpreted to the Indians by an employe on the -Reservation. A few days after, a Si-wash, the usual word for Indian, who -answered to the name of Push-wash, entered into conversation with the -above-named employe, by saying, "What you think about that Sunday-man's -talk,--you think him fool?"--"No; he is a good man; he has plenty of -sense."--"What for he swear all time?"--"He did not swear; he talked -straight." - -"What for he say Jesus Christ so many times? All the time he talk the -same." - -"That was all right; he told the truth; he did not talk wrong." - -"You think me fool? What for a good man die for me? I am not a bad man. I -did not tell him to die." - -"The Jews killed him, they did not like him." - -"You say Jews kill good man?" - -"Yes, they kill him, and he come to life again on the third day." - -"You think he came to life? I don't believe they kill him. He not live any -more." - -"Yes; everybody will live again some time." - -"You suppose a bad Indian get up, walk 'bout again, all the same a good -man?" - -"They will all rise, but they won't all be good." - -"What for the Sunday man tell that? He say Jesus Christ die for bad Indian -too? Say he go to heaven all the same as a good Indian, good white man; -that aint fair thing. I don't no like such religion." - -A few days afterwards the man who reported this dialogue passed near the -grave of an Indian, and found it covered with stones and logs. He learned -afterwards, that Push-wash had explained to other Indians the meaning of -the "Sunday-man's talk," and they had piled stones and logs on the graves -of their enemies, to prevent them rising from the dead. - -The reader will thus appreciate the necessity for sending ministers who -are qualified to preach to these people; otherwise they may do the savage -more harm than good. Farther on in the work I shall discuss more fully -this most important of all questions, with special reference to the -difficulties in the way of treating with the Indians, in consequence of -their numerous and peculiar religious beliefs, which few white men know -anything about. - -I left Siletz with a favorable opinion of the people, and the prospects -before them. Notwithstanding the many impediments in the way of their -civilization, the transformation from a wild savage to a semi-civilized -life had been wrought in fourteen years. - -In this connection I submit the last annual report of Hon. Ben. -Simpson,[1] late United States Indian agent at Siletz. I do so, because -whatever of progress these people may have made was under his -administration as Indian agent, and believing the short history presented -by him will be of interest to my readers. - -[1] See Appendix. - -He is a gentleman of unimpeachable integrity, though blessed with enemies -whose assaults have polished his character like a diamond. Whatever vices -these Indians may have exhibited to his successor,--Gen. Palmer,--they -were not the results of Mr. Simpson's management, or example; but rather -the natural consequences of association with profligate soldiers and other -white men, during the first years of their residence on the Reservation. - -Gen. Joel Palmer was recommended as Mr. Simpson's successor by the -Methodist Church. He went to his duty with long experience, and in many -respects well fitted for the work. - -Scarcely had he assumed the duties of his office, with a new set of -employes, before he was made to realize that poor human nature will in -most cases control human action. Ingratitude is said, by Indian haters, to -be characteristic of those people. Better be honest and say it of mankind. - -I have said that he selected a new set of officers. Among them was one -chosen on account of his religious habits,--habits, I say, not -character,--who had lent a listening ear to the call, "Go preach my Gospel -to all nations." This man answered this urgent call, and Agent Palmer -employed him. No sooner had he unfurled the banner of Christianity among -these people, than he began in a clandestine way to undermine Agent -Palmer. Unfortunately for the agent, this preacher had been recommended by -the same church for position. This gave him influence. He made use of it. -He proposed to other officers of the agency that if they would assist in -ousting Palmer he would retain them in their respective positions. - -To consummate this act of religious villany, he circulated reports against -the man, whose kindness fed him and his family, that he (Palmer) had men -in his employ who were "not, strictly speaking, Christians; that he was -not competent to discharge the duties of his office." The agent found, -what nearly every officer has learned sooner or later, that his position -was of doubtful tenure, and felt the sting of this man's treachery so -severely that he proposed to resign. - -"Brother ---- is determined to oust me, and I reckon I will let him have -the position. He wants it, and I don't care to worry my life out fighting -for an Indian agency." - -This is the substance of the speech Agent Palmer made to me as -superintendent. I said to him, "Do no such thing. Go back to your agency -and tell that man to roll his blankets and be off, or you will put him in -irons. Then discharge every accomplice he has, and select good, true men -instead." - -Brother Palmer replied that "the church recommended Brother ----, and I -don't like to do such a thing." I prevailed on him to withdraw his -resignation; and on his return to Siletz, he discharged Brother ----. But -the war was continued against him until Agent Palmer demanded a successor -to relieve him; and after a short administration he retired without having -christianized the Siletz Indians. - -I have mentioned this episode for the reason that I desire full justice -done a man who meant well, with a sincere hope that those having the -appointing power may be made to reflect a moment before making -nominations for office in deference to the demands of any church, and -without regard to the fitness of the appointee. - -I have due respect for church members, and recognize the necessity of -having men of moral character among the wards of this Government. - -Gen. Palmer, with his long experience, was, in many respects, qualified -for his position; but he was a poor judge of character. I may be censured -for making these comments, but they are just, nevertheless; as was the -opinion I gave of the aforesaid Brother ----, when his name was proposed -as a missionary to the Siletz Indians, by the presiding elder of the -district. - -I answered him, "That man's face says he would undermine his father, to -forward his own interests." - -The elder said in reply, "Brother Meacham, you must be mistaken; he is a -good, Christian man, and will be a great help to Brother Palmer." In -courtesy to the presiding elder, I consented, with the remark, "Try him; -but he will make a thorny bed for Brother Palmer." - -Here is the history. It is not written to bring ridicule on the church -nominating him. - -Siletz agency has been established fourteen years, during which time five -agents have represented the Government. Some of them have been good men -for the position. - -Although these Indians are not up to the standard of moral character, or -church requirements, a great change has been wrought, and credit should be -given to whom it is due. - -Uncouth these Indians on Siletz may be, but let truth speak for them, and -you will hear of how they came to this new home captives, and in chains, -under guard of bayonets, borne on shoulders of men wearing the uniform of -the U. S. A. - -You will hear how these men were stationed among them to guard them, and -compel obedience to the mandates of a Government that permitted the -grossest outrages on their rights, and made no effort to redress their -wrongs. - -You would hear, too, of a people living in careless indolence on Umpyua -and Rogue rivers, in southern Oregon, when disturbed by the advent of -white men, who came with prejudices against them, who disregarded their -rights, denied them the privilege of living on the land God had given -them, who failed to protect them from the outrages committed by vicious -white men; of the indiscriminate warfare that was carried on against them -for resenting such insults; of their native land left in ruins, where the -wail of weeping pale-faces over slain friends mingled with their own -lamentations on taking leave of the homes of their earliest life. - -Truth would tell of the many crimes committed by and against them, since -their residence at Siletz; of how they have been punished for their own -misdeeds, and have seen those who sinned against them go unpunished. - -Be patient, you half-savage people! Death is rapidly healing your wounds -and curing your griefs. Those who survive may, in time, be given homes. -The lands have been surveyed for these people, but have not yet been -allotted. Nothing could do more to revive them than the consummation of -this promise. - -Some of them have lived with white men as laborers, and have learned many -things qualifying them for this great boon. Surely a magnanimous -Government will complete this great act of justice to a helpless people. -May God speed the day! - - ALSEA AGENCY. - -It is located on the coast Reservation south of Yaquina bay. The people -are "salt chuck," or saltwater Indians, and the majority of them were born -on the lands they now occupy; hence they are the most quiet and -well-behaved Indians in Oregon. - -They are easily controlled, and are making progress in civilization. But -few in number, and of the character I have named, they have never taken -part in any of the many wars that have made Oregon "the battle-ground of -the Pacific coast." - -A sub-agency was established over them in 1866. The pay of sub-agent is -$1,000 per annum, without subsistence or other allowance. The Alsea people -being non-treaty Indians,--that is to say, they have no existing treaty -with the Government; no funds being appropriated especially for -them,--they are sustained entirely from the "Incidental Funds" for Oregon -Superintendency. - -The fact that the Alsea Indians have always been easily managed has been -to their disadvantage in securing Government aid. Had they been more -refractory, they would have been better treated. This sounds strangely, -and yet I declare it to be true. Why should Government reward them for -being peaceable? They have asked for buildings; the Government gave them -huts. They asked for schools and churches; but no school-house stands out -in the bleak ocean winds of their home; no church-bell calls them to hear -the wonderful story of a Saviour's love. Notwithstanding the wealth of -their successors peals forth in loud strains which echo on foreign shores, -no hammer rings out its cheering notes on anvil of theirs. - -This little agency demonstrates the fact, that the only _sure_ way for -Indians to secure attention is _through blood_. Our Government follows the -example of the father of the Prodigal Son, with this remarkable -difference, that it abuses its dutiful children, while it fawns upon and -encourages the red-faced reprobates, by _rewarding_ them for their -rebellious deeds. - -The department farm at Alsea was made by Government, on Indian land, -ostensibly for the Indians' benefit. It is located on a bleak plain, that -stretches away from the ocean surf to the foot of the coast range -mountains. It produces potatoes and oats. The mountains are high and -rugged, and covered with dense forests of fir and cedar timber; much of -the former has been "burnt." A heavy undergrowth has become almost -impenetrable except for wild animals or Indian hunters. - -The cedar groves cover streams of water that will in time be of great -value, when turned on to machinery with which to convert the cedars into -merchandise for foreign markets. The streams are plentifully supplied with -fish. No long list of employes answer to the command of an agent at Alsea. -In some respects it is the better way, inasmuch as it is to the interest -of the agent to teach his wards the more common arts of handiwork. In this -way, the improvements have been made by Indian labor, under the direction -of an agent; and now, while I write, these people are coming slowly up -towards the gate that _should_ open to them a way to the brotherhood of -man. - -Efforts are being made to reduce the area of the Reservation, and, should -they succeed, these people who have cost the Government so little of blood -or treasure, will be compelled to yield; only repeating, "Might versus -Right." I am not opposed to reduction of the limits of the coast -Reservation, if these people, who have already given up so much beautiful -country, shall be provided with schools, churches, shops, and other means -whereby they may be compensated, and, in the mean time, prepared by -civilization for the new life that awaits the survivors, that, a few years -hence, may be left to represent their people. - -The Government owes to these humble Indians all I have suggested, and, in -addition, a home marked out and allotted in severalty, made inalienable -for one or two generations. - -But, however deserving they may be, it is doubtful if they ever enjoy the -boon they crave. Few in number, peaceable in disposition, unknown to the -world by bloody deeds, the probabilities are that the white man will -encroach on their lands, a few miles at a time, until at last, hemmed in -by a civilization they cannot enjoy, they will gradually mix and mingle, -becoming more licentious and corrupt by association with vicious white -men, and in a generation or two will be known only by a few vagabonds, who -will wander, gipsy-like, through the country, a poor, miserable fag-end of -a race. - -Perhaps a few may take humble positions as laborers, and attain to a -half-way station between savage and civilized life. Another few will -become slaves to King Alcohol, and their chief men, lying around whiskey -mills, drunken, debauched, despised, will drop back again to mother earth, -mingling with the soil their fathers once owned. - -Thus the people of Alsea will pass away. I pity you, humble, red-skinned -children of the Pacific surf! You were happy once, and carelessly rode in -your canoes over the shining sands of your native beach, or chased the -game on the mountain side, little dreaming of the coming of a human tide -which would swallow you and your sea-washed home, or carry both away out -on the boundless expanse of a civilization whose other shores you could -not see had sepulchres ready for your bones. You have spent your lives -with your feet beating the paths your fathers made centuries ago; but your -children shall follow newer trails, that lead to more dangerous jungles -than those trod by your ancestors. Strange demons they will meet, before -whom they will fall to rise no more. - -Your fathers watched the shadows of Alsea mountain moving slowly up its -western front, making huge pictures on its sides, and gazed without fear -on the sun dropping under the sea, wondering how it found its way under -the great ocean and high mountains, to come again with so much regularity; -or perhaps they believed, as others do, that the Great Spirit sent a new -"fire-ball" each day, and nightly quenched it in the sea. You now see the -shadows climb the mountain, fitting emblem of the white man's presence in -your land, and read in the setting sun the history of your race. Better -that you had never heard the sweet sounds of civilized life than that -you, with feet untrained, should follow its allurements to your -destruction. - -You, that once gave to the beautiful mountain streams smile for smile, are -now haggard and worn, giving only grim presages of your doom. - -Others of your race have avenged their ill-fortunes with the tomahawk, -and, in compliance with their religion, have rejected offers of a better -life than they knew. But you--you have yielded without war, and, like -helpless orphans thrown on the cold world, have accepted the mites given -grudgingly by your masters, who treat with contempt and ridicule your -cherished faith, who misconstrue your peaceful lives into cowardice. They -have fixed their eyes on your home. They will make Alsea river transform -the forest on its banks into houses, towns, and cities. They will make the -valley where you now follow the government plough, to yield rich harvests -of grain, and they will convert the ocean beach into a fountain of golden -treasure. A few years more, and the noise of machinery will wake you early -from your slumbers. The roar of ocean's breakers will mingle with the hum -of busy life in which you may have no part. The white man's eyes will -dance with gladness at the sight of your mountains dismantled of their -forests, and the glimmer of coming sails to bear away the lofty pines. -Yours will weep at the sacrilege done to your hunting grounds; theirs will -gaze on the wide Pacific, and see there the channels that will bring -compensation to them for the spoils of your home. Yours will recognize it -only as the resting-place for the bones of your people. The white man -says, "Your fate is fixed,--your doom is sealed." Few hearts beat with -sympathy for you; you are unknown and unnoticed. You must pass away, -unless, indeed, the white race shall, from the full surfeit of vengeance -upon you and yours, at last return to you a measure of justice. - -He who dares appeal in your behalf is derided by his fellows. A proud, -boastful people, who claim that human actions should be directed by high -motives and pure principles, treat with contempt every effort made to save -you from destruction. Strong may be the heart of the Indian Chief to -resist the encroachments on his people's rights, but stronger still the -arm of a Government that boasts rebellion against oppression as its -foundation stone. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - - PHIL SHERIDAN'S OLD HOME--WHAT A CABIN COST. - - GRAND ROUND INDIAN AGENCY. - - -I Made my first official visit to this agency in the latter part of -September, 1869. Captain Charles La Follette was then acting agent. - -The road from Salem was over a beautiful country, settled by white men, -who had transformed this once wild region into a paradise. The first view -of the agency proper was from a high ridge several miles distant. On the -right and left were clustered the houses of the several tribes, each one -having been assigned a location. Their houses were built of logs or -boards, and rudely put together. Every board had cost these poor people an -acre of land; every log counted for so much money given in compensation -for their birthrights to the soil of the matchless valley of the -Willamette. - -As we stood on the dividing ridge separating this agency from the great -valley I have mentioned, looking toward the west, we beheld, nearest on -the left, old Fort Yamhill, with its snowy cottages, built for the -accommodation of the officers of the army in the days when the gallant -Sheridan was a lieutenant, and walked its parade-grounds with a simple -sword dangling by his side and bars on his shoulder, holding beneath his -military cap a brain power waiting for the sound of clanking chains and -thundering cannon to call him hence to deeds of valor that should compel -the laurel wreath of fame to seek his brow, little thinking then, while -guarding savages, that, away off in the future, his charger would -impatiently call him from repose, and bear him into the face of a -victorious enemy with so much gallantry that he would turn an apparent -defeat into a glorious victory. - -Immediately on our right were the huts of the people for whose especial -intimidation the costly palaces and beautiful cottages had been built. The -huts or houses were built on the hillside sloping toward the valley. They -presented the appearance of a small, dilapidated inland town that had been -"cut off" by a railroad; but they were peopled with Indians who were -trying to imitate their masters. - -Farther away on the left was another little group of houses, occupied by -the chief of the Santiams and his people. The sight of this man's home -recalled a part of his own history, suggestive of romance, wild, it is -true, but real, nevertheless. - -Many years ago, this chief was a young warrior, and his people were at -peace with the white race, and were not then "wards of the Government," -but were living on their native hills, in the vicinity of Mount Jefferson, -standing sentinel over the snowy peaks of the Cascade mountains, on whose -sides were sitting, like great urns, clear, cold lakes, sending forth -little streamlets, murmuring and whispering, and sometimes leaping, like -boys going home from play, joining other merry, laughing streamlets, -rushing madly along through forests of firs and sugar-pines, whose -dropping cones startled the wild game from their repose. - -'Twas here this young warrior's home was nestled, beneath the -outstretched arms of giant cedars, or sheltered by some quiet nook or -cove. Here he had learned the arts of his own people, and passed the -winters by, until alone he could chase the fawns or climb the -mountain-peak, and gather trophies with which to ornament his neck or fill -his quiver. - -A pale-face man from distant Missouri had come to this far country to -escape the familiar sounds of civilization, where he might imitate the -Indian in his freedom and his pleasures. He brought with him his family, -and built his cabin near a fountain, to which medicine men would sometimes -come or send their patients for recovery. - -This white man had a son, with down just cropping on his chin, who, "chip -of the old block," as he was, seemed half Indian already, and, fond of -wild sports, soon made the acquaintance of young Santiam. The friendship -grew, and the rivalry of _archer_ and _gunner_ often drew them into -dispute. Still they were friends. - -The archer claimed that he could creep, and noiselessly shoot from cover, -without giving alarm, until his quiver should be empty, and thus bring -down the chary buck or spotted fawn. The gunner would aver that he could -do better execution at greater distance. These trials of skill were often -made, and each time the difference 'twixt white and red skin seemed to -diminish. The young pale-face would sling his gun and straightway bend his -steps toward the camp of Santiam. By signs that he had learned, he took -the young chief's trail, and followed through wooded plains, or up the -mountain side, until they would hail each other, and then, by agreement, -would separate to meet again at some appointed place, laying a wager who -would be most successful in the chase of black-tailed deer or mountain -sheep. - -The hill-sides had put on autumn hues, and the loftier hills were dressed -in winter's garb, and gave warning to the denizens who spent their summers -near their peaks, that cold weather would soon drive them to the hills -beneath for refuge from the blasts that howl above the roar of mountain -lion or jumping torrents. - -The keeper of the fleecy clouds had given sign of readiness, and, in fact, -had begun to spread the winter's carpet down, to preserve the tender -grasses for the antlered herd, which would return in open spring to train -their limbs for daring feats, in defiance of the feathered arrow, or his -neighbor, the loud-talking gun. - -Santiam, to anticipate their coming, had started in the early morn, while -yet the sun was climbing the eastern slope of Jefferson, and, leaving a -sign imprinted in the snow, for his friend to read, hurried on, hoping -that from ambush he might send his arrow home to the panting heart of the -bounding deer. His friend, anticipating the coming of his rival, had -already gone by another route to the trysting place; while waiting there -for valley-going game, he spied a grizzly bear, and, without knowing the -habits of the monster, he took deliberate aim and fired, but failed to -bring his bearship to the ground. - -These fellows, when undisturbed, are sure to run; but when the leaden ball -had pierced this one's pelt, he exhibited the usual bearish indications of -resentment for insult offered. The pale-face hunter stood his ground, and -sent another ball, merely to persuade his enemy to desist. To those -accustomed to this kind of fight, I need not say that every shot made the -matter worse. These kings of the Cascades yield not to showers of leaden -hail or flocks of flying arrows until the life of their enemy or their own -gives victory. With lumbering gait and open mouth, he closed upon the -hapless hunter, and had borne him to the ground, when Santiam reached the -scene. He hesitated not on which side he would volunteer. Snatching from -his belt a hatchet, and a well-tried knife, he, too, closed on the -grizzly, and drew his attention from his friend, who, in turn, would -attack the wounded monster, and thus alternating between two enemies, he -grew more furious and regardless of consequences. - -Rallying again to renew the desperate struggle, though his life was ebbing -fast, he threw his great body on the pale-faced hunter, when Santiam, with -well-aimed steel at his heart, closed the battle. His friend had been -severely wounded, and lay prostrate on the ground; his torn garments -dripping in blood, his own, and that of his dread enemy, mingled. The -young chief soon had a blazing fire, and then tying up the wounds of his -friend, to stop the flow of blood, he hastened to his home for aid. - -Returning with a cluchman of his tribe, he found his friend sinking fast. -Making a hasty litter of pine limbs, they bore the wounded hunter to his -home. The mother, at the sight of her son so mangled, like a true heroine, -overcame her fear, and made preparation for his comfort. The sister, in -her quiet way, brought refreshment for her brother, and while the father -and his comrade, the "medicine man," were joining their skill to provide -remedies for the wounded one, young Santiam, acting from the precepts of -his people, had hurried back to the battle-ground, and, with his -cluchman's help, soon stripped the pelt from the dead beast, and brought -it to the home of his white rival, and then the "medicine man," with faith -based on tradition's usage, bound up the wounds therewith. - -The days went slowly by, until the danger was passed. Santiam went not to -the chase, unless for choicest food for his friend, but waited beside the -couch of his comrade for his recovery; sometimes joining with the sick -man's sister in watching his slumbers, or, may be, touching hands in -ministering to his wants. - -She, with missionary spirit, sought to teach Santiam words, and the -history, too, of her people, their ways, and higher life than he had -known. He was apt at learning, as my reader may discover by his speech, -recited in this book, made in council years after. His dark eye kindled as -some new knowledge found way to his understanding, and his heart grew -warmer at the sound of voice from pale-faced cluchman. If history be true, -her eye kindled too, at the coming of the quiet step of the young comrade -of her brother, and her heart felt a new, strange fire, that sent its -flame to her cheeks in tell-tale roses. - -Novice though he was in civilized ways, he was a man, and with quick -perception made the discovery that he now cared more for his comrade's -sister than for him; and that even the sister thought of her brother in -the third person. - -This Missouri man had not yet recognized the growing love between his -daughter and young Santiam; and the mother, too, without recalling the -youthful days of her own wooing,--perhaps she had none, but years before, -in obedience to a custom of her own people, had listened to a proposal, -and accepted, because she might "do no better,"--did not recognize the -signs of coming trouble to her household, in the rustic courtship going -on. Why do parents so soon forget their wooing days, and hide the history -from their children, when so nearly all that human nature endures of woes, -or enjoys of bliss, comes through the agency of the emotions and -affections of the heart? - -This guileless girl, cut off from association with her own people by -action of her father, and in gratitude for the young chief's kindness to -her brother, had, under the prompting of the richest emotions that God had -given, opened her heart in friendship first and invited the visitor to -share so much; little dreaming that, when once the guest was there, he -would become a constant tenant, against whose expulsion she would herself -rebel. - -The young chief himself did not realize that the finest, warmest feelings -of the human heart are supposed by greater men to be confined to the same -race or color. Perhaps he thought the Great Spirit had made all alike, not -fixed the difference in the hue of the skin. He was a free man; did not -know that civilization had raised a barrier between the races. He had, -without knowing what he did, found the barrier down, and passed beyond in -natural freedom, and, without thought of wrong, had given full freedom to -his heart. - -The winter passed, and spring had sprinkled the hill-side with flowers. -The wilder herds had fled from the huntsman's horn, and climbed again to -pleasure-grounds, where the tender grasses cropped out from retreating -snow-fields. The rival hunters had again resumed the chase, and spent -whole days in telling stories of the past, or living over the battle of -the preceding autumn. Each rehearsal made them better friends, and -confidence grew mutual. Santiam, with freedom, spoke to his white brother -of the "fire in his heart,"--so these people speak of love,--of the sister -whom he loved. Who ever told a fellow that he loved his sister without -making friendship tremble for the result? - -The pale-face boy of whom I am writing still lives, though grown into gray -manhood, to verify this story. When Santiam had told his story, her -brother was quiet and thought in silence, while the warrior talked on, of -how he would be a "white man" and put away his wild habits, and be his -brother. The other promised that he would consult his family, and thus -they parted for the night. - -The morning found Santiam at the cabin of the "settler," little dreaming -that the friendship they had shown him was so soon to be withdrawn. He saw -the ominous word refusal in the cold reception that he met. One pair of -eyes alone talked in sympathetic glances. He waited to hear no more. - -I would like to accommodate my youthful readers with what would make this -romantic story run on until some happy denouement had been found, and then -resume my work; but I dare not be false to history. The white man moved -away. The Indian remained until, through misunderstanding between his -people and the white race, war ensued; the frontier rang out the fearful -challenge of battle, and victims of both races were offered up to appease -insult and thirst for vengeance. The white hunter and his father united -with others in a war of extermination against the Indians, while they left -a home defenceless. - -Young Santiam refused to war against the white man. He gave protection to -the cabin that sheltered his love of other days. The maiden is maiden yet; -and, though gray hair crowns her head, she is still faithful to the vows -made to her Indian lover in her girlhood. Whether she condemns the usage -of society that forbade her marriage, or blesses it because it saved her -from a savage life, we know not. She may blame her parents for their -short-sighted action in isolating her from those congenial to her heart, -by locating on the frontier where she met Santiam; surely, not for -prohibiting her marriage to him. - -Santiam, at the close of the war, removed with his people to Grand Round -Agency, where he has lived since. Hear him talk in the Salem council of -1871, and judge him by his speeches. Faithful to his compacts, he remains -on his home. Few of those who meet him when he visits Salem know of this -romance of his life, but hundreds give him the hand of friendship. - -[Illustration: GRAND ROUND AGENCY.] - -To resume, Grand Round valley, the name of which suggests its size and -shape, lay stretched out before us, a beautiful picture from Nature's -gallery, embellished by the touches that Uncle Sam's greenbacks had given -to this agency in building churches, halls, and Indian houses, together -with a large farm for general use, and small ones for individuals. - -At every change of Government officers, Reservation Indians show the -liveliest interest, and have great curiosity to see the new man. My -arrival was known to all the people very soon. The Indians of this agency -were more advanced in civilization than those of any other in Oregon. They -had been located by the Government, fifteen years previously. Many of them -were prisoners of war, in chains and under guard, and had been subjugated, -through sheer exhaustion; others were under treaty. Their very poverty and -the scanty subsistence the Government gave, was to them a blessing. -Permitted to labor for persons who lived "outside," passes were given each -for a specified time. Thus their employers became each a civilizer. - -At the time of my first official visit, they had abandoned Indian costume, -and were dressed in the usual garb of white men; many of them had learned -to talk our language. At my request, messengers were sent out, and the -people were invited to come in at an early hour the following day. Before -the time appointed they began to arrive. A few were on foot, the remainder -in wagons, or on horseback; the younger men and women coming in pairs, -after the fashion of white people around them, all arrayed in best attire, -for it was a gala day to them. I noticed that in some instances the women -were riding side-saddles, instead of the old Indian way, astride. - -The children were not left at home, neither were they bound in thongs to -boards, or swinging in pappoose baskets; but some, at least, were carried -on the pummel of the father's saddle. They were clothed like other -children. Strange and encouraging spectacle, to witness Indian men, who -were born savages, conforming to usages of civil life. When once an Indian -abandons the habits and customs of his fathers, and has tasted the air -which his more enlightened brother breathes, be never goes back so long as -he associates with good men. - -These people, in less than twenty years, under the management of the -several agents, had been transformed, from "Darwin's" wild beasts, almost -to civilized manhood, notwithstanding the croaking of soulless men who -constantly accuse United States agents of all kinds of misdemeanors and -crimes. - -When they were first located, they numbered about twenty-one hundred -souls. At the time of which I write, they had dwindled away to about half -that number. - -When the hour for the talk arrived the people filled the council house, -and crowded the doors and windows, so that we found it necessary to -adjourn to the open air for room and comfort. The agent, La Follette, went -through the form of introducing me to his people, calling each one by -name. - -This ceremony is always conducted with solemnity; each Indian, as he -extends the hand, gazing steadfastly into the eye of the person -introduced. They seem to read character rapidly, and with correctness -equal to, and sometimes excelling, more enlightened people. - -First, a short speech by Agent La Follette, followed by the "Salem -tyee,"--superintendent. I said that "I was pleased to find them so far -advanced in civilization; that I was now the 'Salem tyee.' You are my -children. I came to show you my heart, to see your hearts, to talk with -you about your affairs." - -Jo Hutchins--chief of Santiams--was first to speak. He said: "You see our -people are not rich; they are poor. We are glad to shake hands with you -and show our hearts. You look like a good man, but I will not give you my -heart until I know you better." Louis Neposa said: "I have been here -fifteen years. I have seen all the country from here to the Rocky -Mountains. I had a home on Rogue river; I had a house and barn; I gave -them up to come here. That house on that hill is mine;" pointing towards -the house in question. - -Indian speeches are remarkable for pertinency and for forcible expression, -many of them abounding in flights of imagination and bursts of oratory. -Much of the original beauty is lost in the translation, as few of them -speak in the English language when delivering a speech. Interpreters are -often illiterate men, and cannot render the subject-matter with the full -force and beauty of the original, much less imitate the gesture and voice. - -During my residence in the far West, and especially while in Government -employ, I have taken notes, and in many instances, kept verbatim reports, -the work being done by clerks of the several agencies. I have selected, -from several hundred pages, a few speeches, made by these people, for use -in making up my book. It will be observed that the sentences are short, -and repetitions sometimes occur. In fact, these orators of nature follow -nature, and repeat themselves, as our greatest orators do, and their skill -in the art of repetition is something marvellous. This is peculiar to all -Indian councils, though not always recorded. The following are word for -word, especially Wapto Dave and Jo Hutchins' speeches:-- - -Black Tom said: "I am a wild Injun. I don't know much. I have not much -sense. I cannot talk well. I feel like a man going through the bushes, -when he is going to fight; like he was thinking some man was behind a -bush, going to shoot him. I have been fooled many times. I don't know -much. Some tyees talk well when they first come. I have seen their -children wearing shirts like those they gave me; may be it was all right. -I don't know much." - -Solomon Riggs--chief of the Umpyuas--said: "I am not a wild man. I have -sense. I know some things. I have learned to work. I was born wild, but I -am not wild now. I live in a house. I have a wagon and horses that I -worked for. They are mine. The Government did not give them to me. That -woman is my wife, and that is my baby. He will have some sense. I show you -my heart. I want you to give me your heart. I don't want to be a wild -Injun." See speech of Solomon Riggs in Salem Council. - -All the "head men" made short speeches, after which we came to business -talk. Superintendent Meacham said: "I see before me the remnants of a -great people. Your fathers are buried in a far country. I will show you my -heart now. You are not wild men. You are not savages. You are men and -women. You have sense and hearts to feel. I did not come here to dig up -anything that is buried. I have nothing to say about the men who have -gone before me. That is past. We drop that. We cannot dig it up now. We -have enough to think about. I do not promise what I will do, except I will -do right as I see what is right. I may make some mistakes. I want to talk -with you about your agent. I think he will do right. He is a good man. I -will help him. He will help me. You will help us. You are not fools. You -are men. You have a right to be heard. You shall be heard. We are paid to -take care of you. Our time belongs to the Indians in Oregon. The -Government has bought our sense; that belongs to you. The money in our -hands is not ours, it is yours. We cannot pay you the money. The law says -we must not; still it is yours. You have been here long enough to have -sense. You know what you want. You can tell us. We will hear you. - -"If you want what is right we will get it for you. You need not be afraid -to speak out. The time has come when a man is judged by his sense, not his -skin. In a few years more the treaty will be dead. Then you must be ready -to take care of yourselves. You need not fear to speak. Nobody will stop -your mouth. We are ready now to hear you talk. We have shown our heart. -Now talk like men. I have spoken." - -A silence of some moments followed. The chiefs and head men seemed taken -by surprise. They could not comprehend or believe that the declarations -made were real; that they were to be allowed to give an opinion in matters -pertaining to their own interests. I would not convey the idea that my -predecessors had been bad men. They were not; but they had, some of them, -and perhaps all of them, looked on these Indians as wards, or orphan -children. They had not recognized the fact that these people had come up, -from a low, degraded condition of captive savages, to a status of -intelligence that entitled them to consideration. The people themselves -had not dared to demand a hearing. They were subjugated, and felt it too; -but I know in their hearts they often longed for the boon that was offered -to them. - -It is due to the citizens who occupy the country adjoining this agency, in -whose employ the Indians had spent much time in labor on farm, wood-yards, -and various other kinds of business, that they had, by easy lessons, and, -with commendable patience, taught these down-trodden people that they had -a right to look up. "Honor to whom honor is due." - -Wapto Dave, a chief of a small band of Waptos, was the first to speak. He -delivered his speech in my own language: "The boys all wait for me to -speak first; because me understand some things. We hear you talk. We don't -know whether you mean it. Maybe you are smart. We have been fooled a heap. -We don't want no lies. We don't talk lies. S'pose you talk straight. All -right. Me tell you some things. All our people very poor; they got no good -houses; no good mills. No wagons; got no harness; no ploughs. They get -some, they work heap. They buy them. Government no give em. We want these -things. Maybe you don't like my talk. I am done." - -Jo Hutchins--Chief of Santiams--said, "I am watching your eye. I am -watching your tongue. I am thinking all the time. Perhaps you are making -fools of us. We don't want to be made fools. I have heard tyees talk like -you do now. They go back home and send us something a white man don't -want. We are not dogs. We have hearts. We may be blind. We do not see the -things the treaty promised. Maybe they got lost on the way. The President -is a long way off. He can't hear us. Our words get lost in the wind before -they get there. Maybe his ear is small. Maybe your ears are small. They -look big. Our ears are large. We hear everything. Some things we don't -like. We have been a long time in the mud. Sometimes we sink down. Some -white men help us up. Some white men stand on our heads. We want a -school-house built on the ground of the Santiam people. Then our children -can have some sense. We want an Indian to work in the blacksmith shop. We -don't like half-breeds. They are not Injuns. They are not white men. Their -hearts are divided. We want some harness. We want some ploughs. We want a -saw-mill. What is a mill good for that has no dam? That old mill is not -good; it won't saw boards. We want a church. Some of these people are -Catholics. Some of them are like Mr. Parish, a Methodist. Some got no -religion. Maybe they don't need religion. Some people think Indians got no -sense. We don't want any blankets. We have had a heap of blankets. Some of -them have been like sail-cloth muslin. The old people have got no sense; -they want blankets. The treaty said we, every man, have his land. He have -a paper for his land. We don't see the paper. We see the land. We want it -divided. When we have land all in one place, some Injun put his horses in -the field; another Injun turn them out. Then they go to law. One man says -another man got the best ground. They go to law about that. We want the -land marked out. Every man builds his own house. We want some apples. Mark -out the land, then we plant some trees, by-and-by we have some apples. - -"Maybe you don't like my talk. I talk straight. I am not a coward. I am -chief of the Santiams. You hear me now. We see your eyes; look straight. -Maybe you are a good man. We will find out. So-chala-tyee,--God sees you. -He sees us. All these people hear me talk. Some of them are scared. I am -not afraid. Alta-kup-et,--I am done." - -Here was a man talking to the point. He dodged nothing. He spoke the -hearts of the people. They supported him with frequent applause. Other -speeches were made, all touching practical points. The abstract of issues -following that council exhibit the distribution of hardware, axes, saws, -hatchets, mauls, iron wedges; also, harness, ploughs, hoes, scythes, and -various farming implements. The reasonable and numerous points involved -many questions of importance, which were submitted to the Hon. -Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington city.[2] - -[2] See Appendix. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - STOPPING THE SURVEY--WHY. - - -Without waiting for red tape, we proceeded to erect a new saw-mill. The -Indians performed much of the necessary labor. With one white man to -direct them, they prepared all the timber, built a dam, and cut a race, -several hundred yards in length, and within ninety days from "breaking -ground" the new saw-mill was making lumber. - -The Indians formed into working parties and delivered logs as fast as the -mill could saw them. Mr. Manrow, a practical sawyer, was placed in charge -of the mill, and, with Indian help only, he manufactured four to eight -thousand feet of lumber per day. He subsequently remarked that "they were -as good help as he wanted." - -The understanding before commencing work on the mill was to the effect -that it was to belong to the Indians on Grand Round Agency, when -completed. Those who furnished logs were to own the lumber after sale of -sufficient quantity to pay the "sawyer," the whole to be under control of -the acting agent. - -Misunderstandings seem to have arisen between the agent and Indians, -growing out of the sale of lumber manufactured by the mill. The only -misunderstanding that could have arisen, was that wherein the Indians -claim that "the Government would pay the expense of running it,"--the -saw-mill,--and they--the Indians--should have the lumber to dispose of as -they thought best, claiming the right to sell it to the whites outside of -the Reservation. - -It was so agreed and understood as above stated, that the Government agent -was to manage the business, pay the sawyer, and meet such other expenses -as might _accrue, out of the sale of lumber, and the remainder to belong -to parties furnishing logs_, with the privilege of selling to persons -wherever a market could be found. If any other plan has been adopted, it -is in violation of the agreement made with the Indians at the council that -considered the question of building the mills. A full report of that -council was forwarded to the Commissioner at Washington (see page 162), -was filed in the office of Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Salem, -Oregon, and was, or should have been, recorded on the books at Grand Round -Agency. - -The _Indians_ of Grand Round _own_ the _mills_. The funds invested in -their erection did not belong to agent or Government. It was the Indians' -money, and was so expended by their knowledge and request. The sweat of -these people was dropped in the long race, cut for the mills. Every stick -of timber in them was prepared, partly at least, by Indian labor. They had -accepted this little valley at the bidding of a powerful Government, who -had promised them mills (see treaty of 1866), and had constructed inferior -machinery, at enormous expense, that had never been worth one-half the -greenbacks they had cost. - -These people have advanced more rapidly in civilization than any other -Indian people on "the coast." They had learned a great amount of useful -knowledge while working for the white men, to make a living for their -families, when the Government had failed to furnish subsistence for them. -They were now ready to take care of their interests, when men paid to -instruct them had performed their duty. - -If these Indians are ever to manage for themselves, why not begin with -easy lessons, while they have, or are supposed to have, an agent, whose -duty it was to stand between them and the stronger race with whom they are -to mingle and associate? - -I repeat that these Indian men own the mills, and are entitled to the -proceeds, and that it is, and was, an agent's duty to transact such parts -of the business as the Indians could not themselves. What if it did -require labor and care to prevent confusion? The agent was paid for his -time, his business talent, and, if he was unwilling or incompetent, he was -not in a proper position. - -The agent says, "I have allowed them one-half the lumber made, when they -wished to use it for building purposes, retaining the other half for the -department, until such time as it can be used in improvement, or otherwise -disposed of for their common benefit." If the department required lumber, -let the Indians be the _merchants_, and receive the pay. To dispose of it -for their benefit was to compel those who were willing to labor to support -those who were not. Working parties were organized among them by agent La -Follette, and they were to enjoy the privilege, of furnishing saw-logs in -turn; thus encouraging enterprise among them. Klamath Indian mill -furnished several thousand dollars' worth of lumber for the Military -Department at Fort Klamath, and for outside people too, and the proceeds -were paid to the Indians who did the work, or it was invested in stock -cattle for them. In the name of justice I protest, as a friend of the -Indians, against the confiscation, by our Government, of labor and lumber -belonging to the Indians of Grand Round Agency. - -Reference has been made to the allotment of land to these people. The -letter following will give the reader some idea of the manner in which it -was done, and the various questions that were to be considered in -connection with this important episode in the lives of these people.[3] - -[3] See Appendix. - -The enrolment referred to was completed. The surveying was done by Col. D. -P. Thompson, United States Deputy Surveyor. - -While he was engaged in doing this work, the Indians assisted materially, -and followed him in crowds, each anxious to see where the lines would run, -whether they would conform to their preconceived hopes or not. - -The thoughts of these men--for they were men--must have been very -comforting at the prospect of promises being at last fulfilled. Many years -had passed, _waiting, waiting_, waiting for the time to come when they -should have homes "like white men." They well understood the arrangement -in regard to the amount of land that was to be given to each. I have not -the "Willamette Treaty" before me, but, from memory, state, that each -_grown person_ was to have twenty acres, with ten acres additional for -each minor child. - -Col. Thompson, the surveyor, relates, that while engaged in surveying near -the house of a "Wapto" Indian, said Indian came to him with a very serious -face, and requested the suspension of the work. The colonel, being a -humorous man, and patient withal, entertained the petition, but demanded -to know the reason why the survey should stop. - -"Wapto" said, in jargon, "Indian Neeseka-nan-itch-mi-ka, is-cum, twenty -acres; Nika cluchman is-cum, twenty acres; Ni-ka ten-us-cluchman is-cum, -ten acres; Nika ten-us-man is-cum, ten acres; Ma-mook, sixty acres; Al-ka. -You see I get twenty acres, my squaw get twenty acres, my daughter get ten -acres, my son get ten acres, making sixty acres in all. Spose Mesika Capit -mamook icta elihe, Kau-yua nika is cum, seventy acres. Suppose you stop -surveying, and wait awhile, I can get seventy acres, may be eighty acres. -Cum-tux,--understand?" - -The colonel took the hint, when the Indian pointed to the small lodge, -fitted up expressly, as the custom among these people is, for important -occasions of the kind intimated above. - -Whether he changed his course in surveying, he did not say, but went on to -relate, that a few days after the above conversation, the same Indian came -to him and said, "Nika-is-cum, Ten-is-man"--"I have another -boy."--"Klat-a-wa-ma-mook-elihe"--"Go on with the survey."--"Nika is-cum, -seventy acres"--"I get seventy acres." He seemed much elated with the new -boy, and the additional ten acres of land. - -The surveying was completed, but "red tape" was in the way of allotment, -much to the satisfaction of some of the people, who were hoping for as -good fortune as "Wapto," in the same way; others, who were hopeless of -such luck, were anxious for the lands to be set apart at once, because -each new-comer made the chances less in securing good homes, by being -crowded of to make room for the additions that such events demanded. - -The allotment has finally been made. The people are overjoyed, and they -start off on this new order of life with commendable zeal. I have no doubt -of their ability to maintain themselves, when they shall have been -admitted to the new relationships in life. While they have been long in -bondage, treated as dependents, and begrudged the valley wherein they have -been placed by the Government, they have, nevertheless, attained to a -status of manhood that entitles them to consideration. They fully -appreciate such evidences of recognition, and should be consulted in -regard to the expenditure of their funds, the appointment of agents and -employes, the selection of church ministries and school teachers. - -During one of my official visits they assembled to the number of nearly -one hundred, and paraded on horseback, for a grand demonstration. They -were well dressed, and well mounted on good horses. After performing -various evolutions, they drew up in front of the agency office in a half -circle. The leader then made a speech, a portion of which I copy here, -from the memoranda made at that time. It was in American language, and -began, "Mr. Meacham: You our chief. We look on you as our father. We show -you how we get along. We think we white men now. We no Injuns now. We all -Republicans. We know 'bout the big war. We no Democrats. One man he live -with me--he Democrat--us boys all laugh. He get shamed; he good 'publican -now. These all our horses, we work for 'em. S'pose you want us work road, -all right; s'pose you tell us pay the tax, all right. Sometime we vote -just like a white man. All right. S'pose the President want soldier, we -are white men; we know all about everything; we can fight. We are not -boys; we know about law. That's all right. - -"We want to hear you talk. You talk all the same; you talk to white men. -Some of these people don't understand, we tell them; you go ahead, talk -all the time;" meaning I should make a speech without waiting to have it -interpreted. - -I felt then that I was their servant. The Government was paying me for my -time, and whatever of ability I might have. I was not there to make a -hurried call, and go away without doing them good. - -My remarks were, substantially, that I was glad to see them appear so much -like white men; that the Government would give them lands, and would do -right by them. A few years ago, a great many black people were slaves; now -everybody is free. Every man is counted by his sense and conduct, _not_ by -his color. You men are almost white in your habits. You are doing well; -you have made a good start. After the land is allotted, you will each have -a home, and in four years the treaty will be dead; then you can come up -with the white man. You will pay taxes and vote. - -Dave said: "There is something else we want you to talk about. Some of us -Injuns are Catholic; some of us are not. The Catholics don't want to go to -the other meetings. They don't talk all the same. We want to understand -about this religion." - -The agency was, at that time, under the supervision of the Methodist -Church. A Catholic priest had been laboring with these people for many -years, and had baptized a large number of them. - -The assignment of agencies was made without proper knowledge of the -religious antecedents of the people. Many of them had been, from time to -time, under the teaching of other churches, especially the Methodist -Episcopal Church. They had also formed their ideas from association with -the farmers, for whom they had worked at various times. I realized then, -as I have often done, the very embarrassing circumstances that surrounded -the subject. - -If I have ever doubted the feasibility of the church policy, it was -because no well-defined regulations were ever made. Regarding these -matters it is a doubtful question which of the churches named had priority -of right to minister to the people of Grand Round Agency. Though the -Catholics had been many years among them, the Methodists had, at an -earlier date, taught them in matters pertaining to religion. - -I fully realized the importance of Dave's request, and so deferred action -until the Catholic father could be summoned. Father Waller, one of the -early founders of Methodist missions in Oregon, was present. When the -former arrived, the subject was again brought up. In the mean time, -however, a new question arose, and an incident occurred worthy of a place -in this connection. - -The habits of these people are their lives really, and when an old custom -is abolished, the substitute may be clumsily introduced, and not well -understood. I refer to the marriage law. The old way was to buy the girl, -or make presents to the parents until they gave consent for the marriage. -The new order of things forbade this way of performing this sacred rite. - -The hero of this episode--Leander--was a fine, handsome young fellow, who -belonged to Siletz Agency, and from his agent had learned something of the -working of the law. Siletz and Grand Round Agencies are within one day's -ride. - -The heroine--Lucy--lived on the latter, with her parents, who were -"Umpyuas." - -Leander had obtained a pass--permission--from his agent, stating the -object of the visit, and had been well drilled in regard to his rights -under the "new law." He had proposed, and, so far as the girl's consent -was concerned, been accepted. But the parents of Lucy could not be so -easily conciliated. - -It is true they had assented to the new law, but were reluctant to see -Lucy marry a man, and go away to another agency to live. I think, however, -the absence of presents had something to do with their reluctance. Leander -had promised his agent that he would stand by the new law,--make no -presents to the parents. - -The "old folks" founded their objection on other grounds when submitting -the case for settlement. Leander requested a private interview with me. He -then stated that he was willing to pacify the old folks by making a -present or two, if he thought Mr. Simpson would not find out about it. He -declared he never would return to Siletz without Lucy; said he thought she -was a good young cluchman; he loved her better than any on Siletz. "She -is stout; she can work; she can keep house like a white woman. She is no -squaw. I want her mighty bad. You s'pose you can fix it all right? I don't -want them old folks mad at me. They say if she goes away now she get no -land. Can't she get land at Siletz? They don't care for her. They want -some ictas (presents); they want me to wait until you give the land; -that's what they want." - -I promised to arrange the matter for him somehow, although I could see the -difficulties that embarrassed the marriage, as indicated by Leander's -talk. - -Had the allotment of lands been made, no objections would have been had on -that score. The father and mother called upon me, wishing advice. Grand -Round was, at this time, without a general agent, and was running in -charge of a special agent,--Mr. S. D. Rhinehart; hence the duties of an -agent were devolved upon the superintendents, and one of the important -duties is to hear the complaints, and adjust all matters of difference. - -The "old folks" were much excited over this affair of their daughter Lucy, -who had, as her white sisters sometimes do, given evidence of her interest -in the question, by declaring she would marry Leander, and possibly said -something equivalent to the "there now" of a spoiled girl. - -They were much affected. The father's chief objection, I think, was to -prospective loss of ten acres of land; the mother's, the companionship and -services of her daughter, added to a mother's anxiety for the welfare of -her child. She shed some real tears, woman-like. - -The father said, when he would wake up in the morning and call "Lucy," -she could not hear him, and that he would be compelled to go for his horse -when he wanted to ride. Lucy had always done that kind of work for him. - -The conference was protracted, for I recognized in this affair a precedent -that might be of great importance to the Indians of Grand Round Agency -hereafter. I foresee, in the future, some stony-hearted Indian hater, -scowling while he reads this mention of sentiment and feeling on the part -of Indians. Scowl on, you cold-blooded, one-sided, pale-face, protected in -your life, your rights, and even your affections, by a great, strong -Government! - -Finally, all the parties interested were taken into the council. The -mother put some pertinent questions to Leander. - -"Do you ever drink whiskey? Do you gamble? Will you whip Lucy when you are -mad? Will you let her come to see me when she wants to?" - -Leander's answers were satisfactory, and, I think, sincere. He promised, -as many a white boy has to his sweetheart's mother, what he would not have -done to a mother-in-law. That relationship changes the courage, and -loosens the tongue of many a man. - -Lucy was not slow to speak her mind on the subject. "Leander, -Clat-a-wa-o-koke-Sun-Siletz. E-li-he, hi-ka-tum-tum, ni-ak-clut-a-wa. -(Leander goes to Siletz, my heart will go with him, to-day.) -Ni-ka-wake-clut-or-wa-niker, min-a-lous." ("If I don't go, I will die.") -This settled the question. - -Being the first marriage under the new law, it was decided to make it a -precedent that would have proper influence on subsequent weddings. The -ladies resident at the agency, were informed of the affair, and requested -to assist the bride in making preparations for the ceremony. - -Leander was well dressed, but he required some drilling. Dr. Hall, the -resident-physician, assumed the task, and calling two or three boys and -girls to the office, the ceremony was rehearsed until Leander said, -"That's good. I understand how to get married." - -The people came together to witness the marriage. The men remounted their -horses, and formed in a half circle in front of the office, women and -children within the arc, all standing. The porch in front of the office -was the altar. Father Waller, with his long white hair floating in the -wind, stood with Bible in hand. A few moments of stillness, and then the -office door opened, and Leander stepped out with Lucy's hand in his. - -The doctor had arranged for bridesmaids and groomsmen. As they filed out -into the sunlight, every eye was fixed on the happy couple. The attendants -were placed in proper position, and then the voice of Father Waller broke -the silence in an extempore marriage service. Leander and Lucy were -pronounced man and wife, and, the white people leading off, the whole -company passed before the married pair and offered congratulations. - -Great was the joy, and comical the scene. One of the customs of civilized -life was omitted, that of kissing the bride. Father Waller could not, -consistently, set the example, the doctor would not, and, since no white -man led the way, the Indian boys remained in ignorance of their -privilege. - -The horsemen dismounted and paid the honor due, each following the exact -model, and if one white man had kissed the bride, every Indian man on the -agency would have done likewise. - -One young man asked the bridegroom in Indian, -"Con-chu-me-si-ka-ka-tum-tum?" ("How is your heart now?") -"Now-wit-ka-close-tum-tum-tum-ni-ka." ("My heart is happy now.") I have -witnessed such affairs among white people, and I think that I have not -seen any happier couple than Leander and Lucy. - -The dance, in confirmation of the event, was well attended. It being out -of Father Waller's walk in life, and my own also, we did not participate -in the amusement. But we looked on a few moments, and were surprised to -see the women and girls dressed in style, somewhat grotesque, 'tis true, -but all in fashion; indeed, in several fashions. - -Some of them wore enormous hoops, others long trails, all of them -bright-hued ribbons in their hair. Some with chignons, frizzles, rats, and -all the other paraphernalia of ladies' head-gear. The men were clad in -ordinary white man's garb, except that antiquated coats and vests were -more the rule than the exception. Black shining boots and white collars -were there. A few had gloves,--some buckskin, some woollen; others wore -huge rings; but, taken all in all, the ball would have compared favorably -with others more pretentious in point of style, and even elegance. - -These people were apt scholars in this feature of civilization. The music -on the occasion was furnished by Indian men, with violins. Few people are -more mirthful, or enter with more zest into sports, when circumstances are -favorable, than do Indians. - -The day following the wedding, a general council, or meeting, was held. -Father Waller of the Methodist, and Father Croystel of the Catholic -Church, being present, the subject of religion was taken up and discussed. -The facts elicited were, that many of the Indians, perhaps a majority, -were in favor of the Catholic Church. The remainder were in favor of the -Methodist, a few only appearing indifferent. - -Neither of the fathers took part in the "talks." My own opinion, expressed -then and since, on other occasions, was, that the greatest liberty of -conscience should be allowed in religious practice. That the people should -honor all religions that were Christian. No bitter feelings were -exhibited. I attended, at other times, the Catholic Church exercises, -conducted by Rev. Father Croystel. The Indians came in large numbers, some -of them on horses, but the majority in wagons; whole families, cleanly -clad and well behaved. - -Those who belonged to the Catholic Church were devout, and assisted the -father in the ceremonies and responses. The invitation was extended to any -and all denominations to preach; on one occasion a minister came by -invitation, and preached in the office. The attendance was not large, but -the employes of the agency monopolized all the available benches. They -seemed to think that the Indians had no rights. The preacher began his -discourse, and, after dilating on the word of God, with a prosy effort to -explain some abstruse proposition in theology, for half an hour, my -patience became exhausted, and I arose and made the suggestion that, -since the meeting was for the benefit of the Indians, something should be -said which they might understand. More seats were provided, and the -preacher started anew, and when a sentence was uttered that was within the -comprehension of those for whom the preaching was intended, it was -translated. This meeting, however, did not do them very much good, because -it was not conducted in a way that was understood by the Indians. - -The man who was trying to do good had undoubtedly answered when some one -else had been called of God to preach the gospel. He would, perhaps, have -made a passable mechanic, but he had no qualifications for preaching to -Indians. He was not human enough. He was too well educated. He knew too -much. Had he been _less learned_, or possessed more _common sense_, he -might have been competent to teach great grown-up children, as these -Indian people are, in the Christian religion. - -A short colloquy overheard between two of the red children he had been -preaching to would have set him to thinking. The talk was in the Indian -language, but, translated, would have run in about the following style:-- - -"Do you understand what all that talk was about?"--"No; do you? Well, he -was talking wicked half the time, and good half the time. He was telling -about a man getting lost a long time ago. Got lost and didn't find himself -for forty years. That's a big story, but maybe it is so. I don't know. -Never heard of it before." - -I need not say to the reader, that this minister had been preaching about -Moses. Perhaps he was not to be censured. He may have done the best he -could. He did not know how to reach an Indian's heart. - -The schools at this agency were not flourishing. The reason was that the -mode was impracticable. Schools were taught with about as much sense and -judgment as the preaching just referred to. - -After several years of stupid experimenting, at an expense of many -thousands of dollars, there was not among these Indians half a dozen of -them who could read and understand a common newspaper notice. The fault -was not with the pupils; it was the system. - -The Indians of this agency are farther advanced than those of any others -in Oregon, in everything that goes to make up a civilized people. They -have, since the allotment of lands, made rapid progress, and bid fair to -become rivals of other people in the pursuit of wealth, and other -characteristics that make a people prosperous. Some of them are already -the equals of their white neighbors in integrity of character and business -tact. They have abandoned their old laws and customs, and have been -working under civil laws. They elect officers and hold courts, somewhat -after the manner of a mock Legislature; in other words, they are -practising and rehearsing, in anticipation of the time when they shall -become citizens. - -Like all other races, they learn the vices much quicker than the virtues -of their superiors. It cannot be denied that they follow bad examples -sometimes, especially intemperance; but when considered fairly, taking -note of the influences that have been thrown around them; the many -different agents, and kinds of policies under which they have lived; the -fact that they were wild Indians sixteen years ago; that they have been -kept in constant fear of being removed; hope deferred so often and so -long; that they were remnants of many small tribes; that their numbers -have decreased so rapidly,--then they stand out in a new light, and -challenge commendation. - -Lift your heads, Indians of Grand Round! you are no longer slaves; you are -free. - -This agency, with the people who are there now, and who have been there as -Government officers and employes, would furnish material for volumes of -real live romance; racy stories, sad tales, great privations, disease, -death and suffering make up the history of such places. No character -required to make a thrilling drama, a bloody tragedy, or comic -personality, would be wanting. Better live only in tradition, or fireside -story, than in printed page. The latter would embarrass men who have -passed through some of the chairs of office, and poor fellows, too, who -have sponged a living off of "Uncle Sam," and cheated the people of -thousands of dollars, and months of labor, that they were paid for doing. -Let the history die untold, since it could not restore justice to either -Government or people. Some of those who have administered on Grand Round -Agency have left the Indians in much better condition than they found -them, and will live forever in the memory of those they served so -faithfully. - -Before leaving this agency I would state one feature of Indian life that -exists everywhere, but it is less prominent on this than other agencies. - -I refer to the _poor_ and the _old_. Perhaps the last Christian virtue -that finds lodgment in Indian hearts is regard or reverence for age, -especially old women. They are drudges everywhere, and when too old to -labor are sometimes neglected. - -Poor, miserable-looking old women, blind, lame, and halt, charity would -shed more tears at your death than your children would. While this -deplorable indifference for them exists to a fearful extent, there are -notable exceptions, particularly among the Grand Round Indians. In every -council they were found standing up and pleading for something to be done -for the old and poor. These old creatures nearly always hobble to the -meetings, and although they seem fair specimens of the Darwinian theory, -they, nevertheless, have feelings and gratitude even for small favors. A -grasp of the hand seems to impart a ray of sunshine to their benighted -faces. - -A few years more, and all the old ones will be gone, and their successors -will take the vacant places with prospects of more humane treatment than -they have hitherto received. - -Heaven pity the _poor_ and old, for man has little for them that casts -even a glimmer of hope, save on their waiting tombs! - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - - THE AGED PAIR--BIRTHPLACE OF LEGENDS. - - -The scene changes, and we stand on the deck of a river steamer with its -prow pointed eastward. - -For hours we have steamed along in the shadows of the Cascade mountains, -through deep, dark canyons, with walls so high that the smoke-stack of our -little boat seemed like a pipe-stem. "Puny thing" it is. Yet it bears us -over boiling eddies and up rapids that shoot between high rocks like -immense streams of silver from the great furnace of creation. - -We are startled at the sound of the whistle on our deck, and grow anxious -when the nearest canyon answers back, and still another takes up the sound, -and the echo turns to its original starting-point, and finds its own -offspring talking back in fainter voice, until it dies away like the -rumbling of some fast-retreating train rushing through the open field or -wooded glens. - -Soon we are on board the thundering train, whirling away toward the upper -cascades, swinging around curves and beneath ledges, and overhanging the -rushing floods hundreds of feet below. As we fly swiftly along, the -conductor, or some one familiar with this cascade country, points out the -battle-grounds where the red men fought white men for their homes. The -battle was a fierce one, and lasted several days, when the Indians -withdrew. - -There are traditions yet among Indians and white settlers; and it is -related that in former times the Indians who lived along the banks of the -Columbia were employed to assist the white men in transporting goods over -the portages (or carrying places), and they were ill-treated by their -employers, and their rights disregarded. - -The invasion of the country was not the most grievous complaint. They were -furnished whiskey, were debauched, and corrupted as a people, until virtue -was unknown among their women; the men themselves selling their wives and -daughters for the basest purposes. Degraded, polluted, and in despair, -they sought to wreak vengeance on their seducers. - -If those who debased them were the only victims, no just condemnation -could be pronounced against them. - -There is a feeling of respect for the man, though a savage he may be, who -defends his home, and resents imposition even at the risk of life. But -humanity revolts against the butchery of innocent persons, no matter what -the color may be, or the cause of provocation of race against race. - -A few survivors of the Cascade tribes may be found now on Warm Springs and -Yak-a-ma agencies. - -The traveller on the Columbia meets, occasionally, a man and his family, -still lingering around their old homes, living in bark-covered huts, -sometimes employed in laboring for the Steam Navigation Company, who -transport the commerce that passes through the mountain at this point. -These stragglers are poor, miserably degraded savages, and are not fair -specimens of their race. - -An old Indian legend connected with the Cascades has been repeated to -tourists over and over again. It has been written in verse, in elegant -style and forceful expression, by S. A. Clark, Esq., of Salem, Oregon, -published in February number of Harper's Magazine for 1874. The poem is -worthy of perusal, and ought to make the author's fame as a poet. - -The substance of the legend is to the effect, that many, many years ago, -before the eyes of the pale-faces had gazed on the wonders of the -Cascades, the river was bridged by a span of mountains, beneath which it -passed to the ocean; that to this bridge the children of Mount Hood on the -south, and those of Mount Adams on the north, made yearly pilgrimage, to -worship the Great Spirit, and exchange savage courtesies, and to lay in -stores of fish for winter use. The Great Spirit blessed them, and they -came and went for generations untold. - -They tell how the exchange of friendship continued, until at length a -beautiful maiden, who had been chosen for a priestess, was wooed and won -by a haughty Indian brave of another tribe. On her withdrawal from the -office her people became indignant, and demanded her return. This was -refused, and when, on their annual visit, they came from the north and -from the south, bitter quarrels ensued, until, at last, fierce wars raged, -and the rock spanning the river became a battle-ground. Soch-a-la -tyee--God--was vexed at the children, and caused the bridge to fall. Thus -he separated them, and bade each abide where he had placed them. - -The legend still lives fresh in the memory of these Indians, and they -respect the command. Few have changed their residences. The ragged -mountains on either side support well the historic tale. High, bald -summits stand confronting each other, and it requires no effort of the -imagination to see the Great Bridge as it is said once to have stood, and -to hear rising on the winds, the weird, wild songs of the people at the -time of sacrifice. - -At the place where this legend had its origin the "Columbia" is crowded by -its banks into so narrow a channel that an Indian might, with his sling, -make a stone to trace the curves of the ancient arch. The waters rush so -swiftly that the keenest sight can scarcely keep the course of timber -drift in view. The river's bosom is smooth above this rapid flow, and, -widening, takes the semblance of a lake, in whose depth may be seen the -trees that once were growing green, but now to stone have turned; they -never move before the breeze; they sway not, nor yet can yield to the -gentle currents, still standing witnesses of the legend's truth. - -Midway between the shores an island stands, fashioned and fitted for a -burial-ground of the tribes that had oft, in ages past, made use of it at -nature's invitation, and had borne to this resting-place the warriors -whose spirits passed up to the happier lands; while the body resting here -might wait for the coming of some Great Prophet, who should bid the bones -to rise and become part and parcel of human forms, and mingle with those -who remain to build the nightly fires and feed the mouldering bodies of -their dead, until the great past should be re-born and live again attended -by all the circumstances of savage life. - -[Illustration: THE BIRTHPLACE OF INDIAN LEGENDS.] - -Sitting in the pilot-house of the steamer "Tenino," beside "McNulty," her -captain, hear him tell how these people come, at certain times, to pay -honor to their dead; how, in years gone by, from the "Tenino" he could see -the old sachems sitting bolt upright in their wooden graves and calmly -waiting, watching, with sightless eyes, for the coming hour foretold -before they died; how, with fleshless hands, they clutched the rotting -handle of the battle-axe of flint or fishing-spears. - -Then see his eye kindle while he tells you of relic-hunters from the East, -who came on board the "Tenino" with boxes and lines and other devices for -relic-hunting, and requested that he would land them on the shores of this -lone island. You will feel the fire of that eye warming your heart towards -the dead, and living too, when it declares in full sympathy, with the rich -Irish voice, "That while he commands the 'Tenino' _no grave-robbers_ shall -ever disturb the old heroes who sit patiently waiting for their -resurrection. No sacrilegious foot shall leave his vessel's deck to -perpetrate so foul a deed!" - -You will honor him still better when you learn that, in his whole-hearted -generosity, he declares that "No man shall ever disturb the repose of the -congregated dead, on that little island, while he lives, and escape -unpunished." - -Brave, fearless captain, many years have you passed daily in sight, and -scanned their sepulchres; self-appointed guardian, you have been true to -the impulse of a noble heart; you have exalted our opinion of the race you -represent; and for your fidelity to the cause of a common humanity, and -especially to the race whose dark faces seldom light up from recognition -by those whose power has been but the destruction of their own, do we -thank you. - -May many winters come and go before their snows shall bring to you old -age; and when, at last, the "Tenino" shall be laid aside, may you still be -guardian of this spot, so sacred to many a sad and hopeless heart. - -Leaving behind, on our upward journey, the burial-ground of the mountain -tribes, in charge of the faithful McNulty, we pass beneath high rock -cliffs, sometimes near beautiful valleys, with farm cottages and lowing -cattle on hill-side pastures. Through the deep canyons that cut the table -mountains in twain, as if made on purpose for tourists' delight, Mount -Hood, the father mountain, comes suddenly in view; the beauty much -enhanced when seen through nature's telescope, made by rifts in solid -rocks, with sky-lights reaching to the stars above. Words may not give -even a faint outline of the scene. McNulty, though for years he has gazed -on this sublime painting,--at morning, when the shadows cover the -telescope, but light the mountain up; and at evening, too, when both were -shaded,--sees new beauties at every sight; and, not content to worship all -alone, he rings his call to the engineer, and the vessel slackens her -speed, and "rounds to" in proper place, while the captain calls his guests -to the grandest banquet that earth affords, and points out the beauties as -each one paints the panorama on his soul. - -See, there the old Father Hood stands, with his wreath of snow, which he -has worn since the time when man was unknown. Sometimes he hides his -hoary head in clouds, unwilling to witness the injustice done the puny -children who have played around his feet for generations past. We see his -own sons, still in primeval manhood, with heads crowned with fir or -laurel, standing at his side and looking up, are ever ready to bear the -winter's burdens that from his shoulders fall. - -Again we glide on the smooth surface of the shining river until we hear -repeated the captain's call to witness now how impartial God has been, and -to prevent any jealousy that might arise, has made on the other shore, -looking northward, twin telescope to the first, and twin mountain, too, -for now we see another hoary head, rich in clustered snow-banks that -ornament her brow. Mother Adams stands calmly overlooking her daughters, -who modestly wear garlands of wild wood-vines, and heavy-topped fragrant -cedars. She feels her solitude, and when "Hood" draws his mantle over his -majestic shoulders, she, too, puts on a silvery veil of misty wreath, or, -in seeming anger, drapes in mourning and weeps; the deluge of her tears -giving signs of willingness to make friends again. And then these two old -mountains smile and nod, and looking above the clouds that covered the -heads of younger ones, they, giants in solitude, become reconciled. The -lesser ones then peep through the rising mist, and smile to catch their -estranged parents making up. - -Leaving these grand scenes, the mountains, smaller, waste away into gentle -hills, and we feel that we have passed the portals of a paradise, shut out -from ocean storms by great barriers of rocks. The river grows narrow, the -banks are perpendicular walls of solid rocks of moderate height. Rounding -a turn in the river, suddenly comes to view "The Dalles," a small city -near the river brink, nestling in an amphitheatre, formed by curved walls -of rocky bluffs. In times past _The Dalles_ was a starting-point for the -mines of Eastern Oregon and Idaho, and was, also, the seat of a United -States fort. Its streets have felt the tread of merchant princes, and -miners of every grade and color; of the tramping of bands of Indian ponies -brought here to be sold or to parade some red man's wealth; of heavily -ladened wheels bearing merchandise. - -Busy throngs peopled then its streets, but now they are less merry; -business has taken long strides toward surer success and larger life. Long -years ago it was a great resort for Indians, who came to feast and gamble, -and exchange captive slaves. Many old legends date from this post, and -some of them are rich in historic truths; others in romance of human -lives, and, others still, of fairy tales and ghostly stories. - -A few miles above the city the river passes between almost perpendicular -walls of stone, while through the narrow gorge the water leaps from ledge -to ledge in quick succession, making huge billows of the rushing current, -so rapid that no steamer or canoe has ever upward passed, though both have -downward been in perfect safety. At this point the great schools of -salmon, on their journey to the lakes and smaller streams, halt to rest, -and thus prepare themselves for more severe struggles and more daring -feats. Here the red men have, year after year, come to lay in supplies of -salmon. - -These fisheries are of great value, and, when the Portland, Dalles, and -Salt Lake Railroad is completed, will become sources of untold wealth, -furnishing Eastern markets with choicest salmon. Before leaving this -fishery, I would state, for the information of by readers, that the -Indians have some peculiar ideas about salmon. They "run" at regular -seasons of the year, and the Indians gather on the banks and make -preparations for catching and preserving them; but they do not take the -_first_ that come up, because they believe that, since the "Great Spirit" -furnishes them, they should be permitted to pass, in his honor, and -because the _first_ that come are supposed to be bolder, and will succeed -in getting to better spawning-grounds in higher streams. - -The females always precede the males, who follow several weeks later. No -Indian would make use of the first fish caught, because of the sacrilege. -As soon, however, as the "run" fairly begins, the Indians, in their way, -give thanks, by dancing and singing. The ceremonies of opening the fishing -seasons are serious and solemn in character. - -The manner of taking salmon varies. Sometimes they use dip nets, attached -to long poles resting in a crotch or fork, or, maybe, pile of rocks, as a -fulcrum. Others, with spears made of bone, pointed at each end, attached -by a strong cord of sinew at the middle to a shaft made of hard wood, with -three prongs in the end, of each of which a socket is made, wherein one -end of the bone spear is thrust, the cord attachment being of sufficient -length to permit the escape from the socket of the spear. - -Thus equipped a fisherman thrusts the three-tined spear into the water at -random, and when a salmon is struck, the spear leaves the shaft; but, -still secure, turns athwart the fish, and his escape is impossible. When -he is landed the fisherman's work is done. The fish is turned over to the -women and boys, and carried to a convenient camp, where the work of drying -them is performed by first beheading and then splitting them in two -lengthwise. They are spread on long scaffolds built on poles, and with -occasional turning are soon dried by the air and sun. The average weight -of salmon at this fishing is about fifteen pounds, though sometimes much -greater. Some have been taken weighing sixty-five pounds each, and many of -them forty pounds. - -Another noticeable fact is that the nearer the ocean they are taken the -better. Those which succeed in stemming the many rapids en route to the -head-waters are poor and thin, and of little value. They often ascend -streams so small that they can be caught with the hand. It is doubtful -whether they ever return to the ocean. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - - DANGEROUS PLACE FOR SINNERS. - - -Leaving "The Dalles" early one morning in February, 1870, with Dr. W. C. -McKay as guide, I set out on my first visit to Warm Springs Agency. Our -route was over high grassy plains, undulating, and sometimes broken by -deep canyons, occasionally wide enough to furnish extensive farm lands. -Tyghe valley is traversed by two rivers that flow eastward from the foot -of the Cascade mountains. It was, originally, a very paradise for Indians. -It is a paradise still; but not for them. "White men wanted it;" hence our -present visit to Warm Springs. - -In 1855 the several Indian tribes occupying the country east of the -Cascade mountains, as far up as John Day's, south of the Columbia river, -and north of the Blue mountain, met in Treaty Council those who had been -selected as the representatives of the Government. - -The Indians confederated, settling all their difficulties as between -different tribes, and also with the Government. They went into this -council to avoid farther hostilities. From Dr. W. C. McKay I learned that -a body of troops were present; that the Indians insisted on Tyghe valley -as a home; that the Government refused, and that the council continued -for several days; that, finally, under threats and intimidations, the -Indians agreed to accept a home on what is now "Warm Springs Reservation," -the Government agreeing to do certain things by way of furnishing mills, -shops, schools, farms, etc. - -At this time certain members of the Tenino band were in possession of, and -had made improvements of value near, "The Dalles." Under special -agreements in treaty council these improvements were to be paid for by the -Government. - -Nineteen years have passed, and John Mission and Billy Chinook have not -yet received one dollar for the aforesaid improvements. These men were -converts to Christianity under the ministration of Father Waller and -others, who were sent out by the Methodist Church as missionaries. These -Indians are still faithful to the vows then taken. - -Here is a good subject for some humane, sentimental boaster of national -justice to meditate upon. - -Had these men broken their compact with the Government, they would have -been punished; and, had they been like other Indians who have figured in -history, they would have been at last rewarded; not because the Government -is prompt to do them justice, but because they would have _compelled_ -justice to come to them, though filtered by blood through the bones of -innocent settlers and sweetened by tears and groans of widows and orphans. - -Strong language this, I admit; but history supports the declaration. For -nineteen years have these two humble red-skinned men waited patiently for -remuneration; for nineteen years have they waited in vain. Poor fellows, I -pity you! Had you a vote to give, your claim might have been paid years -ago. Then some ambitious politician, anxious to secure your suffrage, -would have importuned the department at Washington to do you justice; and -the department, anxious for influence in Congress, would have recommended -payment, and some member would have found it to his interest to "log-roll" -it through. But you are unfortunate; you cannot vote. You are no trouble; -you are peaceable and faithful, and you _dare_ not now make any noise -about your claim. You are dependent on a Government that has so much more -important business to look out for, you are unknown. - -Rebel once against your masters, and millions would be expended to punish -you. A few thousands would make you rich, and would redeem the honor of -the other "high contracting power." But you will not be made glad now in -your old age, because you are but "Injuns," and the good ones of your -people "are all under ground." So say your white brethren, who now own -what was once your country. Be patient still. The God, of whom you learned -from the lips of the honored dead, will yet compel a nation of conquerors -to drink the bitter dregs of repentance, and though you may never handle -one dollar of the money due you, your children may. And somewhere in the -future your race may come upon the plane where manhood is honored without -the question of ancestry being raised. - -Climbing a steep bluff, going south from Tygh valley, we look out on an -extensive plain, bordered by mountain ranges, facing us from the further -side. Forty miles brings us, by slow and ever-increasing easy grades, to -the summit of the plain, where the road leads down a mountain so steep, -that two common-sized horses cannot even manage a light carriage without -rough-locking the wheels. From the starting-point into the chasm below, a -small stream, looking like a bright ribbon that was crumpled and ruffled, -may be seen. Down, down we go. Down, still down, until, standing on the -bank of Warm Springs river, we behold the ribbon transformed into a rapid -rushing current of snow-water, whose very clearness deceives us in respect -to its depth. We drive into it at a rocky ford, and we are soon startled -with the quick breathing of our team, while the water seems to rise over -their backs, and we, standing on the seat, knee deep, encourage our horses -to reach the other shore. - -For nineteen years has the business of this agency been transacted through -this current. We are on the other side, vowing that "Uncle Sam" _must_ and -_shall_ have this stream bridged. So vowed our predecessors, and so our -successors, too, would have vowed had they ever passed that way. A few -miles from the crossing and near our road we see steam ascending, as if -some subterranean monster was cooking his supper and had upset his kettle -on the fires where it is supposed wicked people go. The nearer we came to -the caldron the more we were convinced that our conjectures were correct, -and stronger was our resolve to keep away from such places. Brimstone in -moderate quantities scattered along the banks of this stream adds to our -anxiety to reach a meeting-house, where we may feel safe. - -This spring gives name to the Reservation, though twelve miles from the -agency; to reach which, we climb up, up, up once more to another high -sterile plain, devoid of everything like vegetation save sage bush. Mile -after mile we travel, until suddenly the team halts on a brink, and we, to -ascertain the cause, alight. Looking down, away down below glimmer a dozen -lights. Tying all the wheels of our vehicle together and walking behind -our team for safety, we go down into this fearful opening in the surface -of the earth, and find "Warm Springs Agency" at the bottom of the chasm. - -The country comprising this Indian Reservation is desolate in the extreme; -the only available farming lands being found in the narrow canyons hemmed -in by high bluffs. The soil is alkaline and subject to extreme drought. - -The Indian farms are small patches, irregular in shape and size. They were -originally enclosed by the Government at great expense. - -Remnants of the old fences may be seen, bearing witness of the way in -which Government fulfilled its promises: round blocks of wood, on some of -which the decaying poles still lie, the blocks being from ten to twenty -feet apart; above them other poles were staked, and thus the fences were -made. - -Calculation on the cost of this fencing would probably exhibit about five -dollars per rod. In later years the Indians have rebuilt and improved -fences and houses. - -The department farm occupies the _best_ portion of the valley, and is -cultivated for the benefit of the _department_; seldom, if ever, -furnishing supplies or seed for Indians. The government buildings are -generally good, substantial and comfortable for the employes. - -The schools are not well attended, and are of but little value to the -Indians,--the fault, however, resting principally with the Indian parents, -who seem to have but little control over their children, and do not compel -attendance. - -A large number of the Indians are professedly Christian, and are making -progress in civilization. The remainder are followers of "Smoheller," the -great dreamer,--a wild, superstitious bigot,--whose teachings harmonize -with the old religions of these people. The Christian Indians are anxious -for their young men to learn trades, and become like white men in -practices of life. - -The others are tenaciously clinging to the old habits of wild -Indians,--isolating themselves from the Christian Indians and the agent. - -Thus a wide difference is manifest among these people, apparently growing -out of their religions. This is the real cause of difference; but why this -difference exists is a question that is not difficult to answer. - -The Indians who were located near the agency, where they could attend -Christian service, were almost all of them Christianized; while those -whose houses were remote from the agency, thus left to care for -themselves, were followers of "Smoheller." Had these people been permitted -to select Tygh valley, in 1855, _all_ of them might have been civilized; -because then all would have had productive farms and been under the -immediate eye of the agent. - -If, then, they were compelled to accept homes that did not furnish them -the means of subsistence and employment, it is the natural conclusion and -the legitimate result of the bad management of the Government when making -the treaty under which the Indians accepted this great fraud in lieu of -their own beautiful homes. - -The climate of Warm Springs differs materially from that of Grand Round, -Siletz, or Alsea, being sheltered by the Cascade mountains from the heavy -rains of the Willamette valley, but, being much higher, is dryer, and in -winter much colder. The mountains act as a great refrigerator; hence snows -are common, though seldom to an extent that prevent cattle and horses from -living through without being fed. - -The people are somewhat different in physique and habit. They are braver, -and more warlike, and, in times past, have demonstrated their right to -that character. Since they became parties to the treaty of 1855, they -have, in the main, been faithful to the compact, the exceptions being -those who were led away by the religion of "Smoheller." Nothing serious -has yet grown out of this "new departure." What may occur hereafter -depends entirely on the management of the department. - -In the treaty of 1855 the confederated bands of middle Oregon reserved the -right to the fishery at "The Dalles," of which I have written at some -length, on a former page. In 1866 a supplemental treaty was made with them -by my predecessor,--the late Hon. J. W. P. Huntington,--by which the -Indians released all claim to said fishery. The consideration was paltry, -but was promptly paid by the Government, and has long since been expended. - -The Indians who were parties to the two treaties referred to declare, most -emphatically, that they did not understand the terms of the latter one; -that they only consented to relinquish, so far as the _exclusive right_ to -take salmon was considered; but that they supposed and understood that -they were still to enjoy the privilege in common with other people. A -careful examination of the said treaty discloses the fact that they had -entirely alienated all their right and interest thereto. - -When the lands covering these fisheries were surveyed and selected as -State lands, they were taken up by white men and enclosed with fences, -preventing the Indians and others from having access thereto except on -payment of a royalty or rental. The Indians, not understanding the right -of the parties in possession, opened the enclosure, and really, in -violation of law, went to the grounds where they and their fathers had -always enjoyed, what was to them almost as dear as life, the privilege of -taking salmon. - -A compromise was made, the Indian Department paying the claimant the -damage done to the growing crops through which the Indians had passed to -the fishery. I submitted the question of releasing this land to the -department at Washington, and also to the State land officers. The -Government, and State land agent, Col. Thos. H. Cann, manifested a -willingness to do justice to the wards of the Government. - -No further action was ever taken, to my knowledge, by the federal -authorities. I suppose that it was overlooked and forgotten. The injustice -stands yet a reproach to a forgetful government. - -"A bargain is a bargain," so says the white man; and truly enough it may -be held right in a legal view to compel the Indians to submit to whatever -they may agree to. But there was a wrong done them in this instance that -ought to have been undone. The plea, that so long as they were permitted -to make annual visits to the Columbia river to take fish, would interfere -with their civilization, because of the bad influences of vicious white -men with whom they came in contact, and urged in justification of the -treaty whereby they yielded their rights in the premises, was a severe -commentary on American Christian civilization, but may have been just. - -It is a fact that cannot be questioned, that the virtue of the natives, -until debauched by association with _low whites_, is far above that of the -latter, and that the Indian suffers most by the contact. Had the -commissioners who conducted the treaty of 1855 consented to select Tygh -valley for a Reservation, no necessity would have existed for the Indians -to obtain fish for subsistence. - -Warm Springs Agency I have and ever will declare to be unfit for civilized -Indians to occupy. Since they were compelled to take up their abode -thereon, not one season in three, on an average, has been propitious for -raising farm products. When a people hitherto accustomed to ramble -unrestrained, are confined on a reservation that has not the necessary -resources to sustain them, they should be permitted the privilege of going -outside for subsistence. - -Shame on a powerful people who would deny them this privilege; yet it is -done. While these Indians on Warm Springs have had many hindering causes -why they should not progress, they have nevertheless made decided -advancement in the march from savage to civilized life. The fact of their -living on unproductive soil has not been the only impediment in their -way. To enable my readers to understand more fully this subject, I will -introduce the subjoined letter from the present acting agent on Warm -Springs Reservation,--Captain John Smith. Early in February, 1874, I -addressed a letter to him, stating my purpose of writing this volume, and -requested him to furnish me with such facts as he would be willing to have -appear in my book over his own signature. - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - - THE PARSON BROWNLOW OF THE INDIAN SERVICE. - - -To my readers of the Pacific coast, I need say nothing in commendation of -this writer. He is too well known to require an introduction. But that his -communication may be appreciated by those who do not know "The Captain," -it may be well to state that he is a member of the old-school Presbyterian -church, has long resided West, is respected by all who know him, as a man -of unimpeachable honor and integrity. His heart is in his work, and he -talks and acts toward the Indians under his charge more as a father than -as an officer. A zealous churchman and partisan, he is positive in -character, and fearless as a speaker; while he may be lacking in some -minor qualities, he has so many important and useful ones that qualify him -for his position, that the deficiency, if any, is not felt. As a christian -civilizer of Indians he ranks with Father Wilber, of Yakama, and other -noble-hearted men. - -Warm Springs has been assigned to the Methodist Church; yet so much -confidence has Captain Smith inspired by his success, that they have not -recommended his removal. In this they have consulted the higher and purer -motives that should, and often do, control men in important matters. _He_ -should be permitted to hold his office _during life_. - -This communication, coming from such a man, is worthy of careful -consideration; touching, as it does, the key-notes of the great question -of the Christianization of the Indians. - - WARM SPRINGS AGENCY, OREGON. - - HON. A. B. MEACHAM:-- - - MY DEAR SIR,--Believing that the work you contemplate publishing - is designed to teach the minds of men the capability of the - Indian race to be morally, religiously and socially advanced; - and having had the experience of a residence of some seven years - among the confederate tribes and bands of Middle Oregon, as - agent; and further believing that I have in some degree mastered - the great problem of their civilization, I willingly contribute - anything that may serve to give your readers a correct idea of - the progress they have really made; and they are still going - forward. - - It will be necessary to go back to the time I first came among - them. A more degraded set of beings I am sure did not exist on - the earth, nor was the condition of most of the Indians on this - coast much better. - - The mind of man would not conceive that human beings could get - so low in the scale of humanity as they were; and I am sure, if - they had been left to the instincts of their own wild and savage - natures, they could never have been so low down as they were. - - God's holy Sabbath was set apart as a day of licentiousness and - debauchery. Drinking and gambling had become common. Their women - were universally unchaste, and were taught to believe that - lewdness was a commendable practice, or even a virtue. - - Diseases and death were entailed on their posterity. The men had - to submit at the point of the bayonet; the consequence was, the - Indians had lost all confidence in the honesty and integrity of - white men. - - This state of affairs was principally owing to the military - being brought into close proximity to them. Some of the officers - had built houses, and were living with Indian women. - - After I came here (the military having been removed previously) - the Snake Indians commenced making raids on the Reservation. - - I was asked "if I wished the military to protect us." I - answered, "No." I preferred the raids of the Snake Indians to - the presence of the soldiers; for I doubted if I would be able - in twenty years to wipe out the evidences of the military having - been amongst them; and I am sorry to say, that the agents and - employes set over them to teach them had also contributed - largely to their degradation. - - One of the agents has been frequently heard to say, "that he - thought the best way to civilize the Indians was to _wash out_ - the color." They had accomplished what they were able to in that - line. While it is certain that one agent came here a poor man, - and went away wealthy, to say nothing of the lesser pickings - which employers and contractors were allowed to take. - - How to restore the lost confidence in the white man seemed on my - arrival a herculean task. My first work was to get rid of all - contaminating influences, by discharging bad men and filling - their places with good, moral, and religious persons. The - reformation at first seemed slow, but gradually increased from - day to day. I was soon able to start a Sabbath school, and - divine services were held every Sabbath. - - The Indians, old and young, were placed in classes, and - appropriate teachers set over them. Soon our large and - commodious house of worship was filled to its utmost capacity by - old and young, male and female, all seemingly eager to pick up - the crumbs of comfort that fell from God's holy word; and from - Sabbath to Sabbath this was continued. - - Then came a change; officers from the army were ordered to - relieve agents. The Sabbath was soon disregarded; Christian and - moral men had their places made unpleasant, and were compelled - to resign. Their places were filled by others who cared for - nothing of the kind, and everything was relapsing into its - former condition. - - When I was again permitted to return I found things but little - better than when I first came. However, I immediately set to - work again, and, I think I can truly say, with full success. We - have now three Bible-classes that read a verse around, and seem - to comprehend very well what they read. - - The old men are all in a class, and a person is appointed to - read a chapter and explain it to them every Sabbath day. Many - who cannot read can quote a large amount of Scripture. Quite a - number, both men and women, lead in prayer, and many families - maintain family worship, seemingly living Christian lives. We - give out a psalm; many of the young people find it about as - readily as we do, and can lead the music. The first week of the - new year was observed as a national prayer-meeting, which was - well attended; some for the first time acknowledging Christ as - their Saviour. We have at this time nearly one hundred - professing to live Christian lives, and we seem to be adding, - from day to day, such as I hope will be saved. Our day-school - has been a great success for the last two years; before that it - was a failure, and I am now convinced that it was the fault of - the teachers not understanding the management of Indian - children. We have quite a number of children who read and speak - fluently, commit to memory easily, using the slate to advantage, - demonstrating their capability to learn as readily as white - children, provided they can have the same advantages. - - There are white children in the school who do not advance as - rapidly as some of the Indian children, thus exploding the - general opinion that, as a race, they are merely imitative - beings, but cannot originate an idea. The true Indian character, - I fear, is very little understood, and still it seems almost - anybody can write lectures on it, and with about as much truth - in them as Aesop's fables contain. - - I have found them much more susceptible of moral and religious - advancement than the white man, giving them the same - opportunities; and I account for it in the fact that you never - find an infidel among them unless made so by white men. They all - acknowledge a Supreme Being that overrules all things. They may - have a very crude notion of the worship due to such a Creator, - but so soon as they are taught the true worship, they become - very zealous, and they have no scoffers to discourage them. - - One fatal error has been in admitting them into churches, - without any change of heart, to enjoy all its privileges; - consequently they were not restrained by any inward principle, - and never became any better. To make a Christian religious, - intelligence, as well as zeal, is necessary. If we are to be - judged by God's law, we should be acquainted with it, and it is - as needful for an Indian as for a white man to know _that_ law - in order to become a Christian. - - The Catholics take them into the church, whether converted or - not; and they are never made any better, but rather worse, for - they are kept ignorant and superstitious. This was the case - here, and these Indians are well aware of these facts. I have my - doubts if a single Indian can be found on this coast that has - been made any better by the Catholics. - - I am credibly informed that they say mass in the morning, then - run horses and play cards the remainder of the day; and all this - under the eye of the priest. - - At the time of my coming here polygamy was indulged to the - fullest extent. Their women were bought and sold, and used as - beasts of burden, and when old, were kicked out at pleasure, to - get their living as best they could, or die of want. - - I immediately set myself to work to remedy this evil, by telling - them it was in violation of God's holy word; then I was asked - why we did not put a stop to it among the Mormons. I finally - succeeded in securing a law prohibiting it in the future; - allowing all who had more than one wife to get rid of her as - best they could, but any one violating the law should be - punished by fine or imprisonment. - - I was soon after enabled to pass an amendment that where there - was more than one wife, if one wished to leave, their husbands - had no control over them. Under this rule nearly all had left. - - On last Sabbath, a woman got up in church and said she was fully - convinced that she had been living in violation of God's holy - word. She had lived with her husband a long time; he had always - treated her well, and she loved him,--but she loved her Saviour - more, and for the sake of heaven and happiness she had to give - him up. She was much affected. I was reminded of the words of - our Saviour when he said, he had "found no such faith, no, not - in Israel." - - Her confession has led others to the same conclusion; and I - think we can truly say, the days of polygamy are ended among - these people, or soon will be. The merchandise of their women - was a source of great annoyance to them. Their girls brought - from three to ten head of horses, owing generally to the manner - their parents were able to dress them for the market. This - system was very hard to get rid of, but it has entirely ceased - for the last three years. By law they are required to be married - by the agent; for violation of this law they are punished. No - divorces are granted, except in cases of adultery. Cards, or any - other devices for gambling, found about their premises, make - them liable to a fine of twenty-five dollars, or ten days' work - on the highway; as does, also, gambling, or drinking ardent - spirits, and refusing to tell where it was obtained. Adultery is - severely punished; and now I am able to add another law entirely - prohibiting polygamy. - - Our court consists of the "Head Chief" and six selected men,-- - the agent presiding, an Indian acting as sheriff, who arrests - and brings into court all offenders, and subpoenas witnesses. The - councils are always opened by prayer by some of the Indians. - - Their agricultural affairs and social relations have undergone a - great change. When I came among them they were wrapped up in - their filthy blankets, eating their meals--if meals they could - be called--off the ground like the pigs. - - They had but few houses. Their crops probably did not exceed - three hundred bushels in any season; they were living on the - roots they digged in the mountains and the fish they caught in - the streams, and not one pound of anything on the Reservation. I - purchased for them a limited amount of seed--they packing it - forty miles. This enabled them to raise five thousand bushels of - wheat, with a good supply of assorted vegetables. - - This seemed to give them new life, and they have been steadily - increasing ever since. - - Their crop, the last season, has been estimated at from twelve - to fifteen thousand bushels of wheat, with an abundance of - vegetables of all kinds. - - Now they have some forty houses, with logs hauled and lumber - partly sawed for perhaps twenty more. - - Many families sit around tables well furnished with the luxuries - common with white people. As to their dress, they will compare - very favorably with many country congregations. - - The women and children come to church clean and nice, many of - them dressed equal to white women. - - I have built a house, 18 x 42 feet, for a female school. In this - house, if I shall remain here a short time longer, I shall - expect to accomplish much, as I propose to teach their women - domestic economy,--a thing they are very little acquainted with, - as are they also with the preparation of vegetable foods, to - make them palatable; and for this reason they are less used - than they should be, and they depend too much on the chase and - fisheries. - - This makes it necessary to leave their homes at times, and keeps - up filthy habits, and their homes are not made comfortable as - they would be if they looked to the ground for support; and they - could be better induced to give up the chase and become settled - and comfortable, much to the benefit of their health. - - During the last year probably less than one half of the usual - number left the Reservation in search of food, and I find the - increase in numbers has been surprising. In roaming around, - their children can never be educated, as they only come to - school in the winter months, and forget what they learn by the - next winter. - - The sooner Indians can be brought to look to the earth for a - support, the better; or, in other words, the Bible and the - plough are the only civilizers of the human family. - - That has been my experience with these Indians, notwithstanding - the scoffs and jeers of infidels, who would like to bring all - mankind down to a level with the wild and barbarous Indians; and - these are generally the kind of men who wish them transferred - from the civil to the military authorities. - - This experiment has been tried, and we have seen the result. - They may have been in some measure controlled, but never made - any better,--always worse. Their object has been to control - them,--not to civilize them. - - President Grant's humane policy _has done more towards - civilizing the Indians than all things heretofore done_; and it - is yet in its infancy, while everything that could be has been - brought to bear against it, to make it unpopular if possible. - - Here let me say a word in regard to yourself. I have the fullest - confidence that the earnest manner in which the work was - seconded and pushed forward during your superintendency has - greatly contributed to its success among the Indians of Oregon, - who, I think, can compare favorably with any others in the - United States. - - Good results were apparent among these