Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-07-18
Letter from Oregon.
A"Big Talk With the Indians.


/, math, June Goth, 1878, before General
$ j. G. Davis wherein Allen David, the
Chief of the Klamaths, Sconchin, Chief
! of the Yainox Modocs, replied to the
/ charges made against them by Capt.
! Jack, that Allen David gave him en-
enlargement to go to war, and sent mes
sages to that effect by old Sconchin.
General Davis told lobe wife of Frank
Riddle, who acted as interpreter, to tell
Allen David and Sconchin the Govern
ment sent him here to fight the Modocs
and he went right at l.. Since coming,
he had heard from different sources that
Allen David had encouraged Jack to go
on the war path. He was busy when he
heard those things, but he felt as if he
would like to send some of his troops
here to give them chance if they want
ed to fight. He made these remarks to
give them opportunity to say whatever
they wanted to.
Allen David said al never advised
any Indian to 90 ON the war path. No
white man or Indian ever heard me say
any thing of that kind. | made speech
to Meacham four years ago, and said /
didn't want to make war that l never
had, nor would fight against the Whites,
and what said then stand to now. i
have always studied to live at peace with
white men. | always want to be able to
face those men who have always known
me; / am glad to face the soldier Tyee,
so that he can judge if tell the truth.
Every thing went right enough until
lately. There are men who give false
reports of what say, now General Da-
Wis will get it from my mouth and from
no one else's. This is the third time /
have held talks with white chiefs, first
with Meacham, then with Colonel Pol
lock and now with General Davis. La.
Lakes, he talked with Huntington. l
have studied and wondered for long
} time, why Captain Jack did not come
: here to live, / advised him to come, and
his Modoc relations at Yainox advised
him to come. He always turned a deaf
ear and would not listen. Now / want
to know why Captain Jack accuses me
,, on account of things he has done him.
, self. | was sure all the while that he
would have to come or that the soldiers
: would finally bring him. Captain Jack
now sees that | told him the truth. fee
that did my duty toward him in advis
ing him to come here as l did,"
In answer to question as to what the
S Klamaths had been doing while the wal
p was going on. Allen David continued
|. "When the war first broke out, was
/, sick. My heart was good towards the
+ Whites, and neither nor my people ever
J. did anything to help carry on the fight. y
d Question:" Did any klamath war
g riors say they wanted to 60 on the wal
@ path since these difficulties commenced 2
b Answer.-"All l know is that mum
r Der of my people went down to the Laws
Beds with the soldiers to help fight Cap
tain Jack"
~ Question" Did you ever ask 70
/ compensation for your services whel
F" looking after the interests of your pee
ie ple2'
10 Answer" | never asked for anythin
y from my people. did not want to b
" chief unless I could have some pay, an
~ said so at the time. | wanted the sam
81 pay that high chiefs received on othe
ei reservations"
SO Question:" How do the klamath
=; feel toward the Warm Spring Indians
70, Answer" have near relatiy
lu there, and l have always considered tbs
oi tribe as my friends"
Question. Have any Klamaths flu
H. nished ammunition to the Modocs durln
:. the war;"
y Answer.-"I don't know that OF
w ever gave them any since the war con
IN menced. If / did, would tell of it.
- don't know that any of my men ev
e followed and tried to kill any War
Spring Indians. They came and wei
as they pleased and no one molestt
~ them, that / ever heard Of"
W Question" Did you ever send al
lp message to Captain Jack during Il
u" peace talks by old Chief Sconchin? ?"
'' Answer" I didn't know that SEQ
Us schin was going, nor when he wer
:. '' Sconchin went from Yainox with NJ
" Apologize while l was here, 1 kne
,s0 nothing of his going"
De- Old Chief Sconchin was then exar
Up ined.
ON Question by General Davis" d
7as Sconchin take any message to CAPITA
ey Jack in the Lava Beds?"
ose Answer" Allen David never to
ZEN me word, and never told him when
INT was going. did not have any idea
ng going until Mr.. Apologize came aft
'W- me, was sick when they came after me
the Question" Have you men on t
led reservation named Tail, little Jim al