The New York herald., 1872-12-29
the MODOC WAR.
a Perilous Visit to the Camp
of the Redskins.
a Biz Talk with Captain Jack, Old Scar.Taccd
Charley, Black jim and Bogus Charley.
Captain Jacks Complaints and
His Peace Offerings.

GapLdln JdCA . OOliapAdA1to C~AA
His Peace Offerings.
Worrcspondence OF the San Francisco Ohrenicle.] |
CAMP PAISUHILD, Hot CREEK, Dec. Is, 1872
The din Of preparation is still going on, and Cap
lain FairchId is resolved upon leaving nothing un
dome towara putting the camp In defensible con-
sition. The day before the Chronicles expedition
reached here Fairohilds wife and children were
sent In 70 Yreka for safety, and soon after The
work OF certifying began. We are now all ready
for the savages and should they come they wiz
meet with warm reception Fairchild's account
Of his visit to Captain jacks camp is quite thrill
ing. He and p. A. Dorrfs, proprietor OF cattle
ranch three miles below here Mate" Bcswick aud
James Murraysset out last Sunday morning to visit
the old chief and see what could be done to pre-
vent further hostiIties. They accompanied by
.Frank, and .Tom,' two Modcc Indians OF the
Hot Creek branch OF The tribe, and TWO others,
who rejoice not In Anglo-Saxon names The party
1hus numbered eight. They were all We'll mounted,
and armed with rines and repolvers They had but
twenty miles to so.
TIE INDIAN CAMP.
Beforc1oon they were in sight OF rhe lava beds,
tn which Captain Jack has his camp The Indian
camp is located the edge OF Tule Lake. ON the
side of q rocky'elope, running down from what is
known as Van Bremer's Hill The.country rs the
ruggedest perhaps in California 1t is OF peculiar
formation, being evidently the result OF some great
volcanic convulsion. AS Fairchild expresses it, II
Aooks for miles around as though the whole earths
surface had been blown in the air a thousand feet
and then came down, resting as 1t fell. It contains
area OF aeout ten miles square. and abounds in
aeep assures, gu'ches and caves, all In the solid
rock, There NJ earth at all, but the whole Is a
OF ninty lava, like clinker that is formed
from the remains Of hard coal. Ghe gulches range
rom few feet to . hundred feet In width. and
many are enc hundred feet in depth. The Indians
stand on the bluffs and see men approach from
= distance OF five miles without being seen them
selves. The only means OF travel through this
Of lava Is by the narrow cattle trail, n intr
cate In its windings and subject at all points to
attack from behind the huge b0uders and piles OF
granite. The Indians can travel all through this
tava country By trails known only to themselves
beneath, where 1t would require long journey to
THE MoDoCs, OUTPOST
When Fairchild's party reached the top OF Van
Bremer's Hin they were seen by the Indians, who,
preparations to receive them with a WARMTH Of
eehng characteristic OF the Modocs Arriving at
tPTanR, VINO is desperate warrior, ahead in the
iran to see Captain Jack Frank was then
anS s e hostile h reF
weA& ahead with Tom the other Indian and kept
asad q the party three OF four hundred yards
tocked rifles and with nerves set on edge They
snew they were within 2 gu quarter Of . mile Of the
8 the ialthluiness Of their Indian allies. fheyy
wound their way through the lava piled mp on
sither side for more than an hour when all at
pnoe Indian Frank came riding rapidly back and
.Sold them to halt. He had come upon the Indians,
lain Jack. Ii he was unsuccessful he would dis
sharae his ride, as II done by accident, and they
must ride back over the trail for their lives.
INDIAN TREAOHERY FEARED.
Frank then went ahead again. and Fairchild and
await the result OF their Indians diplomacy. They
had not long to wait. Frank came back in twenty
Scar faced Charley, who were willing to have
''big talkn with the white man. Fairchild now
aasn 1ns Hs thought the
view was too easily arranged-that Jack was too
willing to talk. He was fearful that treachcry
q work, and for moment all four men heaitated
about putting themselves in the MOdocs' power.
sney concuSed s to TO ahead Before sV going how
ever, Fairchild sent Frank ahead again with mes
ge to Captain JACK SAYING y & that he farcnildl had
than that number Of Indians and that he would
meet them either armed or unarmed, as Captain
IN PRESENCE THE hoDoCs.
Prank departed on this errand, and was met on
1he way by one OF Captain Jacks warriors-Indian
Ge0rge-who bore the message back TO the old
sbief In few moments word came back that It
should be as Fairchild requested, the messenger
1t the same time urging the party to come ahead.
Thus reassured Fairchiid decided to go on. It was
now nearly noon. The party rode ahead, Indian
fashion and in a few minutes came to the brow OF
a bill, frOm whence they could look down into
narrow ravine, At the mouth of which they saw
large group Of Indians sitting on the ground.
.Pairchnd was now almost sure that he had been
made the victim OF treachery. lie had agreed to
meet Captain Jack and three others, and here was
the whole Modoc tribe waiting to receive him.
or die The Indians, about nifty in number, sat at
the mouth OF the ravine on piles OF rocks, calmly
teeth and looked as desperate as hungry wolves.
They were all painted in the most hideous fashion
and were dressed in rags and patches OF blankets
RRnNTIERSMAN
Fairchid's party rode up TO within fifty PAGES,
and then the brave irontiersman wavered He
thought the look OF the savages BODIED good.
fhey were too quiet too snllen-lookng, to be
friendly or want to talk. The Indian George, who
stood beside Jack, noticed the whites hesitation,
and called out In English, s'Come on; it's all
right" Fairchild's men rode up and then dis
rookie. few yards rom the trail. They had formed
acircle, with Jack and Bogus Charley and several
Fairchild and Doris had to go within the circle.
This was the most trying moment for once within
escape what seemed particularly ominous, Fair.
child says, was the silence OF the savages. Not a
give the slightest indication even that they % were ere
sware OF his presence. But all had their guns
cscked, and their faces were clouded and suen.
sHAKING HANDS WITH THE CHIEFS
Fairchlld knew Captain Jack WELL and At once
approached. "How do you do, Jackfn he said, ex-
tending his hand. The Old chief his best silk
hat and had on grayish coat He never raised
his eyes or changed countenance, but simply al
lowed his hand TO be shaken Fairchild then spoke
70 Bogus Charley, who was quite polite. lie bowed
and smiled and shook hands, but did not speak
scar-faced Charley, the most desperate old warrior
OF the band. sat on a rock little higher up than
the Others and Farchild had to climb up TO get at
him. The old brave WAS very sullen and would rot
speak word, though he took Farchild's hand and
shook II. The latter then approached Black Jim
but this Indian would not notice him at all. lie
would not look up shake hands or pay the slight
eet heed TO Fairchid.
FIRST wOKD sP0gEN
This nettled the latter little, and he spoke out
auick and sharp, whats the matter with you,
eh W "Wounded," said Bogus Charley. Fairchild
baf i'm hal hts ham
IN q sling. "Wounnedln was the first word spoken
by any OF the Indians. Falrchid did not know
what to make OF this ominous Silence and for q
time II made him quite nervous. Every once in a
White he would hear the click OF a gun-lock and