Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-04-18
I.vDI.s.v TRB.sCHBHr.
GEN. CANDY AND COMMISSIONER THOMAS
AssAssINATED BY THE MoDocs.

Gen. Candy, commander of the depart
ment of Columbia, and Indian Commits
sioner Thomas, were brutally and treach-
erously killed by the Modoc Indians, dur
ing conference on the 10th inst. The facts
In the case appear to be as follows: For
several days endeavors had been made by
the peace commissioners and Gen. Candy,
to obtain an interview with Capt. Jack and
the leading chiefs of the Modoc band. On
the 9th Capt. Jack sent in messenger stat
ing that he was ready for an interview the
following day. The messenger remained
in camp during the night, and In the morn
ing another messenger came in ANNOUNCE
ing that everything had been arranged and
Capt, Jack was coming out. The report Is
from a correspondent Of the New York pa
pers
Between 10 and III o'clock in the morn
ing, the peace commission party-compris-
ing Gen. Candy, Mr.. A. d. Meacham, DR..
Thomas, Mr.. Dyar, Riddle, the interpreter,
and squaw, and Bogus Charley and Boston
Charlie-wen! to the designated spot.
There they met Capt. Jack, John Schon-
chin, Black Jim, Shack Nasty jim, Ellen's
Man and Hawker Jim. They had no guns
with them, but each carried pistol at his
belt. This however, was not much noticed,
as in previous interviews they had had
their guns with them. They sat down in a
kind of broken circle, and Gen. Candy,
Meacham and DR.. Thomas sat together, faced
by Capt. Jack and Shonchn. Mr.. Dyar
stood by Jack, holding his horse, with
Hawker Jim and Shack Nasty jim TO his
left.
NJ eacham opened the talk, and gave a
long history of what they wanted to do for
them, after which DIR. Thomas and Gen.
Candy beth talked for some time. Capt.
Jack then talked in an apparently good,
serious strain, and when he finished, step
ped back to the rear near where Meacham's
| horse was hitched.
Shonchin then began to talk, and while
he was speaking, my informant, Mr.. Dyar,
heard cap miss fire, and, looking around,
saw Capt. Jack to the left with his pistol
pointed at Gen. Candy. This was the sig
nal for a general massacre, and dozen
shots were fired inside of half minute
Mr.. Dyar, after hearing the cap miss fire
turned and fed, followed closely by Hawk.
or Jim, who fired two shots after him. Dyai
finding Hawker Jim gaining upon him
turned and drew his Derringer, whereupor
Hawker Jim retreated and Dyar made the
best of his way to camp. Capt. Jack fired
again on Gen. Candy, and the noble old
gentleman ran off to the left, but was speed
lily shot down and killed instantly. Meach
am was shot at by Shonchin and wounded
in the head. He tried 20 draw his Derring
err, when two Indians came up and knock.
ed hinl,down. DR.. Thomas was killed al
most instantly by two pistol shots in thu
head. Riddle ran off, and it appears they
did not fire at him, but they knocked hi.
squaw down. Dyar, Riddle and the squav
returned in safety to the camp.
DR.. Thomas was a resident of Petaluma
CAL, and was appointed one of the peace
commissioners in March. He was Meth
odst preacher and one of the pioneers o
his church on the Pacific coast, where b,
had made an especial study of the Indi
an question aud was therefore we'll quail
fed for the position he held.
The troops were immediately put unde
orders and general advance ensued, bu
after proceeding some distance beyond tn,
scene of the massacre, halt was sounded
and the troops went back to camp. TIL
body of Gen. Candy was stripped OF ever.
vestige of clothing, and that of DR.. Thoma
was partially stripped.
This horrible treachery has cast gloon
over The entire country and has reused tn
vengeances of the troops, and the Modoc
will probably be visited with the dires
vengeance.