Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-04-21
MASSACRE OF GEN. CANDY AND
THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS
BY THE MODOC INDIANS.

By THE MODOC INDIANS.
Gen. Candy, Commissioners Thomas,
Meacham and Dyar met Captain Jack
and the leading chiefs of the Modoc
bands on the | tn inst, to consult in
regard to the Indian difficulties, and if
possible to persuade the hostile tribes to
90 on to a reservation aud cease from war.
The interview was held outside of the
lines of Gen. Canby's army but within
sight of signal station. After speech
es had been made both by the commits
sioners and by some of the chiefs, at a
signal given by Capt. Jack the whole
party was fred upon by the chiefs. Gen.
Candy was shot dead as was commission
er Thomas; Meacham was mortally
wounded but Dyar escaped though fired
upon and hotly pursued. Intelligence
was sent from the signal station to the
troops at once that firing was heard and
they proceeded with all haste to the
scene, but they were too late. The
bloody work had been done and the
fends had fled. Nothing in the history
of this treacherous race exceeds in enor-
nifty this cruel deed. The Peace Com
missioners have been trying for some
time past to effect reconciliation with
this hostile tribe, and have held several
interviews with them. These meetings
had not been satisfactory, but prompt
ed by spirit of humanity they had met
again at the request of the Indian lead
en- The result of the meeting chills the
blood and arouses the indignation of the
whole country. Upon the receipt of the
sad news at Washington Gen. Sherman,
after consultation with the President,
sent the following dispatch to Gen. Gill
lem: Your dispatch announcing the
terrible loss to the country of Gen. Can
by, by the perfdy Of the Modoc band of
Indians has been shown to the Presi-
dent, who authorizes me to instruct YOU
to make an attack so strong and per-
sistent that their fate may be common
surate with their crime. You will be
justified in their utter determination. :"
Gen Gillem is daring and efficient Of
ficer and will carry out the orders of
his superiors if possible; but a recent
attack upon this band was not success
full. The nature of the country is such
that cavalry can not be used, and the
Indians by being secreted behind rocks
and in caverns were able to repulse the
troops sent to light them. This tribe Of
savages has been extremely troublesome
for some time and the troops have been
ready to attack them, so soon as the eff
forts of the commissioners should prove
unavailing This last act of treachery
will prove their destruction. for the ar.
my and the nation will not let the death
of these excellent men be unavenged.-
1t will be remembered by our readers
that President Grant by the advice o.
many philanthropic men introduced 6
new Indian Policy soon after his frs
inauguration. Instead of a policy O
determination which has heretofore pre-
vailed, spirit of kindness and humani
ty was adopted. Eminent christian gen
tlemen were chosen commissioners, an(
sent among the tribes with instruction
to treat with them, and if possible in
duce them to go on to reservation-d
away with their barbarous practices an,
become peaceful and civilized. In man
instances the efforts of the commission
ers have proved successful and the hop
has been entertained, that remnant Q
the aboriginal race might be saved
The condign punishment that will
visited upon this wicked tribe of No
docs may serve to awe the more hos
tile, while the peaceable will De able I
realize the difference between the wrat
and the friendship of the nation. I'll
administration will be blamed by man
for this murder, but we believe the 20
icy of kindness, even toward savages,
a policy of justice, and when it proves
failure, it will then be soon enough
resort to practices, which we conden
in the savage. Probably less blood hi
been shed during the last four yea
than would have been shed had the W;
policy prevailed. We wait with ankle
further news from Gen. Gillem's troop
TERRIBLE STORMS IN THE WEsT.-C
the 9th of April, storm passed ov
portions of Iowa, destroying building