Indians, and I presume - also others, immediately after the holding of that general - council at Salem in the fall of 1871. What they saw and heard - there gave them faith in the good intentions of the Government - towards them, and encouraged them to try and do something for - themselves; and your general manner of treating and talking to - them was well calculated to inspire them with confidence and a - desire for improvement. - - These Indians have been repeatedly advised to leave the - Reservation by designing men, on the ground that under the - fourteenth amendment to the Constitution they are citizens, - entitled to both settle where they please, and to enjoy all - other rights appertaining to citizenship. - - They have succeeded in drawing away something over a hundred, - who are roaming over the country; and some fears are entertained - that should the military attempt to force them to return there - may be trouble, and perhaps a repetition of Modoc scenes. - - If this should be the case, the fault clearly would not be with - the policy of the administration, but with its enemies, who by - their mischievous interference have induced the Indians to - leave. - - I think the facts will bear me out in the statement that if the - only contact of the Indians with the whites had been with true - Christian men, there never would have been any, or, at least, - very little trouble with them. - - The cases are not wanting where men of high moral and Christian - character have succeeded admirably in controlling Indians, by - showing decision and firmness where it was needed, leniency and - favor where it was appreciated, and dealing honestly and - honorably in all things. - - The results shown, where the contact was between them and such - men, even though it did not continue for any great length of - time, indicate clearly enough what might have been the present - condition of these "wards of the nation" if none but good - influences had been brought to bear upon them. We should have - heard fewer details of revolting massacres, there would have - been fewer costly wars and campaigns, that now go to fill up the - pages of U. S. history; and it is no idle fancy, but a logical - deduction, to presume that they might at present be - self-supporting, instead of at the expense they now are, and - must be for some time to come; if indeed they were not able to - contribute something to the support of the Government. Very much - might be said on this subject, but as you probably prefer facts - to theories, incidents to deductions, I will not intrude mine - upon you. - - Hoping that your work may be successful in assisting to lead - people to form just and correct conclusions and ideas in regard - to the Indian question, - - I remain, - - Yours respectfully, - - JOHN SMITH, - - _U. S. Indian Agent at Warm Springs, Oregon._ - -Here is a man talking of a subject who knows whereof he writes; so far at -least as relates to his own experience and observation. - -His success, as declared by his letter, is established by many living -witnesses, and the anthems of praise that go up from this mountain home of -the red men. - -The reader who peruses the foregoing letter will not fail to discover that -Captain Smith's heart is in the work, and that he is animated by a true -Christian spirit in his labors with his people. - -I do not, however, endorse all his strictures on the effects of the -Catholic Church, in its labors in behalf of the Indian race. I know many -worthy men, who are honestly laboring for them, who are members of the -Catholic Church. There is a difference in the polity of that and -Protestant Churches, and, however strong my own prejudices may be in favor -of the latter, I am not insensible to the fact that the Catholic Church -has manifested a great interest in these people. Let them be judged by -their works. - -Unfortunately for the world, Christianity has not, and does not, divest -its followers of the common inheritance of poor weak human nature, and of -the passions and prejudices that close our eyes to the virtues and honor -due those who differ from us. More charity, more justice, preached and -practised, would make man far happier. - -In December, 1871, I visited Warm Springs Agency. I remained several days; -during which time a series of meetings were held at the agency. From the -record kept of that meeting I make a short synopsis. Agent Smith, when his -people were assembled in the school-house, called on an Indian to offer -prayers. I confess that I was somewhat surprised to witness the response, -by a man whose childhood had been passed in a wild Indian camp, and whose -youth had witnessed scenes of warfare against the white man, and who had -been compelled to accept this poor home, in lieu of the beautiful prairies -of "John Day's" river country,--the name of a branch of the Columbia. A -hymn was sung by the people. Nowhere have I ever seen exhibited a more -confiding trust in God than was shown by them. - -After the preliminaries were over, a discussion was opened on the several -matters pertaining to the interests of the Indians,--their church, school, -business matters, investment of funds, etc. - -The social and civil customs were brought up. We insisted that polygamy -was a great crime, and that they should abolish the law permitting it. - -The meeting increased in interest and earnestness for several days. We -finally proposed that those of them who were willing should come out -squarely and renounce all their old ways, and take new names, or, at -least, add to their old ones a plain American name. The people were warmed -in their hearts. The occasion was one of intense interest. Here were those -who had come up from a low, debased condition, through the labors of -Christian white men, until they stood on the threshold of a higher life -than they had as yet known. It was to them an important step. - -The speeches made gave evidence of thought and forecast of mind. They did -not rush blindly forward without counting the cost. - -This scene reminds me of a Methodist camp meeting in olden time, when -people were moved by some invisible power to flee from the wrath to come; -when the preacher would call, and exhort, and pray, and a great -overshadowing presence touched all hearts, and drove away careless -thoughts and selfish purposes, and the multitude would seem to melt and -mingle in common sympathy; when saints could throw their arms around -sinners, and make them feel how much they loved them, and how earnestly -they desired their salvation; when brave old sinners hesitated, faltered -and trembled, and strong, brave Christians would then renew the contest in -behalf of religion. Men who had knocked elbows for life would meet at a -common altar, or gather in knots and surround some stubborn, hard-hearted -sinner, who, with thoughtful brow, would whittle sticks and spit, and -whittle again, sometimes throwing the chips away from him, indicating "I -won't;" and then, when some more pointed word of argument, or love, was -sent home to the sinner's heart, he would turn the stick and whittle the -chips toward him, thus saying, "I may;" until at last, when the preacher -calls, "Who will be the next?" the repentant one drops his stick, shuts -his knife, draws his bandanna to his eyes, starts forward, escorted by his -pious exulting friends, who clear the way for the now penitent man. - -The preacher comes down from the stand, clapping his hands, and with -streaming eyes shouts, "Thank God, another sinner has turned to the Lord!" -extends his hand, and utters a few kind words in the listening ear, and -resumes, "Who will be the next?" - -A cowardly sinner, who dares not come out from the world, and is not brave -enough to stand before the battery of divine power, turns and flees, not -from the wrath to come, but from the means that are intended to make him -whole. He is followed by kind-hearted Christian friends and brought back, -and he, too, surrenders; and the preacher says, "Thank the Lord!" and the -brethren shout, "Amen! Amen." - -And thus the work goes on until all are converted, or give evidence of -penitence, save, perhaps, some strong-willed, hard-hearted, cool-headed -one, and then especial efforts are made in his behalf. If he does, at -last, yield his stubborn will, the joy is unbounded. - -This picture I have made, is a true one of western camp-meetings, and -equally true of the Indian meeting held at Warm Springs in December, 1871. -I was to that what the presiding elder was to a camp-meeting. Capt. Smith -was the "preacher in charge." After one or two days of speech-making, when -all hearts were thoroughly aroused, the proposition above referred to was -made. I shall never forget the scene that followed. "Who will be the first -to throw away his Indian heart, laws, customs, and be from this day -henceforth a white man in everything pertaining to civilization?" Silence -reigned; all eyes turned toward "Mark," head chief. He realized the -situation, saw how much of the welfare of his people depended on his -example. He saw, besides, his three wives and their ten children. - -He arose slowly, half hesitating, as though he had not fully made up his -mind what to do. The presence of his women embarrassed him. He said, "My -heart is warm like fire, but there are cold spots in it. I don't know how -to talk. I want to be a white man. My father did not tell me it was wrong -to have so many wives. I love all my women. My old wife is a mother to the -others, I can't do without her; but she is old, she cannot work very much; -I can't send her away to die. This woman," pointing to another, "cost me -ten horses; she is a good woman; I can't do without her. That woman," -pointing to still another, "cost me eight horses; she is young; she will -take care of me when I am old. I don't know how to do; I want to do right. -I am not a bad man. I know your new law is good; the old law is bad. We -must be like the white man. I am a man; I will put away the old law." - -Captain Smith, although a Presbyterian, behaved then like an old-fashioned -Methodist, shouting, "Thank God! Thank God, the ice is broke!" - -Mark remained standing, and resumed: "I want you to tell me how to do -right. I love my women and children. I can't send any of them away; what -must I do?" The old chief was moved, and his upheaving breast gave proof -that he was _a man_. Silence followed, while he stood awaiting the -answer,--a silence that was felt. - -Here was a people, in the very throes of a new life, making effort to -overcome the effects of savage birth and education. The heart of this -question was bared. This old superstition was still lingering in their -lives, part and parcel of the very existence of the people. It remained -with them even after they had put away their religious faith and accepted -that of their Christian teachers. - -We had long before seen the struggle that it would cost,--the -embarrassments that polygamy threw into the question. Our mind was made -up, or we thought it was, and, motioning the chief to be seated, we arose -and said:-- - -"I know how much depends on my words. This is a great question. It has -always been a hard thing to manage. My heart is not rock. I sympathize -with you; Captain Smith feels for you. We will tell you what to do. No man -after this day shall ever marry more than one woman. No woman shall ever -be sold. The men that have more than one wife must arrange to be lawfully -married to one of them. The others are to remain with him until they are -married to other persons, or find homes elsewhere. If they do not marry -again, the husband must take care of them and their children." - -After a few moments, the chief arose, and said, "I understand; that is -right. I will give all my wives a choice. I will be a white man from this -day;" and then, advancing toward the desk, he was welcomed by friendly -greeting from the white men present. - -Holding him by the hand I said to him, "I welcome my red brother to our -civilization. You are now a man; our people do not consider the color of a -man; it is his heart, his life. What name will you take?" - -He hesitated, looking down for a moment; then raising his eyes to my own -with earnest gaze, he inquired if he might take my name, saying that he -liked it because it sounded well. - -Acknowledging the compliment, I extended my hand, and addressed him as Mr. -Mark Meacham, which was greeted with great applause. His second wife, -Matola, arose and made a short speech, inquiring what was to become of her -and her children. "Is your heart made of stone? Can I give Mark up? No I -won't; he will want my children. I want them. I won't go away. I am his -wife. I am satisfied with being his second wife; we did not know it was -wrong. Nobody told us so. We get along well together. I won't leave him; I -am his wife." The plan was explained, and she was reconciled. John Mission -was next to follow Mark, saying, "that when he was a small boy, he first -heard about the new law. He had waited for the time when his people would -come to it. They have come now. I am glad in my heart. I give you my -hand." - -Billy Chinook said, "I throw away the law my fathers made. I take this new -law. I have two wives. They are both good. If anybody wants one of my -wives, he can have her; if he don't, she can stay. Long time I have waited -for the new law. It has come. I give you my hand." - -Hand-shaking was renewed, and then one after another arose and made short -speeches, and came forward and were enrolled; the captain growing warmer -and more enthusiastic as each new name was entered on the roll. Nearly one -hundred had come out squarely, and we adjourned the meeting to the -following day. - -On reassembling, next morning, the invitation was renewed, and nearly all -of the men present surrendered. Sitting moody, gloomy, silent, was a tall, -fine-looking fellow, with a blanket on his shoulders. His name was -Pi-a-noose. - -He had been called on several times, but had not responded until near the -close of this civil revival. Unexpectedly he laid aside his blanket and -arose. Every eye was turned on this man, because he had opposed every new -law. While he was a peaceable, quiet man, he was a strong one, and had -always exercised great influence, especially with the younger men. - -He began to talk,--breaking a breathless silence, because it was supposed -that he would take a stand against the new law,--the Indian way of -speaking of all new rules. His speech was one of vast importance to his -hearers, and was as follows:-- - -"I was born a wild Indian. My father was a wild Indian. A long time I have -fought you in my heart. I have not talked much; I wanted to think. I have -thought about the new law a great deal. I thought I would not have the new -law. My heart says No! I cannot fight against it any longer. I am now -going to be a white man. I will give up the old law." - -He advanced towards the desk, and the captain, unable to restrain his -emotions of pleasure, gave vent to exclamations of gladness by slapping -his hand on the desk, while tears came to his eyes in proof of his -pleasure. The hand-shaking that followed was of that kind which expressed -more than words. A throng gathered around Pi-a-noose, congratulating him. - -Here was a scene that would have touched the heart of man possessed of -any feeling,--a savage transformed into a man! The world scoffs at such -sentiments, because it seldom witnesses a spectacle so grand in human -life. Indians who have passed into that new life are like white men newly -converted to Christianity. Our meeting adjourned with great demonstrations -of pleasure on the part of all interested. - -The captain called his employes together for prayer-meeting. A few Indians -were present, taking part in the exercises. Strange sounds,--those of -prayer going up from an Indian agency, where, in years agone, shouts of -revelry and bacchanalian songs arose from throats that were used to the -language of the debauchee; even officers, if history be true, had taken -part in the disgraceful orgies. - -This agency has two classes of Indians--one that are anxious to advance; -the other who, adopting the religion of white men, are loth to abandon -their old habits. The former are fast coming up to the estate of -civilized, Christianized manhood. A few years more and the treaty will -expire, and then those who are qualified should be admitted to -citizenship, and the remainder removed to some locality where they could -find suitable lands for cultivation. This will not probably be done. The -Government owes these people a debt that it may be slow in paying. - -The Dalles fishery should be returned to them, and a peaceful enjoyment of -its privileges guaranteed. Captain Smith should be permitted to remain -with those for whom he has done so much, and who regard him with -reverence. This may not be either, because the success of party will -require another change in the policy. - -A new administration may change the whole plan of civilization, and remand -these Indians back to the care of their first masters, or into the hands -of the politicians. In either event, it will be a misfortune to those who -have advanced so much under the humane policy of the present -administration. Warm Springs has had but two agents in eight years. This -agency has legends and romantic stories connected with its people, one of -which I propose to give in other connections. - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - - NO PLACE LIKE HOME--SQUAWS IN HOOPS AND CHIGNONS. - - -Umatilla Agency has been mentioned on former pages. I return to it now to -say something more of its people. It is under the management of the -Catholic Church. It has had but _four_ agents in ten years, is on a great -thoroughfare between the Columbia river and Idaho. It has a good climate, -abundant resources, and is of great value. An effort was made during 1871, -to induce the Indians to consent to a removal. - -The council convened at Umatilla Agency, Oregon, August 7th, 1871, -consisting on the part of the Government, of Superintendent A. B. Meacham, -Agent N. A. Cornoyer, of Umatilla Agency, and John S. White, a citizen of -Umatilla County, Oregon. - -Hon. Felix Brunot, chairman of Indian Commission, was present; also, many -of the citizens of the surrounding country. The council was organized with -A. B. Meacham, president, Mathew Davenport, secretary, Donald McKay and P. -B. Pamburn, as interpreters. The council continued six days, during which -time the questions at issue were fully discussed. A few of the speeches -made will be sufficient to give a correct understanding of the argument -for and against the sale of their lands.[4] - -[4] NOTE.--See Appendix to Chapter XII. for the several speeches on the -subject of removal. - -The Indians were entirely untrammelled, and spoke without intimidation. -After the council had been in session four days, in reply to the remarks -of a chief, that they were not ready to talk yet, it was said, "We want -you to talk first all you have to say." - -This council was conducted on fair terms. The Indians freely expressed -their wishes and mind on the subject, and the white men accepted the -result. - -On all the western coast there is not a fairer land than Umatilla. I do -not wonder that the Indians love their homes on this reservation. They -are, however, somewhat divided in religious practice; one part being -members of the Catholic Church, the remainder Dreamers,--followers of -Smoheller. Some of them have made advancement in civil life. - -Wealth has been to them a curse, and not a blessing. Many of them have -large herds of horses and cattle, and have not felt the necessity for -labor. The few who have farms are prosperous, the land being of excellent -quality, climate favorable, and market convenient. At the Oregon State -Fair, 1868, some of them were awarded first prizes for vegetables. - -Surrounded, as they are, by white men, they have been worsted by the -contact. - -Unlike the Indians of Grand Round, who owe much of their prosperity to the -citizens for whom they labored, the Indians of Umatilla are a rich, -thrifty, proud people. They are fond of sports and games, and yield slowly -to the advice of agents to abandon their habits. A few noticeable -instances, however, to the contrary, are How-lish-wam-po, We-nap-snoot, -and Pierre, together with a few others, who live in houses like citizens. -Another instance is that of the widow of Alex McKay, a half-breed. This -woman, of Indian blood, has been educated by white persons, keeps house in -a respectable manner, dresses after fashion's style, though about one year -behind it. When white ladies adopt new fashions this "Susan" waits to see -whether it is perpetuated, and then adopts it just about the time her -fairer sisters abandon it. During one of my official visits, I was invited -to "a social" at Susan's house. In company with the agent and his family I -attended. The refreshments served would have done credit to any house-wife -in any frontier country, though the manner of serving them was rather -comical. Each person went to the table, taking edibles in hand, while -coffee for twenty persons was served in, perhaps, half-a-dozen cups, -passing from one to another. - -The Indian women who were present were dressed "a la Boston:" painted -cheeks, high chignons, immense tilting hoops, and high-heeled bootees. - -The men were in citizen costume, Susan refusing to admit either man or -maiden in Indian dress. - -The dance, or _hop_, was also Boston, with music on a violin by a native -performer. The first was an old-fashioned "French four." When the set was -formed, they occupied the floor, leaving little room for wall-flowers. -Dancing is a part of Indian life in which they take great pleasure. - -In this instance the music was slow, very slow at the commencement, but -increased in time, growing faster, while faster went the flying hoops, and -faster yet went the music; and then the dancers would chase each other in -quick succession through the figure until the fiddles failed and the -dancers, exhausted, sat down. No cold kind of amusement, that. - -After refreshments were again served, another set was formed, and gone -through in the same manner. I noticed in this affair that the maidens -selected partners. - -Susan, in reply to the remark on the change, said that "the boys liked all -the girls for partners, but the girls don't always like all of the boys -for partners. The boys have had their own way long enough." This is an -enterprising woman, and believes in woman's rights. She is doing her -people much good, in their amusements especially. Nature's children, as -well as those of higher society, are blessed with joyful spirits, and a -longing for recreation. - -Susan has sense enough to know that she cannot, even if she would, prevent -dancing, and wisely concludes to draw her people away from the old, -uncouth, senseless dances of savages. Being herself a good Catholic, she -is zealous for her church, and, since dancing is not prohibited, she -succeeds in leading them into communion with religious people. - -Whether the hearts of these converts are changed, I know not; their -manners and customs are, and their ideas of right and justice much -improved. For this reason, I commend this woman for her efforts to break -up old, heathenish customs. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - - "HOW-LISH-WAMPO," KING OF THE TURF--A DEAD THING - CRAWLS. - - -Umatilla is known to be a great country for horses. I doubt if anywhere on -this continent there can be found horses of greater speed or powers of -endurance. - -The feats performed by those people on horseback are wonderful, and past -belief by those who know western horses. - -How-lish-wam-po, chief of the Cayuse (Kiuse), is owner of several thousand -horses. He is a stout-built man, has a dark complexion, wears his hair -just clear of his shoulders, and is now past middle age. - -This man is a natural horseman, and a match for any man of any race in -matters pertaining to horses. He is really king of the turf in the -Umatilla country. - -In conversation with him regarding horses, he remarked to me that he had -horses that could carry a man one hundred miles in a day, and bring him -home the next day. I shook my head, when he proposed to back his judgment -by betting twenty horses. I am satisfied that he could have won the wager. - -The racing habits of these people are well known, and many a white man has -found more than his match. - -I remember, one day in the spring of 1867, a man and boy passing my -residence on the mountain bordering the Reservation. They were leading a -fine-looking horse, with a fancy blanket over him. I suspected his -purpose, and inquired his destination. In his answer I detected a rich -Irish brogue and a tone that sounded somewhat familiar. - -"It's meself that's going down to the Umatilla 'Risivation,' to have a bit -of sport with the 'Injuns.' You see, I've been in Idaho this few years, -and I've made me a nice bit of a stake; and I thought that, when I'd be -going home, I might stop off at the Umatilla, and get even with them -red-skinned boys that swindled me and Mike Connelly out of a few dollars -when were going up,--so they did." - -A few words of explanation, and I recognized him as the fellow who had, in -partnership with another, bought an Indian pony, of which mention has been -made in a previous chapter. I felt sympathy for him during his first -adventure, and I did this time also, and said to him, "Be careful, Pat; -you will lose all your money." - -"Och! never fear; that fellow there has claned them all out in the Boi-se -basin. Oh, but he is a swange cat, so he is; and he will show them how to -take a poor man in when he's foot-sore and tired, so he will, too. Now, do -you mind what I'm telling yous? That lad here can tell you how he flies. -Och! but he's a swate one, so he is." - -Pat went on his way with his heart full of hope. A few days after, the boy -who had gone down with him returned homeward. To my inquiry about how Pat -made out, racing horses, he shrugged his shoulders and replied, that "_the -Injuns cleaned us out!_" - -Another party, who had heard of the Umatilla race horses, passed down -toward the Reservation. This man's name was French Louie. He had several -fine racers with him. I learned his destination, and gave him a few words -of caution. But he replied that he "knew what he was about." He had "a -horse that had '_swept the track_,' all the way from the Missouri river, -at Denver City, Salt Lake, Boi-se, and Baker City. Never fear. I'll teach -those Indians something they never knew, before I get through with them." - -Poor fellow, I felt sorry for him. On his arrival on the Reservation he -found chances to invest his money. The men he came to teach were apt -scholars in tricks that are shrewd. - -He led out a horse, and made a small bet and _lost_, as he _intended_ to. -The next run the Indians played _him_ the same game, until, thinking he -had learned the speed of their horses, Louie proposed to wager all his -money, horses, saddles, and, in fact, stake everything upon one race. - -That man and his attendants went home on little ponies which the Indians -gave them in charity. - -How-lish-wam-po, chief of the Cayuses, is the owner of a horse with which -he has challenged any and every sporting man in the country. - -Several parties have visited Umatilla, bringing with them men and boys to -drive home the herds of Indian horses they were "going to win." - -One party imported a horse for the express purpose. He made known his -desire, and he, too, soon found opportunity for an investment. The -preliminaries were arranged, and the race was to be run over the Indian -race-course, which was located on the bottom lands of Umatilla river, -smooth, level turf, over two miles and a half in length. - -At one end of this course a post was planted, round which the racers were -to turn, and come back to the starting-point, making a distance of a -little over five miles and a quarter. - -Joe Crabb, the owner of the imported horse, had been present at a race -months previous, when How-lish-wam-po had _permitted_ his horse to be -beaten; and as he had measured the distance, marked the time, and -subsequently tested the speed of his horse with the winner, on that -occasion, he, of course, had a "dead thing." - -The white men came with groom and riders, making a camp near the Indian, -standing guard over his own horse, to prevent accident. - -The Indians were not so careful of their horse; at least Joe Crabb thought -they were not, and, since everything is fair in gambling as in war, he -concluded to _know_ for himself how the speed of these two horses would -compare. - -He thought, as thousands of other white men have, that it was no harm to -cheat an "Injun," no matter by what means. - -There is a general belief that Indians sleep when their eyes are shut, and -especially just _before daylight_. - -Sending a careful, trusty man to get the Indian horse, leaving another in -his place, he led his own out on the prairie, and made a few trials of -speed with the two. The result was satisfactory. He found that his horse -was able to distance the other. - -Now How-lish-wam-po was the owner of two horses very nearly alike,--one -the racer; the other half-brother to him, but not so fleet. They were -"Pinto"--spotted horses; so the deception was complete. - -The Indian horses are never stabled, groomed, shod, or grain-fed. Their -system of training differs from a white man's very much. After a race is -agreed upon, the animal is tied up to a stake or tree, and if he is fat, -they starve him down, giving him only water. If, however, he is in good -condition, they lead him out to grass, an hour or so, each day, and at -nightfall they run him over the course. - -In this instance the half-brother was tied up and put in training, and -left _unguarded_, with the _hope_ that Crabb would steal him out, and try -his speed. Sure enough, he fell into the trap that How-lish-wam-po set for -him. The real race-horse was miles away, under proper training. - -The fame of this wonderful winner had spread far and wide, as did the news -of the approaching contest. - -When the morning agreed upon arrived, the roads leading to the valley of -Umatilla gave full proof of the interest the people of the surrounding -country had in this important affair. - -They came from places several hundred miles distant, and from the -settlements surrounding the Reservation. - -The little towns furnished their quota, and the farmers excused themselves -for going, hoping, as they told their wives at home, that they should meet -some one with whom they had business. And through various devices nearly -every man, and a part of the women, also, found excuse to be there. - -I know how that was done; at least, I heard men tell how they managed. - -People who never gambled with dollars, and would blush to own they were -fast people, found their way to Umatilla. - -The race-course which I have described was parallel with a low range of -grassy hills, that rose by gentle slopes from the valley to an altitude of -fifty to one hundred feet. - -Long before the time for the race, carriages, buggies, wagons, and horses, -might be seen standing on the hills, or driving over the green sward, -while at the standing-point was assembled a great motley crowd, on foot -and horseback. - -The Indians were in their gala-day dress,--paints, feathers, long hair, -red blankets; in fact, it was a dress-parade for white and red men too. - -The manner of betting at an Indian race differs somewhat from affairs of -the kind among white men. One man is selected as a stake-holder for all -moneys. Horses that are wagered are tied together and put under care of -Indian boys. Coats, blankets, saddles, pistols, knives, and all kind of -personal effects, are thrown into a common heap and tied together. - -As the starting-hour approaches, two judges are elected,--one white man -and one Indian. But two are required, since the horses run out, turn the -stake, and come back to the starting-point. The first horse to get home is -winner. No account is made of the start, each party depending on his -shrewdness to get the better in this part of the race. - -Indians are enthusiastic gamblers, and have a certain kind of pride, and -to do them justice, honor, as well, in conducting their races. No -disputes ever arise among themselves, and seldom with white men, growing -out of misunderstandings, either about starting or the outcome. They take -sides with their own people always, and bet, when the chances are against -them, from pride. - -The prevailing idea that they are always cool and stoical is not correct. -They become very much excited at horse-races, but not generally until the -race begins. While the preliminaries are being arranged, they are serious, -even solemn-looking fellows, and with great dignity come up with the money -to bet. "Capable of dissembling," I should think they were, from the cool -face of How-lish-wam-po, when the money is being counted out by the -hundreds, in twenty-dollar gold-pieces,--not a few, but handfuls of -twenties. One could not have detected the slightest twinkle in his eye, or -other sign that he knew that Joe Crabb had _stolen his horse_, and _run_ -him secretly. Cool, calm, earnest as if he were saying mass, this -chieftain came up and handed over his money to the stake-holder, while -numerous bets were being arranged between the other Indians and white men. -Horses were wagered, and tied together, and led away. Many a fellow had -brought extras with him, for the express purpose of gambling, expecting of -course to take home twice the number in the evening. - -Crabb had confided his secret about his stolen run to a few friends, and -advised them to _go in_, and win all the horses they wanted. There was no -danger; he knew what he was talking about. He had the Indian's horse's -speed by time, and also by trial. - -This thing leaked out, and was communicated from one to another. Some -pretty good men, who were not accustomed to betting, became anxious to win -a pony or two, and laid wagers with the Indians. - -The trick that Crabb had played was finally made known to How-lish-wam-po. -He and his people were cooled down, and seemed anxious to have the race -come off before more betting was done. - -This made the white men more anxious, and they urged, boasted, and -ridiculed, until, in manifest desperation, the Indians began to bet again, -and the _noble_ white man generously took advantage of the Indian's hot -blood, and forced him to make many bets that he appeared to shun. - -The horses were brought out to start, and while the imported horse of -Crabb's looked every inch a racer, the other stood with head down, a -rough-haired, uncouth brute, that appeared then to be a cross between ox -and horse. - -The presence and appearance of the horses was the signal for another -charge on the Indians, and a few white friends they had, who, having -learned from the chief, the truth of Crabb's trick, came, in sympathy for -the Indian, to his rescue. - -Money, coats, hats, saddles, pistols, pocket-knives, cattle, horses, and -all kinds of property, were staked on the race. - -The Indians, in their apparent desperation, drove up another band of -ponies, and in madness wagered them also. - -Those of my readers who are accustomed to exhibitions around our "fair -grounds," on days of "trials of speed," may have some idea of the scene I -am trying to describe, except that few of them have ever seen so many -horses tied together, and so large a pile of coats, blankets and saddles, -as were staked upon this occasion. - -When the final starting-time came, a pure-minded, innocent man would have -felt great pity for the poor, dejected-looking Indians, at the sight of -their faces, now so full of anxiety; and, certainly, the Pinto, who stood -so unconcerned, on which they had staked so much, did not promise any -hope; while his competitor was stripped of his blanket, disclosing a nice -little jockey saddle, and silver-mounted bridle, his whole bearing -indicating his superiority. - -His thin nostrils, pointed ears, and arched neck, sleek coat, and polished -limbs, that touched the ground with burnished steel, disdaining to stand -still, while his gayly-dressed rider, with white pants tucked into boots -embellished with silver-plated spurs; on his head, a blue cap, and with -crimson jacket, was being mounted, requiring two or three experts to -assist, so restless was this fine, thorough-bred to throw dirt into the -eyes of the sleepy-looking Indian horse, which stood unmoved, uncovered, -without saddle or bridle, or anything, save a small hair rope on his lower -jaw, his mane and tail unkempt, his coat rough and ill-looking. - -On his right side stood a little Indian boy, with head close-shaved, a -blanket around him, and to all appearances unconscious that anything -unusual was expected. - -The other rider's horse was making furious plunges to get away. - -How-lish-wam-po was in no hurry, really; indeed things were going very -much to the satisfaction of that distinguished individual. - -He was willing to see the other man's horse chafe and fret,--the more the -better; and he cared nothing for the sponge that was used to moisten the -mouth of the great racer. - -Look away down the long line of white men and Indians; and on the low -hills, above, see the crowd eager to witness the first jump! - -The chief gives a quiet signal to the Indian boy. The blanket dropped from -the boy's shoulders, and a yellow-skinned, gaunt-looking sprite bestrode -the Indian horse, holding in his left hand the hair rope, that was to -serve him for a bridle, and in his right a small bundle of dried willows. - -Presto! The stupid-looking brute is instantly transformed into a beautiful -animated racer. His eyes seemed almost human. His ears did not droop now, -but by their quick alternate motion giving signs of readiness, together -with the stamping of his feet, slowly at first, but faster and more -impatiently the moment it was intimated he might go; and the other was -making repeated efforts to escape, his masters manoeuvring for the -advantage. - -The little Indian boy managed his horse alone as the chief gave quiet -signs. Three times had they come up to the scratch without a start. Crabb -seemed now very solicitous about the race. I think, probably, he had by -this time found the "hornet in his hat;" at all events, he was pale, and -his rider exhibited signs of uneasiness. - -At length, thinking to take what western sportsmen call a "bulge," he -said, "Ready!"--"Go," said the little Indian boy, and away went twenty -thousand dollars in the heels of the Indian horse, twenty feet ahead -before the other crossed the mark, making the gap wider at every bound. - -Away they sped, like flying birds. The crowd joined in shouts and hurras, -hundreds of all colors falling in behind and following up. - -[Illustration: THE HORSE RACE.] - -Away go the flying horses, and several thousand eyes following the _yellow -rider_, still ahead, as they grow smaller and smaller in the distance, -until the Indian horse turns the stake at the farther end in advance. Now -they come, increasing in size to the eye as they approach, the _yellow -rider_ still in advance. Crabb gasps for breath, and declares that his -horse "will yet win." - -The eagle eye of the old chief lights up as they come nearer, his rider -still leading. Excitement is now beyond words to tell. Look again!--the -Indian boy _comes alone_, rattling his dry willows over a horse that was -making the fastest time on record, considering the nature of the turf. - -The Indians along the line fell in, and ran beside the victorious racer, -encouraging him with wild, unearthly shouts, while he comes to the -starting-point, running the five miles and one-fourth and eighty-three -yards in the unprecedented time of _nine minutes_ and _fifty-one seconds_; -winning the race and money, much to the joy of the Indians and their few -friends, and to the grief of Crabb and his many friends. He, without -waiting to hear from judges, ran down the track nearly a mile, and, -rushing up to the gay jockey, with silver spurs, white pants, blue cap, -and crimson jacket, who had dismounted, and was leading the now docile, -fine-blooded English racer by his silver mountings, inquired, "What's the -matter, Jimmy?"--"Matter? Why, this hoss can't run a bit. That's what's -the matter." - -Do my readers wonder now that so many white men, along the frontier line, -declare that all good "Injins are three feet under the ground"? - -Before leaving this subject, it is proper to state that How-lish-wam-po -gave back to Crabb the saddle-horse he had won from him, and also money to -travel on; and with a word of caution about stealing out his competitor's -horse, and having a race all alone, remarking dryly, "Me-si-ka wake -cum-tux ic-ta mamook ni-ka tru-i-tan klat-a-wa (You did not know how to -make my horse run). Cla-hoy-um, Crabb" (Good-by, Crabb). - -I will further state that many years ago these Indians had exchanged -horses with emigrants going into Oregon, across the plains, and that this -celebrated Indian race-horse is a half-breed. - -The old chief refused to sell him, saying, "I don't need money. I have -plenty. I am a chief. I have got the fastest horses in the world. I bet -one thousand horses I can beat any man running horses." - -He refused an offer of five thousand dollars for this renowned courser. -Several efforts have been made to induce him to take his horse to the -State fair. - -He at one time consented, saying, "I will take my horse just to show the -white men what a race-horse _is_." But he was unwell when the time came, -and failed to go. - -The question has been raised, whether this horse actually made the time -reported. _I believe_ he did. Competent white men have measured the -course carefully, and several persons kept the time, none of whom marked -over ten minutes, while others marked less than nine-fifty. - -If any man is sceptical, he can find a chance to leave some money with -How-lish-wam-po. The chief don't need it, because he has thousands of -dollars _buried_, that once belonged to white men. - -But he is human, and will take all that is offered, on the terms Joe Crabb -made with him. - -If there are real smart sports anywhere who desire a fine band of Indian -horses, they have here a chance to obtain them, without stealing. Take -your race-horses to Umatilla, and you won't wait long. The probabilities -are, that you may be disgusted with the _country very soon_. - -For the benefit, it may be, of some of my readers, I would suggest that -you have only to lead out the horse you propose running, and name the -amount and distance. The Indians will find the horse to match the amount -and distance, anywhere from fifty yards to one hundred miles. Don't be -tender-hearted if you should win a few hundred ponies. They won't miss -them. They only _loan_ them to you to gamble on. - -Having a long-standing acquaintance with How-lish-wam-po, as a neighbor, -and subsequently as his "high tyee chief," I am authorized to say to -Commodore Vanderbilt, Robert Bonner, "Uncle" Harper, Rev. W. H. H. Murray, -or any other horse-fancier, clerical or unclerical, that a sufficient -forfeit will be deposited by How-lish-wam-po, and his friends, in any bank -in Oregon, to defray the expenses of any party who will measure speed -with his horse, on his own turf, five and a quarter miles, turning a stake -midway the race; said expense to be paid on the condition that the said -parties win the race; in which event they can return with ponies enough to -overload the Union Pacific Railroad, and make business for the "Erie" for -a long time to come; with the proviso that How-lish-wam-po's race-horse is -alive and in condition to make the run, as we believe that he is at this -present writing, 1874. - -Parties seeking investments of the kind will receive prompt attention by -addressing How-lish-wam-po, chief of Cayuse, Umatilla Reservation, Oregon, -_care Joe Crabb, Esq._ - -This latter gentleman has been hunting this kind of a contract, in behalf -of How-lish-wam-po, for several months, _unsuccessfully_. - -The Umatilla Indians rear horses by the thousands, never feeding or -stabling, but always herding them, when the owner has enough to justify -the expense of hiring an Indian herder. The horses run in bands of fifty -to one hundred, and seldom mix to any considerable extent. If however, -there should be several bands corralled together, the master-horse of each -band soon separates them. When turned out on the plains they are very -exacting, and many a battle is fought by these long-maned captains, in -defence, or to prevent the capture, by the others, of some one of their -own. - -Cayuse horses are small, from twelve to fifteen hands high; are of every -shade of color, and many of them white or spotted, bald-faced, -white-legged and glass-eyed. They are spirited, though easily broken to -the saddle or harness. As saddle-horses they are far superior to the -common American horse, and for speed and power of endurance they have no -equals. - -The Indians are accurate judges of the value of their animals and have -strong attachments for them; seldom disposing of a favorite except in case -of real necessity. - -The small scurvy ponies are sold in large numbers, for prices ranging from -five to twenty dollars each. A medium-sized saddle-horse sells for about -forty dollars; a first-rate horse, one hundred dollars; and if a -well-tried animal that can make one hundred miles one day, and repeat it -the next, one hundred and fifty dollars. - -The small, low-priced ponies are capable of carrying a common man all day -long, without spur or whip. They are bought by white men for children's -use, and for ladies' palfreys. They are docile, tractable, and fond of -being petted. I know a small white pony, with long mane, and not more than -forty inches in height, that was taught many tricks,--going through the -hotel dining-room, kitchen, and parlor; sometimes following his little -mistress upstairs; lying down and playing dead horse, kneeling for -prayers, asking for sugar, by signs; in fact,--a fine pet. And yet the -little fellow would canter off mile after mile with his mistress. - -Major Barnhart, of Umatilla, owned a small Cayuse, about thirteen hands -high, that would gallop to the Columbia river, thirty-one miles, in two -hours, with a man on his back, and come back again at the same gait. - -I once made an investment of five dollars in an unbroken pony, paid an -Indian one dollar to ride her a few minutes, took her home and gave her -to a little daughter, who named her "Cinderella." After a few days' -petting, she often mounted and rode her fearlessly. - -This one was a bright bay, with a small star in the forehead, with long -mane extending below the neck, a foretop reaching down to its nose. - -The Indians teach their horses, by kindness, to be very gentle. Often on -the visits which they make to old homes, a little pic-i-ni-ne (child) is -securely fastened to the Indian saddle, and the horse is turned loose with -the band. - -On all their journeys they drive bands of ponies, presenting a grotesque -scene: horses of all ages, sizes, and colors; some of them loaded with -camp equipage, including cooking arrangements, tin pans, kettles, baskets; -also bedding of blankets, skins of animals; always the rush matting to -cover the poles of the lodge, and going pell-mell, trotting or galloping. -The women are chief managers, packing and driving the horses. - -An Indian woman's outfit for horseback riding is a saddle with two -pommels, one in front, the other in the rear, and about eight inches high. -The saddles are elaborately mounted with covers of dressed elk-skins, -trimmed profusely with beads, while the lower portion is cut into a -fringe, sometimes long enough to reach the ground. - -These people seldom use a bridle, but, instead, a small rope, made of -horsehair, in the making of which they display great taste. It is fastened -with a double loop, around the horse's lower jaw. They carry, as an -ornament, a whip, differing from ladies' riding-whips in this, that the -Indian woman's whip is made of a stick twelve inches long, with a string -attached to the _small_ end, to secure it to the wrist. The other, or -larger end, is bored to a depth of a few inches, and in the hole is -inserted two thongs of dressed elk-skin, or leather, two inches wide and -twenty in length. - -The Indian woman is last to leave camp in the morning, and has, perhaps, -other reasons, than her duties as drudge, to detain her; for she is a -woman, and depends somewhat on her personal appearance especially if she -is unmarried. If, however, she is married, she don't care much more about -her appearance than other married women, unless, indeed, she may have -hopes of being a widow some day. Then she don't do more than other folks -we often see, who wish to become widows, said wish being expressed by -feathers, and paint on the face and hair. - -However, these Umatilla Indian maidens, who have not abandoned the savage -habits of their people, are proud and dressy, and they carry with them, as -do the young men, looking-glasses, and pomatums, the latter made of deer's -tallow or bear's grease. - -They also, I mean young people especially, carry red paints. Take, for -illustration, a young Indian maiden of Chief Homli's band, when on the -annual visit to Grand Round valley. - -Before leaving camp she besmears her hair with tallow and red paint, and -her cheeks with the latter. Her frock, made loose, without corset or -stays, is richly embroidered with gay-colored ribbons and beads, and rings -of huge size, with bracelets on her wrists and arms. - -Then suppose you see her mount a gayly caparisoned horse, from the -right-hand side, climbing up with one foot over the high saddle, sitting -astride, and, without requiring a young gent to hold the horse, place her -beaded-moccasined feet in the stirrups, and, drawing up the parti-colored -hair rope, dash off at what some folks would call breakneck speed, to join -the caravan. - -No young man had ever caught up her horse from the prairie, much less -saddled it. But, on the other hand, she has probably brought up and -saddled for her father, brother, or friend, a horse and prepared it for -the master's use. - -The young men who are peers of this girl do not wait to see her mounted -and then bear her company. Half an hour before, they had thrown themselves -on prancing steeds, and with painted cheeks, hair flowing, embellished -with feathers, and necklaces of bears' claws, and brass rings, and most -prominent of all, a looking-glass, suspended by a string around the neck. - -The women manage the train and unpack the horses, make the lodge in which -to camp, while their masters ride along carelessly, and stop to talk with -travellers whom they meet; or it may be dismount at some way-side house -and wait until it is time to start for the camp, where the lodge is built -for the night. - -There are, however, Indian men who are servants, and these assist the -women. - -When the site of the camp is reached, our young squaw dismounts, and, -throwing off her fine clothes, goes to work in earnest, preparing the -evening meal, while the gay young men, and the old ones, too, lounge and -smoke unconcerned. - -Remember, I am speaking now of Homli's band of the Walla-Wallas. There are -Christianized Indians on Umatilla Reservation, that have left behind them -their primitive habits,--men of intelligence, whose credit is good for any -reasonable amount in business transactions, and who occupy houses like -civilized people. But the major portion are still wrapped in blankets, and -thoroughly attached to the old customs and habits of their ancestors. They -have a magnificent country, and are surrounded by enterprising white men, -who would make this land of the Umatilla the most beautiful on the Pacific -coast. - -It may be many years before these people will consent to remove. In one -sense it does seem to be a wrong, that so many prosperous homes as this -should afford, must be unoccupied. - -In another sense it is right, at least in that those who live upon it now -are the lawful owners, and therefore have a right to raise horses on land -that is worth five, ten, and twenty dollars per acre, if they choose. So -long as they adhere to their old ways, no improvements may be expected. -They will continue to raise horses and cattle, to drink whiskey and -gamble, becoming more and more demoralized year by year; and in the mean -time vicious white men will impose on them, often provoking quarrels, -until some political change is made in the affairs of the Government, and -the present humane policy toward them will be abandoned, and then their -land will become the spoils of the white man. It were better for these -people that they had a home somewhere out of the line of travel and -commerce; or, at least, those who continually reject civilization. It is -not to the disadvantage of those whose hearts are changed that they should -remain. While the Government protects them they will enjoy the advantage -of intercourse with business men. With those, however, who do not evince a -willingness to become civilized, it is only a question of time, when they -will waste away, and finally lose the grand patrimony they now possess. - -I do not mean that it will ever be taken by force of arms, for the -sentiments of justice and right are too deeply seated in the hearts and -lives of the people of the frontier to permit any unjustifiable act of -this kind to be committed; but designing men will, as they have ever done, -involve good citizens in difficulties with Indians, who, so long as they -cling to their superstitious religion, will retaliate, shouting "blood for -blood;" and then the cry of extermination will be extorted from good men, -who do not and cannot understand or recognize this unjust mode of redress. - -Under the treaty with these Indians, they are to enjoy the privilege of -hunting and grazing on the public domain in common with citizens; but this -right is scarcely acknowledged by the settlers of places they visit, under -the treaty. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - - SNAKE WAR--FIGHTING THE DEVIL WITH FIRE. - - -The southwestern portion of Oregon is a vast plain, whose general altitude -is nearly four thousand feet above the level of the sea. A greater part of -it is an uninhabited wilderness of sage-brush desert. A few hundred -Indians have held it for generations, except the narrow belts of arable -lands along the streams. There, Indians are commonly called "Snakes," -deriving the name from the principal river of the country. - -The overland route to Oregon traverses this region for hundreds of miles. -Many years ago the emigrants became engaged in a war with the few -scattering bands of Indians along the route, and for many years -hostilities continued. The origin of the first trouble is not known by -white man's authority. The Indian story is to the effect that white men -began it to recover stock, which they, the Indians, had purchased from -other tribes. This may be correct, and may not; but that a relentless war -was carried on for years there is no doubt, and, that in the aggregate, -the Indians got the better of it. - -The great overland route to the mining regions of Idaho in early days -passed through this hostile country. Many valuable lives were lost, and a -great many hundreds of horses, mules, and cattle were stolen. The Snakes -were daring enemies, and brave fellows on the warpath, successful in -making reprisals, and, having nothing but their lives to lose, were bold -and audacious scouts. They kept a frontier line of several hundred miles -in length in constant alarm. Life was unsafe even within the lines of -settlement. - -Owyhee-Idaho country was one of the bloody battle-grounds, the Indians -waylaying travellers along the roads, and from cover of sage-brush, or -ledge of rocks, firing on them, and, in several instances, attacking -stages loaded with passengers. At one time the stage was fired into on the -road between Boise City and Silver City. The driver--Charley Winslow--and -four passengers were killed and scalped. At another time, within ten miles -of a mining town of two thousand inhabitants, Nathan Dixon, the driver of -a stage-coach, was shot through the body and fell in the boot of the -stage, a passenger by his side taking the lines and driving the stage-load -of passengers out of danger. Poor "Nate!"--he paid the penalty of too -brave a heart. He had been offered an escort at the station but one mile -away, and declined it, saying, "He was not made to be killed by Indians." - -H. C. Scott, a ranchman living on Burnt river, Oregon, with his family, -consisting of a wife and two children, went in a two-horse wagon to visit -a neighbor two miles away. On their return they were fired on by Snake -Indians. Mr. Scott received his death-wound; his wife was also shot -through the body, but with heroic coolness took the lines of the team, and -drove home, with her murdered husband struggling in death on the floor of -the wagon, his blood sprinkling her children and herself. She lived but a -few hours and was buried with him. The children were unharmed, although -several volleys were discharged after the flying team and its load. - -On the road from "The Dalles" to Canyon city many skirmishes were had with -these Indians. On one occasion they attacked the stage carrying passengers -and the United States mail. The driver, Mr. Wheeler, was shot with a slug -cut from an iron rod that had been used to secure the tail-board of a -freight-wagon. The slug passed through his face, carrying with it several -teeth from both sides of his upper jaw. Strange to relate, he drove his -team out of further danger. - -Not unfrequently freighters would lose the stock of entire trains, -numbering scores of animals. Packers, too, lost their mule-trains. Lone -horsemen were cut off, and murder, blood and theft reigned supreme in the -several routes through the "Snake country." - -A party of eighty-four Chinamen were killed while en route to the mines of -Idaho. Helpless, unarmed Chinamen, they are game for the savage red men, -and the noble-hearted white men also. One man, commenting on this -occurrence, remarked that, "they had no business to be Chinamen. The more -the Indians killed, the better." Instances of Indian butchery might be -multiplied. - -But, on the other hand, they in turn suffered in the same inhuman manner. -Independent companies were organized to punish them, and punishment was -inflicted with ruthless vengeance. Innocent, harmless Indians were -murdered by these companies. Women were captured, or put to death. One -circumstance will illustrate this feature of Indian warfare, as carried -on by the white men. Jeff Standiford, of Idaho City, went in pursuit of -savages with a company of white men and friendly Indians. - -A camp was found and attacked. The men escaped, the women and children -were captured. The old, homely women were shot, and killed; the children -were awarded to the whites who distinguished themselves in their great -battle against helpless women and children. The better-looking squaws were -sold to the highest bidder for gold dust to pay the expenses of the -expedition. But the fame of the company was established as "Indian -fighters." When we hear of Indians doing such deeds, we cry -"extermination," nor stop to learn the provocation. - -This kind of Indian war continued several years, during the "great -rebellion." One feature or sanitary cure on the part of the Snake Indians -I do not remember to have seen in print. While they were poorly armed, and -were cut off from supplies of ammunition, and especially of lead, they cut -up iron rods from captured wagons, without any forges, into bullets. On -the persons of Indian warriors who were killed and captured,--I say -captured, because many were killed and carried off by their friends, to -prevent mutilation, and because of their fidelity to each other,--were -found iron slugs, stones that were cut into the shape of balls, and wooden -plugs one or two inches in length, and one inch in diameter. These latter -were used by them to stop hemorrhage. When a warrior was struck by a -bullet, he immediately inserted a wooden stopper in the wound. Rude -surgical treatment this, and yet they claim it to be of great value. - -This "Snake war" afforded abundant opportunity for frontiersmen to learn -the manly art of killing Indians; and they did learn it, and learned it -well. Volunteer companies were enlisted to stand between the white -settlers and the Snake Indians, while the regular army was withdrawn to -assist in putting down the rebellion; and they _stood_ there, some of -them, and others _lay_ there, and they _are_ lying there to this day. - -The famous Oregon poet, Joaquin Miller, earned his spurs as a war-man out -on the plains fighting Snake Indians, and many others of less celebrity -did likewise. But the handful of Snake Indians were harder to conquer than -General Lee or Stonewall Jackson. General Lee touched his military hat -with one hand, and passed over his sword with the other to General Grant, -under the famous apple-tree, some months before. - -E-he-gan, We-ah-we-wa and O-che-o had pulled down their war-feathers in -presence of General Crook. When the drums of the Union army were beating -the homeward march, General Crook was ordered to the frontier to whip the -Snakes. Some of the regiments of the regular army were sent out to relieve -the volunteers who garrisoned the military posts. Many a brave fellow who -had returned from fighting rebels went out there to die by Snake bullets, -and in some instances to be scalped. - -They found a different enemy, not less brave, but more wily and cunning, -who were careful of the waste of ammunition. These Snake Indians were not -content to make war on white men, but continued to invade the territory of -other Indians; particularly that of Warm Springs Reservation, and -occasionally of the Umatilla; also, to capture horses and prisoners. - -Among the exploits in this line, the carrying off a little girl, daughter -of a chief of the Warm Springs, was the most daring, and perhaps the most -disastrous, in its results to the Snakes; daring, because committed in -broad daylight, and inside the lines of white settlements. - -The affair created great excitement when it was known among the friends of -the child's parents. No people are more intensely affected by such -occurrences than Indians. This feeling is very much enhanced by the -knowledge that captives are often sold as slaves into other tribes. Hence -this capture was disastrous to the Snake Indians, because it aroused the -fire of hate among the "Warm Springs," and sent many of their braves to -the warpath. - -General Crook being the _right man in the right place_, and finding that -his regulars could not successfully cope with the Snakes, called for -volunteers from Umatilla and Warm Springs Reservation. A company of Cayuse -Indians, under the leadership of the now famous Donald McKay, went from -the former, and another company, under command of Dr. Wm. C. McKay, an -older brother of Donald's, from the latter agency. I know nothing of the -theology of Gen. Crook, whether he is posted about the war-policy of his -Satanic Majesty, but he struck it this time,--"fighting the devil with -fire." - -These Indians were enlisted with the understanding that they were to have, -as compensation for their services, the booty won from the "Snake -Indians;" but were armed and rationed by the Government. - -The father of the captured girl promised to award the brave who should -recapture her, with her hand; or, in other words, she was to be the wife -of the man who brought her in. - -In those days, no well-established Indian law recognized the necessity for -a marriage ceremony, neither prevented a brave from taking as many wives -as he was able to buy, or otherwise obtain. - -Hence this captive girl became a prize within reach of any brave who went -on the warpath, and could succeed. - -This tempting bounty, together with a love of plunder and the thirst for -revenge, added to the ambition of the Indians to do something that would -entitle them to the recognition of their manhood by white men, made -recruiting easy to accomplish, and the two companies were quickly made up. -The enlisted Indian scouts, when supported by the Government and furnished -with arms and ammunition, clothed and mounted, were just the thing Crook -had been wanting. - -The Snakes had learned that soldiers in blue were poor marksmen, and that -they could drive them by strategy. But as one of the chiefs related -afterward, when they saw blue coats slip from their horses and take to the -brush, giving back shot for shot, they were astonished. Then, too, the -scouts under the McKays, Indians themselves, tracked them over plain and -mountain, until they were forced to fortify, and, they became desperate. - -Meanwhile this wily general, divested of his official toga, was out with -his Indian scouts, one of whom said he looked like "a-cul-tus-til-le-cum" -(a common man), but he "mum-ook-sul-lux-ic-ta-hi-as-tyee-si-wash," -("makes war like a big Indian chief.") - -General Crook, giving his Indian scouts permission to take scalps and -prisoners, under savage war custom, very soon compelled the Snake chiefs -to sue for peace. - -This result was brought about by the "Warm Springs" and "Umatillas," under -the leadership of the McKay brothers, who advised a winter campaign. -General Crook, with rare good sense, availing himself of their wisdom and -experience, pursuing the Snakes, in mid-winter, over the high sage brush -plains, and through the mountains. - -The Snakes were under the leadership of three several chiefs. E-E-gan's -band, infesting the frontier on Burnt and Owyhee rivers, Eastern Oregon, -numbering never more than three hundred warriors, had been reduced to less -than two hundred, by the casualties of war; We-ah-we-wa's band, of about -the same number, swinging along between Burnt river and the Canyon City -country. - -Against these Donald McKay, with the Umatilla Indian scouts, was sent, -supported by a company of the United States cavalry. - -Donald was eminently successful in his scouting expedition, in recapturing -horses, taking scalps, and, what has since been of more importance to him, -in also retaking the captured daughter of the Warm Spring chief. - -She was not found with her original captors, it being a common practice -with Indians, and especially when at war, to pass captives out of the -hands of the original captors, and, whenever practical, in exchange for -other slaves. - -Those who may meet this famous scout, Donald McKay, and his pretty little -Indian wife, Zu-let-ta (Bright Eyes), would never suspect that she had -served three years as a slave among the Snake Indians, and that the great -stalwart fellow was her deliverer; yet such is the truth. - -The third division of the Snake tribe was under the famous chief Pe-li-na, -whose battle-grounds and warpaths were east of the Cascade mountains, and -south of the Warm Spring Reservation. - -During one of the engagements incident to this Snake war, he was killed in -a fight with Dr. McKay's Warm Spring scouts. He was probably the most -daring and successful leader the Snake Indians have ever had. - -On his death, a chief named O-che-o assumed command, and conducted the -last battle fought by this band. Harassed and driven by the combined power -of United States soldiers and their Indian allies, they made at last a -stand, and fought bravely, but were overpowered, and finally compelled to -surrender. - -When they came in with hands dyed with the blood of innocent victims, and -offered to shake hands with General Crook, he refused; and placing his own -behind him, coolly said, "When you prove yourselves worthy--not till -then." - -They were subjugated, and accepted the terms, "unconditional -surrender"--without treaty or promise, except that of protection or -subsistence on the part of the Government and an acknowledgment of its -authority, and the promise of obedience on the part of the Indians. - -At Warm Springs Agency an Indian, who had been with Crook, invited me to -visit the department barn with him. - -He led the way, climbing up gangways and ladders, until we reached the -upper garret. He pointed to a dark-looking pile in one corner resembling a -black bear-skin. On examination I found they were scalps. The scout -remarked that he did not know how many were there now, because white men -carried them off, and Capt. Smith, the agent, forbade them from touching -them; that when they came home from "Crook's war," at the great -scalp-dance they had sixty-two. He appeared to regret that the men who had -cut them off the hated Snakes' heads could not be permitted to ornament -their shot-pouches with them. I selected one or two as reminders of the -handiwork of the scouts, and also as specimens of the long black hair of -the Snake Indians. I haven't them now. For a while they hung in my office; -but the doors were sometimes left unlocked, and they were missing. Pretty -sure, they are now playing switch for a couple of handsome ladies -residing,--well, no odds where. - -If my reader will accompany me awhile we will visit the "Snake country," -and see it for ourselves. From the home office at Salem, Oregon, our route -leads us down the beautiful Willamette valley, via Portland; thence once -again up the Columbia by steamer and rail, through "the Cascades," seeing -new beauties each time in things we had not noticed on former trips. On -the right a mountain stream leaps off a rock six hundred feet, and turns -to mist, forming a perpetual cloud, that hides its main course, but pours -its constant rain into a great pool below, and, overflowing, leaps again -two hundred feet, and lighting on stony bed, made deeper and softer each -century, it comes out to a smiling, sparkling silver sheet beneath the -evergreen forests, and joins the river in its flow to the briny deep. - -On the left we see Castle Rock, on which Jay Cooke built a fine air-castle -when the North Pacific Railroad was built _upon paper_, intending to match -the ideal with the real in time, to sit on its summit, and, from the tower -of his mansion, wave his welcome to the panting iron charger on his -arrival from Duluth, en route to the great metropolis of the northwest. - -Jay Cooke failed; the iron courser is stabled at Duluth; the metropolis is -covered with heavy forests, and the hum of busy life is not heard very -much at Puget Sound, and Castle Rock stands solitary and alone like some -orphan boy. - -So it will stand, for its mother mountains look on it with contempt, from -its very insignificance. It is a pity Cooke can't build the castle,--pity -for this lonely rock, who bathes his feet in the boiling waters of the -river. - -"Rooster Rock" is still worse off, for he is surrounded by water too deep -for him to wade, though he may keep his head above the flood. - -Onward, upward we go, passing old rock towers and Indian burial-grounds, -catching a glimpse of Father Hood, who seems in ill-humor now, and frowns, -with dark clouds on his brow. Maybe he is angry with Mother Adams, on the -north, who smiles beneath her silvery cap, while he scolds and thunders. -The tables may yet turn with these mountain monarchs, and Hood may laugh -while Mother Adams weeps. We will keep an eye on them for a few days, as -our journey leads us toward the "Snake country." - -We are at "The Dalles." Our commissary, Dr. W. C. McKay has made -preparation for the journey; we are no longer to be hurried by steam so -fast we cannot have the full benefit of the scenes we pass. - -The doctor is a native of the mountains, and boasts that he is "no -emigrant or carpet-bagger either;"--that his father's blood was mixed with -Puritan stock from Boston, and his mother knew how to lash him to the baby -board and swing him to her back with strong cords, while she promenaded -behind her husband, or gathered the wild huckleberries. - -He is now, 1874, en route for the east with a troupe of Indians from Warm -Springs and the Modoc Lava Beds. - -Few who meet him will suspect he is the one of whom I write, unless I -describe him more accurately. Educated in Wilbraham, Mass., at his -father's expense, he graduated with honor, and returned to his native land -a strong, well-built, handsome gentleman. He married a woman of his own -blood, fully his equal in culture. - -The doctor has taken part in nearly all the important Indian affairs of -Oregon and Washington Territory for a quarter of a century; sometimes as -interpreter or secretary for treaty councils, and sometimes as United -States Resident Physician, and again as leader of friendly Indians against -hostile ones. His experiences have more the character of romance than any -man in the northwest. - -He meets us at the wharf and says, "Come, you are my guest," and leads the -way to the high, rocky bluffs overlooking the city of "The Dalles." Our -entertainment was made complete through the hospitality of the lady-like, -dark-eyed woman who presided at a table whereon we found an elegant -supper. - -We light our pipes, and stroll out to the tents of the teamsters, packers, -and hands who are to accompany our expedition. An Indian boy is baking -bread by a camp-fire with frying-pans. Near by the door of the -cooking-tent we see our kitchen, a chest or box,--and by its side stands a -fifty-pound sack of self-rising flour, with the end open, and, resting on -the flour, a lump of dough. - -Jimmy Kane, the Indian cook, twists off a chunk, and, by a circling motion -peculiar to himself, and one would say entirely original, he soon gives it -the shape of a thin, unbaked loaf. See the fellow measuring the frying-pan -with his eyes, first scanning the loaf and then the pan, until, in his -judgment, they will fit each other well; then, holding the limp loaf in -his left hand, with the other he slips a bacon rind over the inside of the -pan, to prevent the dough from sticking, and claps the latter in; and, -patting it down until the surface is smooth, he pulls from his belt a -sheath-knife, and makes crosses in the cake to prevent blistering. Next, -the frying-pan goes over the fire a moment or two until the bottom is -crusted. Meantime the cook has drawn out coals or embers, standing the pan -at an angle, and propping it in position with a small stick, with one end -in the ground and the other in the upper end of the pan-handle. Meanwhile -the coffee-pot is boiling, and in some other frying-pan the meats are -cooking. But see that mess of dough, how it swells and puffs up, like an -angry mule making ready for a bucking frolic. Jimmy takes the pan by the -handle, and, with a peculiar motion, sends the now steaming loaf round and -round the pan; then jerking a straw or reed from the ground, thrusts it -into the heart of the loaf, and, quickly withdrawing it, examines the -heated point. If no dough is there, the loaf is "done," and then Jimmy -throws it on his hand, and keeps it dancing until he lands it in the -bread-sack, which is stored away among bed-blankets to keep it hot; while -he proceeds to put another lump of dough through the same process. -Sometimes the first loaf may be stood on end before the fire while the -other loaves are taking their turn in the pan. - -Perhaps a dozen cakes are standing like plates in a country woman's -cupboard, all on edge, while we look at the Indian cook setting the table -on the ground. First spreading down a saddle-blanket, and then a table of -thick sail-cloth, he draws the kitchen near, and pitches the tin plates -and cups, knives, and spoons around, and, placing an old sack in the -centre, sets thereon the frying-pan full of hot "fryins." But Jimmy has -everything on the table, and is waiting for the boys to come. - -Listen, and you will hear the tramping feet of our band of horses and -mules with which we are to make our journey. They come galloping into -camp, seasoning the supper with dust. - -On the following morning we are on the road toward the summit of the Blue -Mountain, riding over high, rolling prairies, sometimes crossing deep, -dark canyons, and out again on the open plain. On the evening of the -second day we pitched our camp in Antelope valley. - -While Jimmy is preparing supper, a man approaches our camp from the open -plain. He carries on his shoulders a breech-loading shot-gun, and, hanging -by his side, a game-bag, through which the furry legs of Jack rabbits and -the feathers of prairie chickens may be seen; and also in his left hand a -string of mountain trout. The man declares himself a hunter by his spoils; -but there is something else that causes us to stare at him,--the soft felt -hat slouched over his face, flannel blouse, denim overalls stuffed into -the top of his boots, a small pointer dog that keeps close to his heels, -altogether presenting a spectacle not common in appearance. - -As he comes near our camp, we recognize, in the sunburnt face and flaxen -hair, a man whose heroic deeds have placed his name high on the roll of -honor as a chieftain. This plain-looking, rough-clad, sunburnt hunter is -_George Crook_, commander of the Department of the Columbia. - -He is just the man that we wished to meet at this time. After a pleasant -chat on every-day topics, the general threw himself down on a pile of -blankets, and gave us his opinion of the Indian question, so far as -concerned those we were going to meet. His experience made his views of -great value, and we fully realized it within a few days. - -We see, coming over the hill from Warm Springs Agency, a small cavalcade -of Indians. They are to be of our party for the Snake expedition. - -Foremost in the trail rode a young Indian, who had been with McKay's -scouts under Gen. Crook. The general quietly extended his hand to the -new-comer, in token of recognition. - -This man's name was Tah-home (burnt rock). He had been successful, during -the war, in capturing a little Snake Indian squaw of about twelve years of -age. He had subsequently adopted her as his wife. Dr. McKay had arranged -for Tah-home to bring his captive wife for the purpose of interpreter, it -being presumed that she would, of course, be able to talk in her native -tongue, having been only two years a captive. - -It should be understood that nearly every tribe has a language distinct -from its neighbors, and it was feared that some difficulty would arise in -managing a council with a people who were so little known to other tribes, -except by their daring acts of warfare; hence this arrangement with -Tah-home and his squaw Ka-ko-na (lost child). - -It required some strong promises to reassure Tah-home of the safety of -this trip, in so far as it affected his property interest in the squaw; -for at this time his thoughts were confined to this view of the case. When -assured that, in the event the Snakes should claim his wife, and succeed -in persuading her to remain with them, he should have _two horses_, he was -satisfied to proceed. - -One or two days after we encamped near Canyon City, and, in pity for the -poorly clad squaw, we had her dressed in a full suit of new clothes. From -that time henceforth Tah-home seemed to be very much attached to his wife. -"Fine feathers make fine birds" among Indian people as elsewhere. - -Pursuing our journey, we at last stand on the summit of the Blue -Mountains, one hundred and eighty miles south of "The Dalles." Looking -northward, spread out before us, a great high plain appears in full view, -though hundred of miles away; high mountains, looking in the distance like -a wooded fringe, and their high peaks, like taller trees that had outgrown -their neighbors, were clothed in snow, making a marked contrast with their -shining tops. To the south an elevated plateau of open country, bleak and -dreary in its aspect. A few miles on we find a boiling spring of clear -water, and near it a cool one. - -Passing south of the summit, about fifty miles, we reach "Camp Harney," a -three-company military post established here to guard the Indians. There -was a time when it was necessary. Indeed, it may be again. - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - - THE COUNCIL WITH THE SNAKE INDIANS--O-CHE-O. - - -On our arrival we made our camp one mile below the post, on the bank of a -small stream. No Indians were visible until the day appointed for the -council we had ordered. Messengers had been sent out to the several Indian -camps, notifying them of our presence. - -They came at the appointed time in full force, men, women, and children. -The council was held near our camp, in a large army hospital tent. The -Snakes were represented by their great war chiefs, We-ah-we-we, E-he-gan, -and O-che-o. - -Before opening council, and while arranging the preliminaries, we -announced the presence of Ka-ko-na,--the captive wife of Tah-home,--and -the purpose for which she had been brought along. - -This announcement created great excitement among the Snake Indians. They -collected around the tired little squaw, and scanned her closely, for the -purpose of identification. She was frightened, and shrunk from their -questions, saying to Tah-home that she was "No Snake." She had either -really lost her native language, or was afraid to acknowledge that she -could speak it. - -Meanwhile, through the kindness of Gen. Crook, while we were encamped at -Antelope valley, sending for Donald McKay, who was in Government employ, -we were supplied with an interpreter. Donald is not only a scout, but he -is a linguist in Indian tongues,--speaking seven of them fluently,--the -"Shoshone Snake," included. Ka-ko-na, satisfied that she would not be -forced to go with her own people, listened to the Snake talk; suddenly, as -though waking from a dream, she began talking it herself, and was soon -recognized and identified as a sister of one of "O-che-o's" braves. - -Her father had been killed, her mother had died, and her relatives all -gone, save this one brother. Stoical as they appear to be, there is, -nevertheless, deep feelings of human affection pervading the hearts of -these people; especially for brother and sister, and even to cousins; but, -strangely enough, they carry their ideas of practicability beyond common -humanity in their treatment of mothers, by casting them off as worn-out -beasts of burden when too old for labor. - -This is even worse than among civilized people, who pray for the death of -mothers-in-law and step-mothers. - -The fathers are treated with great kindness,--at least when they are -possessed of worldly goods, and even when poor they are exempt from -labor,--are buried with the honors due them, and their graves held sacred -as long as the graves of other fathers generally. - -After the usual preliminaries of smoking the peace-pipe, both parties -proffering pipes, and after drawing a puff or two, then exchanging, -passing the pipes around the circle, until all had proclaimed friendly -intention by smoking, Col. Otis, commander of the District of the Lakes, -present, together with a number of officers from the post,--we opened the -talk by saying, substantially, that we were there to represent another -department of the Government; that we knew all about the history of the -past, and had come to offer them a home on a Reservation, and to provide -for their wants; and that we were prepared to assist them in removing to -the new homes at Yai-nax, on Klamath Reservation. - -The chiefs were suspicious and wary, not disposed to talk, but were good -listeners. After two days, passed in "making heart," they said they could -not give an answer without "Old Win-ne-muc-ca," the head chief of all the -Shoshones, Snakes. - -The council was adjourned, and this celebrated old fraud was sent for, a -distance of one hundred miles. - -Meanwhile we waited for his appearance, sometimes visiting the Indian -camps several miles away. - -On one occasion I went on horseback and alone with We-ah-we-wa. He seemed -anxious to give warning to his people of our coming, and sent runners -ahead on foot for that purpose. As we rode away from our camp I had some -misgivings, when I remembered that the man beside me was one of the most -bloodthirsty savages that had ever led a band of braves to a banquet of -blood. He it was who had directed, and assisted too, in the many scenes of -robbery and murder on the Canyon City road. - -He was more than an ordinary man in mental power, had in former years, -while a captive, lived on Warm Springs Reservation, had learned the -Chinook jargon, and could speak "Boston" sufficiently well to make himself -understood. - -After leaving our camp, and while en route to his, he told me of his -capture years before; of his confinement in a guard-house, and exhibited -the scars that had been made by the fetters he had worn; then of his -escape and subsequent adventures, and narrow escape from recapture and -death. - -He did not appear to shrink from mention of his own crimes and exploits, -but sought to impress me constantly that he had only acted in defence of -his own rights. There was in the face of this man a cunning, treacherous -look that was anything but reassuring. - -On crossing a little stream fringed with willows, we came suddenly on his -camp. Not a house, tent, or lodge was to be seen, but scattered around -among the sage bushes were several half-circular wind-brakes, made of -sage-brush and willows. The women and children ran out at our approach. -The chief called them back. They came shyly, and with wondering eyes gazed -on the man who had come to move them to a new home. I learned from him -that _they_ had never been to the post, and that few white men had ever -called on him; hence the curiosity they had on being close enough to see -how a white man looked. This chief was the owner of three sleek, fat, -healthy-looking wives; they lived on roots, fish, and grasshoppers. The -entire outfit for house-keeping was carried from one camping place to -another on the backs of the squaws. - -They were dressed in long loose frocks, made of deer-skins, trimmed with -furs, and, woman-like, embellished with trinkets; in this instance of -pieces of tin, cut by them, feathers and claws of wild animals. The -sleeves were small, and in the seams a welt of dressed deer-skin, two -inches deep, and cut into fringes of one-fourth inch wide. They made their -toilets at the little brook beneath the willows. These people maintained -all their old customs. I noticed a woman's work-basket, differing somewhat -from that of those who were blessed with sewing-machines. Their needles -were pointed bones, resembling an awl, and were used as such. - -The threads were made of sinews of animals, cured and prepared for the -purpose, very strong, but not fine enough for fancy work on silk or -cambrics; and yet they make beautiful moccasins and bead-work, without -other thread or needle. - -The children were also clad in deer-skin clothes, as were the men; the -latter being dressed with the hair and fur retained. All these people of -whom I write are copper-colored, though varying in shades about as much as -white people do, some of them being much darker than others; all have -black eyes, and long black hair, and smooth features, except high-cheek -bones. They differ in stature; those near the seacoast being smaller than -those of the high lands; the latter averaging as large as white men. The -women are much larger than white women. - -Their habits are simple, and their morals beyond question, so far as the -honor of their women is concerned. I learned from good authority that the -Indian women who have never been contaminated by association with low -white men are chaste. The law penalty of these people for violation of -this virtue is death. One or two instances of the enforcement of this -rigid rule have come within my own personal knowledge on reservations in -Oregon. - -Sixteen days after the opening of the councils, Win-ne-muc-ca arrived, and -the council was again opened. The great chief spoke to his people in -private, but declined to make a speech in our joint councils; the others -speaking, however, for the people. O-che-o accepted our offer of a home, -on the condition that we should return the captives that had been taken -during the late war. This promise was made on our part. With this -assurance, he and his band made ready for removal. The others did not. We -used all our argumentative ability to obtain their consent, but -unsuccessfully. They came to the council with war-paint on their bodies -and arms concealed under deer-skin robes. Our party were armed, and all -were on the keen look-out for trouble. Toward the close of the -council-talks the medicine-man of the Snakes drew his knife, and, dropping -his robe from his shoulders, displayed, what we well understood to be -war-painting on his body and arms, and, thrusting his knife into the -ground, said, "We have made up our minds to die before we will go to any -place away from our country." - -This action and speech brought all parties to a standing posture very -quickly. The situation was a very doubtful one for a few moments. The -proximity of troops prevented a fight. Had we been a few miles from -assistance, I doubt not blood would have been spilled. - -We-ah-we-wa himself would have consented to go to a Reservation, but the -medicine-man was not willing. Their chief requested that his reasons for -not complying should be made known to the "big chief" at Washington, which -request was granted and complied with. - -The council ended, and we made preparation to remove O-che-o's band to -Yai-nax, Klamath Reservation. - -Before leaving camp we had demonstrated the superiority of our doctor's -skill, by healing a sick Indian against the will of the Snake -medicine-man. - -The Snakes had demanded the return of their people who had been captured -during the war. This we refused unless they would go on to the -Reservation. These two circumstances had produced bad blood. - -Before our departure a Snake woman, the wife of a half-breed, gave us -warning that an attempt would be made to capture our party while on the -way to Camp Warner. I made requisition for an escort of troops, which was -honored, and we took up the line of march. We passed safely through this -wild, unsettled region, and, on arrival at Warner, O-che-o gathered his -people, and, _without_ escort, we continued the journey to Yai-nax. - -We enjoyed the rare spectacle of seeing the medicine-man practise on a -patient who was taken suddenly ill and supposed to be poisoned. The -treatment was novel. He made a sage-brush fire, and waited until it had -burned down to embers. Meanwhile the patient was divested of clothing. The -assistants of the doctor formed in a circle around the fire, and four men -were selected to manage the victim of this savage practice. The prayers, -songs and dances commenced simultaneously, increasing in earnestness. The -patient was lying, with his face downward, on a blanket, with a slight -covering over him. The medicine-man made a sign of readiness, when the -sick man was seized by the four Indians, by the hands and feet, and, amid -the noise of prayers and songs and dances, he was drawn forward and -backward, face down, over the hot coals, until he was burnt the length of -his body, so that great blisters were raised soon after. - -This man did not wince or mutter or shrink from the fearful ordeal. His -faith made him whole. A day or two after he was apparently well. - -Belonging to O-che-o's band was one named "Big Foot," who would, with a -cane four feet long, capture sage-brush hare, incredible as it may seem, -when the fleetness of these animals is considered. He would actually run -on to them and knock them down with the cane. - -Our route from Warner to Yai-nax led us over a high, dry country, with -occasional groves of mountain mahogany, or spruce, the whole great plateau -being from four to five thousand feet above the sea level. Small lakes lay -basking in summer's sun or covered with winter's ice. They are bountifully -supplied with fish of the trout species. - -On the day before our arrival we were met by a delegation of Klamath -Indians, who came out to meet and give us welcome. It is a beautiful -custom among Indians to send in runners to announce the approach of -visitors, and then messengers are returned, or perhaps, as in this -instance, the chief and his head men go in person to meet them. - -They were impatient to "look into the eyes and see the tongue" of the new -superintendent. Whether the Indians of our party had telegraphed our -coming, or sent runners in advance, I do not now remember. The great -Caucasian race justly honors the names of _Franklin_, _Morse_, and -_Field_. These people of whom I write had been using fire as a medium of -communication for untold generations. Spiritualism is also common among -them. - -We were treated with some exhibitions of this incomprehensible phenomenon -while on this journey. The seance was not conducted with the aid of pine -tables or the laying on of hands; the medium, or clairvoyant, working -himself by wild motions of his arms and head into the proper condition. He -announced that the Klamaths were at that minute encamped at a certain -place, and designated the day on which they would meet us. - -Subsequent investigation established the correctness of the prophecy. -Whether the knowledge was obtained through fire-signals, or by the medium -of spirit communication, this deponent sayeth not. There is a general -understanding among them as to fire-signals, even when they have no -knowledge of each other's language. - -The meeting with the Klamaths and Snakes was one of interest to all -parties, from the fact that they had been enemies, and the chiefs had not -met in person since peace was restored. Living in the country intervening -was a small tribe of Wal-pah-pas, who were half Snake and half Klamath. -They were mediators, though sometimes fighting on alternate sides, as -interest or affront gave occasion. - -The Klamath chief and his people had made camp, and were awaiting our -arrival. The chief first addressed me, as the high chief, stating that he -had heard of me, and was anxious to "see my eyes and heart, and welcome me -to Klamath." I replied by saying, "I have brought with me a man of your -own color. He comes to live on Klamath." Then, extending my hand, the -chief of the Klamaths advanced and exchanged greetings with me, and also -with O-che-o, chief of the Snakes. This man I consider a remarkable -character. Mild-mannered, smooth-voiced, unassuming, unused to ceremonies -that were not savage, he exhibited traits of character worthy of emulation -by more pretentious people. - -In this informal council he responded to Allen David, the Klamath chief: -"I met this white man. He won my heart with strong words. I came with him. -I once thought I could kill all the white men. I have lost nearly all my -young men fighting. I am tired of blood. I want to die in peace. I have -given my heart all away. I will not go to war. I am poor. I have few -horses. I do not know how to work. I can learn. We will be friends. I will -live forever, where this new chief places me. I am done." - -After these greetings and the supper over, we gathered around huge fires -of pine and spruce logs, and talked in a friendly manner. Singular -spectacle, away out on the unsettled plains of Eastern Oregon, to see a -meeting wherein were representatives of two races and seven different -tribes, speaking as many different languages, sitting in peace and -harmony, without fear of harm, telling stories, some of which were -translated into the several tongues. - -To illustrate how these talks were conducted: a white man speaks in his -own language, a Warm Spring Indian repeats it to his own people, who, in -turn, tell it to a Klamath, he to a Modoc, and then it goes through the -Wal-pah-pa's mouth to the Snake's. Often three or four sentences, of -different sense, are being translated at the same time. Some wild stories -are told; but oftener the white man furnishes the subject, at the -solicitation of some red men asking information. - -The night wears away, the fires grow dim, and, one by one, the talkers -drop out of the circle, and retire to sleep unguarded. The morning sun -finds the camp active, and preparation being made for moving forward. The -horses and mules are driven into camp, about as motley a band as the -people who were squatting around the various breakfast tables on the -ground. The scenes of such a camp are enlivening indeed. Tents falling, -lodges taken down, horses neighing and losing company, all bustle and -confusion, while the teams are being harnessed, and the mules and Indian -ponies are being saddled and packed,--the spectacle presented is an -exhilarating one. But if you would enjoy the full benefit of it, take a -position on the side of the camp from which we take our departure, and, -while you rest your elbows on your saddled horse, take items. - -See the anxiety of each to be off first, and hear the driver of the mule -teams talking in an undertone until the bells on the leaders strike a note -that is in tune with the road, and then each mule settles to the collar -and the wheels move. Anxious squaws are jabbering to their horses, -children and dogs, lazy Indian men sitting unconcerned, astride the best -horses. Stand still a little longer, and see the last man run to the fire -for a coal to light his pipe, and then away to overtake his company. - -The camp is now deserted, the fires are burned out, and the places where -tents and lodges stood look smooth, and where the weary limbs have lain -the fresh broken trees tell who were there. And now our horse, with his -impatient feet, bids a hasty "good-by" to a spot that was our home for a -night; we leave it behind us to be seen no more. - -Our charger, now more impatient, still hurries to join the departed -throng, while we turn up our coat-collar to keep the frost from our ears. -Soon we come upon the lame and lazy, and perhaps an old squaw, with her -basket of household treasures that has been with her through her hard -life, the basket suspended on her back by a strap around her forehead, and -a stick in her hand, and her body bent forward. She plods along until the -sound of approaching hoofs startle her, and instinctively she looks around -and stops for us to pass. Poor, miserable old link of Darwin's mystic -chain, we pity you; for you are, at least, half human, and your sons, with -no filial love and no shame, are on prancing horses just ahead of you, -wearing red blankets and redder paints, with feathers flying, and -thoughtless of their mother; your lot is hard, but you don't know it, -because in your youth you played Indian lady, while your mother wore the -shoes of servitude that you are now wearing. - -As we ride on, passing little squads of old people on foot, and women with -baby baskets, ponies groaning under two or three great lazy boys, teams -with jingling bells, we find, nearer the front of the train, the lords of -this wild kind of creation, laughing and sporting as they ride, apparently -unconscious of the fact that slavery and bondage have fettered old age, -and compelled it to drag weary limbs over stony roads. - -We arrive at Yai-nax, the future home of a war-chief, who has cost the -Government much of blood and treasure, though docile now. A lone hut marks -the spot, near a large spring that runs off in a northerly direction to -Sprague's river. A beautiful valley spreads out for miles, covered with -grass and wild flax; snowy mountains lie south, west, and north, the -valley ascending the mountain east so gradually that we can scarcely see -where the one ends and the other begins. The cavalcade halts near the -spring, and soon the throng becomes busy making preparations for the -night. - -The next morning's sun finds a busy camp; every able-bodied man is ordered -to work; trees are falling, axes plying, and log cabins rise in rows, and -the new home of the Snake Indians begins to appear to the eye a real, -tangible thing. - -Six days pass, and the smokes from thirteen Indian houses join in -procession and move off eastward, borne by the breeze that sings and -sighs, or howls in anger among the trees around Yai-nax. A council is -called, and O-che-o speaks: "My heart is good. I will stay on the land you -have given me. This is my home. When you come again you will find O-che-o -here." - -Since leaving Camp Harney nothing has been said until this evening about -captives. O-che-o now raises the question again. We meet him with the -assurance that all the captives that can be found shall have the privilege -of returning to their people. I was not altogether prepared for the scene -that was opening. O-che-o remarked, through an interpreter, that he -believed me, and that he expected that I would secure the return to him -of his captured son, who was somewhere in the north; but, to make his -heart easy on the subject, he would try me with a case now before us; -referring to Ka-ko-na. - -It was a regular bombshell. We were on the eve of departure. Ka-ko-na and -Tah-home had become very strongly attached to each other, and were not -willing to be separated. - -O-che-o had assented to the new law which I had introduced forbidding the -sale of women; but he was nevertheless anxious to detain her, unless she -was _paid for_. This last feature he did not avow, but I well knew the -meaning of his speech. He insisted that she should be brought before the -council, and in the presence of the people make her choice, to go or stay. -Tah-home was almost wild with fear of losing her, and reminded me of my -promise at Antelope valley. Ka-ko-na was consulted, while I was -endeavoring to evade the trying scene. I was satisfied that she preferred -going with Tah-home; but I well knew the mysterious power of the -medicine-man, and I feared that, if she was brought into his presence, she -would be so much under the power of his will, through her own -superstitious faith in him, that she would not have the courage to elect -to go with Tah-home. - -O-che-o was informed that she preferred to go with her husband. "All -right; but let her come here to say so before all the people," insisted -O-che-o. I clearly saw that any further attempt at evasion would impair -his confidence in my integrity. - -This episode was of that kind which enlists the sympathies of all classes -of men. Tah-home had won the good will of our entire party, during the -trip from Antelope Valley, by his unceasing industry as a herder and -camp-helper. - -Ka-ko-na had also improved much in her manners, and had learned the art of -laundress to some extent. No unseemly act had she committed to forfeit the -respect due her as a woman; consequently now, when the two had become so -thoroughly infatuated with each other that it was noticeable to even -casual observers, a general feeling of pity and regret at the untoward -circumstances was manifest throughout the camp. - -The teamsters and other employes were willing to make up a purse to buy -her of her people,--in fact, the project was put on foot to do so. I -confess I was not insensible to the common feeling of regret, mixed with -the fear for the result. - -When the trying moment could no longer be delayed, Ka-ko-na and her master -lover were brought into the circle. The moon was shining brightly, and, -added to this, the light of the council fire made up a picture of romantic -interest. Speeches were made on the occasion worthy of the subject. - -An appeal was made to O-che-o's better nature, in behalf of the anxious -pair. He is really a noble fellow, and, to his credit be it told, a -kind-hearted man, though untrained in civil ways. - -He acknowledged that it was wrong to separate those who loved each other, -but said "he must look in Ka-ko-na's eyes while she made her choice." He -was not willing that Tah-home should even stand beside her while the -matter was under discussion. - -The latter asked the privilege of speaking, which, being granted, he -poured out a speech that I little thought him capable of making. It was -replete with the wild poetry of love, very impassioned, and full of -pathos. Finally, Ka-ko-na was ordered to make a choice,--to go with -Tah-home, or stay with her people. - -The Snake medicine-man took a position in front of her, and, fixing his -eyes on hers, stood gazing in her face. The whole council circle was -stilled. A suspense that was very intense pervaded every mind. Silence -reigned; every eye was watching the movement of the woman's lips. The -power of the medicine-man was more than she could stand, even when love -for Tah-home was pleading. - -She answered, "_I stay_," and burst into tears. Tah-home turned as white -as an Indian could. The white men present felt a cold chill fall on them. -Ka-ko-na and Tah-home returned to their tent, she weeping bitterly. The -council was broken up, and the excited camp was again quiet, save the -sobbing of the heart-broken Ka-ko-na. - -An hour or two before daybreak, I was awakened by Tah-home, who, in a low -whisper, made an enterprising proposition, which was no less than to elope -with his wife. I dare not assent, though strongly tempted to do so. When I -refused, he then wished me to prevent pursuit. This I could not do. The -poor fellow returned to his tent, and the sobbing changed to paroxysms of -despair. - -Our next point of destination being Klamath Agency, we had despatched part -of our teams the evening previous. On one of these wagons Ka-ko-na's goods -had been placed by her friends, with the intention, no doubt, of making an -excuse for her to follow. When the morning came for our departure, -O-che-o was invited to accompany our party to the agency, and repay the -visit of the Klamaths. The fact that Ka-ko-na's clothing had preceded her -in wagons was urged as a reason why she should go also. - -O-che-o consented. We placed the camp in charge of a trustworthy white -man, and turned from this new settlement with feelings of pride, and with -a prayer and hope for its success. Whether O-che-o and his people shall -ever reach manhood's estate depends entirely on the policy of the -Government, and the men who are selected to educate them in the -rudimentary principles of civilization. - -Two years afterward I again visited the settlement. I found O-che-o -_there_, contented. He was glad to see me, and repeated his declaration -that he would "Go no more on the warpath." I found twenty-eight log -houses, with chimneys, doors, and windows, occupied by the Snake Indians; -also, comfortable buildings for Government employes, and a farm of three -hundred acres of land, under a substantial fence, together with corrals -and barns. - -This country is about forty-four hundred feet in altitude, and, -consequently, the seasons are short. When not cut down by frost, wheat and -barley yield abundantly, unless, indeed, another enemy should -interfere,--the cricket. They are about one and one-half inches long, a -bright black color, very destructive, marching in grand armies, eating the -vegetation nearly clean as they go. These crickets made their appearance -in the neighborhood of Yai-nax, and threatened destruction to the crops. -The commissary in charge consulted O-che-o and Choe-tort. They ordered -their people to prepare for the war on this coming army. Circular -bowl-shaped basins, six feet in diameter, were made in the ground, and -paved with cobble-stones; large piles of dry wood, brush and grass were -collected near the pits. All the available forces were armed with baskets, -sacks, and other implements, and ordered on to the attack. The forces were -put in position, and the alarm sounded, and this strange battle began. Let -us stand by one of the basins, or pits, and witness the arrival of the -victors, who come laden with the wounded and maimed enemies. Those in -charge of the slaughter-pens, or basins, throw in wood, dry grass and sage -brush, and when burnt down, the ashes are swept out with long willow -brooms; then a fire is built around the upper rim of the basin, and as -each captor comes with her load of thousands, they are thrown into the -basin on the heated rocks. The children, especially the girls, are -stationed around the circle to drive back the more enterprising crickets -that succeed in hopping over, or through the fiery ring surrounding this -slaughter-pen. Think, for a moment, of the helpless, writhing mass of -animated nature in a hot furnace,--a great black heap of insects being -stirred up with poles until they are roasted, while their inhuman -torturers are apparently unconscious of the fact that these crickets are -complete organisms, each with a separate existence, struggling for life. - -I don't know that it was any more inhuman than a "Yankee clam-bake," where -brave men and fair women murder thousands of animated bivalves without a -thought of inflicting pain. The Indians had the advantage in a moral point -of view, for the crickets were their enemies. When the _bake_ is over -they shovel them into home-made sacks, and then, sewing them up, put them -to press. - -An Indian cricket-press does not work by steam, with huge screws. Plat -rocks are placed on the ground, and the sack full of cooked crickets is -placed thereon, and then another rock is laid on the sack; finally stones, -logs, and other weighty things are placed upon the pile, until the work is -complete. Meanwhile, look away down the sloping plane and see the line of -battle, with sprightly young squaws on the outside, deployed as -skirmishers. See how they run, and laugh, and shout, until the enemy is -turned, and then the victory is followed up, each anxious to secure -trophies of the battle. This is one kind of war where the women wield -implements of destruction quite as well as their masters. - -The battle has been fought and won, and the intruders routed and driven -into the rapid current of Sprague's river. The people rest from the siege -contented, for the growing crop--carrots, and turnips--has been saved. -This is not the only cause of gratulation, for now comes the best part of -the war. The luscious cakes of roasted crickets are taken from the rude -presses, and the brave warriors of this strange battle celebrate the -victory with a feast of fresh crickets, and a grand dance, where sparkling -eyes and nodding feathers, and jingling bells keep time to Indian drums. - -Fastidious reader, have you ever been to a clam-bake, and seen the gay -dancers celebrate the funeral of a few thousand sightless -bivalves?--things that God had placed in hardened coffins and buried on -the shore, while godlike man and woman brought them to a short-lived -resurrection. - -Well, then, you understand how little human sympathy goes out for helpless -things, and how much of thoughtless joy is experienced in this civilized -kind of feasting. The Indian has the advantage, for his roasted crickets -_are sweet_ and nutritious. I speak from "the card," as a Yankee would -say. - -O-che-o and Choc-toot are safe from want. The compressed cakes are -"cached" away for winter use; that is to say, they are buried in a -jug-shaped cellar, dug on some dry knoll, and taken out as necessity may -require. The cakes when taken from the bag--as Yankee people would say, -for they call everything a bag that western people call a sack--present -the appearance of a caddy of foreign dates or domestic plums when dried -and put in shape for merchandise. - -Since my-visit to Yai-nax, at the time of locating O-che-o and his people, -others have been added to the station. Old Chief Schonchin, the legitimate -leader of the now notorious tribe of Modocs, has taken up his residence at -Yai-nax. - -At the time of planting this Indian settlement, it was not known that any -adverse claim could be set up to this portion of Klamath Reservation; -since then, however, a military road company has laid claim to alternate -sections of land, granted them by an act of the Oregon Legislature, by -virtue of congressional legislation, giving lands to certain States to -assist in making "internal improvements." - -The Government has been apprised of the state of affairs, and may take -action to meet the emergency. There is, however, an embryo Indian war in -this claim, unless judiciously managed. - -In the treaty of 1864 this land was set apart as a home for the Klamath -Indians, and such other tribes as might be, from time to time, located -thereon by order of the United States. Subsequently the grant in aid of -internal improvements was made. Suppose the Government concedes the right -to the road company to sell and dispose of these lands, to which the -Government has never had a title, and the purchaser takes possession; thus -occupying alternate sections, of the country belonging to these Indian -tribes, and giving them nothing in compensation. The result might be -another cry of extermination, and another expensive spasmodic effort to -annihilate a tribe who, in desperation, fight for their rights. - -The land never did belong to the United States; else why treat with its -owners for it? If the road company are entitled to lands for constructing -a military road through this Indian Reservation, give them other lands in -lieu thereof, or make the compensation to the Indians equivalent to the -sacrifices they may make; otherwise more blood will be shed. - -Their nationality and manhood were recognized in making the treaty by -which this tract of country was reserved from sale to the United States. -Let it be recognized still; treat them with justice, and war and its -bloody attendants will be avoided. