, 1872-12-21
THE MQEOC WAR.


THE MQEOG WAR,
. r1:.o,r- ~ 49, s7.r;,1zr,p. oror-
As.ofs ~ W r.-e.a:slaa ans n rgaaI auu
frontier Woman.
The unexpected breaking out Of What pro1n-
ises to be long and Ee7atious Indian war on
this border has created the most intense excite
ment among the settlers in: Northern California
and Southern Oregon.
Tho Modoc Indiana, a tribe OF which but q
remnant remains, have long been source Of IN
oasiness to the settlers in Southern Oregon. OF
au the other tribes they. have shown the least
disposition to abide by the rules OF tho Indian
Department or the wishes of the citizens. By
reason Of their superior intelligence and less
| tractable nature they have generally managed to
have their own way SO long as they did no actual
deeds of violence. In this way they have lived
! by suf1erance, 80 to speak. Their camp YVES
ut the mouth Of Lost River, where it emp
| ties into tho Tule or Rhett Lake, and they got
! their living by hunting and fishing, and oftimes
| BY stealing from the settlers when they rot 6.
| good chance. This past summer the country
! about Rhett and Klamath Lakes aud on the
banks Of the Lost River has been largely settled
| by people mostly from tile neighborhood Of
| well aware OF the nature Of the Modocs, and
! knew, also, Of their suppressed hostility; but,
! relying partly On the Government and partly on
| their own ability to protect themselves, they
!
! The Modoc band ia under command OF Captain
| Jack, stalwart Indian, who is well known at
| this place, having como hero often to purchase
| supplies OF Whiskey and tho like. I am told
| that Captain Jaeks costume on these
! visits consisted Of nothing but black
| silk stovepipe and gray woollen blanket.
] He always carried himself rather inso-
| lently, and had many quarrel here with people
who he fancied had insulted him. The other
! prominent members Of the band are Scar-faced
| Charley, Bogus Charley, One-oyed Watchman
! the Doctor, and Black Jim. The former is III
| Indian Of great bravery, and is said to be &
| desperate of the worst kind. He, too, has often
| visited Yreks. He speaks English quito well,
and at tie beginning of the trouble acted as in
/ terpreeer between the troops and Captain Jack,
Who Ii 1gnorane OF the language. The other In
Hans, apout ninety IN number, nre al warriors,
and are regarded as desperate men. They have
repeatedly sworn that they VIII neyor go On tho
reservation On Ao9ue Elyer, where the remnants
J OF other tribes are last being collected, and it
| was Anai attempt on the part OF tho GoYern-
! men1 70 put 1nem tncfo Which mas lel to the re-
| cenE outbreak
Durlng the past summer the Mooocs IN their
camp at me mouth Or Lost A1Ver looked on the
increased immigration to their neighborhood
| with d good deal OF Jealousy. They knew that
] as tho country filled up they would 10 compelled
| to give way and finally submit to going On the
| reservation In consequence OF this they coon
became more Troublesome In their manner to-
ward tho new settlers they were particularly in
6oAS0t- IAtAtAASs tACA4 Ii q A4auuGl
Which implied the most intense hatred. They
would often 60 to ranch in the absence Of tho
settler, walk up to fire where meal was be-
ing cooked for the wlfe and children, take the
provisions, and make the most friyhtful threats
against the women it any opposition was shown.
They would 60 to other settlers cabin, take the
food right OF the table, frighten the family aud
threaten to burn the ranch il resisted.
Finally things got SO bad that tho settlers
resolved to do something for their own protec-
ton. About two months ago they anitad in
petition to Superintendent Odcneal, Superin-
tendent OF Indian Affairs for the District OF Ore
gon, requesting that he take Iae2auras to remove
the Modocs, Captain Jack. Gcar-faced Charley,
and all included, to tho Indian Reservation On
Rogue River. Mr. Odeneal laid the petition.
together with statement OF the case. before tho
Commissioner Of Indian Affairs at Washington.
That officer at once ordered thu. the Modo3s be
placed on their reservation, peacea5lv. il pozsi-
bIe, but for,!bly if necessary. Tho order WAS
OF the most pcromptory character, ana superin-
tendent Odenesl proceeded to the Indian camp
At Raett Lske to procure its enforcement. Ti!o
Chiefs, Captain Jack and scar-faccd Charley,
heard Of lis approach, and. knowing what it
meant, refused to meet him, ard go. his authori-
ty at defiance, and sent word to him that they
wero fully determined to remain in their camp,
Fort klamath is situated about forty miles
north Of the lndi:n camp. It is garrieoned by
Company 3, OF tho Flrst Cavalry, and Company
I, Of the Twenty-hrst Infantry, under the COM
tondcnt Odeneal now repaired, and requested
Major Jsckson's aid in carrying out his order.
He placed the order in the Majors hands and
stipulated that it should be carried out without
bloodshed it possible, and that force sufficient
to orerawe the saYages should be used. But the
courage and disposition OF Captain Jacks baud
Beem to hare been underrated, for Major Jacis-
son started out with only thirty-dve cayalry to
effect the object desired. The India1athen num-
bered one hundred, and it is folly to believe that
they would allow t1lirty-fye cavalrymen to
fnghten them into submission.
On Thanksgiving day Major Jackson's COM
mand, accompanied by Ivan Applegate, a settler
at cle:r Lake, and James Brown messenger Of
the Indian Department., arrived at the Indian
camp at the mouth of Lost River. They ar
the camps on either side Of the rirer-1lsjor
Jackson taking the side on which was located
Captain Jacks cabin, and Applegate with ten or
twelve citizens, taking the other side, where
shout half Of the warriors had their huts.
When all vas ready, the presence Of the mill
tary was made known, and instantly the camp
became q scene Of confusion. Indians ran
hither and thither, seized their guns, and hud-
died together in sullen manner, apparently
ready to flee ut q moments notice. Major jack