Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-04-17
The Modoc Massacre,
THE PARTICULARS.

The following telegram, dated at
Lava Bed Country, April II, 0aa
Yreka, April H." gives the particulars of
the terrible massacre of General Candy
and others by the Modocs, and is prelim-
mary to, and explanatory of, the dis
patches published yesterday morning
Yesterday afternoon five Indians and
four squaws came into our camp ana
were presented with clothing and pro
visions by the peace commissioners. A
message was sent out by the commls-
sioners asking for talk this morning at
point about mile from our picket
line. Later in the evening Bogus Char
lev came in and told the picket that ne
could take his gun; that he (Charley)
did not intend to go back any more.
The picket brought him in and took him
to the tent OF General Candy, where
Charley left his gun and remained Id the
tent of Frank Riddle during the night.
This morning Boston Charley came in
and told the commission that Captain
Jack and five other Indians would meet
the commission outside our lines. Bos-
ton Charley and Bogus Charley then
mounted horse and started for the lava
beds.
Between ten and eleven o'clock this
morning the peace commission party,
comprising General Candy, A. B. Mea-
cham, DR.. Thomas, Mr.. Dyer, Riddle,
the interpreter and squaw, Bogus Char
ley and Boston Charley, went out to the
designated spot. There they met Cap
tain Jack, John Schonchin, Black Jim,
Shack-Nasty Jim, Ellen's man, and
Hawker Jim. They had no guns with
| them, but each carried a pistol at bis
belt. This, however, was not much
noticed, as in previous interviews they
had their guns with them. They sat
| down in a kind of a broken circle, ana
| General Candy, Mr. Meacham and DR..
| Thomas sat together, faced by Captain
| Jack and Schonchin. Mr.. Dyer STOOD
by Jack, holding his horse, with Hawker
| Jim and Sback-Nasty Jim to his left.
| The place was overlooked by the signal
| station. from which Lieutenant Adams
| closely watched the proceedings About
| half an hour after the party had arrived
| a cry from the signal station was heard,
| saving that the Indians had attacked the
| peace commission, and that an engage
ment had commenced between the In
| dams and Colonel Mason. In moment
| the troops were under arms ana de
| pioyed as skirmishers under the COM
mand of Colonel Green, and orders were
! given to 90 forward at double-quick
time. Very shortly after Mr.. Dyer re-
! turned and told us that the Indians had
attacked them, and that he thought he
was the only one who had escaped, but
| in a few moments after Riddle and his
| suuaw were seen within the picket line.
| 1t appears that at the fatal conference
| Mr.. Meacham made a short speech tC
| the Indians and was followed by Gen
| eral Candy and DR.. Thomas. Then
Captain Jack made speech asking foi
| Hot Greek and Cottonwood, now occu-
pied by Fairchild and Doris, for reser-
! walton Meacham told Jack that 1t was
not possible to give him what he asked
Schonchin told M0acham to say nc
more that he (Meacham) had said
enough on that subject. While Schon'
chin was speaking, Captain Jack step
ped to the rear and stood near where
Meacham's horse was hltched. Present,
| w Mr.. Dyer heard cap misc fire a'to
! looking around saw Captain Jack to his
| left with his pistol pointed at Genera
| Candy. This was the signal for gen
eral massacre and dozen shots were
/ fired inside of half minute. Mr.. Dyer
after hearing the cap miss-tire, turned
and fed. followed closely by Haw kel
Jim, who fired two shots after him
Dyer, finding Hawker Jim gaining or
| him. turned and drew his Derringer
whereupon Hawker Jim retreated, anC
Dyer made the best of his way to the
camp. Captain Jack fred again on Gen
eral Candy, who ran off to the left, but
he was speedily shot down and killed in
stantly. Meacham was shot at by Schon
chin and wounded in the head. He triec
to draw his Derringer, when two indiana
ran up and knocked him down. DIR
Thomas was killed almost instantly by
two pistol shots in the head, fired by
Boston Charley and another Indian
Riddles squaw was knocked off he
horse by an Indian, who took the ami
NAL, but was forced to return it by Cap
tain Jack. Riddle, it is said, was chased
and shot at, but another account says hi
was not fired upon.