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - - OVER THE FALLS--FIRST ELECTION. - - -Taking up our narrative, let us resume our journey to Klamath Agency, -accompanied by O-che-o and a few of his head men; Tah-home and Ka-ko-na -taking charge of the loose stock, and riding, for once in their lives, _a -la_ white people, side by side. This was a sad day to them; they were, -human-like, more ardently in love than ever, as the hour for departure -approached. - -The route from Yai-nax to Klamath Agency follows down the valley of -Sprague's river for twenty miles, over rich prairies skirted with timber. -To the eye it is a paradise, walled in on the north and south by ranges of -mountains five miles apart, traversed by a stream of clear water, and -covered with bunch-grass and wild flax. It is the natural pasture land of -elk, who run in bands of fifty to one hundred over its beautiful plains. -Leaving the river, the road crosses a range of low hills passing down to -Williamson's river,--a connecting link between the "Great Klamath Marsh" -and "Big Klamath Lake." At the crossing it is one hundred yards wide; the -ford being on the crown of a rocky ledge of twenty feet in width, over -which the water thirty inches' depth runs very swiftly, and falls off -about two feet into deeper water below. The Indians cross on their ponies -without fear; but white men with trembling limbs, with an Indian on each -side. We made the trip with a silent prayer to Heaven for safety as we -went through. Not so, however, with the driver of one of our six-mule -teams. The wagon was partly loaded with infantry soldiers, who were -returning to Fort Klamath from some duty, and had been granted the -privilege of riding. The driver, when about midway, became dizzy, and for -the moment panic-stricken and wild; drew the leaders' line so strongly -that, mule-like, they jumped off into the boiling flood below. The -soldiers leaped from the wagon before it crossed the precipice. - -Soon the six mules and the driver were struggling in thirty or forty feet -depth of water. The wagon rolled over and over down the water-covered, -rocky slope, finally resting on the bottom. The driver and five mules were -saved by the heroism of a quiet little fellow named Zip Williams. He had -driven his team through, and was out of danger. Seeing the other going -over the falls, he quitted his own, and throwing off his boots, drawing -his knife and clasping it between his teeth, he rushed among the -struggling mass of floundering mules, and succeeded in cutting the -harness, thereby liberating five of the animals. The remaining one, -attached to the wagon tongue, being tall, would touch the bottom with his -hind feet occasionally, and, with his head and front feet out of water a -portion of the time, would plead earnestly for succor; but his struggles -were so furious that even the heroic Zip could not extricate him. Those -present witnessed with regret this brave old mule sink beneath the flood. -The wagon and part of the harness were recovered, and also the "big-wheel -mule;" but the latter "was not of much account," as Zip expressed it, -"except to make a big Indian feast," to which purpose he was applied. - -From Williamson river our route lay through a heavy forest. The agency is -situated on the east side of a small river which rises at the foot of a -long ridge extending west to the Cascade Mountains. This stream runs -several thousand inches of water, and would afford immense power. The -buildings were made of logs, and are arranged in a row, one hundred feet -apart, resembling one side of a street. The long row of twenty whitewashed -houses fronting east was a welcome sight for those of our party who had -for three months been almost entirely out of society, and, in fact, away -from civilization. - -Klamath Agency is new, it having been established in 1865; the Indians who -occupy it numbering, in 1869 (the time of my first official visitation), -fourteen hundred. They are "Klamaths," "Modocs," "Yahooshin," "Snakes," -"Wal-pah-pas," and "Shoshone Snakes." The Klamaths number seven hundred. -They were the original owners of the country; have never been engaged in -wars against the white race. - -They are a brave, enterprising, and ambitious people. In former times they -were often in the warpath against other Indian tribes; and among their -ancient enemies are those who now occupy the country in common with them. - -The practice of calling the Indians together for a "big talk" on occasions -of the visits of officials was also observed in this instance. - -This agency has been under the management of Lindsay Applegate, of -Oregon,--a man who was well qualified by nature, and a long residence on -the frontier, for the office. - -He had taken charge of them when they were only savages; and, during the -short time he was in power, he, with the assistance of his subordinates, -had advanced them greatly in civilization. Under his tuition they had -abandoned the old hereditary chieftainships, and had elected new chiefs by -popular vote. - -They were slow to yield to the new plan; but when the election was -ordered, they entered into the contest with earnestness and enthusiasm. - -The manner of voting did not admit of ballot-box stuffing,--no mistake -could occur,--but so natural is it to cheat and corrupt the great -franchise, that even those wild Indians made clumsy imitation of white -demagogues. - -There were two candidates for the office of head chief,--each anxious for -election, as in fact candidates always are, no matter of what race. They -made promises,--the common stock in trade everywhere with people hunting -office,--of favors and patronage, and even _bought votes_. - -This, the first election on this Reservation, was one of great excitement. -There was wire-working and intriguing to the last minute. When the -respective candidates walked out and called for votes, each one's -supporters forming in line headed by the candidate, the result was soon -declared, and Bos-co-pa was the lucky man. - -Agent Applegate named him "David Allen;" but, Indian like, they transposed -the names and called him "Allen David," by which name he is known and has -become, to some extent, identified with the recent Modoc war. He is a man -of commanding appearance, being over six feet in height, large, -well-developed head, naturally sensible, and, withal, highly gifted as an -orator and diplomat. - -He had met our party as we came in with O-che-o's band of "Shoshone -Snakes," and, on our arrival at Yai-nax, had come on home in advance to -prepare his people for the big council talk. He called them together the -day after our arrival. - -The weather was cold,--the ground covered with a few inches of snow. Allen -David's people began to assemble. Look from the office window on the -scene: here they come, of all ages less than a century; some very old -ones, lashed on their horses to prevent them falling off; others who were -blind, and one or two that had not enjoyed even the music of the -_thunder-storm_ for years; others, again, whose teeth were worn off smooth -with the gums. Not one of the motley crowd was _bald_; indeed, I never saw -an Indian who was. They came in little gangs and squads, or families, -bringing with them camp equipages. - -As each party arrived they pitched their camps. In the course of the day -several hundred had come to see the "New tyee." Some were so impatient -they did not wait to arrange camp, but hurried to pay honors to their new -chief. They brought not only the old, the young, their horses and dogs, -but also their troubles of all kinds,--old feuds to be raked up, quarrels -to be reopened, and many questions that had arisen from time to time, and -had been disposed of by the agent, whose verdict they hoped might be -reversed. - -The camp at nightfall suggested memories of Methodist camp meetings in the -West. - -Here and there were little tents or lodges, and in front of some of them, -and in the centre of others, fires were built, and round them, sitting and -standing, long-haired, dusky forms, and, in a few instances, the children -lashed to boards or baskets. - -I have selected this agency and these people to quote and write from, with -the intention of mentioning, more in detail, the characteristics of the -real Indian, in preference to any other in Oregon, for the reason that -minutes and reports in my possession, of the councils, are more complete; -also, because the people themselves present all the traits peculiar to -their race. To insure the comfort of the people large pine logs were -hauled up with ox-teams, with which to build fires, the main one being one -hundred feet in length, and several logs high, and when ablaze, lighted up -the surrounding woods, producing a grand night-scene, with the swarthy -faces on each side changing at the command of the smoke and flames. - -My reader may not see the picture because of my poverty of language to -describe it. Suffice it to say, that these people were there to see and -hear for themselves. Men, women and children came prepared to "stay and -see it out," as frontier people say. - -While preparations for the council were being made, a portion of the -department teams, which we had used on the Snake expedition, was -despatched for Warm Springs Reservation. - -A high dividing ridge of the Blue Mountains separates the waters of the -Klamath basin from Des Chutes and Warm Spring country. - -The snows fall early on this ridge, and sometimes to great depth; hence it -was necessary that the teams should leave without delay, otherwise they -might get into a snow blockade, and be lost. - -Tah-home was ordered to accompany the train as a guide. He remonstrated, -because he had about made up his mind to remain and join O-che-o's band -sooner than be separated from Ka-ko-na. - -I knew if he remained it would be to his disadvantage, and probable ruin; -and for that reason refused him his request, after fairly explaining the -reasons therefor. - -He acknowledged the validity of my arguments, and with a quick, quiet -motion withdrew. I caught his eye, and read plainly what was in his mind. -He had determined to take Ka-ko-na with him at every hazard. - -Half suppressing my own convictions of right in the premises, I shut my -eyes to what was passing; in fact, I half relented in my determination to -enforce the new law in regard to buying women. I felt that the trial was a -little too severe on all the Indian parties to this transaction. - -The evening before the departure, in company with Capt. Knapp (the agent), -I called at Tah-home's tent, and found Ka-ko-na still weeping. Tah-home -was downcast and sober-faced, and renewed his petition for the privilege -of remaining. I confess that was tempted to suspend the new law, but -steadied myself with the belief that some way, somehow, Tah-home would -succeed without my aid, and without the retraction of the law, though I -could not see just how. I was "borrowing trouble," for, as I subsequently -learned, the arrangement for Tah-home to get away with his wife had -already been made through the intervention of a "mutual friend," and at -the time I visited his camp, Tah-home and Ka-ko-na were playing a -part,--throwing dust in my eyes. - -This mutual friend had satisfied O-che-o by giving him one of Tah-home's -horses, his rifle, and a pair of blankets, all of which had been sent off -to O-che-o's camp. - -The snow began falling before morning, and in the meantime Tah-home and -Ka-ko-na silently left camp for Warm Springs. On the following morning, -when the teams were drawn up to start, I missed Tah-home and Ka-ko-na. Of -course I needed no one to tell me that at that moment they were miles -away, towards the summit of the mountain. - -Having, at that time, no assurance that O-che-o had been "seen," I -hastened to his lodge. I found him sleeping, or pretending to sleep. On -being aroused he sprang to his feet, and inquired the cause of my early -visit. I think that no looker-on would have detected, in his looks or -manner, anything but surprise and indignation, when the escape of Tah-home -and his wife was made known to him. Reproach was in his eyes and his -actions while he dressed himself. I was alarmed lest they should be -pursued. - -A "_mutual friend_" is, sometimes, a handy thing in life; in this instance -the "mutual," seeing that I was in the dark, and liable to make some rash -promises, touched me on the arm, and called me away. I followed him. -O-che-o _did not follow me_. If my memory is correct, the matter was not -again referred to by either of us; but there was considerable sly -laughing all over the camp, at the way in which the "tyee" (myself) had -been outwitted by Indians. - -"Such is life." We are living a lie when we seem most honest, and justify -ourselves with the assurance that "of two evils choose the least," will -whitewash us over to all other eyes. To the present writing, conscience -has not kept my eyes open when I wished to sleep, because I shut them on -Tah-home and O-che-o's trick. - -The grand council was opened by Allen David, the chief, saying, "Hear me, -all my people--open your ears and listen to all the words that are -spoken--I have been to the head of Sprague's river, to meet the new -tyee--I have looked into his eyes--I have seen his tongue--he talks -straight. His heart is strong--he is a brave man--he will say strong -words. His ears are large--he hears everything. He does not get tired. He -does not come drunk with whiskey. What you have heard about him shaking -hands with every one is true. His eye is good--he does not miss -anything--he saw my heart. He washed my heart with a strong law--he -brought some new laws that are like a strong soap. Watch close and do not -miss his words--they are strong. We will steal his heart." - -The subjoined report to my superior in office was made on my return to -Salem, and since it is an official communication, written years ago, it -may be worthy of a place in this connection; supplementing which I propose -to write more in detail matters concerning this visit and the series of -meetings referred to. I make this statement here, because I do not wish -the readers to be confused by the mixing of dates, since to finish this -report in full without explanation would exclude incidents that are of -interest in a book, though not justifiable in official reports. - - OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT INDIAN AFFAIRS, - SALEM, OREGON, Jan. 20th, 1870. - - SIR:--After the completion of the Snake expedition and previous - to starting on the Modoc trip, I held a series of meetings and - talks with the Klamaths. - - I understand, and have so represented on every occasion, that - President Grant meant what he said in his inaugural address: - that his policy in regard to Indians would be to prepare them by - civilization for citizenship. Acting from this principle, so - perfectly in accordance with my own judgment, I stepped out of - the track of my predecessors, and said to them that my first - business is to settle the financial affairs of the agency; then, - to issue such goods as I had provided; and then to deliver a - message from Mr. Parker to you; that I am ready to hear any and - all complaints; settle any and all difficulties; decide any and - all vexed questions; to tell you about the white people's laws, - customs, habits, religion, etc., etc.; in a word, I propose to - remove the barrier that a condition has held between the - different stations in life. Civilization may be yours--manhood-- - the American standard of worth. The course is clear and open to - you Indian people--for the whole family of man. - - I had never stood, until now, before a people just emerging from - the chrysalis of savage life, struggling earnestly and manfully - to leave behind them the traditions and customs of an ancestry - known only to mankind by the history of bloody acts and deeds - of savage heroism. - - I would that I could portray these scenes: these dark-eyed men - with long hair, women naturally good-looking, but so sadly - debauched that virtue makes no pretensions among them; children - of every _shade_,--all gathered around a huge fire of pine logs, - in a forest of tall trees, in mid-winter, with the little camp - fires here and there; and notwithstanding the ground was covered - with snow and thermometer sometimes below zero, these people - would sit, or stand, for hours, with eyes, ears, and hearts all - open to hear; catching with great eagerness the story of my - superior in office, to whom I made all my reports and from whom - I received instructions, who, by his own energy, had elevated - himself to a level with the great men of the age; and that he, - Parker, was of "_their own race_." - - The Klamath chief, Allen David, arose to reply amid surroundings - characteristic of Indian life,--a perfect solemn silence broken - only by his voice. - - I then heard the notes of natural oratory, coming in wild, but - well-measured words, and recognized for the first time fully - that nature does sometimes produce noble men _without_ the line - of civilized life. I send you a verbatim report of his speech as - taken by Dr. McKay; because I understand we are all trying to - solve the problem of civilization for Indians. _I am not, - myself, longer sceptical_ on that subject; but I know that a - large proportion of our public men _are_; and you would not - wonder, either, could you visit some reservations and see for - yourself the inside workings of moral law. - - But I assert that the Indians are not to blame; let censure - fall where it belongs; viz., on the men who are entrusted with - the care and responsibility of leading and protecting these - people, yet wink at and tolerate, in subordinates, the most - demoralizing habits, and may be, in some cases, participants - themselves. I do not speak of this agency in particular. - - Said Allen David,--"I see you. All my people see you.--I saw you - at Sprague river.--I watched your mouth.--I have seen but one - tongue.--I have looked into your eyes.--I have seen your heart.-- - You have given me another heart.--All my people will have white - hearts.--When I was a little boy I lived here.--I have always - lived here.--A long time ago a white man told me I could be like - him. I said my skin is red, it cannot change; it must be my - heart, my brain, that is to be like a white man.--You think we - are low people.--May be we are in your eyes.--Who made us so?-- - We do not know much; we can learn.--Some of the officers at the - fort (referring to Fort Klamath, six miles from the agency) have - been good men--some of them have been bad men.--Do you think a - good white man will take an Indian wife?--A white man that will - take an Indian wife is worse blood than Indian.--These things - make our hearts sad.--We want you to stop it.... Your ears are - large.--Your heart is large.--You see us.--Do not let your heart - get sick. - - "Take a white man into the woods, away from a store; set him - down, with nothing in his hands, in the woods, and without a - store to get tools from; and what could he do? - - "When you lay down before us the axes, the saws, the iron wedges - and mauls you have promised us, and we do not take them up, - then you can say we are 'cul-tus'--lazy people.--You say your - chief is like me--that he is an Indian--I am glad. What can I - say that is worth writing down?--Mr. Parker does not know me.-- - When you do all Mr. Huntington promised in the treaty, 1864, we - can go to work like white men.--Our hearts are tired waiting for - the saw-mill.--When it is built, then we can have houses like - white men.--We want the flour-mill; then we will not live on - fish and roots. We will help to make the mills.--We made the - fences on the big farms.--We did not get tired.... - - "Give us strong law; we will do what your law says. We want - strong law--we want to be like white men. You say that Mr. - Parker does not want bad men among our people.--Is B. a good - man?--he took Frank's wife--is that good? We do not want such - men. Is ---- a good man?--he took Celia from her husband--is that - right?--Applegate gave us good laws--he is a good man.-- - Applegate told us not to gamble. Capt. ---- won thirty-seven - horses from us. He says there is no law about gambling.-- - Applegate said there was.--Which is right?"... - - Mr. Meacham said, "You need not be afraid to talk--Keep nothing - back. Your people are under a cloud. I see by their eyes that - their hearts are sick; they look sorrowful. Open your hearts and - I will hear you; tell me all, that I may know what to do to make - them glad." - - Allen David said, "I will keep nothing back.--I have eyes--I can - see that white men have white hands.--Some white men take our - women--they have children--they are not Indian--they are not - white--they are shame children.--Some white men take care of - their children.--It makes my heart sick.--I do not want these - things.--Indian is an Indian--we do not want any more shame - children. A white man that would take an Indian squaw is no - better than we are. - - "Our women go to the fort--they make us feel sick--they get - goods--sometimes greenbacks.--We do not want them to go there-- - we want the store here at the agency; then our women will not go - to the fort.... Last Sunday some soldiers went to Pompey's--they - talked bad to the women.--We do not want soldiers among our - women.--Can you stop this? Our women make us ashamed.--We may - have done wrong--give us strong law."... - - Joe Hood (Indian), at a talk seven days after, said: "Meacham - came here. Parker told him to come. He brought a strong law. It - is a 'new soap,' it washed my heart all clean but a little place - about as big as my thumb-nail. Caroline's (his wife) heart may - not all be white yet. If it was, my own would be white like - snow. Parker's law has made us just like we were new married. I - told these Indians that the law is like strong soap; it makes - all clean. I do not want but one wife any more."... - - Allen David said: "You say we are looking into a camp-fire; that - we can find moonlight. You say there is a road that goes toward - sunrise. Show me that stone road. I am now on the stone road. I - will follow you to the top of the mountain. You tell me come on. - I can see you now. My feet are on the road. I will not leave it. - I tell my people follow me, and I will stay in the stone - road."... - - I have given you a few extracts, that you may judge from their - own mouths whether they can become civilized. If Lindsay - Applegate, and his sons, J. D. and Oliver, could take wild - savage Indians, and, against so much opposition, in the short - space of four years bring them to this state, I know they can be - civilized. If good men are appointed to lead and teach them,-- - _not books alone_, but civilization, with all that civilization - means,--men whose hearts are in the work, and who realize that, - as soon as duties devolve on them, great responsibility - attaches; men who have courage to _stand squarely_ between these - people and the villains that hang around reservations from the - lowest motives imaginable; men paid fair salaries for doing - duty; that will not civilize the people by "mixing blood;" - married men of character who will practise what they preach, and - who can live without smuggling whiskey on to the Reservation; - ten years from to-day may find this superintendency - self-supporting, and offering to the world seven thousand - citizens. - - I am conscious that this is strong talk, but it is surely true. - I have not overdrawn this side of the case; nor will I attempt - to show what _has been done_, or will be done, with - superintendents, agents, and employes in charge placed there as - a reward for political service. - - The past tells the story too plainly to be misapprehended. While - I am responsible for the advancement of these people, I beg to - state my views and make known the result of observation and - experience. As a subordinate officer of the Government, I expect - to have my official acts scrutinized closely. I respectfully ask - that I may be furnished the funds to keep faith with a people so - little understood,--people so much like children that when they - are promised a saw-mill they go to work cutting logs, only to - see them decayed before the mill is begun, but with logic enough - to say, "When you have got us the things you promised, then you - may blame us if we don't do right." - - I have now no longer any doubts about President Grant's "Quaker - Policy," if it is applied to Indians once subjugated. These - people have mind, soul, heart, affection, passion, and impulses, - and great ambition to become like white men. There are more or - less men in each reservation who are already superior to many of - the white men around them. At Klamath they are now working under - civil law of trial by jury,--with judge, sheriff, civil - marriage, divorce; in fact, are fast assuming the habiliments of - citizenship. - - I spent seven days, talking, and listening, and making laws, - marrying and divorcing, naming babies, settling difficulties, - etc., and finally started, accompanied on my journey by a large - delegation of Klamaths, who insisted that I should come again - and remain longer, and make _laws_, and that I would build the - mills, and tell them more about our religion; all of which I - promised, if possible; but realizing fully and feeling deeply - how much depended on the man who is in _immediate charge_ of - these poor, struggling people. - - I am, very respectfully, - Your obt. servt., - A. B. MEACHAM, - _Supt. Indian Affairs_. - - HON. E. S. PARKER, _Commissioner_, - WASHINGTON, D. C. - -In Allen David's speech, he refers to the "Fort," meaning Fort Klamath, -six miles distant from the agency. It was established for the protection -of the settlers on the Klamath frontier. Two and sometimes three companies -have been stationed at this fort for several years. - -The remarks of this chief need no comment; _they tell the tale_. If -confirmation was wanting of the crimes intimated in his speech, a visit to -Klamath Indian Agency, and even a casual glance at the different -complexions of the young and rising generation, would proclaim the -correctness of Allen David's charges. - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - - KLAMATH COURT--ELOPEMENT EXTRAORDINARY. - - -The Reservation furnishes abundance of real romance, mixed with tragedy, -sufficient to make up a volume. The Indians tell, and white men confirm, -the story of an officer of the fort, who loved an Indian's wife, and how -he sought to win her from home by presents; and, failing in this, came -with armed soldiers, and, with threats of death to the husband, compelled -him to give her up. This officer took this woman to the fort, dressed her -in styles common among white women, and refused to return her to her -husband. When the officer was "ordered away" to some other duty the squaw -went home, bearing in her arms an infant not more than half Indian. Her -husband refused to receive her. She was turned away from his lodge, and -became a vagabond of the worst class. Fortunately for father, mother, and -infant, too, the latter died a few months thereafter. - -Another young officer of the United States army, who was stationed at Fort -Klamath, was a party to an elopement in high life,--as all life is _high_ -at an altitude of forty-five hundred feet above the sea level; the other -party being the wife of a handsome young Indian living on Klamath -Reservation. However, they had but a few miles to travel, in order to -reach a "_Chicago_" for divorces. All people without law are a law unto -themselves. - -The Indian husband appealed for redress, but found no one to listen to his -appeals. His wife returned to him when the regiment to which the officer -belonged was ordered away, bringing with her many fine clothes; her feet -clad in good American gaiters, and with an armful of childhood, in which -the Indian husband claimed no interest. The mother was turned away from -what was once a happy home; and to-day, with her little girl, wanders from -lodge to lodge, seeking shelter where she may. This woman was really -good-looking, and had proved herself an apt scholar in learning the -civilized arts of house-keeping and dress-making; she also learned -something of our language, in which she tells the story of her own shame -and the fatherhood of her child. - -I am giving these statements as made to me by white men, who are -responsible, and will answer, when called upon, for their authenticity. In -respect to the families of these United States officers, not through fear -of the men themselves, I withhold their names. In this connection I -remember a conversation with a sub-chief of the Klamaths, who could speak -"Boston" quite well. His name was "Blo." He said, "Meacham, I talk to you. -S'pose an Injun man, he see a white man's wife. He like her. He give -presents; he win her heart; he talk to her sometime. He tell her, "Come go -with me." She come. He take her away. White man come home. He no see his -wife. He see him children cry. He get mad. He take a gun. He hunt 'em. He -find em. He 'shoot 'em, one Injun man. What you think? You think white -man law hang him?" We were travelling horseback, and "Blo" came up close -to me, leaning from his saddle, and, peering into my eyes, continued, -"What you think?" I looked into his face, and read murder very plainly. -Had he been a white man I might have given him a negative answer. Half -savage as he was, he was seeking for encouragement to commit a bloody deed -in vindication of his honor. I replied that "the law would punish the -Indians for stealing the white man's wife. But if the white man was wise -he would not kill the Indian, because the laws would take hold of him." I -felt that I was concealing a part of the truth, but I dared not do -otherwise. - -"Blo" was not so easily put off. He replied with a question that -intensified my perplexity, "S'pose white man steal Injun's wife, s'pose -law catch _him_?" Harder to answer than the first one. If I said "Yes," he -would have demanded that the law be enforced in his case, that had come -under my own observation; and that, I knew, was impossible, with public -sentiment so strongly against the Indians that white men would have -laughed at the absurdity of calling one of their race to account for so -trifling a thing as breaking up an Indian's family, and leaving his -children worse than orphans; yet knowing full well that the whole power of -the United States would have been evoked to punish an Indian for a like -offence. If I said "No," I stultified myself and my Government. I could -only reply, "Suppose a woman run away,--let her go. Get a divorce, and -then another wife." - -"Now-wit-ka, Ni-kanan-itch." "Yes, I see. Law not all the time same. Made -crooked. Made for white man. Aha, me see 'em now." - -During the seven days' council, "Little Sallie" came into the office, and -in plain "Boston" said, "I want divorce; my man, Cho-kus, he buy another -woman. I no like him have two wife. I want divorce." - -We had just completed the organization of a court, composed of the head -chief and his eight subordinates. This was the first case on the docket, -and the beginning of a new history with this people,--a new way of -settling difficulties. The agent provided a book for making record of all -proceedings. A sheriff was appointed from among the Indians. Each -sub-chief was entitled to a constable, but, in all matters pertaining to -their respective bands, as between themselves and others, neither -sub-chief nor constable was permitted to take any part in the proceedings -of the court. - -Novel scenes indeed!--Indians holding court after the fashion of white -men. The chief made a short speech on taking the middle seat on "The -Bench." He removed his hat, saying "that he knew but little about the new -law, but he would endeavor to make it run straight, and not run around his -own people," referring to those of his band. The sub-chiefs took their -places on either side, and we gave instructions to the sheriff to open -court, ordering a white man to show him through, saying, "Oh-yes! Oh-yes! -The Klamath Court is now open."--"Now-witka, Now-witka, Muck-u-lux, -Klamath, Mam-ook, Bos-ti-na Law, O-ko-ke, Sun," rang out the Indian -sheriff. - -"Little Sallie" was the first to appear before the bar of justice, and, -without an attorney, she filed a complaint against her husband, the -substance of which was to the effect, that "Cho-kus"--her master--had made -arrangements to buy another wife, paying two horses; and that these horses -belonged to her individually, and she was not willing to furnish horses to -buy another woman, because it would leave but one horse in the family, and -that Cho-kus and the new wife would claim that one, and she would be -compelled to go on foot. If Cho-kus had plenty of horses she might not -object; but she thought that she could dig roots, and gather "wokus"--wild -rice--enough for the family, and Cho-kus did not need another "nohow." -But, if he persisted, then she wanted a Boston divorce, otherwise she did -not. - -Cho-kus was required to show cause why "Sallie" should not be made free. -He appeared in person, and expressed willingness for the separation, but -asked to know who would be awarded the baby,--a little fellow twelve -months old. The court decided that "Sallie" should have possession of the -child. Cho-kus took it from its mother's arms, and, holding it in his own, -looked very earnestly and silently into its face for a moment. His speech -ran in something like the following words: "Now half this baby's heart is -mine, half its heart belongs to 'Sallie.'" Then slowly drawing the little -finger of one hand from its forehead down its face and body, he went on to -say, "I want this child's heart, and 'Sallie' wants it; if we cut into it -it will die; I can't give up my part of it." Sallie attempted to snatch it -away, saying, "I won't give up my part of the baby." This brought the -husband to terms. He said he would give up taking another wife. Sallie -agreed, and the court proposed that, instead of being divorced, they -should be married over by "Boston law." They consented. The ceremony was -deferred in order to make preparation for the approaching nuptials, under -the auspices of the new law. - -The white ladies of the agency, some of whom were unmarried, proposed to -adorn the bride, while the employes furnished enough Sunday clothes to -dress the husband in good style. Employes and Indians were notified of the -important affair, and the court adjourned to the big camp-fire, in order -to perform the marriage ceremony in the presence of all the people. The -presiding judge _pro tem._ ordered the parties to appear. - -The groom, dressed in a borrowed suit, was the first to stand up. Sallie -hesitated; the husband insisted. The bride was reluctant, saying she -wanted to know how long the new law would hold "Cho-kus."--"Is it a strong -law? Won't he buy another wife some time?" When all the questions were -answered to her satisfaction, she passed her child over to another woman, -and stood beside her _lover_. Yes, her lover; for he then discovered that -he really loved her, just as many a white-faced man has in similar cases, -when he realized the danger of losing her. - -The official reporter, on this occasion, did not furnish an account of the -bride's dress, but for the satisfaction, it may be, to my young lady -readers, I will say that the toilet was elaborately gotten up a-la-mode, -consisting of immense tilting hoops, bright-hued goods for dress, paint in -profusion on her cheeks, necklace of beads, and shells, and tresses of -dark hair, "_all her own_," ornamented with cheap jewelry. This being the -first marriage under the new law, the chief remarked that be wished them -"tied very strong, so they could not get away from each other." - -We extemporized the ceremony as follows: "Cho-kus, do you agree to live -forever with Sallie, and not buy another squaw? To do the hunting and -fishing, cut wood and haul it up, like white man? Never to get drunk, or -talk bad to other women, and to be a good, faithful husband?" When the -ceremony was interpreted, he answered, "Now-wit-ka ni-hi;" yes, I do. -Sallie said, "Hold on,--I want him married to me so he won't whip me any -more." We adopted the supplement suggested, and Cho-kus again said, -"Now-wit-ka." The bride said, "All right," and promised to be a good wife, -to take care of the lodge and the baby, to dress the deer-skins, and dry -the roots. - -Cho-kus also suggested a supplement, which was, that Sallie must not "_go -to the fort_" any more without _him_. She assented, with a proviso that he -would not go to see "old Mose-en-kos-ket's" daughter any more. - -The covenant was now completed, to the satisfaction of bride and -bridegroom, and the Great Spirit was invoked to witness the pledges made; -their hands were joined, and they were pronounced husband and wife. A -waggish white man whispered to Allen David, the chief, that the bride must -be saluted. The chief inquired whether that was the way of the new law, -saying he wanted "a real Boston wedding." We said to Cho-kus, "Salute your -bride." He replied he thought the ceremony was over; but, when made to -understand what the salute meant, replied that it was not modest; that no -Indian man ever kissed a woman in public. We urged that it was right under -the new law. He remarked that somebody else must kiss her; he didn't -intend to. Our waggish friend again whispered in the ear of the chief, -telling him that the officiating clergyman must perform the duty to make -the marriage legal. With solemn face, the chief insisted that the whole -law must be met. - -The parties remained standing while this controversy was going on. The -bride was willing to be saluted, but the question was, _who_ was to -perform that part of the closing ceremony. The record don't mention the -name of the individual, and it is perhaps as well. The bride, however, was -saluted. - -No, _I_ didn't, indeed; I--don't press the question--but I di--. No, no, -it was not m--, indeed it wasn't; but I won't tell anything about it. As a -faithful reporter, I will only add that the happy couple received the -congratulations of friends. They are still married, and Cho-kus hasn't -bought another wife yet. - -The next case called was a young man who had stolen the daughter of a -sub-chief. He was arraigned, "plead guilty," and by the court sentenced to -wear six feet of log-chain on his leg for nine months, to have his hair -cut short, and to chop wood for the chiefs, who were to board and clothe -him in the mean time. Care was taken to protect the convict's right, in -that he should not work in bad weather or on Sundays, or more than six -hours each day. He objected to having his hair cut short, but otherwise -seemed indifferent to the sentence. - -The chiefs were satisfied, because they saw large piles of wood in -prospect. However, long before the expiration of the term of sentence they -united in a petition for his pardon. - -Cases of various kinds came into court and were disposed of, the chief -exhibiting more judgment than is sometimes found in more pretentious -courts of justice. - -They were instructed, in regard to law, that it was supposed to be _common -sense and equal justice, and that any law which did not recognize these -principles was not a good law_. - -This court is still doing business under the direction of a Government -agent. The wedding of Cho-kus and Sallie was celebrated with a grand -dance. Who shall say these people do not civilize rapidly? The occasion -furnished an opportunity for the Indian boys to air their paints, -feathers, and fine clothes; also for Indian maidens and women to dress in -holiday attire. - -Chief Allen David had given orders that this "social hop," commemorating -the first marriage in civil life, should be conducted in civil form. The -white boys were willing to teach the red ones and their partners the steps -of the new dance. - -The ballroom was lighted up with great pine wood fires, whose light shone -on the green leaves of the sugar pines and on the tan-colored faces of the -lookers-on. Singular spectacle!--children of a high civilization leading -those of wilder life into the mazes of this giddy pastime; and they were -apt scholars, especially the maidens. The music was tame; too tame for a -people who are educated to a love of exciting sports. - -The chiefs stood looking on, and, when occasion required, enforcing the -orders of the floor-managers, who were our teamsters, turned, for the -nonce, to dancing masters. I doubt if they would have been half as zealous -in a Sabbath school. But since dancing is a part of American civilization, -acknowledged as such by good authority, and since Indians have a natural -fondness for amusements, and cannot be made to abandon such recreation, -perhaps it was well that our teamster boys were qualified to teach them in -this, though they were not for teaching higher lessons. At our request we -were entertained with an Indian play. No phase of civilized life exists -that has not its rude counterpart in Indian life. This entertainment of -which I am writing was given by _professional_ players, who evinced real -talent. All the people took great interest in the preparations, inasmuch -as we had honored them by making the request. The theatre was large and -commodious, well lighted with huge log fires. The _foot-lights_ were of -pitch wood. The _boards_ were sanded years before, and had been often -carpeted with velvet green or snowy white. The "_Green-rooms_" were of -white tent cloths, fashioned for the purpose by brown hands, and were in -close proximity to the scene. The front seats were "reserved" for invited -guests. The rest was "standing room." Circling round in dusky rows stood -the patient throng. Nor stamps, nor whistles, nor other hideous noises -gave evidence of bad-breeding or undue impatience. No police force was -necessary _there_ to compel the audience to respect the players or each -other's rights. - -As the time to begin comes round a silence pervades the assembly. No huge -bill-posters, or "flyers," or other programme had given even an inkling of -the play. This was as it should be everywhere, for then no promises were -made to be broken, and no fault could be found, whether the play was good -or bad. The knowing ones, aware, by signs we did not see, that soon the -performance would commence, by motion of hand or eye would say, "Be -still." - -Now we hear a female voice, soft and low, singing, and coming from some -unseen lodge. It grows more distinct each moment and more plaintive, and -finally the singer comes into the circle with a half dance, the music of -her voice broken by occasional sobs, makes the circuit of the stage, -growing weary and sobbing oftener; she at last drops down in weary, -careless abandonment. This maiden was attired in showy dress, of wild -Indian costume, ornamented with beads and tinsel. Her cheeks and hair were -painted with vermilion. The frock she wore was short, reaching only to the -knee. Close-fitting garments of scarlet cloth, richly trimmed with beads, -and fringe of deer-skin she wore upon her ankles, with feet encased in -dainty moccasins. When she sat down, the picture was that of one tasting -the bitter with the sweets of life, in which joy and sorrow in alternate -promptings came and went. The sobbing would cease while she gathered -flowers that grew within her reach, arranging them in bunches, seemingly -absorbed in other thoughts, occasionally giving vent in half-stifled, -child-like sobs, or muttering in broken sentences, with parting lips, -complaints against her cruel father, giving emphasis with her head to her -half-uttered speech. - -Following the eyes of our Indian interpreter, whose quick ear had caught -the sound of coming steps, we saw a fine-looking young brave enter the -ring, crouching and silent as a panther's tread, and, scanning the -surroundings, he espies the maiden. We hear a sound so low that we imagine -it is but the chirping of a tiny bird; but it catches the maiden's ear, -who raises her head and listens, waiting for the sound, and then relapses -into half-subdued silence. Meanwhile the young brave gazes, with bright -eyes and parted lips, on the maiden. Again he chirps. Now she looks around -and catches his eye, but does not scream, or make other noises, until, by -pantomimic words, they understand they are alone. - -The warrior breaks out in a wild song of love, and, keeping time with his -voice, with short, soft, dancing step, he passes round the maiden, who -plays coquette, and seems to be fully on her ground. He grows more -earnest, and raises his voice, quickens his steps, and, passing close -before her, offers his love, and proposes marriage, speaks her name, and, -turning quickly again, passes back and forth, each time pleading his case -more earnestly, until the maiden, woman-like, feigns resentment, and he, -poor fellow, thinks she means what she does not, and slowly and sadly, in -apparent despair, retreats to the farther side of the stage. When he came -upon the scene, clad in his dress of deer-skins, hunting-shirt and -leggings, with moccasins trimmed with beads and scarlet cloth, his long -hair ornamented with eagle feathers, and neck encircled with the claws of -wild cayotes, his arms with a score of rings, his scarlet blanket girded -round his waist, and reaching nearly to the ground,--swinging to his -back, his quiver full of painted arrows, whose feathered ends shone above -his shoulder; his left hand clasping an Indian bow, while his right held -his blanket in rude drapery around him,--he was the very image of the real -live young Indian brave. But now, with blanket drawn over his shoulder, -covering his arms, while the feathers in his hair and the arrows were held -tightly to his head and neck, he seemed the neglected lover he thought -himself: - -Poor Ke-how-la, you do not appear to know that Ganweta is playing prude -with you. Ke-how-la breaks out afresh, in song and dance, and, circling -around the maiden, gives vent to his wounded pride, declares that he will -wed another, and, as if to retire, he turns from her. Ganweta, as all her -sex will do, discovers that she has carried the joke too far, springs up, -and, throwing a bunch of flowers over his head, begins to tell, in song, -that she dare not listen to his words, because her father demands a price -for her that Ke-how-la cannot pay, since he is poor in horses; but that, -if left to choice, she would be his wife, and gather roots, and dress -deer-skins, and be his slave. - -Ke-how-la listens with head half turned, and then replies that he will -carry her away until her father's anger shall be passed. - -Ganweta tells how brave and strong her father is, and that he intends to -sell her to another. - -Ke-how-la boasts of his skill in archery, and, dropping his blanket from -his shoulder and stringing his bow, quickly snatches an arrow from his -fawn-skin quiver, and sends it into a target centre, and then another by -its side, and still another, until he makes a real bouquet of feathered -arrows stand out on the target's face, in proof of his ability to defend -her from her father's wrath. - -Snatching his arrows, and putting them in place among their fellows, save -one he holds in his hand, he motions her to come, and, bounding away like -an antlered deer, he runs around the circle with Ganweta following like a -frightened fawn. They pass off the scene. The braves sent by the father -come on stealthily, scanning the ground to detect any sign that would be -evidence that the lovers had been there. Stooping low and pointing with -his finger to the tracks left, a warrior gives signal that he has found -the trail, and then the party starts in quick pursuit, following round -where Ke-how-la and Ganweta had passed, who, still fleeing, come in on the -opposite side, and, walking slowly backward, he, stepping in her tracks, -intending thus to mislead the pursuers, then, anon, throwing his arm -around her, would carry her a few steps, and, dropping her on the ground, -they would resume the flight. - -The pursuers appear baffled; but with cunning ways they find the trail, -and resume with quickened steps the chase. - -Suddenly Ke-how-la stops and listens. His face declares that he has -knowledge of the coming struggle,--that he must fight. Bidding Ganweta -haste away, he takes a station near a tree, and awaits the pursuers. They -seem to be aware that he is there, and, drawing their bows, prepare to -fight. See Ke-how-la expose his blanket, the pursuers letting two arrows -fly, one of them striking it, the other the tree. A twang from Ke-how-la's -bow, and a howl of pain, and a red-skinned pursuer in agony has an arrow -in his heart, and then the arrows fly in quick succession, until the hero -sends his antagonists to the happy hunting-ground of their fathers, and -with apparent earnestness he scalps his foes. - -With his trophies hanging to his belt, he calls, "Ganweta, Kaitch Kona -Ganweta!"--Beautiful Ganweta; but he calls in vain. While Ke-how-la was -fighting, a brave of another tribe carries off the shrinking maiden, and -escapes to his people. - -Ke-how-la takes the trail, and follows by the signs Ganweta had left on -her involuntary flight, and discovers her surrounded by his enemies. He -returns to his own people for assistance. He finds friends willing to -follow him. Ganweta's father is reconciled with him, and gives his consent -to his marriage when he shall have brought Ganweta home. A party is -formed, and after the war-dance and other savage ceremonies, they go on -the warpath. Then we see the warriors fight a sham battle with real -war-whoops and scalping ceremonies. The arrows fly, and the wounded fall, -and the victors secure the scalps and also the captive maiden, and, with -wild sports, return to the lodge of Ganweta's father. - -This performance lasted about three hours, and from the beginning to the -end the interest increased, winding up with a scalp-dance. - -I have never witnessed a play better performed, and certainly never with -imitation so close to reality. It demonstrated that talent does not belong -to any privileged race; that Indians are endowed with love for amusements, -and that they possess ability to create and perform. - -If it is urged that such plays foster savage habits among the Indians, -the excuse must be that they were true to the scenes of their own lives -and in conformity with the tastes of the people, as all theatricals are -supposed to be. - -It had one merit that many plays lack. Its actors were natural, and no -unseemly struts and false steps, or rude and uncouth exhibitions of -dexterity or unseemly attitudes, that make modest people hide their eyes -in very shame, were indulged in by the players. - -The Indians of Oregon and of the Pacific coast wear long hair; at least, -until they change their mode of life, they have a great aversion to -cutting it, and, in fact, it is almost the last personal habit they give -up. Before leaving this agency, I proposed to give a new hat to each man -who would consent to have his hair cut short. The proposition was not well -received at first, because of their old-time religious faith, which in -some way connected long hair with religious ceremony. It is safe to -assert, that, whenever an Oregon Indian is seen without long hair, he has -abandoned his savage religion. Before leaving, however, I was assured that -I might send out the hat for over one hundred. - -The following summer, when making an official visit, I took with me four -hundred hats. When the question was brought up, and the hats were in -sight, a flurry was visible among the men. The chief, Allen David, led the -way, begging for a long cut. A compromise was made, and it was agreed that -the hair should be cut just half-way down. With this understanding, the -barber's shop was instituted, and long black hair enough to make a Boston -hair merchant rich was cut off and burned up. - -The metamorphosis was very noticeable. Many ludicrous scenes were -presented in connection with, and grew out of, this episode. A great step -forward had been made, and one, too, that will not "slip back." - -When O-che-o came out of the room, after his head had been for the first -time in his life under a barber's hands, he presented a comical spectacle. -His children did not know him; some of his older friends did not recognize -in him the chief of other days. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - - OMELETS AND ARROWS--BIG STEAM-BOILERS. - - -An Indian game of ball is not exactly like America's great game of base -ball. It resembles, somewhat, the old game of shindy or bandy. The field -is one-fourth of a mile in length, and one-eighth in width. Stakes are -planted at either end, and also in the middle. The players pair off until -all are chosen who desire to play. Captains are elected who command the -players of each side, and take their stations at the middle stakes, -arranging their men on either side, each of whom is provided with a club -three feet in length, having a short crook at the lower end. The ball is -fashioned out of a tough knot of wood, and is about three inches in -diameter, and burnt by fire until it is charred slightly, thus making it -of black color. This game is called "ko-ho," and is won by the party who -succeeds in knocking the ball with the club to the home base at the -opposite end of the ground. - -A game of "ko-ho" attracts much attention; old and young, deaf, dumb, and -blind, all go to witness the sport; the latter, probably, to hear the -boisterous shouts that attend the playing. Sometimes it is made the -occasion for gambling, and then the excitement becomes intense. - -Another game is played, with two pieces of wood six inches long and about -one inch in diameter, securely connected by a thong of rawhide, about -four inches apart; the game, as in "ko-ho," being to toss this plaything -with straight clubs to a home base; the parties struggling as in the other -game. Foot-ball is not uncommon, and great contests are had over this game -also. - -Civilized American gambling cards are common, and are played in games that -have no existence among white people; though Indians are expert in all -common games, and become, like their white brother, infatuated, and gamble -with desperation. Gambling seems to be a passion among them. It is not -uncommon to see the younger men of tribes that are uncivilized, seated on -the ground, and, with a blanket spread over their limbs, all pointing -toward a common centre, gambling with small sticks of wood, the parties -alternately mixing their hands under the blanket, changing the sticks from -one hand to the other while they sing a low melody; and, when withdrawing -the hands, the other Indians point to the hand they suppose to be the -holder of the sticks, thus indicating the one selected as the winning -hand. When the bets are all made the holder opens both hands, and thus -declares the result. The favorite sport of the Indians is horse-racing; -but, like other people, they gamble on almost everything. Among them are -natural professional gamblers. This passion is a fruitful source of -poverty; and many complaints are made by young, green ones, against -_red_-legged sharps. - -An Indian woman filed a complaint against "Long John," an Indian gambler, -charging him with having swindled her son, a boy of eighteen or twenty -years of age, out of a number of horses that belonged to the family. She -asserted that they were poor; that the loss was too much to bear in -silence, and that, since her son was a boy, not a man, "Long John" ought -to return the horses. This famous gambler was ordered to appear. The case -was investigated. "Long John" pleaded guilty as charged in the indictment, -but offered the old Indian law as an excuse. He finally proposed to return -the horses, on condition that the boy would abandon the habit. The boy -promised; the property was returned; and the old woman went away happy in -the possession of her restored fortune; for it was to her what business -and home are to wealthy people. Under the new law gambling is prohibited -by a fine; but the Indians find ways to avoid the law, and gambling is -now, and will continue to be, common among them. - -These people have a beautiful country, with a cold climate, being at an -altitude of four thousand feet above the sea level. Snows of two to four -feet deep are not uncommon. The rivers and lakes are well supplied with -fish, the mountains with game, the land with berries and wild roots. - -Big Klamath marsh is situated twenty miles north of the Great Klamath -lake. It is six miles wide and twenty long, and receives its water from -the south side of the Blue mountains. This marsh is covered with a growth -of pond-lilies, that furnish immense supplies of wo-cus (seed of lily). It -is a great rendezvous for several tribes who come to gather wo-cus. The -main stem of this plant first blossoms on the top of the water, and, as -the seasons advance, the flower matures and rises above the surface one or -two feet, and forms a large pod, of four inches in length and three in -diameter. The Indians go out among the lilies in canoes, and gather the -bowls or pods while green, spread them out in the sun, and when cured they -are beaten with sticks until the seeds fall out. These are put in sacks -and carried home, cached (buried in cellars) until required for use. Then -the seeds are thrown into a shallow basket, with live coals of fire, and -roasted, after which it is ground by hand on flat rocks. - -It is a nutritious food, and, when properly prepared, not unpalatable. The -Klamaths use it in soups, and often prepare it by mixing like flour into -cakes, which they bake in the ashes. This article of wo-cus is abundant, -available, and altogether sufficient to furnish subsistence for all the -Indians in Oregon. To this wo-cus field the natives have for generations -past gone for supplies, and in the mean time to exchange slaves, gamble, -and hold great councils. Many stirring scenes have been enacted at this -place that would furnish foundation for romantic story or bloody tragedy. - -The lakes of Klamath are great resorts for the feathery tribes, which come -with the spring and sojourn through the summer. The people luxuriate on -the eggs of these wild fowls. They go out into the tall tule (grass) in -canoes, and collect them in large quantities. _"The egg season" lasts -until the hatching season is over_, the Indians cooking unhatched birds, -and eating them with as much avidity and as little thought of indecency as -New England people cook and eat clams, oysters, or herrings. - -The young fowls are captured in nets. The arrangement is quite cunning, -and, although primitive in construction, evinces some inventive genius. A -circular net is made three feet in diameter, and to the outer edge are -attached eight or ten small rods of half-inch diameter, and about fifteen -inches in length; three inches from the lower end, which is sharpened to a -point, the net is attached. The upper end of the rods are bevelled on one -side, and inserted into a rude socket, in the end of a shaft ten feet -long. - -Armed with this trap, the hunter crawls on the ground until he is within -safe distance of the mother-bird and her little flock, when, suddenly -springing up, the old birds, geese or ducks, as the case may be, fly away, -while the little ones flee toward the water. The Indian launches the shaft -with the net attached in such a way that the net spreads to its utmost -size, the sharpened points of the rods pierce the ground, and, the upper -end having left the socket on the shaft, stand in circular row, holding -the net and contents to the ground. - -The Klamath mode of taking fish is peculiar to the Indians of this lake -country. A canoe-shaped basket is made, with covering of willow-work at -each end, leaving a space of four feet in the middle top of the basket. -This basket is carried out into the tules that adjoin the lakes, and sunk -to the depth of two or three feet. The fishermen chew dried fish eggs and -spit them in the water over the basket, until it is covered with the eggs, -and then retire a short distance, waiting until the whitefish come in -large numbers over the basket, when the fishermen cautiously approach the -covered ends, and raise it suddenly, until the upper edge is above the -water, and thus entrap hundreds of fish, that are about eight inches in -length. These are transferred to the hands of the squaws, and by them are -strung on ropes or sticks and placed over fires until cured, without salt, -after which they are stored for winter use. This fish is very oily and -nutritious, and makes a valuable food. Indeed, this country is more than -ordinarily fruitful, and abounds in resources suited to Indian life. - -The lakes are well supplied with various kinds of trout. They are taken in -many ways; mostly, however, with hook and line. I remember, on one -occasion, going to a small slough making out of the lake among the tules. -Being prepared with American equipment of lines and flies, I was sanguine -of success; but I was doomed to disappointment so far as catching trout -with fly-hooks was concerned. I finally succeeded in capturing a pocketful -of large black army-crickets. The first venture with this bait was -rewarded by a fine trout of six pounds' weight. In one hour and a half I -had twenty-four fish, whose aggregate weight was one hundred and four -pounds. They were mostly golden trout, a species peculiar to Klamath lake. -They are similar to other trout, except in the rich golden color of their -bodies, and in the shape of their fins. Silver trout are sometimes caught -also, they taking their name from their silver sides and the color of -their flesh. Lake trout, another species, are very dark; they are sharp -biters, and very game when hooked. Salmon trout, as the name indicates, -resemble salmon in every way; so much so that none but an expert could -distinguish the two. - -Still another kind of the trout family are also in abundance, called dog -trout. They live on the younger fish of their own species; do not run in -schools, but solitary and alone, devouring the small ones. I have caught -them with the tails of little fish sticking in their mouths. Brook trout -may be found in the smaller streams; they are identical with those of New -England. - -The wild game consists of deer and elk, which are still abundant and -furnish subsistence; and, until these people sold their birthrights and -received in exchange therefor clothing and blankets,--a mere mess of -pottage,--afforded material for warming their bodies. These sources of -supply, together with the wild fowls, which congregate in innumerable -quantities, all go to make up a country well adapted to wild Indian life, -requiring but reasonable exertion to secure subsistence and clothing. - -Although the country is high and cold, and the major portion covered in -winter with deep snows, there are small valleys and belts of country where -snow never lies on the ground for any considerable length of time, and the -stock cattle and horses live through the winter without care. - -When the railroad shall have been built, connecting the lake country with -the outside world, it will afford large supplies of fish, game, wild -fowls, eggs, feathers, ice, and lumber of the choicest kinds. Already has -the keen eye of the white man discovered its many inducements and tempting -offers of business. - -Big Klamath lake is twenty miles wide and forty miles long; a most -beautiful sheet of water, dotted with small islands. Its average depth is, -perhaps, forty feet, surrounded on two sides with heavy forests of timber; -on the others, with valleys of sure and productive soil, when once -science shall have taught the people how to accommodate the agriculture to -the climate. This lake has a connection with those below, called Link -river, a short stream of but four miles, through which vast volumes of -water find outlet, over sweeping rapids, falling at the rate of one -hundred feet to the mile. - -The power that wastes itself in Link river would move machinery that would -convert the immense forests into merchandise, and put music into a million -spindles, giving employment to thousands of hands who are willing to toil -for reward. - -Nature has also favored this wonderful country with steam-power beyond -comparison; great furnaces under ground, fed by invisible hands, send the -steam through rocky fissures or escape-pipes to the surface. Near Link -river, two of these escape-pipes emit the stifling steam constantly. -Approaching cautiously, a sight may be had of the boiling waters beneath. -Lower down the hill it arises in a stream, sufficient to run a saw-mill, -coming out boiling hot, and flowing away in rippling current. Along the -banks of this stream flowers bloom the year round, and vegetation is ever -green for several rods from the banks. The scene from the ridge on the -north that overlooks Link valley is one of rare beauty. - -Standing in snow two feet deep, on a cold morning in December, 1869, my -eyes first took in the landscape. Surrounded by lofty pines, and, looking -southward, we caught sight of the Lost river county, the home of the -Modocs, bathed in sunshine, clear, cold sunshine; the almost boundless -tracts of sage-brush land, stretching away to the foot of the Cascade -mountains on the right, until sage-brush plain was lost in pine-wood -forest. On the left front we caught sight of Tu-le lake, lying calmly -beneath its crystal covering of glittering ice; and, still left, -Lost-river mountains, and beside them the stream whose water drank up the -blood of many battles in times past. Following its line toward its source, -we see a mountain cleft in twain to make passage for the waters of Clear -lake, after they have tunnelled Saddle mountains for ten miles, and come -again to human sight. - -We had been so entertained with the splendor of the winter scene, that we -had overlooked its grandest feature, until our fretful horses, which had -caught sight of it before we had, became restless and impatient to bathe -their icy hoofs in the beautiful valley at our feet, and refused longer to -wait for us to paint on our memory the panorama. - -Dismounting, we, too, caught sight of one of nature's wonderful freaks. -Down below us, in the immense amphitheatre, we discovered columns of steam -rising from the smooth prairie hill-side, ascending in fantastic puffs, -and mixing with the atmosphere; sometimes cut off, by sudden gusts of cold -winds, into minute clouds, that swing out and lose themselves in strange -company of fiercer breath from the mountains covered with snow and ice. - -Look again to the right, and see the constant steam vapor that comes with -hot breath from the boiling spring, where it runs in grandeur, and -gradually warms the soil and shrubbery that surrounds its channel. -Following the curve of this stream, see the clouds of steam decrease as it -flows out on the plain, until, at last, its warm breath is lost to sight -in the high tule grass of Lower Klamath lake. Come back along the line -and see the fringe of grass and flowers that exult in life, despite the -winter's cold; and other of nature's children, too, are standing with feet -in the soft banks, and inhaling the warm breath. See the long line of -sleek cattle and horses that have driven away the mule, deer and antlered -elk, and now claim mastership of what God has done for this strange -valley. Even dumb brutes enjoy this refuge from the cold storms of the -plains; thus cheating old winter out of the privilege of punishing them. - -Yielding to the importunity of our restless steed, we remount, and, giving -rein, are carried rapidly down the mountain side, at a pace that would be -dangerous on clumsy eastern ponies, until reaching the valley, and feeling -the soft turf beneath us, we improve the invitation to warm our hands at -this gentle outlet to one of nature's seething caldrons. - -Gathering a bouquet of wild flowers from this fairy garden, surrounded by -snows and ice, we resume our journey, for we are now bound for the home of -Captain _Jack_. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - - MODOC BLOOD UNDER A FLAG OF TRUCE--SEED SOWN - TWENTY YEARS BEFORE A HARVEST. - - -Since we are now en route to the Modoc country, and since they have taken -a place in modern history as a warlike people, and have enrolled their -names on the record of stirring events, it is well to give them something -more than a passing notice. - -In so doing, I shall confine my remarks to such facts as have come under -my own observation, and also those that are well authenticated. In memory -of the late tragedy in the "Lava Beds," in which I so nearly lost my life, -I approach this subject with a full determination to present the facts -connected therewith in a fair and impartial manner, without fear of -criticism from the enemies of the red man, or a desire to court undue -favor from his friends. - -The Modocs are a branch from a once powerful tribe of the Pacific coast, -and known as "La-la-cas," inhabiting the country drained by Klamath river -and lakes, also including the "Lost-river Basin," and extending inland -from the coast proper about three hundred miles, covering the territory of -what is now Siskiyou county, Cal., and parts of Jackson and Josephine -counties, of Oregon. They were warlike, as most uncivilized nations are, -when they become powerful. Surrounded with peoples of similar character, -they were often on the "warpath." - -The history of the great battles fought by the La-la-cas of olden time is -a fruitful subject for Indian stories by the descendants of the Klamaths -and Modocs; and from them, years ago, I learned about the rebellion so -nearly cotemporaneous with the American Revolution. - -That rebellion sprang from causes so nearly of the same kind as those -which prompted our forefathers to take up arms against Great Britain, that -the coincidence is strange indeed, though it could not have any connection -with the white man's war. To those who have given the subject of Indian -history a careful study, it is not new, that, while a monarch exercised -arbitrary power across the Atlantic, and dictated government and law to -the American colonies, many petty monarchs, also claiming the hereditary -right to rule on the strength of royalty and blood, were the governing -nations on the continent of America. This kind of royalty seems to have -been acknowledged and disputed by turns, for many generations; and, -perhaps, the La-la-cas may have passed through as many revolutions as -enlightened political organizations, though no other history than -tradition has made a record thereof. At all events it is part of the -history of the Modocs and Klamaths, that feuds and revolutions have been -of common occurrence, growing out of the desire for power. After all, -human nature is pretty much the same in all conditions of society, without -regard to color or race. - -The office of chief, among Indians of former times, was to the chieftain -what the crown was to a king. The function of chieftain among -semi-civilized Indians of to-day is to him what the office of President is -to General Grant, or it may be likened to the position of Louis Philippe -a few years ago, half attained through royal right, and half by force or -consent of the governed. - -This comparison is apropos according to the status of traditional and -hereditary law. - -With the La-la-cas, one hundred years ago, the prerogative of royalty, -though, perhaps, acknowledged in the abstract, was often disputed in the -distribution of honors. - -This "bone of contention," so fruitful of blood with civilized nations, -was one of the principal and moving causes of the separation of a band of -La-la-cas, who are now known as Modocs, from the tribe who are now called -Klamaths. - -There is a curious resemblance between the political customs of savage and -civilized nations. The royal house from whence came the hero of the Modoc -war--Captain Jack--was not exempt from the contentions common to royal -households, and it may be said, too, that while the branch to which he -belonged had furnished their quota of braves for many wars, they resisted -the taxes levied on them, and at last openly rebelled, and separated from -their ancient tribe on account of the exactions of tyrannical chiefs. - -That my readers may properly understand the subject now under -consideration, it is well to state, in a general way, that Indian nations, -singularly enough, follow in the footsteps of the people of Bible history. -Whether they derive the custom from traditional connection or not, I leave -to antiquarians to answer. - -Every nation is divided into tribes, and tribes are divided into bands, -and bands into smaller divisions, even down to families; each nation has, -or is supposed to have, a head chief; each tribe a chief; each band a -sub-chief; and so on, down, until you reach family relations. - -Each tribe, band, and even family, has in times of peace an allotted home, -or district of country that they call their own. They claim the privileges -that it affords, and are very jealous of any infringement on their rights. - -The Modocs inhabited that portion of country know, as "Lost-river -Basin,"--perhaps forty miles square,--lying east of the foot of "Shasta -Butte," possessing many natural resources for Indian life. It is doubtful -whether any other country of like extent affords so great and so varied a -supply as this district. - -Lost river is a great fishing country, affording those of a kind peculiar -to Tule lake and Lost river, in so great abundance as to be almost beyond -belief. - -But to resume the history of this band of Modocs. At or about the time -indicated as cotemporaneous with "the great event" in American civilized -history, the head chief of all the La-la-cas demanded of Mo-a-doc-us, the -chief of the Lost-river band of the La-la-cas, not only braves for the -warpath, but also that supplies of fish from Lost river should be -furnished. - -This demand was refused. Following the refusal, war was declared; and -Mo-a-doc-us issued his declaration of independence, throwing off his -allegiance from and to the head chief of the La-la-cas. The war that -followed was one of a character similar in some respects to the American -Revolution; the one party struggling to hold power, the other fighting for -freedom,--for such it was in reality. - -[Illustration: CAPTAIN JACK.] - -The Modocs and Klamaths tell of many battles fought, and brave men killed; -how the survivors passed their allotted time in mourning; how, at last, -the La-la-cas were defeated; and though no formal acknowledgment or -recognition of the independence of Mo-a-doc-us was ever bulletined to the -world, yet it was, in modern political language, "an accomplished fact." - -The followers of the La-la-cas have since been termed Klamaths. - -Without tracing the history of the Mo-a-docs through their many wars, I -pass over the intervening feuds until 1846, at which time they numbered -six hundred warriors, and were subdivided into bands, governed by -"Schonchin," a head chief, although his authority seems even then to have -been disputed, on the ground that he was not a legitimate descendant of -the great Mo-a-doc-us, and consequently not of royal blood. He won his -position as chief by his great personal bravery in battle. - -The father of Captain Jack was the former chief of the Lost-river Modocs. -He was killed in battle with the Warm Spring and Te-ni-no Indians, near -the head-waters of the Des-chutes river, in Oregon, at which time -Ki-en-te-poos (Captain Jack) was a small boy. - -I have taken some pains to ascertain reliable data as to the parentage and -birthplace of a man whose name has been on every tongue for the past year, -and state, most positively, that Captain Jack's parents were both Modocs -of royal blood, and that Captain Jack was born on Lost river, near the -"Natural Bridge," and very near the ground on which was fought the first -battle of the late Modoc war; and, further, that he never lived with any -white man; that he never has learned to speak any other than the language -of the ancient La-la-cas, or Mo-a-docs, although he may have understood -many words of the English tongue. - -You will have observed that the regard for royal honors was not extinct at -the time of the death of Jack's father, who seems to have left in the -hearts of his people the ambition to restore the ancient order of things, -by re-establishing the hereditary right to the chieftainship. This -sentiment, thus perpetuated, undoubtedly found a lodgment in the heart of -the boy, Ki-en-te-poos. - -To resume the review of the first war: As told by white men, it would -appear that a wanton thirst for blood impelled the Modocs to murder -defenceless emigrants. I doubt not that many innocent persons lost their -lives; still, with my knowledge of Indian character, I am not ready to say -that provocation was wanting. While I would be careful in making up my -estimate on the validity of Indian statements, I am still willing that the -Modocs' side of the causes of the first wars should be heard. - -Old Chief Schonchin says that it grew out of a misunderstanding as to the -identity of the _Modocs_, _Snakes_, and _Pitt-river_ Indians. The -emigrants had difficulties with the Snake Indians, through whose country -they passed in reaching Oregon and California; and that he never knew what -was the cause of the first troubles between them. The Snake Indians -captured horses and mules from the emigrants, and sold them, or gambled -them, to the Pitt-river Indians, who in turn transferred them, through the -same process, to the Modocs; and that the animals found by emigrants in -possession of the Modocs were recaptured, and hence war was at last -brought about. The story seems plausible, and is certainly entitled to -some respect, coming, as it does, from a man of the character of old Chief -Schonchin. I know there is a disposition to discredit any statement made -by an Indian, simply because he _is an Indian_, and more particularly when -it comes in conflict with our prejudices to accept it as the truth. Some -white men are entitled to credit; others are not. So it is with Indians, -and, if it were possible, the disparity is even greater among them than -among white men. - -Chief Schonchin, of whom I am speaking, commands respect from those who -know him best, and have known him longest. He does not deny that he was in -the early wars; that he did all in his power to exterminate his enemies. -In speaking of the wars with white men, he once remarked, in an evening -talk around a camp-fire: "I thought, if we killed all the white men we -saw, that no more would come. We killed all we could; but they came more -and more, like new grass in the spring. I looked around, and saw that many -of our young men were dead, and could not come back to fight. My heart was -sick. My people were few. I threw down my gun. I said, I will not fight -again. I made friends with the white man. I am an old man; I cannot fight -now. I want to die in peace." To his credit be it said, that no act of -his, since the treaty of 1864, has deserved censure. He is still in -charge of the loyal Modocs, at Yai-nax station, grieving over the -waywardness of his brother John and Captain Jack. - -He was not in the "Ben Wright" affair, although he was near when the -massacre occurred. His reason for not being present was because he -mistrusted that treachery was intended on the part of Wright; and, -further, that a "treaty of peace" was proposed by him, which was to be -accompanied with a feast, given by the white man; but that the talk was -"too good,"--"_promised too much_,"--and that, suspicious of the whole -affair, he kept away; that forty-six Modocs accepted the invitation to -feast with their white brethren, and that but five escaped the wholesale -butchery. Of these five, the last survivor was murdered, June, 1873, -during the cowardly attack on Fairchild's wagon, containing the Indian -captives, near Lost river, after the surrender of Captain Jack. - -Now, whether the Indian version of the Ben Wright affair is correct, or -not, that forty Indians were killed while under a flag of truce in the -hands of white men of the Ben Wright party, in 1852,--_there can be no -doubt_. The effects of this act can be traced all the way down from that -day to this, and have had much to do with making the Modocs a revengeful -people. - -The friends of Ben Wright deny that he committed an act of treachery; yet -there are persons in California who state positively that he _purchased -strychnine previous to his visit to the Modoc country, with the avowed -intention of poisoning the Indians_. Others, who were with him at the time -of the massacre, testify that _he made the attempt at poisoning_, and -finally, abandoning it, he resorted to the "peace talk" to accomplish his -purpose. The excuse for this unwarrantable act of treachery was to punish -the Modocs for the murdering of emigrants at Bloody Point, a few days -previous. - -This unparalleled slaughter was perpetrated on the shore of Tu-le lake, in -September, 1852. It occurred directly opposite the "Lava Bed," at a point -where the emigrant road touches the shore of the lake, after crossing a -desert tract of several miles, and where the mountains forced the road to -leave the high plains to effect a passage. For several hundred yards the -route ran along under a stony bluff, and near the waters of the lake. The -place was well-adapted for such hellish purposes. - -The emigrant train consisted of sixty-five men, women, and children, and -the whole line of wagons was driven down into this position before the -attack was made. The Indians, secreted in the rocks at either end of the -narrow passage, attacked their hapless victims both in front and rear. -Hemmed in by high rocky bluffs on one side and the lake on the other, they -were butchered indiscriminately. Neither age nor sex were spared, save two -young girls of twelve and fourteen years of age respectively, who were -taken prisoners, and one man, who escaped. - -This massacre was attended with all the circumstances of savage warfare. -Men were killed outright and scalped. Women were treated with indignities -_that words may not reveal. Even fiendish torture was surpassed, and human -language is too tame to express the horrible outrages committed on them._ -Children were tortured, some of them mutilated and dismembered, while yet -alive, before the eyes of their mothers. No page in all the bloody history -of Indian cruelties exceeds that of the massacre of emigrants at Bloody -Point, by the Modocs, in September, 1852. - -The two girls who were taken prisoners were allotted to some of the brave -warriors as wives. They survived for several years, and, according to -Modoc stories, were reconciled to their fate, adopting the manners and -customs of their captors. It is said that they taught the Modocs many -things pertaining to a civilized life, and that they exercised great -influence over them; that the Modoc women became jealous of their power, -and put them to death. - -Near the residence of Mr. Dorris, on Cottonwood Creek, is a rocky cliff -overlooking the valley. It was from this cliff the unfortunate captives -were thrown to the rocks below, ending their lives as victims to the -jealousy of the wives and mothers of their savage captors. Evidences of -this tragedy are in existence; human skulls, and, within a few years, -locks of long hair, unlike that of Indians, have been found on the spot -indicated as the place where these captives were destroyed. - -Ben Wright was a citizen of Y-re-ka. He was esteemed as a man of good -character and standing among his fellows in that early day. Born a leader, -he was selected by the miners to command a company of volunteers, who were -enlisted without authority of the Government of the United States, the -State of California, or the County of Sys-ki-you. - -This company was formed, under the common law of self-protection, in the -early days of California, when Indian outrages were of common occurrence. -In the absence of regular provision for protection, the miners and -settlers, in a spirit of patriotism, volunteered to punish Indians as well -as to guard the peace of the country. Be it remembered that the massacre -at "Bloody Point" was not the only act of savage ferocity committed by the -Modocs. For five years had they been murdering the worn-out emigrants who -were en route to California and Oregon. - -It was in harmony with frontier ideas of right, to punish these people for -their crimes, without taking into consideration the causes that may have -impelled them to bloody deeds. The victims were not responsible for the -acts of their predecessors on the line of travellers. However humane and -just we may feel, we cannot object to Ben Wright's motive, though all men -who possess correct ideas of justice may deprecate the manner of avenging -the wrongs committed. Had he slain the entire tribe in fair battle, no -just condemnation could have been pronounced against him. Had he avenged -their horrible crimes by ambushing them, by his skill and cunning, no man -would have censured him; _but to violate a flag of truce, under pretence -of peace-making_, was a wrong that fair-minded men, everywhere, condemn as -an _outrage against humanity and civilization_. - -If the Modocs had first been guilty of such acts of treachery, -"extermination" would justly have been the cry. Savage warfare is unworthy -of any people; but certainly it should never be surpassed by those -professing Christian civilization. Even in war they should endeavor to -teach the savage the higher laws that govern mankind. - -Without stopping to moralize further, let us pursue the main facts, as -they come following each other in succession. After the Ben Wright -massacre, hostilities were continued until 1864; at which time Elisha -Steel, Esq., of Y-re-ka, who was then acting superintendent for the -northern district of California, made an informal treaty with the various -bands of Indians, and who seems to have been more an arbitrator than a -government commissioner. At all events the articles of agreement were not -ratified by Congress. - -This treaty did not set forth that any consideration would be paid by the -Government for the possession of the Modoc country. Neither did it seek to -alienate the country from the Indians, but referred to the localities -where certain bands of Modocs, Schas-tas, Schas-ta-sco-tons, and Klamaths -should reside. There was also an agreement to keep peace with each other -and the whites. - -It was in this council that Captain Jack was first acknowledged as a -chief, and then only after an election was had by the band that had -repudiated Schon-chin; after which Steele declared him a chief, and named -him "Captain Jack," on account of his resemblance to a miner bearing that -name. That the Steele treaty was somewhat indefinite and unauthorized, was -given as a reason why it never was recognized by the general Government. - -There may have been other and more potent reasons, however; for the Modoc -country proper is about equally divided between Oregon and California, -though the home of Captain Jack and Schon-chin was on the Oregon side of -the line. At that time the hearts of our people were much moved in behalf -of the "poor Indian." Each State was anxious to furnish a home for him. -Whether Steele's treaty reached Washington before or after, does not -appear. The Superintendent of Oregon was instructed to "negotiate a treaty -with all the Indians in the Klamath country, including the Modocs." - -This council met in October, 1864. The Klamaths, and also the Modocs, were -represented in the council by their chiefs; the latter by Schon-chin and -his brother John, who was afterwards associated with Captain Jack. - -Captain Jack was recognized as a sub-chief. He participated in the -council; and, when terms were agreed upon, he signed the articles of -treaty in his Indian name,--Ki-en-te-poos. The idea that he was deceived -in the meaning of the treaty is absurd; though it has been repeated by -good men, without proper knowledge of the facts. - -An unwarrantable sympathy for Captain Jack has been the result,--unless, -indeed, all the Indians who were parties to the treaty are to be -commiserated for having sold their birthright for an insufficient -compensation. Old chief Schon-chin has never claimed any other than the -plain meaning of the words of the treaty; which was, substantially, that -what is known as Klamath Reservation was to be the joint home of the -Klamaths and Modocs. All the other country claimed by the two tribes was -ceded to the United States, on condition that certain acts should be -performed by the Government, in a specified time. All of which has been, -and is being done, to the satisfaction of the Indians who have remained on -the Reservation. I assert this to be substantially correct. That they -made a bargain that Captain Jack wished to repudiate is true. I do not -wonder that he should do so, in view of his inherent love of royalty and -his great ambition to be a chief, and the uncertainty of his tenure of -office should he remain on the Reservation, the discipline of which was -humiliating for one whose life had been free from restraint. - -The head men of the Klamaths all agree and state positively that the -treaty was fully interpreted and fairly understood by all parties, and -that Captain Jack and the whole Modoc tribe shared in the issue of goods -made at the council-ground by Superintendent Huntington, at the time of -making the treaty. The plea that Captain Jack was deceived, as -before-mentioned, is wholly unfounded. He not only understood and assented -to it, but took up his abode on the Klamath Reservation, where he remained -long enough to realize that Reservation life was not healthy for royalty. - -Perhaps he had begun to see that he was to change his mode of life; also -that Schon-chin was recognized as his superior in office; and it may be -that he discovered that Klamath was not as good a country for Indian life -as the Lost-river region. It is equally certain that he raised the -standard of revolt, and finally withdrew from the Reservation, and took up -his abode at his old home on Lost river; soon after which he stated to Mr. -John A. Fairchilds that he had been cheated, and that "the treaty was a -lie;" that he had not sold his country. - -He made the same statement to Esquire Steele, of Y-re-ka, who is a man of -a large and charitable heart, and who exercised great power over the -Indians, and, with his former knowledge of Captain Jack, accredited his -story concerning the swindle or cheat, and probably stated to Captain Jack -that he would try to have the matter adjusted for him. - -Steele wrote several letters to the department at Washington on this -subject, and also gave letters to Jack and his people, repeating therein -Jack's story about his being cheated, and commending him to the friendly -consideration of white people with whom he might come in contact. - -Some of these letters are still in existence. I myself have read several -of them, the tenor of which was in keeping with the statement already -made,--that Jack still claimed the country, and that he was a -well-disposed Indian, etc.; but there was not _one line_, so far as I -know, that could be construed to mean that the treaty _could or should he -repudiated_. - -That Steele had friendship for Jack, there can be no doubt; and that Jack -recognized Steele as his friend and adviser is equally certain; and -whatever influence Steele's advice may have had, it never was intended to -justify Jack in removing from the Reservation to which he belonged. I have -been thus particular in this matter, because Jack has used the name of -Steele in a way to mislead public opinion in regard to Steele's connection -with the Modoc rebellion. Jack's reason for leaving the Reservation in -1864 was, simply and substantially, that he had made a compact with which -he was dissatisfied. He not only misconstrued the friendship of Steele and -others, but misrepresented them in such a way as to rid himself of the -responsibility as much as possible. - -Following his career, we find that, in 1865, at the request of the -citizens of Lost-river Basin, Capt. McGreggor, commander of Fort Klamath, -made an unsuccessful attempt to return Jack's band to the Reservation; -and, also, that sub-agent Lindsay Applegate sought to remove him in 1866; -also, that in 1867 Superintendent Huntington visited the "Modoc country," -and that Capt. Jack and his warriors took a position on the opposite side -of Lost river, and said to him that, if he attempted to cross over, he -"would fire on him." Huntington, being unsupported, made no attempt at -crossing. He reported the matter, as others had done, to the department at -Washington; but no action was ordered. It will be seen that this same -rebel chief had eluded and defied the authority of the Government on these -three successive occasions; and yet the clemency and forbearance of the -Government were misconstrued by him and his misinformed sympathizers. - -In the latter part of 1869, while on an official visit to Klamath Agency, -the Modocs first engaged my attention; and hearing then the fact above -referred to, as a reason why he had refused to obey the commands of the -government, and believing that his return, without military force, was -possible, a consultation with Agent O. C. Knapp was held. We decided to -make another effort; accordingly a courier was despatched with a message -that we would meet him at Link river. The reply was to the effect that if -we wanted to see him we must come to his country; and, further, that he -did not care to see us. - -Notwithstanding this insult, we decided to visit the Modoc country in -person. Believing in the power of the right to accomplish the purpose, -even if force was necessary, we determined to go, "bearing the olive -branch;" and, also, at the same time, recognized the necessity of being -prepared for personal defence should any attack be made. A requisition was -made on Capt. Goodale, commander at Fort Klamath, for a detachment of -troops. - -To the first request we received a doubtful answer, because "he had not -the men to spare." I did not inquire of Capt. Goodale what the duties of -the soldiers were; but from others I learned that they were required for -"police duty," or sentry duty, which meant, probably, that one-half the -soldiers were needed to guard the other half, and maybe were to wait on -the officers of the fort. A few days previous, a number of enlisted men -had deserted, and those sent in pursuit "had failed to put in an -appearance at roll-call." - -Finally, the Klamath Indians succeeded in arresting the deserters and -bringing them under guard to the fort, receiving therefor a reward for so -doing. This fort was built, and has been kept up at an enormous expense, -to secure the peace of the country. It has been an advantage to both white -men and Indians,--the one finding a market for hay and grain; the other, a -market for the articles manufactured by their women,--moccasins, etc.; and -the men an opportunity to make greenbacks by hunting and arresting -deserters. - -Capt. Goodale finally detailed a small squad of men, under command of a -non-commissioned officer, for the purpose requested, as stated heretofore. - -We left Klamath Agency on the morning of the third of December, 1869, -destined for the home of the Modocs, accompanied by Agent O. C. Knapp, of -Klamath, I. D. Applegate in charge of Yai-nax, and W. C. McKay, together -with teamsters, guides, and interpreters; also, two Klamath Indian women. -Ordering the soldiers to follow us as far as Link river, there to await -further orders, we pushed on, leaving the teams with our supplies to -follow into the Modoc country on the morning of the twenty-second of -December, 1869. - -The route from Link river is through a sage-brush plain, and following -down the west bank of Lost river. - -Lost river is the outlet or connecting link between Clear lake and Tule -lake. After leaving the former, it flows under ground several miles, and -again coming to the surface, empties into the latter. For this reason it -was named "Lost river." It is a deep, narrow stream, with but few -fording-places. In March of each year it is a great fishery. None of the -same species of fish are found elsewhere; it possesses the appearance of a -species of white trout, excepting the head and mouth, which is after the -sucker species. The flesh is rich and nutritious, and so abundant are they -that they are taken with rude implements, such as sharpened sticks and -pitchforks, and are even caught with the hand, when they are running over -the ripples or fords. - -A courier sent by the Modoc Peace Commission, with despatches to Yai-nax, -having occasion to cross Lost river while en route, reported, on his -return, having difficulty in crossing this stream on account of the -immense numbers of fish running against the horse's legs, and frightening -him. A pretty big fish story, but not incredible. - -When within a few miles of the Modoc camp, we espied four Indians coming -on ponies. As we approached, they, forming a line across the road, -exclaimed "Kaw-tuk!" (Stop!) They were each armed with a rifle and -revolver. Our party carried, each man, a Henry rifle and a navy -six-shooter. A short parley ensued, they determining to know our business, -and would allow no farther advance until their demand was recognized. - -We stated, in substance, that we were anxious to see Captain Jack and his -people on important business. - -The Indians replied, "that they did not wish to talk with us; they had no -business with us, and that we had better turn back." Three times had they -defied, intimidated, or eluded officers of the Government previously, and -were now trying to evade a meeting by bluffing our party. - -We had started to visit these people, and, in western parlance, "we were -going." Pushing past the Indians, we started on a brisk gallop, they -turning around and running ahead of us. After a brisk ride of four miles -we came in sight of the Modoc town, situated on the western bank of the -river about one mile above the "Natural Bridge," and within sight of the -newly-made mounds of the State line. - -The "Natural Bridge" is a ledge of rocks, twenty feet in width, spanning -the river. It was used in early days of emigration, to cross the river. At -the time of our visit it was two feet under water, but on either bank, -approaching the bridge, were unmistakable evidences of wagon travel. On -the western side the old road leads out through the sage-brush plains, and -may be easily traced with the eye for several miles. This "Natural -Bridge" has been gradually sinking. The early emigrants crossed over it -when it was a few feet above the water; then, at a later date, the water -had risen one or two feet above it; and yet neither the river nor the lake -appear to be higher than they were when first visited by white men. - - - - - CHAPTER XX. - - BLUE EYES AND BLACK ONES, WHICH WIN?--TOBEY RIDDLE. - - -The Modoc town was composed of thirteen lodges, built after the model of -Klamath's Indian houses. A circular, oblong excavation, twenty or thirty -feet in length and twelve wide, is first made. Then posts, two feet apart, -are set in the centre and at each end. On these posts are placed timbers -running lengthwise of the structure. Poles, or split logs, fifteen feet in -length, are placed, with the lower end resting on the ground, while the -upper end is fastened to the tops of the posts. Matting, made of "tule -grass," is spread over the slanting timbers, and then the earth thrown -out, in making the excavation, is piled upon the matting to a depth of -twelve inches. No windows are made, and there is but one entrance which -opens between the timbers mentioned as resting on posts at the top of the -lodge. This long, narrow opening is approached from the outside by steps -made in the earthen covering. From the inside hangs a ladder made of -rawhide ropes. The windows, door, and chimneys are one and the same. The -first glance at these houses suggests war, and a second confirms the idea -that these people are always ready for an attack. - -On our arrival at the town it appeared to be deserted, excepting the few -Indians who returned with us. They having dismounted, one of them rushed -up the rude stairway outside the largest lodge, and disappeared. This was -the home of the "Chief." Our party dismounted and prepared to follow our -guide. A watchman on the house-top said, "One man come! no more!" I had -partly ascended the steps when the peremptory order came. It sounded -ominous, and recalled "Bloody Point," and "Ben Wright." It was too late to -turn back in the presence of savages. - -When I reached the door, at the top of the lodge, and through the opening -met the eyes of fifty painted warriors, I felt as if I was in the wrong -place; but I dare not then show any signs of fear, or retrace my steps. I -may not find words to express my thoughts and feelings as I descended the -rawhide ladder, half expecting a shower of arrows, or bullets; -half-wondering how they would feel. _I did not know then,--I have learned -since._ On descending, I was met with a cold reception, that froze my -blood; a feeling I cannot describe. Captain Jack looked in my face with a -sullen glitter in his eye, that no white man could imitate. He refused to -shake hands, to speak, or smoke, and in fact it was evident that I was not -only an unwelcome visitor, but was looked upon as an enemy. - -Coolly lighting my pipe, I began trying to make the best of a bad job; -meanwhile enduring the stare from all eyes,--and a stare of that kind that -none can understand who has never felt the same; an expression cold and -scornful, but burning with hatred, was on every countenance. I have beheld -but one other scene that was more indescribable, and that was the "Lava -Bed" tragedy on April 11th, 1873. A terrible kind of loneliness came over -me, and for a while I thought the chances _about even_ whether I would -get out again or not. - -Finally "Scarfaced Charley" broke the stillness by asking, "What you want? -What for you come? Jack he not send for you! He got no business with you! -He no don't want to talk! He in his country! What for you come here? You -not him ty-ee! He don't know you! Hal-lu-i-me-til-li-cum,--(you stranger)! -Captain Jack want to see you, him come your home! He no want you come -here! You go away! Let him 'lone! He no want talk you! You go away!" - -This is substantially the first Modoc speech I ever heard. The result, -however, was to break the ice, to open the way for conversation. I stated -then that I was a new chief, sent by the President, to care for all the -Indians, Modocs included, and that I was _their_ ty-ee. I had some new -things to talk about. Whether they were my friends or not, I was their -friend. I had come to see my boys, and I wanted a hearing. I was not -afraid to talk, not afraid to hear Captain Jack talk; I was a big chief, -and did not ask my own boys when to talk. When I had ended my first speech -to the Modocs, Captain Jack replied:-- - -"I have nothing to say that you would like to hear. All your people are -_liars_ and _swindlers_. I do not believe half that is told me. I am not -afraid to hear you talk." I then proposed to have my friends, who were -waiting outside, come in. This was agreed to, and Captain Jack produced a -parcel of papers, that had been given to him by various persons, including -letters from "Steele," also from Esq. Potter, and John Fairchild. These -were submitted to me, and treated with consideration, thereby securing a -certain kind of respectful hearing, on the part of Captain Jack, to the -proposition for him to provide a camp for our company. - -Having thus started negotiations, Jack proffered the use of his lodge, -saying that he had no muck-a-muck (meaning provision) that we could eat; -that his stores afforded only roots and dried fish, that he had no flour, -no coffee, no sugar, no _whiskey_, and did not think a white chief could -get along without these things, etc. He, however, ordered a camp prepared -for us, which was done by making small holes in the ground, two or three -feet apart, with "camas sticks,"--a sharp-pointed instrument, of either -iron, bone, or hard wood, and about three feet long, with a handle at the -upper end, generally in the shape of a cross, and is used very much as a -gardener does a spade, by Indian women in digging roots. Into these holes -were inserted willows, eight feet in length, forming a circle twenty feet -in diameter, lapping past at one point,--thus making an entrance, very -much like the opening of a circus pavilion,--the whole surrounded with -mattings, the upper part drawn in, thus contracting the yielding tops of -the willow poles until the camp was made to resemble a huge bowl, with -bottom out, in an inverted position. This kind of work is usually done by -Indian women; but, to the credit of the young men of the Modoc tribe be it -said, that they, in this instance at least, assisted them, and did not -allow their women to be mere help-meets, but principals in mechanical -enterprises of the kind named, including also "getting wood." Sage brush -is the principal fuel in this region of country; and since so much of the -Great Basin lying between the Rocky mountains on the east, and Sierra -Nevada, and Cascade mountains on the west, is covered with this kind of -growth, and since comparatively few of my readers may have ever seen it -for themselves, I may remark here, by way of explanation, that this "sage -brush" is a soft, flexible shrub, the woody part being porous, and filled -with a gummy substance; the bark is of a grayish color, soft and ragged, -and easily stripped off; the leaf is small, of such a color, shape and -taste as very much resembles the domestic plant, from which it takes its -name; the body is short, crooked and forked, seldom exceeds four inches in -diameter or four feet in height; burns readily, either green or dry, -making a very hot fire, though of short life, yielding abundant ashes and -beds of coals. - -A plentiful supply of this fuel was piled up around our camp. A fresh fish -was taken from the river by the Indians, which, when roasted in the -sage-brush embers, made a not unpalatable meal. We spread our -saddle-blankets down for bedding, placed one of the party "on guard," -while the remainder slept, or went through the motion of sleeping; for we -would not have cared for the Indians to know that we could not and dare -not sleep. The morrow came, and the wagons having brought our supplies, we -were prepared to offer a feast of coffee and sugar, hard-bread, beef, and -bacon. - -_No Modoc would eat_ until our party had partaken. Some folks may think -their good-breeding had taught them to defer to their superiors; but such -was not the case. The reason was expressed in these few words: "Remember -Ben Wright;" which was said in the Modoc language, thus explaining why -they did not partake. When, however, they had witnessed that the -provisions prepared for the feast were eaten by our party, they were -reassured, and another point was gained. - -Nothing so quickly dissolves the ice in an Indian breast as a feast. The -council was opened with Frank Riddle and his Modoc woman, Tobey, as -interpreter. I mention this fact, because they have become prominent -characters in the history of the late Modoc war. They had been sent for by -Captain Jack; in fact, he was not willing to proceed without them. - -Frank Riddle is a white man, about thirty years of age, a native of -Kentucky. He anticipated Greeley, going West when a very young man, and -engaged in mining at Y-re-ka, Cal. Twelve years ago, on a bright morning -in March, an old Indian rode up to Frank's cabin, and stopped before the -door. On a small pony behind the old man sat a young Indian girl, of Modoc -blood, twelve years of age. - -The man was of royal lineage, being a descendant of Mo-a-doc-us, founder -of the tribe, and was uncle of the now famous Captain Jack. After sitting -in silence, Indian fashion, staring in the cabin door for a few minutes, -he made a motion by a toss of his head, and pouted out his lips toward the -young squaw behind him. This pantomime said to Frank, "Do you want to buy -a squaw?" - -Frank was a fine-looking, dark-eyed young fellow, and withal a clever man, -of genial disposition, with native pride of ancestry, still holding to the -memory of his home, and the image of a fair-haired girl who had "swung -school-baskets" with him in the beach woods of Shelby county, Kentucky. -He shook his head. The old man's face indicated his disappointment. The -girl on the pony slowly turned away, followed by her father. - -Four days passed, and this Indian girl and her father again appeared at -Frank's cabin. In sign language she made known her wish to be his slave, -and that he would buy her from her father. The young Kentuckian, -chivalrous as his people always are, treated her kindly; but, remembering -his fair-haired girl, refused to instal this Indian maiden as mistress of -his home. Ten days passed; the dark-eyed girl came again, _alone_, -bringing with her a wardrobe, consisting of such articles as Indian women -manufacture,--sashes and baskets, shells, beads, and little trinkets. - -She was attired with woman's taste, conforming to the fashions of her -people. Her dark eyes, with long lashes, smooth, round, soft face, of more -than usual pretensions to beauty, lithe figure, and dainty feet in -moccasins, all combined to give a romantic air to the jaunty young maiden; -and, when animated with the promptings of love for the young Kentuckian, -made her an eloquent advocate in her own behalf. The chivalrous fellow -_hesitated_. He _pitied_. He _trembled_ on the brink. The dark eyes before -him pleaded. The blue eyes, far away, dissolved reproachingly from view. -The hopes of youth, and the air-castles that two loving hearts had built -in years agone, began to vanish. They disappeared, and--and in their stead -a rude cabin in romantic wilds, with a warm-hearted, loving, dusky-faced -companion, became a living, actual _reality_. - -The day following, the father of this Indian woman was richer by two -horses. The cabin of Frank Riddle put on a brighter air. The mistress -assumed charge of the camp-kettle and the frying-pan. The tin plates were -cast aside, and dishes of finer mould mounted the tables at the command of -a pair of brown hands. - -Riddle, having broken his vows, and forsaken his boyhood idol, set to work -now to make the untamed girl worthy to fill the place in his heart from -which she had driven another. She was apt at learning, and soon only the -semblance of a squaw remained in the dusky cheeks and brown hands. Seven -years pass, and Frank Riddle and his woman Tobey appear in the Modoc -council on Lost river, December, 1869. - -[Illustration: TOBEY AND RIDDLE.] - -We made the opening speech in that council, setting forth the reasons for -our visit and producing the treaty of 1864. Here Captain Jack began to -manifest the same kind of disposition that has been so prominent in his -subsequent intercourse with government officials,--a careful, cautious -kind of diplomacy, that does not come to a point, but continually seeks to -shirk responsibility. - -He denied that he was a party to the treaty of October, 1864, or that he -signed the paper. Doctor McKay, old Chief Schonchin, and sub-Chief Blo of -Klamath were brought forward, and his allegations disproved completely; we -fully and clearly establishing the fact that he was present at that treaty -council, and that he put his hand to the pen, when his mark was made; that -he accepted and shared with the other Indians the goods issued by -Superintendent Huntington in confirmation of the treaty. The amount of -goods issued I cannot state; but I find that Huntington had an -appropriation of $20,000, to meet the expenses of said treaty council, -and, I doubt not, issued $5,000 or $10,000 worth of goods. All agree that -it was a liberal supply of goods, and I believe it to be true. - -Captain Jack, seeing that "he was cornered," began to quibble about what -part of the Reservation he was to go on to. This was met with the -proposition that he could _have any_ unoccupied land. Finding his -objections all fairly met, he finally said, that, if he could live near -his friend, Link-river Jack, he _would go_. We began to "breathe easy," -feeling that the victory was ours, when the Modoc medicine-man arose, and -simply said, "Me-ki-gam-bla-ke-tu," (We won't go there); when, presto! -from exultation every countenance was changed to an expression of anxiety, -and every hand grasped a revolver. - -The moment was fraught with peril. The least wavering then, on our part, -would have precipitated a fight, the result of which would have been -doubtful as to how many, and who, of our party would have come out alive. -It is quite certain that, had a fight ensued, what has since startled our -people would have been anticipated, and that the name of Captain Jack -would have passed away with but little notice from among the savage -heroes. - -It was there I first heard those terrible words, a part of which have -since become famous, uttered but a moment before the attack on the Peace -Commission, on April 11, 1873--"Ot-we-kau-tux-e,"--meaning, in this -instance, "I am done talking;" or, when used in other connections, "All -ready!" or, "The time has come!" or, "Quit talking." The vocabularies of -all Indian languages are very small; hence, a word depends, to a great -extent, on its connection, for its meaning and power. It was just at this -point that the woman, Tobey Riddle, who has since proved her sagacity and -her loyalty, arose to her feet, and said in Modoc tongue to her people: -"Mo-lok-a ditch-e ham-konk lok-e sti-nas mo-na gam-bla ot-we,"--("The -white chief talks right. His heart is good or strong. Go with him now!") -Frank Riddle joined the woman Tobey in exhorting the Modocs to be quiet, -to be careful, using such words as tend to avert, what we all saw was -liable to happen any instant, a terrible scene of blood. - -Dr. McKay, whose long experience had given him much sagacity, arose -quickly to his feet, saying in English, "Be on your guard! Don't let them -get the drop on us." Captain Jack started to retire when I intercepted -him, saying, "Don't leave me now; I am your friend, but I am not afraid of -you. Be careful what you do! We mean peace, but are ready for war. We will -not begin; but if you do, it shall be the end of your people. You agreed -to go with us, and you shall do it. We are ready. Our wagons are here to -carry your old people and children. We came for you, and we are not going -back without you. You must go!" - -He asked "what I would do, if he did not." I told him plainly that we -would _whip him_ until he was willing. He then wanted to know _where_ my -men were that was to whip him. I pointed to my small squad of men. I shall -never forget his reply. "I would be ashamed to fight so few men with all -my boys." I replied, that it was force enough to kill _some Modocs_, -before we were all dead; that when we were killed more white men would -come. - -Not having very strong faith in his _pride_ about fighting so few men, I -informed him that I had soldiers coming to help us, but that we came on to -try _talking first_, and then when that failed we would send for them to -come; finally stating to him that he could make up his mind to _go_ with -us on the morrow, or _fight_, and that in the meanwhile we would be ready -at any time for him to begin, if he wished to. He said then what he -repeated many times to Peace Commissioners on last spring,--that "he would -not fire the first shot," but if we did, "he was not afraid to die." It -was finally agreed that he should have until the next morning to make -answer what he would do, and that at that time he should report his -conclusion. - -This ended my first official council with the Modocs. Captain Jack -withdrew to his lodge to have a grand "pow-wow," leaving our party to -determine what was the next thing for us to do. We realized that we were -"in great danger." No one dissented from the opinion that peril was -menacing our party. Our only hope was to put on a brave front. Retreat at -that hour was impossible, with even chances for escape. We despatched a -messenger, under pretence of hunting our horses,--we dared not send him -boldly on the mission without excuses,--with orders for our military squad -at Linkville, twenty-five miles from Modoc camp, to rendezvous at a point -within hearing of our guns, and that, in the event of alarm, to "charge -the camp," but in _no other_ event to come until the next morning. - -Having despatched the courier, we carefully inspected our arms, -consisting of Henry rifles and navy revolvers. Captain Knapp's experience -as an officer of the rebellion and McKay's longer experience as an Indian -fighter, together with the frontier life of the remainder, made our little -party somewhat formidable, though inadequate to what might at any moment -become a fearful trial of strength. - -In this connection it should be understood that at that time the Modocs -were very poorly armed with old muskets, and a few rifles and -old-fashioned pistols. - -The Indians have great reverence and unlimited faith in their -"medicine-men." This is peculiar to all Indians, but to none more so than -the Modocs. While our party were invoking Almighty aid and preparing for -the worst that might come, the Modoc medicine-man was invoking the spirits -of departed warriors for aid. While the medicine-man was making medicine, -Captain Jack was holding a council with his braves, discussing the -situation, depending somewhat on the impression to be made from the -medicine camp, and fully trusting therein. I have since learned that the -same man, who subsequently proposed the assassination of the Peace -Commission in the "Lava Bed," in 1873, made the proposition to kill our -party in 1869, which, to the credit of Captain Jack, he promptly opposed -at that time as he did the other. - -Now, if there had been a trial of strength between the good and the bad, -we should not have been worthy to represent Elijah; but the Modocs filled -the position of Ahab, and they made medicine and called loudly on their -gods, but failed therein, as Baal did Ahab. As men will do, our soldier -squad disregarded or overlooked the instruction to await the signal to -"charge camp," for the charge _was made_ in a style that would have done -great credit at any subsequent period in the late Modoc war. There was -_spirit_ at the bottom of this unexpected movement of the soldiers; not -such spirits as the Modoc medicine-man invoked, but regular "forty-rod -whiskey." - -On leaving Link river, they had secured the "company of a bottle," and, -the night being cold, they had resorted to its warming influences. The -consequence was that, when they arrived at the appointed place to await -orders, they forgot to stop, and came into the camp on full gallop. The -horses' feet on the frozen ground, the breaking of sage brush, rattling of -sabres, all combined, made a noise well calculated to produce sudden fear -in the minds of all parties. Our men were all under arms and discussing -the situation. - -The medicine-man was going through his incantations, accompanied by the -songs of the old women, whose sounds still linger on my ear, as they came -to our camp, wafted by the breeze from the lake. It was past midnight, and -still the great council was in session, debating the treachery proposed; -it had not been voted on at that time. Subsequent reports declare that -Schonchin's John had spoken in favor of the measure. Captain Jack was -making a speech against it at the time the soldiers appeared. - -For a few moments the scene was one of indescribable confusion; the -medicine-man cut short his prayers; the war council was broken up; and -Indian braves came out of the lodge without waiting for the ceremonies of -even savage courtesy, but "pell-mell" they went into the sage brush, each -one taking with him his arms. A guard was immediately placed, surrounding -the whole camp; Capt. Knapp giving orders to allow no one to pass the -picket lines. - -Few eyes closed in sleep that night; daylight disclosed a complete circle -of bayonets, and inside about two hundred men, women, and children; but -the brave Captain Jack was not there; nor was "Schonchin's John," or -"Ellen's Man," or "Curly Head Doctor;" they had retired to the "Lava Bed." -We issued an order for all Indians to form in a line; they were reassured -that no one should be harmed; that they should be protected, clothed, and -cared for, but that all the arms must be delivered up. This request -brought out professions and promises of friendship; but the order had been -made and must be obeyed. - -The Indians refused compliance, and a file of soldiers was ordered to -seize the arms; for a few moments the excitement was intense; every man of -our party stood ready for "business," while the arms of the Modocs were -seized, and a guard placed over them. The aspect presented by the Modoc -camp was one that will not soon be forgotten by our party; the old, the -young, the middle-aged, the crippled, and ragged, nearly all making -professions of loyalty, and rejoicing at the turn events had taken. - -Provisions were issued for them, and order made for them to gather up the -ponies and prepare for removal. This morning was the first time I heard -"Queen Mary's" voice; she is a sister of Ki-en-te-poos,--Captain -Jack,--and this fact gave her great power over him. She has been -pronounced "Queen of the Modocs," on account of her beauty and power; she -was, probably, the most sagacious individual belonging to the band. This -Indian queen has had many opportunities for _improvement_, having been -sold to five or six white men in the last ten years. - -While she has induced so many different men to buy her of her brother, she -has made each one, in turn, anxious to return her to her people; but not -until she had squandered all the money she could command. It has been -denied that Captain Jack was ever a party to these several matrimonial -speculations; but more strongly asserted, by those who ought to know, that -"Queen Mary" has been a great source of wealth to him. I am of that -opinion myself, after weighing all the facts in the case. - -On the morning in question Mary appeared to plead for her absent brother, -that he might be forgiven, saying that he was no coward, but that he was -scared; that he was not to blame for running, and that she could induce -him to return. It was finally arranged that she should go to the "Lava -Bed" in company with our guide, Gus Horn, and assure her brother that no -harm had befallen the camp, and none would fall on them. - -One day was spent in collecting the Indian ponies, taking Indian -provisions from the "caches," and negotiating with the runaways for their -return, which was not accomplished. The following morning the camp was -broken up, and all the Indians, big and little, old and young,--as we -supposed at the time,--were started to the Reservation. Some were on -ponies, many of them on our wagons, and perhaps a few on foot. - -We reached Link river, where fires had been made, beef and flour -prepared, and by nine, P.M., everybody seemed contented, except the -personal friends of the runaways. - -Messengers were kept on the road between our camp and the "Lava Beds" -almost constantly for the three days we remained at Link river. Finally -the great chief surrendered, and "came in," on assurances that "the -Klamaths should not be permitted to make sport of him, and call him a -coward for running from our small force." This, then, was the ultimatum, -and was accepted, and, as far as possible, kept faithfully on our part. - -The sight presented by Captain Jack and his men, when they arrived at Link -river, if it could have been witnessed by those who have taken so great an -interest in him, would have dispelled all ideas of a "Fennimore Cooper -hero." - -I cannot forbear mentioning an incident characteristic of the Modocs. -While waiting for Jack and his remaining braves, I accidentally learned -that an old woman had been left in camp on Lost river, and, asking for the -reason, was told that she was too old to dig roots, or to work, and they -had left her some wood and water, and a "little grub," enough for her to -die easy on. A pair of new blankets, bread, sugar and meat, were prepared -to send her; also a horse to ride, and volunteers asked for, to bring the -old woman in. Not a volunteer came forward, save a "young buck," who was -willing, _provided_ he could have the blankets and pony, should he find -her dead, or if she should die on the road. It needed no reflection to -understand that _that_ meant _murder_. - -After much difficulty, the family to whom the old squaw belonged was -found, and a man and woman sent after her, with the warning, that if they -failed to bring her they must suffer the consequences. They insisted on -being _paid_ in advance for their labor. They _were not paid_, but they -brought her in alive, but so weak that she had to be held on the horse, -the squaw sitting behind her. It is said the Indian has no gratitude, but -this old woman refuted that assertion. - -On the arrival of Captain Jack's party, arrangements were made to proceed -at once to Klamath Reservation. On the morning of Dec. 27th we started on -our way. At the request of Captain Jack and his representative men, the -squad of soldiers were sent forward to the fort; the Indians claiming that -their presence made the women and children afraid; and that, having -surrendered their arms, they were powerless to do harm, and had no desire -to turn back. It may be thought a strange concession to make; but with -their arms in our possession, we _made it_; thus proving our confidence in -Indian integrity, by relieving them of the presence of the soldiers. We -were safe, and had no fear of the result. - -The morning was intensely cold, and the road led over a high mountain -covered with snow to the depth of twenty inches. On the 28th we arrived at -Modoc Point, Klamath Reservation. We were met by a large delegation of -agency Indians. The meeting and peace-making of these people, who had been -enemies so long, was one of peculiar interest and full of incident, worthy -of being recorded. I pass over the first day, by saying that the Klamaths -were much chagrined when we issued an order, at the request of Jack, -against gambling. - -Had we not done so, much confusion of property and domestic relation would -have ensued. These people are inveterate gamblers, and in fits of madness -have been known to stake their wives and daughters on the throw of a -stick, sometimes a card. The second day we set apart for a meeting of -reconciliation. A line was established between the Modoc and Klamath camp, -and a place designated for the forthcoming meeting, at the foot of a -mountain and beneath a wide-spreading pine tree. - -The Klamaths formed on one side of the line, and awaited the arrival of -the Modocs, who came reluctantly, apparently half afraid; Captain Jack -taking a position fronting Allen David,--the Klamath chief,--and only a -few feet distant. There stood these warrior chieftains, unarmed, gazing -with Indian stoicism into each other's faces. No words were spoken for a -few moments. The thoughts that passed through each mind may never be -known, but, perhaps, were of bloody battles past, or of the possible -future. - -The silence was broken on our part, saying, "You meet to-day in peace, to -bury all the bad past, to make friends. You are of the same blood, of the -same heart. You are to live as neighbors. This country belongs to you, all -alike. Your interests are one. You can shake hands and be friends." - -A hatchet was laid in the open space, a twig of pine was handed each -chieftain,--Allen David and Captain Jack,--as they advanced, each stooping -and covering the axe with the pine boughs; planting their feet upon it, -they looked into each other's eyes a moment, and shook hands with a -long-continued grasp, but spoke no word. As each retired to his position -outside of the line, the sub-chiefs and head men came forward, two at a -time, and followed the example of the chieftains, until all had exchanged -the pledge of friendship, and then resumed their respective places. Allen -David broke the silence in a speech of great power,--and such a speech as -none but an Indian orator can make. I have listened to some of the most -popular speakers in America, but I do not remember ever having heard a -speech more replete with meaning, or one much more logical, and certainly -none exhibiting more of nature's oratory. It was not of that kind taught -inside brick walls, but that which God gives to few, and gives but -sparingly. I repeat it as reported by Dr. McKay. - -Fixing his eye intently on Captain Jack, and raising himself to his full -proportion of six feet in height, he began in measured sentences full of -pathos: "I see you. I see your eyes. Your skin is red like my own. I will -show you my heart. We have long been enemies. Many of our brave muck-a-lux -(people) are dead. The ground is black with their blood. Their bones have -been carried by the 'Cayotes,' to the mountains, and scattered among the -rocks. Our people are melting away like snow. We see the white chief is -strong. The law is strong. We cannot be Indians longer. We must take the -white man's law. The law our fathers had is dead. The white chief brought -you here. We have made friends. We have washed each other's hands; they -are not bloody now. We are friends. We have buried all the bad blood. We -will not dig it up again. The white man sees us. Soch-e-la Ty-ee.