The Van Buren press., 1873-04-29
NO..
THE M0D0CS.
More Troops to the Front-Fears Enter.
tanned of General Indian War.
Aodoe Rannsrs Spreading Disafection
The Strongho!ds and Caves OF
the .Assassins.
san FRANcIsco, April 10.

SAN FRANcIsco, April 10.
Dispatches reaching California this
evening say that Colonel Mendenhalrs
battery Of two officers and sixty men, on
toot and Captain Haslonck's battery OF
three officers and seventy three men,
mounted, accompanied by the battery,
left at one o'clock this afternoon for Ft.
Cook, in the northeastern part OF the
country, about eighty miles from this
point. There are fears Of a general In
dian outbreak in that country, should the
Modocs make their escape TO that sec
ton Troops will be ready to pursue
the Iuiians and protect settlers. A
daily line OF couriers will bo established.
Dispatches just received from Yreka
are follows: Mr. j X. Sutterrall, who
arrived last evening from Orleans, says:
The Indians of klamath and Salmon
seem fully posted in the Modoc war, even
bettar than the whites. One Indian told
him that he had seen Modoe who told
him all about the fight. 1t is evident
that Modoc runners visited the tribes OF
northern California and southern Oregon.
The people Of klamath and Delnorte
counties, however, apprehend no out
break at present. Armed citizens left
for the front this morning to bring in
the body of Hovey. From Mr.. S;udley,
reliable gentleman, who has been
through the lava country, we learn that
there is a large cave six miles from the
late Modoc stronghold, in a southerly d.
rection, which has been taken by the In
dians. This cave will be harder to ap-
proaeh, and will protect them much bet
ter from shells, and is amply supplied
with wood and food animals, but, ac-
eording to his recollection, nearly half
mile from water. There are great
nanny lesser caves and crevices, but no
water A circuit of thirty miles, he
thinks, would have to be made to get
guns and supplies to the new stronghold
which the rascals now hold possession
Of.
Professor Hayden, the United States
geologist who explored the lava bed, has
laid before the President maps and pho
tographs OF that region, and the Profes
sor, together with his assistant superin-
tendent, James Stephenson, will have an
interview with Mr., Delano, and will give
their personal recollections Of the char
acterstics of the lava bed. 1t extends
irregularly all the way from about the
Three Tilers west to the Pacific ocean,
about six hundred miles. They are Gov
cred with sagc-brush and small vegeta-
ton, aud abound in small game, being
peculiar for the multitude Of rabbits and
large lizard that take refuge in holes
and crevices OF the rocks. The rock 10
Of basaltc formation that appears to
have been east upon the bed Of some lake,
and is cracked in all directions, until it
forms a net work Of assures. varying in
depth from ten to sixty feet. Large num-
bers of tributaries Of the Columbia river
flow through this region, and the water
washes out the soft formation beneath
the rock, and great caverns ere found ex-
tending for many miles around the open
ing at various places, into the assures in
the rock. In one instance river has
been traced some sixty miles beneath
these lava beds, without ever appearing
within sight Of the surface. The sides
Of tho assures in the rock are generally
rough and irregular, so as to atlord
good foothold in ascending and descend
ing from the cracks and cavcrns, Water
is abundant, and it appears to be folly
to talk of starving out the Modocs.
When the snow mclts in tho mountains
they have more fear from being drowned
out by the streams than any other cause.
Up to the present time no courier has
arrived from Yreka. James Wheeler ar
rived from Balts tonight. There is con-
siderable uneasiness among the settlers
regarding the Modecs gettin out Of Lava.
bed fearing they may raid over into
Shasta valley. Mrs Meachanu, wife Of
the commissioner who started for the
front Tuesday, was not permitted to 60
any farther than Balts, as it is thought
unsafe for a lady to proceed farther, and
she then went to Lenkyillc. Mr.. Mea-
cham's condition was favorable at last
accounts Nearly all the horses at Balts
were down with the epizootic. The dis
ease is spreading toward Lavabed. From
the fact that SO many hors are sick it
may become difficult to obtain them for
courier communication.
san FRAYcIsco, April 20.
A dispatch from Yreka says that Frank
Merritt had. Jus. arrived from the front,
having left at two O'Clock FRIDAY eve
ming. He reports the Indians still in the
lava bed. Some Modocs having been
seen where young Hovey was shot, and
evidently keeping open the communica-
ton with the lake for water, number OF
shots were fired along the route just be-
fore he left The troops are still remain
ing in the lava beds Colonel Persy and
one hundred men started the morning
Merritt left for the south side OF the lava
beds to cut off the Indians rom the
springs The Indian found in Jacks
cave is Scar Faced Charley without doubt
from the description given, and was dead
instead of wounded as before stated. Eu-
gene Hovey's body was buried near the
camp Friday. II was so horribly mutt
lated as to be scarcely recognizable.
Merritt says that the epizootiS has not
reached the froat, but is bad at Bats
place.
~ IL