The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-04-30
VOLUME XIX1I---NO..3

that hey carried pistols. The under
lstandYbg was that all should 60 un-
armed, and knowing the passionate
and reckless character Of the sayages
his anxiety was painfully excited as.
to what might be the consequences if
they attempted to use their weapons.
II does not. speak of his own fears
tor the safety Of himself and fellow,
hostage, but he must have been well
aware that single act or movement
IF treachery on the part of the In
dians would have brought down the
cavalry, who had dismounted, from
the oyerhanging bluff. They would
nave inevitably exterminated Captain
Jack and his companions but az the
same time it would have been thu
death nall,of the Herold ommission&
er and Doctor Cabaniss.. The Aal
events Of Friday last, resrltingin the
death of the Commander of the De-
partment of the Columbia, who
General Sherman, short time since.
spoke Of as being ''valian, wise, dis
Greet and patient" and Of the Rev:
Mr: Thomas, show that the pefdious
lsayages were only waiting for a more
favorable opportunity to carry out
their bloody designs.
]. THE sEuoND PEACE COMMISSION.
The new commission arrived March
~, and it was expected that Rev. Mr..
Thomas would have divine service in
the lava beds the following Sunday
The troops were now removed to
camps within the. ground made 40
strong, defensively, by nature, and
the Modocs were completely sur
rounded. Captain Jack announced
his intention not to leave the country,
as, according to his own words, be
knew no other. He wanted to re-
main where he was or else be permit.
ted to 90 back to Lost River. This
appeared to be his nltimatum. Con-
eral Canby would not agree to such q
proposition. He was satisfied that
they could not live in peace at Lost
River, and as to staying in the lava
beds it meant only license to plunder
and stronghold to retreat to when
pursued. He proposed to take them
Ito Yreka or some other convenient
|spot, where they could be cared for
until their future home could be se-
Iected according. to their own views.
Captain Jack always insisted upon
the soldiers being removed, but Gen
eral Gillem last week sent him word
that the troops would not go away
until they took Jack and his party
with them. The last despatch Of
General Canby to General Sherman,
dated April 7, says:
"Their last proposition is to come
in and have the opportunity of look
ing for new home not far away, and
if they are sincere in this the trouble
will be soon ended. But there have
been so much vacillation and duplicity
in their talks that I have hesitated
about reporting until some definite
result was attained All the move
ments of tnoops have been made de-
and cautiously, 80 as to
avoid collision and to impress the
Indians that we have no unfriendly
intent. Thus far we have succeeded
very well, but their conduct has given
so much reason to apprehend that
they are only trying to gain time that
| have organized a party of scouts to
operate with the troops, if they
should 60 to the mountains or renew
hostilities.
THE TROOPS AND THEIR DISPOSITION,
The troops now in the lava beds
consist Of five companies (B F G X
aud Ny of the First cavalry, four
companies Of the Fourth artillery (B
H E and NJ, two companies e and
G. OF the Twelfth infantry and four
companies of the Twenty-frst infant
ry The Oregon volunteers returned
home after the battle of January 81,
but number of recruits have Joined
the troops during last month. : K bat,
terry of the Fourth artillery arrived
April 8, and two days later Thursday
lasr) Donald Mckenzie and seventy
Warm Spring Indians reached Colonel
Mason's camp. There must be fully
900 troops in the lava beds. There
are four batteries of artillery and q
bate. = Of four twenty pound howit-
zcrs, the latter in charge Of Major
Evan Thomas, ready tor action. The
signal system has been introduced,
and boats placed on the lakes to tacll-
itate communication with the different
posts The headquarters are in the
lava beds. On Thursday last Captain
Jacks men were engaged building
rock fortifcations, and the soldiers
were making every preparation for a
fight. Colonel Mason was encamped
at Hospital Rock. The other camps
wer,' 40 situated as to prevent tho
Modocs from escaping. The claim Of
Captain Jack to obtain possession Of
Hot Creek and Cottonwood, now oc.
cupied by Fairchild and Doris, at
the interview on Friday last, showed
his determination to provoke high
words, as a pretence for perpetrating
the most cowardly and treacherous
massacre ever recorded in the annals
of Amcrica.--N Y: Her2la.
JOINT RESOLUTION Requiring
all Persons Holding Claims Against
the County Of Abbeville, to Regis
ter the same with the Treasurer Of
said County.
Be it resolved by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the
State of Sou. b Carolina now met and
c;tt;np in Goner.I Assembly and bv