--God is -looking at our hearts. The sun is a witness between us; the mountains are -looking on us." Turning to the great tree, with a sublime gesture: "This -pine-tree is a witness, O my people! When you see this tree, remember it -is a witness that here we made friends with the Mo-a-doc-as. Never cut -down that tree. Let the arm be broke that would hurt it; let the hand die -that would break a twig from it. So long as snow shall fall on Yai-nax -mountain, let it stand. Long as the waters run in the river, let it stand. -Long as the white rabbit shall live in the man-si-ne-ta (groves), let it -stand. Let our children play round it; let the young people dance under -its leaves, and let the old men smoke together in its shade. Let this tree -stand there forever, as a witness. I have done." - -Captain Jack, on assuming an attitude peculiar to himself, with his eye -fixed intently on the Klamath chief, began in a low, musical voice, -half-suppressed, half hesitatingly: "The white chief brought me here. I -feel ashamed of my people, because they are poor. I feel like a man in a -strange country without a father. My heart was afraid. I have heard your -words; they warm my heart. I am not strange now. The blood is all washed -from our hands. We are enemies no longer. We have buried the past. We have -forgotten that we were enemies. We will not throw away the white chief's -words. We will not hide them in the grass. I have planted a strong stake -in the ground. I have tied myself with a strong rope. I will not dig up -the stake. I will not break the rope. My heart is the heart of my people. -I am their words. I am not speaking for myself. I speak their hearts. My -heart comes up to my mouth. I cannot keep it down with a sharp stick. I am -done." - -No doubt that, at the time of making this speech, Captain Jack really -meant all he said; and if he failed to make good his promises, there were -reasons that may not entitle him or his people to censure for the failure. -Certainly no peace-making could have been more sincere, or promised more -for the settlement of the Modoc troubles. The remainder of the day was -passed in exchanging friendships (ma-mak-sti-nas). Preparations were -completed for issuing annuity goods to the Modocs. - -Other Indians had been previously served, but this was but the second time -that the Modocs had ever received goods from the Government, in conformity -with the treaty stipulations of 1864. For five years the goods had been -regularly furnished and distributed to the Klamaths and the few Modocs who -remained faithful to the compact. If Captain Jack's band had not received -goods, it was not the fault of the Government or its agents, but because -they wilfully refused to obey the orders of Government officers, by -remaining away from the home they had accepted. - -The goods provided were of the best quality, delivered on contract, and -with packages unbroken, and in presence of Capt. Goodale, U. S. Army, then -in command of Fort Klamath; and they were distributed among his people. -Captain Jack and his head men were seated in the midst of a semi-circle, -with the other men on each side, the women in front, in half-circular -rows; the children still in front of these, on either hand. When all were -seated, the packages were broken, and the goods prepared for issue. -Captain Jack and his sub-chiefs received two pairs of blankets each, one -pair to each of his head men, and one blanket to every other man, woman, -and child, except _six very small children, who were given one-half a -blanket each_. They were all-wool, "eight-pound" Oregon blankets, and -overweighed, by actual test, nearly one-half pound per pair. In addition, -each man received a woollen shirt and cloth for one pair of pants; each -woman and child, one flannel dress pattern, with liberal supply of thread, -needles, and buttons. I have been thus particular about the facts -concerning this issue, because much sympathy has been manifested for the -Modocs on account of the wrongs said to have been practised against them. -After the distribution, the Modocs, proud of their new goods, retired to -their camps, on the shores of the lake. - -The "Peace Tree," under which the issue was made, was on a sloping -hill-side, overlooking the valley, and commanding a view of the camp of -Captain Jack. Let us see them, as they trudge homeward, with their rich -prizes. They do not go like the Indians with their blankets around them, -and feathers streaming in the wind. Since their retreat from the -Reservation they have associated with and learned many of the manners and -customs of civilized white people. Nevertheless they presented a -picturesque appearance,--old and young, loaded down with goods, flour and -beef, apparently happy; and I doubt not they were happy. - -Their camps, scattered promiscuously along the edge of the water, were -constructed of various materials. A few were ordinary tents, others made -over a frame of willow poles, covered with matting, blankets, wagon -sheets, and such other material as could be pressed into service. The -ponies are scattered over the plain, cropping the winter grass, or tied up -waiting for the owner's return. - -The inside of the camps are always "cluttered,"--a Yankee word, which -means in confusion and disorder. The women proceed to stow away the new -dresses in baskets and sacks, or spread them for bedding; the men to smoke -and wait until the feast is made ready from the supplies of flour and beef -provided. They have been cheated out of what some eastern people would -consider the best part of the beef,--the "head and pluck." That delectable -part of the animal had been captured by the waiting Klamath squaws at the -time of the slaughtering. Squaws have the smelling qualities of a war -horse, "that scents the battle from afar." At every slaughter they were -sure to arrive in time to secure the aforesaid "head and pluck," which, -with them, means everything except dressed meat. Even the feet are eaten. -First throwing them on the fire and burning them awhile, they then cut off -the scorched parts to eat. The foot is again conveyed to the fire, until -fairly charred; again stripped, and so on, until but little is left, and -that little does not resemble an ox's foot very much. - -The head is cooked in better shape. A hole is dug in the ground, in which -a fire is made, and, when burned down, the embers are removed, and the -head of the old Government ox is dropped in just as it left the butcher's -hands. Hair, horns, and all are covered up with ashes and coals, a fire -made over it and left to cook. After a few hours it is removed, and is -then ready to serve up; or rather it (the head) is placed upon the ground, -and the hungry Indians, each armed with a knife, surround it and proceed -to carve and eat. Portions that may be too raw are then thrown on the -coals and charred; even the bones are eaten. Among the old and poor -people, they carefully preserve their respective ox's feet, and, when in -want, throw them on the coals, and the meal is prepared in short order. - -Uncivilized Indians have no regular hour for meals, but generally each one -consults convenience, seldom eating together except on feast occasions. -Neither have they regular hours for sleeping or rising, each member of a -family or tribe consulting their own pleasure. - -While we watch the novel scenes of Indians "getting wood," water, cooking, -and eating, we see the enterprising young Klamaths--now released from the -order forbidding their hurrying down to the Modoc camps--hasten there, -some to renew old acquaintance, others to tell in soft tones to the -listening ears of Modoc maidens the tale that burdened their hearts, and -to negotiate for new wives; or it may be, through the mediation of a -"deck" of greasy cards, to persuade the Modocs to divide goods with them. - -These Klamath boys had received their new clothes a few days previous, and -had soiled them enough to make them comport well with Indian toilets. -While we are engaged making observations, cast the eye westward over the -valley of the Klamath, and see the huge shadows approach like great moving -clouds, until suddenly they start up the sloping hill-side towards us. -Look closely now at the sun resting a moment on the summit of Mount -McGlaughlin. See it settle slowly, as though splitting the crown of the -mountain in twain, until, while you gaze, he drops quickly out of sight. -Little children say he has burned a hole in the mountain, and buried -himself there. But, oh, the shadows have crept over us, and we feel the -chill which ensues. Look above and behind us, and see them climb the rocky -crags until we are all "in the shadow." - -We now see our teamster boys piling high the pitch-pine logs, and soon the -crackling flames begin to paint fresh shadows round us. The dark forms of -long-haired men gather in circles round the fire; for we are to have a -"cultus wa-wa," (a big free talk). White men and Indians change their base -as smoke or flame compels, and all, in half gloomy silence, wait the -signal to begin. A white man speaks first of his people, their laws, -religion, and habits; tells how law is made; how the white man found his -religion; the history of the Bible; extols his own faith, and labors to -reconcile in untutored minds the difference betwixt good and bad, right -and wrong, and by simple lessons to instil the great precepts of -Christianity. - -The red man listens with sober face and thoughtful brow. When opportunity -is made, he puts queries about many things they do not know. This is not -an official council, so all feel free to speak. An old Indian, with his -superstitious habits and ideas clinging to him, like a worn-out blanket in -tatters, clutching the old with one hand, and with the other reaching out -for the new, rises, and with great dignity tells of the religious faith of -his fathers, and makes apology for their ignorance and his own; says, "I -have long heard of this religion of the white man. I have heard about the -'Holy Spirit' coming to him. I wonder if it would ever come to my people. -I am old, I cannot live long. May be it has come now. I feel like a new -kind of fire was in my heart. May be you have brought this 'Holy Spirit.' - -"I think you have. When you came here first we were all in bad blood. Now -I see Klamaths, Modocs, Snakes, and Ya-hoo-skins, all around me like -brothers. No common man could do this. May be _you are a holy spirit_. -When I was a young man I saw a white man on his knee telling the 'Holy -Spirit' to come. May be the Great Spirit sent you with it." - -This old man, whose name was Link-river Joe, had attended a meeting held -by Rev. A. F. Waller, at the Dallas Methodist Mission, twenty years -before, and had still retained some of the impressions made at that time. - -Old man Chi-lo-quin said he had often heard that the white man could tell -when the sun would turn black a long time before it happened,--referring -to the eclipse,--and inquired how the white man knew so much. This was -explained until the old fellow said he thought he knew how it was; but I -doubt it. Thus the last night of 1869 wore away with questions and -answers. Finally we mentioned that "to-morrow will be the New Year." The -question was asked, how we knew it was so. Never have I seen an audience -of five or six hundred persons so eager for information. We proposed to -explain, and, holding up a watch, said to them, that when all the "little -sticks" on its face were in a row together, the old year would die in the -west, and another would be born in the east. The watch was passed around -while the explanation was being made. Allen David requested that, since -all could not see the watch, we should fire a pistol at the exact moment. -After assurance that it would cause no alarm, we held the pistol upward -above our heads, and announced,--"five minutes more and 1869 will be -dead,--four minutes now,--now but three." The stillness was almost -painful,--"Two minutes more, now but one,"--and five or six hundred red -men were holding breath to catch the signal,--all eyes watching the finger -that was to announce, by a motion, the event; the three hands on the face -of the watch were in range,--the finger crooked,--a blaze of light flashed -over the dusky faces, and a report went reverberating up the rocky canyons, -and before it died away, six hundred voices joined in an almost unearthly -farewell to "1869," and, quickly facing to the east, another wild shout of -welcome to "1870." - -The crowd slowly dispersed, leaving one white man and an interpreter -sitting by the smouldering fire, talking over the wonders of the white -man's knowledge and power, accompanied by old Chief Schon-chin, Captain -Jack, Allen David, and O-che-o. Thus was begun the year 1870. I was -surrounded then with elements of power for mischief that were only waiting -for the time when accident or mismanagement would impel one of these -chieftains--Captain Jack--to open a chapter with his finger dipped in the -heart's blood of one of the noblest of the American army, the lamented -Christian soldier, General Canby, who was then quietly enjoying a respite -from the labors of the rebellion, with the honors of a well-spent life -gathering in a clustering wreath around the great warrior's brow, settling -down so lightly that he scarcely seemed aware that he wore a coronet made -of heroic deeds and manly actions. He was looking hopefully to a future of -rest in the bosom of his family, and consoling himself that life's hardest -battles were over, and that when, in a good old age, the roll-call should -be sounded for him, his friends would answer in salutes of honor over his -grave. - -While we were shedding little rays of light on the darkened minds of our -hearers, a beardless Indian boy, with face almost white, was sporting with -his fellows, or quietly sleeping in his father's lodge, soothed to rest by -the rippling waters of Klamath lake. This boy--Boston Charley--was to send -the messenger of death through the heart of the eminent divine--Dr. -Thomas. That night Dr. Thomas was with his friends, watching on bended -knees before a sacred altar, waiting for the death of 1869 and the birth -of a new year, little dreaming that the crimson current of his life was so -soon to mingle with the blood of the other hero in recording the tragic -event of the year 1873. - -He, too, had fought the good fight of the cross for thirty long years, and -now felt the honors of his church gathering around his gray locks, and was -looking steadily forward to the hour when his Great Commander should call -him to his reward; hoping quietly and peacefully to gather up his feet in -God's own appointed time, and, bearing with him his sheaves, present them -as his credentials to a mansion of eternal rest. While old Chief -Schon-chin, with his long gray hair floating in the winds of the new-born -year, was opening his heart to the influx of light, sitting quietly by -the dying council fire, his brother John was brooding over his broken -hopes of careless life or high ambition, sitting moody and gloomy over his -own camp-fire, or dreaming of a coming hour when he might avenge the -insults offered his race. It may be he was living over the scenes of his -stormy life, while the hand that had that day received from my hands -pledges of friendship and Government faith was in three short years to -fire eleven shots at the heart that beat then in kindliest sympathy with -his race. - -The last hours of the dying year and the first of the new one had I given -from my life for the advancement of a race, whose very helplessness -enhanced the zeal with which I labored for them. I could not draw aside -the veil that hid the future, and see the gleaming eyes of Schon-chin -John, nor his left hand clutching a dagger while his right discharged -repeated shots at my breast. I did not then see my own body prostrate and -bleeding in the rocks of the Lava Bed, or my own beloved family surrounded -with sympathizing friends, eagerly watching the electric sparks speaking -words of hope and despair alternately; but I did see, somewhere in the -future, my hand running over whited page, telling the world of the way I -passed the watch-night of 1869. - - - - - CHAPTER XXI. - - BURYING THE HATCHET--A TURNING-POINT. - - -On the morning of January 1st, 1870, Captain Jack's band of Modoc Indians -was placed in charge of Captain Knapp, under favorable circumstances. -Supplies of beef and flour were secured and issued to them in sufficient -quantities. Indeed, they were better fed than other Indians belonging to -the agency. They had brought with them fish and roots, which, in addition -to rations issued as above referred to, was altogether sufficient; and, -having obtained from Agent Knapp the necessary implements, they began work -in good earnest, by cutting saw logs, making rails, and hewing house logs, -preparing to make a permanent settlement at Modoc Point. The arrangements -had been fully explained to the Klamaths, Wal-pah-pas, Snake Indians and -Modocs, at the peace-making under the great witness tree, and fully agreed -to by all parties. - -It was further agreed and understood, with the consent of the Link-river -Klamath Indians, who partially occupied the land so taken for the Modoc -home, that the Modocs were to share equally with them in the use of the -timber on the side of the mountains nearest to the new settlement. - -The land was designated lying adjacent, and the Modocs were to select the -particular tract that each might desire for a home, with the understanding -that they were to be the owners thereof, and that, when allotments of -land in severalty should be made, by order of the Government, as -stipulated in the treaty of 1864, the selection then made should be -ratified and confirmed to the occupant. With this understanding, Jack and -his people began improvements for a new home, and, I believe, with a full, -settled determination to make it permanent. - -No semi-savages ever went to work more cheerfully than did these people. -Whatever may have been their faults, or what of crime attached to them -since, this fact should be remembered,--that they did then acknowledge the -obligations of the treaty. Mark the succession of events, and you will -have some conception of the motives and reasons why the late unfortunate -Peace Commissioners, with the lamented Gen. Canby, continued its labors, -and protracted its efforts, to secure peace with the Modocs, even when -hope seemed forlorn, and the public press were hurling denunciations -against the "Peace policy," and the Commissioners especially. - -Gen. Canby knew all the circumstances, as did Dr. Thomas and myself, and -with a firm resolve to be just, we maintained silence, recollecting a -memorable saying, "Let them alone; they know not what they do." - -The Modocs worked with a will, and had made several hundred rails, and -hewn logs for houses, when avarice, stimulated by envy, brought about -quarrels between the Link-river Indians and Modocs; the former taunting -the latter, calling them hallo-e-me, tilli-cum (strangers); claiming the -timber, though admitting that they had agreed that the Modocs might cut -it, nevertheless, saying, "It is our timber; you may use it, but it is -ours. You make the rails, but we want some of them." - -Captain Jack's people recalled the understanding on the day of -peace-making. The quarrel grew warm, and Agent Knapp was appealed to, by -Captain Jack, to settle the difficulties. This was one of the -turning-points of a history that is reeking with blood. - -Capt. Knapp was an army officer who had been assigned to duty as Indian -agent. That he was a brave soldier, and had made a good record, is beyond -question. In his official dealings with the Indians he was honest, I doubt -not. He is the only agent that has ever had charge of Captain Jack's band -since the fall of 1864. - -Captain Jack and his friends have published to the world that they were -starved and cheated by Government agents while on Klamath Reservation in -1870. - -I believe the assertion wholly unfounded. Agent Knapp came to the work -having no heart in it; no knowledge of the Indian character; no faith in -them or their manhood; no ambition to elevate them. It is not to be -wondered at that he took but little pains with them beyond seeing that -rations were issued,--which I believe was done _promptly_. - -The position was unsought and undesirable, and one he wished to vacate. -Had Capt. Knapp been every way qualified for this duty; had his experience -given him knowledge of Indian character; had he sought the position, or -been selected for it on account of his fitness for this kind of labor, and -had his heart been in it; had he been fired with an ambition to do good, -by elevating a poor, unfortunate race,--he would have exercised more -patience when appealed to by Captain Jack in February, 1870, for redress; -he would have prevented all these bloody chapters in Indian history. - -Had Agent Knapp promptly interfered, tempering his action with justice, by -punishing Link-river Jack for annoying the Modocs, then the Modoc -rebellion would have been prevented. - -When Captain Jack appealed to Agent Knapp, the latter refused to admit -Jack within his office, heard his complaints impatiently, and sent him -away with orders to "go on with his work;" "that he would make it all -right." - -Jack returned to his home, and, naturally enough, the quarrel was renewed. -The Link-river Klamaths, having received neither reprimand nor punishment, -were emboldened, and became more overbearing than before. - -Captain Jack again applied for protection from further insult, and this -time Agent Knapp proposed to change the location of the Modocs to a point -on Williamson river, a few miles distant, and nearer the agency. - -For the sake of peace, and in obedience to orders, the Modocs changed -camp, and again began preparation for making homes. - -This brought Klamaths and Modocs in contact, and after Jack had made a few -hundred rails, and prepared a few hewn logs for houses, the Klamaths -rehearsed the Link-river speeches to them,--taunting them with being poor, -and claiming the country, though patronizingly saying, "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 by -the Modocs of the treaty and subsequent peace-making, the Klamaths -replied: "Yes, we know all that." "You can have timber, grass, and fish; -but don't forget they are ours." "We will let you stay." "It is all -right." Captain Jack went a _third_ time to Agent Knapp, who proposed to -_move them_ again, remarking that "next time he would _stay moved_," he -proposing to Jack to find a new location. - -Jack went to search for one; but whether he could not find a location, or -whether the constant annoyance on account of quarrels and removals had -killed his faith both in agents and Indian friendship, makes no -difference. He returned to his camp on Williamson river, called his people -together, and laid the whole matter before them. - -I have a report of that meeting by "Charley," a brother of Toby -Riddle,--an Indian who commands the respect of all who know him -personally. Although this report was made several months afterwards, I -believe it to be in the main correct. The substance was, that after all -were assembled, including the women and children and Link-river people, -Captain Jack stated the case, mentioning the several points as already -recited, and saying that he had looked at all the country, but did not -find any that he liked as well as Modoc Point, and that he had made up his -mind to leave the Reservation unless he could have that place for a house. - -Blo, a sub-chief of the Klamaths, said, "Tell Knapp so." Jack replied that -he _had talked_ to Knapp already three times; and that Knapp had _no -heart_ for him; and that he was afraid he was a bad man; that "he would -not keep the superintendent's words;" "that he intended to leave the -Reservation," and asked, "Who will go with me? Who wants to stay with a -man who has no heart for us?" - -Then ensued a protracted discussion, Charley Riddle and Duffy insisting on -remaining. The discussion was a stormy one, and continued until a late -hour; but in all the speeches no charge of starving or cheating was made. - -Finally the question went to a vote, and the proposition to leave was -carried by a large majority. It may be here remarked that neither of the -Schonchins was present, Schonchin John being at that time loyal, and -opposed to the rebellion; and that is about the only thing that can be -mentioned in his favor, except that he was a _poor shot_, as _I can -testify_. - -As soon as the vote was put and result known, active preparation was made -for departure; in fact, the result had been anticipated, for the horses -were all ready, the goods packed, and daylight next morning found Jack and -his people retracing the road they had gone over so hopefully eleven weeks -before. - -I will not spend time speculating on what were the thoughts and feelings -of that unfortunate band of people, while fleeing stealthily from their -new homes, but will simply say, that the little cavalcade carried with -them elements that have developed into hatred and revenge, which has since -shocked the moral sense of mankind by bloody deeds of savage warfare that -stand out on the country's history without a parallel. - -Returning to the old home on Lost river, and feeling that he was not under -obligations to obey law any longer, Captain Jack seems to have begun where -he left off; his young men and women visiting Y-re-ka and the mining -camps adjacent. - -A few weeks later Jack went to Y-re-ka himself, meeting his old friends, -who gave him welcome. The Modoc trade may have had something to do with -the success of more than one merchant in Y-re-ka. The presence of the -Modocs was hailed with pleasure, no doubt, by another class whose social -status in society was little better than the Modocs themselves. To these -people the Modocs told falsehoods about reservation life, and received in -return sympathy for their reputed wrongs, and encouragement in repeating -the falsehoods. In this way the belief that they were misused by -Government officials has obtained; an unjust censure has been publicly -aimed against worthy men. What more natural than the fact that the -dissolute portion of the Y-re-ka people should espouse the Modoc cause, -and that the better part of society should form their opinions from -stories circulated by friends of Modoc women? - -Mankind are prone to be swayed in the direction of self-interest, and, -when encouraged, any poor mortal may tell a falsehood so often that he -really believes it to be true. That Jack, too, confirmed such reports is -true, because in the sympathy he found were mingled words of -justification. Indeed, a plain, truthful statement of the facts, as they -were, was enough to insure him sympathetic advisers. - -It is true, then, when Captain Jack returned to Lost river, he was -strengthened and confirmed in his ideas of justification, and his -determination to remain off the Reservation. - -Nothing of grave import transpired until the spring of 1871, although -efforts were made in the mean time by the Indian Department, and by old -chief Schonchin, to induce Captain Jack to return. - -A home at Yai-nax was proposed, and in order that no reasonable excuse on -the part of Captain Jack could be found on account of Klamath Indians, and -to remove every obstacle, the Reservation was divided into distinct -agencies; the western portion being assigned to "Klamath" Indians, and the -eastern portion to "Snakes," "Walpahpas," and "Modocs." A district of -country was set apart exclusively for the latter. To this new home old -Schonchin removed with his people; and a portion of Captain Jack's band, -meanwhile, also, taking up homes. Commissary Applegate, at one time, was -hopeful that the whole Modoc tribe could be induced to come to the new -home at Yai-nax. Captain Jack visited it, and talked seriously of settling -on this location; but while he was hesitating as to what he should do, an -unfortunate tragedy was enacted, so natural to a savage state, which -completely changed the current of events. - -Captain Jack employed an Indian doctor to attend a sick child, and paid -the fees in advance,--which, be it understood, secured from the doctor a -guaranty; and in case of failure to cure, the life of the Indian doctor -was in the hands of the friends of the deceased. The child died, and -Captain Jack either killed the doctor, or ordered him to be killed. - -Under the old Indian laws this would have been an end of the affair; but -under the new order of things it was a crime. The friends of the murdered -man claimed that Captain Jack should be arrested and punished under white -men's laws for the offence. - -An unsuccessful attempt was made to arrest him. The country was in a state -of alarm; it was evident that war would be the result. - -Knowing all the facts in the case, I determined to make one more effort to -prevent bloodshed. Capt. Knapp had been relieved by an order of the Army -Department, and I was instructed by the Indian Department to place a man -in charge. Accordingly, John Meacham was sent by me to take Capt. Knapp's -place. About this time I received a letter from Hon. Jesse Applegate, in -regard to Modoc matters. His long experience as a frontier man gave his -opinion weight. He represented the Modocs with whom he had met, as willing -to meet me in council for the purpose of settling the difficulties then -existing. He further suggested, that the only sure way for permanent peace -was to give them a small Reservation at the mouth of Lost river,--the old -home of Captain Jack. He, being a practical surveyor, furnished my office -with a small map of the proposed Reservation. - -Realizing how much depended then on conciliatory measures, and having -confidence in Jesse Applegate's judgment, I forwarded his letter to Gen. -Canby, commander of the Department of the Columbia, with a request that -military action be delayed until another effort could be made to settle -the difficulties then existing between Captain Jack's band of Modocs and -the Reservation Indians. - -Gen. Canby issued the orders desired, and the command to make the arrest -was revoked. - -The following letter of Instruction to Commissary Meacham will explain the -situation. I associated with him on this mission, Ivan D. Applegate, who -was then in charge of Yai-nax station, Klamath Reservation. I also -requested Hon. Jesse Applegate to go with them. He did not find it -convenient, however, and the Commissioners named proceeded under the -following letter of instruction, Ivan Applegate being notified of his -appointment from my office in Salem. - - OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT INDIAN AFFAIRS, - SALEM, OREGON, August 2, 1871. - - JOHN MEACHAM, _Commissary, Klamath Agency_:-- - - I wish you to proceed at once to the Modoc country, and make one - more effort for peace. I am induced to make this request on - reading a long and intelligent letter from Hon. Jesse. - Applegate, who has had a talk with Captain Jack and Black Jim. - - It appears that they are anxious to see me, and that they are - willing to talk this matter over, and if possible avoid - bloodshed. It is impossible for me to go at present, on account - of "Umatilla Council." - - You can say to them that you represent _me_,--my _heart_, my - _wishes_, my _words_; and that I have authorized you to talk for - me. - - You are familiar with all the facts in the case, and do not need - especial instructions, except on one or two points: First, that - I will try to get a small reserve for them in their country; but - it will require some time to bring it about, and until such time - I desire them to go on to any unoccupied lands on Klamath - Reservation; that I will lay the whole matter before the - department at Washington, and put it through, if possible; that - you will protect them from insult or imposition from either - Klamaths, Snakes, or whites, until such time as the authorities - shall order otherwise. - - I mean by this that Captain Jack and men shall be free from - arrest until I am ordered to investigate the affair, and that he - shall, if ever arrested, have the benefit of trial by his peers - or white men, under civil law; on the condition, however, that - he and his people return to Klamath, and remain there, subject - to the authority of the Indian Department; that, if ordered to - trial, he will surrender himself and accomplices. - - You can say to him that, in the event I succeed in getting a - home for them on Lost river, they will be allowed their - proportion of the Klamath and Modoc treaty funds, with the - privilege of the mill at Klamath Agency to make lumber, etc.; - that, if I fail in this, they may elect to go into the Snake - country beyond Camp Warner, on the new Reservation to be laid - out there this fall. - - You can say further that, while I do not approve of their - conduct, I am not unmindful of their bad treatment by Captain - Knapp and the Klamaths, and that I do not wish to have them - destroyed; but, if they refuse to accept these terms, they will - be under military control and subject to military laws and - commands. - - You will confer with I. D. Applegate, and also with the - commander at Fort Klamath. I will request General Canby to delay - any order now out for the arrest of Jack until you have made - this effort to prevent war. - - I have requested I. D. Applegate to accompany you, and advise - with you, but this you will understand,--that _you_ are charged - with the mission. I think going as my _brother_ may give you - more influence. - - The Modocs can appreciate that, inasmuch as the Superintendent - could not come, he sent his _brother_. - - I have confidence in your coolness and sense of justice, and, - with I. D. Applegate as counsellor, I hope you may bring this - unhappy trouble (so heavy laden with death to many persons) to a - peaceful solution. - - Do not take more than two or three persons with you, and, - whatever the result of "the talk," you will be _faithful_ and - _true_ to _yourself_ and the _Indians_. Mr. Jesse Applegate is - somewhere out in that country. He is a _safe adviser_. I have no - doubt he will assist you in this hazardous undertaking. You will - report the result of this visit to this office promptly. - - In the event that the military commander at Fort Klamath may - have already gone after Jack and opened hostilities, I do not - wish you to take any desperate chances. - - This matter I leave to the circumstances that may exist on - receipt of this letter. I see clearly, from Jesse Applegate's - letter, that hostilities are imminent, and that many good men - may lose life and property unless the threatened hostilities are - prevented. - - I have never seen the time when we could have done otherwise - than as we have; but I fully realize that we may be held - responsible by the citizens of that country, who do not - understand the power and duties of the Indian Department. - - Go on this mission realizing that you carry in your hand the - lives and happiness of many persons, and the salvation of a - tribe of people who have been much wronged, and seldom, if ever, - understood. - - Very respectfully, - Your obedient servant, - A. B. MEACHAM, - _Supt. Ind. Affairs_. - -Under the foregoing letter of instructions the commissioners appointed -went into the Modoc country, having previously arranged, through Indian -messengers, to meet Captain Jack and five or six of his men. No agreement -was made in reference to arms, each party following the dictates of common -sense,--by being ready for _peace_, but prepared for _war_. The -commissioners took with them two persons, making up a party of four -well-armed men. It is humane and Christian to carry always the -olive-branch of peace, but it is unwise to depend on its sanctity for -protection when dealing with enraged savages. Well for Commissioner -Meacham and I. D. Applegate that they had forethought enough to go -prepared to defend themselves; for, had they not, the list of killed in -the Modoc war would have read somewhat different from its present roll of -names. There is no doubt that at the time these two young men went out to -meet these people, "Schonchin John," "Hooker Jim," and "Curly-haired -Doctor" were in favor of assassinating them, and were only prevented by -Captain Jack and Scarface Charley. The information comes through Indian -lips, but I believe it to be true. - -I desire the reader to note that this was the second time assassination -was proposed by these people, and each time frustrated by Captain Jack; -and, further, that I was subsequently informed each time of their intended -acts of treachery by Tobey Riddle, through her husband. - -The council was held in a wild, desolate region of country, many miles -from the nearest white settlement. Captain Jack and nearly all his men -were present, and _all armed_. - -It should be understood that at that time, as afterward in the Lava Bed, -the Modocs were suspicious of Captain Jack's firmness in carrying out the -wishes of his people. This feeling was augmented by Schon-chin John, who -was ambitious for the chieftainship, and constantly sought to implant -distrust of Jack's fidelity in the minds of the Modocs. This accounts for -more than the number agreed upon in this, and, in fact, in all subsequent -meetings. Jack, nevertheless, was the acknowledged chief, but not on the -old basis of theory of absolute power; he was only a representative chief. -That he had not absolute control over them was owing to his own act of -teaching them the republican idea of a majority ruling; or it may be that -the band had demanded this concession on his part. - -Nearly all of them had associated with white men, and had thereby acquired -crude ideas of American political economy. - -It was in this case of the Modocs a _curse_, instead of a _blessing_. Had -Jack exercised the old despotic prerogative of Indian chiefs, no war would -have ensued, no great acts of treachery would ever have been committed. He -could and would have buried in the grave, with other wrongs, the "Ben -Wright" affair; and while he would have clamored for liberty, in its -common-sense meaning, he would have held his people in check until such -times as our Government would have recognized his manhood and granted him -the priceless boon of a citizen's privileges. - -Captain Jack came into this council simply as a diplomatic representative -chief, and was not at liberty to do or say more than he was authorized by -the Indians in council. He set forth the grievances of his people,--which -were principally against the Klamath Indians, on account of the treatment -he had received while on the Reservation; and against the Government, for -not protecting him according to my promise made to him in December, -1869,--arguing that, since the Government failed to keep its compact, he -was released from his obligation to obey its laws; further, that the crime -of which he was charged--killing the Indian doctor--was not a crime under -the Indian laws, and that he should not be held amenable to a law that was -not _his law_. He declared that he could not live in peace with the -Klamaths; that his people had made up their minds to try no more, since -they had made two attempts. - -He said he "should not object to the white men settling in his country," -and that he "would keep his people away from the settlements, and would -prevent any trouble between white men and his Indians." - -The commissioners again offered him a home on any part of Klamath -Reservation that was unoccupied. This he positively declined. He was -assured of protection, but he referred to former promises broken. A -proposition was made, for him to prevent his people going into the -settlement until the whole subject could be submitted to the authorities -at Washington, and that a recommendation would be made to grant him a -small home at the mouth of Lost river. A rude map was made, showing the -proposed Reservation. With this he was satisfied, and made promises of -keeping his people away until such time as an answer could be had. - -The proposition was fully explained, and he was made to understand the -uncertainties as to when a decision would be made in this matter; he -agreeing that, if the decision was adverse to granting the new home on -Lost river, his people would go on to Klamath, at Yai-nax. - -With this agreement, well understood, the council closed, and the two -commissioners reported substantially as detailed. They escaped with their -lives because they were prepared to defend them. - -Hostilities were averted for the time being, and would have been for all -time had prudence and justice been exercised by those who held the power -to do this simple act. - -Ignorance of the true state of the case cannot be pleaded; the whole -matter was laid by me before the authorities at Washington, and the -recommendation made in conformity with the promise to the Modocs. - -In my official report for 1871 (see Report Commission Indian Affairs, -pages 305 and 306) I used the following language:-- - -"The Modocs belong by treaty to Klamath Agency, and have been located -thereon; but, owing to the overbearing disposition of the Klamath Indians, -they refuse to remain. - -"Unavailing efforts have been made to induce them to return; but they -persist in occupying their original homes, and, in fact, set up claim -thereto. During the past summer they have been a source of annoyance and -alarm to the white settlers, and at one time hostilities appeared -imminent. - -"The military commander at Fort Klamath made an unsuccessful effort to -arrest a few of the head men. Two commissioners were sent from the Indian -Department, and a temporary arrangement made whereby hostilities were -averted. The Modocs cannot be made to live on Klamath Reservation, on -account of the ancient feuds with the Klamaths. They are willing to locate -permanently on a small reservation of six miles square, lying on both -sides of the Oregon and California line, near the head of the Tule lake. -In equity they are entitled to a portion of the Klamath and Modoc annuity -funds, and need not necessarily be a burden to the Government; but, -according to the ruling of Commissioner Parker, they have forfeited these -rights. I would recommend that they be allowed a small reservation at the -place indicated above, and also a pro-rata division of the Klamath and -Modoc treaty funds for employes and annuities; otherwise they will -doubtless be a source of constant expense to the Government, and great -annoyance to the white settlements near them. Though they may be somewhat -responsible for not complying with the treaty, yet, to those familiar with -Indian superstition, it is not strange or unreasonable that great charity -should be extended to these people." - -Gen. Canby was also informed in regard to the arrangement made by the -commissioners; the order for their arrest was entirely withdrawn. - -Thus matters were in abeyance until the spring of 1872. The Modocs, -however, growing restless and impatient for a decision, began to annoy the -white settlers in the Lost-river country, doing various acts that were not -in harmony with the compact made with the commissioners in August -preceding. The white men, unwilling to endure the insolence of the Modocs, -petitioned for redress. These petitions were addressed to the Indian -Department, and to the Military Department, also to the civil authorities -of the State of Oregon. They recited the acts of which the Modocs were -accused, some of which were, "that they demanded rents for the lands -occupied by white men; claiming pay for the use of the stock ranches; -demanding horses and cattle; visiting the houses of settlers, and, in the -absence of the husbands, ordering the wives to prepare meals for them, -meanwhile throwing themselves on the beds and carpets, and refusing to pay -for the meals when eaten; feeding their horses with the grain of the -settlers, and, in some instances, _borrowing_ horses without asking the -owners." - -To the credit of Captain Jack be it told that _he_ was never charged with -any of these outrageous acts; but he was powerless to prevent his men from -annoying these people who had settled the country at the invitation of the -Government. - -This state of affairs could lead to but _one result_,--blood. The -petitions could not be disregarded. Action must be had, and that without -delay. General Canby was appealed to; having rescinded the order for the -arrest of Captain Jack the previous summer, he was slow to issue another -looking to the same end. He believed, as I did, that any attempt to compel -the Modocs to return to Klamath would endanger the peace of the country. -Captain Jack had failed to keep his part of the late contract, and had -thereby forfeited any claim to further clemency. - - - - - CHAPTER XXII. - - U. S. SENATORS COST BLOOD--FAIR FIGHT--OPEN FIELD. - - -While matters were thus in suspense a change was made in the office of -Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon, T. B. Odeneal, Esq., of -Oregon, succeeding to the Superintendency. He was a lawyer of ability, but -had a limited knowledge of Indian character, and still less of the merits -and demerits of this Modoc question. - -When appealed to he laid the matter before his superior in office at -Washington City, who was also a new incumbent, and had perhaps a slight -knowledge of the Modoc troubles. - -In a letter, dated April 11th, 1872, he instructed Superintendent Odeneal -to remove the Modocs to Klamath Reservation, _or locate them on a new -home_. In reply, Odeneal suggested that, since Klamath was the home set -apart for them in common with other Indians, it was the proper place for -them, and suggested they be removed thereto. In compliance with this -recommendation, he was instructed, in a letter of September 6th, 1872, to -remove the Modocs to the Klamath Reservation; _peaceably_ if you can, -_forcibly_ if you must. - -Meanwhile the Modocs were kept posted by the white men, who sympathized -with them, of the proposed movements. - -Captain Jack and his men sought advice of Judges Roseborough and Steele, -of Y-re-ka. Both these gentlemen advised them not to resist the authority -of the Government, but also promised, as _attorneys_, to assist them in -getting lands, provided they would dissolve tribal relations. I have -sought diligently, as a commissioner, for information on this subject, and -conclude that nothing further was ever promised by either Roseborough or -Steele. The hope thus begotten may have caused the Modocs to treat with -less respect the officers of the Government, and made them more insolent -toward settlers; but nothing of wilful intent can be charged to Steele or -Roseborough. - -It is in evidence that Superintendent Odeneal despatched messengers to the -Modoc camp on Lost river, November 26th, 1872, to order Captain Jack and -his people to go on to the Reservation, with instruction to the messengers -that, in the event of the refusal of the Modocs to comply, to arrange for -them to meet him (Odeneal) at Linkville, twenty-five miles from the Modoc -camp. - -They refused compliance with the order, and also refused to meet -Superintendent Odeneal at Link river, saying substantially "that they did -not want to see him or talk with him; that they did not want any white man -to tell them what to do; that their friends and advisers were in Y-re-ka, -Cal. They tell us to stay here, and we intend to do it, and will not go on -the Reservation (meaning Klamath); that they were tired of talk, and were -done talking." If credit were given to these declarations, it would appear -that some parties at Y-re-ka were culpable. Careful investigation -discloses nothing more than already recited, so far as Roseborough and -Steele were concerned, but would seem to implicate one or two other -parties, both of whom are now deceased; but even then no evidence has been -brought forth declaring more than sympathy for the Modocs, which might -easily be accounted for on the ground of personal interest, dictating -friendship toward them as the best safeguard for life and property; but -nothing that could be construed as advising resistance to legal authority; -and their statement in regard to advisers in Y-re-ka should not be -entitled to more credit than Captain Jack's subsequent assertion that "no -white man had ever advised him to stay off the Reservation." This latter -declaration was made during the late trials at Klamath by the "military -commission," at a time when the first proposition made to Superintendent -Odeneal's messengers in regard to Y-re-ka advices would have secured the -Modocs then on trial some consideration. - -The only thing said or done by any parties in Y-re-ka that has come well -authenticated, that could have had any influence with the Modocs in their -replies to Odeneal's message, is the proposition above referred to as -coming from Roseborough and Steele, to assist them as _attorneys_ to -secure homes _when_ they should have abandoned tribal relations, paid -taxes, and made application to become citizens. The high character both -these gentlemen possess for loyalty to the Government, and for integrity, -would preclude the idea that any wrong was intended. - -On receiving Captain Jack's insolent reply to his message, Superintendent -Odeneal made application to the military commander at Fort Klamath for a -force to "compel said Indians (Modocs) to go upon the Klamath -Reservation;" reciting the following words from the honorable Commissioner -of Indian Affairs: "You are hereby directed to remove the Modoc Indians to -Klamath Reservation; _peaceably_ if you possibly can, but _forcibly_ if -you must," and saying: "I transfer the whole matter to your department -without assuming to dictate the course you shall pursue in executing the -order aforesaid; trusting, however, that you may accomplish the object -desired without the shedding of blood, if possible to avoid it." - -He received the following reply:-- - - HEAD-QUARTERS, FORT KLAMATH, November 28th, 1872. - - SIR:--In compliance with your written request of yesterday, I - will state that Captain Jackson will leave this post about noon - to-day, with about thirty men; will be at Link river to-night, - and I hope before morning at Captain Jack's camp. - - I am, sir, very respectfully, - Your obedient servant, - JOHN GREEN, - _Major First Cavalry Commanding Post_. - - MR. T. B. ODENEAL, _Superintendent Indian Affairs_. - -These movements were intended to be made without the knowledge of the -Modocs. Superintendent Odeneal sent messengers to warn the settlers of the -proposed _forcible experiment_. Complaint has justly been made that there -were several parties unwarned. - -The Modocs had one especial friend in whom they relied for advice and -warning. This man's name was Miller. - -They called on him the day previous to Major Jackson's appearance at the -Modoc camp, and he, being ignorant of the movement told them, that "no -soldiers were coming." Some twelve settlers were unwarned, who lost their -lives thereby. - -Neglect on the part of those having the management of this matter resulted -in much blood. - -When Major Jackson was en route to the Modoc camp, some twenty-five white -men from Linkville and the surrounding country assembled and proposed to -accompany the expedition. - -It has been said that they went for the purpose of "seeing Major Jackson -and his thirty-five men get licked." At all events they were armed with -Henry rifles and revolvers. - -Frontier men are fond of sport, and the more it is embellished with danger -the more captivating it is to _them_. I do not say this with disrespect to -frontier men, but simply state a fact that is not generally understood. - -While it is true that they _play_ with dangerous weapons as carelessly as -a city dandy does with a switch cane or ivory opera-glass, they are, -nevertheless, as a class, true, honest, enterprising, great brave-hearted -men, who would scorn to do a mean thing. - -They have among them men who are irresponsible vagabonds, reckless fellows -who are driven from the cities and towns on account of their crimes. These -latter characters beget strife among the people, and when truth comes to -the front and speaks out, it declares that they are the _sole_ cause of -any difficulty between good white men and Indians. They are the first to -volunteer on occasions like this. As a class they are brave, fearless, -desperate, having little regard for human life, caring not how much bad -blood they evoke. But the idea that seems to prevail with eastern people, -that all frontier men are rough, bad men, is outrageously false in the -premises. Better men, braver men, more honorable, more enterprising men -cannot be found on this continent than thousands who ride on the swelling -breakers of advancing emigration. A moment's consultation with _justice_ -and _right_ would compel the law-makers, book-writers and newspaper -reporters, instead of constant, sweeping insinuations against frontier -men, to say encouraging words in their behalf, and to offer them every -facility to successfully plant the foundations of prosperous society on -the verges of American civilization. Honor to whom honor is due. - -The party of citizens who went down Lost river on the morning of the 27th -of November, 1872, were, _with one or two exceptions_, good, responsible -settlers. Their motives were honorable, their intentions were good; and if -serious results came out of the fact of their presence it was not because -they as a party were "bloodthirsty desperadoes." - -They went on the opposite side of the river, and took a commanding -position on a bluff overlooking the Modoc camp; which was located on the -very spot where my party met Captain Jack in 1869. - -The Modoc camp was divided by the river, Captain Jack, and fourteen men -with their families, occupying the west bank, where the plain slopes -gradually down to the water's edge; the background being covered with a -growth of sage brush. - -With Captain Jack was "_Schonchin John_," so named from being a younger -brother of the "Old chief Schonges;" "_Scar-face Charley_," so named on -account of a scar on his face; "_Black Jim_," so named on account of his -dark color; "_One-eyed Mose_," so called on account of defect in one eye; -"_Watchman_," who was killed in the first battle; "_Humpty Joe_," "_Big -Ike_," "_Old Tails_," "_Old Tails' boy_," "_Old Long-face_," and four -others. - -On the east side of the river was the "_Curly-haired Doctor_;" "_Boston -Charley_," named on account of his light color; "_Hooker Jim_" had lived -with old man Hooker; "_Slolax_," and ten others, with their families. - -Major Jackson, with his force, arrived at Jack's camp at about daybreak on -the morning of the 30th November, 1872. At the same time the citizen party -arrived opposite and near the camp of the Curly-haired Doctor. - -The Modocs were taken by surprise,--although they had reason to expect the -soldiers would come within a few days. - -They have since asserted that Odeneal's messengers had agreed to come -again before bringing soldiers; and, if possible, bring Supt. Odeneal with -them. - -It was a mistake that he did not go in person,--either with the messengers -in the first instance or after their return to Linkville. - -He might not have accomplished any good, but he would have prevented -severe criticism, and much blame that was laid at his door; inasmuch as -Jack subsequently asserted "that he would not have resisted, had Odeneal -come himself to him and made everything plain." Again, they had relied on -Miller for warning; hence his death. - -When Maj. Jackson arrived at the camp, and while he was placing his men in -position, an Indian, who was out hunting, made the discovery of Jackson's -presence, and either accidentally, or purposely, discharged his gun. This -called the Indians to their feet, and they instantly grasped their arms on -seeing themselves so nearly surrounded by soldiers. - -Maj. Jackson quietly commanded the Modocs to lay down their arms. Captain -Jack complied, and told his men to obey the order of Maj. Jackson. - -A parley ensued of half an hour, Captain Jack pleading for Jackson to -withdraw his men, while the major was explaining his order, and assuring -the Modocs that ample preparation had been made for them at Yai-nax. The -whole affair seemed to be settled satisfactorily, and I. D. Applegate, who -was with Maj. Jackson, went down to the banks of the river and told -_One-armed Brown_, the regular messenger of the Indian Department, who was -with the citizen party on the east side, that "everything was settled." -Brown mounted his horse, and started to make known the good news to Supt. -Odeneal, who was awaiting the result at Linkville. - -All the Modocs on the west side of the river had laid down their arms, -except Scar-face Charley, who was swearing and making threats. Maj. -Jackson commanded him, "Put down your gun." Scar-face refused; the major -ordered Lieut. Boutelle to disarm him,--who, on advancing to execute the -order, repeated it in emphatic words, not in harmony with savage notions -of decorum and decency. "Scarface" was enraged at the vile epithets -applied to him, and perhaps remembered just then that he had once seen, -from a chapparel thicket, a sight that had haunted him from his childhood, -namely, nothing less than armed white men chasing _his father_ with a -_lasso_ and catching him. He saw them hang him without a trial, or even -any proof that he was guilty of any crime. At all events, he drew his -pistol, and, saying that he "would kill one white man," discharged it at -the advancing officer; but so nearly simultaneous with Boutelle's pistol, -that even the latter does not know who fired first. This was the opening -gun of the Modoc war; the beginning of what ended on the gallows on the -third of November, 1873. - -Without stopping now to call up the intervening pictures, let us see how -the battle went. Very soon the entire force of soldiers was firing into -the Indian camps, and the fourteen Indian men were fighting back with -muzzle-loading rifles. - -The battle lasted three hours; the Indians, having taken cover of the sage -brush, finally withdrew, carrying with them the watchman who was killed, -and escaping with all their women and children. - -Maj. Jackson lost ten killed and five wounded; and on the reappearance of -the Indians, a few hours later, drew off his forces, leaving the Modocs in -possession of the battle-field. - -While all this was enacting on the west bank of Lost river, let us see how -the boys who went down to "take a look" got along as spectators. Mr. -Brown, hearing the report of arms, returned just in time to take an -active part in a performance that was not in the programme of fun as laid -out in the early morning. - -The citizens and Modocs on the east side could not stand the -pressure,--looking on and seeing a fair fight, within a couple of hundred -yards, without taking a part. The Modocs caught up their guns and rushed -down to the river, intending to reinforce Captain Jack. The citizens -sought to prevent them getting into their canoes; and, _somehow_, they -became very much interested in matters nearer home than Maj. Jackson's -fight. - -Who began the battle on the east side is a question of doubt,--both -parties denying it; but a lively fight was the result, and the citizens -drew off, leaving _three_ or _four dead friends_ on the ground -and--and--_one dead squaw_, with an infant corpse in her arms. - -It is not in evidence who was victor, but there is the record. The major -dispatched a messenger for reinforcements, who run the gauntlet of Indian -bullets, and barely escaped. - -From Indian lips I learn that in the first battle of which I have spoken, -Captain Jack did not fire a shot himself, though he directed the fight. - -On the occasion of the messenger being sent off by Maj. Jackson, Captain -Jack, who was secreted in the sage brush, ran after him and fired one or -two shots. - -Let us look now to the Modocs with Captain Jack. They did not go on the -warpath, but hastened to gather up their women and horses, and retired to -the Lava Bed. - -Scarface Charley remained behind, for a purpose that can scarcely be -credited. Those who doubt any real genuine manhood among Indians may -wonder when I declare that he remained to warn white men of the danger -threatening them. In two instances he saw white men, who were his personal -friends, going, as he knew, into certain death. In both instances he laid -hold of the bridle-reins of the riders' horses and turned them around, -and, pointing to the road whence they came, bade them "ride for life." - -They lost no time in heeding the warning given, and also in notifying the -settlers en route of the existence of open hostilities. - -By this means John A. Fairchild was notified of the dangers that -surrounded him and his family. - -Mr. Fairchild's name has become intimately connected with the Modoc war; -indeed, he played some of the thrilling parts of this tragic drama. He is -a man of forty years of age, a native of Mississippi; went West when a -boy, and engaged in mining. In the course of time he became a large -stock-raiser, and went, ten years ago, with his herds of cattle and -horses, into the Modoc country. - -_He_ soon learned a lesson that our Government has _not_, viz., that it is -cheaper to _feed_ Indians than to _fight_ them. Soon after his arrival he -arranged a treaty with the Modocs, paying them a small compensation for -the use of the country for stock uses. During the time, he has made the -personal acquaintance of nearly every Indian of Captain Jack's band. - -His home is situated on Hot Creek, near its rise at the foot of the -mountains that divide the Modoc from the Shasta country. - -It will be remembered that the head-quarters of the Peace Commission was -at Fairchild's ranch during the first days of its organization. This was -also the original home of a part of Jack's band. - -At the beginning of the late Modoc war some fourteen warriors and their -families were living near Mr. Fairchild's house; by his management of them -they were prevented from joining Captain Jack for several days. He, -together with Mr. Press Dorris, who lives near him, and is also a -stock-raiser, called together these fourteen men, including "Bogus -Charley" (who gets his name from his birthplace on Bogus creek), -"Shacknasty Jim" (so named from his mother), "Steamboat Frank" (so called -in honor of his squaw, whose name was Steamboat, because of her great size -and her habit of puffing and blowing like the aforesaid vessel), Ellen's -man George, and ten others,--who all distinguished themselves in the -war,--and started with them and their families to Klamath Reservation. -They notified Agent Dyer, of Klamath, of their coming, and requested him -to meet them and take charge of the Indians. - -Dyer responded, and, hastening to meet them on Klamath river, passed -through Linkville en route. While there he heard intimations of the danger -of passing through the town with the above-named Modocs. - -The news of the battle had reached Linkville, and the people were aroused -to madness at the sight of the mangled bodies of the soldiers and citizens -that had been brought in. It is not strange that such sights should call -out a demand for vengeance; that the citizens, feeling outraged, should -make threats. - -It is certain that a party left Linkville before Agent Dyer arrived, and -went in the direction of Bob Whittle's, where Fairchild and Dorris were -guarding the Hot Creek Modocs, now so anxious to reach the Reservation -that they might escape any kind of entanglement with the rebels. - -The party found Fairchild and Dorris fully prepared to protect those under -their charge, and no attack was made, whatever may have been the first -intention. On Mr. Dyer's arrival at this time, he stated his fears to -Fairchild and Dorris, which the Indians overhearing, _stampeded_, and went -directly to the Lava Beds, thus adding fourteen warriors to Captain Jack's -forces. All of them were brave men, and bad men, too, as the sequel will -show. The fright they had received at Bob Whittle's appears to have made -them even more anxious for war than those who had been engaged in the -Lost-river battle, on the 30th of November, 1872. - -Indian proof is abundant that Captain Jack, in anticipation of the coming -of the soldiers, had advised his men to surrender rather than fight; but, -even if forced to resist, in no event to attack citizens, saying, "If we -must, we will fight soldiers, not white men," meaning citizens. - -It is a fact that, so far as he was concerned, he sought to avoid -conflict. The Curly-haired Doctor was eager for blood--or, at all events, -he was rebellious, and constantly advised resistance to the authority of -the Government. - -His interference in the council of December, 1869, referred to in a former -chapter, and his sanction to the proposition to murder our party at that -time, and the subsequent proposal to assassinate the Commissioners sent -out in August, 1871, to arrange matters with them, all stand against him -previous to the opening of the war. - -But to return to the battle of Lost river. After a sharp fight, the -citizens having withdrawn to Dennis Crawley's house, the Modoc braves -assembled, and, through the advice of Hooker Jim, the Curly-haired Doctor, -with Steamboat Frank and three or four others, started on a mission of -vengeance. - -The acts of savage butchery committed by them are well known to the -world,--how they went to Mr. Boddy's house with their garments covered -with the life-blood of their victims, and, taunting the women, boasted of -their heroism, saying, "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 -hurt you." - -Thus from house to house they went, after killing the husbands and -fathers, until they had slaughtered thirteen persons,--Brotherton, -Schiere, Miller, and others, including one small boy, who resisted them. - -The reign of terror was complete. Who shall ever find words to describe -the horror of the night following this treacherous butchery? The women -left their homes to hunt for their murdered friends. In one instance, the -presence of a team without a driver gave the awful tidings. - -Leaving their dead, through the long dark night that followed, they made -their way through the trackless sage-brush plains to the nearest -settlement. With these people the Modocs had been on friendly terms, and -had never had any misunderstandings with the Indians. On the contrary, -they had shown by many acts of kindness their _good will_. They were -personally acquainted with the men who composed the murderous gang. This -was especially the case with Mr. Miller; he had been their steadfast -friend for years, and had furnished them provisions and ammunition but a -few days previously, and had further interested himself in their behalf, -in conjunction with Esquire Steele of Y-re-ka, in securing to them the -right to take up lands in common with other people. - -The murder of Miller seems the more inhuman when it is remembered that he -was killed by Hooker Jim. The latter declares that he did not know that he -was shooting at Miller. Otherwise he would not have committed the -treacherous deed. Miller had been on especial good terms with this -_desperado_. - -With my knowledge of Indian character, I am of the opinion that Hooker Jim -designedly killed Mr. Miller, because he believed that the latter had -purposely withheld from the Modocs the movement of Major Jackson. - -Loaded with plunder, and mounted on the horses they had captured, these -bloodthirsty savages made their way around the east side of Tule lake; -meeting Captain Jack and his warriors in the Lava Bed. I am indebted to -the Modocs themselves for many items of importance in this connection. I -give them for what they are worth, with the authority announced. Some of -them are doubtless correct, according to the authority quoted. - -On the arrival in the Lava Bed, Captain Jack denounced the murderers for -their bloody work, and particularly for the killing of Mr. Miller; he then -declared that the men who committed this outrageous crime should be -surrendered to the white men for trial; that a great mistake had been -made; and that unless these men were given up, the whole band would be -lost. The councils held were noisy and turbulent, threatening strife and -bloodshed. While this matter was under discussion, the Hot-Creek Indians, -who had stampeded from Whittle's Ferry, while they were en route to -Klamath Agency, arrived in the Lava Bed, adding fourteen braves to the -little band of desperadoes. The Hot-Creek Modocs, having become -demoralized by the threats they had overheard made against them, and being -influenced by the Curly-haired Doctor's promise of making medicine to -protect them, were ready to espouse the cause of the murderers. The whole -number of braves at this time was fifty-three, including the chief -himself. Thus, when the discussion was ended and the question was -submitted to a vote, a large majority was opposed to the surrender of the -Lost-river murderers. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII. - - MOURNING EMBLEMS AND MILITARY POMP. - - -Leaving the Modocs to wrangle over their troubles, suppose we listen now -to the wails of anguish and grief that burdened the air of the Lost-river -country, and especially at Linkville, when the mutilated bodies of the -slain citizens were brought in for interment. - -When the news of the Lost-river battle had spread over the -sparsely-settled country, a feeling of terror pervaded the hearts of the -people; but when, on the following morning, the grief-stricken, -heart-broken Mrs. Boddy, Mrs. Schiere and Mrs. Brotherton, arrived at -Linkville, after a long night of horrors, the excitement became intense. -Armed parties, taking with them wagons, repaired to the scene of this -awful tragedy. - -Let those whose lives are spent where they are protected by the strong arm -of law, go with me for a day, while we hunt up the victims of this -wholesale murder. - -Perhaps, if we are honest, and our hearts are open to conviction of truth, -and we are actuated by the impulses of Christian sympathy, we may suspend -our charitable emotions for the "noble red man," by the time we hear the -dull thud of the clods at Linkville cemetery mingle with the sobs and -shrieks of the widows and orphans. - -From one who was with a party who went out on this sorrowful mission, I -learned something of the scenes that met them. - -On arriving at the grove of timber where Brotherton was killed, they found -his body lying stark and cold, with his glassy eyes wide open. He had been -pierced by four Modoc bullets. Near him was found his axe, with the handle -painted with his own blood. Then another was found on a wagon, lying -across the coupling poles, with his face downwards. He, too, was stripped -of his clothing. - -Another was found a few rods from his work, with his bowels beside him, -and his heart taken from his body, and hacked to pieces. This was the work -of Hooker Jim. - -Thus the party went on from one to another, until thirteen bodies were -found. Some of them were off from roads, where they had evidently run in -their attempts to escape. - -While the kind-hearted settlers were performing this sad duty, they were -continually on the lookout for an attack. Let us follow this heavily-laden -train of wagons, and be with them when they arrive at Linkville. Can human -language depict the agony of that hour? We may tell of the outburst of -grief, when the widows gather around that solemn train, preparing to -unload its ghastly freight, and how, with frantic movements, they threw -themselves on the remains of husband, brother and father. But we may not -tell of the grief that overwhelmed their hearts in that darkest hour, when -beholding loved ones mangled and mutilated by the hands that had so often -received gifts from them, now so stiff and cold in death. - -There are moments in life when the great fountains seem broken up as if by -some terrific explosion, until even the very streams that otherwise would -flow out are dried up. - -Oh, how dark the world becomes to the wife and mother when the sunlights -of life go out, and they stand amid the gloom, unable to recognize the -hand of our heavenly Father! - -Slowly and sadly the sorrowing friends start up the hill with the remains -of Boddy and Schiere, while the bereaved and heart-broken widows follow -the sad funeral pageant. - -How can we bear to hear the cry of anguish that parts their lips when the -first clod of earth falls, with sepulchral noise, on the coffin lids that -cover the faces of their dead forever! - -My humane, kind-hearted reader, who has a soul overflowing with kindness -that goes out for "Lo! the poor Indian," look on this scene a moment, and -in your mind exchange your happy home for a cabin on the frontier wilds, -where you meet these Indian people, and where, from the fulness of a great -heart overflowing with "good will to man," you have uttered only kind -words, while you shared your homely fare with them in sympathy for their -low estate. Remember how often you have almost ruined your own family that -you might in part compensate them for their lost homes; how you have -dropped from your hands your own duties as a wife or mother that you might -teach these dark, sad-eyed savage women the little art of housewifery. -Think how many hours you have labored teaching them the ways of civil life -in dress and manners; while your memory of childhood's lessons in -Christianity reconciled you to the labor and the sacrifice with this -comforting assurance, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these, ye -did it also unto me." Remember all these, and then gaze on the dark -emblems of sorrow that envelop Mrs. Boddy, Mrs. Schiere, Mrs. Brotherton, -and tell me, have you still Christianity that enables you to say, "Thy -will be done," nor let your lips breathe out a prayer for power to avenge -your bursting heart? Will you censure now the brave and manly friends on -whose arms these widows lean, while they go back to a home with the -sunlight gone? If these friends, in sympathy with the bereaved, do swear -to anticipate a tardy justice, do you still have hard words for the -pioneers who brave danger and drink deeply from the fountain of bitter -grief when in madness they cry for revenge? - -It is one thing to sit through a life-time under the persuasive eloquence -of ministers who have never walked side by side with such sorrow, and -gradually form an ideal or real monitor in the soul, until human nature -seems lost in the divine power that prepares humanity for higher life, and -until we think we can at all times, when smitten on one cheek, turn the -other. It is quite another thing to break old family associations, and, -leaving the scenes of childhood behind you, with strong and brave hearts, -open the way for emigration; plant way-marks that point to a future of -prosperity; sow the seeds of civilization in unbroken wilds, fairly to -represent your race before the savage, and live in the exercise of a -religious faith that honest dealings and the overshadowing exercise of -brotherly love will be a sure guaranty of final reward. To go out on the -bleak plains of Lost river, and by industry and economy transform the -sage-brush deserts into fruitful fields, to rear the unpretentious cabins, -and open your doors to the thirsty and hungry of every race and color, and -then, when you have done all this, to stand in your cabin-door and smile -back at the waving fields, and listen to the lowing herds, while you -rejoice in your instrumentality in making the great transformation; -looking hopefully to a future, when, from neighboring valleys, shall come -up sounds of friendly recognition; longing for the hour when you may catch -sight of children returning from the country school, and for the advent of -the itinerant minister, who will bring with him a charter under which you -may work toward a brotherhood, whose ties will bind on earth and reunite -in heaven,--when, suddenly, more direful than mountain torrents or heaving -earthquake, comes athwart your life a scene like that enacted on Lost -river, _November 30th, 1872_. - -That scene, with all its horrors, has been repeated over and over again, -and will continue to be until this Government of ours shall come squarely -up to the performance of its duty, and shall have clothed worthy men with -power to do and make good its promises of fair and impartial justice to -each and all those who sit down under the shadow of its flag. - -Tell me truly, do you still feel scorn for the frontier people, whose -lives are embellished with episodes and tragedies like these that I have -here painted in plainest colors, and nothing borrowed from -imagination,--no, not even using half the reality in making up the -picture? - -My words cannot call back the dead, or flood the rude cabins of the -stricken and bereaved with sunshine and hope. No. There, on the hill, -beside Linkville, the thirteen little mounds lie out in winter's storm and -summer's sun; and they who prematurely sleep there will wake _no more_. - -There, on the plains, stand the vacant cabins where these once lived. -There, walking with the spirits of the departed by their sides, the widows -go; while orphans' faces wear reproach, in saddened smiles, against a -Government that failed to deal justly, and who, with light and careless -hand, pointed out its ministers of law without thinking once how much of -human woe and misery might be avoided by a few well-studied words of -command. - -The dead are buried, and the notes of coming strife succeed those of -bitter wailing; the winter's sun gleams from the brass mountings of -officers; the zephyrs of the mountain are mingling with martial music; the -great plains of sage brush are glittering with polished bayonets. The -United States are at length aroused. The State of Oregon, _too_, is waxing -very wroth. The doom of the Modocs is sealed; and _war!_ _war!_ _war!_ is -the word. - -From the half-dozen little military posts in the Lake country is seen -coming a grand army of--well--_two hundred soldiers_. "That's enough to -eat up Jack's little band. Keep cool, my dear friends. Let 'em go for 'em. -They need a _lickin'_ bad. There won't be a grease-spot left of 'em." - -(Such was the speech in a hotel not far from Linkville, Oregon.) - -"Look-er here, stranger, I'll bet you a hundred head of cows, that -Captain Jack licks them there two hundred soldiers like h--l; so I will. I -know what I'm talking about, _I do_. I tried them Modoc fellows long time -ago; they won't lick worth a d--m; so _they won't_. If Frank Wheaton goes -down there a puttin' on style like a big dog in 'tall rye', he'll catch -h--l; _so he will_. I'm going down just to _see_ the _fun_." - -"You're a crazy old fool. Frank Wheaton with two hundred soldiers will -wipe 'em out 'fore breakfast," suggested a listener. - -"Look-er here if I'm crazy the cows aint; come come, if you think I'm -crazy, come, up with the squivlents, and you can go into the stock-raisin' -business cheap. _You can._ - -"Major Jackson went down there tother day with forty men, and Jack hadn't -but fourteen bucks with him, and he licked Jackson out of his boots in no -time, and that was in open ground, and Jackson had the drap on the Ingens -at that; and by thunder he got the worst lickin' a man ever got in this -neck woods; _so he did_. Then another thing, Captain Jack aint on open -ground now; not by a d----d sight. He is in the all-firedest place in the -world. You've been to the 'Devil's garden,' at the head of Sprague river, -haven't you? Well, that place aint a patchen to that ere place where the -Injuns is now. I've been there, and I tell you, it's nearly litenin', all -rocks and caves, and you can't lead a horse through it in a week,--and -then the Injuns knows every inch of the ground, and when they get in them -there caves, why it taint no use talking, I tell you, you can't kill nary -an Ingen,--_you can't_. I'm a-going down just to _see_ the _fun_." - -The reporter who furnished me the foregoing speeches did not learn whether -a bet was made, or whether any army officers overheard the talk; but the -truth is, those who had this nice little breakfast job on hand were -somewhat of the opinion of the fellow whose "cows were not crazy, if he -was." They were willing to have _help_. - -This little Modoc affair was a favorable thing for Oregon and California, -in more ways than one. To the politician it was a windfall; for no matter -what the cause of war may have been, it is always popular to have been in -favor of the last war. It makes opportunity for brave men to win laurels -and undying fame. It clothes their tongues with themes for public harangue -until the last war is superseded by another. Then again it was a _heroic_ -thing to rush up to the recruiting office and _volunteer_ to _whip the -Modocs_. - -It is not at all likely that the movement of armies over railroads, or -toll-roads, or steamboat lines, was a desirable thing for a country where -there was no money in it. Then no man was base enough to wish for war for -motives so mean; neither could it be possible that any sane man, with -ordinary judgment, could see any speculations or chances for greenbacks in -war. - -Californians did intimate that the Oregonians were a little mercenary in -their anxiety for war; but with what unanimity our press repelled the mean -insinuation! - -_Our Governor_ very promptly sent forward two or three companies of -volunteers,--California, _but one_. - -Listen, ye winds, to the neighing steeds and clashing sabres, and see the -uniformed officers and the brave boys, all with faces turned toward the -Lava Beds, going down to vindicate the honor of the State whose soil had -been _invaded_ by a ruthless savage foe. - -The regulars are in camp near the Modocs, waiting for the volunteers to -come up. They come, with banners flying, and steeds prancing, and hearts -beating triumphant at the prospect of a fight. - -Some of these men were living several years ahead, when they could from -"the stump" tell how they bared their bosoms to the Modoc hail; how they -carried away Modoc scalps; how the ground was bathed in mingled blood of -Modoc and white men. - -The army now numbering four hundred, all told, of enlisted men, approaches -the Lava Beds. One or two companies encamp at Fairchild's. They drill; -they go through the mimic charges; they espy a few Modoc women and -children encamped on the creek near Fairchild's house,--they propose to -take them in. "Knits make lice,--let's take them, boys,--here goes." - -A middle-sized grey-eyed man, with his whiskers dyed by twenty years' -labor on "the coast," steps out and says, "No you don't, not yet. _Take me -first._ No man harms defenceless women where I am, while I am standing on -my perpendiculars." - -"Who are you?" says one fine-looking young fellow. - -"Try me, and you will find out that I am John Fairchild." These brave -fellows had not lost any Indians just then, they hadn't. Bah! - -"Who are your officers?" said Fairchild. - -The information was furnished, and soon the grey-eyed man was reading a -chapter not found in the Talmud, or the Bible either. As reported, it was -_eloquent_, though not _classical_. - -Preparations were being completed for a forward movement. One-half the -army was to move to the attack from the south, while the other was to move -down from the north. The 16th of January, 1873, the two wings were within -a few miles on either side. Orders were given to be in motion before -daylight the following morning. Some spicy little colloquies were had -between the members of the volunteer companies; some, indeed, between -officers. - -One brave captain of volunteers said to another, "I have but one fear, and -that is that I can't restrain my men, they are so eager to get at 'em; -they will eat the Modocs up raw, if I let 'em go." - -"Don't fret," said Fairchild; "you can hold them; they wont be hard to -keep back when the Modocs open fire." - -"I say, Jim, are you going to carry grub?" - -"No. I am going to take Modoc _Sirloin_ for my dinner." - -"I think," said a burly-looking fellow, "that I'll take mine _rare_." - -Another healthy-looking chap said he intended capturing a good-looking -squaw for a--dishwasher. (Good-looking squaws wash dishes better than -homely ones.) - -A number of humane, chivalrous, civilizing, kind people intended to -capture some little _Ingens_ for servants. One fellow declared that -Captain Jack's _pacing hoss_ should be his. - -To have heard the camp talk the night before the battle, you would have -supposed that sundown, next day, would find these brave men loaded with -Indian plunder and military glory, going toward home in fine style, with -great speeches in rehearsal to deliver to the gaping crowds, who would -hang, with breathless interest, on the words that they would deal out with -becoming modesty. - -That night was a long one to ambitious, noisy men; and, sad to say, a -_last_ one to some of the bravest of the army. - -But the guard is stationed for the night, the council of officers has been -held, and the moon settles slowly away; the soldiers sleep. The orders for -the morrow are understood, and quiet reigns throughout the hopeful camp. - -No doubt crosses the minds of the men, and, perhaps, of but few officers, -so sanguine are they of success. The greatest fear expressed was, that the -fight would not last long enough to give _all a fair show_ to win -distinction. - -Rest quiet, my poor, deluded countrymen! Some of you are taking your last -sleep but one,--the sleep of death. - -If you had asked the opinion of Maj. Jackson and John Fairchild, or Press -Dorris, they would have set your hearts at ease, about having an -opportunity to fight a little on the morrow. You will have a chance to try -your metal, never fear, my dear friends. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV. - - PEACE OR WAR--ONE HUNDRED LIVES VOTED AWAY BY - MODOC INDIANS. - - -Leaving our soldier friends to dream of glory to be won in the coming -battle, let us pick our way from their camp to the head-quarters of -Captain Jack. - -Our starting-point now is from a little grove of mountain mahogany trees -on a high plateau, a few miles south of the California and Oregon boundary -line, and within a short distance of the extreme southern end of lower -Klamath lake. The trees are dwarfed, stunted, and bent before the stormy -winds that have swept over them so continually. - -As we leave this military camp, a long, high, sharp ridge extends -northward and southward, falling away at either end to hills of lesser -height. Climbing to the top, and looking eastward, we see Tule lake, named -on the maps of this country Rhett lake. It is a beautiful sheet of water, -of thirty miles from north to south, and fifteen from west to east. We see -also, with a field-glass, across the lake, the lone cabins where the -strong hands of Boddy, Brotherton, and others have laid the foundation of -future homes. They stand like spirit sentinels on the plain. - -Look again at the trail leading out of the sage-brush plains; follow with -your glass down to where a high stone bluff crowds against the lake, and -forces the wagon trail into the edge of the water, until it disappears in -the high tule grass. - -In September, 1852, a long train of wagons, drawn by worn-out oxen, driven -by hardy, venturesome pioneers, came down that trail. - -_They never came out again_, save the two or three persons, as related in -a former chapter. - -That place is _Bloody Point_. - -Turn your glass northward, and see the trail emerge from the tule grass; -follow it until it turns suddenly westward and reaches the natural bridge -on Lost river. Turn your glass up the river one mile, and you see the -favorite home of Captain Jack, where we found him in 1869, and where Major -Jackson found him on the morning of "November 30th, 1872;" and, had you -been looking at that spot at 4 P.M. of the 23d day of April, 1873, you -would have descried a four-horse ambulance, with a mounted escort of six -men on either side, and standing in the front end of that ambulance a -woman, with a field-glass, eagerly scanning the surface of the lake. That -woman shows anxiety in her blue eye and earnest face while she changes the -direction of the glass, expecting each moment to catch sight of a boat -crossing the lake. She is cool, calm, and self-possessed, although no -other lady is nearer than twenty-four miles. - -There is a reason for her presence there; and she will need all her -self-command when the looked-for boat arrives. Why, that lone woman is -there, on that 23d day of April, we will tell you in good time. - -Turn your glass back now to Bloody Point, and follow down the shore of the -lake. Ah! there stands a white-looking object near a bluff that is black -with a low growth of trees. The white object is Miller's house, just as he -left it the morning before his _friend, Hooker Jim, murdered him_. The -black-looking bluff near it is where _Ben Wright_ met the Modocs, in a -peace talk, in 1852. Swing your glass round to the right, following the -shore of the lake, and, at the extreme southern end, you will see the -cabins of Lou-e Land, and near them Col. Barnard's head-quarters. - -The white tents of the soldiers look like tiny playthings, even under a -field-glass. Col. Barnard is there with one hundred "regulars," and one -company of "volunteers." Look closely, and you will see that half the -volunteers are red-skinned men. Their captain is a tall, fine-looking -white man, who addresses them in the ancient jargon of the Klamaths,--this -is Oliver Applegate. - -See the Indian soldiers, with each a white badge on his head; it is not an -army regulation cap, but is simply to prevent accident; that is, it is a -mark to distinguish the white man's ally from his enemy. - -In this camp are men about as anxious to march on the Modocs as those on -the north side; some of these red soldiers are the boys who made Jack's -stay on Klamath Reservation, in 1870, so uncomfortable. _They_ are -_loyal_, though, to the Government, and are willing to help the white men -exterminate their cousins (the Modocs). Then the _pro rata_ of annuity -goods will be so much the larger. They don't mean any harm to the Modocs, -although since 1864 they have been receiving regularly the price the -Government has paid for _the home of the Modocs_; except on one or two -occasions, when the latter were present. - -These red-skinned boys are anxious to capture the Modoc ponies; for, -running with Jack's band of horses, are several that once carried these -Klamath boys flying over the plains; until, in an evil moment, they were -weak enough to stake them, as many a poor, weak-minded, infatuated white -man has done his home, all on the hazardous chance of certain cards -turning up at the right time. Well, let these fellows take rest, for they -will need all their nerve before another day passes. - -Move your glass round to the right, what a sight do we see! A great -flat-looking valley stretches out south and west from the ragged shore -line of the lake. On the further boundary see the four low buttes standing -in a line; while behind Mount Shasta raises his white head, overlooking -the country around on all sides for hundreds of miles. - -This valley, lying so cold and cheerless, seems to have been once a part -of the lake. It is devoid of timber, save one lone tree, that stands out -on what appears to be a plain, of almost smooth prairie; but we forget we -are one thousand feet above this valley. - -Let us follow now the zigzag trail that leads to the gap just where the -valley and the lake unite. - -Better dismount, for wagons never have been, nor ever will go down that -bluff. Horses, indeed, need a _rough-lock_ to get down in safety. Oh! but -this _is_ steep; we are now half-way down,--let us rest, and meanwhile -take your field-glass and "see what we can see." Why! it don't look as it -did from the top of the bluff. Oh! I see now why you call this place the -"Lava Beds." From this stand-point it presents the appearance of a broken -sea, that had, when in wild commotion, suddenly frozen or crystallized; -except that the surface is a grayish color. Sage brush grows out from the -crevices of the rock, and, occasionally, "bunch grass" may be seen. - -Near the foot of the bluff is a small flat of a few acres that is free -from rocks. A bay from the lake makes up into the rocky field; then a long -point of stony land runs out into the lake. - -Follow the shore-line, and another bay, or arm of the lake, runs out into -the lava rocks. Look carefully, and, on the next point of lava rocks, -running into the lake, you will discover a gray smoke rising. There, if -you will steady your glass, you will see dark forms moving round about the -fire. - -They are not more than two miles from our point of observation, and this -is the 16th day of June, 1873. - -See that man standing above the others. He is talking. Wonder who he is, -and what he is saying. Since we are talking of Indians, suppose we adopt -Indian spiritualism, and in that invisible capacity we will hear and see -what is going on. - -We will pick our way over the dim, crooked trail, first in real person, -and take items as we pass along. The trail is very dim, it is true--only -seen by the rocks misplaced to make footing for the Indian ponies. Now we -wind around some low stony point, and pick our way down into a rocky -chasm. - -Slowly rising, we climb up twenty feet of bluff, and out on a plateau. -Looking carefully for the road, we follow a half-round circle of two -hundred feet on the left; and, sloping from every direction, the broken -lava rocks tend toward a common centre, forty feet below the level of the -plateau. As we pursue our way another great basin is in sight, of similar -character and proportion; and thus this plateau, that appeared almost -smooth from the mountain-top, is made up of a succession of basins, all -lined with broken rock, from the size of a dry-goods box to that of a -meeting-house. - -Just ahead, we see rising above the rocky plain a craggy ledge, standing -like an immense comb, the spikes of lava forming great teeth. On the right -and left it looks as if the teeth-like crags are broken midway, and our -trail is pointing to one of these breaks. - -Before reaching it, we see on either hand where the breaks are filled with -stones, piled in such a way that port-holes are left, through which the -Modocs propose to fire on the advancing foes when they come to the attack. - -Passing between upright spires of lava, we come out on a smooth plain of -fractured stones; and, passing near the end of the second little bay, we -find rough, sharp ledges rising to intercept our way. - -Picking our steps, we stand on the summit of the ledge. Shut your eyes now -while we pass over a chasm of thirty feet in depth, and with walls almost -perpendicular. Our bridge has been made by a gorge of loose rocks that -fill the chasm to its lips. Some of these have been rolled in by Indian -hands, and some by old Vulcan himself, when he spilled the lava there. - -Come, follow the trail,--now we stand a moment and, looking right and -left, we see great fissures and caverns that look dark and forbidding; -suggesting ambush. No danger here now,--_we left the Modoc sentinel behind -us_, at the huge comb-like ledge. He is not afraid of us, and all the -other Modocs are in council. Climbing a cliff that overlooks a deep, wide -chasm, we catch sight of the sage-brush fire, and suddenly half a hundred -warriors, in half dress of "Boston," half of savage costume,--some of them -are bare-armed, and have curious-looking figures on them made of paint. - -This is not safe now, for sharp eyes scan the surroundings, and while this -council is going on, the Modoc women are doing duty. Some of them are -piling on the sage brush to keep the fire going. Others are standing, -apparently pillars of stone; sphinx like, they gaze outward, for although -this council is being held in a place secure from gaze of pale-faced man, -the Modocs, Indian like, are ever on the alert, and do not intend to be -taken by surprise. Since this is not safe for us, we had better play -Indian spirit, if we would see and hear what is going on. What we lack in -catching the words in the spirit correctly, we will obtain from some -friendly Indian hereafter. See that fellow there; his face looks familiar; -yet he is not a Modoc. Oh! yes; we recognize him now; we saw him at the -peace meeting, taking the Modocs by the hand then, and afterwards taunting -them with their poverty and cowardice while they were on Klamath -Reservation in 1870. That fellow is _Link-river Jack_. He is a natural -traitor. - -He has crept cautiously into the Modoc camp to give them warning of the -soldiers coming. He is the Modocs' _friend now_; he tells them that a -large army is coming; that they are on the bluff almost within sight. - -This was not news; for the Modocs had counted the soldiers, man by man, -and knew exactly how many was in either camp. They knew, too, that half -the soldiers were citizens with whom they had dealt for years. Link-river -Jack tells them of the feeling outside against them; that peace may be had -on the surrender of the Modocs who killed the settlers. We did not hear -him tell them that if they would hold out a few days, the Klamaths and -Snakes would join them; but our friendly Indian asserts that he did. - -All eyes turn now to the chief, Captain Jack. He rises with stately mien -and says, "We have made a mistake. We cannot stand against the white men. -Suppose we kill all these soldiers; more will come, and still more, and -finally all the Modocs will be killed; when we kill the soldiers others -will take their places; but when a Modoc gets killed no man will come to -take _his_ place; we must make the best terms we can. I do not want to -fight the white man. I want no war; I want peace. Some of the white men -are our friends. Steele and Roseborough are our friends; they told us not -to fight the white men; we want no war; soon all the young men will be -killed. We do not want to fight." - -Old Schonchin John arose; his face was full of war; _he_ was in for a -fight. He recalled the "Ben Wright" massacre; he said, "We have nothing to -expect from the white men. We can die, but we will not die first. I won't -give it up; I want to fight. I can't live long. I am an old man." -Schonchin sat down. He had no hope for his life; his crimes were all -arrayed against him, and he knew it. - -Scar-face Charley rose to talk. He said, "I was mad on Lost river; my -blood was bad. I was insulted. I have many friends among the white men. I -do not want to kill them. We cannot stand against the white men. True, I -am a Modoc. What their hearts are, my heart is. May be we can stop this -war. I want to live in peace." - -Curly-haired Doctor, who was with the murdering gang in Lost river, arose -and said, "I am a Modoc. My hands are red with white man's blood. I was -mad when I saw the dead women and children on Lost river. I want war. I am -not tired. The white men cannot fight; they shoot in the air. I will _make -a medicine that will turn the white man's bullets away from the Modocs_. -We will not give up. We can kill all that come." - -The discussion is ended, and now comes the vote. They divide off,--those -who were for war walked out on one side, and those who favor peace on the -other. These people are democratic; _the majority rules_. - -The vote is of vast importance to others than the Modocs. One hundred and -fifty soldiers and many citizens are interested in that vote. Gen. Canby, -Dr. Thomas, and your writer, are to be very much affected by that vote. -Millions of dollars hang on the decision. - -Hold your breath while each man elects for himself. The chief, Captain -Jack, walks boldly out on the side of peace, but, O my God, few dare -follow him. The majority vote for blood, and gather around Schonchin John, -and the Curly-haired Doctor. The die is cast, war is inevitable; let us -see who is with Captain Jack. There goes "Scar-face Charley," "William" -(the wild gal's man), "Miller's Charley," "Duffey," "Te-he Jack," "Little -Poney," "Big Poney," "Duffey's Boy," "Chuckle-head," "Big Steve," "Big -Dave," "Julia's man,"--fourteen men, no more. - -The bloodthirsty villains who held the balance of power are, "Schonchin," -"Curly-head Doctor," "Bogus Charley," "Boston Charley," "Hooker Jim," -"Shacknasty Jim," "Steamboat Frank," "Rock-Dave," "Big Joe," "Curly Jack," -and the remainder of the band, numbering thirty-seven, all told. There are -two strange Indians there, also; they are Pitt river thieves, they do not -vote. The doctor's speech has done the work. These infuriated thirty-six -men believe in him, and his promise to make medicine that will turn the -bullets of the white men. This has more power than the clear, logical -reasoning of Captain Jack. Having turned the current of so many lives, the -doctor, exulting in his success, repaired to his cave to fulfil his -promise. - -Suppose we follow him and see how this thing is done. He calls the singing -women of the band together, and, having prepared roots and religious -meats, he builds a fire, and, with a great deal of ceremony, he places the -sacrifice thereon; then inhaling the smoke and odor of the burning mess, -he begins his religious incantations; calling down the good spirit, -calling up the bad spirit, and calling loudly for the spirits of the dead -Indians to come; while the women, having pitched a tune to his words, -begin to sing, and with their shoulders touching each other, they start -off in a rough, hobbly kind of a dance, singing meanwhile; and a drummer, -too, joins in with a hideous noise, made on a drain of peculiar shape, -with but one head of dried rawhide, or untanned buckskin, drawn tightly -over a rough-made hoop. - -Round go the singing dancers, and louder grow the voices of the doctor and -the women; both increasing in fury until exhausted nature gives proof of -the presence of the various spirits. - -The braves stand looking on to see what the prospects are; satisfied that -the medicine is getting strong enough, they saunter back to the cave of -the chief, where he sits with thoughtful brow, planning in a low voice the -defence of the morrow; repeating again, "This is the last of my people; I -must do what their hearts say; I am a _Modoc_, and I am not afraid to -die." Then giving orders for the fight,--designating where each man should -be stationed, and appointing women to carry water and ammunition to the -various stations, while they fight,--he inspects the arms, and estimates -how long the powder and lead will last, tells the women to mould bullets -for the old-fashioned rifles; he then turns sadly away to his sister, -Queen Mary, and declares that he is now going to do what he thought he -never would do,--"fight the white man." - -We leave the howling doctor and the sad chief and return to the soldier -camp on the top of the bluff. The sentinels are walking the rounds; all is -quiet, and the boys are taking their rest,--some of them their last rest -save one. Ah! Jerry Crook, you jumped down from a stage-driver's box to -help whip the Modocs. Your heart is beating steadily now; it will beat -wildly for a few minutes to-morrow afternoon, and then its pulsations will -cease forever. George Roberts, too, has left a good position to come on -this mission, promising, as he fondly hopes, a dream of glory, which he -will share with his comrades when hereafter he cracks his whip over the -teams of the Northwest Stage Company. Enjoy it now, my dear fellow, for -the vote in yonder camp has sealed your fate. Others may tell how bravely -you died, but you will not live to tell of the shout of victory that the -M-o-d-o-c-s will send over your dead body to-morrow night. Sleep soundly, -my soldier boys; thirty of you will not answer the roll-call after the -battle of the morrow. - -Brave Gen. Frank Wheaton, why do you still walk back and forth, arm-in-arm -with Col. John Green and Maj. Jackson? You do not feel so sanguine about -to-morrow. Jackson has said something that has driven sleep from your -eyes. You might find comfort in consulting Gens. Miller and Ross, and Col. -Thompson, of the "Salem Press," and Capt. Kelley, of the "Jacksonville -Times." They are State militia officers, it is true, but they are old -Indian fighters, and can tell you how quickly you can whip Captain Jack in -the morning. They are leading men, who may be _hard to restrain_, but they -will take the advance. Don't say a word to Capt. John Fairchild; he knows -the Modocs, as does Press Dorris. They know the Lava Beds, too; they have -hunted cattle over this country, and understand the lay of it better than -any white men in the camp. - -_They_ are not so _very confident_. They said, to-day, to some impatient -boys, "Don't fret; you will get enough _to do you_ before you see your -mother again. The Modocs are _on it_ sure!" - - - - - CHAPTER XXV. - - MODOC STEAK FOR BREAKFAST--GRAY-EYED MAN ON THE - WARPATH. - - -Four A.M., _January 17th, 1873_.--The tattoo is beaten, and the soldiers -throw aside their blankets. They dress themselves; the blankets are rolled -together; the men sit around, the mess-table on the ground, and partake of -coffee and "hard tack." The volunteer State militia also jump out from -under _their_ blankets, and, making their toilets as soldiers do, prepare -for _duty_ and _glory_. - -The weather is cold, very cold. Breakfast is over, and the order to "Fall -in" sounds through the camp. The blue uniforms take places like -automatons; the roll is called. "Here!" "Here!" comes out along the line. -Poor fellows! somebody else must answer for some of you to-morrow; you -cannot do it for yourselves. - -The line of march is taken. The California volunteers, under the gray-eyed -man, lead the way toward the bend of the ridge. Cautiously they approach -the river. It is not daylight yet; they _must go slow_. Look over the -valley below us--the day begins to dawn. Oh, yes; you are looking at the -upper side of a great bank of fog. The signal that was to be given Col. -Barnard "to move" cannot be made. But he will come to the attack on the -south at the same time with the assault from the north. - -The soldiers are unencumbered by blankets and knapsacks; they have left -them with a guard at camp, _expecting_ to return in a few hours. They move -cautiously down the bluff into the misty scene below. The cavalry-men are -dismounted, leaving their horses in camp, and answer to the call of the -bugle. The two hundred men are at the foot of the bluff, at the edge of -the Lava Beds. - -The lines are formed; each company is assigned a position. In the dim -daylight, mixed with fog, they look like ghostly mourners out on the -rampart of the spirit world. Hark! "Forward--_march!_" rings out in the -cold morning air, and the bugle repeats "Forward--march!" The line moves, -stretching out along the foot of the bluff. The regulars advance very -steady, for Maj. Jackson's company that was in the Lost-river fight were -in no great hurry to hear the music of battle again. - -The volunteers start off rapidly, while Gen. Ross and Col. Thompson say, -"Steady, boys,--steady." "Steady, my boys," repeats Capt. Kelley, of the -Oregon volunteers. - -"Go slow, boys, go slow. You'll raise 'em directly," says the gray-eyed -man, who commands the Californians. Cautiously the line moves over the -rocky plain. On, still on--no Modocs yet. On again they go through the -thick fog. "Just as I expected; they've left. I knew they wouldn't stand -and fight when the volunteers got after them."