Connecticut western news., 1873-04-25
The MOdOc Massacre.
The Murder of Gen. CaMby and the Peace
 Commissions.

The horrible crime, the details of which have already reached our readers, is likely to be the death of peace com missions to warlike Indians. The gal lant and venerable soldier, General Ed ward R. s. Canby, and the zealous Peace Commissioner, Rev. Dr. Thomas, were murdered by the Modoc Indians during a peace barley. Another of the Com missioners, MT. Meacham, was danger ously, if not fatally, wounded, and the remaining Commissioner of the party, MT. Dyar, barely escaped with his life. This piece of treachery has awakened the whole country to sorrow and indig- nation.
 The history of this Modoc trouble is still fresh in the public mind. After some difficulties with the whites on the lonely border country between Califor- mia and Oregon the Modocs gained their first bloody distinction by the murder of 8 number of settlers upon Lost river. From thence the band under Captain Jack, now forever infamous in history, retired to 8 position rendered almost impregnable by nature among the lava beds near Tule Lake. Here they re- mained gathering live stock and provis- ions to their fortress and raiding on the white settlers in the vicinity for that object. At length the United States re- solved to send the army into the field against the Indians.
 For this purpose force of three hun dred men, under Colonel Gillem, pro- ceeded to attack the Indians. The na- ture of the country was evidently un- known to the commanding officers, for with this small number they undertook to storm the Indian stronghold. The sharp defeat met by the troops and the severe losses there sustained are so re- cent as merely to require notice here. Thereafter 1t was resolved to push for ward the means for attaining peace up- on 8 double basis. Three hundred ad- ditional troops, under General Canby, were hurried forward to punish the In- dians, and 8 full Peace Commission was organized to pacify them. In the meantime the Indians made sally, but were repulsed. Before the troops moved again the negotiations were open ed.
 Arrangements were speedily made for 8 surrender, in which the Indians were to be protected from the enraged Oregonians and transported to some reservation, to be fed and clothed for ever at government expense. A day was appointed and agreed to for the surrender to take place. Wagons were sent by the good-hearted Commission CTS to convey Captain Jacks baggage over the rough ground; but no signs of the Indians were discoverable. Days passed, and at length an Indian appear ed, who complained that Captain Jack and his fellows were fearful of the troops, and that they wanted to go to their old Lost river reservation. The troops under General Canby now moved forward again and commenced to en- circle the savages in their fortress. The circle was drawn gradually closer, and the Indians again professed desire for peace conferences.
 They saw the troops drawing closer and closer, and now set up new de- mand. They objected altogether to leaving the lava beds, and wanted the troops sent away. Notwithstanding this preposterous demand the kind hearted Peace Commissioners listened to the palaver of the braves. Several interviews took place. The story ot the last one tells the remainder of the narrative of indecision through kind heartedness met by duplicity and mur der. Warning of this danger does not appear to have been wanting. Riddle the interpreter, expressly stated his grave fears, but consented to accompany the too-trusting Commissioners.
 In order that we might have nothing wanting to show how deliberately planned was this massacre, we learr from the surviving Commissioner, MT Dyar, that Captain Jack himself freG the signal shot, and with his own weapon took the life of the brave and good hearted soldier whose name was terrible to the nations enemies in our civil war Falling there, by such base hands, we must honor his memory, as though ht had died in the saddle leading charge in some great battle whose thunders shook the world. He fell at his post O. duty, the noblest place where man cal fall. Mingled with the sorrow whicl will spread through all classes of tht people at his loss will be pang of in dignation at the temporizing and mis taken policy to which he owed his death