The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-06-20
BLOODY RETALIATION.

THE MURDERS By THE MoDoCS IERRiBLf
A~yEsaEp-FIvE OF THE CAPTURED WAR
RIoRs MAssACRED BY OREGON VOLUNTEERS
The MuRpERERs MAKE COOP THEIR Is
CAFE.
While a number OF the Modoc captives were
being removed from Fairchild's rancho to
Boyle's camp, on the sth inst, a party Of
Oregon volunteers made . raid and killed five
of the savages incontinently. The following
particulars Of the massacre are furnished by
telegraph from San Francisco: On Saturday
morning James Fsirchild and about . dozen
other men left Fairchild's rancho, Cotton
wood creek. with II Modoc csptiyes, women
and children, including Shacknasty jim,
Bogus Charley, Tehee Jack, Pony, and Little
John. The Indians were in a wagon drawn
by four miles. At the crossing OF Lost nver
the party encountered the Oregon volunteers
under command Of Capt. Hiser. The sol
diers gathered about the wagon and ques-
toned Fairchild. The latter tols them the
Modocs we're all Hot Creeks except Little
John: that there were no charges against
them. Fairchild undertook to push on 70
Boyle's camp. and the volunteers retired to tbs
camp near Crawley's. On the road he noticed
two men ahead, riding to Rocky Point. ~ II to
intercept him. When the team approached
one presented q needle gun at Pairchild, say
ing:
Get down, you old white-hcaded B. of u
b" by what authority p said FAirchild.
..By mine. am going to kill the Indians and
you too, /" was the reply. Their leader caught
bold Of tho mules, unhitched them and cut
the harness. Fairchild, clinging to tho lines,
Ieapcd to the ground The poor wretches i'm
plored for mercy, and begged Fairchild to
save them. The warriors were unarmed, aud
knew that resistance was useless. They were
the coolest in the party, though facing ineyita-
bic death, but the women and children
shrieked, groAned, and wept pitecusly. Fair
child had nothing but a small pistol. Six
inches from his car WAS the muzzle of n needle
gun. lie Gays the tear came to his eyes. He
mingled his voice with those OF the Modocs
in the hope that the massacre might be
avoided. "Oh, it wac a terrible scene. l
never shall forget it. / sbuddcr when | think
what l saw and heard. The fearful voices Of
those women and children still ring ia my ears,
but the cowsrdiy hounds were not to he baked.
A shot, ard Little John lay dead in the bed of
the Wagon, = bullet in his BRAIN" The mules
dashed away with Fairchild, and tangled him
in the lines. Five more shots in rapid sue
cession, and Tehee, Jack, Pony, and Mooch,
the remaining warriors, were dead. Little
Johns squaw had a frightful wound in her
shoulder. Away ahead in the road in the di-
rection of Boyle's camp was q cloud of dust,
indicating the approach of q team. The muir
derers espied the dust, and in a moment were
riding rapidly away. Sergt. Murphy, OF Bat
tory G., 4th Artillery, with ten men and
teamsters, came by team. The sergeant took
charge of affairs and remained with his
men on the ground. Fairchild and the
teamster, tho wounded squaw. and her
two children, came at 2 O'Clock this morning.
Fairchild reached Gen. Davis headquarters
and related his story. Teams, with Nh escort,
were ut once sent out after the prisoners,
dead and alive. No steps are taken for the
apprehension Of the felons who performed
the bloody work. II is generally supposed the
Oregon volunteers are the guilty parties.
Fairchild is Of that opinion himself. Tho
warriors killed were not charged with murder.
Those who know them best say they have only
participated in open fight. Every one here
condemns the affair as atrocious, and without
an excuse. There is no doubt but the murders
were carried out upon 4 carefully arranged
plan, ~ Fairchild noticed horsemen on the
road ahead and behind him when the shots
were fired. Had John Fairchild instead Of
James been present, another murder might
have been added to the list as the Oregon
ians are bitter in their hatred OF John, the old
man, and other Californians.