--"They knew we was a -comin'." Such speeches were made by men who were hungry for "_Modoc -sirloin_." "Steady there; we'll raise them pretty soon," says gray eyes. -"They haint run; they're _thar sure_. Go slow, boys; keep down, boys--keep -down _low_, boys." - -Hark! again; what is that rumble, like a train crossing a great bridge? -Bang--bang--bang--bang comes through the fog bank. "Barnard's opened on -'em. Now we will go. Hurrah! We will take 'em in the rear. Hurrah! hurrah! -hurrah for h--l," sings out a Modoc-eating fellow. - -"That's right; every man hurrah for the country he's going to," comes from -a quiet regular on the left. - -Through the mist a gleam shoots out, and then a rattle of muskets just in -front of the advancing line. Hey! what means that? Did Roberts stumble and -fall? Yes, he fell, but he cannot get up again; his blood is spurting from -his neck on the rocks. Look to the right. Another has fallen to rise no -more. - -"Fire!" says Col. Green. "Fire!" says the bugle. "Fire!" say the volunteer -officers, and a blaze of light burst forth along the line. To see the -flame from the guns, one would suppose they saw the enemy on some cliff -above them, although the Modoc flame was on a level. - -[Illustration: MODOCS ON THE WARPATH.] - -Perhaps the Modocs have changed their base. No, that cannot be, for, see! -again it blazes out just in front, and, oh, see the soldiers fall. - -On the right of our line, among the rocks, a level blaze follows the Modoc -volley. There is somebody there who knows what he is about. "Charge!" -rings out the voice of Green. "Charge!" repeats the bugle. The line moves -forward at a double-quick, over the rough waves of hardened lava. - -On, on, still on the shattered line moves, for several hundred yards. -Still no howl of pain from Modoc lips. - -"They've run," exultingly shouts a voice; but before the echo of that -voice had repeated the lie, through the rocky caves another blazing line -appears in front. Bang, bang, now comes from the further side; again a -charge is ordered, and, climbing over chasms and caverns, the now broken -line move as best they can; no groan of agony tells of Modocs with -bayonets or bullets pierced. No eye has seen a redskin, but four hundred -pairs of ears have heard the Modoc's war-whoop, and four hundred hearts -have trembled at the sound. - -The line still moves forward, firing at the rocks, and--and another brave -white man falls. - -The investment must be completed; junction must be made with Col. Barnard. -Where are the volunteers? The gap in the line must be closed. Where is -Capt. ----? The caves answered back, "Where?" - -But Donald McKay, the scout, says "They are behind the ledge yonder, lying -down." - -"Order them up," says Gen. Frank Wheaton. - -An aide-de-camp fails to open communication with them. - -The gallant Green is trying now to close up the line. "Forward, my men," -he shouts. "Mount the cliff." The foremost man falls back pierced with -Modoc bullets. Green quickly leaps upon the cliff--a dozen rifles from the -cave send flame and balls at him. "Come, my men. Up, up," and another man -reels and falls. "Come up," again shouts the brave colonel, still standing -with the bullets flying around him. Another blue blouse appears, and it, -too, goes backward; thus the little mound of dead soldiers grew at the -foot of the cliff, until, at last, the gray-eyed man, taking in the -situation, points out to his men the Indian battery that commanded this -position, and then the sharp, quick rifles, mingle smoke and bullets with -the muskets and howitzers, and Green's men pass over the cliff. - -The fog is lifting now, but scarce an Indian yet seen. Still the circle of -bayonets contracts around the apparently ill-starred Modoc stronghold. - -Take a station commanding a view of the battle. Do you hear, amid all this -din of exploding gunpowder, the shrieks of mangled white men, and the -exulting shouts of the Modocs? Look behind you; the sun is slowly sinking -behind Mount Shasta, tired of the scene. The line is broken again, and, -where a part of it had stood, see the writhing bodies in blue, half -prostrate, some of them, and calling loudly for comrades to save them. - -A council is called by Gen. Wheaton; the fighting goes on; the line next -the lake gives back. "Draw off your men!" is the order that now echoes -along the faltering lines; the bugles sound "Retreat." The men are -panic-stricken. Hear the wounded, who understand the bugle-call, shouting -to comrades, "Do not leave us." The volunteers halt; they return to the -rescue. The Modoc fire is fearful. One of the wounded men is reached in -safety, but when two of his comrades lift him up, one of them drops. - -Fairchild's men now go to the rescue, crawling on their faces; they almost -reach the two wounded men; one of the rescuers falls; they cannot be -saved. One wounded man begs to be killed. "Don't leave me alive for the -Modocs." The cry is in vain. _The army of four hundred men are on the -retreat._ They fall back, followed by the shouts and bullets of the -Modocs, and soon leave the voices of the wounded behind them. Is it true -that our army is retreating now from fifty savages? - -Is it possible that our heroes, who _were to dine on "Modoc sirloins,"_ -are scrambling over the rocks on empty stomachs, after a ten-hour fight? -Is it true that the cries for help by wounded soldiers are heard only by -the _Modocs_? Yes, my reader, it _is_ true. Every effort to save them cost -other lives. - -Our army grope their way in darkness over the rocks they had passed so -hopefully a few hours since. They climb the bluff, expecting an attack -each minute; the wounded, who are brought off the field, are compelled to -await surgical aid until the army can be placed in a _safe position_. - -The camp on the north is reached, and, without waiting for morning, they -fall back to "Bremer's" and "Fairchild's." - -When the roll is called in the several companies thirty-five regulars and -volunteers fail to answer. Their dead bodies lie stark and cold among the -rocks. The Modoc _men_ disdain to hunt up victims of the fight. The squaws -are permitted to do this work. It is from Modoc authority, that they found -two men alive at daylight next morning, and that they stoned them to -death; finally ending this long night of horror by one of the most cruel -deaths that savage ingenuity could suggest. Look now in the Modoc camp -when the squaws come in, bearing the arms and clothing of the fallen -United States soldiers. See them parade these before the Indian braves. -See those young, ambitious fellows, with those curious-looking things. -Here are "Hooker Jim," "Bogus Charley," and "Boston Charley," "Shacknasty -Jim," "Steamboat Frank," and several others, holding aloft these specimens -of God's handiwork and their own. - -You ask, What are they? - -Go to yesterday's line of battle, scan the rocks closely, and you will see -some of them are dyed with human gore; look closely, and you will see a -bare foot, may be a hand, half-covered with loose stones; examine -carefully, move the rocks, and you will find a mutilated white body there, -and if you will uncover the _crushed head_ you will see where the articles -came from that the Modoc braves are showing with so much pride. - -Suppose you count the Modoc warriors now. We know they had fifty-three -yesterday morning, for we have the names of all the men of the whole -tribe, and we have taken pains to ascertain that every man who did not -belong to Captain Jack's band was at "_Yai-nax_," under the eye of the old -chief "Schonchin" and the Government agent, while the battle of yesterday -was going on, except three Modocs--Cum-ba-twas--and they were with Capt. -Oliver Applegate's company during the fight. There is no miscount. -Fairchild, Applegate, Dorris, and Frank Riddle know every one personally. -Call the roll in Jack's camp, and _every man will answer to his name_, -except one man who was wounded in a skirmish on the 15th, with Col. -Perry's company of regulars. This statement is correct, notwithstanding -the Telegraph said the Modocs had _two hundred men in the fight_. - -Listen to Curly-haired Doctor. He is saying, in his native tongue, "I -promised you a medicine that would turn the white man's bullets. Where is -the Modoc that has been struck with the white man's bullets? I told you -'Soch-a-la Tyee,' the Great Spirit, was on our side. Your chief's heart -was weak; mine was strong. We can kill all the white men that come." - -Schonchin John says: "I felt strong when I saw the fog that our -medicine-man had brought over the rocks yesterday morning. I knew we could -kill the soldiers. We are _Modocs_." - -The chief (Captain Jack) arose, all eyes turn toward him, and in -breathless silence the council awaits his speech. - -He does not appear to share in the general rejoicing. He is thoughtful, -and his face wears a saddened look. He feels the force of the doctor's -speech; Schonchin's also. He knows they are planning for his removal from -the chieftainship. - -"It is true we have killed many white men. The Modoc heart is strong; the -Modoc guns were sure; the bullets went straight. _We are all here_; but -hear me, O muck-a-lux (my people). The white men are many; they will not -give up; they will come again; more will come next time. No matter how -many the Modocs kill, more will come each time, and we will all be killed -after a while. I am your voice. My blood is _Modoc_. I will not make peace -until the Modoc heart says '_peace_,' We will not go on the warpath again. -Maybe the war will stop." - -After the several braves have recounted the various exploits they have -performed, the council adjourns. - -See the squaws bringing great loads of sage brush. They are preparing for -a grand scalp dance. This is to be a great demonstration. The women dress -in best attire and paint their faces, while the men, now wild with -triumph, prepare for the ceremonies of rejoicing. - -The drum calls for the dance to commence. They form around the fire on the -bare rocks, each warrior painted in _black and red_, in figures rudely -made on their arms and breast, indicating the deeds they may boast of. -Each bears on the ramrod of his gun the scalps _he_ has _taken_. The -medicine-man begins a kind of prayer or thanksgiving to the Great Spirit -above, and to the bad spirit below, for the success they have won. The -dances begin,--a short, upright hop, singing of the great deeds of the -Modocs, the warriors meanwhile waving the ramrods with the scalps. - -Round and round they move, stepping time to the rude music, until they are -exhausted. The blood of the warriors is at fighting heat. - -The chief takes no part. He is ill at ease; his mind is busy with great -thoughts concerning the past and the future of the Modoc people. - -Leaving the Modocs to exult and quarrel alternately, let us hunt up our -disappointed army. A part of them have returned to Col. Barnard's camp at -Lone Lands; another part, the volunteers, have collected at Fairchild's -ranch. Great, unauthorized councils are being held; a hundred men give -wise opinions. Gen. Frank Wheaton is declared "incompetent," and some -underhand work is going on to have him relieved of his command. It will -succeed, although he was brave and skilful, and did as well as any other -man could have done under the circumstances. - -But that is not the question now, he _must_ be relieved; it is enough that -he did not succeed, and it is necessary now to send a new man and let him -_learn_ something of the country. True, Gen. Wheaton has experience and -would know how to manage better than a new man. Political power is -triumphant, and this worthy man is humbled because he could not perform an -_impossibility_. He had raw recruits, that were unskilled in Indian wars, -and he was attacking with this force the strongest natural fortress on the -continent. - -Let us listen to some of the pretty speeches being made in the volunteer -camp. - -"I tell you aint them Modocs nearly thunder though? But the 'regulars' -fired from the hip; they could not _get down_ and draw a fine bead." - -"It takes _Volunteers_ to fight Ingens. Ruther have one hundred volunteers -anytime than a regiment of 'regulars.'" - -"The captain says he's going to raise a new company, picked men; and then -the Modocs will get h--l. Won't they though?" - -Our unpopular gray-eyed man strolled into the volunteer camp. He is a -little caustic sometimes. Sauntering up to the fellow who was so brave a -few days before, he said:-- - -"How did you like your 'Modoc sirloin,' eh? putty good, eh? didn't take it -raw, did you? Where's that feller who was going to bring home a -good-looking squaw for a--dishwasher? Wonder how he likes her about this -time? Where's that _other_ fellow who was going to ride Captain Jack's -_pacing hoss_? - -"Wonder if those boys who were spoiling for a fight are out of danger? - -"Say, boys, there's some old squaws over there near the spring; they aint -got any guns, aint no bucks there; may be you can take _them_." Tossing -his head a little to one side, a habit of his when full of sarcasm, he -went on to ask the captain of a certain company, "if he found any -difficulty in holding his boys back. Where was _you_ during the fight, -anyhow? I heard Gen. Wheaton asking for you, but nobody seemed to know -where you was, 'cept Donal' McKay, and he said you was down on the point; -said he saw your general there with a mighty nice breech-loading _bird -gun_, and that once in a while some of you would raise your heads and look -round, and then Shacknasty Jim would shoot, and you would all lie down -again. - -"Now, captain, let me give you a little bit of advice; it won't cost you -nothing. When you raise _another_ company to fight the _Modocs_, don't you -take any of them fellows that you can't hold back, nor them fellows who -want to eat Modoc steaks _raw_; they aint a good kind to have when you get -in a tight place. Why, Shacknasty Jim could whip four of them at a time. -Them kind of fellers aint worth a continental d--m for fightin' Modocs. -Better leave them fellers with their mammies." - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI. - - OLIVE BRANCH AND CANNON BALLS--WHICH WILL WIN? - - -A few days after this battle Captain Jack sent a message to John Fairchild -and Press Dorris, proposing a "talk," telling them that they should not be -molested, and agreeing to meet them at the foot of the bluff, near the -Modoc camp. Messrs. Fairchild and Dorris, accompanied by one other white -man and an Indian woman (Dixie), visited the Lava Beds. - -The meeting, as described by Fairchild, was one of peculiar interest. -Those who _had been_ friends, and _then enemies_ and at war, without any -formal declaration of peace, coming together in the stronghold of the -victorious party, presents a phase of Western life seldom witnessed. The -white men, fully armed, ride to the Indian camp with the squaw guide. The -Modocs had observed them with a field-glass while they were descending the -bluff, two miles away. - -On their arrival, the men who had so earnestly sought each others' lives -stood face to face. A painful silence followed, each party waiting for the -other to speak first. The Modocs approach and offer to shake hands. "No, -you don't, until we understand each other," said Fairchild; and continued, -"We came here because we learned that you wanted to talk peace. We are not -afraid to talk or to hear you talk. We were in the battle. We _fought you, -and we will fight_ again unless peace is made." - -Captain Jack replied, that "the Modocs knew all about who was in the big -battle, but that should not make trouble now. We are glad you come. We -want you to hear our side of the story. We do not want any war. Let us go -back to our homes on Lost river. We are willing to pay you for the cattle -we have killed. We don't want to fight any more." - -Such was the substance of Captain Jack's speech; to which Fairchild and -Dorris replied, that they were not authorized to make any terms, but would -do all they could to prevent further war. - -These men visited the Modoc camp from humane and kindly motives; yet -tongues of irresponsible parties dared to speak slanderous words against -these men who ventured where their vilifiers would not have gone for any -consideration. Their motives were questioned, and insinuations unworthy -the men who made them, never would have been made had the characters of -Fairchild and Dorris been better understood. - -The results of the battle of Jan. 17th had startled the public mind, and -especially the authorities at Washington City. On investigating the cause -of the war, it was thought that some mistake had been made. The citizens -of Oregon who were then in Washington, headed by Gen. E. L. Applegate, -consulted with Attorney-General Williams on the subject of the Modoc -troubles. Inasmuch as a vast amount of ink has since been wasted in -expressing indignation against the Modoc Peace Commission, I herewith -submit the subjoined letter from Gen. Applegate, of Oregon, to the "Oregon -Bulletin," which gives a fair, and, I believe, true statement of the -circumstances attending its conception. I was not present at the -conference referred to, neither was I consulted as to the propriety of the -movement, either by the Honorable Secretary or the Oregon delegation. -Secretary Delano is qualified to defend his own action, and I only suggest -that, with the representations set forth, he acted wisely in the course he -pursued. - -Although I did not advise the appointment of a Peace Commission, I declare -that it was right, and no blame can be justly attached to either the -Commission or the appointing power, if it was not a success. - -The principle of adjusting difficulties by such means is in harmony with -justice and right. Let those who _burned_ the Honorable Secretary in -effigy remember the continued stream of denunciation that was poured out -against the Commission by a portion of the secular press of the Pacific -coast, and the reason why the peace measures failed may be better -understood. - - LETTER FROM WASHINGTON CITY. - - _How the "Peace Commission," was formed--An Account from General - Applegate--His Agency in the Matter._ - - WASHINGTON, D. C., January 29th, 1873. - -EDITORS BULLETIN: I "arise to explain" that, since coming to this city I -have been meddling somewhat with public affairs. You know the Indian -question is one which I think I have a right to express an opinion upon. I -ought to know something of Indians and Indian affairs; and, believing that -a wrong policy in regard to the Modocs might involve the country in a -tedious and expensive Indian war, without a sufficient degree of good -being accomplished by it to justify the losses, delays, and expenses -incurred, could not avoid undertaking such action as I believed might the -most quickly hasten a settlement of the trouble. - -The fame abroad of Indian wars and dangers in our State is very injurious -to the cause of immigration. A great many good people are confirmed in an -opinion, which has been very considerably entertained heretofore, namely, -that Oregon is yet an Indian country, and that the settlements are at all -times in imminent danger of the tomahawk and scalping-knife. - -My policy with Indians may be denominated the "pow-wow" policy. A matter -has not only to be thoroughly explained to an Indian, but it must be -explained over and over; and the fact is, that thirty years of observation -convince me that Indians can be talked into any opinion or out of it by -the men in whom they have confidence, and who understand the proper style -of Indian talk. Consequently, I was in favor of sending some man as a -Peace Commissioner to the Modoc country to pow-wow with these Indians and -settle the difficulty. "Jaw-bone" is cheaper than ammunition; and the fact -is, that all comes round to this at last, and always has. This might just -as well be done at first, it seems to me, as to go through all the ups and -downs, and expense of blood and treasure and long-delayed peace, with the -bad effects abroad on the State, and then come to it. - -I was, therefore, in favor of sending Mr. Meacham to that country -immediately as a peace officer, to turn the whole thing into a "big -talk," instead of letting it go on and getting into a big war. - -This policy was agreed upon by as many of the Oregonians as could be got -together. Styling ourselves an "Oregon delegation," we called upon -Attorney-General Williams, and submitted the matter to him. We promptly -received a note from the attorney-general, stating that Secretary Delano -would be glad to see us in regard to this matter, and on Saturday, the -25th, we called upon him. We found him a pleasant gentleman, with a very -serious business expression about his face. He heard our statements and -opinions with great patience, and requested a statement in writing of our -views, for the purpose of bringing the matter before the cabinet and -President. The following is the said document, which was signed by the -aforesaid Oregon delegation:-- - - WASHINGTON, D. C., January 27th, 1873. - - _Hon._ C. DELANO, _Secretary Interior_:-- - -DEAR SIR: We would most respectfully submit the following notes or -memoranda, in compliance with your request, on the 25th, that we should -embody in writing the views which we had just expressed on the situation -of affairs in the Klamath and Modoc country, in Southern Oregon:-- - -The Indians and military are incompatible. They cannot peaceably dwell in -contact. Soldiers should not be allowed to go on an Indian Reservation at -all. An agent in charge of an Indian Reservation should have the right to -determine who should be about the Reservation. - -The Modocs and the Klamaths have been at war as far back as tradition -knows. The Klamaths persecute the Modocs when the Modocs are on the -Klamath Reservation, because this Reservation is in the country of the -Klamaths. This is a most irritating cause of discontent with the Modocs. -The near vicinity of the Modocs to the ancient home of their fathers adds -to their discontent. Moreover, the Modocs do not understand that they have -justly parted ownership with their old home. The Modocs are desperate. -Their disposition now is to sell their lives as dearly as possible; not to -submit to the military. Active military operations should be suspended -immediately. Soldiers should remain in guard only (the regulars) of the -settlements against a raid by those Indians until a peace officer reports -on the situation. - -_Because_ to undertake to drive those Indians to the Reservation by force -would involve a considerable loss of life and property, and great expense -to the Government. - -_Because_ war and bloodshed in such close proximity to Klamath and Yai-nax -would produce disaffection among all those Indians, which would -continually augment the force of the insurgents, and even endanger a -general uprising and breaking up of those Reservations; and discontented -Indians from everywhere would seek the hostile camp, and make out of a -little misunderstanding a great war. - -_Because_ to force Indians on to a Reservation by arms, and keep them -there against their will, would require a standing army or a walled-up -Reservation. - -_Because_ those Indians already know that the Government is able to -annihilate them. There is nothing, therefore, to be gained in merely -making them feel its power. Their extermination would not be worth its -cost. And, moreover, they look to the Government to protect them against -local mistake and wrong. - -_Because_ they cannot, under the present juncture of affairs, be taught by -force the justice of the Government; for, to them, it is an attempt by -force to enforce an injustice--to force them to abandon their own home and -leave it unoccupied, while they are quartered upon the Klamaths; to use -the wood, water, grass, and fish of their ancient enemies, and endure the -humiliation of being regarded as inferior, because dependants; and -particularly so since those Indians had been quieted for some time with -the assurance that their request for a little Reservation of their own -would be favorably considered. They, therefore, considered the appeal to -the military to be premature, as a definite answer to their petition had -never been had. Different tribes of Indians can be better harmonized -together where none can claim original proprietorship to the soil. - -The Klamaths, Yai-nax, and Modocs all ought to be removed to the Coast -Reservation, a portion of which, lying between the Siletz and Tillamook, -west of the Grand Ronde, capable of sustaining a large population, remains -unoccupied, abounding in fish, game, and all the products of the soil to -which Indians are accustomed. - -A peace commissioner should hasten to the scene of trouble as coming from -the "Great Father" of all the people, both whites and Indians, with full -authority to hear and adjust all the difficulties. - -On account of his personal acquaintance with those Indians and their -implicit confidence in him, we would respectfully suggest and recommend -Hon. A. B. Meacham as a proper man to appoint as a peace commissioner for -the adjustment of difficulties with those tribes and the carrying out of -the policy herein indicated.--[SIGNED AS ABOVE STATED.] - - * * * * * - -The day following the filing of the above set of "_Becauses_" and -recommendations, I received a note inviting me to the Interior Department. -When notified of my appointment as Chairman of the Commission, I then -expressed doubts of its success, giving, as a reason, the intense feeling -of the western people against the Modocs and any peace measures; also as -to the safety of the commission in attempting to negotiate with a people -who were desperate, and had been successful in every engagement with the -Government forces. - -It is well known at the department in Washington that I accepted the -appointment with reluctance, and finally yielded my wishes on the urgent -solicitation of the Hon. Secretary of the Interior. The fact that I knew -the Modocs personally, and that I had been successful, while -Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon, in managing them peaceably in -1869, was given as one reason. Another was, the sympathy I had for them on -account of the treatment of them by the Klamaths; and another still, -humanity for the soldiers whose lives were imperilled by the effort to -make peace through blood, and charity for a poor, deluded people, whose -religious infatuation and hot blood had forfeited their right to life and -liberty. My heart was in sympathy, too, with the poor, bereaved wives and -mothers, made so by Modoc treachery; but I did not believe that doubling -the number of widows and orphans would make the griefs of the mourners -less, or lighter to be borne. - -The sands of the sage-brush plains had drank up the blood of a score of -manly hearts; immersing the lava rocks in blood could not make the dead -forms to rise again. - -With these feelings, and fully realizing the danger attending, and -anticipating the opposition that would be raised against the commission, I -left Washington on the 5th of February, 1873, with the determination to do -my whole duty, despite these untoward circumstances. The other members of -the commission were Hon. Jesse Applegate, a man of long experience on the -frontier, possessed of eminent qualities for such a mission, aside from -his personal knowledge of existing hostilities, and personal acquaintance -with the Modocs, and Samuel Case, who was then acting Indian Agent at -Alsea, Oregon. Mr. Case has had long experience and success in the -management of Indians; these qualities were requisite in treating with a -hostile people. _Both these appointments were made on my own -recommendation, based on a personal acquaintance with these gentlemen, -believing them fitted for the difficult task assigned the commission._ I -accepted the chairmanship more cheerfully, when informed that Gen. Canby -would act as counsellor to the commission, knowing, as I did, his great -experience among Indians, and the ability and character which he would -bring to bear upon the whole subject of the Modoc trouble. I knew him to -be humane and wise, and I had not the slightest doubt of his integrity. - -The following letter of instructions was furnished for the guidance of the -commission. - -With these, and the appointment of Messrs. Applegate and Case, I went to -the head-quarters of Gen. Canby, then at Fairchild's Ranch, twenty-five -miles from the Modoc camp in the Lava Beds. - -I arrived at Fairchild's Ranch on the 19th of February, where I found -General Canby, Hon. Jesse Applegate, and Agent Samuel Case. - -The Commission was duly organized, and immediately began operations -looking towards the objects sought to be accomplished. - -Communication with the rebel camp had been suspended after the visit of -Fairchild and Dorris. To reopen and establish it was the first work. This -was not easy to do under the circumstances. There were several Modoc -Indian women encamped near head-quarters; but it was necessary to have -some messenger more reliable. Living but a few miles distant, was a man -whose wife was a Klamath, and who was on friendly terms with the Modocs. -This man, "Bob Whittle," was sent for, with a request to bring his wife -with him. On his arrival, we found him to be a man of sound judgment, and -his wife to be a well-appearing woman; understanding the English language -tolerably well. - -A consultation was had, and we decided to send this Indian woman and her -husband, Bob Whittle, and "One-eyed Dixie," a Modoc woman, with a message -to the Modocs in the Lava Beds. The substance of this message was, that a -commission was then at Fairchild's ready to talk over matters with them. -This expedition was very hazardous. - -These messengers left head-quarters early on the morning of the 21st of -February, all of them _expressing doubt about ever returning_. Fairchild's -Ranch (our head-quarters) is situated at the foot of a mountain -overlooking the route to the Lava Beds, for several miles. We watched the -mounted messengers until we lost sight of them in the distance, wondering -whether we should ever see them again. - -Talk of _heroism_ being confined to race, color, or sex! nonsense; here -were two women and a man, venturing where few men would have _dared_ go. - -They returned late on the same day, unharmed, and reported having been in -the Modoc camp; and bringing with them, in response to our message, the -reply, that the Modocs were willing to meet John Fairchild and Bob -Whittle, at the foot of the bluff, for the purpose of arranging for a -council talk with the commission. - -Messrs. Fairchild and Whittle were despatched on the following morning, -accompanied by Matilda Whittle and "One-eyed Dixie." Mr. Fairchild was -instructed to announce the object of the commission, and, also, who were -its members, and to arrange to meet the representative men of the Modocs, -on some midway ground, with such precautionary measures as he might -consider necessary. - -He was also instructed to explain to them the meaning of an -armistice,--that _no act of war would be committed by us, or permitted by -them, while negotiations for peace were going on_. The meeting with -Captain Jack was had by Fairchild and party; the object stated, and the -_personnel_ of the commission made known. Captain Jack's reply was that he -was _ready to make peace_; that he did _not wish to fight_, but he was not -willing to come out of the Lava Beds to meet us. "I understand you about -not fighting, or killing cattle, or stealing horses. Tell your people they -need not be afraid to go over the country while we are making peace. My -boys will stay in the rocks while it is being settled; _we will not fire -the first shot_. You can go and hunt your cattle; no one will shoot you. -We will not begin again first. I want to see Esquire Steele. I am willing -to meet the commissioners at the foot of the bluff, but I don't want them -to come with soldiers to make peace. The soldiers frighten my boys." - -The messengers returned, accompanied by two Modoc warriors, who were to -carry back our answer. These Modocs were Boston Charley and Bogus Charley. -We refused to go to the foot of the bluff unless accompanied by an escort -of soldiers, but proposed to meet them on open ground, "_all armed_" or -"_all unarmed_." It was agreed that Esquire Steele should be sent for. -Bogus and Boston returned to the Modoc camp with the results of the -interview. Steele was invited to head-quarters. Gen. Canby requested by -telegraph the appointment of Judge A. M. Roseborough as a commissioner; -the request was granted, and, on the morning of the 23d, Steele and -Roseborough arrived. - -The commission now numbered four. The Modocs had refused to accept all -propositions for a meeting that had been made them, so far. Communication -was now had, almost daily, between the commissioners and Captain Jack, -Frank Riddle and his wife Tobey acting as messengers and interpreters. The -Modocs came to our camp in small numbers,--there they came in constant -communication with "squaw men" (white men who associate with Indian -women), whose sympathy was with them. - -From these they learned of the almost universal thirst for vengeance,--of -the indictments by the Jackson county courts against the "Lost-river" -murderers; the feelings of the newspaper press; the protest of the -Governor of Oregon; all of which was carried into the Modoc camp by such -men as Bogus and Boston Charley. I stop here to say that these two men -were well fitted for the part they played in the tragic event of which I -am writing. Bogus Charley was a full-blooded Modoc, whose father was lost -in some Indian battle. This boy was born on a small creek, called by the -miners Bogus creek; hence his name. He was not more than twenty-one years -old at this time. He had lived with white men at various times,--knew -something of civilized life,--was naturally shrewd and cunning; the -Indians called him a "double-hearted man;" and my readers will honor them -for their intelligence by the time we reach the gibbet, where Captain Jack -answered for this man's crimes. - -His counterpart may be found in civil life in finely dressed and -smooth-talking white men,--who are the scourges of good society,--persons -who are all things to all men, and true to none. Boston Charley was still -younger,--not over nineteen at the time justice caught him by the neck and -suspended him over a coffin at Fort Klamath, November 3d, 1873. He was so -named on account of his light complexion and his cunning; and as the -Indian said, "Because he had two tongues; one Indian and one white." His -father, a Modoc, died a natural death. He had no personal cause for his -treachery, and perhaps charity should have been extended _to him_, and his -life spared, because he was "_a natural-born traitor,_" according to Modoc -theology, and not to blame for his acts. - -However, such were the two principal messengers from the Modoc camp to -ours,--plausible fellows, who could lie without the slightest scruples. -They came, and were fed and clothed; they _went_, with their hearts full -of falsehoods that had been told them by whiskey-drinking white villains. -They, too, were plausible fellows; talked with the old-fashioned -"D----n-nigger-any-how" sort of a way. - -Under such circumstances it was a somewhat difficult thing to arrange a -council with the Modocs on reasonable terms. True, the Modocs did say that -they had been told by white men that if Gen. Canby and the commissioners -ever got them in their power they would _all_ be hung. But who would -believe a Modoc? This was simply an excuse; and, then, no one in all that -country would have done such a thing. That was a Modoc lie. Nobody but -Modocs ever tell lies. On the contrary, _every white man was honest_. They -all wanted _to stop the war_. Of course they did. Intimate anything else, -and you would get a hundred invitations to "target practice" in -twenty-four hours; or else you would _fall in a fit_, and never get up -again, caused by _remorse_ of conscience for injuring some unnamed -individual. - -On the arrival of Judge Roseborough and Esquire Steele the commission was -convened; a canvass of the situation was had. The proposition was made for -Mr. Steele to visit the Modoc camp. He consented to go, believing that he -could accomplish the object we had in view. He was _unwisely_ instructed -to offer terms of peace. This should not have been done. No terms ever -should have been offered through a _third party_,--Messrs. Roseborough, -Case, and Applegate voting for this measure. No one questioned Mr. -Steele's integrity or his sagacity, but many did question the propriety of -sending propositions of peace to the Modocs through a third party. This -gave them the advantage of refusal, and of the advantage of discussion in -offering alternatives. Mr. Steele was authorized to say that an amnesty -for all offenders would be granted on the condition of removal to a new -home on some distant Reservation, to be selected by the Modocs; they, -meanwhile, to be quartered on "Angel Island," in San Francisco harbor, as -_prisoners_ of war, and fed and clothed at Government expense. Mr. Steele -was accompanied on this mission by Fairchild and "Bill Dad" (correspondent -of the "Sacramento Record"), and also one or two other newspaper -correspondents,--Riddle and wife as interpreters. - -They went prepared to remain over night, taking blankets and provisions. -The Modocs received them with evident pleasure. - -After the usual preliminaries were over, the peace talk began. Captain -Jack made a long speech, repeating the history of the past, throwing all -the responsibility on to the messengers sent by Superintendent Odeneal, -denying that either he or his people had ever committed crime until -attacked by the soldiers; that he was anxious for peace. Mr. Steele made -the proposition to come out of the Lava Beds and go to a new home. - -Steele's speech was apparently well received, and an arrangement was made -whereby several Modocs were to return with him to the head-quarters of the -commission. Nothing of an alarming character occurred. The party returned -in the afternoon of the second day, accompanied by "Queen Mary" (sister of -Captain Jack), "Bogus Charley," "Hooker Jim," "Long Jim," "Boston -Charley," "Shacknasty Jim," "Duffy," "William," "Curly-haired Jack." - -We were on the lookout, and when the now enlarged party came in sight they -made an imposing appearance. Steele was in advance, and, raising his hat, -saluted our ears with the thrilling words, "They accept peace." Couriers -to ride to Y-re-ka were ordered, despatches prepared for the departments, -and the various newspapers. A general feeling of relief was manifest -everywhere around camp. We felt that a great victory over blood and -carnage had been won, and that our hazardous labors were nearly over. -Letters of congratulation were being prepared to send to friends, and all -was happiness and joy, when our gray-eyed friend, who was with the party, -put a sudden check on the exuberant feelings, by saying, "I don't think -the Modocs agreed to accept the terms offered. True, they responded to -Steele's speech, but _not in that way_. I tell you they do not understand -that they have agreed to _surrender yet, on any terms_." - -Mr. Steele repeated his declaration, and the speeches, as reported by -"Bill Dad," were read, from which it appeared they had greeted Steele's -peace-talk with applause. The Modocs, who came in with Steele and his -party, were called up and questioned as to the understanding. They were -reticent, saying they came out to _hear_ what was said, and not to _talk_. - -No expression could be obtained from them. Of the success of his mission, -Steele was so confident that he proposed to return the next day to Captain -Jack's camp, and reassure himself and the commission. He accordingly -started early the next morning, accompanied by the Modocs who came out -with him, and "Bill Dad" (the scribe). Mr. Fairchild was invited, but he -declined with a peculiarly slow swinging of his head from side to side, -that said a great deal; especially when he shut his eyes closely, while so -doing. Riddle, also, objected to going, but consented to let his wife -Tobey go. - -The party left behind them some minds full of anxiety, especially when -reflecting on Fairchild's pantomime. - -The Modocs, who were returning with Steele, reached the stronghold some -time before he did. On his arrival, the greeting made his "_hair stand on -end_,"--he saw fearful possibilities. It required no words to convince him -that he had been _mistaken_. He realized, in a moment, the great peril of -the hour. The slightest exhibition of fear on his part would have closed -up his career, and the scribe's, also. Steele's long experience with the -Indians had not fully qualified him to understand them in council; but it -_had_ taught him that _real_ courage commands respect even from infuriated -savages. - -He sought to appear indifferent to the changed manner, and extended his -hand to the chief, who exchanged the greetings with great caution, though -giving Steele to understand that he was still his friend. - -The council was opened, the chief remarking that they had _not yet shown -their hearts_; that his friend Steele had missed some of his words. - -Steele replied that he was their friend, and that he would not, knowingly, -misrepresent them. - -Schonchin accused him of being a traitor to the Modocs, and of telling -falsehoods about them; and, more by manner than by word, intimated that he -was done talking peace, showing a bad heart in his action, sufficiently to -enlighten Steele on the most important thing in the world to him, namely, -that Schonchin did not intend to give Steele another opportunity to -misrepresent the Modocs. - -Steele's courage and coolness saved him. He said to Schonchin, "I do not -want to talk to a man when his heart is bad. We will talk again -to-morrow." - -The council was dissolved, the Modocs scattering about the camp, or -gathering in little squads, and talking in low tones. - -The indications were, that the time for saying prayers had come, at least -for Steele and Bill Dad. - -Captain Jack and Scar-faced Charley demonstrated that manhood and fidelity -may be found even in Indian camps. They, without saying in words that -Steele and Bill Dad were in danger, told them to sleep in Jack's camp, and -proceeded to prepare the night-bed. Our messengers trustingly lay down to -rest, if not to sleep, while Scar-faced Charley, Jack and Queen Mary, -stood guard over their friends. Several times in the night, Steele looked -from under the blankets, to see each time his self-appointed guards -standing sentinel in silence. - -All night long they remained at their posts, and it was well for Steele -and Bill Dad that they did; otherwise they would have been sent off, that -very night, to the other side of the "dark river." - -The morning came and the council reassembled; the signs of murder were not -wanting. Angry words and dark hints told the feeling. - -Steele, relying on the friendship of Captain Jack and Scarface Charley, -proposed that he would return to the head-quarters of the commission, and -_bring with them all the commissioners the next day_. - -This strategy was successful. He was permitted to depart on his promise to -lead the commission to the Modoc slaughter-pen. On his arrival at our camp -he looked some older than when he left the morning previous. - -He admitted that he had been mistaken, detailing, without attempt at -concealment, that he had escaped only by promising that the commission -should visit the Lava Beds unarmed; but with candor declared that if they -went they would be murdered; that the Modocs were desperate, and were -disposed to recall the Ben Wright affair, and dwell upon it in a way that -indicated their thirst for revenge. - -The department at Washington was informed by telegraph, and also by -letter, of the progress of negotiations from time to time, and _always, -without exception, by the advice and approbation of Gen. Canby_. - -On Steele's return, as Chairman of the Peace Commission, I telegraphed -the facts above referred to, and that it was the opinion of the -commission, concurred in by Gen. Canby, that treachery was intended, and -that the mission could not succeed, and that we were awaiting orders; to -which we received the following reply:-- - - DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, March 5, 1873. - - A. B. MEACHAM, _Fairchild's Ranch, via Yreka, Cal._: - - I do not believe the Modocs mean treachery. The mission should - not be a failure. Think I understand now their unwillingness to - confide in you. Continue negotiations. - - Will consult President, and have War Department confer with - General Canby to-morrow. - - C. DELANO, - _Secretary_. - -The camp wore a gloomy aspect. The soldiers who had been with Maj. Jackson -on Lost river, and with Gen. Wheaton in the Lava Beds, were anxious for -peace on any terms. - -Another fight was not desirable. They were real friends to the Peace -Commission. The field-glasses were often turned toward the trail leading -to the Lava Beds. - -Late one evening, a small squad of Modocs were seen coming. Hope began to -dawn again on the camp. When they arrived, "Queen Mary," speaking for her -brother, proposed, that if Gen. Canby would send wagons and teams to meet -them half way, the Modocs would all come out and surrender. - -The proposition was accepted, the commission decided _three to one_, to -turn the whole matter over to Gen. Canby; meanwhile awaiting the -confirmation of the Secretary of the Interior of the above action. - -Gen. Canby, accepting the charge conferred by this unwarranted action of -our board, assumed the management of affairs; and the chairman could only -look on, giving opinions when requested by Gen. Canby, though confident -that it was not the intention of the Department of the Interior to -transfer this matter to the Department of War at that time. The telegraph -station was at Y-re-ka, sixty-miles from head-quarters; hence two to three -days were required to receive replies to telegrams. - -Gen. Canby, anxious for peace,--as, indeed, he always was, from humane -motives toward his soldiers and the Indians also, because he believed in -the principle,--attempted to settle the difficulties, and, knowing it to -be the policy of the President, accepted the terms offered. Mary and the -men who came out with her returned to the Lava Beds, with the distinct -understanding that the teams would be sent _without_ a squad of soldiers -to a point designated, and that on the following Monday all the Modocs -would be there. - -When Gen. Canby assumed the control of this affair, he conducted his -councils without Riddle and his wife as interpreters, although they were -present, and were in Government employ by the commission. - -For some reason he became prejudiced against them, and did not recognize -them as interpreters. This fact was observed by the Modocs, and they were -anxious to know why this was so. - -Before leaving, "Boston," who was with Mary, signified to Tobey (Mrs. -Riddle), that she would not see him again, saying: "If you ever see me, I -will pay you for the saddle I borrowed." - -Tobey, feeling incensed at the treatment received, was reticent, and, -Indian-like, kept quiet, saying nothing of her suspicions. - -The day before the time for surrender another messenger came from the -Modocs, saying that they could not get ready, that they were burning their -dead, but promising that two days hence they would surely come. - -Gen. Canby accepted the apology, and assured the messenger that the teams -would be sent. - -Meanwhile, the report went out that the war was over, much to the disquiet -of those who were anxious to secure U. S. greenbacks. - -The day previous to the proposed surrender, Riddle and his wife expressed -to me their opinion, that if the teams were sent they would be _captured_, -or that no Modocs would meet them, to surrender. - -I sought an interview with Gen. Canby, giving him the opinions I had -formed from Riddle's talk. - -The general called Riddle and his wife to his quarters. They repeated to -him what they had previously said to me. He consulted Gen. Gilliam, and -concluded that Mrs. Riddle either did not know, or was working into the -hands of the Modocs, or, perhaps, was influenced in some way by those who -were opposed to peace. - -At all events, on the morning fixed upon, the teams were sent out, under -charge of Mr. Steele. Many an anxious eye followed them until they passed -out of sight. - -The hours dragged slowly by for their return; but so sanguine were Gen. -Canby and Gen. Gilliam that tents were prepared for their accommodation, -one was designated as "Captain Jack's Marquee," another "Schonchin's," and -so on, through the row of white canvas tents. - -Mr. Applegate was so certain that they would come that he left the -head-quarters for home, and reported en route: "The war is over. The -Modocs have surrendered." - -The soldiers were ready and anxious to welcome the heroes of the Lava -Beds. The sentiment was not universal that the wagons would return loaded -with Indians. - -Our keen-sighted, gray-eyed man shook his head. "I don't think they will -come. They are not going to Angel Island, as prisoners of war, just yet." - -Riddle and wife were in distress; their warning had been disregarded, -their opinions dishonored, their integrity doubted. - -Every field-glass was turned on the road over which the wagons were to -come. _Four o'clock P.M._, no teams in sight. _Five_,--no Indian yet; and, -finally, as the shadow of the mountain fell over the valley, the glasses -discovered, first, Mr. Steele alone, and soon the empty wagons came slowly -down the road. - -Darkness covered the valley, and also the hearts of those who really -desired peace. But a new hope was now revived in the hearts of those who, -from near and afar, were clamoring for the blood of the Modocs. - -Another delegation arrived from the Modoc camp, saying, "The Modocs could -not agree; they wanted more time to think about it." - -The truth is, that they failed to agree about capturing the teams. Jack -and Scar-face were opposed to it. The authorities at Washington were -informed of this failure, also; and they replied to the commission, -"Continue negotiations." Mr. Case resigned; Judge Roseborough returned to -his duties on the bench. - -Gen. Canby notified the Modocs that no more trifling would be tolerated. -Recruits were coming daily,--one company, passing near the Lava Beds, -_captured about thirty Modoc ponies_. Gen. Canby moved his head-quarters -to Van Bremen's, a few miles nearer the Lava Beds. - -I suggested to General Canby, that the capture of horses was in violation -of the armistice, and that they should be returned. The general objected, -saying, that they should be well cared for and turned over when peace was -made. - -Dr. Eleazer Thomas, of California, at the request of Senator Sargent, was -added to the commission, as was, also, Mr. Dyer, agent of the Klamath -Indians. - -Dr. Thomas brought with him a long and successful experience as a minister -of the Methodist Church. He had lived on the Pacific coast for eighteen -years; but he had little experience or knowledge of Indians. Being a man -of great purity of character and untiring energy, coupled with a humane -heart and active hand, he threw himself into this new mission with -earnestness, and was impatient to begin to do something towards the -accomplishment of _peace_. - -Gen. Canby was sending out exploring parties of armed mounted men -occasionally,--the ostensible object of which was to obtain a better -knowledge of the country around the Lava Beds, with a view to moving the -army nearer the Modocs. The commission was not informed of these -expeditions, or their objects, by Gen. Canby, but through other parties. - -On one occasion, Dr. Thomas went out with a company, and while surveying -the Lava Beds at a distance, they met several Modocs, with whom he talked, -and succeeded in reopening communication. - -A delegation of Indians visited the new camp at Van Bremens. Every effort -made through them to secure a meeting with the Board of Commissioners and -Modocs failed. - -Gen. Canby notified the Modoc chief of his intention to change the -position of the army, so that the communications might be more easily -made; and, also, that he would not commence hostilities against them -unless they provoked an attack. - -Captain Jack's reply was, that he would not "fire the first shot;" but, -through his messengers, he asked a return of his horses. - -Indians have great love for their horses. When a small company of the -Modoc women came in asking for their ponies, they were denied them, but -were permitted to go under guard to the corral and see them. It was a -touching scene,--those Indian women caressing their ponies. They turned -sadly away, when compelled, by orders, to leave the corral. - -The fact is, several of these ponies had already been appropriated for the -use of _young_ soldiers, at home, when the war should be over. - -On the last day of March, 1873, the camp at Van Bremens was broken up, and -the army was put in motion for the Lava Beds. - -I was never shown any order from either department, at Washington city, -that authorized this movement, though I do not doubt Gen. Canby felt -justified in so doing. - -The commission was notified--not consulted. We were under instructions "in -no wise to interfere with the army movement, but always, as far as -possible, to confer and co-operate with Gen. Canby." - -Four days were occupied in moving. We arrived at the top of the bluff -overlooking this now historic spot of rocks, about noon of the second day. - -How little we knew then of the near future, when Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas -would be carried, in rough-made coffins, _up_ the zigzag road that we went -down on that day! - -Our new camp was pitched near the foot of this high bluff, and immediately -on the shore of the lake. From it, with a field-glass, we could see Capt. -Jack's people moving around their rocky home, not more than one mile and a -half, air-line, though two miles around by land. - -While my memory is still green with the scenes that followed, and I have -not justified and will not justify or seek to palliate the crimes of the -Modocs, still I cannot forget some of the meditations of the half hour I -sat with Dr. Thomas, when half-way down the bluff, up which I was not to -go at all, and the doctor only as a corpse. - -I have recollections yet of a part, at least, of the conversation between -us. We were representing one of the most powerful governments in the -world, and bearing peace and human kindness in our hearts, while passing -us, as we sat, were the sinews of war,--armed soldiers by the hundred. -Cannon were being dragged down the hill, tents were being erected, and all -the circumstance of military power and display was at our feet or above -us, hastening to compel an infuriated, misguided people to acknowledge the -authority of our Government. - -Over yonder, within range of our glasses, were a half-hundred men, -unlettered, uncivilized, and infuriated by a superstitious religious -faith, that urged them to reject the "olive-branch" which we came to offer -them. - -We could see beyond them another army of ten times their number, camping -nearer to them. - -The doctor was moved by deep feeling of compassion for them, and spoke -very earnestly of their helpless condition,--benighted in mind, without -enough of the great principles of Christian justice and power to recognize -and respect the individual rights of others. Doomed as a race, hopeless -and in despair, they sat on their stony cliffs, around their caves, and -counted the men, and horses, and guns, that came down the hill to _make -peace_ with them, turning their eyes only to see the sight repeated. - -Look nearer at the boys with blue dress, as they pass us, bearing camp -equipage. Many of the men are going down this hill to _stay_, unless we -can make peace with the Modocs. Our hearts grow sick at the thoughts -suggested by our surroundings. - -Mutually pledging anew to stand together for peace as long as there was a -hope, we slowly followed down to the camp. - -I cannot forbear mentioning an accident of the evening. - -Gen. Canby's tent was partly up when I passed near him. He said, "Well, -Mr. Meacham, where is your tent?"--"It has not come," I replied. - -The general ordered the men to pull up the pins and move his tent to the -site we had selected for ours. It was only by the most earnest entreaty on -our part that he countermanded the order, and then only on our promise to -share his tent with him, if ours was not put up in time for us to occupy -for the night. - -On the day following our arrival a meeting was had with the Modocs. On our -part, Gen. Canby, Gen. Gilliam, Dr. Thomas, Mr. Dyer and myself, Frank -Riddle and Tobey as interpreters. Some of our party were armed; others -were not. Riddle and his wife Tobey were suspicious of treachery, and -said, as we went, "Be sure to mix up with the Modocs; don't let them get -you in a bunch." - -"Boston," who had come to our camp to arrange for the meeting, led the -way. We saw arising, apparently out of the rocks, a smoke. When we arrived -we found Captain Jack, and the principal men of his band, and about -half-a-dozen women standing by a fire built in a low, rocky basin. - -Dr. Thomas was the first to descend. He did not seem to observe, indeed he -did not observe, that we were going entirely out of sight of the -field-glasses at our camp. - -The place suggested treachery, especially after Riddle's warning. I -scanned the rocks around the rim of the basin, but did not see ambushed -men; nevertheless, I had some misgiving; but it was too late to retreat -then, and to have refused to join the council would have invited an -attack. The greetings were cordial; nothing that indicated danger except -the place, and the fact that there were three times as many Indians as -"Boston" had said would be there. One reassuring circumstance was the -presence of their women. But this may have been only a blind. After -smoking the pipe of _peace_ the talk opened, each one of our party making -short speeches in favor of peace, and showing good intentions. The chief -replied in a short preliminary talk; Schonchin also. We stated our object, -and explained why the soldiers were brought so closely,--that we wanted to -feel safe. - -Thus passed nearly an hour, when an incident occurred that caused some of -our party to change position very quietly. - -Hooker Jim said to Mr. Riddle, "Stand aside,--get out of the way!" in -Modoc. Some of us understood what it meant. Tobey moved close to our party -and reprimanded Hooker. Captain Jack said to him, "Stop that." - -This lava bed country being at an altitude of four thousand five hundred -feet, and immediately under the lee of high mountains on the west, is -subject to heavy storms. - -While we were talking, a black cloud overspread the rocks and a rain-storm -came on. - -Gen. Canby remarked that "We could not talk in the rain." Captain Jack -seemed to treat the remark with ridicule, though the interpreters omitted -to mention the fact. He said "The rain was a small matter;" that "Gen. -Canby was better clothed than he was," but "he (Jack) would not melt like -snow." - -Gen. Canby proposed to erect a council tent on half-way ground, where -subsequent meetings could be held. - -This proposition was agreed to, and just as the storm was at its height. - -No agreement was made for another meeting, although it was understood that -negotiations would be continued. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVII. - - CAPTAIN JACK A DIPLOMAT--SHOOT ME IF YOU DARE. - - -On the following day the council tent was erected in a comparatively -smooth plot of land, in the Lava Beds, care being taken to select a site -as far as possible from rocks that might answer for an ambuscade. - -This place was less than one mile from our camp, and a little more than a -mile from the Modocs. Meanwhile the signal corps had established -communication between the two army camps. The signal station at our camp -was half way up the bluff, and commanded a view of the council tent, and -of the trail leading to it from the Modoc stronghold, as it did of the -entire Lava Beds. - -Col. Mason's command being on the opposite side of Captain Jack's -head-quarters, from our camp, the three were almost in a line. -Communication was also established between the army camps, with boats -going from one to the other, and, in doing so, passing in full view of the -Modocs. - -The Modocs were permitted to visit the head-quarters during the day, and -to mix and mingle with the officers and men. The object of this liberty -was to convince them of the friendly intentions of the army, and also of -its power, as they everywhere saw the arms and munitions of war. They were -also permitted to examine the shell mortars and the shells themselves. - -On one occasion Bogus Charley and Hooker Jim observed the signal telegraph -working, and inquired the meaning of it. They were told by Gen. Gilliam -that he was talking to the other camp; that he knew what was going on over -there; they were also informed that Col. Mason would move up nearer to -their camp in a few days, and that he, Gen. Gilliam, would move his camp -on to the little flat very near Captain Jack's. "But don't you shoot my -men. I won't shoot your men, but I am going over there to see if -everything is all right." Gen. Gilliam also informed them that, "in a few -days, one hundred Warm Spring braves would be there." - -These things excited the Modocs very much. Bogus Charley questioned -General Gilliam, "What for you talk over my home? I no like that. What for -the Warm Springs come here?" Receiving no satisfactory reply, they went to -Fairchild, who was in camp, and expressed much dissatisfaction on account -of the signal telegraph, and the coming of the Warm Spring Indians. - -On the 5th of April Captain Jack sent Boston Charley, with a request for -old man Meacham to meet him at the council tent, and to bring John -Fairchild along. This message was laid before the board. It was thought, -both by Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas, to be fraught with danger. I did not, -and I assumed the responsibility of going this time; inviting Mr. -Fairchild, and taking Riddle and his wife as interpreters, I went. - -[Illustration: WI-NE-MAH (TOBEY).] - -Judge Roseborough arrived in camp, and came on after we had reached the -council tent. - -Captain Jack was on the ground, accompanied by his wives and seven or -eight men. On this occasion he talked freely, saying, substantially, that -he felt afraid of Gen. Canby, on account of his military dress; and, also, -of Dr. Thomas, because he was a Sunday doctor; but "now I can talk. I am -not afraid. I know you and Fairchild. I know your hearts." He reviewed the -circumstances that led to the war, nearly in the order they have been -referred to in this volume, and differing in no material point, except -that he blamed Superintendent Odeneal for not coming in person to see him -while on Lost river, saying, "that he would not have resisted him. Take -away the soldier, and the war will stop. Give me a home on Lost river. I -can take care of my people. I do not ask anybody to help me. We can make a -living for ourselves. Let us have the same chance that other men have. We -do not want to ask an agent where we can go. We are _men_; we are not -women." - -I replied, that, "since blood has been spilled on Lost river, you cannot -live there in peace; the blood would always come up between you and the -white men. The army cannot be withdrawn until all the troubles are -settled." - -After sitting in silence a few moments, he replied, "I hear your words. I -give up my home on Lost river. Give me this lava bed for a home. I can -live here; take away your soldiers, and we can settle everything. Nobody -will ever want these rocks; give me a home here." - -Assured that no peace could be had while he remained in the rocks, unless -he gave up the men who committed the murders on Lost river for trial, he -met me with real Indian logic: "Who will try them,--white men or Indians?" - -"White men, of course," I replied, although I knew that this man had an -inherent idea of the right of trial by a jury of his peers, and that he -would come back with another question not easy to be answered by a citizen -_who believed in equal justice to all men_. - -"Then will you give up the men who killed the Indian women and children on -Lost river, to be tried by the Modocs?" - -I said, "No, because the Modoc law is dead; the white man's law rules the -country now; only one law lives at a time." - -He had not yet exhausted all his mental resources. Hear him say: "Will you -try the men who fired on my people, on the east side of Lost river, by -your own law?" - -This inquiry was worthy of a direct answer, and it would seem that no -honest man need hesitate to say "Yes." _I did not_ say yes, because I knew -that the prejudice was so strong against the Modocs that it could not be -done. I could only repeat that "the white man's law rules the -country,--the Indian law is dead." - -"Oh, yes, I see; the white man's laws are good for the white man, but they -are made so as to leave the Indian out. No, my friend, I cannot give up -the young men to be hung. I know they did wrong,--their blood was bad when -they saw the women and children dead. _They_ did not begin; the white man -began first; I know they are bad; I can't help that; I have no strong -laws, and strong houses; some of your young men are bad, too; _you_ have -strong laws and strong houses (jails); why don't you make your men do -right? No, I cannot give up my young men; take away the soldiers, and all -the trouble will stop." - -I repeated again: "The soldiers cannot be taken away while you stay in the -Lava Beds." Laying his hand on my arm, he said, "Tell me, my friend, what -I am to do,--I do not want to fight." I said to him, "The only way now for -peace is to come out of the rocks, and we will hunt up a new home for you; -then all this trouble will cease. No peace can be made while you stay in -the Lava Beds; we can find you another place, and the President will give -you each a home." He replied, "I don't know any other country. God gave me -this country; he put my people here first. I was born here,--my father was -born here; I want to live here; I do not want to leave the ground where I -was born." - -On being again assured that he "must come out of the rocks and leave the -country, acknowledge the authority of the Government, and then we could -live in peace," his reply was characteristic of the man and his race:-- - -"You ask me to come out, and put myself in your power. I cannot do it,--I -am afraid; no, I am not afraid, but my people are. When you was at -Fairchild's ranch you sent me word that no more preparation for war would -be made by you, and that I must not go on preparing for war until this -thing was settled. I have done nothing; I have seen your men passing -through the country; I could have killed them; I did not; my men have -stayed in the rocks all the time; they have not killed anybody; they have -not killed any cattle. I have kept my promise,--_have you kept yours_? -Your soldiers stole my horses, you did not give them up; you say 'you -want peace,' why do you come with so many soldiers to make peace? I see -your men coming every day with big guns; does _that_ look like making -peace?" - -Then, rising to his feet, he pointed to the farther shore of the lake: "Do -you see that dark spot there? _do you see it?_ Forty-six of my people met -Ben Wright there when I was a little boy. He told them he wanted to make -peace. It was a rainy day; my people wore moccasins then; their feet were -wet. _He smoked the pipe with them._ They believed him; they set down to -dry their feet; they unstrung their bows, and laid them down by their -sides; when, suddenly, Ben Wright drawing a pistol with each hand, began -shooting my people. Do you know how many escaped? _Do you know?_" With his -eye fixed fiercely on mine, he waited a minute, and then, raising one -hand, with his fingers extended, he answered silently. Continuing, he -said: "One man of the five--Te-he-Jack--is now in that camp there," -pointing to the stronghold. - -I pointed to "Bloody Point," and _asked him how many escaped there_? He -answered: "Your people and mine were at war then; they were not making -peace." - -On my asserting that "Ben Wright did wrong to kill people under a flag of -truce," he said: "_You_ say it is wrong; but your _Government_ did not say -it was wrong. It made him a tyee chief. Big Chief made him an Indian -agent." - -This half-savage had truth on his side, as far as the Government was -concerned; as to the treachery of Ben Wright, that has been emphatically -denied, and just as positively affirmed, by parties who were cognizant of -the affair. It is certain that the Modocs have always claimed that he -violated a flag of truce, and that they have never complained of any -losses of men in any other way. I have no doubt that this massacre had -been referred to often in the Modoc councils by the "Curly-haired Doctor" -and his gang of cut-throats, for the purpose of preventing peace-making. - -Captain Jack, rising to full stature, broke out in an impassioned speech, -that I had not thought him competent to make:-- - -"I am but one man. I am the voice of my people. Whatever their hearts are, -that I talk. I want no more war. I want to be a man. You deny me the right -of a white man. My skin is red; my heart is a white man's heart; but I am -a _Modoc_. I am not afraid to die. I will not fall on the rocks. When I -die, my enemies will be under me. Your soldiers begun on me when I was -asleep on Lost river. They drove us to these rocks, like a wounded deer. -Tell your soldier tyee I am over there now; tell him not to hunt for me on -Lost river or Shasta Butte. Tell him I _am over there_. I want him to take -his soldiers away. I do not want to fight. I am a Modoc. I am not afraid -to die. I can show him how a Modoc can die." - -I advised him to think well; that our Government was strong, and would not -go back; if he would not come out of the rocks the war would go on, and -all his people would be destroyed. - -Before parting, I proposed for him to go to camp with me, and have dinner -and another talk. He said "he was not afraid to go, but his people were -afraid for him. He could not go." - -This talk lasted nearly seven hours, and was the only full, free talk had -with the Modocs during the existence of the Peace Commission. - -I left that council having more respect for the Modoc chief than I had -ever felt before. No arrangement was made for subsequent meetings, he -going to his camp, to counsel with his people. We returned to ours, to -report to the Board of Commissioners the talk, from the notes taken. Judge -Roseborough, who had been present a portion of the time, and Mr. -Fairchild, agreed with me that Captain Jack himself wanted peace, and was -willing to accept the terms offered; but he, being in the hands of bad -men, might not be able to bring his people out of the rocks. - -Gen. Canby, Dr. Thomas, and Mr. Dyer were of the opinion that, inasmuch as -Captain Jack had abandoned his claim to Lost river, which he had always -insisted on previously, he might consent to a removal. We did not believe -that his people would permit him to make such terms. We were all more -anxious than before to save Captain Jack and those who were in favor of -peace. Accordingly, it was determined to make the effort, Gen. Canby -authorizing me to say, through a messenger, that, if Captain Jack and the -peace party would come out, he would place the troops in position to -protect him while making the attempt. - -Tobey Riddle was despatched to the Modoc camp with the message, fully -instructed what to say. On her arrival, Captain Jack refused a _private_ -conference, saying, "I want my people all to hear." The proposition was -made, the vote was taken, and but eleven men voted with Jack to accept the -terms, the majority giving warning that any attempt to escape would be -attended with chances of death to all who dared it. Captain Jack replied -to the message: "I am a _Modoc_, and I cannot, and will not, leave my -people." The reason was evident--he _dared_ not, knowing that his own life -and that of his family would pay the penalty. - -This vote in Tobey's presence gave a knowledge as to the number of peace -men in the Modoc camp. On her return to our camp, one of the peace men -(the wild girl's man), having secreted himself behind a rock near the -trail, as she passed, said to her: "Tell old man Meacham and all the men -not to come to the council tent again--they get killed." Tobey could not -stop to hear more, lest she should betray her friend who was giving her -the information. She arrived at the Peace Commission tent in camp in great -distress; her eyes were swollen, and gave evidence of weeping. She sat on -her horse in solemn, sullen silence for some minutes, refusing to speak -until her husband arrived. He beckoned me to him, and, with whitened lips, -told the story of the intended assassination. The board was assembled, and -the warning thus given us was repeated by Riddle, also the reply of -Captain Jack to our message. A discussion was had over the warning, Gen. -Canby saying that they "might talk such things, but they would not attempt -it." Dr. Thomas was inclined to believe that it was a sensational story, -got up for effect. Mr. Dyer and myself accepted the warning, accrediting -the authority. - -On the day following, a delegation composed of "Bogus," "Boston," and -"Shacknasty," arrived, and proposed a meeting at the council tent; saying -that Captain Jack and four other Indians were there waiting for us to meet -them. I was managing the talks and negotiations for councils, and without -evincing distrust of Boston, who was spokesman, said we were not ready to -talk that day. While the parley was going on, an orderly handed Gen. Canby -a despatch from the signal station, saying, "_Five Indians at the council -tent, apparently unarmed, and about twenty others, with rifles, are in the -rocks a few rods behind them_." This paper was passed from one to another -without comment, while the talk with Boston was being concluded. We were -all convinced that treachery was intended on that day. - -Before the Modocs left our camp, Dr. Thomas unwisely said to Bogus -Charley, "What do you want to kill us for? We are your friends." Bogus, in -a very earnest manner, said, "Who told you that?" The doctor evaded. Bogus -insisted; growing warmer each time; and finally, through fear, or perhaps -he was too honest to evade longer, the doctor replied, "Tobey told it." -Bogus signalled to Shacknasty and Boston, and the three worthies left our -camp together; Bogus, however, having questioned Tobey as to the -authorship of the warning, before leaving. Riddle and his wife were much -alarmed now for their own personal safety. Up to this time they had felt -secure. The trio of Modocs had not been gone very long, when a messenger -came demanding of Tobey to visit the Modoc camp. She was alarmed, as was -Riddle. They sought advice of the commission,--they thought there was -great danger. _I did not._ - -A consultation was had with General Canby, who proposed to move -immediately against the Modocs were Tobey assaulted. With this assurance -she consented to go. In proof of my faith in her return I loaned her my -overcoat, and gave her my horse to ride. She parted with her little boy -(ten years old) several times before she succeeded in mounting her -horse,--clasping him to her breast, she would set him down and start, and -then run to him and catch him up again,--each time seeming more -affected,--until at last her courage was high enough, and, saying a few -words in a low voice to her husband, she rode off on this perilous -expedition to meet her own people. Riddle, too, was very uneasy about her -safety; with a field-glass in hand he took a station commanding a view of -the trail to the Modoc camp. This incident was one of thrilling interest. -We could see that Indian woman when she arrived in the Modoc camp, and -could see them gather around her. They demanded to know by what authority -she had told the story about their intention to kill the commission. She -denied that she had; but the denial was not received as against the -statement of Bogus. She then claimed that she dreamed it; this was not -accepted. The next dodge was, "The spirits told me." Believers as they are -in _Spiritualism_, they would not receive this statement, and began to -make threats of violence; declaring that she should give the name of her -informer, or suffer the consequences. Rising to a real heroism, she -pointed with one hand, saying, "There are soldiers there," and with the -other, "There are soldiers there; you touch me and they will fire on you, -and not a Modoc will escape." Smiting her breast, she continued: "I am a -Modoc woman; all my blood is Modoc; I did not dream it; the spirits did -not tell me; one of your men told me. I won't tell you who it was. _Shoot -me, if you dare!_" - -On her return she gave an account of this intensely thrilling scene as -related, and it has been subsequently confirmed by other Modocs who were -present. Captain Jack and Scar-face Charley interfered in her behalf, and -sent an escort to see her safely to our camp. She repeated her warning -against going to the peace tent. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVIII. - - WHO HAD BEEN THERE--WHO HAD NOT. - - -Let us change the scene, and transfer ourselves to the marquee of Gen. -Gilliam. Gen. Canby is sitting on a camp-chair, and near him Col. Barnard. -On the camp-bedstead sits Gen. Gilliam, and by his side Col. Mason; the -chairman of the Peace Commission on a box almost between the parties. The -talk is of Modocs, peace, treachery, Ben Wright, battle of 17th January, -the stronghold. Gen. Gilliam remarks, addressing Gen. Canby: "Well, -general, whenever you are through trying to make peace with those fellows, -I think I can take them out of their stronghold with the loss of -_half-a-dozen men_." Canby sat still, and said nothing. Gilliam continued: -"Oh, we may have some casualties in wounded men, of course; but I can take -them out whenever you give the order." Silence followed for a few moments. - -Gen. Canby, fixing his cigar in his mouth and his eye on Col. Mason, sat -looking the question he did not wish to ask in words. - -Col. Mason, seeming to understand the meaning of the look, said: "With due -deference to the opinion of Gen. Gilliam, I think if we take them out with -the _loss of one-third of the entire command, it is doing as well as I -expect_." - -The portly form of Col. Barnard moved slowly forward and back, thereby -saying, "I agree with you, Col. Mason." Col. John Green came in, and, to -an inquiry about how many men it would cost, he replied evasively, saying, -"I don't know; only we got licked on the 17th of January like ----. Beg -your pardon, general." Canby continued smoking his cigar, without fire in -it. Here were four men giving opinions. One of them had fought rebels in -Tennessee, and was a success there; the other three fought rebels also -successfully, and Modocs in the Lava Beds _unsuccessfully_. They knew -whereof they were talking. The opinions of these men doubtless made a deep -impression on the mind of the commanding general, and, knowing him as I -did, I can well understand how anxious he was for peace when he had the -judgment of soldiers like _Green_, Mason, and Barnard, that, if war -followed, about one in three of the boys who idolized him _must die to -accomplish peace through blood_. - -Move over one hundred yards to another marquee; the sounds betoken a -discussion there also. Young, brave, ambitious officers are denouncing the -Peace Commission, complaining that the army is subjected to disgrace by -being held in abeyance by it. - -Their words are bitter; and they mean it, too, because fighting is their -business. Col. Green, coming in, says, in angry voice, "Stop that! the -Peace Commission have a right here as much as we have. They are our -friends. God grant them success. I have been in _the Lava Beds once_. -Don't abuse the Peace Commission, gentlemen." The fiery young officers -respect the man who talks; they say no more. - -Come down a little further. Oh, here is the Peace Commission tent, and -around a stove sits the majestic Dr. Thomas, grave, dignified, thoughtful. -Mr. Dyer is there also, quiet and meditative, with his elbows on his -knees, and his face is buried in his hands; Meacham occasionally -recruiting the sage-brush embers in the stove with fresh supplies of fuel. -A rap on the tent-pole. "Come in," and a fine-looking, middle-aged officer -enters. Once glance at his face, and we see plainly that he has come for a -_growl_. - -After the compliments are passed, Col. Tom Wright--for it was he--begins -by saying that he wanted to growl at some one, and he had selected our -camp as the place most likely to furnish him with a victim. "All right, -colonel, pitch in," says Meacham. - -The doctor just then remembered that he had a call to make on Gen. Canby. -"Well," says the gallant colonel, "why don't you leave here, and give us a -chance at those Modocs? We don't want to lie here all spring and summer, -and not have a chance at them. Now you know we don't like this delay, and -we can't say a word to Gen. Canby about it. I think you ought to leave, -and let us clean them out." - -I detailed the conversation had in Gen. Gilliam's marquee, and also -expressed some doubts on the subject. - -"Pshaw!" says Col. Wright. "I will bet two thousand dollars that Lieut. -Eagan's company and mine can whip the Modocs in _fifteen minutes_ after we -get into position. Yes, I'll put the money up,--I mean it." - -"Well, my dear colonel, you might just say to Gen. Canby that he can send -off the other part of the army, about nine hundred men besides your -company and Eagan's. As to our leaving we have a right to be here, and we -are under the control of Gen. Canby; and as to moving on the enemy, Gen. -Canby _is not ready until the Warm Spring Indians arrive_. I am of the -opinion that no peace can be made, and that you will have an opportunity -to try it on with the Modoc chief." The colonel bade me "good-night," -saying that he felt better now, since he had his growl out. - -It is morning, and our soldier-cook has deserted us, and deserted the army -too. It seems to be now pretty well understood that no peace can be made -with the Modocs, and several of the boys have deserted. Those who have -_met_ the Modocs have no desire to meet them _again_. Those who have not, -are demoralized by the reports that others gave; and since the common -soldiers serve for pay, and have not much hope of promotion, they are not -so warlike as the brave officers, who have their stars to win on the field -of battle. Money won't hire a cook, hence we must cook for ourselves. -Well, all right; Dyer and I have done that kind of thing before this, and -we can again. - -While we are preparing breakfast a couple of soldiers come about the fire. -"I say, capt'n, have you give it up tryin' to make peace with them Injuns -there?" - -"Don't know; why?" we reply. - -"Well, 'cause why them boys as has been in there says as how it's nearly -litenin'; them Modocs don't give a fellow any chance; we don't want any -Modoc, we don't." - -"Sorry for you, boys; we are doing all we can to save you, but the -pressure is too heavy; guess you'll have to go in and bring them out." - -Squatting down before the fire, one of them, in a low voice, says, "Mr. -Commissioner, us boys are all your fre'ns,--_we are_; wish them fellers -that wants them Modocs whipped so bad would come down and do it -theirselves; don't you? Have you tried everything you can to make peace?" - -"Yes, my good fellow, we have exhausted every honorable means, and we -cannot succeed." - -"Bro. Meacham, where did you learn to make bread? Why, this is splendid. -Bro. Dyer, did you make this coffee? It's delicious." So spoke our good -doctor at breakfast. - -"Good-morning, Mr. Meacham," said Gen. Canby, after breakfast. "Who is -cooking for your mess now?" - -"Co-pi, ni-ka,--myself." - -"What does Mr. Dyer do?" - -"He washes the dishes." - -"Ha, ha! What does the doctor do?" - -"Why, he asks the blessing." - -The general laughed heartily, and as the doctor approached, said to him, -"Doctor, you must not throw off on Bro. Dyer." - -Explanations were made, and these venerable, dignified men enjoyed that -little joke more heartily than I had ever seen either of them, on any -other occasion. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIX. - - UNDER A WOMAN'S HAT--THE LAST APPEAL. - - -The commission had on all occasions expressed willingness to meet the -Modocs on fair terms, saying to them, "Bring all your men, all armed, if -you wish to; station them one hundred yards from the council tent. We will -place a company of equal number within one hundred yards on the other -side. Then you chiefs and head men can meet our commission at the council -tent and talk." To this and all other offers they objected. The commission -and the general also were now convinced that no meeting could be had on -fair terms. The authorities at Washington were again informed of this -fact. Dr. Thomas was a man of great perseverance, and had great faith in -the power of prayer. He spent hours alone in the rocks, near our camp, -praying. He would often repeat: "One man with faith is stronger than an -hundred with interest only." Few men have ever lived so constantly in -religious practice as did Dr. Thomas. The Modocs, having been foiled in -their attempt to entrap the commission, sent for Riddle, saying they -"wanted his advice." Riddle went, under instructions, and talked with -them. Nothing new was elicited. Riddle again warned the commission of the -danger of meeting the Modocs unless fully armed for defence. He confirmed -the opinion already expressed, that _Captain Jack_, was in favor of peace; -but that he was in the hands of bad men, who might compel him to do what -was against his judgment. Gen. Canby, always acknowledged as having power -to control the commission, nevertheless conceded to it the management of -the councils. He never presided, and seldom gave an opinion, unless -something was said in which he could not concur; but _no action was had_, -or _message sent_, or _other business ever done, without his advice and -approval_. - -On the morning of April 10th I left head-quarters, to visit Boyle's camp, -at the southern end of the lake, leaving Dr. Thomas in charge of the -affairs of the Peace Commission, little dreaming that action of so great -importance would be had during my absence. After visiting Maj. Boyle's, I -returned by Col. Mason's camp, and there learned, through the signal -telegraph, that a delegation of Modocs was at the commission tent, -proposing another meeting. I arrived at the head-quarters late in the -evening, and then learned from Dr. Thomas that an agreement had been made -to meet five unarmed Indians at the council tent on the following day at -noon. I demurred to the arrangement, saying, "that it was unsafe." The -doctor was rejoicing that "God had done a wonderful work in the Modoc -camp." The Modoc messengers, to arrange for this unfortunate council, were -not insensible to the fact of the doctor's religious faith, and they -represented to him that "_they had changed their hearts; that God had put -a new fire in them, and they were ashamed of their bad hearts_. They now -wanted to make peace. They were willing to surrender. They only wanted the -commission to _prove their faith in the Modocs by coming out to meet them -unarmed_." - -This hypocrisy caught the doctor. He believed them; and, after a -consultation with Gen. Canby, the compact was made. The doctor was shocked -at my remark, that "God has not been in the Modoc camp this winter. If we -go we will not return alive." Such was my opinion, and I gave it -unhesitatingly. The night, though a long one, wore away, and the morning -of _Good Friday, April 11th, 1873_, found our party at an early breakfast. - -While we were yet at the morning meal Boston Charley came in. As the -doctor arose from his breakfast this imp of the d----, from the Modoc -camp, sat down in the very seat from which the doctor had arisen, and ate -his breakfast from the _same plate_, drank from the _same cup_, the doctor -had used. - -While Boston was eating he observed me changing boots, putting on old -ones. I shall not soon forget the curious twinkle of this demon's eyes, -when he said, "What for you take 'em off new boots? Why for you no wear -'em new boots?" he examined them carefully, inquired the price of them, -and again said, "Meacham, why for you no wear 'em new boots?" The villain -was anxious for me to wear a pair of twenty-dollar boots instead of my old -worn-out ones. I understood what that fellow meant, and I did not give him -an opportunity to wear my new boots. - -From Indian testimony it is evident that in the Modoc camp an excited -council had been held on the morning of the 11th. Captain Jack, Scar-face -Charley, and a few others had opposed the assassination, Jack declaring -_that it should not be done_. Unfortunately, he was in the minority. The -majority ruled, and to compel the chief to acquiesce, the murderous crew -gathered around him, and, placing a woman's hat upon his head, and -throwing a shawl over his shoulders, they pushed him down on the rocks, -taunting him with cowardice, calling him "a woman, white-face squaw;" -saying that his heart was changed; that he went back on his own words -(referring to majority rule, which he had instituted); that he was no -longer a Modoc, the white man had stolen his heart. Now, in view of the -record this man had made as a military captain, his courage or ability can -never be doubted, and yet he could not withstand this impeachment of his -manhood. 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." - -When he had once assented he was bloodthirsty, and with coolness planned -for the consummation of this terrible tragedy. He asserted his right to -kill Gen. Canby, selecting Ellen's man as his assistant. - -Contention ensued among the braves as to who should be allowed to share in -this intended massacre. - -Meacham was next disposed of. - -Schonchin, being next in rank to Captain Jack, won the _prize_; glad he -did, for he was a _poor shot_ with a pistol. Hooker Jim was named as his -second in this _ex parte_ affair; sorry for that, for he was a marksman, -and had he kept the place assigned him, some one else would have written -this narrative. - -Dr. Thomas, the "Sunday Doctor," was the next in order. There were several -fellows ambitious for the honor, for so they esteemed it. Boston Charley -and Bogus were successful. These two men had accepted from the doctor's -hands, on the day preceding, each a suit of new clothes. - -To Shacknasty Jim and Barncho was assigned the duty of despatching Mr. -Dyer. Black Jim and Slo-lux were to assassinate Gen. Gilliam. When -Riddle's name was called up, Scar-face Charley, who had declared this -"whole thing to be an outrage _unworthy_ of the Modocs," positively -refused to take any part, arose and gave notice that he would defend -Riddle and his wife, and that if either were killed he would avenge their -death. - -These _preliminaries_ being arranged, Barncho and Slo-lux were sent out -before daylight, with seven or eight rifles, to secrete themselves near -the council tent. - -The manner of the assault was discussed, and the plan of shooting from -ambush was urged but abandoned, because it would have prevented those who -were to conduct the pretended council, from sharing in the honors to come -from that bloody scene. The details completed, Captain Jack said to his -sister Mary, and to Scar-face Charley, "It is all over. I feel ashamed of -what I am doing. I did not think I would ever agree to do this thing." - -When this tragedy was planned, another was also agreed upon. Curly-haired -Doctor and Curly Jack, and a Cumbatwas, were to decoy Col. Mason _from his -camp, and kill him also_. - -Bogus Charley had come into our camp the evening previous, and remained -until the next morning. He was there to ascertain whether any steps were -taken to prevent the consummation of the hellish design. Boston's visit -was for the same purpose. It is almost past belief that these two men, -who had received at the hands of Gen. Canby, Gen. Gilliam, and the Peace -Commission, so many presents of clothing and supplies, could have planned -and executed so treacherous a deed of blood. Bogus was the especial -favorite of Generals Canby and Gilliam; indeed, they recognized him as an -interpreter instead of Riddle and wife. He was better treated by them than -any other of the Modoc messengers. It is asserted, most positively, that -_Bogus was the man who first proposed the assassination of Canby and the -Peace Commissioners_. - -The morning wears away and the commissioner seems loath to start out. The -Modoc messengers are urgent, and point to the council tent, saying, that -"Captain Jack and four men waiting now." Look at our signal station half -way up the mountain side. The men with field-glasses are scanning the Lava -Beds. Gen. Canby has given orders that a strict watch be kept on the -council tent and the trail leading to it from the Modoc camp. The officers -of the signal corps were there when the morning broke. They have been -faithful to the orders to watch. The sun is mounting the sky. It is almost -half way across the blue arch. Bogus and Boston are impatient; saying that -"Captain Jack, him get tired waiting." Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas have been -in consultation. Riddle is uneasy and restless, and as Canby and Thomas -walk slowly to Gen. Gilliam's head-quarters, he says to Meacham, "Do not -go. I think you will all be killed if you do."--"Then come to Gen. -Gilliam's tent and say so there," suggests Meacham. - -The commissioners approach the tent. Gen. Canby meets Col. Green and one -or two other officers, stopping at the tent door, and continued talking, -while the remainder of the commissioners enter. Gen. Gilliam is reclining -on his bed, he is sick this morning, _very sick_. Gen. Canby remarks from -the tent door; "Go on, gentlemen, don't wait for me; I will be in -presently." - -Riddle again repeats the warning: "Gentlemen, I have been talking with my -wife; she has never told me a lie, or deceived me, and she says if you go -to-day you will be killed. We wash our hands of all blame. If you must go, -_go well armed_! I give you my opinion, because I do not want to be blamed -hereafter." Riddle retires and Gen. Canby enters. Riddle's warning is -repeated to him. The general replies: "I have had a field-glass watching -the trail all the morning; there are but four men at the council tent. I -have given orders for the signal station to keep a strict watch, and, in -the event of an attack, the army will move at once against them,"--meaning -the Modocs. Dr. Thomas expressed his determination to keep the compact, -saying that he is in the hands of God, and proposes to do his duty and -leave the result with his Maker. He thinks Riddle and his wife are -excited; that they are not reliable. "I differ from you, gentlemen; I -think we ought to heed the warning. If we do go, we must go armed; -otherwise we will be attacked. I am opposed to going in any other way." - -Mr. Dyer says: "I agree with Mr. Meacham; we ought to go prepared for -defence. We ought to heed the warning we have had." Gen. Canby repeats, -"With the precaution we have taken there can be no danger." Dr. Thomas -also saying, "The agreement is to go unarmed; we must be faithful on our -part to the compact, and leave it all in the hands of God." - -Previous to starting, Dr. Thomas goes to the sutler's store and pays for -some goods bought for the Modocs the day previous, when this compact was -made. From this act it would appear that he has doubts about the result. -Indeed, to another gentleman he says that he is not _sure that he will -return_; but "I will do my duty faithfully, and trust God to bring it out -all right." Gen. Canby is holding council with Gen. Gilliam and other -officers. He leaves them, coming to his own marquee, says something to his -faithful orderly,--Scott,--then to Monahan, his secretary, and then, in -full dress he walks to the "Peace Commission tent," where he is joined by -Dr. Thomas and _starts for the council tent_. Side by side they walk away. - -The doctor is dressed in a suit of light-gray Scotch tweed. The officers -and men are standing around their tents, talking of the danger ahead. They -differ in opinion, and all declare their readiness to fly to the rescue in -the event of treachery. Bogus is with the general and the doctor. He -carries a rifle; it is his own. In that rifle is a ball that will crush -through the brain of Dr. Thomas in less than two hours. Having seen them -start, Bogus hastens to the council tent, scanning the route as he goes, -to make sure that no soldiers are secreted among the rocks. - -A few moments since, Meacham and Fairchild were in earnest conversation. -Meacham says, "John, what do you think? is it safe to go?"--"Wait here a -minute, and let me have another talk with Bogus; I think I can tell," says -Fairchild. After a few minutes he returns, whittling a stick. Slowly -shaking his head, he says, "I can't make out from Bogus what to think. I -don't like the looks of things; still he talks all right; may be it's all -on the square." Meacham replies, "_I must go_ if the general and the -doctor do." Fairchild goes again to Bogus; but the general and doctor are -starting. Bogus is impatient, and cuts short the talk. Meacham is hurrying -to the tent. He seats himself on a roll of blankets, and with a pencil -writes,--let us look over his shoulder and see what: - - LAVA BEDS, April 11th, 1873. - - MY DEAR WIFE:-- - - You may be a widow to-night; you shall not be a coward's wife. I - go to save my honor. John A. Fairchild will forward my valise - and valuables. The chances are all against us. I have done my - best to prevent this meeting. I am in no wise to blame. - - Yours to the end, - - ALFRED. - - P. S.--I give Fairchild six hundred and fifty dollars, currency, - for you. - - A. B. M. - -"Here, John, send these to my wife, Salem, Oregon, if I don't get back." - -Mr. Dyer approaches, and says, "Mr. Fairchild, send this parcel to Mrs. -Dyer."--"Mr. Dyer, why do you go, feeling as you do? I would not if I were -in your place. I must go, since I am the chairman of the commission, or be -disgraced." Mr. Dyer replies, "_If you go, I am going. I will not stay, if -all the rest go._" - -By the tent door the Indian woman is weeping, while holding a horse by a -rope. Standing beside her is a white man, and also a boy ten years old. -They are talking in Modoc, and we may not know what they are saying. That -little group is Frank Riddle and his wife Tobey, and their little boy -Jeff. Their warning has been disregarded. They are loth to give up their -efforts to save the commissioners and Canby. - -"Tobey, give me my horse; we must go now." - -"Meacham, you no go; you get kill. You no get your horse. The Modocs mad -now; they kill all you men." She winds the rope around her waist, and -throws herself upon the ground, and, in the wildest excitement, shrieks in -broken sobs, "Meacham, you no go; _you no go! You get kill! you get -kill!_" - -Can the man resist this appeal to save his friends and himself? His lips -quiver and his face is white; he is struggling with his pride. His color -changes. Thank God, he is going to make another effort to prevent the doom -that threatens! He calls to Canby and Thomas. They await his approach. -Laying a hand on the shoulder of each, he says, "_Gentlemen, my cool, -deliberate opinion is that, if we go to the council tent to-day, we will -be carried home to-night on the stretchers; all cut to pieces_. I tell -you, I dare not ignore Tobey's warning. I believe her, and I am not -willing to go." - -The general answers first: "Mr. Meacham, you are unduly cautious. There -are but _five_ Indians at the council tent, and they dare not attack us." - -"General, the Modocs _dare do anything. I know them better than you do, -and I know they are desperate. Braver men and worse men never lived on -this continent than we are to meet at that tent yonder._" - -The general replies, "I have left orders for a watch to be kept, and, if -they attack us, the army will move at once against them. We have agreed to -meet them, and we must do it." - -Dr. Thomas remarks, "I have agreed to meet them, and I _never break my -word. I am in the hands of God. If He requires my life, I am ready for the -sacrifice._" - -Meacham is still unwilling to go, and says, "If we must go, let us be well -armed." - -"Brother Meacham, the agreement is to go _unarmed_, and we must do as we -have agreed." - -"_But the Modocs will all be doubly armed. They won't keep their part of -the compact; they never have, and they won't now._ Let John Fairchild go -with us, him and me with a revolver each, and I will not interpose any -more objections to going. Do this, and I pledge you my life that we bring -our party out all right. I know Fairchild. I know he is a dead shot, and -he and I can whip a dozen Indians in open ground with revolvers." - -"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, _God does not drop revolvers down just when and where you -need them_." - -"My dear brother, you are getting to be very irreligious. _Put your trust -in God. Pray more, and don't think so much about fighting._" - -"Doctor, I am just 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 these Modocs, and I know that -they won't keep their word, and I want to be ready for trouble if it -comes. I don't want to go unarmed." - -"The compact is to go unarmed, and I am not willing to jeopardize our -lives by breaking the compact." - -"Well, since we must go, and I am to manage the talk, I will grant to them -any demand they make, rather than give them an excuse; that is, if they -are armed,--as I know they will be,--and more than five Indians will be -there, too." - -Gen. Canby replied, "Mr. Meacham, I have had more or less connection with -the Indian service for thirty years, and I _have never made a promise that -could not be carried out. I am not willing now to promise anything that we -don't intend to perform._" - -"Nor I," breaks in the doctor. "That is why Indians have no confidence in -white men. I am not willing to have you make a promise that we don't -intend to keep." - -"Hear me, gentlemen, I only propose doing so in the event that the Modocs -have broken the compact by being armed. I don't believe in false promises -any more than you do, only in such an event; and I tell you I would -promise anything an Indian demanded before I would give him an excuse to -take my life, or yours. I say that is not dishonest, and my conscience -would never condemn me for saving my life by such strategy." - -The general and the doctor both insist on making no promise that is not -_bona fide_. Meacham's efforts to prevent the meeting fails. He turns -slowly, and with hesitating steps goes towards the peace tent in the camp. -Canby and Thomas start off side by side. Meacham turns again:-- - -"Once more, gentlemen, I beg you not to go. I have too much to live for -now; too many are depending on me; I do not want to die. If you go, I must -go to save my name from dishonor." - -"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, the squaw _has_ scared Meacham; that's true. _I am afraid; I have -reason to be._ But we will see before the sun sets who is the worst -scared." - -O my God! They refuse to turn back. Their fate is sealed. The action of -these few minutes involves so much of human woe; so much blood, so many -valuable lives, so much of vast importance to _two_ races. Oh, how many -hearts must bleed from the decision of that hour! We feel sad as they walk -away. Is it true that the stately form of the gallant Christian soldier is -to fall on the rocks, pierced with Modoc bullets, and that savage hands -will in two short hours rudely strip from him the uniform he so proudly -wears? Can it be that a Modoc bullet will go crashing through the head -that has worn well-earned laurels so long? Must the noble heart that now -beats with kindest throbs for even those who are to murder him so soon, -beat but two hours more, and then alone on the gray rocks of this wild -shore cease its throbbing forever? Can it be that the lofty form of Dr. -Thomas will fall to rise no more; that the lips that have so eloquently -told of a Saviour's love will turn white until the blood from his own -wounds smothers the sound of his last prayer, while impious hands strip -him of his suit of gray, and mock him in his dying moments? - -Let us not look at that picture longer, but follow the other commissioner -back to the waiting, anxious friends who gather around the door of the -Peace Commission tent. He does not step with his usual quick motion; his -heart is heavy, and visions of a little home, with weeping wife and -children, enter his mind. Funeral pageants pass and mourning emblems hang -now over his soul. But he is firm, and his closed lips declare that his -mind is made up. - -"Fairchild, promise me upon your sacred honor, one thing. Will you -promise?" - -The gray-eyed man with earnest face answered,-- - -"I promise you anything in my power, Meacham." - -"Promise me, then, that, if my body is brought in mutilated and cut to -pieces, you will bury me here, so that my family shall never be tortured -by the sight. Do you promise?" - -"O Meacham, you will come back all right." - -"No, no; I won't. I feel now that I won't; there is no chance for that. I -tell you, John, there is but one alternative,--_death_ or _disgrace_. I -can die; but my name never has been and never shall be dishonored." - -Fairchild draws his revolver from his side and says, "Here, Meacham, take -this; you can bang brimstone out of 'em with it." - -"No, no; John, I won't take it, although I would rather have it than all -your cattle; but if I take that revolver, everybody will swear that I -precipitated the fight by going armed in violation of the compact. No, -John, I wouldn't take it if I knew I never could come back without it, and -taking it would save me. I won't do it. My life would not be worth a cent -if I did. I wanted you to go, but the general and the doctor objected; so -there's no use in talking; I am going." - -A man passes close to Meacham and drops something in a side pocket of his -coat. His hand grasps it, and his face indicates hesitation. The other -says, in a low tone, "It's sure fire;--it's all right." 'Tis a small -Derringer pistol, and it is not thrown out of the pocket. Dyer caught -sight of this little manoeuvre, and he goes into his tent and quickly -slips a Derringer into his pocket. - -The Indian woman is weeping still. She refuses to let go the rope of -Meacham's horse, until the command is repeated, and then she grasps his -coat, and pleads again: "You no go; you get kill." - -"Let go, Tobey. Get on your horse. All ready? Mr. Dyer, there is no other -way to do." - -Riddle is pale, but cool and collected. He says, "I'm a-goin' a-foot; I -don't want no horse to bother me." The Indian woman embraces her boy again -and again, and mounts her horse. Meacham, Dyer, Riddle, and his wife are -starting. - -Fairchild says, "Meacham, you had better take my pistol. I would like to -go with you, but I s'pose I can't." - -"No; I won't take it. Good-by. Keep your promise." - -"Good-by, Maj. Thomas. Cranston, good-by. Good-by, Col. Wright. Be ready -to come for us; we'll need you." - -"Don't go off feeling that way. I wouldn't go if I felt as you do," says -one. - -"We will have an eye out for you," says another. - -They are gone, and we will follow. Canby and Thomas are just rising out of -a rocky chasm near the council tent. Meacham and his party are going -around by the horse trail. Words can never tell the thoughts that pass -through their minds on that ride. The soldier who goes to battle takes -even chances in the line of his profession; the criminal may march with -steady nerve up the steps that lead him to the gallows; but who can ever -tell in words the thoughts, feelings, and temptations of these men, going -to meet a people under a flag of truce that had been dishonored by their -own race within sight of the spot where they are to meet these people, -after the earnest warning they had received? - - - - - CHAPTER XXX. - - ASSASSINATION--"KAU-TUX-E"--THE DEATH PRAYER - SMOTHERED BY BLOOD--RESCUED. - - -While these two parties are wending their way to the council tent, let us -see what is going on around it. On the side opposite from the camp a small -sage-brush fire is burning. It is not at the same spot where the fire was -built when Meacham and Roseborough had the long talk with Captain Jack a -few days since. Why this change? Think a moment. The council that day was -in _full view of the signal station_. This fire is _behind the council -tent, and cannot be seen from the station_. Around the fire loose stones -are placed. This looks suspicious. But who are those fellows dressed like -white men, sitting around that fire? Ah! they are Modocs waiting for the -commissioners. That man with a slouched hat and well-worn gray -coat,--nearest the tent, is Captain Jack. He looks sad and half -melancholy, and does not seem at ease in his mind. - -Near him sits old Schonchin, the image of the real savage. His hair is -mixed with gray. His face indicates that he is a villain. - -That fellow who appears restless, and walks back and forth, is Hooker Jim. -He is not more than twenty-two; _his_ face tells you, at a glance, that he -is a _cut-throat_. He is tall, stout-built, very muscular, and would be an -ugly customer in a fight. He is accredited with being the best -"_trailer_," and the closest marksman in the Modoc tribe. - -That other young fellow, with feminine face, and hair parted in the -middle, is a brave and desperate man. That is Shacknasty Jim. - -That dark-looking man, who reminds you, at the first view, of a snake, is -Black Jim. He is of royal blood, and half-brother of Captain Jack. His -hair is cut square below the ears, and, take him altogether, he is a -bad-looking man. - -The light-colored, round-faced, smooth-built man, who stands behind the -chief; is "Ellen's Man." He is young, and is really a fine-looking fellow. -He does not _appear_ to be a bad man, but he _is_; and you will think him -the worst of the company before we lose sight of him. - -The talk around that council fire would freeze your blood could you hear -it. They are making arrangements for the carnival of death that they -propose holding. - -The chief is nervous, and speaks of his regret that this thing is to be. -"Ellen's Man" proposes to take his place if he lacks courage. "I do not -lack courage, but I do not feel right to kill those men. If it is the -Modoc heart, it shall be done," replies the chief. - -Walk out towards the Modoc camp forty steps, and lying behind a low ledge -of rocks are two boys, Barncho and Slolux. They are very quiet, but under -each one we see several rifles. They are both young, and have -_volunteered_ to play this part in the tragedy soon to be enacted. - -Near them is another man, crouching low, and in his hand he holds a gun, -with its muzzle pointing towards the tent. His face indicates a much -older man than he really is. He is not there to take a part in the -proceedings of the coming meeting, except in a certain contingency. There -is a something about him that declares him to be a man of more than -ordinary stamp. This is Scar-face Charley, and if, in the slaughter that -is to ensue, Riddle or his wife should fall, the rifle that that man -grasps will talk in vengeful tone, with deadly effect, upon the murderer. - -Look behind you at the council fire. Eight Indians are there now, and the -new-comers have familiar faces. They are _Bogus_ and _Boston_, just -arrived from head-quarters. They are telling the others who are coming, -that they are all unarmed. - -Boston intimates something like regret or faltering in the purpose. Bogus -declares that he will "Do it alone, if all the others back out. Kill these -men, and the war will stop. It will scare all the soldiers away." - -Hist! here comes Gen. Canby, with the brass buttons on his coat glittering -in the sunlight; and Dr. Thomas, also, who is so well worthy to walk by -the side of the general. The Indians arise and greet them cordially. Gen. -Canby takes from his pocket a handful of cigars, offering one to each. -They accept them from his hand, while in their hearts they have determined -on his death. The general and all the Indians are smoking now. The -thoughts of the general will never be known; not even whether he had any -suspicion of their intentions. - -[Illustration: GEN. CANBY.] - -Meacham and his party are approaching. They ride up very near the council -fire,--Meacham to the right, Dyer and Mrs. Riddle to the left. Riddle -passes to the left of the tent, looking in as he comes to the council. - -Meacham is taking off his overcoat before dismounting. Why is this? The -weather is not warm. There is a reason for this strange action. - -Before reaching the tent the matter had been discussed by the four persons -of that party. Riddle declared that if attacked he would save himself by -running, Mr. Dyer saying there was no hope of escape in any other way. -Meacham considered running impracticable and hopeless, and suggested that, -"if we stand together, we can, with the aid of the Derringer, get a -revolver for Riddle, and then we can all be armed in quick time." Dyer and -Riddle adhered to the plan of escape they had proposed, Meacham still -saying that it was hopeless, and adding, "I cannot run; but I will sell my -life as dearly as possible." The Derringer is in his _under coat_. - -As they ride up, they see clearly that the council fire is _behind_ the -tent, _out of sight of the signal station_, and that the Modocs are all -armed with revolvers secreted under their clothing. - -The Indians welcome the party with a cordiality that is very suspicious. -They are good-humored, too; another confirmation of the worst fears. Even -before the party dismount, they are saluted by the Modocs with -hand-shaking and other demonstrations. - -Dyer is the first to alight from his horse. He looks a little pale. Tobey -quietly dismounts, securing her horse to a small sage brush near the -council. Meacham still sits upon his horse, apparently listless, as if in -doubt. He is fighting a battle with his pride. His family are in his -thoughts, and also another family of little orphans of a much-loved -brother. He glances at the face of Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas. His mind is -made up. He dismounts, dropping the halter of the horse upon the ground. -He intends that "Joe Lane" (the horse) shall have a chance for escape. But -"Joe Lane" is well known among the Modocs. They have seen him before, and -they fix their eyes on him now, impatient to feel him flying over the -plains. Perhaps they are making a calculation of his value as an offset to -several of the ponies captured from them by Maj. Biddle a few days -previous. - -See the manoeuvring going on by both parties. The Modocs are seeking to -separate themselves from the white men, while Dyer, Meacham and Riddle are -seeking to prevent the formation of a tableau of white men. Canby stands -erect and firm, not seeming to notice the game that is playing before his -eyes. His pride will not permit him to notice or to shun what is evidently -the intention of the Modocs. Dr. Thomas does not see what is going on, or, -if he does, so strong is his faith in God that he does not fear. Dyer and -Riddle are outside on either hand, not wishing to join the group. - -Meacham, now satisfied that the party are entrapped, is walking carelessly -a few steps towards the camp. Perhaps he is going to make a signal to -those at the lookout. If that was his intention, he abandons it; for just -beside him are a pair of small, bullet eyes that watch his every movement. - -The party _feel_ that not the motion of even an eye is lost by the Modocs. -They see everything, and, while all are apparently on the best of terms, -all are on the lookout for any sign or intimation of danger. Not a motion -is made unobserved. Still, no unkindly words are spoken; indeed, all -parties _appear_ to be in cheerful humor. - -Appearances are deceitful sometimes, and especially in this instance. One -party is intending to commit an unparalleled crime; the other, suspicious -of their intention, awaits the issue, not quite without hope, but almost -in despair. - -The white men do not seem anxious to begin the council. The Modocs are -trying to appear careless. - -What does that mean? Bogus is going out towards a low cliff, carrying his -rifle with him. Watch him a moment. While standing on a prominent rock, he -is scanning the ledge that runs towards the soldiers' camp. _Ah, yes! he -is looking for sage brush with which to feed the fire._ Now he has laid -down his gun and breaks off the brush and returns to the council. That, -then, was the _pretended_ object of his trip. Curious that in _all former -councils_ the Modoc women have performed this work, but that _none_ of -them are here _now_! - -Hooker Jim is on the alert, and if you will watch his eye you will see -that it glances often in the direction of the soldiers' camp. Something -excites his suspicion, and the other Indians, except Captain Jack, follow -his gaze; and the white men, too, discover some one's head above the -rocks. All arise to their feet. Is the terrible affair to begin now? Wait -a moment and keep your eyes divided, watching the _intruder_ and the -Modocs. The former is looking around him, as if hunting for some lost -article. The latter are nervous, and a hateful fire is burning in their -eyes. The moment is one of intense peril. The least motion of distrust -now on the part of the white men will precipitate the bloody scene, -awaiting only for a signal to begin. - -Mr. Riddle recognizes the intruder as Mr. Clark, who is hunting lost -horses. - -"Why for he come here? We no want him," says Boston Charley. - -"Mr. Dyer, will you go out to Mr. Clark and send him back?" requests Mr. -Meacham. - -Mr. Dyer rides out to the man, and, after explaining to him the desire of -the commissioners, returns to the council fire. Oh, how near we were to -witnessing a horrible murder! But it is averted for the moment, and we -breathe again. - -Meacham is in charge of the council talk, and finally sits down near the -fire, and Captain Jack takes a seat directly opposite him, and so close -that their knees almost touch. The council talk begins. - -Meacham says, "We have come to-day to hear what you have to propose. You -sent for us, and we are here to conclude the terms of peace, as your -messengers of yesterday requested." - -To this Captain Jack replies, "We want no more war. We are tired, and our -women and children are afraid of the soldiers. We want them taken away, -and _then_ we can make peace." - -Meacham says, "Gen. Canby is in charge of the soldiers. He is your friend. -He came here, because the President sent him to look out for everybody and -to see that everything goes on all right." - -Captain Jack replies, "We do not want the soldiers here. They make our -hearts afraid. Send them away, and we can make everything all right." - -Meacham continues, "Gen. Canby has charge of the soldiers. He cannot take -them away without a letter from the President. You need not be afraid. We -are all your friends. We can find you a better home than this, where you -can live in peace. If you will come out of the rocks and go with us, we -will leave the women and children in camp over on Cottonwood or Hot Creek, -and then we shall need the soldiers to make other folks stay away, while -we hunt up a new home for you." - -Riddle and his wife are both essential to a careful rendering of the -speeches. Riddle is interpreting the Modocs' speeches into "Boston talk," -and Tobey is translating the white men's speeches into the -"Mo-a-doc-us-ham-konk"--(Modoc language). Hence they are both giving -closest attention. Riddle stands now just behind the chairman of the -commissioners. Tobey is sitting a little to the left. Gen. Canby seats -himself upon a rock on Meacham's right, about three feet distant. Old -Schonchin sits down in front of him. Dr. Thomas bends a sage bush, and, -laying his overcoat upon it, also sits on the left and in the rear of -Meacham. - -Hooker Jim is restless and very watchful; sometimes standing immediately -behind Captain Jack, and occasionally walking off a few steps, he scans -the rocks in the direction of the soldiers' camp, and saunters back again, -always, however, in front of the white men. Keep an eye on him; he is -making now a declaration by his acts that will stop your heart's blood. - -"Joe Lane," the horse, is just behind Captain Jack, standing a mute and -unsuspecting witness of the act now being played. - -Watch that demon, Hooker Jim! See him stoop down, and while his eye is -fixed on Meacham, he is securing "Joe Lane" to a sage bush, pushing the -knot of the halter close to the ground. He slowly rises, and, while -patting the horse on the neck, calling him by name, and telling him he is -a "fine horse," still keeping his eye on Meacham, with his left hand he -takes the overcoat from the saddle, and with a stealthy, half-hesitating -motion, slowly inserts his arm in the sleeve, and then without changing -his position or his eyes, quickly thrusts his right arm in the other -sleeve, and with a heavy shrug jerks the coat squarely on his shoulders; -and, having buttoned it up from top to bottom, smiting his breast with his -hand, he says, "Me old man Meacham, now. Bogus, you think me look like old -man Meacham?" My dear reader, he does not fasten that horse for Meacham. -He does not put on the coat because he is cold, nor merely as a joke. No, -he does not mean anything of that kind. He intends to make sure of the -horse and coat, and, at the same time, provoke a quarrel, and make the way -easy for the bloody attack. - -Meacham fully understands the import and intention of this side-play, but, -with assumed indifference, remarks, "Hooker Jim, you had better take my -hat also," at the same time lifting it from his head. Watch the play on -that scoundrel's face as lie replies, "No. Sno-ker gam-bla sit-ka -caitch-con-a bos-ti-na chock-i-la"--("I will, by-and-by. Don't hurry, old -man.") - -This speech completes the declaration of what they intended to do. There -can be no longer any doubt as to the purpose of these bloodthirsty -desperadoes. O God! is there no help now? Can nothing be done to save our -friends? They read their fate in Hooker's action. They realize how -fearfully near the impending doom must be. Every face is blanched; but no -words of fear are uttered. Dyer, with a face of marble, walks slowly to -his horse, now on the right of the group, and, going to the farthest side -of him, pretends to be arranging the trappings of his saddle with his face -towards the council fire. Riddle, pale and aghast, makes excuse to change -the fastenings of the saddle on his wife's horse, which stands behind Dr. -Thomas. Tobey, who has been sitting in front of the doctor, with a half -child-like yawn throws herself carelessly at full length on the ground, -resting on her elbows. Every act tells, too plainly to be mistaken, how -each one feels and what they are expecting. - -Both Dyer and Riddle intend to be covered by their horses when they start -on a run for life. Tobey evidently does not intend to be in the way of the -bullets that are now lying quietly on their beds of powder in the little -iron chambers of the pistols under the coats of the red devils. She sees -clearly that the storm, which is evidently coming up with a great black -hurrying cloud from the west, will precipitate the effusion of blood that -is now leaping and halting in the veins of the doomed men who sit almost -motionless, waiting, watching, listening for the signal of death to be -given, wondering how it will come. Will it be from ambushed men, a volley, -a sting, and a war-whoop; and then, while the soul is making its exit, -will the eye, growing dim, behold the infuriated monsters, with gleaming -knives uplifted, spring on the helpless body? Will the ear, as life ebbs -away, be lulled by streams of blood trickling on the rocks? Are angels -hovering near to convey their souls away? Is God omnipresent? Is He -omniscient? Is He omnipotent? Does he hear prayer? Will not God interpose -now when human aid is beyond reach? - -Oh, how the mind recalls the past, outstripping the lightning flash, while -it passes in review the scenes from the cradle to this hour!