The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-05-02
ANOTHER FRI6TFUL NODee MAS
SACRE.
Sixteen Soldier Heroes Murdered b,
the Modoe Indians.
The Killing Of l'apt. Thomas and sew
eral Lieutenants.
Heroic Conduct of the Gallan; 1ficers
and Soldiers.
How the News of the Fiendish Mar-
der was Received in Camp.
A Number of ModOes Killed ana
Wounded.
SEws ECON TIE ,Iopocs.

Beds, Pa reconnaissance compos-
ed of batteries X and A, 4th artil-
cry, and company L, 18th infantry,
LETT camp at 30 this morning, pro-
ceeding in the direction known to
lead to the presen, Modoc strong
hold.
Capt. Z. Thomas was in command.
A dozen or so Warm Spring Indians
were expected to cooperate on
Capt. Thomas left. The troops hay
ing formed a line of skirmishers
advanced without molestation till
they arrived at the foot OF the bluff,
south of the lava beds, having in
that no Indians could be found. On
reaching the bluff the Modocs open
ed severe fire, causing the troops
TO seek such shelter as they could
find in chasms, and as usual the foe
was unseen. So soon as Informal
ton was received at headquarters
as to the peril of the troops, aid was
at once pashed forward to their res
cue, two companies being ordered
out. two of cavalry from the camp,
and two from Col. Masons.
LATER.
Lava Beds, April 81, 80 a. M
A dispatch received from Colonel
Green, of the First cavalry, who
went cut with the reinforcements
yesterday meFafng shows the SUR
prise TO have been complete and
terribly fatal. The dispatch states
that Capt. Thomas and Lieut.. A. X.
Howe, of the 4th artillery, and
Lieut.. Wright, of the 12th-iufaatry,
are killed Lieut.. Harris, 9TH artil-
lery, badly, perhaps MORALLY wound
ed, and Lieut.. Cranstron, 4th artil-
fiery, missing.
Twenty-three are reported
wounded, in all. During the fight
a part of batteries A and *, finding
themselves in danger of being out
flanked, took shelter in a hollow af-
fording shelter to some twenty.
No sooner had they done SO than
the Indians knew it and command,
ed every egress from the cavity and
detached seven of their members on
the inside and fourteen remaining
on the other side. They opened a
cross-fire Oh the poor fellows, who
could not show head or hand with
out the certainty of being struck.
Very few escaped injury. Eighteen
were killed and wounded. 1t is
next to impossible to ascertain the
number. of Modocs killed aud
wounded.
Still. LATER.
Lava Beds, April %, p. m.-From
a second dispatch sent by Colonel
Green it appears that there are now
waiting for conveyance to camp.
sixteen men killed, including Capt.
Thomas. Lieut.. Howe, 4th artillery,
Lieut.. Wright, 18th infantry, and
eight wounded, including Lieut..
Harris, 4th artillery.
Yesterday Capt. Mckay reported
that Six Warm Spring Indians had
taken four. scalps. This may be the
whole or may be only a portion of
the killed, the Modocs being very
careful as far as possible to destroy
all traces of their casualties, bury
ing the dead i'll caves or burning
the bodies. Their wounded are in
caves and but few of them have
been seen so far.
When Capt. Thomas found him
self and men surrounded by the foe,
he sought to cheer the men on to
battle and obtain if possible life for
life, saying Men, we are sur
rounded, we must fight and die like
men," His effort to sustain the
courage of his small band was ably
seconded by Lieutenants Howe and
Wright. After receiving mortal
wound he buried his gold watch
and chain in the rocks, and emptied
his revolver among the enemy be-
fore dying. Lieut.. Harris was sim
ilarly situated as Captain Thomas,
with a portion of battery Il, 4th
artillery, and set the same example
of bravery and determination to his
men, and all fought bravely.
ReinforcemeHts sent out under
Col. Green, together with the killed
and wounded, are expected momen-
tarily. A heavy rain is now fall
ing. Every preparation is made
for their proper reception. When
the news of the massacre reached
camp, soldiers who had grown old
in the service, wept like babies at
the fate of their officers and COM
rades.
LATER-6 a. NJ, Is.
Troops with the killed and
wounded are returning. In many
instances it is difficult to recognize
the dead. but from some article
known 10 have belonged to them.
The Indian barbarity has defaced
the Iineameuts OF those who are
killed.