The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-14
THE MODOC SAvAGEs.
History OF Their Depredations and
Massacres-slaug or Emigrants in
1S52-A Fearful Retrtbution and N
Lesson Remembered

history OF Their DepredatiOns and
Massacres-slaugh or Emigrants in
1s52-A Fearful Retribution and n
Lesson Remembered.
The depredations of the Modocs on Immigrants
and settlers commenced as far back as 1851 when
an expedition was got up against them by Ben
Wright an old mountaineer and trapper Ii was
intended TO chantise them for q raid which they
mad made on the cattle ranches OF the whites but
the results were Insignificant. Few, If any, OF the
Indians were killed. During the following wear a
large number OF Western men sought Northern
California and Southern Oregon by the trail through
the Modoc country. The Modocs attempted to stop
this immigration by an indiscriminate massacre OF
men, women and children. Word reaching Yreka
OF these slaughters. Ben Wright organized second
expedition against the savagcs. 1t was Joined by
two companies, one of which was organized in
oregon. Wright with his company was the first to
reach the scene OF the massacre and to bring re-
lief to the despairing emgrants. The scene OF the
slaughter extended from the natural bridge on
Aosl ftiVer 70 what has been known ever since as
BLOODY POINT
On the eastern border OF Tue Lake, a distance OF
nfteen miles, over the entire OF this distance were
found the dead and mutnated bodies OF men
women ana children The greatest slaughters
however had occurred at Bloody Point high
bluff OF rocks over which the trail passed from the
At Its southern extremity this ledge rose out OF the
water; but diverging in its course from the lake "a
1t assembled northward. there was narrow strip
OF land between 1t and the water. The Indians
concealed themselves in the rocks, so as not 20 be
seen by the immigrants. When a train OF the latter
had come over the bluff and reached the lakes
edge the Indians would rush with
WAR wHooP
from their concealment and drive the train on the
narrow slip OF land between the ledge and the
iake. Having them thus corraed the Modocs pro-
ceeueu 70 massacre them at their leisure as a
butcher would slaughter corral fun OF untamed
cattle. In this way one whole train was murdered
another train was corralled for massacre, but for
tunately Wright's force arrived I'm time To save
them from their fate. lie heaped on the Indians n
SerrlDle retrlbution. In hand.tohand encounter
WIN Iorty-seven savages all except seven OF the
ousky warriors were cold and stark in death al the
ehd OF the nght. This experience seems TO have
taught the Modocs a lesson they did nor soon for
get We hear OF no further depredatious com.
United by them until the Summer OF 1850 who,
Ihey made raid into Shasta Valley and drove or
Q lot OF stock. This was the occasion OF
THE MoDoC WAR OF 1856.
In July OF that year a force was organized in
Yreka to chastse the Modocs for the THEFT they had
committed in the earlier part OF the season. The
force consisted OF three companies all under the
command OF General J. d. Cosby. There was not
much hghtlng done, but Cosby claimed TO nave
brought the enemy to terms and made treaty
with them. What the terms OF the treaty were
never clearly appeared Whatever was accom-
plished however, long period ensued during
which the Modocs did not harass the settlers In
any shape, but the settlers were still at long dig
lance from the Modoc country. !
THE STEELE TREATY or 1894 -
Mr.. Elijah steele, OF Ygeka one Of the late Peace |