The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-05
The Warning of Riddles Squaw
Disregarded.
How She BeSeeChed the Commissioners
Not to Meet Captain Jack.
They Laughed at Her Cautions
and Went.
The Fatal Surprise and
Cruel Massacre.

CAMP ON LAVA BEDS, April IL, 1873
Three days have now elapsed since the massacre
OF General CANDY and DR.. X. Thomas, and, as to-
morrow we 90 into action, write this in case any
stray shot might prevent my giving detailed ac-
count OF this most heartless and trcacherous act
In some such instances the brutal and treacherous
nature OF the Indian has been passed over and his
deeds OF blood laid to the account OF ignorance but
here no such palliati0n can be offered as the Modoc
Indians are far above the average In intelligence,
having associated freely for the past ten years
with the whites. The knowledge OF civilization
which they have obtained has, however, only rem
dered them more dangerous, and do not scruple
to say that they are one OF the worst
bands Of Indians in the United States
have followed very closely the negotiations
that have passed between the Peace Com
missioners appointed by the government and
these Indians and, although at one time was in
cllned to believe they were peaceably disposed, I
am now assured that the insolent manner in which
they carried themselves, the result OF their fight
on the nth January could only be destroyed by q
sound thrashing They felt like o victorious army,
and received the friendly offers Of the government
as victorious people would treat the solicitations
of their vanquished foes. On the occasion of my
visits to their stronghold always found them talk
ing OF the late 1ght-how one OF their men had de-
Tended line OF rocks two miles In length; how
their little band had whipped 800 soldiers without
losing o man, when the soldiers lost some forty
killed and wounded. They always said, III the
soldiers 90 away we will stop where we are and
shoot no man; but II soldiers want more we will
give them all they want" To tell them that more
soldiers were coming only made their eyes glsten,
as If the thought flashed across their minds
GALL THE MORE TO KILL
Thomas at that time was OF the opinion that Cap
tain JACK was tired Of lighting and would make
peace, but freely acknowledge that the surround
ing settlers such as Fairchild and Doris, and the
squaws Of the men Whittle and Riddle, always held
to the opinion they would fight rather than leave
Lost River. In letter written some time ago
stated that the fend ncarnate OF these Modocs,
Boston Charley, who had been acting as kind Of
courier and spy for Captain Jack, had arranged in
behalf OF the Modocs to accept the terms then
offered by General Candy to go to Angel Island
until reservation had been selected for them In
some distant county. In pursuance OF this treaty
he asked for three or four wagons to come and
meet them at Klamath Lake, on the Monday follow
ing, at noon. He said General Candy and the men,
bers OF the Peace Commission might come, but no
soldiers.
GENERAL CANBY's WARNING.
On the Sunday evening T0be, Riddles squaw,
came to General Candy and beseeched him not to
60. saying it was plot among the Indians to mas
sacre them all and secure the horses out Of the
teams. Both Generals Candy and Gillem, Mr.. Elijah
Steele and numbers OF others, including your cor
respondent, laughed at the idea OF such q thing,
and both Riddle and his squaw were locked upon
as playing double game Mr.. steele accompanied
the wagons to the appointed place; but no Indians
came in sight. probably thinking that by exercising
q little patience they would get better haul. At
the time nothing was thought OF 1t, but now feel
assured that
THE INDIANS MEANT TREAcHERY.
Again. when remained with DR.. Cabaneso at one
OF their picket stations, while Captain Jack and
FIVE others Of the tribe had talk with General
Candy and General Gillem, they objected to leav-
ing their guns before going TO talk and although
they finally conceded that point they managed to
smuggle their pistols with them. l believed then
they meant treachery. but, on afterthought, con-
cluded 1t would be better to wait for some OF the
Peace Commission. After we arrived at this camp
there were several meetings betw1en the Peace
Commission and the Indians, and, although Messrs.
Meacham and Dyar both dstrusted The intentions
OF the Modocs General Candy and DR.. Thomas felt
confident that no treachery was intended. For
over week not day passed by without one or
more Modocs coming into camp,
osTENsIBLY To TALK, BUT IN REALITY TO BEG
and trade with the suter. They brought in their
feathers and sold them to the sutler for clothing,
calicoes, soap, matches and other articles. Food
they got in plenty, as General Candy was too kind
hearted to refuse any OF their demands for food,
an they generally returned to their camp each
carrying a bag full of provisions. Boston Cnarley
was In nearly every day, and was In the haDlt OF
making his headquarters In General Canby's tent
His talks with General Candy and Mr.. Meacham
generally resulted in his getting couple OF blan-
kets from them ostenslbly to cover some SICK In
THE DAY BEFORE THE MASSACRE
Boston Charley and Bogus Charley both came INTO
the succeeding day. They arranged to meet at
spot about half q mile from our camp, near the
edge OF the second inlet on the lake. TWO meet,
inQs had been held on the same spot, ana wall
tent was Kept pitched on the ground so as 70 give
shelter in case OF rain. This little nat, covered
become notorious az the scene Of the massacre
was hid from our camp by some intervening roll
ing and broken ground, but was In full view Oh the
signal station on the blum, at our backs
ANOTHER WARNING UNHEEDED.
Early Friday morning, the day. OF the massacre,
lobe, Riddles squaw, came to Mr.. heacham anu
beseeched him not TO go out, as she was certain
the Indians meant TO XIII them. She said that the
last time she had been In their camp on q message
william, Wild Gals man, ran alongside o. her horse
as she was leaving and told her that the Modocs
were talking bad, and meant to Kill all the men AZ
the next talk. Mr.. Meacham then went to General
this story, but neither General Candy nor Gcnerai
Gillem nor DR.. Thomas would put any credence ia
the statement. Mr.. Dyar felt somewhat IKE MT.
Meacham, and said that ne could not see what Iooe
had to gain by lying on such a subject: General
Candy said that he looked at the matter IN announcer
light, and could not see how the Indians wouu
help their case by numbering them, with 80 many
troops on each side or them 1t would be only pre-
cipitating war which they were anxious 70 avert;
Mr.. Meacham then called John Fairchild and ASKER
him to sound Bogus Charley and see If he could ma
anything out OF him. Farchild had
LONG TALK WITH BOGUS,
getting quietly at the point, but could get no more
Information. Bogus asked Fairchild II ne was
going out with the Commissioners, and, receiving
an answer In the negative, then said everything
would be all right; Captain Jack hurt no one
When DR.. Thomas heard the story he went 70
Bogus, an Indian to whom he had taken rather
a fancy, and asked him If there was anything IN the
story, anu very naturally, Bogus denied u, saying
IL was a squaw warn. DR.. Thomas then said ne Was
satisfied that the Indians meant no treachery, ana
that he should he felt certain that the God IN
whom he trusted would guard over nlm whuc ne
went on suCh mission.