--all the -bright and happy days; the dark clouds and direful storms that have swept -over the soul, and realizing the still more awful agony of the farewell -greetings of sad-faced Hope leaving the heart; for until this last act of -Hooker Jim's she had lingered lovingly on the threshold undecided. Words -may not tell the anguish, the gloom, the terrible loneliness without her -presence. Every heart breathes a prayer for her return. "Oh, come back to -us now; be with us in this expiring hour of life's last midnight!" - -Thank Heaven, she comes again clad in garments, not as in days past, made -up of ambitions and worldly dreams, but in shining robes of spotless -purity and immortal light, and she whispers, "Be of good cheer, the -journey is short, and it is but a change from one life to another;" and -though the voyage be stormy and the night be dark it will end in a morning -of eternal day in the beautiful sunlit summer-land where sorrows come no -more. - -Meacham turns towards Gen. Canby and invites him to talk. Every movement -is scrutinized by the Modocs. Meacham has made an excuse to look Gen. -Canby in the face. He sees plainly that the general understands the -situation. Will he, oh! will he not promise to remove the soldiers on the -demand that has been so often made? It would avert the tragedy. It would -save the lives that are banging on his words. Will he do it? Surely, now, -when convinced, as he must be, that the threat will be executed, will he -not feel justified in yielding? Now that the Modocs have absolved him from -all obligations to them, will he grant their request; or will the high and -extraordinary sense of honor that controlled his reply to Meacham in the -morning, when the latter proposed to grant "any demand made, rather than -give the assassins an excuse for murder," control him now? Every eye is on -him. The Modocs understand that he is chief. - -He stands upright in form, and character as well. He looks the great man -he is. His face alone shows the intensity of his feelings. His lip quivers -slightly, as it always does under excitement. He speaks slowly:-- - -"Tobey, tell these people that the President of the United States sent the -soldiers here to protect them as well as the white men. They are all -friends of the Indians. They _cannot be taken away without the President's -consent_. Tell them that when I was a young man I was sent to move a band -of Indians from their old home to a new one. They did not like me at -first, but when they became acquainted with me they liked me so well that -they made me a chief, and gave me a name that signified 'Friend of the -Indian.' I also removed another tribe to a new home; and they, too, made -me a chief, and gave me a name that meant 'The tall man.' Many years -afterwards I visited these people, and they came a long distance to meet -me, and were very glad to see me. Tell them I have no doubt that sometime -the Modocs will like me as those people did, and will recognize me as -their friend." - -As the general sits down, Meacham turns to Doctor Thomas, and invites him -to speak. _The doctor drops forward on his knees_, and, with his right -hand on Meacham's left shoulder, says, "Tobey, tell these people, for me, -that I believe the _Great Spirit_ put it into the heart of the President -to send us here to make peace. We are all children of one Father. Our -hearts are all open to him. He sees all we do. He knows all our hearts. We -are all their friends. I have known Gen. Canby eight years; I have known -Mr. Meacham fourteen years, and I have known Mr. Dyer four years. I know -all their hearts are good. They are good men. We do not want any more -bloodshed. We want to be friends of yours. God sees all we do. He will -hold us all responsible for what we do." - -The doctor resumes his seat. Captain Jack is ill at ease. His men are -watching him closely. They evidently distrust him. - -Meacham has almost decided in his mind that when the attack is made -Captain Jack will throw himself in the breach, and, if he takes part at -all, it will be with the white men. - -The chief is slow to give the signal to begin. He is not in position -according to the programme arranged in the morning. He had hoped that the -demand for the withdrawal of the troops would be complied with. He sits -now with his hands on his knees, staring into Meacham's face. He meets a -gaze intense as his own. What are the thoughts of his mind? He is -wavering. Perhaps he may refuse to sanction the butchery. He feels that -his own people are watching him. Suddenly, rising to his feet, he turns -his back on the white men. He is walking away from them. See! he stops! -Schonchin springs to the seat Captain Jack has left, and, with eyes -gleaming with the pent-up fury of hell, begins to talk. His voice is loud, -and betokens great excitement. How savage he looks now, while he says, -"Give us Hot Creek for a home, and take the soldiers away." - -"Maybe we cannot get Hot Creek for you," replies Mr. Meacham. - -Then Schonchin says, "I have been told we could have Hot Creek." - -Meacham asks, "Did Fairchild or Dorris say you could have it?" - -"No," replied Schonchin; "but Nate Beswick said we could have Hot Creek." - -"Hot Creek belongs to Fairchild and Dorris," says Meacham. "We can see -them about it, and if we can get it you may have it." - -"_Take away your soldiers and give us Hot Creek, or quit talking. I am -tired of talking. I talk no more_," shouts Schonchin in loud tones, and -with eyes burning with passion. - -The interpreter is rendering the speech, but, before it is finished, -Captain Jack, who has returned to the group, and is standing a step behind -Schonchin, gives a signal, and the Modoc war-whoop starts every one -present to his feet (except Tobey, who lays close to the ground); catching -the sound, and oh! the sight, too, of Barncho and Slolux coming with the -rifles. - -"Jack, what does that mean?" demands Meacham. - -The answer came quickly. Captain Jack, thrusting his right hand under the -left breast of his coat, draws a six-shooter, and shouts in a loud voice, -"_Ot-we-kau-tux!_"--("All ready!") - -[Illustration: THE ASSASSINATION SCENE. - - 1. General Canby. - 2. Colonel Meacham. - 3. Doctor Thomas. - 4. Tobey Riddle, reclining. - 5. Frank Riddle. - 6. Mr. Dyer. - 7. Captain Jack. - 8. Schonchin. - 9. Boston Charley. - 10. Shacknasty Jim. - 11. Hooker Jim. - 12. Ellen's Man. - 13. Bogus Charley. - 14. Black Jim. - 15. Horse held by Riddle. - 16. Horse held by Dyer. - 17. Horse.] - -Holding the barrel with his left hand, and cocking the pistol with his -right, he points it at Gen. Canby's head, touches the trigger, and -explodes the cap, but does not the powder. Quickly he revolves the -cylinder, and again presents it to the petrified general, who stands -unmoved. Why, oh, why does he not close on the monster, and wrench the -weapon from him? Quick, general, quick! He is too late. Another instant, -and a shot is passing through his head. He does not fall, but turns and -flees. Jack and "Ellen's Man" pursue him until he falls on the rocks. They -close on him. Captain Jack holds him by the shoulder, while the other cuts -him across the neck. In the fall his chin struck on the rocks and -shattered his lower jaw. The monsters strip him of every article of -clothing, while he is struggling in the agonies of death. Barncho comes up -now, and "Ellen's Man" snatches a rifle from his hands, and, pointing at -the general, discharges it, and another ball passes entirely through his -head. They turn him on his face, and leave him in the last agony of a -horrible death, while, with his uniform on their arms, they go back to the -council tent. - -Look towards the soldiers' camp. Two men are running. The foremost one is -Dyer, and following him is Hooker Jim, who fires repeatedly at Dyer, who -turns, and pointing his pistol, Jim drops to avoid the shot. Dyer resumes -his run for life, and the other follows until Dyer has widened the space -between them so much that Hooker Jim, fleet as he is, abandons the chase, -and returns to join the other murderers. - -Over towards the lake two other men are running. The foremost one is Frank -Riddle. The pursuer is Black Jim, who fires rapidly at Riddle; in fact, he -is not trying to hit him, because he knows that Scar-face Charley is -watching, and if Riddle falls by a shot from Black Jim, Black Jim himself -will fall by Scar-face Charley's rifle. - -[Illustration: BLACK JIM.] - -Simultaneously with Jack's first attack on General Canby, Boston Charley's -first shot struck Dr. Thomas in the left breast, above the heart. The -doctor drops partly down, and catches with his right hand, and with the -other uplifted towards his assassin, begs him to shoot no more, as he has -already received a death-wound. Bogus joins Boston. They permit the doctor -to get upon his feet, and start to run, when they trip him and he falls -again. They taunt him with his religion, saying, "Why don't you turn the -bullets? Your medicine is not strong." The doctor rises again and walks a -few steps, when they push him down, still ridiculing him. Again he pleads -for them to spare his life. They laugh in his face and say, "Next time you -believe a squaw, won't you?" Once more--and it is the last time that he -will ever walk in that bruised and mangled body--the doctor rises to his -feet, and, going a few steps, pleading with his inhuman tormentors for -mercy, and with his Maker for mercy on them, he falls to rise no more. -Slolux joins them, and Bogus, placing the muzzle of a gun towards the -doctor's head, sends another bullet crashing through it. The red devils -now strip him of his clothing, jesting and mocking his words of prayer, -and finally turn him face downwards, while through the blood from the -wounds on his lips he cries, "Come, Lord--" and the prayer is smothered -forever. - -When the signal for the attack was given, Schonchin was in position, and, -springing to his feet, he draws a revolver from his left side, and, with -his other hand, unsheathes a knife. He is so near his victim that he dare -not trust to a pistol alone. He is very much excited, and is not so quick -as the others in cocking his pistol. - -Meacham draws his Derringer, and pushing the muzzle squarely against the -heart of Schonchin, pulls the trigger, but, alas! it does not fire. Why? -Oh! why? He tries again, and still the hammer does not fall. He now -discovers that it is but _half-cocked_. Too late! too late! Schonchin -thrusts _his_ pistol forward, almost touching Meacham's face. The latter -jumps back and stoops, while the ball from Schonchin's pistol tears -through the collar of his coat, vest, and shirt on the left shoulder, so -close that the powder burns his whiskers and the bullet bruises him. He -runs backwards with the pistol now ready for use, but with Schonchin -pursuing him and firing as fast as he can until his pistol is empty. Now -he drops it on the ground, and, _drawing another from his right side_, he -continues the attack, but dare not close on the Derringer still in the -hands of Meacham. Why does not the pursued man fire? He is a good shot. -Why don't he drop the old scoundrel? He was very much frightened when the -attack began, but, like a soldier in battle, he has passed that, and is -terribly cool now. He dare not risk his only shot, for fear of missing -Schonchin, and because of the danger of hitting Tobey, for she is now -interposing for his life, and, putting her hand on Schonchin's pistol, -turns it away again and again, while pleading, "Don't kill him! don't kill -Meacham! He is the friend of the Indians." Slolux joins Schonchin, and, -with his gun, strikes the woman on the head, while Shacknasty, snatching -it from him, says, "I'll fetch him," at the same time sitting down and -taking deliberate aim. Meacham, striking his breast with his left hand, -shouts, "Shoot me there, you cowardly red devil!" Tobey strikes down the -gun. Shacknasty threatens her, and again takes aim and fires just as -Meacham leaps over a low ledge of rocks and falls. "I hit him, high up! He -is all right!" shouts Shacknasty. - -Meacham now decides to fire his _only_ shot, and pushing the pistol up -over the rocks, carefully raises his head, with it thrown back, and just -as his eye comes above the rocks, he sees Schonchin sitting with his -revolver resting on his knee. Instantly a flash and a sting, and a ball -strikes Meacham in the forehead, between the eyes. Strange freak of the -bullet that passes under the eye-brow and out over the left eye, but does -not blind the other eye. Meacham now fires at Schonchin, who leaps up and -falls on the rocks, wounded. Almost at the same instant a ball passes -through Meacham's right arm. The pistol drops. Another ball cuts away the -upper part of his right ear, and still another strikes him on the right -side of the head and glances off. He quivers, and his limbs are -outstretched, denoting the death-struggle. Shacknasty is the first to -reach him, and he proceeds to strip him of his clothing, first pulling -his boots off, then his pantaloons, and, while taking off his coat, tears -the vest down at the side and throws it away. Then he strips him of his -shirt, for it is a good one, and Shacknasty saves it for his own use. - -While he is unbuttoning the shirt at the neck, Slolux comes up, and, -placing the muzzle of the gun close to the temple of the wounded man, sets -the hammer, and as he raises it up to his face to get it in range, -Shacknasty pushes it away, saying in Modoc, "You needn't shoot. He is -dead. He won't get up." Hearing the voice of Captain Jack calling, they -leave the scene, saying to Tobey, "There lies another of your brothers, -you white-hearted squaw! Go and take care of him. You are no Modoc." - -This hour seems to have inherited even the wrath of the Almighty. The -blackness of unnatural night hangs over this scene of blood. Gen. Canby's -limbs have straightened on yonder rocks, but a few steps to the west, and -his stark body looks ghastly in the awful gloom. Twenty yards to the east -the form of Dr. Thomas, his body half stripped and covered with blood, is -still convulsing, while his face presses the cold rocks. - -The chief calls again to the red-handed demons and bids them flee to the -stronghold. They gather around him with the clothing of the slain still -dripping blood upon their feet. They are exulting by wild shouts of -half-satiated thirst for blood. While glancing towards the soldiers' camp -they reload their arms. - -"I am going to have old man Meacham's scalp to put on my shot-pouch," says -Boston, passing the doctor's clothing to a companion standing near. - -"_He has no scalp_," breaks in Hooker Jim, "_or I would have it myself_." - -Boston now runs to where the bleeding man is lying, and takes from his -pocket a small two-bladed, black-handled knife which had been taken from -the pocket of a soldier who was killed in the January battle. The Indian -woman is wiping the blood from the mutilated face, now upturned with -closed eyes. Boston thrusts her aside, and with his left hand, still red -with the blood of Dr. Thomas, grasps the largest locks, and makes a stroke -with the knife. The woman remembers that the prostrate man over whom -Boston is bending has been _her_ benefactor, and that through his official -action, in 1869, he compelled Frank Riddle to make her a _lawful wife_, -and that, had it not been for this man, she would now, perhaps, be a -_cast-off squaw_. She cannot restrain her indignation, but rushes against -the red cut-throat and hurls him back on to the rocks. He rises and -threatens to take her life if she again interferes, taunting her with -being a "white woman." Stamping on the prostrate man's head, he places one -foot on his neck, and renews his attempt to secure an _ornament for his -shot-pouch_, swearing because he found no better scalp, but saying that he -would take one ear with it. With his left hand resting on the head, he -cuts square down to the skull a long, half-circular gash preparatory to -taking off the side lock and ear, too, with his knife. - -Tobey now resorts to strategy to accomplish what she cannot do otherwise. -Looking towards the soldiers' camp she claps her hands and shouts, -"Bos-tee-na soldiers. Kot-pumbla!"--("The soldiers are coming!") Boston, -without waiting to ascertain the truth of the warning, starts suddenly -and leaves the woman alone with the dead. - -Tobey's warning to Boston has reached the ears of the band of murderers at -the council fire, who, hastily putting the slightly wounded old sinner, -Schonchin, on "Joe Lane," while the blood-stained uniform of Gen. Canby -and the gray suit of the doctor, together with Meacham's clothes, are -lashed on Dyer's horse, turn away, leaving Boston behind, who grasps the -rein of Tobey's horse. She shouts to Jack, who turns and orders Boston to -leave him. - -Jack and his party scamper over the rocks, looking back, expecting to hear -the guns of the white soldiers who are coming to the rescue. - -Tobey again wipes the blood from the face of her benefactor, and, stooping -down, places her hand over his heart. "It stop! It stop!" she cries. With -her finger she opens his eyes. They do not see her. They are overflowing -with blood from the wound in his face and on his head. Again with her -dress she wipes the blood from his face. She straightens his limbs and -body. Then, standing alone a moment, with three dead men in sight, she -sorrowfully mounts her horse and starts for the soldiers' camp. - -While this scene of terror is being enacted at the council tent, another, -a little less bloody, is in progress on the opposite side of the Modoc -stronghold, the plans for which have been mentioned. Curly-haired Jack -(Cum-ba-twas) and Curly-haired Doctor have gone out towards Col. Mason's -camp, with a flag of truce, to decoy the "Little Tyee" (Col. Mason) among -the rocks. But he is an old Indian fighter, and cannot be caught by such -devices. - -Maj. Boyle is there, and, notwithstanding the fact that on the day before -Meacham had told him of the threatened treachery, he proposes to Lieut. -Sherwood to go out and meet the flag of truce. The major was Indian agent -at Umatilla, and had been successful in managing peaceable Indians. He had -been with Gen. Crook in Arizona, also; and, having confidence in his -sagacity to manage still, he volunteered to go now. - -Having obtained the consent of Col. Mason, they leave the picket-line -behind them and the guard of the day on the lookout. They go cautiously, -and, when within hailing distance, the Modocs, under cover of the flag of -truce, ask for the "Little Tyee." - -"He will not come," replies Boyle. The quick eye of the major catches -sight of a musket behind the flag of truce. He turns and flees, calling on -Sherwood to "Run! run for your life!" - -They run. But see! Sherwood falls! A bullet from the musket of -Curly-haired Jack has broken his thigh. The guard rush to the rescue. The -Modocs fire a volley, and then flee to their stronghold, pursued by the -guard. The signal-station at Mason's camp says, "Boyle and Sherwood -attacked, under a flag of truce." Capt. Adams, of the signal corps, on the -bluff above Gilliam's camp, receives and dictates it to his secretary, -who, after writing, sends it to Gen. Gilliam, in the camp, one hundred -yards below. The general reads the dispatch, and calls for Dr. Cabanis to -come in, while he writes a message to send by the doctor, informing the -commissioners of the attack on Mason's men. The general has written but a -line, when Maj. Biddle, who has the other glass at the signal station, -shouts, "_Firing on the commissioners!_" The officers order the men to -"Fall in!" Soon the bugle repeats the assembly call. The men spring to -their arms, and in a few moments the five hundred men are ready to rush to -the rescue. Each company forms in line in the order in which they are -encamped,--Col. Miller's company occupying the left front, Lieut. Eagan's -next on the left, and Maj. Throckmorton taking his position behind Eagan's -company; the cavalry companies are on the right. - -Gen. Gilliam is astounded, petrified. He hesitates; he does not give the -order to march; he seems bewildered. Maj. Biddle rushes down from the -signal station and cries, "I saw Canby fall." The men are frantic. They do -not understand the delay. The officers swear, and threaten to move -_without_ orders. - -Gen. Gilliam now awakes from his lethargy, and gives the order, "March, -and deploy from the left in skirmish line!" - -"_Forward!_" shouts Col. Miller. - -"Forward!" rings out along the lines, while Maj. Riddle's bugle sounds -"Forward!" Maj. Thomas is ordered to remain with his battery and guard the -camp. - -Now that the order to march is given, the men go flying towards the scene -of blood in skirmish line. Behind the army are the surgeons with the -stretchers. - -The newspaper reporters are there, also, and foremost among them "Bill -Dad" of the "Sacramento Record." While waiting for orders Bill Dad says to -a citizen, "I will give you fifty dollars to carry my message to Yreka -ahead of all others. Yes, seventy-five!" - -"All right," responds the man, anxious to make money out of the occasion. -Other reporters engage couriers. - -Col. Miller nears the council tent, urging his men on. He is behind them, -pushing them forward, expecting every moment to see a Modoc blaze of fire -in front. They soon after meet Dyer, who, breathless, says, "They are all -killed but me." Soon after they discover Riddle, who cries, hurriedly, -"They are all killed." But now they meet Tobey, who sobs, "_Canby, Thomas, -Meacham, all_ 'kill.'" - -Thirty minutes have passed, and Meacham is struggling to get upon his -feet. He hears a voice. "Up, on the left! Forward, my boys!" Faintly the -sound reaches his ears. "Steady, right! Up! up on the left, you d----d -scoundrels!" Distinctly and clearly he hears the words, "Steady, right! -Guide, centre!" Then the sound of men's feet on the rocks mingles with the -words of command. The men near the centre level their guns. - -"That's an Indian," says one of the men. - -"Don't shoot, he's a white man!" shouts Col. Miller. - -The line passes over the wounded man still in skirmish order, as they -expect a Modoc volley. As they pass, Dr. Cabanis comes up and says, "Bring -a stretcher here. Take Meacham. He's not dead." - -"I am dead! I am dead!" murmurs the wounded man. - -The soldiers lift the mutilated body on a stretcher. - -"Water! water! give me water!" moans the wounded man. - -The doctor puts a canteen of _brandy_ to his lips. The lips refuse. - -"_I can't drink brandy._ I am a temperance man," says Meacham. - -"Stop your nonsense. No time for temperance talk now. Down with it! down -with it!" cries the doctor. - -"Am I mortally wounded, doctor?" asked Meacham. The surgeon hastily -thrusts his finger into the several wounds and replies, "Not unless you -are wounded internally." - -"I am shot through the left shoulder," said the wounded man. - -"Now, boys, for the hospital! Quick! Lose no time, and we will save him," -cries the doctor. - -"I hit Schonchin in the right side. He fell over just in front of me," -says the man on the stretcher. - -"Never mind Schonchin," says the doctor. "We'll look out for him. Here, -take some more brandy. Now, boys, quick! He'll stand it until you reach -the hospital." - -Four pairs of strong hands grasp the handles of the stretchers, and four -other pairs carry the arms, and walk beside to relieve the carriers. A -soldier covers the man with his coat as they hurry along. Listen, now, to -the sad wail of young Scott, Canby's orderly, who was with him through the -war of the Rebellion. When he reaches the body of his beloved general, who -was more than a father to him, he throws himself on the prostrate form, -and, frantic with grief, raves like a madman. "Bill Dad" and a soldier -lift him up and cover the body with their coats. - -Men with stretchers come up, and, while they lift the general, Bill Dad -cuts the side of the council tent out and covers him over. Strange that -this council tent should become Gen. Canby's winding-sheet! The body of -Dr. Thomas is also placed on a stretcher, and it, too, is covered with a -part of the tent. It is his winding-sheet, also. - -While these affairs are taking place at the scene of the terrible tragedy, -the quartermaster, at the camp, is putting the hospital in order for the -reception of patients, ordering cooks to prepare food for the men, packing -mules with supplies, stretchers, water-casks, and such other things as are -necessary for the men while fighting, never doubting but that they will be -needed. The animals are ready and waiting for orders from the general -commanding. - -But lo! behold! The glistening bayonets above the rocks _come nearer_! The -army of five hundred men are _returning to camp_. "Why is this?" ask the -men. "Why did we not follow the murderers to their den?" demand the -officers. - -"We shall not be ready to attack them until the Warm Spring Indians come," -replies the general, who a few days since thought "he could take the -Modocs out with the loss of half-a-dozen men." Why did not Col. Mason -follow up the Modocs who attacked Sherwood and Boyle? _Because he could -not move without orders, and the orders were not given._ - -Three or four horsemen are waiting while a dozen pencils are rattling over -paper. The burden of each despatch is the assassination. "Modoc treachery! -Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas killed; Meacham mortally wounded; Dyer and -Riddle escape." How much these hasty lines will tell, and how many hearts -will feel a dark shadow fall over them when the electric tongue of fire -repeats this message to the world! - -"Fifty dollars extra, if you get my despatch into the telegraph office -ahead of the others," says Bill Dad, as he hands the paper to his courier. -Away goes the courier up the steep and rugged bluff. - -"One hundred dollars if you get to the office in Y-re-ka, first," says -another reporter, in a whisper, to his courier, who dashes off close -behind the first. - -Another rider is mounted and waiting for the word to start. Gen. Gilliam's -adjutant hands this man a sealed envelope. It contains an official -telegram for the authorities. - -"Lose no time! Off with you!" says Adjutant Rockwell. And now three riders -are urging their horses up the hill. Y-re-ka is eighty-three miles -distant. A long race is before them. The evening is dark and gloomy, but -the clouds pass away, and the moon shines on three men galloping together, -mile after mile. Sunrise finds two of them still together. One of them, as -they near a ranch, swings his hat and shouts. A man in shirt-sleeves runs -to a stable and brings a fresh horse to the man who signalled him. The -rider dismounts, and, while changing the saddle from his horse to the -fresh one, tells the awful tidings. The other rider urges his horse on, -on, for he, too, has a fresh horse but a few miles ahead. On he goes, and -looking behind him sees his rival coming. He comes up and passes, saying, -"Good-by, George!" - -Twenty minutes more and both are mounted on fresh horses, one leading, but -now in sight of each other. One is casting an eye backwards over his -shoulder; the other is pressing the sides of his horse. The gap closes -up. Y-re-ka is now in sight, and they are galloping side by side. Both are -sitting erect, and the music of jingling spurs is in harmony with the -stride of the horses. One mile more, and somebody wins. It all depends on -"bottom." The spurs cease to jingle. They are muffled in the bleeding -sides of the panting horses. - -What a race! One is an iron-gray, the other a Pinto horse. The rider of -the gray, reaching back with his spurs, rakes his horse from the flank -forward, leaving a vermilion trail where the spurs have passed. With -extended head and neck, and lengthened stride, he goes ahead a few yards. -With another application of spurs, the switch of the horse's tail touches -his rider's back. - -"Ah, ha! I've got you now!" shouts the rider of the Pinto, as he comes up -like the moving of a shadow, and leaves the gray and his rider behind. One -hour more, and the lightnings of the heavens are repeating the messages, -and sending them over mountains and plains, to almost the farthest ends of -the earth. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXI. - - HARNESSED LIGHTNING CARRYING AWFUL TIDINGS--HE - "MAKES IT"--A BROKEN FINGER WON'T DISFIGURE A - CORPSE. - - -It is night, and in the solders' camp a wail of anguish is heard coming -from the tent nearest Gen. Canby's late quarters. Grief weighs down the -heart of Orderly Scott, who is giving vent to his anguish in stifled sobs -and vows of vengeance on the perpetrators of the foul deed. He rises from -his bed, and, with face half buried in his hands, looks again on the -mangled form of his benefactor, and, in renewed paroxysms of grief, is -borne away by his friends. - -The sound of hammer and saw disturbs the midnight hour, while the -carpenters are transforming the wooden gun-cases into coffins for the -dead. Two are in progress, but the mechanics are economizing the rough -boards, for the probabilities are that the _third_ will be needed on the -morrow. - -The steward is holding a lamp while Drs. Semig and Cabanis are dressing -the wounds of the only patient in the hospital tent. He is unconscious, -while the ugly, ragged wound in his face is being carefully bound, and the -long crooked cut on the left side of the head is being closed with the -silver threads, and his ear is being stitched together. He flinches a -little when the flexible silver probe is following the trail cut through -his right arm made by the pistol ball that struck it outside of the -wrist, and, passing between the bones of the fore arms, came out on the -inside, midway between the hand and elbow. The left hand is laid out on a -board, and the wounded man is told that "the forefinger must come off." - -"Make out the line of the cut, doctor," says Meacham. - -"There, about this way," the doctor replies, while with his scalpel he -traces a cut nearly to the wrist. - -"I can't hold still while you do that, without chloroform," says Meacham. - -The doctor feels his pulse, and says, "You have lost too much blood to -take chloroform." - -"Then let it stay until I am stronger," rejoins Meacham. - -For once doctors agree, one of them saying, "The finger would not -disfigure a corpse very much." - -"Please ask Gen. Gilliam to send to Linkville for my wife's brother, Capt. -Ferree," comes from the bloodless lips of the wounded man. - -"My dear fellow," replies the kind-hearted doctor, "the general sent a -courier for him hours ago." - -This thoughtful act of kindness, on the part of Gen. Gilliam, has touched -the heart of the sufferer. When he awakes again Capt. Ferree was bending -over him and remarking, "He will be blind if he recovers, won't he, -doctor?" - -"He won't be very handsome, that's a fact," says the nurse. - -In the Modoc camp, when the murderous bands arrive with their scanty -plunder, a general quarrel ensues, and bitter reproaches are heard against -Hooker Jim for not securing Mr. Dyer, and against Curly Jack and -Curly-haired Doctor, for the escape of Maj. Boyle, and on account of the -clothing taken from the murdered men. Captain Jack claims the uniform of -Gen. Canby. Bogus and Boston divide the clothing taken from Dr. Thomas, -and Shacknasty Jim, Hooker Jim and old Schonchin are awarded the clothing -and effects of Meacham. - -Preparations are making for defence, as the Indians do not doubt that an -attack will be made immediately. Many bitter recriminations are uttered; -but it is war, war to the last man! They hush all their quarrels in the -necessity for united action. They pledge themselves to fight until the -_last man_ is dead. The Curly-haired Doctor calls his assistants around -him and begins the _Great Medicine Dance_. All night long the sound of -drum and song is heard. The Modocs expect every moment to hear the signal -of their sentinel on the outposts announcing the "soldiers!" No sleep -comes to this camp to-night. - -The morning comes, but no blue-coats are seen among the rocks. The army of -one thousand men _are not ready yet_. - -The Modocs exult; they are jubilant; they have _scared_ the Government. -"_It is afraid. It will grant us, now, all we ask._" Captain Jack and -Scar-face Charley do not assent to this unreasonable view of the -situation. - -"The soldiers will come. Our victory is not complete. We must fight now -until all are dead. The Modoc heart says 'We must fight!'" Captain Jack -affirms. - -Saturday morning, April 13th, finds the three camps side by side, and each -on the lookout for an attack. - -Strong hands are bearing two rough-looking boxes up the steep bluff. In -the foremost one is the body of Gen. Canby; in the other, all that is -mortal of Dr. Thomas. Slowly they mount the rugged hill. They reach the -waiting ambulances. The bodies are each assigned an escort. Sitting beside -Gen. Canby's coffin are his adjutant, Anderson, and the faithful Scott. - -How changed the scene! a few hours since all were hopeful. Now, all are in -despair, crushed under the affliction of the hour. While they move -cautiously under escort, the terrible news is flashing along thousands of -miles of telegraph lines, over mountains, under rivers and oceans. Before -the sun sets the hearts of millions of people are beating in sympathy with -the bereaved. Extras and bulletins are flying from a thousand presses. The -newsboys of America are shouting the burden of the terrible telegram. The -Indians along a thousand miles of the frontier have already learned that -something of dreadful import has happened. - -About the middle of the afternoon of this day a woman sitting in her room -on State street, Salem, Oregon, raises her eyes, turning them towards the -street. Perhaps the sound of steps on the wooden pavement attracts her -attention. She sees two familiar faces turned towards her window. "Oh, see -her! How pale she is!" She drops her work, and runs hastily to meet the -two gentlemen. - -"Is he dead? Is he dead? Tell me! Has my husband been killed by the -Modocs?" the woman cries. - -The gentlemen are speechless for the moment, while the lady pleads. They -dare not speak the truth too plainly, now; she cannot bear it. - -[Illustration: DOCTOR THOMAS.] - -One of them replies, "Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas have been killed by the -Modocs, and Mr. Meacham is sli--" "mortally wounded!" shrieks the lady -sinking to the floor. - -Three young persons are coming home. The eldest is a young lady of -eighteen. The lad that walks beside her is her brother of sixteen; and the -other is an auburn-haired girl of fourteen. There is something in her -appearance that connects our thoughts with the mutilated, almost bloodless -man who is lying in the hospital in the Lava Beds. - -They turn the corner leading out of the Plaza and in sight of home. They -see men and women hurrying across the front yard. - -"Has father been killed by the Modocs?" bursts from their lips as they -fly. - -Dr. Hall meets them and says, "Your father is slightly wounded. He is not -dead." - -The three frightened children gather around the _tearless_, pale-faced -mother, who says, "Don't deceive me. I am strong now. I can bear it. Tell -me the worst." - -The friends exchanged glances. Dr. Hall shakes his head, slightly -motioning towards the elder girl, whose face is buried in the bosom of -Mrs. Dr. Smith. - -"George, run to the telegraph office and bring the despatch," says the -mother to her son. "I must know the truth." - -The boy bounds away towards the office, and is met by Prof. Powell, who -says, "Come back, George. I will go home with you, and tell your mother -all about it." - -The two return, and the professor, with faltering voice reads the -despatch: "Canby and Thomas killed. Meacham mortally wounded." The -marble-faced wife arises, saying, "I am going to my husband." Her friends -remonstrate with her. - -"I am going to my husband. Do not hinder me," she repeats. - -"My father! my father!" cries the elder daughter, as she is borne to her -room. - -"My father will not die. He must not die. _My father will live_," the -younger daughter insists. Her brother is trying to hide his tears while he -talks hopefully. - -"Father is a very strong man. He may get well. I think he will," he says. - -It is midnight, and sympathizing friends are in the sitting-room and -parlor. The daughters and son have sobbed themselves to sleep. The mother -and wife, with bloodless face, is on bended knees, and, with uplifted -hands clasped, is whispering a prayer. - -At this moment her brother is bending over her husband three hundred miles -away, watching his breathing; while thoughts of a widowed sister and her -orphan children sadden the heart of the veteran who has passed through the -war of the Great Rebellion. A silent tear drops on the mangled face -beneath him. - -Donald McKay, "the scout," with seventy-two picked men, is dismounting at -Col. Mason's camp. Leaving them, he is challenged by the picket guard and, -passing in, reports himself to the officer of the day. - -His men stand waiting his return. Meanwhile we will go close enough to -inspect them. They are dressed in the uniform of the soldiers of the -United States. Their arms are the same, and in the moonlight they appear -to be "Regulars." If the wounded man in the hospital were here they would -salute him with, "Tuts-ka-low-a?" ("How do you do, old man Meacham?") And -he would reply, "Te-me-na, Shix-te-wa-tillicums." ("My heart is all -right.") - -These boys are Warm Spring Indians, and the same men who were in the -council tents in 1856, when the Government swindled them and their fathers -out of their homes in the beautiful "Valley of the Tygh." They were also -in the revival meeting at the Warm Springs Agency in 1871, when the -Superintendent of Indian Affairs, who now lies in yonder hospital, and -Agent John Smith, took so many red hands in their own and recognized a -brotherhood with them. They are the same men, too, who have for years -past, each Sunday morning, joined their beloved agent in prayer and song. -They have left behind them humble homes, in a poor country, where the -Government placed them, and where it still keeps them by the strong arm of -the law, without consulting their wishes,--a home they cannot leave, even -for a day, without a "pass." Their manhood was acknowledged in making a -treaty; but denied as soon as the compact was completed, until in 1866, -when the Government found it had an expensive war on hand with the Snake -Indians, and then it offered these men the privilege of volunteering to -whip the Snake Indians. This offer they accepted, and were rewarded for -their services with a few greenbacks, worth fifty cents on a dollar, and -an invitation to a new treaty council, in which they were _cheated_ out of -a reserved right to the fisheries on the Columbia river, near "The -Dalles;" and then they were summoned back to their unsought homes, subject -to the whims and caprices of Government officers, who were given positions -as a reward for political services. True, they agreed to the terms, and -they must be made to stand by them whether their pledges were made freely -and voluntarily, or under the shining bayonets of an army, and by reason -of the superior diplomatic talent of the Government officials who -outwitted them. It makes no difference. They are Indians, and -three-fourths of the people of the United States _believe_ and _say_ that -"the best Indians are all under ground." - -Anxious to demonstrate their loyalty to a Government that has been so good -to them, and to establish their right to manhood's privileges, when an -opportunity offered, they enlisted by the advice and consent of their -agent, and, followed by his prayers, they are here to-night under the -famous scout, Donald McKay. - -He evidently is not a "Warm Spring Indian," yet they trust him, knowing, -from their experience with him in the Snake campaign of 1866, that he is -thoroughly reliable. Donald McKay is half brother to Dr. Wm. C. McKay. His -mother was a Cayuse woman. Being a man of extraordinary endowments, which -fit him for a leader, he has taken an active part in all recent Indian -wars of the Northwest. His _name alone_ carries a warning to refractory -"red-skins." - -As Donald approached his men on his return from head-quarters, several -voices inquire if "old man Meacham is dead." Quietly leading their horses -inside the picket line, they unpack the kitchen, mule and blanket ponies. - -It is now Sunday morning, the 13th of April. The sun finds couriers on the -road to Y-re-ka, bearing despatches announcing that "Meacham is sinking. -The surgeons have extracted four bullets from his wounds. The Modocs -cannot get away." - -A sad, anxious woman is leaving the depot at Salem, Oregon, destined for -the Lava Beds. At home her children are in tears, realizing how dark the -clouds of sorrow may become. - -The childless widow of Gen. Canby sits with _broken heart_, in her parlor -in Portland, Oregon. - -The family of Dr. Thomas, in Petaluma, Cal., are kneeling around the -family altar, and a bereaved widow is praying for resignation to this -dispensation of Providence,--is praying for strength to say "Thy will be -done on earth as it is in heaven." - -Monday morning, April 14th, opens amid the noises of camp life; the drum -and bugle calls, and human voices join in songs of praise. They are -strange sounds for a military camp on the eve of battle. There is an -uncommon accent to them, but they sound familiar. What! The sounds come -from the lips of men who were born in wild camps among the mountains of -Eastern Oregon. Can it be that these red men have so far advanced in -Christian civilization that they are now doing what not one of the five -hundred white men have the courage to do? Yes, my reader, _it is true_ -that the Warm Spring Indians, who have learned from Agent John Smith these -songs of praise and the honor that is due to God, are faithful to their -pretensions, and _are worshipping_ Him, and seeking strength to sustain -them in the coming strife. - -Blush, now, will you not, you who prate so loudly of the superiority of -the white men! of his sense of right controlling his actions! Here are -_red men_, who are but a few years removed from savage life, _living_ the -"_new religion_"--Christians in real earnest, and shaming the hypocritical -pretenders whose cant and whine make liberal-minded people turn away in -disgust. You Christian Indian-hater, look at these red-skinned people, and -learn a lesson in Christian honesty and moral courage! - -The shadows of Van Bremers mountain come slowly over the Lava Beds. In the -Modoc camp the "medicine-man" is conducting the war-dance and working the -blood of Modoc hearts up to fighting heat. He promises his people that he -will make a medicine that will turn the soldiers' bullets away. He points -to the great battle of January, and its results, to inspire confidence in -him. The chief is saddened, and fully realizes the situation. He is -desperate, and is resolved to fight to the bitter end. He has already -appointed the places for each of the warriors. He tells his people that -the hated Warm Spring Indians are now in the soldiers' camp. He reminds -them that these people are their enemies; that it was the Warm Spring and -Tenino Indians who killed his father. He counsels them to remember his -father's death. He knows that a thousand white soldiers are there and that -the "big guns" will reach his stronghold. - -Some of his followers have superstitious faith enough in the medicine-man -to believe that they will outlive the war, and to believe the white men -are conquered already. The chief knows better. - -In the soldiers' camp preparations are making for the assault. The -Coehorn shell-guns are made ready for putting on the backs of mules. Food -for the soldiers has been prepared. The guard is stationed. The soldiers -in either camp well understand that the morrow's sun will witness another -bloody struggle. Those of them who were in former battles shrink from this -one, knowing how nearly impregnable the "stronghold" will be. - -"I say, old man, there is a little bit of fun going on. I wish you could -be up to see it." Thus spoke Capt. Ferree to Meacham, and continued, "You -know Long Jim--a Modoc prisoner--is under guard. Well, the boys are going -to give him a _chance_ to run for his life without the knowledge of Gen. -Gilliam. They have everything all fixed, and I'll bet fifty dollars he -'makes it!' They have him in the stone corral, and the plan is to station -the boys outside next to the Lava Beds and leave one or two men to guard -him. They will pretend to sleep, and Jim will jump the wall, and then the -boys will let him have it. Two to one he gets away! I thought I would just -tell you, so you wouldn't get scared to death, thinking the Modocs were -attacking the camp." - -This man, Long Jim, had pretended to desert the Modoc camp during the -peace negotiations. He had a bullet extracted from his back while in the -commissioners' camp, several weeks before. He was afterwards caught while -acting as an emissary to other Indians, and, by order of Gen. Canby, was -being detained under guard as a prisoner. Hence his presence. He stoutly -denied having any desire to return to Captain Jack's camp. - -The officers are assembled in Col. Green's quarters. They are celebrating -a half-solemn, half-sentimental ceremony that is sometimes indulged in -before an engagement. To a listener who lies in a hospital it sounds -somewhat as does the medicine war-dance in the middle camp. Indeed, its -results are the same, although the design is different. In the Modoc camp, -the dance and medicine are for the purpose of invoking spiritual aid and -stimulating the nerves of the braves to heroic deeds. In the soldier camp -the intention is to celebrate the stirring scenes passed, to exchange -friendship, to blot out all the personal differences that exist, and -pledge fidelity for the future. - -They tell stories and pass jokes and witticisms until a late hour. Before -adjournment they join in singing a song that is sung nowhere else and by -no other voices. The wounded man in the hospital tent hears only the -refrain. It sounds melancholy, and has a saddening effect. - - "Then stand by your glasses steady, - This world's a round of lies-- - Three cheers for the dead already, - And hurrah for the next who dies"-- - -rings out from the lips of brave men who dread not the strife of battle -under ordinary circumstances; but to meet an enemy who is so thoroughly -protected by chasms and caverns of rock does not promise glory that -inflates men's courage previous to battle. - -Col. Tom Wright and Lieut. Eagan drop into the hospital, and, sitting down -beside the wounded commissioner, assure him that they will remember Canby -and Thomas, and will avenge his own sufferings. They retire with -expressions of hope for his recovery. They meet Maj. Thomas and Lieut. -Cranston coming to pay a visit. Exchanges of sympathy and friendship -follow, and they return to quarters to sleep before the battle, leaving -behind them but one wounded man. He is peering into the future, wondering -_who_ of all the five hundred men and officers will be his _first -neighbor_. - -The camp is quiet. Midnight has passed. The relief guard has been -stationed. In the corral Long Jim is _sleeping_. He shows no sign of any -intention to escape. The guard _is discouraged_. The boys outside are -impatient. What if Jim should not make the attempt? It would be a huge -joke on the boys who planned this little side scene. Truth is, nearly -everybody who is in the secret is cursing Jim for a fool that he don't try -to escape. A consultation is held. Something must be done. "I'll fix it," -says a "little corporal." Going to the corral he says, "Don't go to sleep -and let the prisoner get away." Everything becomes quiet and the two -guards sit down, one at each side of the corral. - -"I'm so d--d sleepy I can't keep awake," says one to the other. - -"Sleep, then. I won't say a word," rejoins his companion. "He can't get -away from me. He's sleeping himself." - -The first speaker soon hangs his head and _sleeps_. Soon the other's chin -rests on his breast and he begins to _snore_. Long Jim slowly raises _his_ -head. All is quiet. There sit the two guards, sleeping. One is snoring. -Jim listens. His love for his own people and for liberty burns in his -heart. He has picked up many items that would be valuable. He knows that -the attack will be made on the morrow. His friends must be notified. He -listens a moment, and then, cautiously laying aside his blanket, he stands -erect. One of the guards sits in the gateway of the corral. The wall -around him is higher than his head. He cannot see over it. Laying his -hands on the stone and summoning all his strength he _springs_. A blaze at -either end of the corral, then bang! bang! go the guns outside like the -firing, of a string of China crackers, only louder. Twenty shots are -fired, and still Jim does not fall. He reaches the outer picket line. _Two -more guns are fired off_, lighting up the track for the runaway, and still -he flies. The boys reload and send a parting volley in the direction Jim -went. - -"_He 'made it'; and a madder set of fellows you never saw._ I knew they -couldn't hit him. I've tried that thing, and it can't be done." I need not -tell my readers who uttered this remark. - -You may suppose that this little episode, "just before the battle," roused -the camp. No such thing occurred. Gen. Gilliam, it is true, jumped to his -feet, but was reassured when he was told that it was nothing--only Long -Jim escaping. - -Before daylight this distinguished individual was "a-tellin' the Modocs -the news," as one of the sleeping guard declared. So he was, with his -clothing pierced by half-a-dozen bullets, but "with nary a wound." - - - - - CHAPTER XXXII. - - HORIZONTAL PYROTECHNICS--THE SCALP MIRACLE--KILLED - IN PETTICOATS--THE PRESENTIMENT. - - -It is four o'clock on the morning of Tuesday, the 14th of April. The men -are silently falling into line. The mules are groaning under the heavy -weight of "mounted pieces," or loaded with stretchers and other -contrivances for carrying the dead and wounded. The soldiers do not seem -to realize that some of their number will _return on these mules_, wounded -and helpless, or dead. Perhaps each one thinks and hopes that it will be -some one other than himself. From the immense preparations for war it -would seem that Captain Jack and his followers must be taken in a few -minutes. One thousand men and seventy-two Warm Spring Indians are taking -position around the ill-starred chieftain's fortress. He is not ignorant -of their presence. His old women and children are hidden away in the caves -of the Lava Beds. The young women are detailed to attend the warriors with -water and ammunition. The Modocs are better armed than during the last -battle. Some of their guns were captured from fallen soldiers on the 17th -of January. A large quantity of ammunition that was taken has been changed -to suit the old rifles. - -The men are at the stations assigned them. They are divested of all -unnecessary clothing, and their limbs are bandaged by folds of rawhide. -They are awaiting the attack. Each warrior holds a position made -impregnable by the formation of the rocks, or the condition in which the -great convulsions of nature which produced this indescribable country, -left them. - -The sun is driving away the darkness, and soon the battle must begin. - -In the hospital a veteran of the Second Iowa Cavalry is sitting beside the -wounded man, and preparing him for the shock that his nerves will feel. - -"Don't get scared, old man! It will begin very soon, and you will -presently have company enough," he says. - -The hospital attendants are making ready to care for the wounded. -Mattresses are placed in rows on either side. In a small tent, near by, a -surgeon is laying out lint and bandages. - -The Iowa veteran is standing at the door, saying to Meacham, "I will tell -you when it opens. I can see the fire before you will hear the sound and -feel the jar. Don't get frightened, and think that the mountain is coming -down on you, old man. There goes the signal rocket. Now look out!" - -An instant more and the shells and howitzers join in a simultaneous demand -for the Modoc chief to surrender. The earth trembles while the reports are -reverberating around and through the chasms and caverns of the Lava Beds, -and before they have finally died away, or the trembling has ceased, -another sound comes in a continuous roar, proceeding from the left, and by -the time the belt of fire has made the circuit, it repeats itself again -and again. But no smoke of rifles is seen coming from the stronghold. -"Charge!" rings out by human voice and bugle blast, and a returning -series of bayonets converge. On they go, nearing a common centre. No -Modocs are yet in sight. The soldiers, now upright, are hurrying forward, -when suddenly, from a covert chasm and cavern, a circle of smoke bursts -forth. The Modocs have opened fire. The men fall on the right and left, -around the circle. "Onward!" shout the officers. "Onward!" But the men are -falling fast. The charge must be abandoned. The bugle sounds "Retreat!" -The line widens again, the soldiers bearing back the dead and wounded. -They now seek cover among the rocks. The wounded are sent to the hospital, -by way of the lake, in boats or on the mule-stretchers. The battle goes -on. The wounded continue to arrive. The shadows of the mountains from the -west cover the Lava Beds, and still the fight goes on. A volley is heard -near the hospital. - -"What's that?" asked the startled patient. - -"Burying the dead," quietly responds the veteran nurse. - -A few minutes pass, and another volley is fired, and another soldier is -being laid away to rest forever. Still another, and another yet; until -five volleys announce that five of the boys who started out with United -States rifles in the morning are occupying the narrow homes that must be -theirs forever. - -At irregular intervals during the night the fight is continued. The Modocs -are constantly on duty. The soldiers relieve each other, and are in -fighting condition when Tuesday morning comes. No cessation of firing -through the day. No rest for the Modocs. - -One of the camp sutlers, well known all over the West as a game fellow, -unable to restrain his love for sport, and being PAT-riotic, goes to -quartermaster Grier and demands a _breech-loader_, and also a _charger_ to -ride, saying he wanted to do something to help whip the Modocs. Mr. Grier -informed _Pat_ that he could _not_ issue arms without an order. Pat was -indignant, and made application successfully to a citizen for the -necessary outfit for war. He mounted Col. Wright's mule and repaired to -the scene of action. - -On reaching the line of battle he looked around a few minutes, and, to a -word of caution given him by an officer, replied, "Divil an Indian do I -see. I came out to git a scalp, and I'm not goin' home without it." - -The officer who had given him the friendly advice watched the bold sutler -as he kept on his way with his "Henry," ready to pick off any Modoc who -might be imprudent enough to show his head. The soldiers shout, "Come -back! come back!" but on goes the fearless sutler, carefully picking his -way. Look very closely, now, and we can see what appears to be a _moving -sage-bush_. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, it creeps over the ledges. If -Pat would only look in the right direction he could see it and have a -chance at the travelling bush; and as he is a good shot, he _might_ -scatter the leaves, besides boring a hole through _Steamboat Frank's_ -head. A puff of smoke comes out of the now immovable bush, and the report -mingles with the roar of battle. Pat's mule _drops_ under him, and he -slips off and takes cover behind a low rock. The mule recovers its feet, -and, with almost human sense, makes its way back to the soldiers' line. -Pat, anxious to discover his man, raises his head above the rocks. Whiz! -comes another bullet, so close that Pat drops back quietly,--indeed, so -very quietly that the soldiers report him dead; and noble-hearted Pat is -named among the slain. But let us see how he really is. After lying -contented awhile, he again slowly lifts his head, and another shot comes -so close that Pat again drops behind the rock, and a second time the -soldiers shout, "They've got him this time, sure!" - -Not so, however. Pat is not hurt yet. Again and again he attempts to move -from behind the rock, scarcely large enough to protect him, and each time -Steamboat fires. No one who knows Pat McManus ever doubted his courage, -but he deserves credit, also, for remembering that "Discretion is the -better part of valor." He finally arranges himself for a "quiet snooze -behind the rock," as he expressed it, and awaited the welcome shades of -evening. He then crawls out to the soldier line. It is said that he stood -the fire of the soldiers who mistook him for an Indian, until he shouted -to them, "Dry up, there! It's me! Don't you know a white man on his knees -from an Injun on his belly?" - -Directly west of Captain Jack's stronghold is a flat an almost level plain -of lava rocks of six hundred yards in width, but commanded by the -stronghold, while it does not offer protection to those who attempt to -hold it. To complete the investment it is necessary to take this "flat." -Lieut. Eagan is ordered to the execution of this enterprise. He is a -daring leader, and, calling to his men to follow, moves forward. It is -known to be a hazardous undertaking, but Eagan is just the man. Away he -goes, jumping from one rock to another, calling to his men: "Come, my -boys! come!" he cries. But suddenly the Lava Rocks in front belch forth -Modoc bullets, and the gallant lieutenant _drops_. Then a soldier, and -then another. Eagan shouts, "Fall back!" Pell-mell they go, stooping, -jumping and shouting, leaving the brave fellow alone, while his men take a -position where they can prevent the Modocs from capturing their leader. - -Dr. Cabanis,--who seems to bear a charmed life, hearing of Eagan's fall, -goes to him. The Modocs open fire on him. Steadily the gallant doctor -moves forward, sometimes taking cover as best he can, again moving, half -bent, from rock to rock, and when he reaches the wounded man a shout goes -up from the soldiers. The wound is dressed, and the doctor, unable to -_carry_ his patient, leaves him and returns again to the line. - -While this battle is going on, two coaches of the Northwest Stage Company -meet, one going north and the other south. Observing a custom common among -western stage people, they halt and exchange news items. In the stage -going north is the body of Gen. Canby, in charge of his adjutant, -Anderson, and Orderly Scott. In the other stage is Mrs. Meacham, -accompanied by a stranger. Indeed, she has found a new escort at almost -every station, who would announce himself as "your husband's brother." -Members of this brotherhood have been informed by telegraph all along the -road that "A Brother's Wife is _en route_ for the Lava Beds. Look out for -her wants. See that she is escorted and send the bills to No. 50, F. A. -M., Salem." - -Anderson goes to the other coach. Mrs. Meacham anxiously inquires, "Did -you see my husband after he was wounded?" - -"I sat beside him half an hour," he replies. "He is doing well." - -"Will he recover?" questions Mrs. Meacham. "Is he mortally wounded?" - -"We hope he will get well. His wounds are not necessarily fatal," replies -the adjutant. "A great deal," he continues, "depends on good treatment. -_Your brother_ is with him. Everything that can be done is being done." - -Anderson walks sadly back to his charge of the lamented general. - -The driver of the other stage dismounts and accosts Mr. Anderson as he -resumes his seat. - -"Is there any hope for Mr. Meacham?" he asks. - -"Not the least in the world; but his wife must not know it now," replies -Anderson, in a low voice; but O my God! _loud enough for the quick_ ears -of Mrs. Meacham to catch the words. - -The drivers take up the lines. The stages pass. In one Gen. Canby's body -is being borne to his heart-broken wife. In the other a heart-broken wife -is going to her husband, with the thought that she would be northward -borne in a few days, with her husband confined in a dark coffin. The -southern-bound stage reaches Jacksonville. The strange gentleman assists -Mrs. Meacham to alight, and attends to her baggage while the change of -coaches is being made. He then introduces another stranger to Mrs. Meacham -as "your husband's brother, who will go to Y-re-ka with you." - -It is Wednesday evening when the stage is slowly climbing Siskiyou -mountain. The occupants are but two, one a lady. She does not speak. _She -has no hope now._ The gentleman is silent. He, too, has lost hope in the -recovery of the lady's husband. - -[Illustration: BRINGING IN THE WOUNDED.] - -Lieut. Eagan is being carried to his tent. The hospital is full of -patients groaning with pain. Near the door lies a Warm Springs Indian -scout. The surgeons are probing his wound, while he laughs and talks to -the attendants, making sarcastic remarks about "the Modocs using powder -that couldn't shoot through his leg." - -The Iowa veteran announces to his brother-in-law that his wife will be in -Y-re-ka that night. - -The Modocs are out of water. The ice they had stored in the caves is -exhausted. They determine to cut their way to the lake, but a few hundred -yards distant. They concentrate their forces, and, enveloped in sage -brush, they crawl up near the line of soldiers and open fire in terrible -earnest. Soldiers fall on right and left. The Modocs yell and push their -line. The white soldiers are massing to resist. The fire is awful. Peal -after peal, volley after volley, and still the Modocs hold their ground. -All night long the Modoc yell mingles with the rattle of musketry, and the -shouts of defiance from the soldiers. One party is fighting in -desperation; the other from duty. - -While this battle is raging, the stage-coach from the North arrives at -Y-re-ka, and stops at the hotel. A gentleman says a few words to the -driver. The street-lamp before Judge Roseborough's door throws its light -on the faces of several ladies and gentlemen who stand waiting to receive -the lady passenger. She is met with warm-hearted kindness, although every -face is new. Supper is waiting. Every effort is made for the lady's -comfort. She weeps now, although this great sorrow of her life had seemed -to dry up the fountain of tears until the warm hearts and kind words of -strange voices had touched, with melting power, her inner soul. A short -sleep, and she arises, to find a four-horse carriage awaiting to bear her -to the Lava Beds. A new escort takes his place beside her. - -Just after daylight, and while leaving the Shasta valley, a few miles out -of Y-re-ka, the driver announces a courier coming from the Lava Beds. As -he approaches, he draws from his "cantena"--a leather pocket carried on -the saddle-front--a paper, and, waving it while he checks his panting -horse, says, "For Mrs. Meacham." Oh, the power of a few words! How they -can change darkness into light! The letter read as follows:-- - - LAVA BEDS, Tuesday Eve., April 15. - - DEAR SISTER: Your husband will recover. His wounds are doing - well, but he will never be very handsome any more. - - Your brother, - - D. J. FERREE. - -This inveterate joker cannot resist the temptation to mix the colors of -the rainbow in all he does. But we forgive him. - -This morning, as the sun dispels the darkness, the Modocs abandon the -attempt to reach the lake. For two days and nights they have fought -without sleep. They are suffering from thirst and long-continued fighting; -but _no signs of surrender are anywhere visible_. The chief has called a -council. It is decided to evacuate on the approach of night, and the -braves are ordered to hold their fire unless to resist a charge. - -A few of the Modocs have passed outside the lines by way of the "open -flat," and are crawling towards the soldiers' camp at the foot of the -bluff. Gen. Gilliam, Dr. McEldry and others have passed over the route -unharmed. The horse-stretchers have passed and repassed with their mangled -freight. The pack-ponies are all busily engaged, and the team horses, that -were ordered by the quartermaster into service, are employed in carrying -the dead. The pack-trains and teams belong to private citizens, and have -been employed by the Government in carrying and hauling supplies. It was -not expected, however, that they would be required to carry bleeding and -mangled human freight. - -"Necessity knows no law." In the beginning of the battle, the citizen -teamsters were ordered to this place for duty. Among them was a -fair-haired boy of nineteen years of age, who had trained his team horses, -on the first and second days of the battle, to walk between the poles that -made the mule-stretchers. The poles were about twenty feet long, and at -either end a stout strap was attached to each. These straps were thrown -across the saddles on the horses, one being immediately in front of the -other, and between them canvas was secured to the poles, thus constituting -a "horse-stretcher." This boy had proved himself very efficient, and had -won the commendation of the officers, and the gratitude of the wounded -men. Dr. McEldry had requested the quartermaster to continue young Hovey -in the service, because in managing the stretchers he was careful and -trustworthy. - -A presentiment had this morning filled the mind of this noble young fellow -with dread. He made application to Quartermaster Grier to be excused from -further duty with the stretchers, stating his reasons. Mr. Grier expressed -his sympathy with him and endeavored to allay his fears, remarking that -Dr. McEldry had paid him a high compliment for his efficiency and -requested him--Mr. Grier--to send him out again this morning. - -The boy--_too brave to refuse_, although no law could have compelled him -to go, though his horses might have been pressed into service--assented, -remarking that, notwithstanding he had made _several trips safely_, he -should _not get back from this one_. - -After preparing his horses for this unpleasant labor he goes to a citizen -friend, and gives him his watch and other valuables, saying that he _did -not expect to return_, as he had had a presentiment that he would not; and -he gave to this friend a message to his father, another for his mother, -and mentioning the names of his _brothers and sisters_, left a _few words -of love for each_. The grandeur of character and heroism exhibited by this -boy stand out among the few instances that are given to mankind in proof -of the divinity that controls human action. Nothing but godlike attributes -could have sustained young Hovey when calmly performing those manly -actions which entitle his name to be enrolled among the heroes of the age. -So let it be recorded, and let it stand with the nineteen summers he had -lived, _accusing_ and _condemning_ those who so _wildly howled_ for blood -when the Peace Commissioners were laboring to prevent what might have -been only a terrible phantasmagoria, but which has become an awful -reality. - -Young Hovey, accompanied by one assistant only, started on his way to the -battle-field with four horses and two stretchers. No guard was deemed -necessary, because it was understood that the Modocs were surrounded and -"could not escape," and it was so reported, by the general commanding, to -his superiors. Hovey and his companion had passed by the scene of the -tragedy of the Peace Commissioners but a few rods, and but a few hundred -yards behind Gen. Gilliam, when, from the cover of the rocks, a Modoc -bullet, shot by Hooker Jim, went with a death-dealing power through his -head. The monsters, not content with his death and the capture of his -horses, rush upon him, and while he is yet alive, scalp him, strip him of -his clothing, and then, with inhuman ferocity, the red fiends crush his -head to a shapeless mass with huge stones. His companion escapes unhurt. - -This outrage was committed almost within sight of the army, which was -investing the stronghold, and the camp at the bluff. - -Having despatched young Hovey, the Modocs then turned towards the latter -camp. Lieut. Grier, who was in command, immediately telegraphed to Col. -Greene, in command at the Lava Beds, that "The Modocs were out of the -stronghold and had attacked the camp." He, also, called together the -citizens and his own forces, as Assistant Acting Quartermaster, and, -arming them, prepared to resist. But a few shots were fired by the -Indians; however, one or two balls landed among the tents near the -hospital. The Modocs presently withdrew. - -The day is passing away with the almost useless expenditure of powder and -shells. However, there was a _shell sent_ in yesterday that did not -explode when delivered, and the Modocs are anxious to see what is inside -of it. How to do so is a question in the Modoc mind. Several plans are -tried unsuccessfully, until an old Cum-ba-twas, with jaws like a cougar, -taking it in his hands and clinching the plug with his teeth, produces a -combustion that _he does not anticipate_. _That shell does execution. In -fact_, _it is worth about five hundred thousand dollars to the -Government_, rating its services pro rata with the total cost of killing -Modoc Indians. When the plug starts, the head of the old fellow who is -holding it goes off his body in a damaged condition. Another younger man, -who stands by waiting the result of the experiment, is blown all to -pieces, cutting his scalp into convenient sizes for the soldiers to divide -to advantage. - -Two or three old Indian women pass through the lines to the water. A young -brave dons woman's clothes and comes to the line. After slaking his thirst -he starts to return. Something in his walk creates a suspicion. - -"That's a man," says a soldier. - -The Indian runs. _A dozen rifles command, "Halt!" The Indian halts._ The -soldiers _take five or six scalps off that fellow's head_, and would have -taken more, had the first ones been less avaricious. However, soldiers are -kind-hearted and unselfish fellows, and the scalps are _again divided_, so -that, at last, ten or twelve are happy in the possession of a scalp. - -It is now five P.M. Let us see how the several parties are situated at -this time. Couriers are _en route_ to Y-re-ka with despatches, telling the -world about the terrible slaughter, and, _by the authority_ of the general -in command, assuring the powers that be, in Washington, "The Modocs cannot -escape. They are in our power. It is only a question of time. We have them -'corralled.'" - -In Portland, Oregon, an immense concourse of citizens are awaiting the -arrival of the train bearing the remains of Gen. Canby. The streets are -hushed. The doors of business houses are closed. A general feeling of -sorrow is everywhere manifest. Officers of the army and a delegation from -a Great Brotherhood are there. On every hand flags are at half mast. -Emblems of sorrow meet the eye. The grief-stricken widow sits in her room, -cold, comfortless, inconsolable. - -The Fraternal and Church Brotherhoods and thousands of mourning friends -crowd the wharf in San Francisco, eagerly watching the coming of a steamer -from Vallejo with flags at half mast. This boat is bringing home for -interment the body of another great man, whose spirit went to its Maker in -company with the Christian General, for whom the city of Portland, Oregon, -mourns. Nearest to the dark tabernacle two young men are standing. They -are the sons of Dr. Thomas. - -While the two cities of the western coast are exchanging telegraphic words -of sympathy, kind-hearted friends are filling a parlor where three -sorrowing children are weeping without the presence of parents. The -friends are repeating the hopeful telegrams of the Iowa veteran, and -assuring them that their mother is with their father by that time as she -left Y-re-ka the previous morning. - -At this hour a young physician is hurrying to the bedside of an aged man, -who has passed threescore years and ten, near Solon, Iowa. A glance at his -face and we are reminded of the wounded Peace Commissioner in the Lava -Beds, three thousand miles away. Five days ago he had read the telegram -that said, "Meacham mortally wounded." He threw himself on his bed then, -saying, "If my son dies I never can rise again,--my first-born soil who -went with me through all my dark hours on the frontier, twenty-five years -ago. Must he die? Can I bear it? Thy will be done, O Lord!" - -For five days has he laid hanging between life and death. His physician -has watched the telegraph, and now, with the words of the Iowa veteran, he -is hurrying to the bedside of his patient. - -"Your son will recover!" the doctor exclaims before reaching him. - -The white-haired man rises on his elbow, saying, "Do I dream? Is it true, -doctor? Will my son live?" - -About this hour, away up on Wild Horse Creek, Umatilla County, Oregon, a -young man is writing a letter that seems to come from an overcharged heart -submerged in grief. The letter runs as follows:-- - - MEACHAM RANCH, WILD HORSE CREEK, April 17th, 1873. - - MY DEAR NEPHEW:--I have just heard of the death of your - father.... Eleven months since we kneeled with him beside your - Uncle Harvey's coffin and pledged our lives to care for his - widow and orphan children.... You and I, George, are all that - are left to care for two widows and two families of orphans. ... - The stroke is heavy to be borne.... I will try to be a father to - them. We must be men. - - Your uncle, - - JOHN MEACHAM. - -Again we stand on the bluff, at this hour, overlooking the Lava Beds. In a -little tent among the hundred others the Iowa veteran is telling his -brother-in-law that his wife will be in camp by seven. A courier arrives -saying that the Modocs are hanging about the trail leading down the -mountain. The officers are aware of the near approach of Mrs. Meacham. -They decide that she cannot come to the camp with safety. A detachment is -ordered to escort Commissioner Dyer up the mountain to meet her and take -her to Linkville. - -While he is working his way under escort, the Modocs are seen creeping -towards the road. At the top of the mountains Dyer meets the ambulance. He -assures the woman that she cannot reach the camp; that her husband is well -cared for, and that she must go back to a place of safety. - -She remonstrates, saying, "I must--I _will_ go to my husband." She alights -from the ambulance and starts on foot, but is intercepted and forced to go -again to the ambulance, with the assurance that "_her husband will be sent -out to her within a day or two_". - -No language can portray the feelings and emotions of this woman when, -after travelling three hundred miles on stages and in ambulances over the -Cascade mountains, through a hostile country, she is compelled to turn -back when within three miles of her wounded husband, with those ominous -words saying, like a funeral dirge, "_Your husband will be sent out to you -in a few days_". - -While she is yet pleading for the privilege of seeing him the mountain's -sides reverberate with the sounds of rifle shots coming up from a point -half way to the camp, volley answering volley. While she is in a -half-unconscious condition, the team drawing the ambulance is turned -about, and the guard take their places on either side, and the team moves -away towards the frontier. - -When the woman returns to consciousness, she exclaims, "Take me to my -husband! I must see him before he dies." - -The kind heart of Mr. Dyer is moved. He pleads with her to abandon the -attempt, consoling her with Christian assurances that "God does all things -well." With the guard in skirmishing order the party hurries away. - -The mutilated body of young Hovey is lying stark and cold, beside the road -where he fell. - -Sundown is announced by the repeated volleys of musketry at the cemetery, -as the bodies of the soldiers are laid away in their last sleep. - -The friends of the young lad obtain permission, and the necessary -facilities, from the quartermaster, to bring in his body. A coffin is -prepared, and in it is placed what was, a few hours since, a noble-hearted -youth full of life. - -A part of the army is resting, and a part is bombarding the Modocs. -Captain Jack has kept the "flat" cleared, and now, while the shot and -shell are being tumbled in around his camp, he draws his people out under -cover of darkness, and leaves the soldiers to fire away at his empty caves -until morning, when another order to charge is made, and the lines close -slowly up with great care, like fishermen who feel sure they have a big -haul, until they land the seine, and discover that a great rent has let -the prize escape. See the soldiers' line! How carefully it contracts to -the centre, the soldiers expecting each moment that the Modocs will make a -break, until, at last, the lines come together like a great draw-string, -only to reveal the fact that _no Indians are there_, except one old man, -whom all declare to be Schonchin, who was wounded by Meacham's Derringer -last Friday. _He shall not escape_, and a dozen bullets pass through him. -He falls over, and the men gather around and scalp the old fellow. - -"Meacham shall have a lock of his hair," says one; and he cuts it from -_one of the scalps_. - -Then the old Indian's head is severed from his body, and kicked around the -camp like a foot-ball, until a surgeon interferes, and saves it from -further indignities by sending it to the camp, where the face was -carefully skinned off, and "put to pickle" in alcohol. The men shout and -hurrah while exploring the caves, expecting to find Captain Jack, like a -wolf at bay, somewhere, determined to "die in the last ditch." Instead of -Modocs, they find the remains of soldiers who have been killed, ammunition -that had been captured, and dried beef that had not been required; but no -evidence of any "_Modoc bodies having been burned_." - -While they were rejoicing in the capture of this great natural fortress of -the Modoc chief, _he_ was in a new position with his people, resting and -recruiting from the three days' battle, and so near his old "stronghold" -that he could hear the reports of the soldiers' muskets when they finished -up the supposed Schonchin. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIII. - - MUSIC DON'T SOOTHE A SAVAGE--FIGHTING THE DEVIL - WITH FIRE A FAILURE--"WE'LL BURY THE OLD MAN - ALIVE." - - -The expectant man has waited, watched, listened for the sound of a voice -that would bring joy to him. His attendant carefully breaks the -disappointment, fearing the consequences. - -Friday morning, and a Warm Springs soldier is sitting beside the -commissioner. A look at his face, and we recognize him as the man who -stood out so long in the meeting at Warm Springs Agency, in 1871. - -Pia-noose had come in to vent his feelings and to express his friendship. -After the usual ceremony of salutation on his part, he remarked that the -white men did not know how to fight Modocs. "_Too much music._ Suppose you -take away all the music, all the big guns, all the soldiers, and tell the -Warm Springs, 'Whip the Modocs,' _all right_. Some days we get two men, -some days we get more, and by and by we get all the Modocs. Warm Springs -don't like so much music,"--referring to the bugle. - -This morning Gen. Canby's remains are lying in state in Portland, and a -whole city weeps with the widow who does not--cannot look on the beloved -face. - -In San Francisco bells are tolling, and a vast concourse of sad-hearted -citizens are following the dark-plumed hearse that conveys the Rev. Dr. -Thomas to his last resting-place in Lone Mountain Cemetery. - -Mrs. Meacham is sitting in a small parlor at Linkville, and expecting each -moment the arrival of a courier that will confirm her worst fears. Mrs. -Boddy--whose husband was murdered last November by the Modocs--is with -her. The two mingle their tears. They are kindred, now that sorrow has -united them. - -Gen. Gilliam has called a council of war, and plans for future operations -are being discussed. The hospital gives out a sad murmur of mingled moans, -curses, and groans. Two soldiers are going toward the burying-ground; one -carries a _spade_, the other a small, plain, straight box, in which is the -leg of a soldier going to a waiting-place for him. Riddle and his wife, -Tobey, are cooking and washing for the wounded. Riddle often calls on -Meacham, bringing refreshments prepared by his wife. Col. Tom Wright calls -on Meacham this morning. A spicy colloquy ensues. He remarks that the -Modocs are nearly "h--l." Meacham says, "Where is your two thousand -dollars now? Suppose you and Eagan took them in fifteen minutes, didn't -you?" Col. Wright: "Took 'em, _not much_,--we got the prettiest licken -ever an army got in the world." Meacham: "What kind of a place did you -find, anyhow, colonel?" Col. Wright: "It's no use talking; the match to -the Modoc stronghold has not been built and never will be. Give me _one -hundred picked men_, and let me station them, and I will _hold_ that place -against _five thousand men,--yes, ten thousand_, as long as ammunition and -subsistence last. That's about as near as I can describe it. Oh, I tell -you it is the most impregnable fortress in the world! Sumter was nowhere -when compared with it." Meacham: "What kind of a fighter is Captain Jack, -colonel?" Col. Wright: "Fighter; why, he's the biggest Ingen on this -continent. See what he's done; licked a thousand men, killed forty or -fifty, and has not lost more than _three_ or _four_ himself. We _starved_ -him out, we _didn't whip_ him. He'll turn up in a day or two, ready for -another fight. I tell you, Jack's a big Ingen." - -Let us see where this distinguished individual and this gallant band of -heroic desperadoes are at this time. From the signal-station on the -mountain side, above Gilliam's camp, we can look over the spot, but they -are so closely hidden that we cannot locate them; not even a curl of smoke -is seen. Follow the foot of the bluff around three miles, and then strike -off south, or left, two miles more, and amid an immense jumble of lava -rocks we find them. Go carefully; Indian women are on the picket-station, -while the warriors sleep. Since sundown last evening they passed _between_ -the soldier camp and the council tent and brought water to the famishing. -A man sits upon a jaded horse, at the gate of a farm-house, near Y-re-ka. -Children are playing in the front yard. A watch-dog springs to his feet -and gives warning by loud barking. A stout-built man looks out from a barn -to ascertain the meaning, while a middle-aged woman comes to the kitchen -door. The whole, together, is the picture of a western farmer's -home,--happiness and contentment. The horseman takes in the scene, and -while he views the photograph he recognizes in it the home of young -Hovey. A painful duty is his. He hesitates. He knows that his words will -send a dark shadow over this household. The farmer comes towards him. The -dog is hushed; the children cease their sports; the mother stands waiting, -waiting, listening, and the throbbing of her own heart prepares her for -the awful tidings. "Is this Mr. Hovey?" the horseman says, while from his -inside coat pocket he withdraws a letter. "That is my name," the farmer -replies. "I have a letter for you, Mr. Hovey?" The children gather around -the father, looking attentively at him and the horseman, while the latter, -with trembling hand, passes the envelope that is so heavy ladened with -sorrow. "Where's the letter from?" asks the anxious mother, while the -father tears it open. "The Lava Beds," replies the horseman, turning away -his face. The paper shakes in the hands of the farmer, while his face -changes to ashy paleness. "What is it, father? Oh, what does the letter -say?" cries the mother, as she comes to his side and glances over his arm. -Let us not intrude on this scene of sorrow. - -Hanging to _Hooker Jim's_ belt is a fair-haired scalp, still fresh; the -blood of young Hovey still undried upon Hooker's clothing, giving him no -more concern than if it had come from the veins of a deer or an antelope. -The lock of hair had once been blessed by the hands of a tender mother, -who for nineteen years had watched over her first-born son. Now it is -dishonored, used only as a record by which a savage makes proof of -excellence in performing feats of fiendish heroism. - -The "Iowa Veteran," with an eye always out for sport, remarks, "Old man, -there's going to be some lively fun in a few minutes; wish you could see -it. There's fourteen Indians going for water, and a company has started -out to capture them. Two to one the Modocs lick 'em." Taking a station at -the tent door, he continued: "I'll keep you posted, old man; keep cool. -The Modocs are taking position. They aint more than _eight hundred_ yards -from here. Now look out,--the fun will begin pretty soon." _Bang_, _bang_, -and there is a rattling of rifles mixed with the Modoc war-whoop. "Here -they come back, _carrying_ three men; but the Modocs are following up. -Don't that beat the devil and the Dutch?" remarks the irate veteran; -"you've seen a big dog chase a cayote until the cayote would turn on him, -and then the big dog would turn tail and run for home with the cayote -after him, haven't you? Well, that's exactly what's going on out here now. -This whacks anything I ever witnessed, by Jupiter! _Two_ to one, the -Modocs take the camp. By gorry, old man, don't know what we are to do with -you. You can't run; you can't fight; you are too big for me to carry; -_wish I had a spade_, _I'd bury you now until the fun_ is all over; but -it's too late. Can't help it, old man, you needn't dodge; it won't do any -good; just lay still, and if they come, _play dead on 'em again_. _You can -do that to perfection_, and there aint a darn bit of danger of their -trying to get another scalp off of you. Too big a prairie above the timber -line for that. 'Boston' was a darn fool to try it before." - -While this speech is being made, the Modocs are coming towards the soldier -camp, firing occasional shots in among the tents. "By Goshens, we'll have -fun now. They're a-going; shell 'em; ha! ha! ha! Shell a dozen Modocs! -_Ha! ha! ha! don't_ that beat _sulphur king_ out of his boots? Ha! ha! ha! -Steady, old man, steady now. Keep cool. They're ready to fire. The Indians -are in plain sight! Yip-se-lanta; there it goes, screeching, screaming, -right in among the rocks where the Modocs are, and explodes." The smoke -clears up. The Indians come out from behind the rocks, and, turning -sideways to the soldier camp, pat their shot-pouches at the Boston -soldiers. Shell after shell is fired and each time the Modocs take cover -until they explode, and then, with provoking insolence, they pat their -shot-pouches at an army of five hundred men,--that is, what is left of -that army. "Cease firing!" commands Gen. Gilliam, from the signal-station. -The shell guns are covered with the nice canvas housing. The Modocs now -organize an artillery battery, and, taking position, elevating their -rifles to an angle mocking the shell guns, Scar-faced Charley stands -behind and gives the order, "Fire!" and the Modoc battery is now playing -on a camp where there are no rocks for cover. Several shots spit down -among the Boston soldiers. - -"I went with Grierson through Alabama, with Sherman through Georgia, but -that whacks anything ever I saw. _Two_ to one they attack the camp, by -thunder! and if they do they'll take it sure. B'gins to look pretty -squally, old man. If they come, your only show is to play dead. You can do -it. I don't like to leave you, but I'll have to do it, no other chance. -We'll come back and bury what they don't burn up." - -The gray-eyed man, Fairchild, comes to the tent-door and engages the -veteran in a talk. "I say, captain, don't you wish we had Capt. Kelly's -volunteers here now? Wouldn't they have a chance for Modoc steaks, eh? -They're the fellows that could take the Modocs. I've been out home and -just come in. Where are the Warm Springs' scouts all this time?" The -veteran--Capt. Ferree--replies: "Oh, they are out on the other side of the -Lava Beds _surrounding_ the Modocs; to keep them from getting away." -Fairchild: "They aint going to leave here, no fear of that. But did you -ever see anything like this morning's performances?--fourteen Indians come -out, kill three men, insult the whole camp, mock the shell guns, threaten -the camp, scare everybody most to death, and then retire to their own -camp. That caps the climax. Say, old man Meacham, how you making it, -anyhow? Going to come out, aint you? You wasn't born to be killed by the -Modocs, that's certain. That old bald head of yours is what saved you, old -man, no mistake." Veteran: "I've just been telling him that I'll have a -spade on hand next time the Modocs come, so I can _bury_ him until the -fun's over." Fairchild: "Bully! that'll do; just the thing. I think you -had better _have_ the hole _ready_. No telling what _might happen_. Them -Modocs mighty devilish fellers; just like 'em to attack the camp; and if -they do they'll take it, sure; wish we had the Oregon volunteers here now -to protect us." - -Four P.M.--and a long line of carriages are returning from Lone Mountain, -leaving Dr. Thomas with the dead. - -Another long line of mourners are following a hearse down Front street, -Portland, to the steamer Oriflamme, which has been detailed by Ben -Holliday to bear the remains of Gen. Canby to San Francisco. The widow is -supported by the arms of officers. Anderson and Scott walk beside the -hearse. A city is weeping, while they pay respect to the memory of the -noble-hearted Christian General, who hears not the signal gun of -departure. Couriers are bearing despatches to Y-re-ka. "The Modocs cannot -escape; we have them surrounded. The Warm Springs scouts are out on the -outpost. The Modocs cannot escape. Lieut. Sherwood died last night. Lieut. -Eagan, improving. Meacham may recover, though badly mutilated and blind." -The salute of honor over the grave of young Hovey announces his burial by -the kindly band of army officers. - -"Extermination to the Modocs!" says Gen. Sherman. "Extermination," repeat -the newspapers. "Extermination," says an echo over the Pacific coast. -Extermination is the watchword everywhere. "It does look like -extermination, that's a fact, with half a hundred upheaving graves filled -with soldiers near the camp; a hospital overflowing with wounded; an army -demoralized, and lying passive seven days after the assassination of Gen. -Canby and Dr. Thomas; while every day the Modocs waylay and kill unguarded -men almost in sight of camp, strip and scalp them, and then heap rocks on -their bodies. This looks like extermination, but not of the _Modocs_. -Perhaps it suits those who were so free with denunciation of the Peace -Commission. But whether it does, or not, this condition of the plan of -_extermination_ is to some extent attributable to the infuriated, -senseless, cowardly, and unmanly opposition that was made against Canby -and the Peace Commissioners, who _saw_ and _felt how costly in human life -a peace made through the death-dealing bullets must be_. - -Saturday morning, and Modoc emissaries are crawling into the camps of the -_Klamaths_, _Snakes_, and Wall-pa-pahs, endeavoring to induce these people -to join the Modocs in the war. They paint in glowing colors the great -success they have had, and declare that the time has come when red men -should unite against a common enemy. It cannot be denied that in every -Indian camp along the frontier line _there were sympathizers with the -Modocs_; but nowhere were they in sufficient force to precipitate a -general war, although the new religion proclaimed by "Smoheller" had found -followers everywhere, and was gaining strength by every victory won by -Captain Jack. How nearly the frontier came to witnessing a great Indian -war is not understood by the people of the Pacific coast. - -A Warm Springs Indian, who does not belong to the scouts, is going -carefully along the northern shore of the lake. His destination is -Linkville. His mission is to bear a letter to Mrs. Meacham. The letter -contains a message that will cause her almost to leap for joy:-- - - LAVA BEDS, Saturday, April 19, 1873. - - ... Hire an escort and meet us at the mouth of Lost river - to-morrow at noon, and we will deliver your _handsome husband_ - over to you in pretty good shape.... We will cross the lake in a - boat. Be on time.... - - D. J. FERREE. - -Saturday passes away without an episode that is worthy of record. Not a -Modoc has been seen. The scouting parties have brought no tidings of them. -The sentinels walk the rounds. The surgeons are visiting the wounded. The -hospital gives out moans, and furnishes another victim for the grave-yard, -and a volley of muskets says, "Farewell, comrade!" Meacham is counting the -hours as they pass. He is impatient. The long night wears away, and -morning breaks at last. Another messenger is stealing away along the lake -shore. An ambulance, with a mounted escort of citizens, is drawing toward -the mouth of Lost river. "Are you ready to take me to meet my wife?" says -a voice in a small tent. "No; the surgeon says _the air is raw_, _and the -lake is too rough_. We have sent a message to your wife that we can't go," -replies Capt. Ferree. After a few minutes' silence the disappointed man -replies, "_That is not the reason. The wind does not blow._" Very serious -thoughts are passing through the minds of both the hearer and the -speakers. "I want to know why I am not going."--"The doctor says you could -not stand it to go; the lake is too rough."--"You and the doctor are -cowardly. You think I am going to die."--"If you force me to be candid, I -must tell you the truth. The doctor says you have not more than _twenty -chances in a hundred to recover_." - -Another silence of a few minutes, and the invalid replies, "_I'll take the -twenty chances._ I must live; I have so many depending on me." - -"If you pass midnight, the doctor says you _may live_." - -The ambulance, with the mounted escort, is standing on the battle-ground -of November 30th, 1872. A woman is in the front end, with a field-glass, -scanning the lake. No boat is in sight. Her hopes and fears alternate, -when she suddenly catches sight of the messenger on the lake shore. The -glass drops from her hands, and she sinks down on the seat and waits the -coming of the messenger. He holds out the letter. The woman grasps it, and -as she reads, her lips quiver. "Why, oh why is this? _The air is not -chilly. The lake is not rough._" Words are too poor to express the -torturing suspense that follows while the ambulance carries her back to -Linkville. Hope sets alternately with despair in the heart. For ten days -has this woman felt the presence of each as circumstances bade them come -and go. Two more days is she yet to walk beneath a sky that is half hidden -by dark clouds. 'Tis midnight, Sunday. The surgeon, De Witt, and Capt. -Ferree are sitting beside the woman's husband. - -"I can tell you in another hour. If he comes out of this well, he is all -right." Dr. De Witt, with his finger on the patient's pulse, nods to -Ferree, "He is all right." The patient awakes, and finds the doctor there. -"How am I, doctor, shall I live?"--"I think you will, my dear fellow. _You -have passed the crisis._" "Thank God!" comes from every lip. "Keep quiet; -don't get excited. We can save you now, but you had a very close call. _If -you had been a drinking man all the surgeons in Christendom could not have -saved you._ Rest quiet until morning, and I will come in again." Oh, what -a change a few hours have wrought! Yesterday the sun went behind a dark -cloud, and the invalid withstood the shock of "_Twenty out of a hundred_" -for life. Now the sun of life comes again, and makes the vision clear of a -loving family, home and friends. The transitions from despair to hope -have been so frequent with this man that he can scarcely realize that he -is again led by the angel of hope. - -It is morning. Dr. De Witt and Capt. Ferree are in council. "I think he is -on the safe side if he is careful," remarks the doctor. Another messenger -is despatched to Linkville, with a letter making another appointment at -the mouth of Lost river for the next day. - -Donald McKay is in camp to receive orders. He reports that his scouts have -circled the Lava Beds. "The Modocs have not escaped; they must be in there -somewhere." Couriers arrive bringing newspapers, containing obituary -notices of Gen. Canby, Dr. Thomas, and _A. B. Meacham_. Fairchild, Riddle, -and Ferree were in Meacham's tent, reading. Ferree remarks, "See here, old -man, they have had you dead. You can know what the world will say about -you when you _do_ die. Some of them say very nice things. Here's one -fellow that knows you pretty well.... 'Meacham _was_ a man of strong will -and positive character, who made warm friends and bitter enemies.'" ... -"There, that will do; when I die I want those words put on my tombstone," -replies Meacham. "Here, how do you like this? ... '_Served him right._ He -knew the Modocs better than any other man; why did he lead Canby and -Thomas to their death? On his skirts the blood must be,' ... Here is -another that's pretty good. This fellow has found out you aint dead, and -he is mad about it. It's a Republican organ, too, at that.... 'If Meacham -could be made to change places with Canby or Thomas few tears would be -shed. He is responsible for all this blood. _He knew_ the Modocs. _They_ -did not. We are not disappointed. We expected that this fanatical -enthusiast would do some foolhardy thing, and we can only regret that he -did not suffer instead of innocent men.' ... There, how do you like that, -old man? That's what you get for not being a general or a preacher. They -pay you a high compliment,--sending Canby and Thomas to their death. Big -thing, old man! You are somebody. Now, I'll tell you if you don't get -through to straighten this thing out I'll do it, if it costs my -life."--"Call on me, captain, I know that Meacham did all in his power to -prevent the meeting," says Riddle. Fairchild remarks, "If they had -listened to Meacham, they would have been alive now. I know what I am -saying, I know all about the whole thing, and I know that Meacham did his -best to keep them from going. I can tell those newspaper men some things -they would not like to hear. They abused Meacham all the way through, -while Canby escaped their slander, when he was in truth as much a peace -man as Meacham, and more too. I have been with the commission. All I have -to say is that it was a d----d cowardly contemptible thing from the -beginning to the end the way the Oregon papers '_went for_' the peace -policy. I guess they are satisfied now. They wanted war, and they've got -it. The _Modoc-eating_ Oregon papers and volunteers haven't lost any Modoc -themselves. Better send some more volunteers down here to eat up the -Modocs, like Capt. ----'s company did the day that Shacknasty Jim held a -whole company for seven hours in check, d----n 'em." Capt. Ferree replies, -"Fairchild, you had better go slow. Almost every editor in Oregon is a -_fighting man_. Two or three of them were down here once, and they may -come again for more Modoc news, and if they run across you you're gone -up." Fairchild: "Yes, they're '_on it_,' seen 'em try it. Shacknasty tried -'em. One of them came down here looking for Squire Steele, of Y-re-ka, and -when a man pointed out Steele to him, this fighting editor rode out of his -way to keep from meeting him. It's a fact! An other one was going to scalp -old Press Dorris. He didn't fail for the same reason that Boston Charley -did on the old man there,--cause he hadn't any hair;--no, that wasn't the -reason. He rode _too good a horse himself_; that's why. Press was around -all the time. He didn't keep out of the way; fact is, Press was anxious -for the scalping to begin. If any of those fighting editors come down -here, well, set Shacknasty after them, and then you'll see them _git_. Bet -a hundred dollars he can drive any two of them before him."--"Look here, -here's something rich," says Ferree, turning the paper: ... "'Gov. Grover -will call out volunteers to assist the regulars. They will make short work -of it. The regulars are eastern men, and cannot fight Indians -successfully.'" Fairchild says, "_That's rich. One thousand soldiers here -now_, and more Oregon volunteers coming, to _whip fifty Modocs_. All -right; the more comes the _more scalps_ the Modocs will take; that's about -what it'll amount to." - -Monday passes slowly away to join the unnumbered days of the past. No -sound of war is heard. Quiet reigns until the sunset volley announces that -the decomposed lava is covering up another one of the fruits of the demand -for blood, and the cry for vengeance went up so loudly that even the -Modocs in the Lava Beds heard it. - -_Tuesday morning._ The ambulance is leaving Linkville, escorted by a -mounted guard of citizens, destined to the Lost-river battle-ground. Hope -is leading the woman who is making this second journey to this historic -place. The miles are long to her who has been so many days alternating -between joy and sadness. Surely, she will not be disappointed this time. - -"Old man," Dr. DeWitt says, "_you cannot go this morning_. I think it is -unsafe, and it may cost your life."--"_I'm going; I'll take the risk. I -cannot bear to disappoint my wife again._" A stretcher is brought to the -side of the mattress whereon the speaker lay. Strong arms lift the -mattress and man upon it. When he was carried on the stretcher, a few days -since, he weighed one hundred and ninety-six pounds, less the blood he -left on the rocks. Now he weighs one hundred and fifty pounds. "Lieut. -Eagan's compliments, with a request for Mr. Meacham to _call on him before -leaving_." The stretcher is carried into Lieut. Eagan's tent, and set -beside the wounded officer's cot. The salutations commonly given are -omitted, or half performed. Eagan lays his hand on Meacham's arm and says, -"How do you make it, old man?"--"First-rate, I guess. I am going home. Are -you recovering from your wound?"--"Very fast. Be about in a few days. Want -to help finish up this job before I go home."--"Good-by, -Eagan."--"Good-by, Meacham." - -These men were old-time friends, and this parting was suggestive of sad -thoughts. Both wounded. Will they ever meet again? - -As the latter is being borne to the shore of the lake, a half cry is heard -from Tobey. "I see him, Meacham, one time more. May be him die. I no see -him 'nother time." A small white hull boat is waiting in the little bay. -Lieut. M. C. Grier, A. A. Q. M., is managing the preparations for the -departure. With thoughtful care every possible arrangement is made. -Mattresses, awnings, oarsmen, buckets for bailing, and arms for defence -are provided; and while many officers of the army gather around the boat, -the wounded man is carried on the stretcher and carefully laid on a -mattress. "Old Fields" is placed in command. Dr. Cabanis sits in the -stern; the veteran beside the wounded. The departure is made with "God -bless you!" from the officers. A small squad of armed men are starting up -the lake shore to prevent the possibility of the Modocs capturing the -party in the boat. - -Steadily the soldier oarsmen pull along near the land, while the -inveterate jokers, Dr. Cabanis and Capt. Ferree, beguile the time in -story-telling and witticisms; some of them at the expense of the man on -the mattress. "Say, Meacham, what will you give me not to tell _how much -brandy_ you drank the other day while you was on the stretcher at the -council tent? It's all right for you to humbug the Good Templars by saying -that you never drink; but you can't pull the wool over my eyes. No man -ever drank a _canteen full_ the _first drink_, as you did that day; it -won't do, Meacham." - -Suddenly a dark cloud moves up, and a strong wind comes off the shore. -Landing is out of the question; to put to sea in a whitehall boat with -eight men in it, and nearly to the edge, is hazardous. But there is no -alternative. The prow cuts across the waves, the water leaps over the bow. -Fields, Ferree, and two of the oarsmen, bail for life, now, while Cabanis -holds her head to the sea. "Steady, boys, or we'll swamp her," says -Fields. "Old man, _playing dead_ won't save you this time; if we swamp her -you had better _pray like old Joe Meek did_. Promise the Lord to be a good -man if he will save us this one time more."--"Save the brandy, doctor, we -may need it if we get out into the water," says Fields, and continues, -"Steady, boys, steady! I'll be ---- if she don't swamp. Look out, boys, -what you're doin'." The waiting woman in the ambulance catches sight of -the boat as it rises on the crest of a wave and sinks again into the -trough of the sea. Language is not competent to describe her emotions as -she holds the glass on the threatening scene before her. One moment, -hope,--another, _despair_; there, again, as the boat comes in sight, she -thanks God; a moment more, and prayer moves her lips. "Can it be that he -could live through all he has suffered only to be drowned?" - -"Fear not, brave woman, the Hand that was let down out of the dark cloud -that passed over the bloody scene when your husband was in a storm of -bullets, will calm these waters. Your husband's work is not yet finished!" - -"That was a close call, boys. _I tell you it was_; but we are all right -now," says old Fields. "They are there waiting for us," remarks Ferree. -"Is Mrs. Meacham there? Can you see her?"--"Yes, yes, old man; she is -there, standing in the wagon, looking at us with a glass. Lay still, old -man, she is there. You'll be with her pretty soon."--"Thank God!" goes up -from the mattress. "How far off are we now, Fields?"--"'Bout a mile. Be -patient. Yes, old man, there's your wife, sure. She is standing on the -ground now, looking through a glass. Be patient, old man; I'll introduce -you to her. She wouldn't know who it was,--if I didn't tell her." - -The "old man" was wondering if it is possible; shall I see her again? Am I -dreaming? Is this a reality? Won't I wake and find it all a delusion? Oh, -how slow this boat! "How far now?"--"Only a little piece; keep cool, -you'll be there in a few minutes," quietly remarks Fields. Ferree, putting -his finger on his lips, nods and smiles at his sister. - -That smile has lifted despair once more from this woman's heart. But a -moment since she had caught sight of the whitened face of her husband, so -motionless and pale. She felt a pain in her heart, for she thought him -dead. Now, her brother's smile has reassured her; but "Why does my husband -lie so still?" The keel of the boat grinds on the gravelled margin of the -river. Fields jumps ashore, with rope in hand. The woman stands beside the -ambulance; she does not come to meet the party. Her joy is too great; she -must not, dare not, now express her feeling. - -"Well, Orpha, here's the old man; he is not very pretty, but he's worth a -dozen dead Modocs yet." The "old man" is carried to the ambulance, and -placed on a mattress, and his wife sits beside him, reunited after a -separation of five months, during which time one of them had passed so -close to the portals that death had left the marks of his icy fingers -upon him; and the other through a terrible storm of grief and suspense. -The driver mounts his box; the veteran beside him. The escort mount their -horses and range themselves on either side. The Modocs have not been heard -of for several days and may be looking around their old home to waylay -travellers. "Old Dad Fields" calls his crew; Dr. Cabanis cautions the -driver about fast-driving, and also "the old man" about humbugging -temperance people. The boat leaves the shore, the oars dip the waters. The -driver cracks his whip, and one party is returning to the soldiers' camp; -the other is crowding forward to Linkville, half expecting to see a blaze -of rifles from the sage bush. Twenty-five miles yet to-night. Over all the -smooth road they go at a gallop. At midnight a light glimmers in the -distance. It is Linkville. The moon is up, and shines now on _thirteen -little mounds_ by the roadside, beneath which sleep thirteen men who were -killed by the Modocs last November. Uncle George's nurse is waiting at the -hotel door to receive the old man Meacham once more. Thank God for big, -noble-hearted men like Uncle George and his partner, Alex. Miller! "The -old man" is sleeping, but wakes up with a start as he has done every hour -since the eleventh of April. The glaring eyes of old Schonchin, the horrid -yells, the whizzing bullets, all come fresh to the brain when left without -direction of his will. He wakes with a sudden start to find himself in a -comfortable room, a soft hand on his brow; a familiar voice of affection -reaches his ear, and he falls away to sleep again, soothed by the low -murmur of a woman's prayer. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIV. - - AMEN OUT OF TIME--FRIENDLY ADVICE FROM ENEMIES--BETRAYED. - - -Ten _o'clock, Wednesday morning_, April 22d, Meacham is being transported -to Ferree's ranch at the south end of the Klamath lake twelve miles from -Linkville. We have been here before. It was on the 27th of December, 1869, -when conducting Captain Jack's band on to Klamath Reservation. _Then_ -Captain Jack acknowledged the authority of the Government and was -endeavoring to be a man. _Now he is an outlaw._ After a stormy passage -across Tule lake last night, Fields and Dr. Cabanis landed at Gilliam's -camp. The surgeons are visiting the hospitals. Some of the patients are -improving, but on one poor fellow we see the signet of the grim monster. -The sunset gun tonight will not disturb him. - -Lieut. Eagan is still improving. Fairchild is in camp, and assuring Gen. -Gilliam that as "soon as the Oregon volunteers arrive, the Modocs will -throw down their guns and come right out and surrender;" Riddle and wife -in camp also, and assisting to care for the sick. "Muybridge," the -celebrated landscape artist, of San Francisco, is here with his -instruments, photographing the "Lava Beds," the council tent, and the -scene of the assassination. "Bunker," of the "San Francisco Bulletin," is -on the ground reporting for his paper. "Bill Dad," with his long hair -floating in the wind and a pipe in his mouth, slipshod and sloven, still -hovers around to keep the readers of the "Record" posted. - -Gen. Gilliam is consulting with his officers; they are indignant at the -inaction manifested. Donald McKay and his Warm Springs Indians are -scouting under the direction of army officers. Both Donald and his men are -disgusted with the _red-tape way of fighting_ Modocs. - -Captain Jack and his people are quiet this morning. They are so closely -hidden that even the sharp eyes of Donald McKay cannot discern their -whereabouts. Captain Jack's men are anxious to be on the warpath; but the -chief restrains them. They, in turn, reproach him with want of courage. He -insists that they must act on the defensive. Bogus, Boston, Shacknasty Jim -and Hooker Jim are rebellious and threaten to desert. Couriers are bearing -despatches to Y-re-ka announcing that "_the Modocs cannot escape_." - -A gun from the deck of the "_Oriflamme_" tells the people of San Francisco -of her arrival with the remains of Gen. Canby. An immense concourse of -citizens escort the hearse to the head-quarters of the army. - -The widow sits in a carriage, with unmoistened eyes, while the populace -pay homage to the great character of her husband. The body of Dr. Thomas -is quietly resting with the dead, while he in spirit is enjoying the -glories of eternal life; his last sermon preached, his trials over. - -The three children of Meacham are drying their tears, and thanking God -that they are not fatherless, and for the love of a brotherhood that -brings to their home sunshine in the faces and words of Secretary -Chadwick and Col. T. H. Cann, who have called this morning. - -Away up in Umatilla, a young man, who has been bowed down with grief over -a second great bereavement, this morning reads to the little orphans that -climb on his knees, and their widowed mother, the telegram signed by Capt. -Ferree, announcing the recovery of his brother. His joy is unbounded. A -great load has been lifted from his shoulders and his heart. - -Midway between the oceans and near Solon, Iowa, in the sitting-room of an -old homestead, a group is kneeling around a family altar. The bent form of -a silver-haired man is surrounded by his aged second wife, his two living -daughters; and perhaps, too, the invisible presence of _two_ daughters and -two sons that have gone before, and _their own_ mother, are also there. -His voice is tremulous while he leads in prayer and recounts that half of -his family has gone and half remains; blesses God that the dark sorrow -that threatened them has passed away, and invokes Heaven's blessings on -the living loved ones. - -_Thursday morning_, and we are in a cabin at Ferree's ranch. The -proprietor enters, holding a letter in his hand. "See here, old man, I -don't know but what you have jumped out of the frying-pan into the fire. -How does this suit you?" - - KLAMATH AGENCY, Thursday morning, April 23. - - FRIEND FERREE:--Be on your guard. The Klamath Indians were in - war council last night.... We have sent our women and children - to Fort Klamath for safety.... - - L. S. DYER, - _Agent Klamath_. - -"That don't look wholesome for us, old man; but you are all right, you can -_play dead_ on 'em again, and they _can't scalp you nohow_. We are pretty -well stockaded and well armed. We can play them a merry string, if they do -come. If we have to fight, why, you can't do much, that's so, except as -old man Jones did at the camp-meeting last year. He said he couldn't -_preach_, he couldn't pray _much_, but he could say _Amen_ as well as -anybody; and all through the meeting old Father Jones was shouting 'Amen!' -'_A-men!