Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-06-10
Massacre Of Seventeen MOdOc IN,
dians by a Party Of Oregon
Volunteers.
Neither the Prayers, Entreaties
nor Tears Of the Women and
Children Availed.
Fairchild's IntercessiOn Disre'
garded-A Scene Of BIOOdshed
Never to be Forgotten.
THE NroDOC PRISONERS.

sula, June 9Th. Soon after the arrival
of the MOdOe prisoners in this camp,
| General Davis sent word to the settlers
of Tule Lake and the Lost river coun-
try that he desired them to come and
identify the murderers ia the band,
and the property. Among those who
responded to the call were Mrs. Boldly
and daughter, and Mrs. Sehiers, two
women who were widowed by the Mo
docs. Boldly and Schiers took up three
quarter sections of land near the mouth
of Lost river last August, with their
families, and settled in the country. On
the morning of November 18th Captain
Jacksonis command attacked Jack and
his party on Lost river, and compelled
them to retire. HOoka Jim and his
party were on the north side of the river
from Jack, but knew of his defeat. They
were murdered by Hooka Jim and
his associates. The agent of the YainOx
reservation had promised them that
any offensive movement against the In
dians should be made known to
the settlers in time to afford the set
tiers an opportunity to obtain refuge. The
messenger sent by the agent failed in his
duty, thereby facilitating the massacre.
The arrival of Mr.. Boddy's team with
the driver, and the blood on the wagon,
was the first intimation Of the terrible
tragedy. These poor women, who ar
rived before noon, found the dead bod
les. They also met the Modocs HOoka
Jim, Long Jim, Curley-headed Doctor,
One-eyed Nose Rock, Dave Humph,
and Mrs. Hooka Jim, who were impli-
Gated in the crime. While the Indians
had gone to the house to find more
male victims the women escaped.
They travelled day and night and suffered
many hardships, and reached Mr.. Van
Rapp's in a completely exhausted con-
ditiOn. The general received the women
kindly, assigned them tent and prom
ised to assist them in the recovery of the
stolen goods. This morning Hooka Jim
and Steamboat Frank were taken to the
tent occupied by the women and Hooka
Jim was identified by Mrs. Boldly as
one of the Indians concerned in the
massacre. He said Long Jim took the
long purse containing eight hundred
dollars, and he took the short purse.
The women here became excited,
and Mrs. Schiera drew pistol and start
ed for Steamboat Frank, and Mrs. Bad
ding drew knife and dashed at HOoka
Jim. General Davis stepped in at this
moment and secured both weapons.
During the struggle the general received
a slight cut in the palm of his hand and
near the thumb. 1t gals Jack and his
comrades to see Hooka Jim and Frank
travelling to and fro at will and in arms.
This afternoon he became greatly eX-
cited and gave vent to his rage in fiery
Oration, be raising in chains with
Schonchin and reeited his grievances.
An officer of the guard came
in and compelled him to 0esist. There
are now thirteen Modocs under guard.
June General Davis proposes to
march to Klamath, to Warner, to Har-
ney, and to Walla Walla, for the purpose
of intimidating bad Indians.
FAIRCHILD'S June s, 2 a. IN.
At eight o'clock yesterday morning
John Fairchild and Brother Bunges, to-
gether with Bogus Charley and ex-Sher-
iff Shack Nasty Jim, left here with the
Modoc prisoners captured in this neigh
borhood for Boyle's camp, on the penin-
sula. This morning at three O'Clock
other Indians were lurking in this vicin-
ity, and viii likely be captured IN a few
days. -
MoDoC PRISONERS.
SAN Francisco, June 9.-Dispatches
from BOyle's camp, dated yesterday re-
late the particulars of the atrocious mas
sacre of Modoc prisoners, supposed by
Oregon volunteers. Saturday morning
John and Jas. Fairchild and about twelve
other men left Fairchild's ranch. Cotton
Wood creek, with seventeen Modoc cap
tives, women and children, including
Setback Nasty Jim, Bogus Charley, Te-
hee Jack, Pony and Little John. The
Indians were in a wagon, drawn by four
mules. At the crossing of Lost river the
party encountered the Oregon volunteers
under command of Captain Hizier. The
soldiers gathered about the wagon
and questioned Fairchild. The latter |
told them that the MOdOcs were all Hot |
Creeks, except Little John, and that
there were no charges against them. |
Fairchild undertook to push on to |
Boyle's camp, and the volunteers re-
tired to camp near Crowleys. In |
the road he noticed two men ahead |
riding toward Rocky Point, as if to in
tercept him. When the team approached |
one of the men presented a needle gun |
at Fairchild, and said: "Get down, you |
old white-headed s-n of a b-h.n "By |
what authority?" said Fairchild. "By |
mine; am going to kill the Indians |
and you, too" was the reply. The |
leader then caught hold of the mules,
unhitched them and cut their harness,
Fairchild, clingiDg to the lines leaped to |
the ground. The poor wretches implored |
the men for mercy, and begged Fair
child to save them. The warriors were |
unarmed, and knew that resistance was |
useless. They were the coolest in the |
party, though fearing inevitable death, |
but the women and children shrieked, |
groaned and wept piteously. Faircbild |
had nothing but a small pistol with |
him. Six inches from his ears was the |
muzZle of a needle gun. He says the |
tears came to his eyes, and that he min |
gled his voice with those of the Modocs |
in the hope that the massacre might be |
avoided. "Oh, it was a terrible scene,n |
said Fairchild. az never shall forget it. |
l shudder when 1 think of what | saw
and heard; the piteous voices of the |
women and children are still ringing in |
my ears; but the cowardly hounds were
not to be baulked.n A shot, and Little |
John lay dead in the bed OF the wagon.
A ball had penetrated his brain. The
mules dashed away with Fairchilds, and |
tangled him in the lines. Five more shots |
in succession, and Tehee Jack, Pony, and |
MOoch, the remaining warriors, were
dead. Little Johns squaw had fright |
full wound in the shoulder. Away ahead
in the road in the direction of Boyle's /
camp was cloud of dust, indicating the
approach of a team. The murderers
espied the dust, and in q moment were
riding rapidly away. Sergeant Muir
ply, of battery q, Fourth artillery, with |
ten men and teamsters, came by with a |
team. The sergeant took charge of af-
fairs, and remained with his men on the
ground. Fai 5nild and the teamster,
with the wounded squaW and her two
children, came in at two O'Clock this
morning. Fairchild reached General
Davis's headquarters and related his
story, when teams, with an es-
cort, were at once sent after
the prisoners, dead and alive, |
No steps have been taken for the appre-
hension of the felons who performed
the bloody work. 1t is generally SUD-
posed that the Oregon volunteers are
the guilty parties. Fairchild is of that
opinion himself The warriors killed
were not charged with the murders, and
those who knew them best say thew
have only participated in open fights. !
Every one here condemns the affair as
atrocious and without excuse. There is
no doubt but that the murders were car
ried out upon carefully arranged plan.
as Fairchild noticed borsemen on the
road ahead and behind him when the
shots were fired. Had John Fairchild
instead of James been present another
murder might have been added to the
list, as the Oregonians ar very bitter
in thar hafrad Of Tohro o,..t. Al \ =