Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-06-10
Massacre or MStsoc Prisoners.

SAN Francisco, June 9.-Dspatches from
Bovlc's camp, dated yesterday, relate the par
ticuars of an atrocious massacre Of Modoc prls-
oncrs. supposed to have been pcrpctratcd by
Oregon Volunteers On Saturday morning JAS.
Fairchild and about dozen other men left Fair
chld's rancho, Cottonwood creek, with seven
teen Modoc captivcs, including women and chill
drcn and Shack Nasty Jim, Bogus Charley
Tehce Jack Pony and Little John. The Indians
were in wagon drawn by four mules. At the
crossing Of Lost river the party encountered a
body of Oregon volunteers, under command OF
Captain Hiser The soldiers gathered about the
wagon aud questioned Farchild. The latter
told them them the Indians were all Hot Greeks
except Little John, and that there, were, no
charges against them Fairchild undertook to
nush on to BOYLE 5 camp, and the volunteers re-
tired to their camp near Crowleys On the road
Fairchild noticed two men ahead, riding to
Rocky Point, as TO Intercept him. When the
team approached the two men, one of them pre-
sented needle gun at Fairchild, saying, Get
down YOU old white head. :" ''By what author
typ said FairchiId by mine. am going to
kill the Indians and you, too, - was the reply.
The leader caught bold of the mules and un.
hitchcd them, cutting the harness. Falrchlld,
clipgng to the lines, lcapcd to the ground. The
moor wrctchcs implorcd for mercy and begged
Fairchl to save them. The warriors were un-
armed, and knew resistance was useless they
were the coolest in the party, although lacng
inevitable death, but the women and children
shrieked, groaned aud wept pitcousI y. Falrchld
had nothing but Il small pistol, aud SIX inches
from III, ear was the muzzlc Of a needle gun.
lie SAYS the tears came into his eyes. and he
mingled his cntrcaiirs with those Of the Mo
docs, in hopes that tfsc massacre might be
IL, ala .nnt,
one never shall forg@t. | s|.uligr when |
think of VIA: saw and heard. II.c fearful
voices Of! :hosc women aud chll>ircn still ring II
my ears
But the cnwariiy hounds wcr2 rot 70 be
baked. \ shot and Little John lay dead in
the wagon with bullet in his brain. The
mules dashed away with Fairchild: WHO became
ciitargIod in the lines. Five more shots were
fired IN rapid succession. b. which Tcha,: Jack,
Pony and NnGeh were killed, AID Little j Ohm 5
suuaw tiigi!,tllly wouniod in the shoulder
:away ahead on the road in tho direction Of
Buyics calup, cioud Of dust was perceived,
indicating the approach # "a team. The MUIR
dcrcrs esIicd The dust, and shortly afterwards
were riding rapidly away.
Sergeant Murphy, Of Battery e, fourth ar
tiIrry with ten mcn AID lc"lnslcr, calhc W
to ;h2 scene Of the massacre The sergeant
took charge Of affairs, aGd Fclhailet Will DIS
men On The ground.
t'airchi!ii. ;iu2 t4an1atnr> and 8 Wounded
<quaw, VII. Ecr $50 CHI. ;rcn, carl2 in 1t twG
o'clock til, morli.g. fai:cad reached Gen.
Daviss headquarters aud related his story.
Teams, with ~ escort, were at once sent to
bring in the prisoners, dead and alive.
NJ steps were taken for the apprehension of
the lons wo pyrtormrd the hnoiy work. 1t
Is generally supposed TIA! The gun: ~ parties
were Oregon volunteers. FairchiIl is Of that
opinion him*cf
The warriors killed were no! charged with
murder. Those vino know them best say they
have only participated in open fights Every
one here condemns the affair as atroclous and
| without excuse.
There is no doubt but that the murders were
carried out upon carefully arranged plans, as
| laircd noticed horscmcn on the road ahead
and behind him when the shots were fired
Had Joha Fairchid, instead of James, been
present. another murder might have been add
ed to the list, as the Oregonans arc bitter in
their hatred to John, the old man and other
| CalifOruians.