_' until they stopped the old fellow. Didn't I never tell you -about that? Well, brother Congar was preaching brimstone pretty lively, -and Father Jones was shouting Amen occasionally. Brother Congar was saying -to the congregation, 'If you don't repent and be baptized, you'll all go -to hell, shure as you're born,'--'Amen! Thank God!--Amen!' shouts Father -Jones. Brother Congar stops. 'Father Jones, you didn't understand what I -was a-sayin,'--'Yes, I guess I did, Bro. Congar, you told me if we come -over here that, whenever you said anything powerful smart, I was to say -'Amen!' You said you couldn't preach _worth a cent_ unless I did, and I've -done it, so I have. If it aint satisfactory, I quit and go back -home,'--'Amen!' shouted brother Congar, and went on with the preaching. -Now all we will ask of you, 'old man,' is to say 'Amen,' but don't act the -fool about it like Father Jones did, that's all. We'll tend to -administering sulphur in broken doses, if they try to take us in. Don't -think there's any danger though. Dyer isn't over the scare he got in the -race with _Hooker Jim_ yet." - -_Friday morning, April 24th._--The army at the Lava Beds is performing -some masterly feats of inactivity that would have been a credit to Gen. -McClellan on the peninsula. The wild fowls that fly over the Lava Beds -look down on the army of a thousand recuperating after the big battle of -last week. Col. Miller is in charge of Captain Jack's stronghold. The Warm -Springs are divided up, and assigned to duty with the different squadrons -of cavalry. Quartermaster Grier is having a coffin made and a grave -prepared for a soldier that is dear to somebody somewhere, who is in -blissful ignorance of his fate. - -_Ferree's Ranch, Sunday morning, April 25, '72._--A horseman arrives, and, -taking Ferree aside, he informs him that a reliable friendly Indian had -come in to Linkville and reported that it was understood that Meacham had -killed Schonchin, and that some of Schonchin's friends had been to -Yai-nax--an Indian station on Klamath Reservation--and learned that -Meacham was at Ferree's. Further, that it was thought advisable that he be -immediately removed to Linkville, lest the Modocs should make an attack on -the ranch, seeking revenge for the death of Schonchin. The ambulance is -ordered out, and the convalescent Peace Commissioner was again on wheels. -Here we take leave of our inveterate joker--the Iowa veteran--Capt. Ferree -leaving him to administer "_saltpetre_ and _blue-pills_" to the red skins -in the event of an attack. - -_Lava Beds, Gilliam's Camp, Sunday morning, April 26th._--Something is to -be done to-day. The location of the Modocs has been ascertained through -the efforts of the Warm Springs Indian scouts. A reconnoissance of the new -stronghold is ordered. The detachment designated for this purpose -consisted of sixty-six white men and fourteen Warm Springs Indians under -McKay; the whole under command of Capt. E. Thomas of 4th Artillery. First -Lieut. Thomas Wright--spoken of in this volume as Col. Wright of Twelfth -Infantry, a son of the gallant old General Wright--is of the party, and in -immediate command of his own and Lieut. Eagan's companies. - -Lieut. Arthur Cranston and Lieut. Albion Howe of Fourth Artillery, Lieut. -Harris also of the Fourth, Assistant Surgeon B. Semig, H. C. Tichnor as -guide, Louis Webber, chief packer, and two assistants; the whole, -exclusive of Warm Springs scouts, seventy-six. I may be pardoned for -making more than mere mention of this expedition and the manner of its -organization, because of its results; to understand it fairly, it should -be stated that the parties named, except the Warm Springs scouts, were all -of the army camp at the foot of the bluff, the head-quarters of Gen. -Gilliam, commander of the army in the Modoc campaign. - -The Warm Springs scouts were encamped near the old Modoc stronghold, and -had been ordered to join the command of Capt. Thomas, while _en route_, or -at the point of destination, which was a low butte or mound-like hill, on -the further side of the Lava Beds, from the several camps. The outfit of -this reconnoitring party, aside from the men and arms, consisted of a -small train of pack mules. This train of packs was suggestive. Tacked on -to the _apparahos_--pack-saddles--were subsistence and medical stores for -the party, and also several _stretchers_. The object of the reconnoissance -was to ascertain whether the field-pieces could be planted so as to -command the new position of the _Modoc General, Jack Kientpoos_. Shells -had done _wonderful execution_ in the three days' battle, and, of course, -were _the thing to fight_ MODOCS with; provided, however, that the fools -of the Modoc camp were not all dead; for it is an undoubted fact that out -of only two or three hundred tossed into the Modoc stronghold, _one of -them had done more execution_ than _all the bullets fired by the soldiers_ -in the three days. - -Capt. Thomas was instructed, in "no event, to bring on an engagement." The -point of destination was in full view of the signal station at Gilliam's -camp, and not more than three miles distant. The command proceeded with -skirmishes thrown out, and proper caution, until their arrival at the foot -of the butte. The Warm Springs scouts had not joined the command. Capt. -Thomas remarked that, since no Indians were to be seen, the command would -take lunch. Lieut. Wright replied, that "_when you don't see Indians is -just the time to be on the look out for them_." The skirmish guards were -called in, and the whole command, except Lieut. Cranston and twelve men, -sat down to bivouac for an hour; Cranston, in the mean time, remarking -that he "was going to raise some Indians," proceeded to explore the -surroundings. In so doing he passed entirely out of sight of the main -party. The foot of the butte is similar to other portions of the Lava -Beds, thrown into irregular ledges, or cut into chasms and crevices. - -[Illustration: WARM-SPRING INDIAN PICKETS.] - -Now Cranston has passed over a ledge, when suddenly from the rocks, that -had been so quiet, a volley of rifles opens on both parties. It is not -known whether Cranston and his men all fell on the first fire; it is, -however, probable that _he_ did not, as his remains were afterwards found -several rods from where he was last seen by the survivors. Capt. Thomas's -party were thrown into confusion. He ordered Lieut. Harris to take a -position on the hill-side, and when the point was reached, Harris found -that the enemy was _still above_ him and commanding his new position. His -men were falling around him, and he was compelled to fall back, leaving -two dead and wounded. - -In making the retreat, Lieut. Harris was mortally wounded. The scene that -followed is without a precedent in Indian warfare. Every commissioned -officer was killed, except Surgeon Semig, who was wounded; and of the -sixty-six enlisted men but _twenty-three_ reached head-quarters. - -Donald McKay and his scouts hurried to the scene, and arrived in time to -prevent the annihilation of the entire party. That the soldiers were -demoralized at the suddenness of the attack, there is no doubt. It seems -to have had an unusual combination of circumstances attending the carnage. -That Capt. Thomas should have permitted himself to be surprised by an -enemy, for whose destruction he was at that time seeking a location for -the batteries, is strange, especially after the warning suggestions of -Lieut. Wright, whose long experience on the frontier--of almost a -life-time--should have given weight to his views. Strange, too, that -_every officer_ should have fallen so early in the attack, and that Donald -McKay, with his Warm Springs, should have been thirty minutes behind time, -and then, when coming to the rescue, should have been held off by the fire -of the soldiers, who mistook him and his men for Modocs, and compelled -them to remain out of range so long that the soldiers were nearly all -killed or wounded before Donald was recognized. - -Singular that this butchery should have continued three hours in sight of -the signal station before reinforcements were ordered to the rescue. -Indeed, it is stated on good authority, that soldiers who escaped made -their way into camp one or two hours before Col. Green was ordered to go -to the scene with his command. Singular, indeed, that fifty-three men were -killed or wounded by twenty-four Modocs, on ground where the chances were -even for once, and _not one of the twenty-four Modocs was wounded_. - -What is still more unaccountable is, that the Modocs should have become -_surfeited_ with the butchery, and desisted from satiety, calling out in -plain Boston English,--"_All you fellows that aint dead had better go -home. We don't want to kill you all in one day._" - -This speech was heard by soldiers who still live, and for the truth of -which abundant evidence can be had. We have it on Modoc authority that -Scar-face Charley made this speech, and repeated it several times, and -that he insisted that the Modocs should desist, because his "heart was -sick seeing so much blood, and so many men lying dead." - -Follow the advancing wave of civilization from ocean to ocean, and no -parallel can be found living, on printed page, or tradition's tongue. -_Seventy-six well-armed men_, with equal chances for cover, shot down by a -mere handful of red men, until in charity they _permitted twenty-three_ to -return to camp! - -Can we understand how this was done? It seems incredible, and yet it is -true. While we shudder, and in our rage vow vengeance on the perpetrators, -we are compelled to admit that there was behind every Modoc gun _a man_ -who was far above his white brother in fighting qualities. Much as we are -inclined to underrate the red man, we are forced to admit that -_twenty-four men_ leaving a stronghold, and going out among rocks that -gave even chances against them, was an act of heroism that if performed by -white men would have immortalized every name, and inscribed them among the -bravest and most successful warriors that this country has produced. -Performed by a band of red-handed Indians, it is scarcely worthy of -mention. While we do most _emphatically_ condemn all acts of treachery, no -matter by whom committed, we are not insensible to emotions of admiration -for acts of bravery, no matter by whom performed. In speaking of this -battle Gen. Jeff. C. Davis says, "It proved to be one of the most -disastrous affairs our army has had to record. Its effects were very -visible upon the morale of the command, so much so that I deemed it -imprudent to order the aggressive movements it was my desire and intention -to make at once upon my arrival, in order to watch the movements of the -Indians." - -What, is it so, that with all the slaughter reported from time to time, -Captain Jack still has men enough left to cause an army of _one thousand_ -to wait for recuperation and reinforcements before again attacking him? - -This battle was fought on the 26th of April, ten days after the three -days' battle. Curious that "the press," or that portion of it that was so -loud in denunciation of the Peace Commissioners, did not find fault, and -enter "_protest_" against the delay. The commission has been "_out of the -way_" since the 11th inst., and three days' battle has been fought, and -one day's slaughter withstood, and it has not cost much over half a -hundred lives, that were required to satisfy the clamor for vengeance, and -now why not raise your trumpet notes again, brave editors, and a -proportionate howl for vengeance? You are safely seated behind your -thrones, where no shot could reach you. - -Why don't you howl with rage because a few "_cut-throats_" have murdered -ten per cent. of an army of a thousand, _"who were hired to fight and die -if need be"? You did not want peace except "through war."_ You have done -your part to secure the shedding of blood. Are you satisfied now when, -through the failure of the Peace Commission, so many men have yielded up -their lives? This short apostrophe is intended for those who _appropriate_ -it; not for the really brave editors who were fearless enough to defend -"The humane policy of the President and Secretary Delano," in the face of -a clamor that filled the country from the 1st of February to the 11th of -April 1873. - - BATTLE OF DRY LAKE. - -_Morning of the 10th, of May, 1873._--Fourteen days have passed, and Gen. -Canby has been placed in his tomb, Indianapolis, Indiana. The widow, -grief-stricken and heart-broken, is with her friends. Orderly Scott has -been ordered to report at Louisville, Kentucky; Adjutant Anderson, to -head-quarters, Department Columbia. The emblems of mourning are everywhere -visible around the home of Dr. Thomas. Meacham is at his home in Salem, -Oregon, recovering rapidly, and with a heart full of gratitude and kindly -feelings to Dr. Calvin DeWitt, U. S. A., who brought him safely through -the hospital at the Lava Beds. - -The mother of Lieut. Harris is sitting beside her wounded son, in the -hospital at Gillam's Camp. Gen. Jeff. C. Davis has assumed command of the -expedition against the Modocs. Captain Jack and his people have left the -Lava Beds. Dissensions are of every-day occurrence among them. Bogus and -Hooker Jim, Shacknasty, and "Ellen's man" are contentious and quarrelsome. - -Read the telegram of Jeff. C. Davis to Gen. Schofield, and we may know -something of what has occurred:-- - - HEAD-QUARTERS IN THE FIELD, Tule Lake, Cal., May 8, 1873. - - I sent two friendly squaws into the Lava Beds day before - yesterday; they returned yesterday, having found the bodies of - Lieutenant Cranston and party, but no Indians. Last night I sent - the Warm Springs Indians out. They find that the Modocs have - gone in a southeasterly direction. This is also confirmed by the - attack and capture of a train of four wagons and fifteen animals - yesterday P.M. near Supply Camp, on east side of Tule lake. The - Modocs in this party reported fifteen or twenty in number; - escort to train about the same; escort whipped, with three - wounded. No Indians known to have been killed. I will put the - troops in search of the Indians with five days' rations. - - JEFF. C. DAVIS, - - _Col. Twenty-Third Infantry, Com. Dept._ - -In his final report, Nov. 1st, 1853, he says:-- - - Hasbrouck's and Jackson's companies, with the Warm Springs - Indians, all under command of the former, were immediately sent - out in pursuit, and signs of Indians were found near Sorass - lake, where the troops camped for the night. On the morning of - the 10th the Indians attacked the troops at daylight; they were - not fully prepared for it, but at once sprang to their arms, and - returned the fire in gallant style. The Indians soon broke and - retreated in the direction of the Lava Beds. They contested the - ground with the troops hotly for some three miles. - - The object of this hasty movement of the troops was to overhaul - the Indians, if out of the Lava Beds, as reported, and prevent - them from murdering settlers in their probable retreat to - another locality. This object was obtained, and more. The troops - have had, all things considered, a very square fight, and - whipped the Modocs for the first time. But the whole band was - again in the rocky stronghold.... - -Gen. Davis does not state all the facts in the case. While it is generally -admitted that Captain Jack _was whipped_ this _time_, it is also true that -Donald McKay and his Warm Springs Indian boys turn up _at the right time -again_ and assist in driving the Modocs three miles, recapturing the -horses that were taken from the escort a few days since. Two Warm Springs -scouts were killed in this fight, but their _names have never been -reported_. - -Captain Jack appears in this fight in Gen. Canby's uniform. One Modoc was -certainly killed this morning, because _his body was captured_. There can -be no mistake; several persons saw it with their naked eyes,--so they did, -oh! This Modoc, whose name was George, "Ellen's man," was Captain Jack's -assistant in the murder of Gen. Canby. His death was the signal for new -quarrels among the Modocs, which ultimated in the division of the band, -and made it possible for the _thousand_ men to _whip_ the _remainder_. -The seceding Modocs, who are double-dyed traitors, were _Bogus Charley_, -_Hooker Jim_, _Shacknasty Jim_, _Steamboat Frank_, and ten others, mostly -Hot Creek Indians, and the same, except Hooker Jim, who were driven back -to the Lava Beds after they had started under escort of Fairchild and -Dorris to the Klamath Reservation, last December, ten days after the -Lost-river battle, by the howl for _blood that came_ up from every -quarter. At that time they had committed no crimes; had not been in battle -or butchery. After joining Captain Jack they had espoused the cause of the -murderers who killed the Lost-river settlers. They were not indicted, and -had less excuse than any other Modocs. Their home in "Hot Creek" was -several miles from any scene of slaughter on either side. They had -steadily opposed every peace measure offered, while Bogus had played his -part so well that he was the favorite of the army officers, and had -friends among the white citizens; he had instigated the assassination of -the Peace Commissioners, laid the plans, and even slept in the camp of -Gen. Canby, and ate his breakfast off the general's table, and to his -friend Fairchild declared, even after Canby and Thomas had started for the -Lava Beds, that there was no intention of killing the Peace Commissioners. - -The cause of the quarrel between these men and Captain Jack was the fact -that the few deaths that had occurred among the Modocs had been of those -who did not belong to Jack's immediate family or band. They accused him of -placing the outside Indians--Hot Creek and Cum-ba-twas warriors--in the -front of the battles. - -He replied that they had voted every time for war and against peace -proposals. The quarrel increased, and after the defeat at Dry Lake, -Captain Jack rebuked them for forcing the band into that fight against -their will. The death of "Ellen's man" brought the crisis. We see the band -who started into the war with fifty-three braves, after having -accomplished more than any band of an equal or proportionate number of -men, of any race or color, in any age or country, quarrelling among -themselves, now divided into two parties; one of whom, with _fourteen_ -men, _every one of whom had_ voted for war, turning traitor to his chief, -and offering themselves as scouts against him _without promise of amnesty_ -or other reward. Such perfidy stands unparalleled, and _alone_, as an act -that has no precedent to compare it with. The succeeding events are -clearly told in Gen. Davis' report. - - The chief could no longer keep his warriors up to the work - required of them, lying on their arms night and day, and - watching for an attack. These exactions were so great, and the - conduct of the leader so tyrannical, that insubordination sprang - up, which led to dissensions, and the final separation of the - band into two parties; they left the Lava Beds bitter enemies. - The troops soon discovered their departure, and were sent in - pursuit. Their trails were found leading in a westerly - direction. Hasbrouck's command of cavalry, after a hard march of - some fifty miles, came upon the Cottonwood band, and had a sharp - running fight of seven or eight miles. The Indians scattered, in - order to avoid death or capture. The cavalry horses were - completely exhausted in the chase, and night coming on he - withdrew his troops a few miles' distance to Fairchild's ranch - for food and forage. - - Indians captured in this engagement expressed the belief that - this band would like to give themselves up if opportunity were - offered. When given this, through the medium of friendly - Indians, they made an effort to obtain terms, but I at once - refused to entertain anything of the kind; they could only be - allowed safe-conduct through the camp to my head-quarters when - they arrived at the picket-line. They came in on the 22d of May, - and laid down their arms, accompanied by their old women and - children, about seventy-five. - - To learn the exact whereabouts of the Indians was now very - important, and I determined to accept of the offered services of - a Modoc captive; one who, up to the time of their separation, - was known to be in the confidence of his chief, and could lead - us to the hiding-place of the band. He was an unmitigated - cut-throat, and for this reason I was loth to make any use of - him that would compromise his well-earned claims to the halter. - He desired eight others to accompany and support him, under the - belief his chief would kill him on sight; but three others only - were accepted, and these of the least guilty ones. They were - promised no rewards for this service whatever. Believing the end - justified the means, I sent them out, thoroughly armed for the - service. - - After nearly three days' hunting they came upon Jack's camp on - Willow creek, east of Wright lake, fifteen miles from - Applegate's ranch, to which I had gone, after separation from - them at Tule lake, to await their return and the arrival of the - cavalry. - - The scouts reported a stormy interview with their angry chief. - He denounced them in severe terms for leaving him; he intended - to die with his gun in his hand; they were squaws, not men. He - intended to jump Applegate's ranch that night (the 28th), etc. - - On the return of these scouts, I immediately sent Capt. E. V. - Sumner, aide-de-camp, back to the rendezvous, at Tule lake, with - orders to push forward Capts. H. C. Hasbrouck's and James - Jackson's commands to Applegate's ranch, with rations for three - days in haversacks, and pack-mules with ten days' supply. All - arrived and reported by nine o'clock A.M., the 29th, under - command of Maj. John Green, their veteran cavalry leader since - the commencement of the Modoc war, in excellent spirits. The - impenetrable rocky region was behind them; the desperado and his - band were ahead of them, in comparatively an open country. - - After allowing the animals an hour's rest the pursuit was - renewed, and about one o'clock P.M. Jack and band were "jumped" - on Willow creek near its crossing with the old emigrant road. - This stream forms the head-waters of Lost river. It was a - complete surprise. The Indians fled in the direction of Langell - valley. The pursuit from this time on, until the final captures, - June 3d, partook more of a chase after wild beasts than war; - each detachment vying with each other as to which should be - first in at the finish. - - Lieut. Col. Frank Wheaton, Twenty-first Infantry, reported to - me, in compliance with his orders, from Camp Warner, on the 22d, - at Fairchild's ranch. He was placed in command of the District - of the Lakes, and the troops composing the Modoc expedition. - - After making necessary disposition of the foot troops and - captives at Fairchild's ranch, he came forward to Clear lake, - and joined me at Applegate's with Perry's detachment of cavalry; - these troops were at once sent to join the hunt. Most of the - band had by this time been run down and captured; but the chief - and a few of his most noted warriors were still running in every - direction. - - It fell to the lot of these troopers to catch Jack. When - surrounded and captured he said his "legs had given out." Two or - three other warriors gave themselves up with him. - - Though called for, no reports have been received of these - operations from the different detachment commanders; hence - details cannot be given. - - As soon as the captives were brought in, directions were given - to concentrate the troops, and all captives, etc., at Boyle's - camp on Tule lake. There the Oregon volunteers, who had been - called into the field by the governor, turned over a few - captives they had taken over on their side of the line. It is - proper to mention, in this connection, that these volunteers - were not under my command. They confined their operations to - protecting the citizens of their own State. Yet on several - occasions they offered their services informally to report to me - for duty in case I needed them. No emergency arose requiring me - to call upon them. - - By the 5th of June the whole band, with a few unimportant - exceptions, had been captured, and was assembled in our camp on - Tule lake, when I received orders from the General of the Army - to hold them under guard until further instructions as to what - disposition would be made of them. It was my intention to - execute some eight or ten of the ringleaders of the band on the - spot; these orders, however, relieved me of this stern duty,--a - duty imposed upon me, as I believed, by the spirit of the orders - issued for the guidance of the commander of the Modoc - expedition, immediately after the murder of the Peace - Commissioners; as well as by the requirements of the case, - judging from my stand-point of view, a commander in the field. I - was glad to be relieved from this grave responsibility. I only - regretted not being better informed of the intentions of the - authorities at Washington, in regard to these prisoners after - capture. In accordance with instructions, as soon as the - attorney-general's decision was received, I ordered a military - commission for their trial, and with that view moved them to - Fort Klamath, as a more suitable place to guard and try them. - Six were tried and convicted of murder; four have been executed; - two have had their sentences commuted to imprisonment for life - by the President. - - A few days after these executions took place at Fort Klamath, on - the 3d ultimo, the remainder of the band was started to their - new homes in Wyoming territory; they are probably there by this - time. - - The number of officers killed in this expedition is eight; - wounded, three; total, eleven. Enlisted men killed, thirty-nine; - wounded, sixty-one; total, one hundred. Citizens killed, - sixteen; wounded, one; total, seventeen. Warm Springs Indian - scouts killed, two; wounded, two; total, four. Grand total, - killed and wounded, one hundred and thirty-two. A large number - of the killed were murdered after being wounded and falling into - the hands of the Indians. (See accompanying list of killed and - wounded, marked D.) - - During the Modoc excitement many of the Indian tribes of Oregon, - Idaho, and Washington territory showed a very discontented - feeling, and strong sympathies with the hostile tribe. The - settlers seemed much alarmed in some localities. To meet this - state of affairs I thought it best to organize as large a force - as practicable, and make a tour through the country en route to - the proper stations of the troops. The march was made through - Eastern Oregon and Washington territory; it was about six - hundred miles. The cavalry was commanded by Maj. John Green, the - foot-troops by Maj. E. C. Mason. The march was well conducted by - these commanders, and well performed by the troops. I was - gratified to see that with the capture of the Modoc band the - excitement ceased. All the tribes throughout the department are - now perfectly quiet. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXV. - - LAST HIDING-PLACE--HANGING-MACHINE UNTRIED--MODOC - BUTCHERS OUTDONE. - - -For an account of the immediate circumstances attending the final -surrender of the Modoc chieftain, I subjoin the following from the pen of -Samuel A. Clarke, of Salem, Oregon, who was on the ground, and had -abundant opportunity to learn the facts and incidents connected therewith. -He was correspondent for the "New York Times," from which paper of June -17, 1873, this graphic account of one of the most important events of 1873 -is taken:-- - - BOYLE'S CAMP, TULE LAKE, Modoc Country, - Tuesday, June 3, 1873. - - The Modoc campaign is considered at an end. The eight or ten of - the lately hostile band who have not been captured dare not - commit any depredations, and efforts are being made to secure - them without further contest. It remains to sum up the last few - days, and present the facts of the capture of Captain Jack and - his band, and I am now prepared to give a full and complete - statement of the closing movements of the campaign. - - The beginning of the end was when Bogus Charley and his band of - Cottonwoods and Hot Springs Indians, which means those who were - brought up in the vicinity of Dorris' and Fairchild's ranches, - which are on the creeks so called, came in and surrendered, - about two weeks ago. The attempt made to surprise the train and - camp at Sorass lake, over three weeks ago, was a failure, and - though the Indians inflicted some damage, they still suffered - defeat, being driven off with the loss of most of their own - horses and their loads. This discouraged them, and disaffection - took place. The troops followed them up persistently; many who - had supported the war with reluctance complained of their fate; - bickerings led to separation, and Captain Jack was left with - scarce more than half his force to carry on the desperate - struggle as he could. - - I have described the manner of the campaign in former letters, - and told how three squadrons of cavalry and artillery mounted, - accompanied by detachments of Warm Springs Indians, have been - put in the field. Then came the startling proposition from Bogus - Charley, Steamboat Frank, Hooker Jim, and Shacknasty Jim, that - they would join the troops and act as guides, and lead them to - Captain Jack. They gave it as their opinion that Jack and his - men would be either at Willow creek, in the canyon east of Clear - lake, or at Cayote Springs, south-east of there, or at a place - ten miles from Boiling Springs, on Pitt river, hard to find and - easily defended; or, fourth, at a canyon near Goose lake, much - further off, on the very verge of Modoc territory. They inclined - to the opinion that he was at Willow creek, because it is a - strong natural position, and in a good neighborhood for a supply - of roots, herbs, game, and fish; and the result proved that - their first surmise was correct. - - General Davis and a squad of cavalry left with them eight days - ago, and proceeded to Boyle's camp, east and south of the Lava - Beds, whence the four renegades proceeded on their way Tuesday, - a week ago, to hunt for the Modoc trail. They were entirely - successful, and returned the next day with an interesting - account of their expedition. Striking out south of Tule and - Clear lakes, they found and followed the trail to Willow creek - canyon, fifteen miles east of Applegate's ranch on Clear lake. As - they approached they found Modoc pickets out four miles in - advance; the pickets went with them to within about a quarter of - a mile of the Modoc camp, and the Modoc warriors, twenty-four in - all, came out and formed a line. Jack ordered the spies to give - up their guns; but they refused to do so, and retained their - guns in their hands during all the talk that followed. The - Modocs wanted to know what they came for, and who sent them; - they recognized that they rode Fairchild's horses, and wanted to - know how that came. The four Peace Commissioners gave for answer - the precise facts that had occurred; stated the fact of the - surrender of Fairchild's place, of all the Cottonwoods, and the - way they had been treated, and advised them all to give up the - war and do the same. - - At that point Bogus Charley and his comrades wanted to have a - free talk with their old friends, but Captain Jack forbade it. - He said he would never surrender; he didn't want to be hung like - a woman, without resistance, but was determined to die fighting - with his gun in his hand, as a warrior should. He told them not - to talk any more about surrender, to go back to the whites and - stay with them if they wanted to, but never to come back to him - again, for if they did he would certainly kill them. He wanted - to receive no more messages and hear no more talk. - - But Jack's power was evidently on the wane; he was no longer a - dictator, with unlimited confidence and authority. Scar-faced - Charley and some of the rest very deliberately declared they - would talk; they told Bogus they were tired of fighting, and - didn't want to be driven around all the time, afraid of their - lives, and obliged to live like dogs. They complained bitterly - of their hardships and poverty, and that they could not see - their friends as of old time. Bogus told them that the soldiers - and Warm Springs Indians were coming right after them; that Gen. - Davis had ordered them to hunt the Modocs down, and they would - do so. Then they wanted to know when the soldiers would come; - the answer was, at any place and at any moment. Some of them - bitterly asked if they four were intending to bring the soldiers - there; but Bogus evaded that by saying the soldiers would come - anyhow. Despite Jack's command, and his refusal to talk, the - four spies had a long, free conversation with their old - associates, and the result was to greatly increase the - demoralization existing in their ranks. The talk ended without - any promise being made, and the four spies returned the next - afternoon, and were intercepted at Applegate's ranch, on Clear - lake, Gen. Davis having in the mean time removed to that place. - The spies were detained there, and word was sent to have the - troops immediately move, and the next morning (Thursday), at - daybreak, they were in motion, bound for the last Modoc - stronghold. - - The Modoc spies seem to have acted in the most perfect good - faith. They, with Fairchild in company, went with the troops, - which were under command of Col. Green, and led them directly - to the place, warning them as they drew near that they might be - ambushed, and advising every necessary precaution. The troops, - in three squadrons, each with a detachment of Warm Springs - Indians, moved to within three miles of the Modoc camp about - eleven o'clock Thursday morning, and were then divided. - Hasbrouck and his command, guided by Hooker Jim, taking the - north side of the canyon; Col. Green and the remaining force, - with Steamboat Frank as their guide, going on the south side; - Fairchild and the other two spies being in company. The Modocs - seem not to have dreamed that the troops could reach them so - soon, and had no strict watch out. No one was seen until within - less than a mile of Jack's centre, when the troops ran on four - Modoc sentinels. Frank gave advice to surround the camp by - sending men around and over a little mountain, and, this being - done, a march was ordered and the Warm Springs got within three - hundred yards of three Modocs, who hallooed not to shoot, and - wanted to know what they were bringing so many men there for; - they wanted to talk. Fairchild and the Modoc guides were sent - for, and a talk had. Boston Charley came over to see Fairchild, - and laid his gun down; the Warm Springs Indians all laid their - guns down, and came over and shook hands with him in the most - amicable manner. Movements were stopped to give opportunity for - the surrender of the band, and a talk was progressing, when an - unfortunate accident made the Modocs scatter in apprehension. - Modoc Frank, one of the guides, happened to have his gun - accidentally discharged by the hammer catching as he turned his - horse. The Modocs evidently supposed that Boston Charley, who - had been sent to talk, had been shot, and that caused a - stampede, and prevented the surrender that evening. Boston said - they all wanted to quit the fight, and he was told to go back - and tell them all to come in and lay down their arms. While he - was attempting to do this, Hasbrouck's men closed up on the - other side and made him prisoner, not knowing the errand he was - engaged on. Donald McKay sent word over to let him go free, as - the Indians wanted to come in; but Boston had been delayed an - hour and a half, and he came back at dark with word that the - Indians had all run away, except seven squaws, including Captain - Jack's sister and some children, who were captured. - - At early day, on Friday, the troops moved up each side of the - canyon, skirmishing for three miles, when scouts came in and - reported that the trail led off north, toward Gainox, and laid - on high ground, where it was difficult to track. The troops - followed it until noon, when they struck Langell's valley in - twelve miles. The Modocs were in scattered bands. About one - o'clock Fairchild, the Modoc guide, and some Warm Springs - Indians struck a plain trail, and followed it for about six - miles north-east, and discovered three bucks ahead, who called - back and then ran away. They were headed off, and ran down into - a canyon and hid. During the day thirteen bucks and a number of - women got into the same canyon, and were discovered by the Warm - Springs Indians. A few shots were fired by Captain Jack himself, - but it was thought that he didn't try to hit anybody, and only - fired to keep them off. They called to each other, and - Scar-faced Charley came down off the bluffs and talked with Dr. - Cabanis. Scar-face said Captain Jack was there, and they all - wanted to give up. Dr. Cabanis went up and talked with Jack, who - wanted to know what they would do with him. He said he would - surrender the next morning; it was late then, and their women - were tired. He said they were out of food and clothes; that - their feet were sore, and that all hands would come in in the - morning and give up their guns. - - That happened on Friday evening, the 30th of May. The troops - then went down to Lost river, five miles, and camped. Dr. - Cabanis and Modoc Mose, one of the captured Indians, afterwards - went back to the Modoc camp, and carried them a supply of bread, - and stayed all night. They returned the next morning with the - word that Jack had gone before their return, and left behind - some pretext that he went to find a better camp on the bluff. - But that morning Scar-faced Charley came in and laid his gun - down, and did it with an exceeding sorrowfulness, as if he felt - and understood all that he surrendered in doing so. Scar-face is - more respected than any other Indian, and there is much sympathy - felt for him among the whites, as he went to war unwillingly, - and has done his work in open warfare, and not been engaged in - any savage and merely murderous work. He is considered the best - and bravest of the entire Modoc band of braves. Next came - Sconchin John, the old villain, who drove the tribe to war more - than almost any other man, and who is considered responsible for - many of the inhuman acts committed. He laid down his repeating - rifle, with a look of the most profound and savage mistrust and - gloomy sorrow. His manner was untranslatable, for he had much - to dread, and all his fears and half his hate of white men were - visible in his sullen manner. The lesser lights then came up in - turn, and went through the form of surrender. There were twelve - or thirteen in all who gave up their guns, and all of them gave - evidence of gloomy terror. They were shown a place to camp on - Lost river, in Langell's valley, and the next morning were sent - with Fairchild, Lieut. Taylor, of the artillery, and sixteen - mounted light-battery men, to Gen. Davis' quarters, at Jesse - Applegate's, on Clear lake. - - In the mean time Gen. Davis had sent Maj. Trimble, with his - squadron, including some Warm Springs scouts, with young - Applegate and Jesse Applegate's nephew, Charley Putnam, as - guides, to intercept Captain Jack, in an easterly direction. - They struck the trail ten miles north-east, and followed it five - miles south, back to the Willow creek canyon, below the first - Modoc place of retreat or stronghold. Then part of the force - crossed to the south side and skirmished up the canyon. The - scouts soon discovered a Modoc man, named Humpy Joe, a - hunchback, who is half-brother to Captain Jack. He asked for - Fairchild, and Charley Putnam told him he was on the other side - of the creek, and asked where Captain Jack was. Humpy said he - was down the creek, hid in the rocks, and would surrender - to-morrow. Charley said they had him surrounded, and he must - surrender now. He and Maj. Trimble went with Humpy Joe, who - called for Captain Jack to come forth, and the famous chief - stepped boldly out on a shelf of rock, with his gun in his hand. - He showed no timid fear or trepidation, and his conduct - commanded the admiration of those who were his captors, for a - certain sort of native dignity was apparent, and even in defeat, - and at the moment of his surrender, the great Modoc chief was - self-possessed, and acted a manly part. Major Trimble went up to - him and demanded his gun. He also asked if Fairchild was there, - and, learning that he was near, gave up his trusty Springfield - rifle, a remodelled breech-loader. Thus ended the Modoc war, for - its soul and leading spirit of evil stood there a captive, with - his arms given up, and powerless for future evil. There were two - others with him, and four squaws and their children made up the - list of prisoners taken at that time. Captain Jack had two - wives, and one of them had a bright little girl of six years - old. - - Captain Jack then walked coolly up to where the Warm Springs - Indians were, and they, with a commendable spirit of - forbearance, and no doubt with an appreciation of the heroism - that had so long and successfully resisted them, laid down their - guns, and all around shook hands with the Modoc chief. They - talked some with him; but he is not much of a talker either in - English or Chinook, and his half brother, Humpy Joe, did most of - the talking. Captain Jack then called up the squaws and - children, and they were all mounted behind the Warm Springs - Indians, and started for Gen. Davis' camp, ten miles distant. It - would seem as if the Modoc chief must have felt crest-fallen, - and have been humiliated to find himself mounted in the same - manner; but those who saw it say that, mounted behind a Warm - Springs Indian, he still bore himself with dignity, and sat - there like a Roman hero, as my informant graphically expressed - it. He never moved a muscle or bore evidence in his look that he - felt humiliated at his defeat. He bowed to Fairchild as he - passed him, but made no other sign. - - Captain Jack was looking rather shabby when discovered, and was - allowed to don his better suit before being taken to - head-quarters; for it is not too much to say that the chieftain - was in a very dirty guise; his favorite wife, too, was looking - rather untidy; the wife improved her attire by the very simple - process of donning a new delaine dress, not exactly made in the - latest style, but she put it on over the plainer calico, which - was too much soiled to be presentable. I do not learn that any - portion of Gen. Canby's dress was found when he was taken. - - [Illustration: SCHONCHIN AND JACK IN CHAINS.] - - He was taken, under guard, to the Modoc camp on Clear lake, - where the rest of the prisoners were placed. This happened - Sunday afternoon, June 1. The Warm Springs Indians were jubilant - over the fact that they had finally run the fox to earth. - Captain Jack's stoical fortitude must have been sorely tried as - he rode, a captive, behind one of them; for, as the procession - moved, it assumed the appearance of a triumph, and he formed a - part of and listened to the triumphal chant, the song of - victory, that swelled along the line of his captors as they bore - him away to await his fate. But they who saw it say he gave no - token, by look, or word, or act, that would have shown that he - was interested, or that he resented the rejoicing over his - defeat. Again the song of triumph rose and swelled as they - approached the camp on Clear lake, and rode into the presence of - Gen. Davis and Gen. Wheaton. The commander-in-chief can - certainly congratulate himself that his well-directed efforts - have been successfully rewarded, and that the efficiency of the - army has been maintained under extraordinary circumstances. The - Warm Springs band came up to head-quarters, ranged in a long - line, with their strange, wild chant ringing on the air, and - delivered their prisoners, who were ordered under guard with the - rest. - - A greater humiliation still awaited the discomfited Modoc chief. - Gen. Davis ordered leg-shackles to be made for Captain Jack and - Schonchin, and toward evening they were led out to be ironed. - Great excitement pervaded the Modoc camp as these leaders were - taken from it, and led away, they knew not where. They were - taken to the blacksmith under a guard of six men, and for the - first time Jack showed apprehension. As his guards passed where - Fairchild stood, he stopped and asked his old friend where they - were taking him. I allude to Fairchild here as his friend, - because, while he has never excused their war conduct, he has - been always, for many years, well acquainted with them, and has - possessed great influence over them. They have learned to place - great confidence in him, and have never found it misplaced. So - in all their movements of surrender they have wanted to have him - present, and have done it at his advice when otherwise no one - could have induced it. He gave Captain Jack no answer but to - tell him kindly to go on with the men, and he went on - unhesitatingly. He may have thought he was going to execution, - but he went on nevertheless. At Fairchild's suggestion, - Scar-face Charley was sent for to act as interpreter. Scar-face - speaks good English, and he explained to Jack and Schonchin that - they were to be shackled to prevent any attempt at escape. They - made the most earnest protestations that they had surrendered in - good faith; that they had no desire to get away, and under no - circumstances should make such an attempt. It was really an - affecting scene to witness the grief with which they submitted - to have the shackles placed on them; but when they saw that - their fate was inexorable, they made no complaint or resistance, - though they keenly felt the indignity, but stood silently to let - the rivets tighten to bind them in chains they will never cease - to wear, for it is probable they will be tried by a military - tribunal, and that they will suffer the penalty of their crimes - as soon as the form of a trial and securing of evidence to - convict them can be gone through with. - - The short and decisive campaign that has resulted in practically - ending the Modoc war has been a rough one. The troops were fully - equipped, and the horses all shod and in good order; but the ten - days' scouting through a terribly rough country has left men and - horses considerably worse for wear. It is now ordered that the - troops under Col. Mason shall move to this place from - Fairchild's ranch. This place will be head-quarters until the - whole matter is wound up. There are still eight or ten Modoc - warriors out; but they will not undertake to make a fight, and - only time and good management are required to lead them also in - and bring the end. - - Captain Jack maintains a gloomy reserve, and will not converse - with his captors on any subject. It is safe to say that he will - make no explanation or revelations, but die and make no sign. - Bogus Charley says all the men expect to die, and await their - fate without fear. Captain Jack himself has no fears of what the - result may be, and waits it with stoical fortitude. He will die - heroically, I have no doubt, for he has evidently less regard - for life than the rest of the Modoc warriors. - -This was substantially the end of the great Modoc war. The closing scenes -were very exciting. Some of them are worthy of mention as having an -immediate bearing on the question of Peace and War as between the -_superior race_ and the original _inheritors_ of the soil. - -Time, June 8th, 1873. Location of the scene, Rocky Point, near the mouth -of Lost river.--Characters in this tragedy: first, _Civilized -Christianized white men_; second, Helpless Modoc captives. - -James Fairchild--a brother to John A., the "gray-eyed man"--left -Fairchild's ranch on the morning of the 8th, with a four-mule team, and a -wagon filled with Modoc _men_, _women_, and _children_, who had -surrendered and were entirely unarmed. - -Very little things sometimes turn the current of great events. When -leaving Fairchild's ranch on the morning in question, the entire party -consisted of seventeen Modoc captives and the brothers Fairchild. Among -the captives were Bogus Charley and Shacknasty Jim. Before arriving at -Lost river the party divided, James Fairchild driving the team and going -by a longer route, on account of crossing Lost river at a wagon ford; John -A. Fairchild, together with Shacknasty Jim and Bogus on horseback, going -by a shorter route. The latter party, not mistrusting danger, continued on -their way, not waiting for the team to come up to the junction of the -roads. - -While James was crossing the river he encountered a body of Oregon -volunteers, under command of Capt. Hizer. The soldiers gather around the -wagon and question Fairchild. He explains to them that the Indians under -his care are Modoc captives, all of them Hot Creeks; that he is taking -them to the head-quarters of General Davis on "the peninsula," to deliver -them up; that none of them have been accused of being parties to any -murder or assassination. This seems to satisfy the soldiers, and they -retire to their camp. Fairchild passes on towards his point of -destination. After proceeding a few miles he sees two men going towards -the road, with the evident intention of intercepting him. The Indians in -the wagon also make the discovery, and beg Fairchild to turn back, to save -them. He feels that trouble is brewing. He looks in vain for his brother -John and the Indians that are with him. The two men have halted by the -roadside. Fairchild comes up to them. They order him to halt, and -accompany the order with a heavy "_persuader_" in close proximity to his -head. The music made by "_spring steel_" under the manipulation of a man's -hand has but two notes,--a short tick and a long click; and then the -"_persuader_" is ready for business. Fairchild, hearing this kind of -music, _halts_, and to the "Get down, you old white headed ----," etc., -demands, "By whose authority?" "By mine. I am going to kill them Ingens, -and you too, ---- you!" - -One of the civilized white men cuts the mules clear of the wagon. -Fairchild leaps to the ground, still clinging to the lines. The unarmed -captive women beg for mercy. They plead with Fairchild to save them. They -raise imploring hands and cry, "Don't kill! don't kill!" The four Indian -warriors are mute; they know resistance is in vain. Fairchild entreats the -white men to desist. The muzzle of a needle-gun is within six inches of -his ear. A shot, and _"Little John's" brains_ are scattered over the women -and children. Another, and "_Te-hee Jack_" is floundering among them. -Another, and "_Poney's_" blood is spurting over his wife and children. -Still another shot, and "_Mooch_" falls among shrieking squaws. One more, -and _"Little John's" wife_ is shot through the shoulder. The five are -writhing in the death agony together, and the blood of the victims is -streaming through the floor of the wagon and dropping in puddles on the -ground beneath. A dust is seen rising from the road. The civilized white -murderers decamp in haste, leaving Fairchild holding to his mules, while -the uninjured Modoc women are extricating themselves from the dead bodies -which had fallen on them. The blood of this civilized butchery still drops -from the wagon. Sergeant Murphy and ten men, Battery A, of the Fourth -Artillery, came upon the scene. The civilized _butchers_ are fleeing. _No -effort_ is made to arrest them. Sergeant Murphy had not been ordered to -arrest them, and, of course, he had no right to arrest _white men without -an order_. Capt. Hizer's company of Oregon volunteers is within a few -miles also. The country is open; the murderers have but a few miles the -start. But Capt. Hizer has _no orders_ to arrest white men either. He is -not there for that purpose; and no one can censure him because he did not -catch the civilized _white murderers_. Those men were seen by Fairchild -before and behind the wagon. They were on the watch for _John Fairchild_. -Had he and his party been with the team when the attack was made, the -census return of that county would not have been quite so large as it is, -especially on the Anglo-Saxon civilized list. _Pity he was not there_, for -_he_ is "a dead shot." The commiseration is due, however, to the community -that furnished homes for the fellows who covered themselves with glory by -performing this heroic feat. True, they dare not boast of it _now_, but -they will by and by. The grand jury of Jackson County _did not_ find bills -of indictment against them. No effort has ever been made to discover the -names of the perpetrators of this deed. True, there were those that -claimed to know who the persons were, but they never tell; neither would -they tell, if placed on the witness stand. I would not have my reader -suppose that the _people_ of Oregon approved of the crime--very far from -it. They condemned it in unstinted terms, and with one voice shouted, -"Shame! Shame!" So they would have done if the tables had been turned. No -State in the Union has a more orderly, law-abiding, peace-loving people -than Oregon; none that venerates justice more highly. True, they have -sometimes been lenient to the white men of bad character. But no more so -than other States where votes are necessary to elevate men to power. Like -all other peoples they are tender-hearted towards _all_ men who control -votes. As a people they are brave, without a doubt; but among them -occasionally may be found specimens of _cut-throats_, who kill unarmed -people; and once in a great while, just as in the States of Massachusetts -or New York, an editor who does the same kind of work with his pen, when -he thinks he can do it with impunity. But the respectable editors, there -as elsewhere, have learned sense enough to let a man alone when he is -down, until they are sure he can't get up before they kick him. With great -unanimity those of Oregon and the whole Pacific coast denounce the killing -of helpless, unarmed Indians, as they did the killing of settlers after -the battle of Lost river, Nov., 1873,--only not quite strong enough to -_justify_ the authorities in making _any_ efforts to bring the offenders -to _justice_. - -The scene changes to a military camp on the "peninsula," at the south end -of Tule lake. A hundred white tents declare this to be the head-quarters -of the army that whipped the Modocs,--that is to say, the army to whom the -Modoc traitors turned over their chief. One hundred and twenty poor, -miserable specimens of humanity are under guard. There is great rejoicing -over the victory. The Modoc women and, children are contented, in one -sense at least,--they are well fed, and have rest. The Government teams -have just arrived from the mountains with timber. The quartermaster's -forces are engaged in rough carpenter work. Curious-looking building they -are erecting,--looks something like a country butcher's windlass; but it -is not that, for there is more of it. The Modoc captains wonder what it is -for. They are unsophisticated in civilized modes of appeasing outraged -justice. - -Scar-face Charley asks a soldier, "What for that thing they make?" - -"To hang Modocs," laconically replies Mr. Soldier. - -A wail of savage woe breaks the air. The medicine-man says he "can beat -that thing." - -"May be so, Curly-haired Doctor; but unless some other medicine interferes -you can have a chance to try it, and, in the mean time, to reflect on the -inhuman manner in which you and Hooker Jim killed Brotherton, Boddy, and -others." - -Not far from the gallows we see an artist with his camera, and going -toward it two men under guard. One of them shouted "Kau-tux-ie" at the -council tent the 11th of April. The other one was his right-hand man then. -They are inseparable now, as they have been for years past; but this time -a few links of log chain, as well as bloody crimes, unite them. They cast -anxious eyes towards the gibbet. They meet John Fairchild, and ask him -where they are going. "Go on; it's all right," he replies. They take -places before the camera. The artist lifts his velvet cloth, and Captain -Jack looks squarely at what appears to him to be "a big gun." To his -surprise the big gun is again covered up, and he is then assured that it -will not shoot. It was under such circumstances that the likeness of -Captain Jack, which accompanies this book, was taken. Old Schonchin is -next made a target. They smile when led away, for they had _expected to -die_. - -Some satisfaction to know that the old fellow endured suspense, even if it -was temporary. They are taken back to the guard-house, and, as they march -under escort, they see Hooker Jim, Bogus Charley, Shacknasty Jim, and -Steamboat Frank, walking around unfettered, unguarded, well clothed, well -fed, and well armed. The chief restrains himself until he arrives at the -tent used for guard-house, then he gives way to a tempest of passion, and, -in true Indian style, declaims against the injustice of what he sees and -feels. True, Captain Jack, you are wearing chains that _properly belong to -those villains_. True, you pleaded with all your eloquence for peace, and -against the assassination of the commissioners. True, they voted against -you. True, that Bogus first proposed to kill Gen. Canby, and that he was -also first to betray you to your enemies. It is also true, that for this -double treachery he is now being rewarded with liberty. True enough, that -that cut-throat, Hooker Jim, is the very man that put the woman's hat on -your head, and taunted you to madness, until at last you yielded against -your judgment, and consented to commit the first great crime of your life. -True, that he was the man who followed your trail, day and night, like a -hound, until he pointed the steps of the soldier to your last -hiding-place. It is for this _damnable act of treachery to you that he is -now being rewarded_. True, also, that Steamboat Frank and Shacknasty Jim -fired as many shots at the commissioners as you did; and that they, too, -voted against you while you were trying to make peace, and that they boast -yet of the number of soldiers they have scalped. They joined Bogus and -Hooker Jim in hunting you, carrying each a breech-loading rifle, and -wearing the uniform of the United States soldiers, and were with your -captors when your star fell. It is for these last-named heroic acts that -they are now enjoying the boon for which you have pleaded all your life, -from the same Government that pets them, and almost fawns upon them as -heroes. Certainly your cup is full of grief, while theirs runs over with -joy. If you were a _white man_ we would commiserate you, and half the -people of America would join in an effort to save you; but you are an -Indian. No Indian can be an "honorable man;" the idea is an insult to -every _Irishman_, and _German_, and the whole Caucasian race besides. You -are simply unfortunate in being born in the land of the free, and the home -of the brave, with a _red skin_. Better you had been born across the sea, -and with any brogue in the world on your tongue. If you had only been -blessed with a _white skin_, and had that kind of manhood that would have -permitted you to wear some rich man's collar, fawn upon and toady to the -whims and caprices of your masters, at the sacrifice of your own -self-respect, and that of the rest of mankind, then your crimes might have -been condoned. But you are _now_ a _citizen_, and you may enjoy a -citizen's privilege of being punished for other men's crimes as well as -your own. - -Gen. Davis has invited the settlers of the Lost-river country, to "come in -and identify the murderers, and stolen property captured from the -Modocs." Among others who availed themselves of the opportunity are two -women. We have seen them before,--the first time on the afternoon of -November 29th, 1872, when the red-handed villain who walks around camp, -the _lion_ of the day,--Hooker Jim,--came to them with his hands red with -the heart's blood of their husbands; and again, when a funeral procession -was slowly wending its way to the Linkville cemetery. We recognize them as -Mrs. Boddy and her widowed daughter, Mrs. Schiere. Gen. Davis, with the -heart of a true man and soldier, receives them kindly, and assigns them to -a tent; patiently listens to the sad story of their great bereavement. - -He calls on them again, taking with him Hooker Jim and Steamboat Frank. -Mrs. Boddy identifies Hooker as one of the Indians concerned in the -massacre. When questioned as to the robbery of Mrs. Boddy's house, Hooker -Jim replies, "I took the short purse, and _Long Jim_ took the other -purse." - -The women are much excited and are crying. They lose self-control. Mrs. -Boddy, drawing from her pocket a knife, dashes at Hooker Jim's breast. -Mrs. Schiere, with a pistol, attempts to shoot Steamboat Frank. The man -who would not brook insult from Gen. Nelson could not see these women -commit a crime; with almost superhuman strength and agility he disarms -both women before they have sipped from the cup of revenge, accidentally -receiving a slight wound in one hand from the knife held by Mrs. Boddy. -The savages stand unmoved and make no effort to escape. Let the reader be -charitable in judgment on the actions of these widows. They were alone in -the world. Their protectors had fallen by the hands that have since been -washed by a _just Government_, when in its dire necessity it accepted -their services as traitors. Ah! double traitors to a reluctant, but brave -leader. If the men who killed the unarmed captives in Fairchild's wagon -yesterday can go unpunished after killing Indians that had not harmed -them, let charity extend to these broken-hearted women, nor censure them -for a thirst for vengeance, especially when they realized that justice has -hid her face to these inhuman monsters who are reeking with blood, and -guilty of the most damnable treachery. True, these are women; but the -accident of sex does not change nature, and never should be urged against -those whose wrongs drive them to desperation. - -The quarter-master's carpenters are putting on the finishing strokes to -the extempore instrument of a _partial_ justice to be administered without -even the farce of an _ex-parte_ trial. The _trap_ is being arranged. Eight -or ten ropes are hanging from the beam. Gen. Davis is preparing a -statement of the crimes committed _by the_ captives, and, also, his -verdict, which he proposes to read to these unfortunate subjugated -warriors before he tests the strength of the dangling ropes with -live-weight. A courier arrives from Y-re-ka. A message is received by Gen. -Davis, ordering him to hold the prisoners subject to further instructions -from Washington. - -The work on the hanging-machine is suspended. The Modoc medicine-man -assures his friends that he has won another victory. Gen. Davis is -thoroughly chagrined. _The disappointment is great._ Modocs enjoy it; -white man does not. The brittle thread of life has been strengthened for -the temporary benefit of a few vagabonds whose existence is no blessing to -mankind outside of the Modoc blood; whose death would cause a shout of joy -over the civilized world. Not because it would bring back the dead, and -cause them to stand in the flesh again, but because justice has been done -to a man with a red skin who dared claim the privileges of manhood; and, -being denied, had resisted a good Government in which he had no part. - -The scaffold stands untried. Nobody knows whether it is a good -hanging-machine or not. The camp is broken up; the war is over, and the -Modocs are _now_ where they can be _controlled_. They are _en route_ to -Fort Klamath, under guard. - -The chieftain who, a few weeks since, was over-matching the best military -talent of the army, holding in abeyance twenty times the number of his own -forces, and defying a great, strong Government, is now a captive and in -chains, compelled to travel under an _escort_ over the route he had passed -so often in the freedom of days gone by. Familiar objects greet his eyes -as he raises them from the last look he will ever take of the scene of his -glory as a chief; and his shame as an outlaw. - -The first place of historical interest on this last ride of the Modoc -chief, as he leaves "the peninsula," is where Ben Wright killed nearly as -many warriors as Captain Jack has had in his command. If the angel of -justice accompanies this conquering army with its dejected captives, she -will cover her face while it passes the spot where Modoc blood watered -the ground _under_ a _flag_ of _truce_, when she remembers that the -perpetrators of that deed were _honored_ for the act. A few miles only, -and the vacant cabin of Miller stands, accusing Hooker Jim, the murderer -of its builder and owner, for _his_ treachery, and upbraiding a Government -that excuses _his_ crimes, because he can be made useful in hunting to the -death the chief who led where such a villain forced him to go. - -Justice uncovers her face when this army reaches Bloody Point, for now she -remembers that it was here that a train of emigrants were waylaid and -cruelly butchered, and she shows no favors to the descendants of those who -committed the crime. Again the eye of the conquered chief glances over the -scene of his childhood, and, too, over the field where he fought his first -battle. Since it would be pronounced sickly "sentimentalism" to ponder -over the scenes of such a man's boyhood, and lest we should offend some -_white man's_ fine sense of pride that he is a white-skinned man, though -he may have little else of which to boast, we pass along up Lost river, -with simply recalling the fact, that this man's--Captain Jack's--early -home abounds with _traditional literature_ connecting his name with the -savage scenes of the past, and linking it with the tragic events of -1872-3. - -The conquering army marches over the spot where the white murderers "wiped -out" some of the wrongs committed against _our race_. The tramping of -soldiers' feet and the iron-shod hoofs of mule teams erases the dark spots -in the road, where the tokens of requited vengeance were painted by the -dropping blood from Fairchild's wagon on the eighth of June. - -_This blood does not cry out_ loud enough to catch the ear of the sober, -honest-faced angel who has been perching on the victorious emblem of the -free white American! No danger that those dark spots will ever trouble -that great angel. The blood that made them was drawn from the wrong kind -of veins for that. - -While the army marches over the trail, effacing footprints of the fleeing -avenger, a shot is heard. Quick almost as lightning flash every soldier's -hand grasps his arms. The thought that the Modocs are attempting escape -passes through every mind. "Halt!"--rings out the cavalry bugle. Above one -of the Government wagons a small puff of smoke is rising in the clear -morning air, while behind and beneath it the spattered drops of blood -announce that another tragedy is now being enacted. The wagon halts, and -now through the floor the current runs in streams, while its splashing on -the ground makes melody for ears of white men and soothes the dying senses -of _Curly-haired Jack_. - -A few words of explanation, and the fact is established that _treason_ is -still among the Modocs, treason to the Government of the United States, -committed _by Curly-haired Jack_, in blowing out his own brains, thus -cheating the aforesaid government out of the great privilege of hanging -him for the murder of Lieut. Sherwood, under a flag of truce, on the -eleventh of April, 1873. - -Poor, conscience-stricken self-murderer! his body is mixed up again with -his native land, and his friends are denied the privilege of mourning for -him. - -The army, with its costly coterie of famous guests, encamps at Modoc camp -on Klamath Reservation. This is the spot where Captain Jack and his people -settled in the beginning of 1870. How changed the fortunes of this man! -_Then_ his limbs were free, though his manhood was half disputed; _now_ -every motion of his limbs rings clanking music in his ear, constantly -reminding him that his manhood has obtained recognition at the cost of -life and liberty. _Then_ he was restless under the restraints of -civilization, because it denied to him a clear pathway to its privileges -and blessings; _now_ he is passive under the persuasive influence of a -power that compels his crushed spirit to submission. _Then_ he was the -hero chief of Hooker Jim and Bogus Charley, and the daring band that -surrounded him; _now_ he is the humbled, crest-fallen victim of _their -treachery_. - -_He_ sits behind a guard whose glittering bayonets warn him of the folly -of resistance. _His betrayers_, unfettered, ramble over the ground where -the Modocs had begun their new home in 1870. - -_He_ steals glances at the great witness tree where Modocs and Klamaths -buried the hatchet. _They_ dance with joy over the results of its -resurrection. - -The army moves out of camp. The captive chief catches sight of four -rough-hewn timbers on the left of the road. These were once designed for -use in making that chief a house, wherein he was to have passed through -probation, looking toward his ultimate attainment of citizenship under the -"Humane Policy of the Government." - -The Klamaths, who badgered him into the abandonment of his new home in -1870, have not disturbed the house-logs referred to. They never will; and -the probabilities are that these logs will remain as monuments, marking -the sepulchure of broken hopes. - -A few miles before reaching Fort Klamath the cavalcade passes through -_Council Grove_,--the place where Klamaths and Modocs made the treaty of -1864 with the United States. - -At last the shattered companies of soldiers reach the fort, having left -behind them many of their comrades; but having in charge a distinguished -prisoner and his companions. When they pass inside the irregular circle of -forest trees that shut Fort Klamath up into a grand amphitheatre, the -outside is shut out from four, at least, of the prisoners forever. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVI. - - TAKING A SAFE LOOK AT A SUBDUED LION--POWER BEHIND - BAYONETS--WEAKNESS UNDER CHAINS. - - -A Portion of Fort Klamath, mentioned in the last chapter, is used as a -court-room. A long, narrow table stands near the middle of the hall. At -the farther end of the table sits Lieut.-Col. Elliott, First Cavalry, to -his right Capt. Hasbrouck of Fourth Artillery, and Capt. Robert Pollock, -Twenty-first Infantry. On the left, Capt. John Mendenhall, Fourth -Artillery, and Second Lieut. George Kingsbury, Twelfth Infantry. These -officers are all in new uniform, and make a fine impression of power. At -the other end of the table sits Maj. H. P. Curtis, Judge Advocate; also in -uniform near him, Dr. E. S. Belden, short-hand reporter. To the right of -Col. Elliott, sitting on a bench, four men,--_red men_,--Captain Jack, -Schonchin, Black Jim, Boston Charley. All these men were at the council -tent the 11th of April last, and participated in the murder of Gen. Canby -and Dr. Thomas. Lying on the floor are two others. They are the men who -jumped from the ambush with the rifles, and uttered the yell that sent -terror to the hearts of the Peace Commissioners,--Barncho and Slolux. -Behind Maj. Curtis two other familiar faces,--Frank Riddle and his wife -Tobey. - -At a side table reporters are sitting. At either end of the room a file of -soldiers stand with muskets ornamented with polished bayonets. These are -necessary, for the prisoners might kill somebody if the bayonets were not -there! Hooker Jim, Bogus, Shacknasty and Steamboat are standing near the -door, unfettered and unguarded. _They_ don't need guarding, for they are -soldiers now themselves, and have done more to close up the Modoc war than -the "Army of a Thousand." - -They are real live heroes, and they feel it too. If anything is yet -wanting to make this scene complete, it is fully made up by the soldiers, -who now enjoy a safe look into the eyes of the Modoc chief. - - SECOND DAY. - - FORT KLAMATH, July 5, 1873. - - The commission met at 10 A.M., pursuant to adjournment. - - Present, all of the members of the commission, the - judge-advocate, and prisoners. - - The proceedings of the last meeting were read and approved. - - The judge-advocate then read before the commission the order - convening the commission, which is interpreted to the prisoners. - - The commission then proceeded to the trial of the prisoners: - Captain Jack, Schonchin, Black Jim, Boston Charley, Barncho - (_alias_ One-Eyed Jim), and Slolux, Modoc Indian captives, who - being called before the commission, and having heard the order - convening it read, it being interpreted to them, were severally - asked if they had any objection to any member present named in - the order, to which they severally replied in the negative. - - The members of the commission were then duly sworn by the - judge-advocate; and the judge-advocate was then duly sworn by - the president of the commission; all of which oaths were - administered and interpreted in the presence of the prisoners. - - The judge-advocate asked the authority of the commission to - employ T. F. Riddle and wife as interpreters, at $10 a day, - which authority was given by the commission. - - T. F. Riddle and wife (Tobey) were then duly sworn to the - faithful performance of their duty in the interpretation of the - evidence and proceedings as required, in the presence of the - prisoners, which oath was interpreted to the prisoners. - - The judge-advocate then presented to the commission E. S. - Belden, the official short-hand reporter, who was then duly - sworn to the faithful performance of his duty; which oath was - duly interpreted to the prisoners. - - The prisoners were then severally asked by the judge-advocate if - they desired to introduce counsel; to which they severally - replied in the negative; and that they had been unable to - procure any. - - The prisoners were then severally duly arraigned on the - following charges and specifications:-- - - _Charges and specifications preferred against certain Modoc - Indians commonly known and called as Captain Jack, Schonchin, - Boston Charley, Black Jim, Barncho, alias One-Eyed Jim, and - Slolux, alias Cok._ - - CHARGE FIRST.--"Murder in violation of the laws of war." The - specification in substance was the murder of Gen. E. R. S. Canby - and Dr. Eleazer Thomas. - - CHARGE SECOND.--"Assault with intent to kill in violation of the - laws of war." Specification second. "Assault on the - Commissioners. Attempt to kill A. B. Meacham and L. S. Dyer." - - "All this at or near the Lava Beds, so-called, situated near - Tule Lake, in the State of California, on or about the 11th day - of April, 1873." - - To which the prisoners severally pleaded as follows:-- - - To first specification, first charge, "Not guilty." - To second specification, first charge, "Not guilty." - To first charge, "Not guilty." - To first specification, second charge, "Not guilty." - To second specification, second charge, "Not guilty." - To second charge, "Not guilty." - - T. F. RIDDLE, a citizen and witness for the prosecution, being - duly sworn by the judge-advocate, testified as follows:-- - - _Question by judge-advocate._ Were you present at the meeting of - the commissioners and General Canby, referred to in the charges - and specifications just read? _Answer._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ On what day was it? _A._ On the 11th of April, I believe, - as near as I can recollect. - - _Q._ Were the prisoners at the bar present on that occasion? - _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ You identify them all? _A._ Yes, sir; I identify all but - Barncho and Slolux. I saw them, but I didn't know them. They - were some seventy-five yards behind me; they came up behind. - - _Q._ Is Captain Jack the principal man in this Modoc band? _A._ - Yes, sir. - - _Q._ What is he? Describe him. _A._ He is a chief amongst them. - He has been a chief since 1861, I believe. - - _Q._ What position did Schonchin hold among the Modocs? _A._ I - never knew him to be anything more than just a common man - amongst them until, within the last year, he has been classed as - Captain Jack's sub-chief, I believe; they call it a "Sergeant." - - _Q._ Black Jim? _A._ He has been classed as one of his - watch-men, they call them. - - _Q._ Boston Charley? _A._ He is nothing more than a high - private. - - _Q._ Barncho? _A._ He is not anything. - - _Q._ Slolux? _A._ He is not anything. - - _Q._ Are they all Modocs? _A._ Yes, sir; they are classed as - Modocs; one of them is a Rock Indian, or a "Cumbatwas." - - _Q._ Were they all present at this meeting of the 11th of April? - _A._ Yes, sir. Barncho and Slolux was not in the council. They - came up after the firing commenced. - - _Q._ What connection did you have with the peace commissioners - from the beginning? _A._ I was employed by General Gilliam to - interpret, and then from that I was turned over to the peace - commissioners; but I acted as interpreter all of the time--all - through their councils. - - _Q._ Did you ever receive any information which led you to - suppose it was a dangerous matter for the commissioners to - interview these men? _A._ Yes, sir; the first that I learned was - when I stopped at Fairchild's. They agreed to meet the wagons - out between Little Klamath and the Lava Beds, and all of them - come in, women and children. They said Captain Jack - sent word that if General Canby would send his wagons out there, - they would send his women and children in. - - _Q._ Where you present at the killing of General Canby and Mr. - Meacham? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ Had you received any information which led you to think - that it was dangerous? _A._ Yes, sir, I had; my woman, some week - or ten days before that, went to carry a message into Jack's - cave, where he was living, and there was an Indian called - William--he followed her after she started for home back to - camp, he followed her out. - - _Q._ How do you know this? _A._ My woman told me. - - _Q._ In consequence of some information which you received, what - did you then do? Did you speak to the commissioners about it? - _A._ Yes, sir; I told them I received information, and then I - went to the peace commissioners and told them it was dangerous - to go out there any more to meet them, and I advised them not to - go. While I was at Fairchild's, this Hooker Jim, he came there - and took me out one side and told me, "If you ever come with - them peace commissioners to meet us any more, and I come to you - and push you to one side, you stand back one side and we won't - hurt you, but will murder them." - - _Q._ Do I understand you to say you then cautioned the - commissioners? _A._ Yes; I told them of it. - - _Q._ What did you say? _A._ I told them what Hooker Jim told me; - and I said I didn't think it was of any use to try to make peace - with those Indians without going to the Lava Beds, right where - they were. I said, "I think the best way, if you want to make - peace with them, is to give them a good licking, and then make - peace." - - _Q._ Did you tell them what Hooker Jim said? _A._ Yes, sir; and - at another time, I believe it was the very next time after we - were out in the Lava Beds--after General Gillam had moved over - to the Lava Beds--we met, and Hooker Jim came to me after we got - to the ground where we were to hold our council, and he took - hold of me and said, "You come out here and sit down;" and he - pushed me as he said he would. I said "No." - - _Q._ When was this? _A._ I don't remember the date; it was some - time in April. - - _Q._ The first or second meeting? _A._ The first meeting after - Hooker Jim had told me this at Fairchild's. - - _Q._ Where they the same, or other commissioners? _A._ It was - General Canby, Dr. Thomas, and Mr. Dyer, and Judge Roseborough, - I believe, was along, if I am not mistaken; I won't be positive. - Hooker Jim came to me and caught hold of me, and pushed me one - side, and said, "You stand out here." I told him "No;" that I - had to go and talk and interpret for them; and my woman here - spoke up to him to behave himself, and not go doing anything - while he was there; and he then said, "Well, go and sit down." - - _Q._ Did you visit the Lava Beds before the massacre; and, if - so, did you go alone, or with some one else? _A._ The first time - I went in there was with Squire Steele. Fairchild-- - - _Q._ (Interrupting.) Very shortly before the massacre, did you? - _A._ Well, I was in there. - - _Q._ State why you went in there. _A._ I was in there on the - 10th of April. My woman and me went in there, and took a written - message in there from the peace commissioners. I read and - interpreted it to Captain Jack, and I told him then, after I - interpreted it to him, that I gave him a notice; and I told him - to bring it the next day when he met the commissioners, to bring - it with him. He threw it on the ground, and he said he was no - white man; he could not read, and had no use for it. He would - meet the commissioners close to his camp--about a mile beyond - what they called the peace tent. He said he would meet them - there and nowhere else. - - _Q._ A mile nearer the Lava Beds than the peace tent? _A._ Yes; - he said that was all he had to say then. I could hear them - talking around, and sort of making light of the peace - commissioners--as much as to say they didn't care for them. - - _Q._ What was the tenor of this message you say you read? _A._ - It was a statement that they wished to hold a council with them - at the peace tent next day, to have a permanent settlement of - the difficulties between the whites and the Indians; they wanted - to make peace, and move them off to some warm climate, where - they could live like white people. - - _Q._ Where is that note you carried? _A._ It is lost. - - _Q._ Did Captain Jack say anything about arms in reference - to the meeting? _A._ Yes, sir; he said he would meet - them five men without arms, and he would do the same--he would - not take any arms with him. - - _Q._ That he would meet them at the place he fixed--one mile - nearer the Lava Beds? _A._ Yes, sir; one mile nearer the Lava - Beds. - - _Q._ Five men, without arms, and he would also go without arms? - _A._ Yes, sir. - - The COURT. Five, including himself? _A._ Yes, sir. - - The JUDGE-ADVOCATE. What did he say about the proposition to - move him from the Lava Beds? _A._ He said he knew no other - country only this, and he did not want to leave it. - - _Q._ Did he say anything about a desire for peace? _A._ Yes; he - said if they would move the soldiers all away he would make - peace then, and live right there were he was, and would not - pester anybody else; he would live peaceably there. - - _Q._ Was Captain Jack alone in this interview when you talked - with him? _A._ No, sir; these other men were around with him, - sitting down. - - _Q._ These prisoners here now? _A._ Some of them. - - _Q._ Did he do all or only a part of the talking? _A._ That - evening he done all of the talking--that is, he was the only one - that had anything to say to me in regard to this affair. - - _Q._ Did you see anything there which led you to suppose that - they intended hostilities? _A._ Yes, sir; I did; I saw that they - had forted up all around the cave. - - _Q._ Did they seem to be well provisioned? _A._ They had just - been killing several beeves there that day. - - _Q._ Which of these men were there at the time? _A._ Boston was - there--most all of these that are here. - - _Q._ Can't you name them? _A._ There was Boston, Black Jim was - there, and Barncho; I don't remember whether Schonchin was there - or not at the time the conversation was going on. - - _Q._ Did you go back to the commissioners then? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ State the facts about it. State what followed after your - return to the commissioners. _A._ I went back and went to the - peace commissioners' tent with Jack's message that he would meet - them five unarmed, and he would do the same; he would have five - men with himself, and go without arms; and I told him they - were forted all around there, and they had been killing - beef; and I thought it was useless to try to make peace any - longer; and if Captain Jack would not agree to meet at the tent, - and if I were in their places I would not meet them any more. - - _Q._ What did the commissioners then reply or decide upon? What - decision did they come to? _A._ They held a council between - themselves. I was not at their council. - - _Q._ Was your visit the day before the assassination? _A._ Yes, - sir; I seen General Canby that evening,; and I told him I had a - proposition to make to him. He was out, and I met him, and he - wanted to know what it was; I told him that if I was in his - place, if I calculated on meeting them Indians, I would send - twenty-five or thirty men near the place were I expected to hold - the council, to secrete themselves in the rocks there; that they - would stand a good show to catch them, if they undertook to do - anything that was wrong. General Canby said that that would be - too much of an insult to Captain Jack; that if they knew of - that, they might do an injury then; he would not do that. - - _Q._ Did you hear him say that? _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ Did they determine to meet him, or not? _A._ they sent to - me the next morning, then, to come down to the peace - commissioners' tent. - - _Q._ Was Captain Jack informed that they would not go to that - place one mile nearer? _A._ Yes, sir; Bogus Charley went in that - evening before the murder, right ahead of me, into General - Gilliam's camp and stayed all night. He staid at my camp, and - the next morning the peace commissioners decided that they would - not meet Captain Jack in this place where he wanted to meet - them, and sent a message out by Bogus and Boston for them to - meet him at the peace commissioners' tent, the peace tent, and - they were gone about an hour; and they came back again and said - that Captain Jack was there with five men. - - _Q._ (Interrupting). You heard it? _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ Jack was to meet them where; he was where? _A._ He was at - the peace tent. - - _Q._ Captain Jack sent back a message then by Bogus and Boston - that he would meet them at the peace tent with five men? _A._ - Yes, sir; but they were not armed, and he wanted the peace - commissioners to go without arms. - - _Q._ He sent that message, and you heard it? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ What advice, if any, did you then give the commissioners? - _A._ My woman and me went down to the peace commissioners' tent - and she went to Mr. Meacham; I saw her myself at the first, - though I told him not to meet them. - - _Q._ Were you at the peace commissioners' tent when you gave - them this advice? _A._ The peace commissioners' tent in General - Gillam's camp. - - _Q._ Not the large peace tent? _A._ No; the peace commissioners' - tent. He wanted to know why, and I told him they intended to - murder them, and that they might do it that day if everything - was not right; and my woman went and took hold of Mr. Meacham - and told him not to go; and held on to him and cried. She said, - "Meacham, don't you go!"--I heard her say so myself--"for they - might kill you to-day; they may kill all of you to-day;" and Dr. - Thomas, he came up and told me that I ought to put my trust in - God; that God Almighty would not let any such body of men be - hurt that was on as good a mission as that. I told him at the - time that he might trust in God, but that I didn't trust any in - them Indians. - - _Q._ Did any of the other commissioners make any reply? _A._ Mr. - Meacham said that he knew there was danger, and he believed me, - every word I said, and he believed the woman, and so did Mr. - Dyer. He said he believed it; and he said that he felt like he - was going to his grave. I went then to General Canby and asked - him if General Gillam was going out. He said "No." I said, I - want your commissioners then to go to General Gillam's tent with - me. - - _Q._ Did they go? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ Was Tobey with you? _A._ No, sir; she was not with me then; - she was standing holding her horse. - - _Q._ State what occurred at General Gillam's tent. _A._ We went - down with Mr. Meacham, General Canby, Dyer, and Dr. Thomas; and - General Canby walked down with us. General Canby did not go into - the tent, but the other three went in; that is, Mr. Dyer, - Meacham, and Dr. Thomas, and I went in to General Gillam and - said, "General Gillam, these men are going out to hold council - with them Indians to-day, and I don't believe it is safe. If - there is anything happens to them, I don't want no blame laid on - me hereafter, because I don't think it is safe for them - to go, and after it is over I don't want nothing laid on me;" - said I, "I am not much afraid of the Indians; but I will go - before I will be called a coward." - - _Q._ State what followed then. _A._ Well, before we got through - the conversation there, General Gillam--that is, there was not - anything more--and then General Gillam gave a big laugh, and - said if the Indians done anything, that he would take care of - them, and we started out, and General Canby and Dr. Thomas - started on ahead; Mr. Meacham went to Tobey (my wife), and asked - her if she thought the Indians would kill him; and she said, "I - have told you all I can tell you;" she said, "they may kill you - to-day, and they may not." - - _Q._ You heard this? _A._ Yes. "But," says she, "don't go." By - that time General Canby and Dr. Thomas had got some one hundred - yards ahead of us. Bogus Charley walked out; General Canby and - Dr. Thomas walked; Mr. Dyer, Meacham, and Tobey rode horseback. - - The COURT. Did Bogus Charley walk out with you? _A._ Yes; him - and me were behind. - - The JUDGE-ADVOCATE. Where was Boston Charley at this time? _A._ - If I am not mistaken he was with General Canby and Dr. Thomas. - - _Q._ Did you finally arrive at the peace tent? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ And whom did you find there? _A._ I found Captain Jack, - Schonchin, and Black Jim (Ellen's man), who is dead, they say, - Shacknasty Jim, and Hooker Jim. - - _Q._ Were there any others? _A._ There were no others; well, - Boston, he went out with us, and Bogus Charley; there were eight - of them there. - - _Q._ Eight were there in the party? _A._ In the council; yes, - sir. - - _Q._ What took place after you met these Modocs whom you have - named--between the commissioners and they? _A._ Well, we all sat - down around a little fire we had there, built, I suppose, some - twenty or thirty feet from the peace tent. There was some sage - brush thrown on, and we were all sitting around the little fire, - and General Canby gave them all a cigar apiece, and they all sat - around there and smoked a few minutes, and then they went to - talking; General Canby, I think, though I won't be certain, - made the first speech, and told them that he had been dealing - with the Indians for some thirty years, and he had come there to - make peace with them and to talk good; and that whatever he - promised to give them that he would see that they got; and if - they would come and go out with him, that he would take them to - a good country, and fix them up so that they could live like - white people. - - _Q._ Did you interpret all of this to the Indians? _A._ Yes, - sir. - - _Q._ So that they understood it? _A._ Yes, my wife and me did - together. - - _Q._ Was that the summary of General Canby's speech? _A._ That - was about the substance of his speech, with the exception that - he told them that he had a couple of Indian names; that he had - taken Indians on to a reservation once before, and that they all - liked him, and had given him a name. - - _Q._ General Canby said that? _A._ Yes. They sat and laughed - about it. I disremember the name now. - - _Q._ Do you know who spoke next? _A._ Mr. Meacham spoke next, - and he told them he had come there to make peace with them; that - their Great Father from Washington had sent him there to make - peace, and wipe out all of the blood that had been shed, and to - take them to some country where they could have good homes, and - be provided with blankets, food, and the like. - - _Q._ That was Mr. Meacham's speech? _A._ Yes, sir. Dr. Thomas, - he said a few words. He said the Great Father had sent him there - to make peace with them, and to wipe out all the blood that had - been shed, and not to have any more trouble, to move them out of - this country here,--that is, the place where they were stopping. - - _Q._ Mr. Riddle, do you know whether the Lava Beds are in the - State of California? _A._ Yes, sir; they are. I could not be - certain what the extent of them is; it may be possible a small - portion of them is in Oregon. - - _Q._ How near the Lava Beds was General Gillam's camp? _A._ It - was about two miles and a half from Jack's stronghold. - - _Q._ How near to the Lava Beds was the peace tent? _A._ It was - right on the edge of it. - - _Q._ What distance from General Gillam's quarters or camp? _A._ - I think about three-quarters of a mile. - - _Q._ Did any Modocs reply to those speeches? _A._ Captain Jack - spoke. - - _Q._ What did he say; can you remember? _A._ Yes, I can - recollect some of what he said. He said that he didn't want to - leave this country here; that he knew no other country than - this; that he didn't want to leave here; and that he had given - up Lost river; and he asked for Cottonwood and Willow Creek; - that is over near Fairchild's. - - _Q._ Is Cottonwood Creek the same as Hot Creek? _A._ They are - two different creeks. - - _Q._ What did he mean by giving up Lost river? _A._ He said - there was where the fight had taken place; and that he didn't - want to have anything more to do there. He said he thought that - was what the fight took place about,--that country there; he - said the whites wanted it. - - _Q._ What fight do you refer to? _A._ The first fight, where - Major Jackson went down to bring them down on the Reservation; - that was in November, 1872. - - _Q._ Did Captain Jack demand Willow Creek and Cottonwood Creek? - _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ That is, the land around this place? _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ To live on? _A._ Yes, sir; he wanted a reservation there. - - _Q._ Then what was said, or what occurred? _A._ Mr. Meacham, - then he made another speech, and he told Captain Jack: "Jack, - let us talk like men, and not like children," and he sort of hit - him on the knee or shoulder,--probably hit him on the shoulder - once or twice, or tapped him,--he said, "Let us talk like men, - and not talk like children." He said, "You are a man that has - common sense; isn't there any other place that will do you - except Willow Creek and Cottonwood?" And Mr. Meacham was - speaking rather loud, and Schonchin told him to hush,--told him - in Indian to hush; that he could talk a straight talk; to let - him talk. Just as Schonchin said that, Captain Jack rose up and - stepped back, sort of in behind Dyer's horse. I was interpreting - for Schonchin, and I was not noticing Jack. He stepped a few - steps out to one side, and I seen him put his hand in his bosom - like-- - - _Q._ (Interrupting). Did you perceive, as soon as you got there, - that these men were armed? _A._ Yes, sir; I did; I could see - some of them were. - - _Q._ In what way did you observe that? _A._ I saw these sticking - out of their clothes. - - _Q._ You saw what? _A._ They were revolvers. - - _Q._ Did Captain Jack at this interview represent this band? - _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ And these other men listened and appeared to concur? _A._ - Yes, sir. - - _Q._ Were they there as representatives of the band? _A._ Yes, - sir; I suppose they were. - - _Q._ You say Captain Jack got up and went to the rear, and you - saw him put his hand to his breast? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ What then occurred? _A._ Well, he stepped back and came - right up in front of General Canby, and said, in Indian, "All - ready, boys,"--and the cap bursted, and before you could crack - your finger he fired. - - _Q._ You say this? _A._ Yes, sir; and after the cap bursted, - before you could crack your finger, he fired and struck General - Canby under the eye, and the ball came out here (showing). I - jumped and ran then, and never stopped to look back any more. I - saw General Canby fall over, and I expected he was killed, and I - jumped and ran with all my might. I never looked back but once, - and when I looked back Mr. Meacham was down, and my woman was - down, and there was an Indian standing over Mr. Meacham and - another Indian standing over her, and some two or three coming - up to Mr. Meacham. Mr. Meacham was sort of lying down this way - (showing), and had one of his hands sticking out. - - _Q._ You saw General Canby fall, you say? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ Did he continue to lie where he fell? _A._ He was not when - they found him; he was about thirty or forty yards from there. I - did not see him get up. - - _Q._ As soon as Captain Jack fired, what then occurred? _A._ - They commenced firing all around. I could not tell who was - firing except Schonchin here; I see him firing at Mr. Meacham, - but the others were kind of up in behind me, and they were - firing, and I did not turn around to look to see who it was. I - thought it was warm times there. - - _Q._ Did any other Indians come up? _A._ Just as the fire - commenced I see two Indians coming up packing their guns. - - _Q._ What do you mean by "packing their guns"? _A._ They were - carrying them along in their arms. - - _Q._ How many had each man? _A._ I could not tell; it looked - like they had some two or three apiece. - - _Q._ Can you identify those men? _A._ No, sir, I cannot. I did - not stop to look to see who they were. I saw they were Indians. - - * * * * * - - TOBEY, Riddle's wife, an Indian, called for the prosecution, - being duly sworn, testified as follows:-- - - _Question by the judge-advocate._ What is your name; is your - name Tobey? _Answer._ Yes. - - _Q._ Did you think they were going to kill the commissioners - that day? _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ What made you think so? _A._ There was one of the other - Indians told me so. - - _Q._ Who told you? _A._ William; Whim they call him. - - _Q._ How long before the meeting did Whim tell you this? _A._ It - was about eight or ten days. - - _Q._ What did Whim say to you? _A._ He said not to come back any - more; to tell the peace commissioners not to meet the Indians - any more in council; that they were going to kill them. - - _Q._ Did you tell General Canby not to go? _A._ I did not tell - General Canby; I told Meacham and Thomas. - - _Q._ Did Mr. Meacham believe you? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ Did he say he believed you? _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ What was done with the bodies of Dr. Thomas and General - Canby? _A._ They stripped their clothes off of them. - - _Q._ Did you see them do that? _A._ I seen them strip Dr. - Thomas. I saw Steamboat Frank taking Dr. Thomas's coat. - Steamboat Frank was one of the three that came up. - - * * * * * - - The above questions and answers were duly interpreted to the - prisoners by the sworn interpreter, Riddle. - - The judge-advocate then asked the prisoners severally if they - desired to cross-examine the witness, to which they replied in - the negative. - - The commission had no question to put to the witness. - - L. S. DYER, a citizen, called for the prosecution, being duly - sworn, testified as follows:-- - - _Question by the judge-advocate._ State your name. _Answer._ L. - S. Dyer. - - _Q._ What is your business? _A._ I am a United States Indian - agent. - - _Q._ Of the Klamath agency? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ Does that include the Modocs? _A._ Yes, sir. - - _Q._ Do you recognize the prisoners at the bar? _A._ I do. - - _Q._ Do you recognize them all? _A._ No, sir. - - _Q._ Who is that one with a handkerchief on his head? _A._ - Captain Jack. - - _Q._ Who is the next one this way? _A._ John Schonchin. - - _Q._ And this one? _A._ Boston,--sometimes called Boston - Charley. - - * * * * * - - _Question by commission._ I understood you to say that - Superintendent Meacham got these Modocs back into the - Reservation once or twice before. _Answer._ Once before. - - _Question by commission._ With or without the assistance of the - military? _Answer._ He had a few soldiers. I only know this from - the records and reports in the office. - - * * * * * - - The foregoing questions and answers were all duly interpreted to - the prisoners. - - The commission thereupon adjourned to meet on Monday next, the - 7th instant, at 10 A.M. - - H. P. CURTIS, - _Judge-Advocate of Commission_. - - THIRD DAY. - - FORT KLAMATH, OREGON, July 7, 1873. - - The commission met pursuant to adjournment. - - Present, all the members named in the order, the judge-advocate, - and the prisoners. - - The proceedings of the previous session were read and - approved. - - SHACKNASTY JIM, a Modoc Indian, a witness for the prosecution, - having been first cautioned by the judge-advocate of the - punishment of false swearing, was then duly sworn. - - _Question by judge-advocate._ What is your name? _Answer._ - Shacknasty Jim. - - _Q._ Do you remember when General Canby was killed? _A._ Yes; I - know. - - _Q._ Were you present. _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ Did you know that he and the commissioners were to be - killed. _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ How did you know it? _A._ They had a talk at night. - - _Q._ When was this talk? How long before? _A._ The evening - before. - - _Q._ Who talked? _A._ Most of the Indians; the two chiefs were - talking. - - _Q._ What two chiefs? _A._ Captain Jack and Schonchin. - - _Q._ Did you hear them state they meant to kill them? _A._ I - didn't hear them say they were going to kill them. - - _Q._ What did you hear them say? _A._ I heard them talking about - killing the commissioners: that is all I heard them say. I - didn't hear them say who was going to do it. - - _Q._ How long before the meeting of the peace commissioners when - General Canby was killed was this talk? _A._ I almost forget. I - don't want to lie. I have forgotten how many days it was. - - _Q._ What Indians were at that meeting of April 11, when General - Canby was shot? _A._ Schonchin, Captain Jack, Ellen's man - (dead). I was there, and Black Jim, Boston, Bogus Charley, and - Hooker Jim; there were eight. - - * * * * * - - STEAMBOAT FRANK, a Modoc witness for the prosecution, duly - sworn, being duly warned against the consequences of perjury. - - _Question by judge-advocate._ What is your name? _Answer._ I am - called Steamboat Frank. - - _Q._ Were you present at the death of General Canby? _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ How did you get there? _A._ I was about as far as from - here to the end of the stables (about four hundred - yards) when the firing commenced. - - _Q._ Whom, if any one, were you with there? _A._ With Scar-faced - Charley. - - * * * * * - - The judge-advocate now called BOGUS CHARLEY as witness for the - prosecution, who, being first cautioned of the consequence of - perjury, was duly sworn, and testified as follows:-- - - _Question by judge-advocate._ What is your name as commonly - called? _Answer._ Bogus Charley. - - _Q._ Were you present at the death of General Canby? - - _A._ Yes. - - * * * * * - - HOOKER JIM, a Modoc, a witness for the prosecution, being first - cautioned of the consequence and punishment for perjury, was - duly sworn. - - _Question._ What is your English name? _Answer._ Hooker Jim. - - _Q._ Were you present when General Canby was killed? _A._ I was. - - _Q._ Did you know he and the commissioners were to be killed? - - _A._ I did. - - _Q._ Are you now a friend to Captain Jack? _A._ I have been a - friend of Captain Jack, but I don't know what he got mad at me - for. - - _Q._ Have you ever had a quarrel or fight with him? _A._ I had a - quarrel and a little fight with him over to Dry lake, beyond the - Lava Beds. - - _Q._ How did you know the commissioners were going to be killed? - - _A._ Captain Jack and Schonchin--I heard them talking about it. - - _Q._ Where were they when you heard them? _A._ At Captain Jack's - house. - - _Question by commission._ What part were you detailed to take in - it, if any, in murdering the commissioners? _Answer._ I ran Dyer - and shot at him. - - _Question by commission._ Had you agreed to kill one of the - parties before the attack? - - _Answer._ I said I would kill - one if I could. - - _Question by judge-advocate._ Do you like Captain Jack now, or - dislike him? - - _Answer._ I don't like him very well now. - - * * * * * - - The judge-advocate then asked each one of the prisoners, - successively, if they desired to cross-examine this witness, to - which they replied in the negative. - - * * * * * - - WILLIAM (WHIM), Modoc, called for the prosecution, and warned - against the penalties of perjury, was then duly sworn. - - _Question by judge-advocate._ What is your name? _Answer._ Whim, - or William. - - _Q._ Were you with the Modoc Indians in the Lava Beds? _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ Do you remember when General Canby was killed? _A._ Yes, I - know that they went to kill him. - - _Q._ Did you know that he was going to be killed? _A._ Yes, I - knew they were going to kill him. - - _Q._ Did you know they were going to kill the peace - commissioners? _A._ Yes. - - _Q._ Were you at the killing? _A._ No, I didn't go. - - _Q._ How did you know they were going to kill them? _A._ I heard - Jack and Schonchin talking about it. - - _Q._ Any one else? _A._ That is all that I heard say anything - about it. - - _Q._ How long was this before the killing? _A._ I don't know - exactly, but it was eight or ten days. - - _Q._ Did you speak to anybody about it? _A._ Yes, I told about - it. - - _Q._ Whom? _A._ I told this woman here (Tobey, Riddle's wife). - - _Q._ What did you tell her? _A._ I told her to tell the peace - commissioners not to come; that I did not want to see them - killed. - - * * * * * - - The judge-advocate then asked each prisoner, successively, if he - desired to cross-examine this witness; each answered in the - negative. The commission desired to put no questions. - - * * * * * - -While this man is under examination as a witness, A. B. Meacham enters the -court-room. The prisoners fix their eyes on him steadfastly. -Until now, they had doubted his recovery from his wounds. - - * * * * * - - A. B. MEACHAM, citizen, called for the prosecution, duly sworn, - testified as follows:-- - - _Question by judge-advocate._ What is your name? _Answer._ - Alfred B. Meacham. - - _Q._ Are you a citizen of the United States? _A._ I am. - - _Q._ What position did you hold in connection with the late war - with the Modocs? _A._ I was appointed by Secretary Delano as - chairman of the peace commissioners, as special commissioner. - - * * * * * - - _Q._ Now state what occurred next. - - _A._ During the day the propositions that were made by Boston, - that is, on Thursday, were accepted by Dr. Thomas, and an - agreement made to meet Captain Jack and five men, unarmed, at - eleven o'clock; all parties unarmed at the council tent on - Friday. I knew this agreement to have been made by Dr. Thomas on - the evening of the 10th, on my return from Boyle's camp that - night. - - _Q._ Did he give it to you officially? - - _A._ Yes, sir. When I started on the visit to Boyle's camp, I - said to Dr. Thomas, if occasion requires my presence in any - business, you will act in my capacity as chairman of the - commission; and as acting chairman of the commission he made - this arrangement, and so notified me. - - _Q._ After that what followed? - - _A._ I protested against the meeting, but subsequently yielded - to the opinions of Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas,--Mr. Dyer and I - dissenting. - - _Question by judge-advocate._ Had General Canby a weapon on his - person? - - _A._ Not that I am aware of. - - _Q._ Had Dr. Thomas? - - _A._ I know he had not. - - * * * * * - - All the foregoing testimony was faithfully interpreted to the - prisoners. - - The commission thereupon adjourned to meet at 9:30 A.M. - to-morrow morning. - -The prisoners are remanded to the guard-house. They hesitate, and cast -anxious glances at Meacham, who is exchanging salutations with members of -the court. - -MEACHAM. "Have the prisoners no counsel?" - -Col. ELLIOTT. "They have been unable to obtain counsel. The usual question -was asked them." - -MEACHAM. "It seems to me that, for the honor and credit of the Government, -and in order to have all the facts drawn out and placed on record, counsel -should have been appointed." - -Col. ELLIOTT. "We are perfectly willing, and would much prefer it; but -there is no lawyer here, and we must go on without." - -MEACHAM. "I have no disposition to shield the prisoners from justice, but -I do feel that to close up all gaps, and make the record complete, all the -circumstances should be drawn out. Not because anything could be shown -that would justify their crimes, but because it is in harmony with right -and justice. Sooner than have it said that this was an ex-parte trial, I -will appear myself as their counsel,--by your consent." - -Col. ELLIOTT. "Certainly, we are willing, and if you say you will appear -as their counsel, we will have your name entered on the record. Certainly, -Mr. Meacham, we are more than willing. It would be an act of magnanimity -on your part that is without a precedent. You know all the facts in the -case and could, perhaps, bring them out better than any other man." - -MEACHAM. "I know that my motives would be misconstrued, and I would have -another storm of indignation hurled upon me by the press. But that does -not intimidate me; I only fear my strength is not sufficient. It is only -sixty days since the assassination, and I have been twice across the -continent, and am still feeble. However, I will report to you to-morrow -morning my conclusion." - -Judge-Advocate CURTIS remarks: "Mr. Meacham, I wish you would take hold of -this matter; there is no one else that can; and, if you will, every -courtesy shall be extended to you. The witnesses can be recalled for -cross-examination. I should be better satisfied to have counsel for the -prisoners." - -MEACHAM. "I will take the matter under consideration, and in the mean time -I desire an interview with the prisoners." - -Col. ELLIOTT. "Most certainly, you can apply to the 'officer of the day,' -and he will make the necessary order." - -In the guard house, Captain Jack and Schonchin are brought out of the cell -chained together. There is music in the clanking chain that sounds harsh, -severe, and causes a shudder, which soon gives way before the logic of -justice. These chieftains come with slow steps and eyes fixed intently on -Meacham. They extend their hands in token of friendly greeting. Meacham -refuses. "No, Captain Jack, your hands are red with Canby's blood; I -cannot, now." - -Schonchin still holds out the same hand that fired repeated shots at -Meacham. - -"No, Schonchin, _your_ hands are red with my own blood; I cannot, I will -not now." - -Schonchin places his hand on Meacham's arm. He presses it slightly. An -Indian grunt signals his satisfaction with his experiment. He _now -realizes that Meacham is not dead. Up to this time he had been doubtful._ -He looks with intense interest at the wounds he had made in his effort to -kill this man on the 11th April. - -Captain Jack is anxious to talk about the trial. Meacham inquires, "Why -did you not have a lawyer to talk for you?" - -CAPTAIN JACK. "I don't know any lawyer that understands this affair. They -could not do me any good. Everybody is against me; even the Modocs are -turned against me. I have but few friends. I am alone." - -MEACHAM. "You can talk yourself. The newspapers say, '_Captain Jack has -spoken for his race_; now let extermination be the cry.'" - -CAPTAIN JACK. "I know that the white man has many voices: they tell one -side, they do not tell the other." - -MEACHAM. "Tell the other yourself. You can talk: Now speak for your race. -Tell the other side. The world will read it." - -Fixing his eye on Meacham very intently Captain Jack says, "Meacham, you -talk for me." - -MEACHAM. "No, Captain Jack, I cannot talk for you. I saw you kill Gen. -Canby. I cannot talk for you. If you had shot me as Schonchin did, I would -talk for you. As it is, I cannot. I will not talk for Schonchin; he was -all the time in favor of blood." - -SCHONCHIN breaks in, saying, "I did not kill you; you did not die. I am an -old man. I was excited; I did not shoot good. The others all laughed at -me; I quit. You shoot me. You don't want me to die. You did not die." - -CAPTAIN JACK. "I cannot talk with the chains on my legs. My heart is not -strong, when the chain is on my leg. You can talk strong. You talk for -me." - -An hour later, Meacham is in consultation with his friends, including the -army surgeon. There is but one opinion in regard to Meacham offering -himself as counsel for the Modocs, aside from the newspaper -comments,--that it will cost him his life. He is not sufficiently -recovered from the shots of the Lava Bed tragedy of April 11th. - - JULY EIGHTH. FOURTH DAY. - -Military commission assembled. Meacham has decided that he _cannot_ appear -as _counsel_ for the prisoners. - -They are brought into court; proceedings of previous meeting read and -approved; H. R. Anderson, lieutenant of Fourth Artillery, duly sworn. His -evidence was chiefly in regard to Gen. Canby's relation to the Government, -the Army, and the Peace Commission. - - _Q._ What command did he hold, if any, at the time of his death? - _A._ Department of the Columbia, and adviser to the peace - commission under telegraphic instructions from Washington. - - _Q._ Was he in receipt of instructions from any source as to the - course he was to pursue; was he receiving instructions from time - to time? _A._ Yes, sir, from time to time; from commanding - General of the Army. - - _Q._ What kind of instructions were they? Did you see them - yourself? _A._ Yes, sir; generally telegraphic instructions. - - _Q._ What was their nature? What did they instruct him to do? - _A._ Instructed him to use his utmost endeavors to bring about a - peaceable termination of the trouble. - - _Q._ What relation did he hold with the peace commissioners? - _A._ He was ordered down there to consult and advise with them. - - _Q._ Do you remember General Canby's initials? _A._ E. R. S.; - his full name was Edward Richard Sprigg Canby. - - * * * * * - - HENRY C. MCELDERY, assistant surgeon U. S. A., called for - prosecution, sworn, testified as follows:-- - - _Question by judge-advocate._ Did you see the body of General - Canby after his decease? _A._ I did, sir; I saw it on the field - on the evening of April 11. - - _Q._ Was the general dead? _A._ Yes, sir; he was quite dead when - I saw him. - - _Q._ Please describe his condition. _A._ He had been entirely - stripped of every article of clothing. He had three wounds on - his body, and several abrasions of the face. One of the wounds, - apparently made by a ball, was about at the inner canthus of the - left eye. The edges of that wound were depressed, as if the ball - had entered there.... - - _Q._ Did you see Dr. Thomas's body? _A._ I saw him. There were - several gunshot wounds in his body, but I don't recollect - sufficient to swear to the exact locality of each one. - - _Q._ What was your opinion as to the cause of his death? _A._ I - think the gunshot wound over his heart was the cause of his - death. - - _Q._ Did he die of wounds received on that day? _A._ I think the - wounds that I saw were sufficient to cause his death; yes, sir. - - TESTIMONY FOR DEFENCE. - -Scar-face Charley is sworn, and testifies at length; the main feature of -which is that they have been encouraged by the Klamath Indians to resist -the Government. - -[Illustration: SCAR-FACE CHARLEY.] - -Dave--a Modoc--is next called. His testimony is of similar character, -endeavoring to involve other Indians with the Modocs.... - -One-eyed Mose is sworn for defence; nothing new is elicited from this -witness. Captain Jack states that he had no further testimony to offer. -He is informed by the court that he is at liberty to make a statement. He -rises with some hesitation; first casting his eyes at his chains, he -mutters in his native tongue, that he "cannot talk very well with the -irons on his legs;" he proceeds to scan the court and spectators -deliberately. The sight of uniforms and bayonets does not inspire the -chieftain. It is evident that he feels the hopelessness of his cause; that -he is no longer the brave, strong man that he was when free and -untrammelled. There were elements in this man's character, before his -subjugation, that qualified him to make a strong effort. He is now -unmanned, and the chief who has made so great a name as a warrior is now a -mere pettifogger. Few passages in his speech are worthy of a place in -history. The whole burden of it is to shift the responsibility from his -own shoulders. He does not refer to his troubles on Klamath Reservation; -censures his own people; censures Major Jackson for the manner of the -first attack, exonerates Roseborough and Steele of ever giving him bad -advice; asserts positively that he was always in favor of peace; that the -Hot Creek squaws reported that the Peace Commissioners intended burning -him and his men; that he had reason to believe that they intended to kill -him. Hooker Jim was the leader of the war-party; asserts that he was -constantly ridiculed by Hooker and others; called a "squaw" and a coward; -that the scouts, Hooker, Bogus, Steamboat Frank and Shacknasty, were all -in favor of killing the commissioners; Hooker especially "wanted to kill -Meacham;" finally, that the majority of the tribe have overruled him and -driven him against his judgment into crime. Take his speech all in all, -it was not up to the record he made as a fighting man. He concludes by -saying he did not know how to talk in such a place with irons on his feet. - -Schonchin makes a short speech, blaming others for his misfortunes, -especially the Klamath Indians. Major Curtis reviews only so much of the -testimony and speeches as refer to Maj. Jackson, clearing his name from -unfair imputation. - -The court again adjourns, a few minutes after which Col. Lewis, a lawyer -of Colusi, Cal., arrives, and is much chagrined to find "the trial over," -as he intended to offer his services as counsel for the prisoners. Too -late. The trial is closed. It would not have changed the result, although -it might have changed the record of testimony. So ends the trial of the -murderers of Canby and Thomas. The findings of the court cannot be -doubted, although they are not made known. This trial has been conducted -with fairness on the part of the Government; but it was, after all, a -one-sided tribunal, from the fact that the prisoners had no counsel. Those -who constituted the court were all men of character; exhibited no -partiality or injustice toward the unfortunate red men, whose lives were -in their hands. While no censure rests on the court, it is, nevertheless, -a cause of complaint that Hooker Jim, Bogus Charley, Steamboat Frank, and -Shacknasty Jim, who were the worst men of the Modoc tribe, should be -allowed to go free from arrest and trial. Gen. Davis had made no promises. -He expected they would be tried and convicted, and sentenced to -imprisonment for life. The argument that was used by Judge Advocate -Curtis, that they had been of invaluable service as scouts, and had done -so much to bring the Modoc war to an end, is not based on sound principles -of right; but for these very men Canby and Thomas would not have died; -peace would have been made, and more than one hundred lives would have -been saved. That it was policy to pardon these men as an encouragement to -other Indians to betray their people is not good logic, when it is -understood that they were the real instigators of the treacherous deeds of -the Modocs. If the Modocs were a nation at war with the Government, all -were alike entitled to be treated as prisoners of war. If they were simply -part and parcel of the people of the United States, then they were not -enemies, and no action of a military judge-advocate could absolve them -from the crime of murder, committed on the citizens of Oregon in Nov., -1872. - -As the matter was settled, no one had a voice in regard to putting them on -trial except the judge-advocate, and he exercised only a presumptive -prerogative. - -The finding of the court has been approved. Captain Jack, Schonchin, Black -Jim, Boston Charley, Barncho and Slolux, are sentenced to death. The third -of October has been designated as the day for the execution. - -Gov. Grover, of Oregon, has demanded the attention of the Government to -the subject of the indictments. If any action has ever been taken it has -not been made public. