Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-10-24
Execution of the Modocs.
Details of the last Scene, $50 600 offered
Tor Capt Jacks Body.
Fort Klamath, Oregon, l


Again it is night, and the eventful
and exciting scenes Of the day just past,
contrast strangely with the quiet repose
Of this beautiful moonlight evening
just over yonder aud under the starry
canopy of heaven stands an ominous
structure, with its long bare arms stretch
ing out in the moonlight, with trap, pill
lars and yards silent in death mans
inhumanity to man makes countless
thousands mourn" In yonder stockade
tonight and in full view of the gallows.
there is deep, heartfelt sorrow and
throughout the camp an underlined feel
ing of sympathy unsought and unex-
pressed, silent although potent and sin.
cere, is too perceptible to pass unnoticed.
Four immortal souls have left their
earthly tenement and winged their flight
to an unknown sphere, while their bodies
are quietly resting side by side, bur-
led within few yards of the Post
Guard house. Yet the measured tread
of the soldier as he walks his rounds at
midnight will not disturb their slum-
Der. The inanimate bodies of the Mo-
doc Chief and his warriors are destined
to fulfil the laws Of nature, Earth to
earth, dust to dust, ashes to ashes"
The majesty of the laws have been
indicated and reparation made for the
sins committed as far as man is able, and
although others of the Modoc tribe rich
ly deserve death for the many cold
blooded murders they have committed,
yet the example already set will be by
those surviving, long remembered.
The scaffold upon which the Modocs
were executed was completed yesterday
and all preparations perfected before
sunset. To-day it only remained to exc.
cute and in accordance with the Presi-
dents order and the orders of the Secre-
tary of war and the Department Com
mander, Captain Jack, Schonchin,
Black jim, and Boston Charley, paid
the highest penalty of the Law" 10 be
hanged By the neck until dead, at such
time and place as the proper authority
shall direct, t,oo-thirds Of the members Of
the Commission eoncurring therein"
The line of troops was formed ON
the Fort parade at o'clock a. NJ. pre-
cisely under the direction Of the Post
Adjutant, Lieut.. Kingsbury, in the fol-
lowing order; Light battery "B," 4th
Artillery, Capt Hasbrauck on the right,
Company "E," 18th Infantry, Lieut.
Kingsbury Company F, 21st Infantry,
Lieut.. Joselyn, Company " G." 18th In
fanLry, Captain Hoge and Troop 3D."
LIST Cavalry, Capt Jackson, Light bat
terry B." 4th Artillery, and Troop "B, y
LIST Cavalry were mounted, which ar
rangement brought the foot troops in the
center of the Battalion. At 915 o'clock
a. m. the line wheeled into column and
moved past the Guard house. The cen
ter of the column arriving at which it
was halted and the right wing advanced
sufficiently to admit the wagon contain,
ing the condemned Modocs.
From the Guard house the column NOV
ed to the scaffold, the field music play
ing the Dead march. Arriving at the
scaffold the line was formed on the three
sides of square leaving the from
open, and in the following order
Light battery "B," 4th Artillery anC
Company E, 18th Infantry on the right o
the scafTold facing West. Company F
21st Infantry in rear of the scaffold fac
ing North, Company &C." 18th Infan
try and Troop b, E" 1st Caviar,
on the left of the scaffold facing
East. The other officers were posted q
follows: The Adjt. Lieut.. Kingsbury, Jim
mediately in front of the scaffold and fac
ing it about twenty feet distant. The Com
handing Officer, Gen. Wheaton, in rear
the Adjt. and one hundred feet from tn,
scafold. The Quartermaster, Medical
officers and Chaplain on the left of the
Commanding officer and one pace retired
On the right of the Commanding officer
and few PAGES retired was assigned 8
position for few specially favored spec
tators; while on a line with the Adju
tant and to his left was table will
writing materials occupied by the Report
ers. On rear Of the line were mounted
Patrols to keep the curious at proper
distance from the troops. There wer
at least two thousand people includin,
a large number of Indians present.
At ten minutes before 10 o'clock tn
troops were in position, the condemned
Modoes on the scafTold, attended by tn,
officer of the day, Col. Hoge, and hi
three assistants, and the adjutant called
the battalion to attention and read, LIST
the order promulgatiug the proceeding
of the military commission which triet
the Modocs, with the orders of the Pres
ident and Secretary of War, therein