The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-07-04
BEN wnI0nT AND THE MoDocs.

BEN wnl0Hr AND THE aODocs.
In 1862, small train, comprising
only eighteen souls-men, women
and chiIdren--attempted to reach
Oregon by tho Rhett Lake route.
For. several day, after leaving the
valley Of Pitt River. they had travel
ed without molestation, not having
seen single Indian; when, about
midday, they struck the eastern
shore Of Rhett Lake, and imprudent-
ly camped under bluff, now known
as "Bioody Point" for dinner.
These poor people felt rejoiced TO
think that they had SO nearly reached
their destination in safety; nor dream
ed that they had reached their final
resting-place. and that soon the gray
old rocks above them were to receive
q baptism that would associate them
for ever with n cruel and wanton
massacre. Their tired cattle were
quietly grazing, aud the little party
were eating their meal in fsncied Sc
curity, when suddenly the dry sage
brush was fired, the air rang with
demoniac yells, and swartby and
painted savages poured by the score
from the rocks overhead. In few
moments the camp was filed with
them, and their bloody work was
soon ended. Only one Of that i'll
fated party escaped. Happening to
be out, picketing his horse, when the
attack was made, he sprang upon it.
bare backed, and never drew rein
until he had reached Yreka, o dis
tance Of sixty miles.
The men Of early times in these
mountains were brave and chiyal-
rons men. In less tian twenty-four
hours. q mounted force of miners,
packers, and prospectors-men who
feared lao living thiDg-were at the
scene Of the massacre. The remains
of the victims were found, shockipgly
mutilated, lying in a pile with their
broken wagons. and half charred; /;
but not an Indian could be found.
IL was not until the next year that
the Modocs were punished for this
cruel deed. An old inountaineer.
named Ben Wright-one of those
strange beings who imagine that they
are born as instruments for the full
iillment of the Red mans destiny
organized an independent company
at Yreka. in 1853, and went into the
Modoc country. The Indians were
wary. but Ben was patient and en-
during. Meeting ~ith poor success,
aud accomplishing nothing excep,
protection for incoming emigrants,
be improvised an .emigrant train
with which to decoy the enemy from
the cover of the hills and ravines.
Winding slowly among the bills and
through the sage plains, Ben's can.
yas-coyered wagons rolled quietly
along. camping at the usual water
ingpIaces. and apparently In car
less aud ungnarded way. Ever,
wagon was filed with armed men
anxious aud willing to be attacked
The ruse failed. however; for the
keen.sighted Indians soon perceived
that there were no women or childrer
with the train, and its careless move
ments were suspicious. After sew
erai months OF unsatisfactory skir.
mishing, Ben resolved on q chang,
Of tactics. Surprising small part,
of Modocs. instead OF scalping them
he took them to bis camp. treatet
them kindly. aud making them {
sort OF Peace Commission, sent then
with olive branches. in the shape o
calico and tobacco, back to theii
people. Negotiations for genera
. council to arrange treaty were
opened, Others visited the White
camp; and soon the Modocs, whit
, had but faint appreciation of thu
tortuous ways of White diplomacy
began to think that Ben was a yer,
harmless and respectable gentlem IN
A spot on the north bank of Los
River, q few hundred yards from
the Natural Bridge, was selected TO
the council. On the appointed da.
,, fifty-one Indians (about equal il
number to Wright's company at,
tended, and, as agreed upon by both
!. parties, no weapons were brought ts
the ground. A number of beeve
. had been killed, presents were dis
, tributed, and the day passed in mu
tual professions of friendship; when
Wright-whose quick. restless ey'
haa been busy--quietly filled hi
pipe, drew match, and lit it. Tbi
was the pre- concerted signal. Al
, the first little curling wreath o.
smoke went up, fifty revolvers were
drawn from their places OF conceal
ment by Wright's men, who were
, now scattered among their intended
victims; a few moments of rapid an,
deadly fighting. and only two of th
!. Modocs escaped to warn thier peo
pie!
The Scotch have given US pro
verb, that He maun hae o Ian:
/. spoon wba snps WI the dee'l;" and j
|, may be Wright thought SO. Per
haps the cruel and merciless characte
! of these Indians justities an act o
, treachery, now passed into the his
!, tory of The country; but, certainly
the deed was not calculated to In
spire the savage heart with high re
spect for the professed good fait
and fair dealing of the superior race
Ben Wright is gone now-killed b
!. an Indian bullet, while standing !
the door of his cabin, at the mout
of Rogue River. No man may judg
:. him.; but, to this hour, his name
: used by Modoc mothers to terrif
: their refractory children into obed
: eEce. The Modocs were now file
: with revenge, and their degradation
J continued, till it became absolntel
! neceasarv for the Territorial Cover