Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-05-21

20 miles vide, and containing tae
celebrated Lava Bsds. Thw I,
country OF theirs wAs composed "
rocky hills, fertile vallsys, lakes and
small streams swsrming with 6sbj
and was surrounded by high noun.
tsins generally heavy timbered ~ this
base. Gamc Of ell kinds was yory
plenty. The tribe was generally e.
timated at about 1000, including psn,
women and children, out Of which
about 300 were classed ne warri0rs.---
They were regarded at that time "
the most war.Iike tribe in the Statej
although by no means the most nu.
merous, and held their own agsinst
their savage neighbors. In their wars
they were invariably victorious over
the Shasta and Pitt River Indians.
Al that time they were armed almost
wholly withtheir primitive weapc ss
tho gun and the pistol not having
superseded the bow and arrow. Their |,
bow, however, wasa powerful weap-
on; the stems OF the arrows would
pull out and leave the barbed head
imbeddcd in the body of their game
or their enemy. They cultivated no
land, but subsisted upon game, fish
aud the natural roots Of the country.
Wild fowl were very abundant 10 tho
lakes, and from all these sources, they
were entirely free from want. No
tribe Of Indians had more productive
hunting grounds than the Modocs,
and they were jealous OF the immi-
grafton OF the whites, while the latter
looked with longing eyes upon their
fertile. valleys; and some cnllisions
took place. The Modocs were always
bold and willing 10 battle hand to hand.
In the year 1852 overland emigrant
trains from the east began TO pass
through their territory, and the. Mo-
docs attacked one of these trains on
tho border of Tule Lake, and with
the exception Of one man, who es-
capped, masacred every man, woman
and child. The scene of this massa-
ere has born the name OF BLOODY
Point to this day. When the man
who had escaped reached Yreka there
was great excitement. A meeting of
citizens and miners was at once called,
at which was present, and a CON-
pany of twenty-three volunteers was
raised and placed under the command
of young and adventurous man by
the name Of Ben. Wright, the expedi-
tion being fitted out and the expenses
borne by the citizens. A similar COM
pany was raised across the line in Ore
gon, under the command Of one Ross.
These two companies operated in con-
junction, but as separate commands.
Wright's force reached Bloody Point
Just in time to rescue second train,
which the Indians had enirapped and
held for thirty-six hours but beyond
protecting the road, neither Wright
nor Ross succeeded in doing much
against the Modocs. When pursued,
the Indians would fly to the Lava
Beds, the scene of the present war,
and secrete themselves in a cave,
which, from. this circumstance, has
since born the name OF 'Ben Wright's
Cave As winter approached, and
no more trains were to DO expected
that season, Wright desiring not to
return without some results 10 boast
of, arranged for 'poace talk with
the savages, on which occasion he
agreed to kill an OK 1t is well known
TO the old residents Of Yreka that his
intention was to poison the OK, and
thus dispatch them all. When this
fact became known the sensiblities Of
many residents of Yreka were severe
ly shocked, but the general tide of
opinion sustained him. This act Of
lfcucuvIy was uoso. sssiiy Pvi roruicos )
but one was substituted falling little
short of IL in atrocity. Pursuant to
agreement, the Indians came, num-
bering forty-se, en- warriors, under
command of their chief Schonchin,
the father of the Schonchin who par
ticipated in the massacre OF General
Candy and party. The two forces
encamped close together. During the
night II rained heavily, rendering tho
weapons OF the Indians useless, by
relaxing the strings and the sinews
upon the backs OF the bows. When
Wright, In the morning, saw them
standing around their fires, drying
their bows, he changed his plans, and,
instructing his men accordingly, he
advanced alone. Extending bis hand
to Schonchin, then suddenly drawing
his pistol, he shot down the unarmed
chief. This being the signal agreed
: upon, his party rushed in and butch
cred them, only seven of the Indians
escaping. know this, not only from
,, general report at Yreka, but from the
lips Of one OF Wright's men, who has
related the circumstance TO me many
times" 0..