Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-06-14
On Behalf OF Can't. Hack.

On Behalf Of Capt. lack.
The information elected from the Depart.
msnt OF the Interior by q resolution OF the SEN
ate adopted on the sth Of January last, calling
for infor nation relative to existing dificulties
with the Modocs. is especially interesting at this
time, a. showing the origin and character of the
difficulties referred to. From the documents fur
nished to the Senate by Acting Secretary Cowen
il appears that the Modocs have been re garded as
unfritbdly ever since 1853 The Government
entered into a treaty with this tribe and the
klamuth and Yahocskin bands in 1884, when q
reservation of J6s, 900 acres of land in southern
Oregon was set apart for their use. Sometime
before 1s65, however, the Modocs, acting as they
asserted under the advice Of certain interested
whites, withdrew from the reservation and re-
turned TO their Old home near Clear Lake, sixty
miles further south. In 1866 Schonchin, who
was then principal chief, with portion of the
band, was induced TO return to the reservation.
but Capt. Jack preferred to remain on his old
trampiDg ground. In 1869 he was finally in
duced to 90 back on the reservation, but within
three months difficulty arose between the Mo-
docs and the Klamaths, and the former refused
point blank to remain any longer. In 1871 Su-
perintendent Meacham recommended the es-
taslishment of the M0docs on a small reserva-
ton lying partly in Oregon and partly in Cali
fOrnia, but no action was ever taken on his re-
commentator. In the same year commission
ers had a talk with Capt. Jack, and agreed to
allow his band to remain near Clear Lake until
further action. Superintendent Odeneal, who
succeeded Meacham, was not disposed to sane
tion this arrangement, holding that Capt Jack
by his marauding, had forfeited all claims to
consideration. On the 9th of July last, General
Walker, Commissioner Of Indian Affairs. in
strueted Superintendent Odeneal to re-
move the Modocs to the klamath res
ervation, and see that they were pro-
tected from the Klamaths. He further
said in his letter that if, in the opinion of Su-
perintendent Odeneal, it was not practicable to
remove them to this reservation, he would like
asuggestion as to where they should be located.
In his reply, Odeneal stated that the Modocs
were "despersdOes, brave, daring and reck-
less" and said he did not believe it practicable
to remove them at that season of the year, and
that should they resist he did not believe there
was military enough to coerce them. In the
same communication he said:
al think the most effectual way to bring
about a solution OF these troubles and maintain
peace is 70 take the head-men into custody, and
hold them at some point remote from their
TRIBE, until they shall agree to behave them
selves"
Il. ID. Applegate, commissary in charge of
Camp Yainax, while he thought the proposition
was worthy of serious consideration, said
But under the present understanding . .
the arrest would no doubt be regarded by the
Indians as an act of treachery on our part and
might destroy their confidence in the Indian
department 10 a great extent, and the military
might be averse 10 taking any action while they
consider the agreement made with Capt. Jack
by the late Superintendent Meacham is still in
force"
II is a remarkable fact that in a communica
ton TO Superintendent Meacham, dated Feb
ruary II, ls.2, Gen. Candy endorses the plan of
arresting Capt. Jack and the other leaders,
(Which Applegate had spoken Of as "treachery
on our part, y and says:
"n 1t could be arranged, it is my opinion that
the arrest OF Captain Jack, Black Jim, Scar
Faced Charley, Boston, and En-choaks, the
medicine-maD, would settle all trouble and |
am satisfied that, If properly planned and man
very great rick and with comparatively small
force only for the appearance Of being a
breach Of faith on the part OF the department.,
IT could have no bad influence on the other
Indians"
All attempts to induce the Modocs to 20 back
to the klamath reservation failed, and in one
OF Applegate's talks with Capt. Jack the latter
made use OF the following language:
az an veil knorn and understood by the peopte
o. frekd, California, and am governed by their
sd,tee. / do not want to live upon the reservs.
ton, Tor the Indians there are poorly clothed
suner rom munger, and even have to leave the
RESERVATION sometimes 10 make q living"
Under date OF July 8, Of the same year, Com
missioner Walker in q communication to Super
htendent Odeneal directed him ssto remove
them to the klamath reservation peaceably, IL
you possibly can, but forcibly IL you must, at
the time suggested in your report, in Septem-
Der next HoH ciH exercise your discretion about
waking arrests Of tie leaders, avoiding any unne-
cessary violence or resort to extreme measures,
subsequently Capt. Jack refused to meet Ode
neal for preparatory talk. To the messengers
Capt. Jack said:
want TO see him or TO talk with him We do
not want any white man to tell US what TO do.
Oar friends and councillors aaea an Yreka
CALIFORNIA. They tell Us TO stay where we are
and we intend to do it, and will not 20 upon the
reservation am tired Of being talked to- and
am done with talking"
In November, 1872, Superintendent Odeneal
transferred the matter Of removing the Modocs
to the military; and in a letter to Major Green.
commanding at Fort Klamath, said: ''If 1t shall
become necessary to use force, then 1 have to
request that you arrest Capt. Jack, Black jim,
and Sear-fsced Charley, and hold them in Gus
tody subject TO my order" Major Green left
with thirty cavalry on the 2sth of November
last. On the day following fight occurred be-
tween the cavalry and the Modocs and soon
after the latter murdered eleven settlers. In
concluding his communication OF the sd OF
December, Superintendent Odeneal saws:
have sufficient evidence to satisfy me that
a.,
sixty miles from Lost river, who are to a great
extent, NJ not entirely, responsible for the in
suoorulnatlon OF Capt Jacks band, and for the
present trouble with them. There are several
letters IN eNstence which 90 to show that these
men have pers uaded them to remain of the res |
eryauon' making them believe that they could |
hold the land they claim under the preemption
Jaw, N they would stay where they were but |
that II they went 70 the reservation they would |
lose al right to it. . Ii is NV experi- |
ence that ninetenths Of TIE trouble bctH Taeitans
an his sHPeTiniendency IS brought GbOat BY nsede-
some tht's ptsH glrfng them Improper adrics and
drafting iIieiily priA hem."
This data presents two facts: first, that Capt |
JACK mad good reason TO apprehend treachery |
towards him by the white officials; second that |
he was secretly instigated TO the course tia
brought him into collision with the government |
authorities by these very white men of Yreka, |
who have with interested bad faith egged on |
the cry for the determination of the Modocs. |
and who, IL the tru;h were known, very likely |