The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-06-05

" Thames, Wilmington; Donald Nc.
Queen, Camden; Mrs Gardner, Chester;
a ) frederick, S G; " II Evans, Charles.
ton; & $ doodale, Washington, D G.
CAPTAIN JACK AND HIS ANrEcEDEN1s.
The Oshkosh Bu9e. in late issue, gives
some interesting particulars concerning
the birth and parentage of the fat6ous
Captain Jack, which we condense as fol.
lows:
Captain Jack is now about forty years
old, and is the son, on his fathers aide,
OF en- American who spent many years
among the Modocs. where lie was known
as "Colonel jack" It was in lS4S that
this young Texan, brave as q lion and
tull OF a spirit for adventure, attached
himself to an emigrant train, then on its
way to settlement at the headwaters of
the Columbia River, in Oregon. On the
route, after the most horrible suffering.
the party became scattered, through
deaths and desertion. and only two or
three werc ever heard OF aiterward.
These two or three fell in with small
band of Modoc Indians, while in q des-
ttute condition. Two of them died,
being. unable to rally, but the other re-
covering, lived among the Indians for
many years afterwards. His courage,
dash and manly accomplishments soon
| endeared him to the tribe, who wor.
shipped him as "Big Medicine"
In the spring of 1S49, with great cere.
mony. which lasted several weeks, and
was attended by all the neighboring
bands, on an island in Kalmah Lake, he
was regularly adopted into the tribe and
married to the daughter of the head
chief. The Indian name he received on
this occasion was "Yahk- -Wah-ton''-in
English, "Man with the Flaming Eyes"
This was afterwards corrupted by the
American post traders of the vicinity
into Yahk, then Jack, and gradually
Colonel Jack. The old chief dying q
few years afterwards, he succeeded to
the command of the tribe, which he 60
verned wisely and we'll for the length Of
time stated. Colonel jack had several
children By this marriage; the eldest.
known as Captain Jack, succeeded to
the command of the tribe at the early
age Of eighteen.
The subsequent history OF Colonel
Jack is involved in mystery. lie disap-
peared from the Modocs about the time
OF the breaking out Of the rebellion. A
rumor exists among them to the effect
that be entered the Confederate service,
and became q very famous cavalry Of
ficer. Colonel Jack is still believed to be
alive, and, if SO. no doubt views with
parental pride the achievements of his
warlike son, Captain Jack.
The Mopoos BEFORE THE WAR.-The
Philadelphia Erening Bulletin publishes
a letter from Elijah Steele, a lawyer in
Yreka, in which the}AIodocs are partially
described as they were before the out
break Of the late troubles. Twenty three
yearS D1O thew we're a nnmerone and
powerful tribe, and those who are left
are not renegades. They were not. as
has been asserted, in the habit Of lounc.
ing about Yreka, but went thither twice
year to trade furs and goose feathers
for supplies of provisions and clothing
and thus provided themselves we'll.
Their credit was good with the mer.
chants Of Yreka, who trusted them from
fall to spring They were, however, al
ways requested to camp ont of town.
Captain Jack, who was always thespokes.
man, never drank any liquor, and in
variably punished any of the tribe for
any wrongdoing, whether they were
drunk or sober. They are, according to
Mr.. Steele, q superior race of Indians in
intellect and physical development, and
they are resolved to die rather than
yield. In Captain Jacks own words:
ITO die by bullet does not hurt much;
starve to death on reservation hurt o
heap"
The FIRn F1END AT WoRK.-We are
truly sorry to hear that our energetic
and enterprising fellow.citizen, III. Ryt.
tenberg, he'd his steam MILL located
eight miles from town, completely de-
stroyed by fire on Wadnesday morning