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVII. - - THE EXECUTION--THE ROYAL CHIEF OUT OF CHAINS. - - -The Modocs, men, women, and children, who were not placed on trial, were -confined in a stockade near the fort, except the traitor scouts, who -enjoyed the liberty of the camp, and were the heroes of the day. - -At various times between the trial and the execution, the prisoners were -permitted to visit the stockade. Their families were also allowed to visit -them occasionally in the "guard-house." - -On leaving Fort Klamath, after the trial and before the execution, I -visited the prisoners, and shook hands with them, in token of forgiveness -as far as I was concerned. - -I was satisfied that justice would be meted out to those who had been -placed on trial. Captain Jack seemed to correctly anticipate the result, -and questioned me as to his fate, expressing a great dread of being -hanged. - -He said that but one side of the story had been told; that he had no -friends to talk for him. I assured him that he had been fairly dealt with; -that the officers who had tried him were all good men and had not done and -would not do him injustice, and that I would write out a fair statement of -all the facts for everybody to read. - -He clung to my hand to the last moment. I left him with feelings of -commiseration for him, and with a firm resolution to keep my promise, to -tell his story for him. - -It is now October 2d, 1873. A long scaffold is erected; a more finished -machine than the one on the peninsula. Ghastly and gloomy, it stands out -on the open plat of meadow, with six ropes hanging from the beams. - -The traitor scouts seem to take great interest in this instrument of -death, which they have unjustly escaped. - -Whether conscience troubles these worthies is a matter of some doubt; but -that they were exempt from execution was a very satisfactory arrangement -to them,--though to no one else, except their own families. - -On the day before the execution, Gen. Wheaton, accompanied by a Catholic -priest (Father Huegemborg), Post Chaplain, with Oliver Applegate and Dave -Hill, a Klamath Indian, as interpreter, visited the prison for the purpose -of informing the doomed men of the sentence. - -The venerable father opened the painful interview by shaking hands with -the convicts. He told them that Christ died for all men; that if they -accepted him they would be saved. The prisoners listened attentively to -every word. This was especially the case with Captain Jack, and Schonchin. - -Gen. Wheaton then requested the chaplain to inform them of the decision of -the President. He did so in a few feeling words. While it was being -interpreted to them not a muscle moved; no sound was heard save the voice -of the speakers. - -The scene was a very impressive one. After a few moments of awful silence, -the lips of the fallen chief began to move. His voice was soft, low, and -scarcely audible:-- - -"I have heard the sentence, and I know what it means. When I look in my -heart I see no crime. I was in favor of peace: the young men were not -ready for peace,--they carried me with them. I feel that while these four -men--Bogus, Shacknasty, Hooker, and Steamboat--are free, they have -triumphed over me and over the Government. When I surrendered I expected -to be pardoned, and to live with my people on Klamath land." - -When asked by Gen. Wheaton, which member of the tribe he wished to take -charge of the people, he evinced some emotion. After a short pause, he -replied, "I can think of no one; I cannot trust even Scar-faced Charley." -He asked if there was no hope of pardon. When assured that the sentence -would be executed, he again asked if both sides of the case had been laid -before the President. - -On being told that the President had been informed of all that had been -done, and that he need not entertain any hope of life, but to pay -attention to what the chaplain said, he replied, "I know that what he says -is good, and I shall follow his advice. I should like to live until I die -a natural death." - -Slolux, one of the young Modocs who carried the rifles to the council tent -on the morning of the assassination, was next to speak. He denied any part -in the terrible crime, as did Barncho. - -Black Jim, half-brother to Captain Jack, spoke next. He was anxious to -live that he might take care of the tribe; saying, "I don't know what -Captain Jack and Schonchin think of it." Jack shook his head. Jim -continued, "If the white chief's law says I am guilty of crime, let me -die. I am not afraid to die. I am afraid of nothing. I should like to hear -the spirit man's talk." - -Captain Jack again asked that the execution be delayed until his speech -could be laid before the President, as perhaps he did not know who it was -that instigated the murder of Canby and Thomas. This request also was -denied. Boston Charley was the speaker; he created a sensation:-- - - A GUILTY INDIAN. - - You all know me; during the war it seemed to me that I had two - hearts--one Indian and the other white. I am only a boy, and yet - you all know what I have done. Although a boy I feel like a man, - and when I look on each side of me I think of these other men as - women. I do not fear death. I think I am the only man in the - room. I fought in the front rank with Shacknasty, Steamboat, - Bogus and Hooker. I am altogether a man, and not half a woman. I - _killed_ Dr. Thomas, assisted by Steamboat and Bogus. Bogus said - to me, "Do you believe that these commissioners mean to try to - make a peace?" I said, "I believe so." He said, "I don't; they - want to lead us into some trap." I said, "All right--I go with - you." I would like to see all my people and bid them good-by - to-day. I would like to go to the stockade to see them. I see - that if I were to criminate others it would not amount to - anything. I see it is too late. I know that other chief men were - not at the bottom of that affair, and they did not take so - prominent a part in the massacre as the younger men. I know but - little, but when I see anything with my eyes, I know it. - -[Illustration: BOSTON CHARLEY.] - - BOSTON'S REASONS FOR THE MASSACRE. - - Boston was then asked why they killed Canby. He said that all - the presents they had received had no influence on them, and - they suspected Canby and the commissioners of treachery, and - their hearts were wild. After the young men had decided to kill - the commissioners, he told Bogus he was afraid. Bogus said, - "Don't be afraid; I can kill him." After that Captain Jack said - he would go and prevent it. The object of Bogus going in that - night to camp was to remove any suspicion from General Canby's - mind. The young warriors thought that Canby, Thomas, Meacham, - and Gillam were powerful men, and that the death of these tyees - would end all further trouble. When they saw Dyer coming in - place of Gillam, they decided to kill them all. When Bogus came - into the soldiers' camp he told Riddle's squaw that he was going - to kill Canby and the commissioners. She said, "All right; go - and kill them." I am telling what I know to be the truth-- - nothing more. - -Boston's reference to the part taken by the chief caused Captain Jack to -speak once more, and it was his last that has found record. He seemed -anxious to have Hooker and Bogus put on trial,--finally concluded, "If I -am to die I am ready to go to see my great Father in the spirit world." -Schonchin was the last to speak:-- - - The Great Spirit, who looks from above, will see Schonchin in - chains, but He knows that this heart is good, and says, "You - die; you become one of my people." - - I will now try to believe that the President is doing according - to the will of the Great Spirit in condemning me to die. You may - all look at me and see that I am firm and resolute. I am trying - to think that it is just that I should die, and that the Great - Spirit approves of it and says it is law. I am to die. I leave - my son. I hope he will be allowed to remain in this country. I - hope he will grow up like a good man. I want to turn him over to - the old chief Schonchin at Yainax, who will make a good man of - him. I have always looked on the younger men of our tribe as my - especial charge, and have reasoned with them, and now I am to - die as the result of their bad conduct. I leave four children, - and I wish them turned over to my brother at Yainax. It is doing - a great wrong to take my life. I was an old man, and took no - active part. I would like to see those executed for whom I am - wearing chains. - - In the boys who murdered the commissioners I have an interest as - though they were my own children. If the law does not kill them, - they may grow and become good men. - - I look back to the history of the Modoc war, and I can see - Odeneal at the bottom of all the trouble. He came down to - Linkville with Ivan Applegate; sent Ivan to see and talk with - Captain Jack. If Odeneal came by himself, all the Modocs would - go to Yainax. I think that Odeneal is responsible for the murder - of Canby, for the blood in the Lava Beds, and the chains on my - feet. I have heard of reports that were sent to Y-re-ka, - Ashland, and Jacksonville, that the Modocs were on the warpath, - and such bad talk brought Major Jackson and the soldiers down. - - I do not want to say my sentence is not right; but after our - retreat from Lost river I thought I would come in, surrender, - and be secure. I felt that these murders had been committed by - the boys, and that I had been carried along with the current. If - I had blood on my hands like Boston Charley, I could say, like - him, "I killed General Canby"--"I killed Thomas." But I have - nothing to say about the decision, and I would never ask it to - be crossed. You are the law-giving parties. You say I must die. - I am satisfied, if the law is correct. - - I have made a straight speech. I would like to see the Big Chief - face to face and talk with him; but he is a long distance off,-- - like at the top of a high hill, with me at the bottom, and I - cannot go to him; but he has made his decision,--made his law, - and I say, let me die. I do not talk to cross the decision. My - heart tells me I should not die,--that you do me a great wrong - in taking my life. War 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_! - -This was the last speech made by the Modoc convicts. - -The chaplain came forward and offered a most eloquent prayer, full of -pathos and kindly feeling for the condemned. - -Let us look on this scene a moment; it may humanize our feelings. The -prison is but a common wooden building, 30 by 40 feet, and known as the -"guard-house." It is on the extreme left of and facing the open "plaza" or -"parade-ground," in the centre of which stands a flag-pole, from whose top -floats the stars and stripes. A veranda covers the door-way, before which -are pacing back and forth the sentries. - -Before entering cast your eye to the right, about one hundred yards, and a -square-looking corral arrests your attention. This is the stockade. It is -constructed of round pine poles, twenty feet long, standing upright, with -the lower ends planted in the ground. Through the openings we see human -beings peeping out, who appear like wild animals in a cage. A partition -divides this corral. In the further end Captain Jack's family and a few -others are encaged; in the nearer one the Curly-haired Doctor's people. In -front walk the sentinels. Outside, at the end of the stockade, nearest the -guard-house, there are four army tents; in these four tents are the -families of Hooker Jim, Bogus Charley, Steamboat Frank, and Shacknasty -Jim, and these Modoc lions are with them, probably engaged in a game of -cards. Scar-faced Charley also enjoys the privilege of being outside; but -he does not engage in sports, or idle talk, oftenest sitting alone in -gloomy silence. - -Passing the guards as we enter the room, a board partition stands at our -right, cutting off one-third of the guard-house into cells; the first -cell has been the home of Boston, Slolux and Barncho, since their arrival -at the fort. The next is where Captain Jack and Schonchin have passed the -long, painful hours of confinement, meditating on the changes of fortune -that have come to them. - -In front, and running alongside the opposite walls, are low bunks raised -twenty inches from the floor. Sitting around on these bunks are the -thirteen Modoc Indians,--prisoners,--six of whom have just learned from -official authority their doom. - -Gen. Wheaton is in full uniform. The white-haired chaplain is near the -centre of this curious-looking group. Oliver Applegate and Dave Hill are -with him. Officers and armed soldiers fill up the remaining space. Outside -the building are soldiers, citizens, and Klamath Indians, crowding every -window. - -The tremulous voice of the kind-hearted chaplain breaks the solemn -stillness with a short sentence of prayer. Applegate translates the words -into Chinook to Dave Hill, who repeats them in the Modoc tongue. Sentence -after sentence of this prayer is thus repeated until its close. - -The good old man who has performed this holy ministry bursts into tears, -and bows his head upon his hands. In this moment every heart feels moved -by the eloquence of the prayer, and a common emotion of sympathy for those -whose lives were closing up so rapidly. - -Gen. Wheaton terminates this painful interview by assuring the convicts -that, as far as possible, their wishes should be respected. - -In the name of humanity, do we thank God for noble-hearted men like Gen. -Wheaton, who rise superior to prejudice, and dare to extend to people of -low degree the courtesies that all mankind owe the humblest of our race, -when, in life's extremities, the heart is dying within the body. The women -and children are coming to take a last farewell of their husbands and -fathers. Who that is human could look on this grief-stricken group, while -listening to the notes of agony making a disconsolate march for their -weary feet on this painful pilgrimage, and not bury all feelings of -exultation and thirst for revenge toward this remnant of a once proud, but -now humbled race; notwithstanding to the ear come despairing sobs of woe -from the lips of Mrs. Boddy, Mrs. Brotherton, Mrs. Canby and Mrs. Thomas, -on whom the great calamity of their lives burst like a thunder-bolt from a -clear sky, shattering their hearts, and leaving them sepulchres of human -happiness, illuminated only by the rainbow of Christian faith and hope, -spanning the space from marble tomb to pearly gate? - -These semi-savage Modoc women, with crude and jumbled ideas, made up of -half-heathen, half-Christian theology, had not the clear, well-defined -hopes of immortality that alone bear up the soul in life's darkest hours. - -True, they had been cradled through life in storm and convulsions. For -eleven months they have heard the almost continuous howl of a terrible -tempest surging and whirling around and above them. They have listened to -rattling musketry, roaring cannon, and bursting shells. They have seen the -lightnings of war, flashing far back into their beleaguered homes in the -rocky caverns of the "Lava Beds;" but with all these terrible lessons, -they were not prepared to calmly meet this awful hour. - -Human nature, unsupported by a living, tangible faith, sunk under the -overshadowing grief, and struggled for extenuation through the effluence -of agony in wild paroxysms of despair. - -We might abate our sympathy for them in the reflection that they are -lowly, degraded beings, incapable of realizing the full force of such -scenes; but it would be an illusion, unworthy of a highly cultivated -heart. - -God made them too, with all the emotions and passions incident to -mortality. Circumstances of birth forbade them the wonderful transmutation -that we claim to enjoy. When we pass under the clouds of sorrow, the angel -Pity walks beside us, arm in arm with sweet-faced Hope, whose finger -points to brighter realms; with _them_, Pity, alone. - -The sun is setting behind the mountains; the grief-stricken group are -returning to the stockade, leaving behind them the condemned victims of -treachery. - -Their betrayers--Hooker, Bogus, Shacknasty and Steamboat--are invited by -the officers to an interview with their victims; all decline, save -Shacknasty Jim. This interview roused the nearly dead lion into life -again; the meeting was characterized by bitter criminations. The other -heartless villains, after declining the interview, requested Gen. Wheaton -to give them a position where they could witness the execution on the -morrow. - -Let us drop the curtain over this sad picture, and turn our attention to -the quartermaster and his men, who are just in front of the guard-house. -He has a tape line in his hand, and, with the assistance of one of his -men, is measuring off small lots, squaring them with the plaza; see him -mark the spot, while a soldier drives down a peg; and then another, about -seven feet from it. He continues this labor until _six_ little pegs are -standing in a row, opposite another row of like number. - -Hooker, Steamboat, and Bogus Charley are leaning on the fence, looking at -the men who are now with spades butting the soil in lines, conforming to -the pegs. - -Bogus asks, "What for you do that?"--"Making a new house for Jack," -answers a grave-digger, lifting a sod on his spade. - -This is a little more than Bogus could stand unmoved. He turns away, and, -meeting the eyes of Boston, who looks out between the iron bars of his -cell, Bogus mutters, in the Modoc tongue, a few words that bring Barncho -and Slolux to the window. - -The three worthies look out now upon a scene that very few, if any three -men in the world ever did--that of the digging of their own graves. It is -but a thin partition that separates these convicts from their chiefs, -Captain Jack and Schonchin, who are aroused from the condition into which -the parting scene had left them, by a tapping on the wall. If the last -trial was crushing on them, what must have been the force of Boston's -speech, through that wall, telling them that the earth was already opening -to receive their bodies. - -The sheriff of Jackson County, Oregon, is on hand, and he has a business -air about him too. - -Justice sent him on this mission, after the red demons, who want a front -seat at the show to-morrow. Will justice or power triumph? We shall see, -when he presents his credentials to Gen. Wheaton, whether a State has any -rights that the _United States_ is bound to respect. - -An offer of _ten thousand_ dollars is made to Gen. Wheaton for the body of -Captain Jack. He indignantly spurns it. This accounts for the future home -of the Modoc chief being located under the eyes of Uncle Sam's officers. -It is now nearly ready for occupation; the mechanics are putting on the -finishing touches to his narrow bed; he is not quite ready yet to take -possession; he is waiting for Uncle Sam to arrange his _neck-tie_, and -read to him his title-deed. - -Boston looks out through the iron bars, and sees the sods up-thrown, that -are to fall on his lifeless heart to-morrow. - -What a contemplation for a sentient being; watching the grave digger -hollowing out his own charnel-house! - -Barncho and Slolux also share in this unusual privilege. How the thud of -the pick, with which the earth was loosed, must have driven back to the -remotest corner of each heart the quickened blood! - -The retreat sounds out far and wide over the camp and fortress, and sweeps -its music through the cracks of the stockade and prison cells, mingling -with the weird, wild shrieks of the despairing Modoc women and children. - -Midnight comes, and still the prayers are offered up, and incantations are -going on; sleep does not come to weary limbs. - -The morning breaks. Fortress and camps, stockade and prison cells, are -giving signs of life. - -The sun is climbing over the pine-tree tops, and sending rays on the just -and the unjust, the guilty and the innocent. - -The roads leading to the fort are lined with the curious, of all colors, -on wheels and horse. At 9.30 A.M., the soldiers form in line, in front of -the guard-house. - -Col. Hoge, officer of the day, enters and unlocks the doors of the cells, -and bids the victims come forth. Every day, from the 20th of February to -the 11th of April, had this command, and even invitation, been extended to -them. _Then_ it was to come forth to _live_ free men; _now_ it is to come -forth to die as felons. To the former they turned a deaf ear, and answered -back with insult, strange as it may appear. To the latter they arose with -chains rattling on their limbs, and, with steady nerve, turned their backs -on their living tombs, to catch a sight of their new-made graves yawning -to receive them. - -Then they were surrounded with daring desperadoes, whose crimes bade them -resist. Now, by no less brave men, whose polished arms compel submission. -Then the chief was pleading for his people, surrounded, overruled by -traitorous villains. Now, he is surrounded by men who will soon take his -life, and let the villains live to chide justice by their blood-covered -garments and double-dyed treason. - -A four-horse team stands in front of the guard-house, in which are four -coffins; the six prisoners mount the wagon. The chief sits down on one of -these boxes, Schonchin on another, Black Jim on the third, and Boston -Charley on the fourth, Barncho and Slolux beside him. A glance over the -heads of the guards shows six open graves; there are but four coffins in -the wagon. What means this difference? But few of all the vast assembly -can tell. The chief's thoughts are busy now trying to solve the problem. -Perhaps he is not to die; an uncertain glimmering of hope lights up his -heart. The cavalcade moves out in line passing near the stockade. The -prisoners catch sight of their loved ones; they hear the cries of -heart-broken anguish. - -Gen. Wheaton refrains from the use of the Dead March. The column goes -steadily on, marching for one hundred yards, then turns to the right, and -the scaffold comes in view; it marches square to the front, then turning -to the left, directly towards it, and when within a few yards, the column -opens right and left, while the team with the victims of crime drives to -the foot of the steps that lead to the ropes dangling in the air above. It -stops. Again the stern, manly voice of Gen. Wheaton commands. The first -time the Modocs heard that voice was on the 17th of June, 1873, when -supported by loud-talking guns. Then they answered back defiance from the -caverns of the stronghold. All day long he coaxed them then with powder -and shell; now he speaks with the silent power of a hundred glittering -sabres backing his words, and the Modocs answer with the clashing chains -on their legs. "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first." - -This royal-blooded chief was the _last_ to enter the vortex of crime; he -is the _first_ to rise on the ladder of justice. - -The chains are now cut from his limbs. He stood unmoved when they were -riveted there; he is equally firm now. - -Again the problem of the four coffins and six graves engages his mind, -while the chisel parts the rivets. Schonchin is next to stand up while his -fetters are broken. Then Boston, next Black Jim; and the good blacksmith -wipes the perspiration from his brow with his leathern apron, straightens -himself ready for this kindly work to Barncho and Slolux. - -Behind are _six_ graves,--above are _six_ ropes,--in the wagon are _four_ -unchained men and _four_ empty coffins. The suspense is ended by a word -from General Wheaton to the blacksmith, and a motion with his sword -towards the ladder, while his eyes meet first the Chief, then Schonchin, -next Black Jim, and rest a moment on Boston Charley. Steadily the four men -march up the seven steps that lead to the _six_ dangling ropes. Barncho, -with Slo-lux, still sits in the wagon below. - -The mourning Modoc captives in the stockade have an unobstructed view of -the scene, three hundred yards away; they count _four_ men going up the -ladder,--they see _six_ ropes hanging from the beam above them. - -"_Four loyal Modoc lions, who did so much to bring the war to a close_," -are standing with folded arms within the hollow square near the scaffold. -Scar-faced Charley is sitting on a bench on the opposite side of the -stockade, with his face buried in his hands. He will not witness the -death-struggles of his dying chieftain. - -It is now 10 A.M., October 3d, 1873. The four men are led on to the drop; -their arms and legs are pinioned. Captain Jack is placed on the right; -next to him, Schonchin, then Black Jim, and then Boston Charley. Four -hempen cords hang beside them,--_two_ swing clear to the left; the _two_ -villains who broke the long armistice on the eleventh of April with a -war-whoop are resting on other men's coffins in the wagon below. - -The four men are standing on a single strand that holds the drop. One -stroke of an axe would end this terrible drama, now. The polished blade is -waiting for the dreadful work. JUSTICE perches with folded wings on the -beam above. Her face is blanched. She says, "My demands would be satisfied -with imprisonment for life for these helpless, blood-stained men,--'twould -be more in harmony with my Father's wishes; but those whom he has sent me -to serve, clamor for blood, for life. If this must be, why the two men in -the wagon below? Why the four unfettered villains yonder? I cannot -understand by what authority I am compelled by my masters to witness this -partiality. _Here, over these betrayed victims do I enter my solemn -protest._ I see before me another power that evokes my presence, the State -of Oregon, represented by Sheriff McKenzie, in whose hands I see a paper -signed by Gov. Grover, and bearing my own countersign." With faith in the -power of the general Government, she folds her wings and sits calmly -watching Corporal Ross of Co. G, twelfth Infantry, adjust the instrument -of death to Captain Jack's neck. It differs from the one used by this -chief on Gen. Canby, but is equally sure; and the chief's nerves are even -steadier now than they were when he shouted, "Kau-tux-a." - -Corporal Killien measures the diameter of Schonchin's neck with the end of -another rope. The old chief's eyes do not glare now as they did when he -drew from his side a knife with one hand, and a pistol with the other, and -shouting, "Blood for blood!"--chock-e la et chock-e la,--fired eleven -shots at the chairman of the "Peace Commission." He was excited then; _he -is cool now_. - -Private Robert Wilton is putting a halter on Black Jim's neck, while -Private Anderson is fixing a "neck-tie" that will stop the voice that -taunted Dr. Thomas, in his dying moments, with the failure of his God to -save him. - -Justice smiles on Anderson's hand while he performs this worthy act in -vindication of her honor. - -The ropes are all adjusted; the soldiers who have performed this last -personal act walk down the steps. - -Forty millions of people, through a representative, read a long list of -"wherefores" and "becauses," including the finding and sentence of the -courts, to the patient men standing on the drop, thousands of eyes -watching every movement. - -At last the adjutant reads the following short paper from the _forty -million_, to the _four_ men on the scaffold; the _two_ men in the wagon. - - EXECUTIVE OFFICE, August 22, 1873. - - The foregoing sentences, in the cases of Captain Jack, - Schonchin, Black Jim, Boston Charley, Barncho, alias One-eyed - Jim, and Slolux, alias Cok, Modoc Indian prisoners, are hereby - approved; and it is ordered that the sentences in the said cases - be carried into execution by the proper military authority, - under the orders of the Secretary of War, on the third day of - October, eighteen hundred and seventy-three. - - U. S. GRANT, - _President_. - -While the words are being interpreted the adjutant draws another paper -from a side pocket in his coat. In a clear voice he reads sentence by -sentence, while the majestic form of Oliver Applegate repeats, and Dave -Hill interprets into the Modoc tongue:-- - - (General Court Martial Orders, No. 84.) - - WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, - WASHINGTON, September 12, 1873. - - The following orders of the President will be carried into - effect under the direction of the major-general commanding the - Division of the Pacific:-- - - EXECUTIVE OFFICE, September 10, 1873. - - The executive order dated Aug. 22, 1873, approving the sentence - of death of certain Modoc Indian prisoners, is hereby modified - in the cases of Barncho, alias One-eyed Jim, and of Slolux, - alias Cok; and the sentence in the said cases is commuted to - imprisonment for life. Alcatraz Island, harbor of San Francisco, - California, is designated as the place of confinement. - - U. S. GRANT, - _President_. - - By order of the Secretary of War. - - E. D. TOWNSEND, - _Adjutant-General_. - -_Justice_ whispers, "What does that mean?" Those two men voted for the -assassination on the morning of the 11th of April, and volunteered to bear -the guns to the scene of slaughter. - -The chaplain offers a prayer, the last notes of Dave Hill are dying on -the air as he finishes the words in the Modoc tongue. - -A flash of polished steel in the sunlight and the axe has severed the rope -that held the trap, and the thread of _four_ stormy lives at the same -instant, and _four_ bodies are writhing in mid-air. An unearthly scream of -anguish rises from the stockade, much louder, though no more -heart-rending, than escaped the lips of Jerry Crook and George Roberts on -the 17th of Jan., or from young Hovey on the 18th of April, while Hooker -Jim and Bogus Charley were scalping him and crushing his head with stones. - -The four bodies are placed in the four coffins, and Barncho and Slo-lux -ride back to the guard-house beside them. - -The sheriff of Jackson County presents to the commanding officer the -requisition of the governor of Oregon for Hooker Jim, Curly-haired Doctor, -Steamboat Frank, and other Modocs. The following telegrams explain the -result:-- - - JACKSONVILLE, OREGON, October 4, 1872. - - To JEFF. C. DAVIS, U. S. A., _Commanding Department of Columbia, - Portland, Oregon_:-- - - At the hour of the execution of Captain Jack and his - co-murderers at Fort Klamath, on yesterday, the sheriff of - Jackson County was present with bench-warrants and certified - copies of the indictments of the Lost-river murderers, and - demanded their surrender to the civil authorities of this State - for trial and punishment. A writ of _habeas corpus_ has also - been issued by Justice Prime, of the circuit court of Jackson - County, commanding that the indicted murderers be brought before - him, and cause be shown why they are withheld from trial. I - respectfully ask that you communicate the proceedings to - Washington, and that final action in the premises be taken by - order from there. - - L. F. GROVER, _Governor, Oregon_. - -To which was received in reply:-- - - Shown by the Secretary to the President in Cabinet to-day. It is - understood, the orders to send all the Modocs to Fort E. A. - Russell, as prisoners of war, given the 13th September, 1873, - will be executed by Gen. Schofield, and no further instructions - are necessary. Signed, - - E. D. TOWNSEND, - - _Adjutant-General_. - -Thus was the matter disposed of, no further action being taken in regard -to this question. - -Gov. Grover expressed what he believed to be the wishes of the people of -the Pacific coast, when he demanded the surrender of the Indians who had -been indicted by the local authorities. The President and cabinet were -actuated, doubtless, by humane and charitable motives in thus disposing of -a serious question. - -Knowing all the facts in the case, I do not believe it was just, or wise, -to cover the worst men of the Modoc tribe with the mantle of charity, for -turning traitors to their own race, and at the same time to sanction the -sentence of death on the victims of their treachery. - -The terrible tragedy is closed,--it only remains to dispose of the -survivors, after having placed the four dead bodies in the ground, and -filling up the two empty graves, sending the intended occupants to San -Francisco Bay. The living are ordered to the Quaw-Paw Agency, Indian -Territory. Here is the official statement:-- - - FORT MCPHERSON, NEB., November 1, 1873. - - EDWARD P. SMITH, _Indian Commissioner, Washington, D. C._:-- - - Modocs consist of thirty-nine men, fifty-four women, sixty - children. Detailed report by families forwarded to Department - head-quarters October 30. - - J. J. REYNOLDS, _Colonel Third Cavalry_. - -_Thirty-nine men!_ Why, Captain Jack had _never_ more than fifty-three men -with him, all told. Call the roll, let us see where they are now:-- - -1. _Captain Jack._ A voice from--well, it's uncertain where,--a slanderous -rumor says, from a medical museum, Washington city,--answers, "_Here_." - -2. _Schonchin. "Here,"_ comes up from one of the graves in the -parade-ground, Fort Klamath. - -3. _Boston Charley. "Here,"_ whispers a spirit, hanging over one of the -graves in the same cemetery. - -4. _Black Jim. "Here,"_ comes up through the thick sod beside "Boston." - -5. _Ellen's Man. "Here,"_ answer scattered bones that were drawn off the -Dry-lake battle-ground, by a Warm Springs scout, with a reatta, and now -bleaching in among the rocks of the Lava Beds. - -6. Shacknasty Jake, from a skull which furnished several scalps during the -three days' battle, when its owner was killed in petticoat, comes in -hollow voice, "_Here_." - -7. Shacknasty Frank; the ashes of a warrior who was wounded in a skirmish -on the fifteenth of January, and died in the Lava Beds, answers, "_Here_." - -8. _Curly-haired Jack._ The answer comes from the bones of a suicide, -muttered up through the blood of Sherwood, "_Here_." - -9. _Big Ike._ The remnants of a brave who stood too near the valuable -shell, on the third day of the big battle, answers in broken accents, -"_H-e-r-e_." - -10. _Greasy Boots. "Here,"_ is answered by the ghost of the brave killed -the day before the battle of January 17th. - -11. _Old Chuckle Head._ On a shelf, in a certain doctor's private medical -museum, a skeleton head rattles a moment, and then answers, _"Here."_ - -12. _One-eyed Riley._ The bones of the only brave who fell in Lost-river -battle answer, "_Here._ I fell in fair battle; I don't complain." - -13. _Old Tales._ The ghost of Old Tales answers, that he was killed by a -shell, and murmurs, "_Here_." - -14. _Te-he Jack_-- - -15. _Mooch_-- - -16. _Little John_-- - -17. _Poney_-- - -A dark spot in the road between Fairchild's ranch and Gen. Davis camp -shakes, upheaves, and with thunderous voice proclaims in the ears of a -Christian nation, "_Here_ we fell at the hands of your sons after we had -surrendered. 'VENGEANCE!'" - -Fifty thousand hearts, in red-skinned tabernacles on the Pacific coast, -respond, "WAIT." - -Seventeen voiceless spirits have answered the roll-call who were sent off -to the future hunting-ground by United States _sulphur, saltpetre and -strong cords_. - -Seventeen from _fifty-three_, leaving _thirty-six_,--the returns say, -_thirty-nine_. - -How is this? Look the matter up, and we shall find that "_Old Sheepy_" and -his son Tom Sheepy, who never fired a shot during the war,--in fact, was -never in the Lava Beds,--are compelled to leave their home with Press -Dorris and go with the party to Quaw-Paw. - -Another,--a son of Old Duffey,--who remained at Yai-nax during the war, -sooner than be separated from his friends, joins the exiles on their -march. Now all are accounted for, and the record here made is correct. - -The other side we have told from time to time in the progress of this -narrative. The cost of this war has not yet been footed up. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVIII. - - THE TWO GIBBETS. - - -A gloomy picture fills the eye from the height of the bluff whence we took -our first view of the Lava Beds, Jan. 16th, 1873. The whited tents are -there no more. The little mounds at the foot rest heavy on the breasts of -the fallen. No curling smoke rises from savage altar, or soldier camp. The -howl of cayote and cougar succeed the silver bugle, calling to the banquet -of blood. Wild birds, instead of ascending ghosts, fill the air above, and -their screams follow the weird wild songs of the medicine-men. The caverns -answer back to bird and beast--no more to savage war-whoop, or bursting -shell. The cannon are cooled by a winter's frost, while a winter's storms -have given one coating to the scars left on the lava rocks by the iron -hail. The dark spots, painted by mad hands, dipped in the blood of heroes, -grow dim. A rude, unfinished gibbet stands out on the deserted promontory -of the peninsula, a reproachful proof of a soldier's unwarranted haste, a -token of a nation's prudence; while another rude scaffold, which justice -left half-satisfied, also remains at Fort Klamath, defiant and -threatening, and upbraiding her ministers for unfair dispensation in -sparing the more guilty, while writing her protest on the blood-stained -hands of the felons who provoked her wrath, as she follows them to the -land of banishment. - -The lone cabins, made desolate by the casualties of war, are again -inviting the weary traveller to rest. The ranchmen of the Modoc country -follow the cattle trails without fear. The surviving wounded are trying to -forget their scars, or hobbling on crutch or cork. Tall grasses meet, fern -and flowers bloom over the graves of loved ones, bedewed with the tears of -the widows and orphans of a nation's mistake in refusing to recognize a -savage's power for revenge, until recorded by scars on the maimed hands -and mutilated face of his biographer, and proclaimed by the marble shaft -whose shadows fall over the breast of the lamented Canby, near _Indiana's_ -capital, and by the tomb of the no less lamented Dr. Thomas, which keeps -silent vigils with those of Baker and Broderick, on the hallowed heights -of Lone mountain, San Francisco. - -The broken chains of the royal chief hang noiseless on the walls of his -prison cell. His bones, despised, dishonored, burnished, sepulchred in the -crystal catacomb of a medical museum, represent his ruined race in the -capital of a conquering nation; and the survivors of his blood-stained -band, broken-hearted, mourn his ignominious death, shouting their anguish -to listless winds in a land of exile. He lives in memory as the recognized -leader in the most diabolical butchery that darkened the pages of the -world's history for the year eighteen hundred and seventy-three. - -The Congress of the United States devotes itself to the payment of the -cost of the war; while the results stand out ghastly monuments, calling in -thunder-tones on a triumphant nation to stop, in its mad career; _to -think_; upbraiding it for the inhuman clamor of power for the blood of -heroic weakness, until it thwarted President Grant's policy of doing -right, _because it was right_; at the same time applauding him for his -courage in proposing, and his success in consummating, a settlement on -peaceful terms with a powerful civilized nation, with whom we had cause of -estrangement. - -If it was bravery that courted the accusation of cowardice, while it -grandly defied impeachment by proposing to settle a financial difference, -involving questions of national honor, in the case with England, on -amicable terms; it was infinitely more patriotic, more humane, more just, -and more godlike, boldly to declare that a weak and helpless people should -be treated as men,--should be tendered the olive-branch, while the cannon -were resting from their first repulse. - -The civilized world joins in honoring him in the former case; cowardly -America burns in effigy his Minister of the Interior for failure in the -latter; while on neither magistrate nor minister should fall the blame. On -whom, then, should it fall? Where it belongs,--on the American people as a -nation. If you doubt it, read the history written by our own race, and you -will blush to find from Cape Cod bay to the mouth of the Oregon, the -record of battle-grounds where the red man has resisted the encroachments -of a civilization that refused him recognition on equal terms before the -law. You will find that these battle-grounds have been linked together by -trails of blood, marked out by the graves of innocent victims of both -races, who have fallen in vindication of rights that have been by both -denied, or have been slain in revenge by each. You will find scarce ten -miles square that does not offer testimony to the fact that it has been -one continuous war of races, until the aborigines have been exterminated -at the sacrifice of an equal number of the aggressive race. - -You will find that in almost every instance where the white man and the -Indian have met in conference, the latter has been overmatched with -diplomatic schemes, plausible and captivating on the surface, while behind -and beneath has always lurked a hidden power, that he dared not resist in -open council. - -You will find that notwithstanding the Indian has made compacts under such -circumstances as have alienated his home and the graves of his fathers, he -has been almost always true and faithful to his agreements, until -justified by _his_ ethics, in abandoning them on account of the _breach_ -by the _other party_ to the compact. - -You will find that a few bad white men, who have always swung out in the -van of advancing immigration, and have without commission or authority -represented the white race socially, have offered the Indian the vices, -and not the virtues, of Christian civilization; and when the facts are -known, you will find that these few bad white men have been the real -instruments of blood and treachery, nearly always escaping unpunished, -while the brave and enterprising frontiersman has unjustly borne the -stigma and censure of mankind; if, surviving the tomahawk and -scalping-knife, he has stood up in defence of a home, to which his -government invited him. - -As I proposed in the outset to _confine_ myself to facts of personal -knowledge, or those well authenticated from other sources, and to write of -the Indians of the North-west, and of Oregon especially, I leave it to -others to review the history of other portions of the country, and, in -pursuance of my own plan, I beg to introduce a witness to sustain the -assertion, that civilization has refused the Indian admission on equal -terms with other races,--a witness who was born and raised on the frontier -line; whose whole life has been spent in Oregon; one whose statement will -not be questioned where he is known,--Captain Oliver C. Applegate, who has -given me, on paper, a few of the many incidents coming under his own -personal observation, which he has in times past related to me around -camp-fires in the wild region of the lake country of Oregon. - - SWAN LAKE, OREGON, Sept. 10, 1873. - - Hon. A. B. MEACHAM:-- - - _Dear Friend_,... A Klik-a-tat Indian, named Dick Johnson, came - to my father's house in the Willamette valley, and worked for - him on his farm, prior to the year 1850. In that year my father - removed to the Umpqua valley, and soon after Dick Johnson, with - his wife (an Umpqua), and mother and step-father, called the - "Old Mummy," followed up and asked permission to cultivate a - small portion of my father's farm. This they were allowed to do. - They cultivated these few acres in good style, and found time to - labor for father and other farmers, for which they received good - remuneration. - - In 1852, Dick Johnson, under the encouragement of my father, - Uncle Jesse, and other friends, took up a claim in a beautiful - little valley about ten miles from Yoncalla, where my people - resided. This place was so environed by hills that it was - thought the whites would not molest Dick there. Aided by the old - man and his brother-in-law, Klik-a-tat Jim, who came from the - upper country to join him, Dick improved his farm in good style, - built good houses and out-buildings, and fenced hundreds of - acres. He was frugal, enterprising and industrious, and - emulated the better white people in every way possible, and was - so successful in his farming enterprises that he outstripped - many of his white neighbors. His character was above reproach, - and, beside sending his little brother to school, he was always - seen with his family at church on the Sabbath day. - Unfortunately, there were greedy, avaricious white men living in - the vicinity of Dick Johnson, who coveted his well-improved - little farm. Eight of them--disguised--went to his place late - one afternoon, and found Dick chopping wood in the front yard. - They shot him in cold blood, and, as his lifeless body fell - across the log on which he was chopping, his step-father ran - from the house unarmed, and was shot also. The women, after - being beat over the heads with guns and revolvers, finally made - their escape to the woods, and took refuge under the roof of a - friendly neighbor. - - Klik-a-tat Jim--who came from mill about the time the old man - was shot--was fired on several times, some bullets cutting his - clothing, but, jumping into his house at a window, he got his - gun, and the cowardly assassins fled. Although there was immense - excitement throughout the country when this outrage was - committed, and a hundred men assembled to bury Dick Johnson and - the old man like white men, as they deserved, an ineffectual - attempt was made to bring the offenders to justice, and _they - actually lived for years upon the farm, enjoying the benefits of - poor Dick Johnson's labor_. Our laws then scarcely recognized - the fact that the Indian had any rights that were worthy of - respect, and this most atrocious crime had to go unpunished, - thus encouraging the Columbia Indians to greater desperation - under Old Kam-i-a-kin, in the war of 1866-1867. Well it would - be, for the good name of the American people, if we could point - to but one isolated case of this kind; but truth and candor - compel us to admit, that too many Indian wars have been - occasioned by the greed and ruffianism of our own race. - - * * * * * - - Many years ago, during the first Modoc war, the Klamaths say - that a band of Modocs was pursued by troops from the Modoc - country, out by Yainax, and to the vicinity of Silver lake, - where the Modocs managed to elude their pursuers. The troops - (probably a detachment of Gen. Crosby's California Volunteers), - not liking to be foiled in their efforts to take a few scalps, - returned by Klamath marsh, Williamson river, and Big Klamath - lake, butchering in cold blood several unresisting Klamaths. - Even this did not occasion trouble with the Klamaths, many of - whom tried to incite the nation to a war of revenge.... - - Ever truly yours, - - (Signed) O. C. APPLEGATE. - -To sustain the declaration that the Indian has been overmatched and -outwitted in treaty council, I propose to introduce a witness whose long -life on the frontier qualifies him to speak; whose great talents, and -intimate acquaintance with the politics and wants of the North-west, -secured him a seat for six years in the Senate of the United States, and -who is now (1874) a member of Congress; one who was also a Superintendent -of Indian Affairs in Oregon, and knows whereof he speaks. I refer to Hon. -James W. Nesmith. In his official report for the year 1857, page 321 -Commissioners' Report, he says:-- - - My own observation in relation to the treaties which have been - made in Oregon leads me to the conclusion that in most instances - the Indians have not received a fair compensation for the rights - which they have relinquished to the Government. - - It is too often the case in such negotiations that the agents of - the Government are over-anxious to drive a close bargain; and - when an aggregate amount is mentioned, it appears large, without - taking into consideration that the Indians, in the sale and - surrender of their country, are surrendering all their means of - obtaining a living; and when the small annuities come to be - divided throughout the tribe, it exhibits but a pitiful and - meagre sum for the supply of their individual wants. The - Indians, receiving so little for the great surrender which they - have made, begin to conclude that they have been defrauded; they - become dissatisfied, and finally resort to arms, in the vain - hope of regaining their lost rights, and the Government expends - millions in the prosecution of a war which might have been - entirely avoided by a little more liberality in their dealings - with a people who have no very correct notions of the value of - money or property. A notable instance of this kind is exhibited - in the treaty of September 10, 1853, with the Rogue-river - Indians. That tribe has diminished more than one-half in numbers - since the execution of the treaty referred to. They, however, - number at present nine hundred and nine souls. - - The country which they ceded embraces nearly the whole of the - valuable portion of the Rogue-river valley, embracing a country - unsurpassed in the fertility of its soil and value of its gold - mines; and the compensation which those nine hundred and nine - people now living receive for this valuable cession is forty - thousand dollars, in sixteen equal annual instalments of two - thousand five hundred dollars each, a fraction over two dollars - and fifty cents per annum to a person, which is the entire means - provided for their clothing and sustenance. - - When those Indians look back to the valuable country which they - have sold, abounding, as it does, with fish and game and rich - gold fields, it is but natural that they should conclude that - the $2.50 per annum was a poor compensation for the rights they - relinquished. It is true that the Government can congratulate - itself upon the excellence of its bargains, while the millions - of dollars subsequently spent in subduing those people have - failed to convince them that they have been fairly dealt with. - - Even the treaties which have been made remain, with but few - exceptions, unratified, and of the few that have been ratified - but few have been fulfilled. - - Those delays and disappointments, together with the unfulfilled - promises which have been made to them, have had the effect to - destroy their confidence in the veracity of the Government - agents; and now, when new promises are made to them for the - purpose of conciliating their friendship, they only regard them - as an extension of a very long catalogue of falsehood already - existing.... - -That the Indian has been overcome by power may be established by the fact, -that in the treaty council of 1855, whereby "_The Confederate Bands of -Middle Oregon_" were compelled to accept Warm Springs Reservation as a -home, by the threats and presence of an armed force of the Government. -This I state on the authority of Dr. Wm. C. McKay, who was secretary for -the council. - -That the Indian has been faithful to his compacts, I submit the testimony -of a veteran, who has fought them forty years,--General Harney. - - HUMANE TREATMENT OF THE INDIANS. - - General Harney, before the House Committee on Military Affairs, - to-day, gave his opinion that if the Indians were treated fairly - there would never be any difficulties with them. He had known - but two instances in which they ever violated the treaty - stipulations, and in these the Indians were to be excused, for - the treaties had grown old before they were sought to be - enforced, and the chiefs and head men who made them were all - dead. The troubles with the Indians were principally caused by - fraudulent agents and by whiskey dealers. - -That the Indian has not been the aggressor in the wars of Oregon, I refer -to one of the bloodiest that has ever cursed this young State, in proof. - -From Hon. George E. Cole, now Postmaster, Portland, Oregon, I learned some -of the facts in this case. No man stands fairer than Mr. Cole as a man of -integrity and honor. In proof of this assertion his present position, in -one of the most respectable federal offices in the State, is cited. - - In the fall of 1851, a party of miners, returning from a - successful gold-hunting expedition to California, encamped on an - island in Rogue River. All was peace and quiet. _No war, no - blood, no treachery._ The Indians were in joint occupation of - the beautiful valley of Rogue river with the white men, whose - cabins and farms dotted the more beautiful portions of the - country. - - After the miners have made camp two Indians visit them,--a - common thing for Indians to do. They are invited to partake of - the supper,--an act of courtesy never omitted in wild life,--and - they accept. The day passes into night. The Indians prepare to - return to their own camps. The miners object, and, _through fear - that they_ might be surprised in the night, demand that the - Indians remain. The Indians remonstrate. The miners are more - solicitous for them to stay, their anxiety to leave being - _construed_ as ominous of intended treachery. The Indians, also, - suspecting the same thing on the part of the miners, _break to - run_, and both of them are shot down and scalped. - - The miners resume their journey. The friends of the Indians miss - them. Their scalpless bodies are found on a timber drift in the - river below. The Rogue-river war, with all its horrors, was the - result. - -That it was the most terrible that has ever devastated Oregon, let us call -to the stand another unimpeachable witness,--Gen. Joel Palmer,--and we -shall learn something of the reasons why it was so. Gen. Palmer, in his -annual official report as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the year -1856, page 200, says in speaking of this Rogue-river war:-- - - In every instance where a conflict has ensued between volunteers - and hostile Indians in southern Oregon, the latter have gained - what they regard a victory. It is true that a number of Indian - camps have been attacked by armed parties, and mostly put to - death or flight; but in such cases it has been those unprepared - to make resistance, and not expecting such attack. This, though - lessening the _number_ of the Indians in the country, has tended - greatly to exasperate and drive into a hostile attitude many - that would otherwise have abstained from the commission of acts - of violence against the whites. - - The avowed determination of the people to exterminate the Indian - race, regardless as to whether they were innocent or guilty, and - the general disregard for the rights of those acting as friends - and aiding in the subjugation of our real and avowed enemies, - have had a powerful influence in inducing these tribes to join - the warlike bands. - - It is astonishing to know the rapidity with which intelligence - is carried from one extreme of the country to another, and the - commission of outrages (of which there have been many) by our - people against an Indian is heralded forth by the hostile - parties, augmented, and used as evidence of the necessity for - all to unite in war against us. - - These coast bands, it is believed, might have been kept out of - the war, if a removal could have been effected during the - winter; but the numerous obstacles indicated in my former - letters, with the absence of authority and means in my hands, - rendered it impracticable to effect it. - -Continuing the subject, he further says:-- - - A considerable number of the Lower Coquille bands had been once - induced to come in, but by the meddlesome interference of a few - _squaw men_ and reckless disturbers of the peace, they were - frightened, and fled the encampment. A party of miners and - others, who had collected at Port Orford, volunteered, pursued, - and attacked those Indians near the mouth of Coquille, killing - fourteen men and one woman, and taking a few prisoners. This was - claimed by them as a _battle_, notwithstanding no resistance was - made by the Indians. - -This witness clearly establishes the fact, that unarmed and unresisting -Indians were attacked and shot down like wild beasts, and that -"extermination" was the war cry of the white men. He confirms, too, the -statement in regard to the rapidity with which intelligence is transmitted -from one tribe to another, and its effect. - -Do you wonder at the Modocs refusing to surrender, with so much to remind -them of the white man's bloodthirsty deeds? See the last quotation from -Gen. Palmer, and remember that these fourteen men and one woman were -killed _after_ the surrender, and in the attempt to escape. - -White men were accustomed to regard the Indian as the synonym for -treachery and savage brutality. Let us see how this matter stands in the -light of what has been already written, after adding one or two other -instances from the many that crowd thickly forward for a place on the -witness-stand. - -Judge E. Steele, a lawyer of high character, a resident of Y-re-ka, Cal., -since 1851, and also an ex-superintendent of Indian Affairs, in reporting -an Indian difficulty in 1851, relates:-- - - That while hunting for two Indians who had committed some - offence, we fell in with Ben Wright, who, learning from a squaw - with whom he was living that the Indians had taken that course, - he, with a band of Shastas, had started in pursuit and - intercepted and captured them. We came in together, and took the - Indians to Scott valley, and there gave them a fair trial, - proving their identity by both white men and Indians, and the - Indian testimony and their own story, all of which was received - in evidence. One was found guilty, and the other acquitted and - set at liberty. Our present superintendent of public - instruction, Professor G. K. Godfrey, was one of the jury. - During our absence the people remained under great excitement, - as all kind of rumors were afloat; and our company was so small, - and I had started into a country inhabited by hordes of wild - Indians, and those of Siskiyou mountain and Rogue-river valley - notoriously hostile and warlike. Old Scar-face, learning of the - difficulty at Rogue river, contrary to advice given him when we - left, had come out from the canyon, appeared on the mountain - lying east of Y-re-ka, as the Indians afterward told me, for the - purpose of letting the whites know the trouble, as the roads - were guarded by the Indians on the mountains, so that - travellers could not pass. As soon as he was seen, a wild - excitement ensued, and a company started in pursuit. Scar-face, - seeing the danger, fled up the Shasta valley, on foot, his - pursuers after him, well mounted. After a race along the hills - and through the valleys for about eighteen miles, he was finally - captured and hung upon a tree, at what is now called Scar-face - Gulch. - -In speaking of a trip to Rogue-river valley he says:-- - - We had got out of provisions, and when, at the mouth of Salmon - river, we made known our destination to the chief, Euphippa, he - took his spear and caught us some fish, but would take no pay. - - In 1854 or 1855 there was one more excitement in Scott's valley - by the whites fearing an attack from the Indians, from the fact - that they had held a dance and gone back into the hills. Here it - may be well to state a custom among all those upper country - Indians, which, not being generally understood by our people, - has led to much difficulty. It is, at the commencement of the - fishing season, and at its close, they hold what is called a - fish-dance, in which they paint and go through all the - performances of their dances at the opening and closing of war. - They also hold a harvest dance, when the fruits and nuts get - ripe, but this is of a more quiet character, more resembling - their sick dance, when they try to cure their sick by the - influence of the combined mesmerism of a circle of Indians, in - which they are in many instances very successful. But to return - to my subject. Hearing of the gathering of the whites, and - knowing the danger to our people and property if a war was then - inaugurated, I got on my horse and rode to the place of - rendezvous. After consulting, it was determined to fall upon the - Indian camp at about daylight next morning, as it was thought - that at that hour they could be mostly killed and easily - conquered. I returned to my house, took my young Indian, Tom, - and started, by a circuitous trail in the mountains, for the - Indian camp, and before morning had them all removed to a safe - place. In a few days all fears were quieted and harmony restored - without the loss of any lives or destruction of property. About - this time a young Indian from Humbug creek, visiting the - Scott-valley Indians, had stopped at an emigrant camp and stolen - two guns. Word was brought to me. I sent for Chief John, and - required him to bring the guns and Indian, which he did. I tied - and whipped the Indian, and then let him go. Late in the fall, - afterwards, I was sitting near the top of the mountain back of - my house, witnessing a deer drive by the Scott-valley Indians on - the surrounding hills, when I heard a cap crack behind me in a - clump of small trees. Getting up and immediately running into - the thicket, I discovered an Indian running down the opposite - slope of the mountain. I returned to my house, and sent Tom - after Chief John, and from him learned that when he left, this - Humbug Indian was there. I directed him to bring him to my - house, which he did next morning. The Humbug Indian told me it - was not the first time he had tried to kill me, but that his gun - had failed him, and now that he and all the Indians thought that - I had a charmed life. I gave him a good talk, which impressed - him much, and then unbound him, and told him to go and do well - thereafter. He was never known to do a bad act afterward, but - was finally killed by the Klamath-lake Indians, about a year - afterwards. - -Of another affair, occurring in 1855, he says:-- - - Learning of the difficulty, and judging the Indians were not - wholly to blame, I proposed to Lieutenant Bonicastle, then - stationed at Fort Jones, and Judge Roseborough to accompany me, - and with Tolo, another Indian, to visit their company, and - arrange terms of peace. We went and spent two days with them - before arriving at a solution of the difficulty. During this - time they several times pointed their guns at us with a - determination to shoot, but as often were talked into a better - turn of mind, and finally agreed to go and live at Fort Jones, - and remain in peace with the whites. The third day thereafter - was settled upon for their removal, when Bonicastle was to send - a company of soldiers to escort and protect them. In the next - day a white man, who had a squaw at the cave, went out, unknown - to us, and told the Indians he was sent for them, and thereupon - they packed up and started for Fort Jones with him, one day - ahead of time agreed upon. On their way in at Klamath river, - about twenty miles from Yreka, they were waylaid, and their - chief, Bill, shot from behind the brush and killed. They kept - their faith, nevertheless, and came in, when I explained it, so - they were satisfied. This was _known to the Modocs, and they - talked of it on our last visit to the cave._ Occasionally - thereafter I was applied to only on matters of trifling moment - and easily arranged, until my appointment to the Indian - superintendency, in the summer of 1863, for the northern - district of California. In this narration I have passed over - several Rogue-river wars without notice, as I had nothing to do - with them; also the Modoc war of 1852, which took place whilst I - was away at Crescent City; therefore all I know of that was - hearsay; but I know it was generally known that Ben Wright had - concocted the plan of poisoning those Indians at a feast, and - that his interpreter Indian, Livile, had exposed to the Indians, - so that but few ate of the meat, and that Wright and his company - then fell upon the Indians, and killed forty out of forty-seven - and one other died of the poison afterward. There is one of the - company now in the county who gives this version, and I heard - Wright swearing about Dr. Ferrber, our then druggist (now of - Valejo), selling him an adulterated article of strychnine, which - he said the doctor wanted to kill the cayotes. That the plan was - concocted before they left Yreka defeats the claim now made for - them, that they only anticipated the treachery of the Indians. - Schonchin was one of the Indians that escaped, and in late - interview then he made this as an excuse for not coming out to - meet the commissioners. The story of the Indian corresponds so - well with that I have frequently heard from our own people, - before it became so much of a disgrace by the reaction, that I - have no doubt of the correction in its general details. At the - time others, as well as myself, told Wright that the transaction - would at some time react fearfully upon some innocent ones of - our people; but so long a time had elapsed that I had concluded - that matter was nearly forgotten by all, and nothing would come - of it, until the night of my second visit in the cave, when - Schonchin would get very excited talking of it as an excuse for - not going out. The history of that night you have probably seen - as it was given by an article in the "Sacramento Record" and - "San Francisco Chronicle," for which paper he was corresponding; - he was made wild; he was with me the whole time after.[5] A - final peace was made with the Modocs, but the year is now out of - my mind; but about 1857 or 1858 they came to Yreka with horses, - money, and furs to trade and get provisions and blankets. On - their way out they were waylaid at Shasta river, as was claimed - by Shasta Indians, and seven killed, robbed and thrown into the - river. Many of our citizens thought white men were connected - with this murder, and it is probably so. The Shasta Indians - retreated; they claim that but few of their people were engaged - in the massacre, but it was mostly done by the white people, in - their negotiations for peace in the spring of 1864, mentioned - hereafter. - -[5] Refers to the Ben Wright massacre. - -Col. B. C. Whiting, another ex-superintendent of Indian Affairs, says, "In -1858 a party of white men went to an island in Humboldt bay, California, -and murdered, in cold blood, one hundred and forty-nine men, women, and -children, who were _suspected_ of being connected with other Indians who -were at war with white men;" and that "no effort was ever made to bring -the murderers to justice." - -One more witness,--one whose statement was made with chains on his limbs, -and while he was on trial for his life at Fort Klamath, July, 1873. -Captain Jack says:-- - - I wanted to quit fighting. My people were all afraid to leave - the cave. They had been told that they were going to be killed, - and they were afraid to leave there; and my women were afraid to - leave there. While the peace talk was going on there was a squaw - came from Fairchild's and Dorris's, and told us that the peace - commissioners were going to murder us; that they were trying to - get us out to murder us. A man by the name of Nate Beswick told - us so. There was an old Indian man came in the night and told us - again. - - The INTERPRETER. That is one of those murdered in the wagon - while prisoners by the settlers. - - CAPTAIN JACK (continuing). This old Indian man told me that Nate - Beswick told him that that day Meacham, General Canby, Dr. - Thomas, and Dyer were going to murder us if we came to the - council. All of my people heard this old man tell us so. And - then there was another squaw came from Fairchild's, and told me - that Meacham and the peace commissioners had a pile of wood - ready built up, and were going to burn me on this pile of wood; - that when they brought us into Dorris's they were going to burn - me there. All of the squaws about Fairchild's and Dorris's told - me the same thing. After hearing all this news I was afraid to - go, and that is the reason I did come in to make peace. - -Add to all this the fact, that the popular cry was war, of which the -Modocs were aware, as they were of all the incidents referred to in this -chapter; and the further discouraging knowledge that no efforts had ever -been made to punish offenders for crimes committed on their race; and a -candid mind may be enlightened as to the cause of the failure of the Peace -Commission sent out by President Grant in 1873. - -The seed was sown while he was carrying on business at Galena, or fighting -rebels around Vicksburg. The harvest came while he was in power. It was -rich in valuable lives. It was costly in treasure. - -It was a natural yield. It came true to the planting. The seed was sown -broadcast, and harrowed deep into human hearts by the constant repetition -of insult and wrong, irrigated often by the blood of the Indian race. It -slumbered long (sometimes apparently dead, save here and there an -outcropping giving signs of life), so long, indeed, that Judge Steele -thought "the matter was nearly forgotten by all," until Schonchin called -it up during one of Steele's visits to the Lava Beds in 1873. - -If the harvest _was_ delayed in part, it was none the less prolific when -it came. The _reapers_ were few, but their _sheaves_ were many, and bound -together with the lives of the humble, the great, the noble, the good. - -Does my reader yet understand why the policy, under which we settled a -great matter of difference with a great nation, was not successful in -settling a small matter with a small nation? Does he see, now, on whom the -blame rests? - -I hear some one answer:-- - -"On the frontier men, of course." - -Not too fast, my friend. While it is true that each succeeding wave of -immigration to the border line has borne on its crest a few bad men mixed -with the good, it is also true that the great majority of the frontier men -were of the latter class,--brave, fearless pioneers as God has ever -created for noble work; rough, unpolished men and women, with great hearts -that opened ever to their kind. I assert here, in reiteration, that -nowhere in all this broad land can be found men and women of larger hearts -and nobler aims than frontier people. As far as their treatment of the -Indian tribes is concerned, I assert, fearless of contradiction, that -three-fourths of them are the Indians' best friends; and that, if -dissensions arise, they are caused by bad white men, who mix and mingle -with the Indians, and, by their wilful acts of dissipation, provoke -quarrel and bloodshed, thereby involving good citizens. When once blood is -spilled, the Indian too often feels justified, by his religion, in -wreaking vengeance on the innocent. They retaliate; and hence border -warfare reigns, and the bloody chapter is repeated over and over again, -until "Extermination" rings along the frontier-line, and both races take -up the cry. - -The question has been asked twice ten thousand times, What is the remedy? -For two hundred years, political economists, statesmen and philosophers -have been proposing, experimenting, and failing in schemes and plans for -the Indian. Never yet have they come squarely up to duty as American -citizens and Christian patriots should, and recognized the manhood of the -Indian, treating him _as a man_, dealing justly and fairly with him, -redressing his wrongs, while punishing him for his crimes. - -In plain words, we have never, as a nation, experimented in our management -of the Indian race of America, with a few plain laws that were first -written on the marble tablets of Sinai, and sent along down succeeding -ages, between the 12th and 19th verses of the 20th chapter of Exodus. Nor -have we always remembered the 31st verse of the sixth chapter of St. -Luke:-- - -"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." - -If, as we proudly assert, we, as a nation, are the rich inheritors of the -priceless boon of liberty, then let us be the champions of human rights. - -If we are the friends of the weak and oppressed, let us protect those -whose claim upon us is based upon a prior inheritance, and whose weakness -has been our strength. - -If we would welcome the exiled patriot from other lands, let us give the -hand of fellowship to those whose birthright to this land cannot be -disputed. - -If our civilization is the most exalted on the face of the earth, then let -us be the most magnanimous in our treatment of the remnants of a people -who gave our fathers the welcome hand. - -If we would be just, then let us remember that our civilization has -refused them, and _them alone_, its benefit. - -If we honor bravery, let us remember that they have resisted _only when -oppressed_. - -If we reverence the high and noble principles of fidelity in a people, let -us not forget that, of all the nations of the earth, the Indian is the -most faithful to his compact. - -Let us as a nation, reading our destiny in the coming future by the light -of the hundred stars upon our flag, be true to God, true to ourselves, and -true to the high trust we hold. - -While we shake hands with the Briton and our brothers of the South, over -the battle-fields of the past, let us not withhold from these people our -friendship. - -While we forget the crimes of others, let us bury in one common grave all -hatred of race, all thirst for revenge. - -While we are strong enough and brave enough to defy the taunts of the -civilized world for proclaiming the advent of the hour when the song of -the shepherds on the plains of Bethlehem shall become the motto of a -Christian nation,--"Peace and good will to men,"--let us not live a lie, -and prove our cowardice by shouting "EXTERMINATION" against a race fast -fading away. - -Let us not fall from our high estate by debasing a grand national power in -a triumph over a civilization inferior to our own. - -Let us gather up and care for these people, redeem the covenant of our -fathers, fulfilling our high mission. - -Let us uphold the hands of our rulers who declare a more humane policy, -and let it be the crowning glory of the American statesman to proclaim to -the world that the glad time so long foretold has come, when "The wolf, -also, shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the -kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a -little child shall lead them." - - - - - APPENDIX TO CHAPTER SIX. - - - ONEATTA, YAQUINA BAY AGENCY, October 1, 1871. - - SIR:--I have the honor of submitting this my eighth and last - annual report of the affairs of Siletz agency. - - I closed my term of service as agent on the 1st day of May, - 1871, at which time, as you are already aware, I turned over the - agency to my successor, Hon. Joel Palmer. Since then I have been - busily engaged in making up my final papers. This task, I regret - to say, is not yet entirely finished. The delay has been owing - to some irregularities, occasioned by a change of employes, and - to other causes over which I have had no control. I shall now, - however, push the work forward with all possible dispatch, and - shall soon have my papers fully completed. I ask, for that - purpose, your indulgence, and that of the department, for a - short time. - - I presume it will hardly be expected that I should at this time - enter into the usual details concerning the affairs of the - agency. All the important facts which have not been communicated - to the department by myself heretofore will, undoubtedly, be - embodied in the first annual report of my successor. He will - find it convenient, if not necessary, in introducing himself - officially to the department, to give some sort of a summary of - the condition of the affairs of the agency at the time he took - charge. I feel, therefore, that it would be altogether a work of - supererogation for me to go over that ground in detail. As this - is my last report, after a somewhat protracted term of service - in charge of Siletz agency, I think it not inappropriate that I - should present here a few statements of facts in the history of - the dealings of the Government with these Indians, in order to - show some of the difficulties with which I have had to struggle. - I shall also presume somewhat upon your indulgence by offering - some suggestions, prompted by my own experience, concerning the - future management of the Indians over whom I have so long had - control. - - I have had charge of Siletz agency for eight years, and in that - time have had to encounter many stubborn obstacles to the - successful management of its concerns. I think, too, that I may - say, without vanity, that I have _overcome_ many such obstacles. - It is not an easy matter, even under the most favorable - circumstances and with all possible helps, to conduct - successfully the affairs of an Indian agency. To a race - accustomed, as the Indians have been, to the licentious freedom - of the savage state, the restraints and dull routine of a - reservation are almost intolerably irksome. It is not wonderful, - therefore, that they should be often fractious and impatient of - control, or that, even when reduced to complete submission to - the regulations imposed upon them, they should, in many - instances, become sullen and unteachable. To manage such a - people in such a condition with any degree of success requires - unceasing, anxious labor. Yet this is the duty imposed upon - almost every Indian agent in the United States. But in addition - to these difficulties, which are incident to Indian management - everywhere, there are some which are peculiar to Siletz agency. - There are at this agency some fourteen tribes and parts of - tribes of Indians, numbering, in the aggregate, at the time I - took charge, about 2,000. Separate treaties were made with all - of these different tribes in 1855, at the conclusion of what is - known as the "Rogue-river War," in Southern Oregon. Some of - these treaties have been, in part, confirmed and complied with - by the United States Government, but most of them have been - entirely and persistently disregarded. In expectation, however, - of the immediate ratification of all the stipulations entered - into, the Indians were all removed from their lands in the - Rogue-river country to Siletz reservation at the close of the - war above referred to. Here they have been kept ever since as - prisoners of war, supported by a removal and subsistence fund, - appropriations for which, varying from $10,000 to $30,000, have - been annually made by Congress. For sixteen years this scant, - irregular, and uncertain charity, doled out to them from time to - time, has been the only evidence they have received that they - were not utterly forgotten by the Government. For sixteen years - they have been fed upon promises that were made only to be - broken, and their hearts have sickened with "hope deferred." - For sixteen years they have seen the white man gathering in - annually his golden harvests from the lands which they - surrendered; and for all those sixteen long, weary years they - have waited, and waited in vain, for the fulfilment of the - solemn pledges with which the white man bought those lands. What - wonder is it that, suspicious and distrustful as they are by - nature, they should, under such tuition, cease to have any faith - in the white man's word, or to heed his solemn preachments about - education and civilization? Who can blame them if, after such an - experience, they come to regard the whole white race, from the - Great Father down, as a race of liars and cheats, using their - superior knowledge to defraud the poor Indian? And is it amazing - that, with such an eminent example before them, they should grow - treacherous and deceitful as they grow in knowledge; or that - they should use every possible exertion to escape from the - restraints which, as they believe, the white man has imposed - upon them only for the purpose of defrauding them? In my - judgment it is safe to assert that by far the greater part of - their restiveness and indocility is justly attributable to this - cause. I am fully satisfied that it has more than doubled the - difficulty of controlling and managing them for the past eight - years. So thoroughly have I appreciated this fact, that I have - again and again urged, in my annual reports, the necessity of - entering into treaties with the Indians at this agency who are - not now parties to any stipulations. Feeling as I do that the - neglect with which these Indians have been treated in this - particular has been most unwise as well as grossly unjust, I - cannot permit this last opportunity of expressing myself - officially on the subject to pass without again earnestly urging - a speedy correction of this grievous error and wrong. - - Notwithstanding the many embarrassments with which I have had to - contend in the management of the affairs of this agency, I am - fully satisfied that no Indians on this coast have made any more - rapid advancement than those under my charge, in industry and - civilization. When I entered upon the discharge of my duties as - agent, eight years ago, I found the Indians in almost a wild - state, kept together and controlled by military force. This - condition of things rapidly disappeared; and for the past four - or five years I have succeeded in keeping the Indians generally - upon the reservation, and in controlling them without any other - aid than a very small corps of employes. And when I turned over - the agency to my successor the state of discipline was far - better than it was at any time when the agent had the assistance - of a detachment of soldiers to enforce his orders. Besides, the - Indians have, many of them, attained a comparatively high degree - of proficiency in the useful arts. About all the mechanical work - needed on the reservation can now be done by them. Indeed, so - great has been the improvement among them in every respect that, - in my judgment, many of them are to-day capable of becoming - citizens of the United States, and should be admitted to - citizenship as soon as circumstances will permit. Knowing as I - do the liberality of your views on the subject of the equality - of men, I feel confident that you will spare no effort in your - power to bring about this state of things at as early a day as - possible. - - Before closing this report permit me to make one suggestion as - to the management of the Indian agencies under the system lately - adopted by the Government. I am satisfied that, under this - system, it would be a matter of economy, as well as a benefit to - the Indians, to place the whole subject under the immediate - control of the superintendent, doing away with agents entirely. - Each reservation could be managed by a sub-agent appointed by - the superintendent, and subject to his supervision and control. - The superintendent should then be held strictly responsible for - the management of the reservations or agencies within his - jurisdiction, and the various sub-agents and employes should be - made accountable to him alone. The disbursements could be made - by the superintendent, and the accounts for the whole - superintendency could be kept in his office. The advantages of - this system would, undoubtedly, be great. It would reduce - considerably the machinery of the Indian Department, and would - simplify all its processes. Besides, it would render those who - had the management of the different reservations amenable for - their conduct not to a distant authority, but to one at home. - Their acts would thus be judged, and condemned or approved, as - the case might require, in every instance by one who would have, - to a great extent, a personal acquaintance with all the - circumstances. Under the present arrangement the Indian - Department is little better than a gigantic circumlocution - office, in which everything is done by indirect and circuitous - methods. Every agent renders his account, and is responsible - (nominally) to the central office at Washington, and not to his - immediate superior. In this labyrinth of routine and red-tape - official incompetency and dishonesty may often hide securely. On - the other hand, wise management and worth frequently escape - notice altogether, or receive censure instead of commendation. - In fact, there are in each superintendency so many different - centres of power and influence, each of which must be watched - from the head of the department, that the view is distracted and - bewildered, and official accountability degenerates into a mere - farce. The superintendent, though he has a sort of supervision - of the different agencies, is yet really powerless to correct - abuses which may come to his notice. His subordinates are not - responsible to him, and he can do no more than report their - incompetence or misconduct to the common superior of all, and - then await the tedious processes of circumlocution. His - jurisdiction is, in fact, merely formal, rather than actual, and - he is not responsible for the conduct of his subordinates; there - is but little motive for him to exercise even the slight power - which he has. The only remedy is to give him full authority over - all the agents and sub-agents, and to make him personally - accountable for their official acts. - - I think that the necessity for this change is now more urgent - than ever before. As a religious element has been infused into - the management of Indian affairs, and as agents are appointed - upon the recommendations of the different churches, there is - danger that, in the search for piety in those who aspire to - office, certain other very respectable and necessary qualities - may be lost sight of. It is quite as needful that appointees - should have some talent for affairs as that they should have the - spirit and form of godliness; yet the former does not always - accompany the latter. Many very good and pious men are but - children in the business of the world. It is also a fact of - common experience that if religious bodies are left to select - men for responsible positions of any sort, they are apt to - choose them more on account of their zeal in the service of God - or of some gift of exhortation or prayer, than on account of - capability for business. I know that thus far the President has - been very fortunate in his selections of men to carry out his - new "Indian policy;" but depending, as he must, upon the - recommendation of church organizations in these matters, he is - liable hereafter to make the mistake I have mentioned, and - appoint men to office whose piety constitutes their only fitness - for the positions they are called upon to all. It is in view of - this danger that I particularly recommend the propriety of - making the change suggested above. - - With many thanks for the distinguished consideration which I - have received at your hands in my official dealings with you, I - have the honor to be, your most obedient servant, - - BEN. SIMPSON, - _Late United States Indian Agent_. - - HON. A. B. MEACHAM, - _Superintendent Indian Affairs in Oregon_. - - - - - APPENDIX TO CHAPTER EIGHT. - - - OFFICE SUPT. INDIAN AFFAIRS, SALEM, OREGON, May 23, 1870. - - SIR:--Having just returned from an official visit to Grand Ronde - Reservation, I desire to call attention to a few items that are - of importance:-- - - _First._ The Indians have an unusual crop in prospect. - - _Second._ They fully realize the advantages to result from - having lands allotted in severalty, and therefrom arise - questions which I propose to submit. (See paper marked "A.") - - _Third._ The mills built fifteen years since are totally unfit - for service, for the reason that they were not located with good - judgment, in this that they were built on a low, flat, muddy - piece of river bottom, composed of alluvial deposit that washes - away almost like sand or snow, having neither "bed rock nor hard - pan" for foundation, constantly settling out of shape and - damaging machinery, besides being threatened with destruction at - every overflow. - - The lower frames of both mills, but more especially that of the - saw-mill, are so rotten that they would not stand alone if the - props and refuse slates from the saw were removed. - - The flour mill is a huge, unfinished structure, supported on - wooden blocks or stilts, and double the proper dimension, with - an old patched-up wooden water-wheel that has been a constant - bill of expense for ten years; machinery all worn out, even the - bolting apparatus rat-eaten and worthless, but with one 42-inch - French Burr, that, together with mandril, are as good as new. - - The saw-mill is the old-fashioned "Single Sash" with flutter - wheel, only capable, when in best repair, of making 600 to 1,000 - feet of lumber per day; but utterly worthless at present for - several reasons, the chief of which is want of _water_. The - "dam" was originally built about one-quarter of a mile above the - mills, at an enormous expense to Government, across a stream - (that is four times as large as need be for such mill - purposes), with soft, flat alluvial porous banks and mud bottom. - - The history of said dam is, that it has broken _twenty times_ in - fourteen years, each time carrying away _mud_ enough at the ends - of the dam to make room for each successive freshet. - - I _believe that history_, since inspecting the "works," as - evidence is in sight to show where thousands of days' work have - been done, and many greenbacks "sunk." - - I called to my assistance Agent Lafollette and George - Tillottson, of Dallas, Polk County, a man acknowledged to be the - most successful and practical mill-builder in our State, who - stands unimpeached as a gentleman of honesty and candor. The - result of the conference was, that it would require $5,000 to - build a dam that would be permanent; that all the lower - frame-work of both mills would require rebuilding at a cost of - $2,000, and that at least $1,000 would be required to put - machinery in good working condition; and, when all was done, - these people would have only tolerable good old mills, patched - up at a cost of $8,000. - - But mills are indispensable civilizers, and _must_ be built. I - am determined to start these Indians off on the new track in - good shape. - - There are three several branches coming in above the old mills, - any one of which has abundant motive power. On one of these - creeks a fall of thirty feet can be obtained by cutting a race - at the bend of a rocky cascade, taking the water away from the - danger of freshets, and building the mills on good, solid - foundations, convenient of access by farmers and to unlimited - forests of timber. - - Mr. Tillottson estimates the total cost of removing the old - mills and such parts as are useful, and rebuilding on the new - site a first-rate No. 1 double circular saw-mill, with Laffelle - turbine water-wheel, all the modern improvements attached; same - kind of water-wheel for flour-mill, with new bolting apparatus, - etc., at about $4,000, exclusive of Indian labor. - - I submitted, in full council, to the agent and Indians, the - proposition to apply funds already appropriated for the repair - of agency buildings, a portion of the Umpqua and Calapooia - School Fund, that has accumulated to upwards of $5,000, and so - much of Annuity Fund as may be necessary to this enterprise, on - the condition that the Indians were to do all but the - "mechanical work." - - The matter was fully explained, and, without a dissenting voice, - they voted to have the mills, if furnished tools, beef and - flour. - - The agent has now on hand a considerable amount of flour. For - beef, I propose to use a number of the old, worn-out oxen, as - they are now fifteen or twenty years old, worthless for work and - dying off with old age. - - To sum up, I have put this enterprise in motion, and propose to - have the new saw-mill making lumber in sixty days, and the - flour-mill grinding in ninety days. - - I now ask permission to apply the funds I have named to this - object, fully satisfied in my own mind that it is for the - benefit of these people. If it cannot be granted, then I will - insist on funds, that may be so applied, being furnished from - the general funds of the department. These Indians _must_ have a - mill; besides, it would reflect on the present administration of - Indian affairs, to turn them over to the world without that - indispensable appurtenance of civilization. - - Klamath Mill is a monument of pride, and has done much to redeem - the reputation of our department; and I propose, when I retire, - to leave every reservation supplied with substantial - improvements of like character. Klamath flour-mill is now under - way, and will grind the growing crops. - - Going out of the ordinary groove, and wishing you to be fully - posted about such transactions, is my apology for inflicting - this long communication. - - Very respectfully, - Your obedient servant, - A. B. MEACHAM, - _Supt. Indian Affairs in Oregon_. - - HON. E. D. PARKER, - _Commissioner, etc., Washington, D. C._ - - * * * * * - - "A." - - I respectfully ask for instruction in regard to Indian lands; - and as the time for allotment is near at hand, it is necessary - that some points be settled, for instance:-- - - _First._ Where there is more land suitable for settlement on a - reservation than is required to fulfil treaty stipulations, - shall more than the said stipulated number of acres be set apart - to the individual Indian? - - Some of the reservations will have an excess, and others will - fall short of the amount required to comply with treaty - stipulations. In some instances, where the excess is small, it - would seem proper to divide _pro rata_. It does not appear that - any of these tribes are on the _increase_; hence no necessity - exists for lands to be held in reserve to any considerable - amount for future allotment. When possible, I would favor giving - them more than the treaty calls for. - - _Second._ When less land than is necessary to comply with treaty - is found, must the number of acres be cut down so that a - proportionate allotment can be made? Or may unoccupied - government lands outside be allotted to Indians belonging to the - reservation? - - Instances will occur of this kind, as at Warm Springs, where - insufficient lands can be found, and a few families who are well - advanced and capable of taking care of themselves could be - located outside. I am in favor of that plan, and suggest, if - approved, some instructions be given the land officers, so that - said location can be legally made. - - _Third._ May Indians not on reservation be allotted lands on - reservation, and may they be allotted government lands not on - reservation? - - There are Indians in this State, that have never yet been - brought in, that can be induced to locate under the system of - allotment. And when all parties consent, they should be allowed - to do so. Again, some of these people have advanced - sufficiently, by being among white persons, to locate and - appreciate a home. And there are a few instances where the - whites would not object to their being located among them. - - They _must have homes_ allotted them somewhere, and the sooner - it is done the better for the Indians. - - _Fourth._ Are not Indians who have never been on reservation, - citizens, under late amendments to the constitution; and have - they not the right, without further legislation, to locate - lands, and do all other acts that other citizens may rightfully - do? - - I am fully aware of the political magnitude of this question; - but while I am "superintendent" for the Indians in Oregon, they - shall have all their rights if in my power to secure them, - whether on or off reservations. - - _Fifth._ Are white men or half-breeds, who are husbands of - Indian women, who do now belong, or have belonged, to any - reservation, considered as Indians, by virtue of their marriage - to said Indian women in making the allotment of lands? - - I understand that all half-breed men living with Indians on - reservations are considered Indians (but always allowed, - nevertheless, to vote at all _white men's elections_). But there - are several Indian women, in various parts of the country, who - are married to white and half-breed men, and the question is - asked, whether they are not entitled to land. - - Again, there are Indian women living with white men, but not - married, who have children that should have some provision made - for them. - - _Sixth._ May the allotment be made immediately on completion of - survey, without waiting for survey to be approved? - - For many reasons it is desirable that the allotment be made as - early as possible, so that the people may prepare for winter. - They are very impatient, and I hope no unnecessary delay will be - made. - - _Seventh._ Is a record to be made by and in local land office of - surveys and several allotments? Is record of allotment to be - made in county records, and if so, how is the expense to be met? - - These people are soon to be as other citizens, and stand on - equal footing. I have no doubt about the propriety and necessity - for making these records, but so as to close up all the gaps, I - want to be instructed to have it done. - - A. B. MEACHAM, - _Superintendent Indian Affairs in Oregon_. - - DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, - WASHINGTON, D. C., June 28, 1871. - - SIR:--I have received your communication of the 23d ultimo, - asking, among other things, instructions concerning certain - questions which present themselves for settlement in the - allotment of lands in severalty to Indians upon reservations in - the State of Oregon. - - In reply to the first inquiry therein propounded, you are - informed that, where there is more land suitable for settlement - on a reservation than is required to fulfil treaty stipulations, - more than the number of acres named in said treaty cannot be set - apart to each individual Indian, but the excess must be held in - common for the benefit of the whole tribe or band occupying the - reservation. - - Secondly. Where less land is found upon a reservation than is - necessary to give to each individual or family the full quantity - specified in the treaty, the number of acres so allotted may be - reduced so as to give each person or family a proportionate - share of the entire quantity available for purposes of - allotment; but unoccupied government lands lying outside of the - boundaries of the reservation cannot be used to complete the - quantity required to fulfil the treaty stipulation. - - Thirdly. Indians not residing on a reservation cannot receive - allotments of lands thereon, neither will unoccupied public - lands be allotted to them. - - Fourthly. Indians residing on a reservation, and living in a - tribal capacity, do not become citizens of the United States by - virtue of any of the recent amendments to the constitution of - the United States. Their political status is in no wise affected - by such amendments. - - Fifthly. In case where white men or half-breeds have married - Indian women, and said white men or half-breeds have been - adopted into and are considered members of the tribe, and are - living with their families on the tribal reservation, allotments - may be made to them in the same manner as if they were native - Indians. - - In cases where Indian women are married to white or other men, - and do not now live on or remove to a tribal reservation - previous to the time of making the allotments, they will not be - entitled to receive land in severalty. - - The children of Indian women living with but not married to - white men will not be allowed selections of land unless they - shall take up their residence with the tribe upon the - reservation. - - Sixthly. The allotments must not be made until subdivisional - surveys are completed and approved by the proper authority. - - Seventhly. No record is necessary to be made in the local land - office, or the county records of the county or counties wherein - the several reservations are situated of the survey or - allotment thereof. - - Your suggestions regarding the erection and repair of mills and - mill-dams, etc., and the application of funds therefor, will be - made the subject of a future communication. - - Very respectfully, - Your obedient servant, - E. S. PARKER, - _Commissioner_. - - A. B. MEACHAM, ESQ., - _Supt. Indian Affairs, Salem, Oregon_. - - * * * * * - - OFFICE SUPT. INDIAN AFFAIRS, SALEM, OREGON, May 30, 1870. - - CHAS. LAFOLLETTE, _Agent Grand Ronde_:-- - - SIR,--Mr. Tillottson reported to this office on yesterday. We - have decided to proceed with the saw-mill as soon as you can - have Indian laborers to assist. It is desirable that we push - this enterprise, and, in order to do so, it would seem necessary - for you to "_call in_" enough to make a gang of say twenty - workingmen; and as soon as this is done notify Mr. Tillottson at - Dallas. I have ordered all the tools required to be forwarded to - you at Dayton; and have no doubt they will be awaiting your - orders. I think you can send immediately without fear of - disappointment. In the mean time you will arrange _subsistence_ - for the Indian with my parties. It would be well also to assist - Mr. Tillottson about a boarding-place. My arrangement is, that - "the mechanics are to board themselves" with him; he to have the - entire control of the works, we to furnish the laborers. When he - is dissatisfied with the services, to certify to the time - through your office, and forward to me for payment. I think it - best not to transfer funds until an answer is obtained from the - commissioner in regard to diverting the funds. We cannot expend - or anticipate a fund not yet remitted, as I find a rule laid - down to that effect. If we meet with a favorable reply we will - then proceed with the flouring-mill. You may find employment, - while waiting for tools for Mr. Reinhart, at such wages as you - may agree upon. Hoping you will give this enterprise sufficient - attention to secure success, etc., - - I am respectfully, - Your obedient servant, - A. B. MEACHAM, - _Supt. Indian Affairs, Oregon_. - - * * * * * - - OFFICE SUPT. INDIAN AFFAIRS, SALEM, OREGON, Dec. 19, 1874. - - L. S. DYER, ESQ., _Commissary in charge Grand Ronde_:-- - - SIR,--Col. Thompson, surveyor, has been employed by me to assist - you in making the allotment of lands on Grand Ronde. - - Herewith find the only instructions furnished this office, - which, together with the copies of treaties in your office, it - is hoped may be sufficient guide in making the allotment. - - As arranged during my late visit, all matters of dispute about - priority of rights, etc., must be settled by a Board, consisting - of Commissary L. S. Dyer, Col. D. P. Thompson and W. P. Eaton, - or any other you may designate; if Mr. Eaton is unable to act; - and, on request of the Indians, you will add to said Board three - Indians, who are not _interested_ parties in any matter under - consideration by your Board. - - Great patience may be required in settling the differences that - will arise, and I trust that you will, at all times, bear in - mind that you are laboring for a race who are docile and - reasonable when they are made fully to understand the wherefore, - etc., of any proposition. - - I regret that the Commissioner of Indian Affairs has not - furnished this office with more specific instructions in the - premises. - - This order to make allotment is in anticipation of orders from - the commissioner, which, I have no doubt, will be forwarded at - an early day. At all events, the necessity of immediate action - is obvious. - - July 20th, Wm. R. Dunbar was instructed to enroll all the - Indians of Grand Ronde Agency, including those of Nestucker and - Tillamook. Mr. Dunbar reported the enrolment complete, a copy - of which you will find in your office. - - It is possible that some changes have occurred in the - arrangement of families, of which you will take note, and - correct the same in making statement of allotment. - - You will also be particular to see that the original and present - name and tribe, together with sex, estimated age, and - relationship to families with whom they are residing at the time - of allotment, be identified with the number of the particular - tract allotted to such person or family. - - In this connection it is necessary, in cases of plurality of - wives, that each man shall designate one woman to be his legal - wife, and all others to be members of his family, with the - privilege of forming other marriage relations, taking with them - the lands allotted in their respective names. - - Orphan children, who are _attached_ to families, must have the - same rights. - - It would seem proper that, so far as possible, these people - should be allowed to retain their present homes, and to adjust - their respective rights among themselves; but it will be - necessary, in some cases, to assume control and adjudicate - differences. - - Inasmuch as there are several treaties in force with the Grand - Ronde Indians, in the complications arising therefrom I would - advise that the treaty with Willamette Valley Indians be adopted - as the guide, without regard to the other treaties. - - Let the allotment be uniform to all persons entitled to lands, - as per instructions of commissioner in reply to queries, and - above referred to. - - Should any number of your people elect to remove to Nestucker, - and there take lands in severalty, it would seem right, perhaps, - to do so. Land will be ordered, surveyed at the places above - referred to, and possibly also at Salmon river. - - I do not know of any other instructions or laws to guide you, - except this: In absence of law, do justice fairly and - impartially. Law is supposed to be in harmony with justice and - common sense; and, if it is not, it is _not good law_. - - Fully realizing the difficulties in your way in fulfilling this - order, and having confidence in your integrity and ability, I - can only say, in conclusion, push this matter through, and - furnish this office, at an early day, full report of your - doings, together with statistical table of allotments made under - the rules and instructions furnished you. - - It may be observed, by reading the several treaties, that the - amount of land stipulated to be allotted differs somewhat in the - amounts specified. - - From surveyors' reports, it appears that there is some - deficiency of lands suitable for Indian settlement, and since - the several tribes are mixed up, and to avoid confusion, I have - indicated the treaty with the Indians of the Willamette Valley - as the proper one to govern your action. - - Now, if the question should be raised by the Umpquas, and they - refuse to accept the amount named in the treaty referred to - (Willamette Valley), you will propose to the Umpquas to have the - excess claimed by them set off to them of timber lots; or - otherwise let the whole matter stand for further instructions. - Should the question come up at an early day please notify me, - and, if possible, I will in person adjust the matter. - - I think, however, that if you make the proposition to the - Indians to settle it _before_ allotment, they will agree to the - Willamette treaty, and I will arrange for the acknowledgment, on - their part, of the fulfilment of treaty on the part of the - Government hereafter. - - Very respectfully, - Your obedient servant, - A. B. MEACHAM, - _Superintendent Indian Affairs in Oregon_. - - - - - ANNOUNCEMENT. - - -The undersigned, to whom alone Mr. Meacham has been pleased to give space -for an advertisement in "The Wigwam and Warpath," will soon publish a -work, whose title will be: "THE CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS, IN ITS RELATION TO -THE DAY LABORER, THE BUSINESS MAN, THE PROFESSIONAL MAN AND THE SCHOLAR." - -The work is designed to furnish a key to success, not alone or chiefly in -the art or means of acquiring wealth, but success in a higher and nobler -sense, indicating some of the best methods of reaching the intellect and -the heart, as well as the purse. - -The work is mainly a result of the author's own experiences and -struggles--an outgrowth of the practical methods by which he has secured, -at least, many of the objects not altogether unworthy of his ambition and -hopes. - -The unfolding of the grand principles or laws of _Compensation_, even in -every-day life, to which the author devotes some space, will, it is -believed, have a tendency to increase the faith, or, at least, quiet the -fears, of those who are often crushed by what appears to them the heavy -strokes of Providence, or the inevitable fiat of Destiny; but, rightly -understood, proves to be the true Magician of Life, which evokes light -from shadows, and a calm from storms. - - D. L. EMERSON. - -BOSTON, July, 1875. - - - - - * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber's note: - -Blank pages have been deleted. Illustrations may have been moved. - -Footnotes now follow the referencing paragraph. - -Paragraph formatting has been made consistent. - -The publisher's inadvertent omissions of important punctuation have -been corrected except for one unmatched quotation mark. - -The following list indicates any additional changes made. The page number -represents that of the original publication and applies in this etext -except for footnotes and illustrations since they may have been moved. -{from}[to]: - - Page Change - - v THE {BIRTH-PLACE}[BIRTHPLACE] OF INDIAN LEGENDS - xiv the Modocs--Why {Modocas}[Modocs] Rebelled-- - xv BURYING THE HATCHET--A {TURNING POINT}[TURNING-POINT]. - xxii LAST {HIDING PLACE}[HIDING-PLACE]--HANGING-MACHINE UNTRIED - 13 tripped the light fantastic {moccason}[moccasin] trimmed with - 37 "No," says Flip., that {wont}[won't] do." - 38 a scene occurred that {Bierdstadt}[Bierstadt] should have had - 53 very {nutricious}[nutritious] and well adapted to grazing. - 62 begun on the bosom of {Ya Quina}[Ya-quina] Bay. - 88 {with, I doubt, not good intentions} - [with, I doubt not, good intentions]. - 100 your {doomed}[doom] is sealed." - 121 the whites outside of the Reservation.{"}[] - 123 lumber belonging to {he}[the] Indians - 123 the {allottment}[allotment] of land to these people. - 129 than any on Siletz. {}["]She is stout; she can work; - 130 min-a-lous.{}["] {}[("]If I don't go, I will die."{}[)] - 181 against the sale of their lands.{}[[4]] - 184 and {belives}[believes] in woman's rights. - 198 remarking dryly, {}["]Me-si-ka wake cum-tux ic-ta mamook - 202 differing from {ladies}[ladies'] riding-whips - 210 {etsablished}[established] as "Indian fighters." - 212 {General Cook}[General Crook] being the _right man in - 212 the theology of Gen. {Cook}[Crook], - 220 sometimes crossing deep, dark {canons}[canyons], - 222 we encamped near {Canon}[Canyon] City, - 240 in charge consulted {O-che-o-and}[O-che-o and] Choe-tort. - 249 and had been {diposed}[disposed] of by the agent, - 255 that he, Parker, was of {}["]_their own race_." - 296 in the heart of the boy, {Kien-te-poos}[Ki-en-te-poos] - 312 burning with hatred, was on {on }[]every countenance. - 313 and did not ask my own boys when to talk.{"}[] When - 316 Tobey, as {intepreter}[interpreter]. - 382 There {wont}[won't] be a grease-spot left of 'em." - 384 but with what {unaminity}[unanimity] our press repelled - 400 the {bankets}[blankets] are rolled together; - 400 jump out from under _their_ {bankets}[blankets], - 433 the commission {}[decided,] _three to one_, - 437 Indians {visted}[visited] the new camp - 471 stretchers; all cut to pieces_.{"}[] I tell you, - 508 mechanics are {econonizing}[economizing] the rough boards, - 510 No sleep comes to this camp {to night}[to-night]. - 531 {street-lamps}[street-lamp] before Judge Roseborough's door throws - 558 to put to sea in a {white hall}[whitehall] boat - 562 and was {endeaving}[endeavoring] to be a man. - 567 Col. Wright of {Twelth}[Twelfth] Infantry, - 576 night. {One}[On] the morning of the 10th - 582 the closing {movments}[movements] of the campaign - 612 and Judge {Roseborourgh}[Roseborough], - 680 rings along the {frontierline}[frontier-line], - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WIGWAM AND WAR-PATH; OR THE ROYAL -CHIEF IN CHAINS*** - - -******* This file should be named 40938.txt or 40938.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/0/9/3/40938 - - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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