Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-03-26
The MOdOc Chief.

OF the peace parties which he accompanie
to the camp OF Captain Jack, the Mode
chief, from which We extract the followin
sketch OF the Indian leaders:
The whole party gathered up the
blankets and followed. Charley led the wa
right up one side OF the basin, through a Ii,
tie trail, not easy of access by unpractise
i'ef and across the level place about fit
ya'ds, wien we came suddenly to the mout
ot pi;hoe at least forty leet deep. Th
hole inclined as it led downward, and at th
bottom wldened and formed perfect cave
extending under the rock at least fifty feel
At the mouth OF the cave proper, but We
thirty or fUrty feet below the surface,
| piece OF canvas was stretched This wa
Captain Jacks front door, and the cav
behind 1t Was his abiding place-the palac
ot the MOdOc king. Behind the canvas W
could see d bright fire burning, and nearl
the whole tribe enci cled round it ready TO
the talk which they knew was to come. Th
/ descent into the cave was somewhat perilous
but by vigorous clinging to the rocks an
careful stepping We managed t. reach th
| canvas
Then, throwing that back, we stood il
the prest nee Of Captain Jack IL was easilr
seen that be was eIck. His eye was dull
cheeks e.nt ciated, and ne was SO weak h.
could not stand, bus remained reclining on
| huge pile OF bear skins, with his two wivt
By his side. Mr.. Steele went up to him ant
shook hands warmly, did the rest of th
party Then passing completely around th,
circle ali shook hands with the entire tribe
This ceremony lasted several minutes, an(
when finished We we're furnished seats in tn,
circle near Cay tain Jack. The only wood II
the lava bed is eagebrush, but this was pilet
on the fire with an unsparing band. and til,
flames shot upward and Illuminated the cav,
brilliantly. Then each member of our party
lighted his pipe, and, alter taking Whit o
two, passed It around to the right, begin
ming with Captain Jack, who took whit
and passed il on to the next, and so on. Ii
such large circle, OF course, one pipe ful
would not 20 round, and 50 when it 90
smoked out they did not hesitate to bring /
back TO be refled, and then send it on t
complete its journey. During this ceremon,
not word wa spoken, and so tie CORES
pondent bad abundant time to take a gCol
look at ali the savages.
Captain Jack was the central figure ant
attracted much attention. He is stern
dignitied-l0Oking man, not over thirty
though be looks older He has a good head
though, like all Indians, The forehead is low
His complexion is dark, TIE pure copper
color and his eyes are black, foil and pier c
ing. HIS hair Is long, hanging down to hi.
shoulders, al d he Is, of course, destitute O.
all beard His mouth is large, and It's shape
indicates frmncss, determination, and a grea
deal OF character. lie was very glad to Sc,
Steel, but he did not show it by his manner
hen he shook hands it was with an ndll
terence that, to one unacquainted with In
dian character, would seem to be absolute
rudeness. He was dressed in a hickor,
shirt, and was covered with blankets
"Sear-faced Charley, the next noted ont
in the tribe. has Jewish cast OF counte.
nance, his nose beipg long ami aquiline anC
his face thin and narrow He has terribl,
scar on his right cheek, which, but for hl
naturally peasant expression, would make
his countenance rat4er repulsive. He i:
abJut thirty-tige years Old, and is regarded
as the brayesG Indian in the tribe Bu
enough has been written OF h exploits liz
was very polite to his 4uests, aud did all IL
his lower to make them comfortable. lie
was dressed, and said all he wanted to d.
was to get out OF the lava beds -
- Shack Nasty m i, Il y0ungster of not
over twenty or twenty two. H. sat IN tn,
circle with a soldier coat or. and looked a,
wise as Judge. Hooker Jim, the leader o
the band no committed the murders on the
east SIDE ot the laNe, was rigged out Ia a cav
airy Jacket. army pants and black nat. H.
has bad face, and, though quite yourg
loostd as il he ,uld be guilty OF anything
He Is Just now anxious tor peace, III tn,
hOTe o, getting amnesty for his snare in the
u.ssacre. and Is doing all he can 10 make
treaty. Tie Doc-or Is decidedly tie worst
IoJkIag man in the whole tribe HIS face il
absolutely devliish, narrow, contracted. with
u little eye that twlukle> IN It's wlcGeduess
aud a mouth full and sensual. 1t is a coun
tenauce that would make anybody ehld er
lie had on a straw hat, with Il long black
leather in 1t, aud several articles of soldiers
ci,thing. need hardly ray that all clothin.
OF this description was stripped from the
dead bJdIes OF the soldiers killed in the lat
battle Black Jim another of the murder
er5, is tail, tine-lOOklng fellow, but on
that | would Ia her not meet alone of q dar
night. lie wore the military cap that CAP
taIu Burton lost in the fight 1t had bu
gle and the ti-urcs q on it He also car
rled a cavalry carblne, lost on tie day of tn
battle. In fact, saw quite number 0
breech loading muskets and whole piles O
metallic cartridges, all OF which goes to show
that our troops in their retreat must nav,
lett a good deal Of war material behint
them.