Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-01-08
IN THE MoDoC CAMP.
Conversation with rheir Chief-The
Indian side of the story.

CANT FAIRcHID, HOr CREeK, Dec.
| l3, l872.-The din Of preparation Is
still going on, and Captain Fairchild ID
resolved upon leaving nothing undone
toward putting the camp in detensible
condition. Fairchild's account Of his
visit TO Captain Jacks camp is quite
thrilling. The Indian camp is located
ON the edge Of Tule Lake, on the side OF
rocky slope, running down from what
is known as Van Bremer's Hill. When
Fairchilds party reached the top Of Van
Bremers Hill they were seen by the In
dians, who, not then knowing the char
acter Of the party, made preparations to
receive them with a warmth Of feeling
characteristic Of the Modocs. Arriving
at the edge OF the lava bed, Fair
child sent Indian Frank" who is
desperate warrior, ahead in the trail
to see Captain Jack. In n few moments
Captain Jack motioned to Frank TO
come TO him, and then the conversation
began. Captain Jack asked Fairchild
what he wanted TO say. Fairchild
replied that he had come TO ask il the
Indians would not go on the reservation
without further trodble. Captain Jack
promptly replied that he would not; that
war had been commenced against them
without provocation, aud they were now
going to fight it out. He was only going
to fight soldiers, however, and Fairchild
need feel no uneasiness. Fairchild then
asked what he meant by numbering the
citizens on Tule Lake. Jack replied
that he had nothing to do with that; (;
that when he found out that Black jim 3
band had been committing murders he
stopped it at once. you haven't heard
Of any murders lately, have your"
asked Captain Jack. NO. said Fair
child. "Well, you won't hear of any
more; I'm only fighting soldiers now. "
In reply TO a question as to what terms
he wanted, Jack replied: "Well, | want
the soldiers to go back to their camp at
Fort Klamath, and let me 60 back TO
the mouth of Lost river aud stay there.
If they will DO that / will stop fighting
and make peace He said that for
more than year past certain persons
about Lost river--mentiouing Ivan
Applegate, Bob Small, and others
interested in land there-have
been making efforts to force
the Modocs upon the reservation against
their will. The Indians did not want to
90. They occupied splendid tract of
country, abounding in fish and game,
and entirely free from snow and ice the
year round, and did not want to leave it,
But Applegate, who is Commissary for
the Reservation, was determined to take
them there, as Captain Jack says, so
that he might have more mouths to feed,
and thus increase the amount of the
government contract. Jack is shrewd
old Indian, and when he says this prob
ably hits the nail square on the head.
Applegate, Dyer and others connected
with the reservation kept up their efforts
for long time, and finally, through
Odeneal, Superintendent of Indian Af-
fairs, secured the order which has cul.
minated in the disturbance. Jack told
Fairchild that he and his braves would
die before they would go on the reserva-
ton and be starved to death. They
went once on the reservation three
RS ago, and this is the way Jack says
yea -efe treated: First, they were not
lhey til fall, and before going their
taken uh 'yof provisions was destroyed.
winter WI stoc. n is in Oregon, where the
ne resers1I,U .1i Ter long and the weather
snow mes a,i MA Ma When they got there
all Il thew were given t. keep them Zen, war warm
was half Of an army bl1NuAes,a 'ne I.e Mno.e
blanket being cut in Two anu maui "
ssrve two Indians. They were, prom
;sed nlenty of bread and meat put In
stea6 were fed all winter OH musty par
low and semi.putrid beef. Jack says ne
and his hand stood this treatment until
The SHOWS melted, and then one morn
inc they and their squaws and cnlldren
Iaft the reservation and went back 10
their fishing ground on Lost river, where
thew have remained ever since. Jack
saws rather an'endure this treatment
again he and all his warriors have mace
up their minds to die. Falrchlld asked
Jack how the fight begun on IhanksgiV-
inc day. He said that he and the other
Indians were asleep in their huts when
the soldiers came upon them. lie hardly
remembered what was said or done, tor
ali were greatly excited. He remembers,
however four soldiers trying to take the
onn away from Scar-Faced Charley.
Jack does not know who fired first, but
thinks Il was one Of the soldiers. Jack
laughs at the fight made by the soldiers
and saws that in his lava bed he can
whip a thousand such troops. de says
they we're clean whipped out and lett the
field in great hurry before the Indians
did. Jack says he lost one Indian killed
and had FIVE wounded. He brought all
his sauaws aud children from the camp
except two, one of them refusing to go,
having had both her children killed by
the white man Small. Jack is very bit
fer against Small, and fully confirms the
statement concerning the killing of the
children. Il Geems TO have been cruel,
wauton piece of brutality, unworthy the
age of civilization, a1d one for which
cs,oll shonld he tried for tiR life.