New-York tribune., 1873-06-21
THE MODOO MASSACRE.
PEACE COMMISSIONER MEACHAMs FIRST
STATEMENT

OF TIiE Mullins FAfTH ~ THE PEACE POLICY
UKsHARsN.
Among the witnesses in the trial Of the captured
Moocs soon to take place, It is safe to say that the
most important is Mr. A. b. Meacham' who was
Chairman of the Peace Commission to treat with
the tribe. and who so narrowly escaped the fate OF
his fellow Commissioners, Gen. Candy and DR.
Thomas. Mr. Meacham arrived in this city on
Thursday, returning from Washington on his way
10 Yreka. and thence to Fort Klamath. where the
military commission is to sit. Although IL is but
little more than two months since the day OF the
massacre, Nj. MeaCham's wounds have almost all
healed. and although much wasted from
his former bulk he ia restored 70 some
thing ike his former activity The rghI
hand, the nerves Of which were Paraiy%eu
by the passage OF ball through the wrist De can
barely close, hut can make no use OF IT, ne iore-
finger OF the left haud is still swollen aEd tenoer
aud is twice its natural SIZE. Ims the uoouors
wished 10 amputate. but they proposed 70 take
away so mrcb of She hand that the wounded man
did not tiiniit wise for him TO risk the operation
1b,r,, ,tiIi remains slight scar on the forehead
from a ball which fortunately glanced of, and on
th i,ht side of the head there is lump raised 10y
similar shot Other wounds received on the ear
m tbe side. and elsewhere have entirely healed MI
Meachams weight IS reduced from 19O pounds or
more 10 "a pounds. but hc seems in fair way TO
REGAIN his old strength.
With Characteristic reserve the Peace Commis-
,ioner has rcfraiucd from making any state
nruts oi ANY kind since the massacre Having now
visited the seal of government and conferred with
the proper officials there he probably feels that
there is less necessity for preserving silence in re-
card 10 the eventful history in which he took so
prominent part, and lis statements made TO aTmB-
rR reporter Yesterday. are his first utterances on
she subject since the day of the tragedy. His express
sions are OF the interest. since it Is evident
that his iR in the Peace Policy has not been in the
csst .h ken by Iadian treachery and that he cher
tshes no yindicdve feelings toward the men who
covered lis body with wounds and were only stayed
IN their purposes Of Inutilaton by the fancied ap-
PrOdch of troops.
CIRCUMSTANCES OF TTIE MASSACRE.
The three Commissioners went into the confer
rnce taking their lives in their hands. Frank Rid
de the Interpreter and his wife, who knew the
men they went to meet tried all means 10 dssuade
them from going. and Mr.. RIeacham says that
Modoc brought word from his camp TO Riddles
tquaw, warning them of their danger. But even
this had 10 effect on either Cen Candy OF DR..
Thomas. The spirit Of the latter although perhaps
not that Of a practical man well acquainted with
Indian character, was most lofty. In response to
the entreates Of Mr.. Meacham, whose experience
with Indians taught him that these warnings had
truth in them, his reply was, in substance:
God wiz call me at his proper time.
II he desires me 10 offer my life in
this manner shall not withhold it."
Both he and Gen. Candy were firm in the refusal To
Permit any member Of the party TO carry arms,
there was q stipulation to the contrary, or to allow
auv promises to be made 20 the Indians for tenn
porarv purposes that werc not meant TO be fulfilled
Mr. NeaCham followed she only course in honor left
open to him. He could not, as Chairman Of the
Commission say peremptOrily 10 two older and
more distinguished men than himself, "YOu shall
not co;n he could not remain behind while they
ven-ured alone into danger. He accepted the in
evitable and went. lie naturally regrets now that
he did not refuse to permit the conference whatever
might have been the consequences 10 himself
The meeting took place IN an open space, pre-
yiousy marked by the erection Of white
tent around wfich gathered the group
ss closely as a circle Of friends in drawng-room.
Tie talk went on Tor some time without accident
incident Mr.. Mcachan, Eocnly On the watch, saw
fUil 20 minutes before ANY shot was fred that
trouble was brewing, and saw it in an event that
would have seemed meaningless TO any one unused
70 Indian WAYS. He had left his horse united, and
had hung hls coat Oh she saddle. Hooker Jim tied
the horse and taking the coat from its place pnt it
or buttoncd il up carefully 10 the chin, and strut
ted before a companion, saying: Me old MeaCham
now Think look like old man Meacham 2" This
sudden outbreak Of insOlence first awakened bis
suspicious. After the interval of about 20 minutes
Jack rose and moved back little from the circle,
with his side TO Gen. Candy and bis hand in his
breast. This, Mr.. Meacham thinks, was the signal
FOR otbeTs 10 draw near, IS two MOdocs came run
ming up with guns in their hands. Seeing their ap-
proach all sprsng TO their feet, and Meacham cried,
Jack. what does this mean p "KGRtupiel
ODD IaF orF@ @Ia Mo1oc oh ff4iu be
swung out his arm and snapped his revolver at Gen.
Candy. Then began the fight, the story Of which
has already been told Mr.. Meacham was shot by
sehonchiu irst, who leaped at him with a revolver
IN one hand and knife glittering bOve his head in
the other. lie afterward became the target Of
nearly ~ shots he thinks all Of which fired AT
arrange Of less than haif-a-dozen yards BY mar
Veous good fortune none of them entered the skull
A. he lay stunned tho Indians had sufficient time to
s'np him Of his clothing and were attempting to
get hs scalp when Riddles squaw, who seems 10
have been ready woman cried "SOldiers!" and
the Modocs fled IN fright. The scarcity of bis hair
on which be had then bis first cause of cOngratula-
non was the of this delay, but the ingenious
savage rather than lose such trophy. evidently
preparing TO take the scalp from the side Of the
head by this expedient gaining the additional orna
ment Of an ear.
PROBABLE RESULT or TRIAL.
or the issue of the trial Of course nothing be
known beforehand, but Mr. Meaehsm expresses no
doubt that such Of the ModOcs as were directly
guilty Of participation in the assassination will be
convicted and n convicted, will, of course, be exc
cnted. II by any means they should escape punish
Inent he says that he should have grave fears for
the result both upon the people of Oregon and the
Indians Gov. Growers demand for the custody of
the prisoners has given him great deal of popu-