Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-04-18
was issued to Superintendent Ode

interview was had with the Modocs,
but they positively refused to re-
turn. Last December Captain Jack
was ordered to come in, and a mill
tary force under General Wheaton
was sent to assist in enforcing the
order. The redskin refused to obey
the order, and the troops prepared
to bring him in forcibly.
Major Green, commanding at
Camp klamath, sent thirty men I'M
der Captain Jackson to the Modoc
camp, and at the same time General
Wheaton moved toward Captain
Jacks headquarters. Captain Jack
sons force was attacked on the
march by the Indians, and after the
fight, which was not decisive either
way, Captain Jack retreated to the
lava beds, where he is now suppos-
ed to be.
Since he took up his position in
this natural fortress, he has sailed
out from time to time and plundered
and murdered to the extent of his
opportunity.
The defeat of General Wheaton
in his attempt to drive the Modocs
out, last January, is still fresh in
the public mind, and does not re-
quire to be repeated in detail. Since
then every peaceable effort that
could be made has been made to in
duce the Indian brigand to come to
terms, but without success.
The next and last recorded event
in the history Of the Modoc troubles
is the tragedy of last Saturday,
which has sent a thrill of horror
throughout the civilized world.
The effect Of the trouble with ii e
Modocs is seen in the depopulation
Of the country for many miles around
the lava beds. Many Of the Kla-
math Indians are manifesting UNI
friendly feelings toward the whites,
and the liveiest apprehenslons arc
entertained of general Indian war
in Oregon and Northern California.
Captain Jacks emissaries have been
at work among the other Modoc
tribes, and unless swift and severe
punishment follows this last outrage
they will in all probability repudi-
ate the treaty and join him in a
bloody campaign against the from
tier settlements.
THE LAVA BEDS AND CAPTAIN JACK S
GANG.
Major MacFeeley, Of Gen. Sheri
dams staff, who has seen considera-
bic service in Northern California
and Southern Oregon, among the
lava beds and in their vicinity, was
called upon yesterday by an Inter-
ocean reporter, and gave some in
formation in regard to them and
their present inhabitants which has
not hitherto been published.
"Major," said our reporter, en-
countering tho gentleman at his Of
fee on Wabash avenue, 81 under
stand you have some acquaintance
with the lava beds?"
Eyes; | have been among them,
and, in fact, all over that country"
"What sort Of 4 country is it out
there?"
otis God-torsaken country for
anybody to live in; that is, in the
beds, but there is good land outside
of them. The beds where Captain
Jack is now, or was few days ago,
are probably from sixty to seventy
five miles square, and lie just south
of the Oregon line, near Tule Lake"
"Anywhere near the Cascade
ranger"
"W ell, you might say they are on
u spur of the Cascade, but they are
west of the main range. OFF to the
west is the Coast Range, and to tell
the truth, the country is almost all
mountain and valley everywhere
around there. 1t is a wild country.
The lava beds were caused by vol
canic convulsion. The trap rock
has been violently thrown up while
heated, and as it cooled large cav
ems were formed in some places,
and in others the rock is raised in
points, knobs and various fantastic
FORMS"
cit could be ca. lily defended?"
eyes; it is natural fertilization;
almost impregnable. One man could
hold at least ten, if he knew what
he was about, and if it became too
warm for him there are dozens Of
lines of retreat through these lines
of caves"
as there any vegetation in the
lava beds?o
"They are totally destitute Of
Notwithstanding but these odd
forms of the upheayed rock, and oc-
casionally small body of water
Taken as q whole, 1t is about the
widest and most dcsolate region l
have ever seem"
GLOW about Captain jacks es-
cape, if he wished to leave?"
Gle would have no trouble at all
in leaving. He might leave half a
dozen men there to keep up appear
ances, and e'off to the mountains
with the rest of his band days be-
fore any one outside knew anything
about it. And that is what think
he will do, or has done already
You can't surround the whole bed,
and if any place is left open he could
very easily make his way to it,
of he was shut in moderately
close, how could he get provisions?"
81 think he is pretty well provis-
toned now. You could take whole
herds of cattle in there and keep
them in the valleys or. underground
passages in perfect safety. 1t is my
opinion that that is what he has
done already"
~Iavc you ever had any expert
ence with the Modocs?"
81 have had some"
care they very wild as ruler"
"Somc Of them are what might be
called decent for Indians, but this
band of Captain jacks is the worst
lot Of Indians that ever got togeth-
er. They are all half civilized, and
speak pretty good English. They
learned it from hanging SO much
around the settlements. THIS tribe
that Captain Jack leads is made up
of the worst kind of thieves, MUIR