Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-05-01
STACKING AND CRUEL MASSACRE.

The pipe of peace was smoked and
the discussion as to the terms to be OBJ
served by either party was i'll progress,
when suddenly Wright gave his men
signal which had been prearranged, and
drawing his revolver, fired point blank
at the Indian who stood nearest, killing
him instantly Quickly following the
report of Wright's pistol came the sharp
cracking of twenty ether revolvers, and
in less than a minute eighteen victims of
the white mans treachery were rolling
on the ground in the expiring throes of
mortal agony. Several of the Indian
party, who either through chance or be-
cause they suspected treachery, had re-
NAMED at some little distance from
where this original ''Peace Commission"
was transacting its business, succeeded
they had sent few yengeful arrows
whizzing among their enemies, two of
whom were seriously wounded.
THE CHILDREN OF THAT DAY THE WAR
RI0RS OF THIS.
So persisted, perhaps, the fathers.
uncles or other relatives of the very
men who last week planned add execut-
ed the bloody deed which has reused a
cry of indignation in every civilized land
and demand for the total extinction of
the tribe of Modocs. Captain Jack was
then a boy of but nine years John
Schonchin was nineteen; Boston Charley
was an infant, only year old and
Hooker Jim about the same age. But it
is probable that the story of the base
treachery to which their kinsmen fell
victims, and the duty of avenging it,
was early instilled in their hearts; that
the desire for revenge grew with their
growth and strengthened with their
strength, and that the murder of Candy
and Thomas was but the contamination
of the vengeance for which their savage
souls had long thirsted. Certain it is
that if their vengeance had slumbered
long. its execution was fearful and
bloody.
THE TREACHERY REwADED.
Captain Wright and his command
having carried out their atrocious pro-
gramme as arranged at Yreka, scalped
the murdered Modocs and returned to
Yreka, fourishing the bloody trophies
and boasting of their cowardly and
treacherous deed Their wounded COM
rades were borne on stretchers on horses
hacks. The residents of Yreka, who
probably at the time were not aware of
the disgraceful treachery attending the
killing Of the MOdOcs, were over
joyed at the death of so many of
the dreaded sayages. The people turned
out e1t mGSSe to welcome the return of
the valorous warriors. A public rccep-
ton was held in their honor, the pro-
prietOr of the Yreka Hotel having thrown
open his house for the purpose. Songs.
were sung by Dave Helm and ethers,
toasts were drank and speeches were
made in honor of Ben Wright and his
men, whose praises were on every
tongue. The occasion was one of UNI
restrained rejoicing and hilarity and the
festivities were kept mp far into the
night.
A MoDoC CHIEF wREAKs VENGEANCE ON
BEN WRIGHT.
Ben Wright remained the hero of the
hour until after the first flush of eX-
element and rejoicing at the destruction
of so many ModocS passed off, and in
their sober second thought people began
to realize the character of the deed that
had been done by Wright and his men.
Then revulsiOn of feeling seized many
minds, and they heartily condemned and
despised Wright and his fellows for their
base treachery. But there were others
who sustained Wright, contending th@G
the end justified the means. So strong
was the influence of the latter class that
they secured for Wright an appoint
ment as Indian agent, with his posi- near
the mouth of the Rogue river From
the day of the massacre of. the Modocs
Wright had been fearful of being repaid
in kind by some vengeful member of the
tribe. He took every possible precsu-
ton against the vengeance that his fears
suggested, but he
NEVER FELT ENTIRELY SAFE.
His fears proved well-founded. One
dark night, while the doors of his house
were securely locked and barricaded. as
he supposed, he laid down with. his arms
beside him.. to sleep But TIE shadow
OF the avenger bTooded over his cabin.
While he hay buried in slumber the
avengefuf Modocs came upon him.
Chief f>nos" gained access to his cabin
with a few conventions aud NTrirAt