Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-06-19


takes the oath that he believes he can
render an impartial verdict on the
evidence. i.i % .r-.iiall='fii ti--a
OutdOne by Whites--Mas-
sacre of Five Indian Pris-
Oners by Oregonians.
SAN Francisco, June 9.-Dispatch-
es from Boyle's Camp, dated yester-
day, relate the particulars of an afro
cious massacre of Modoc prisoners, sup
posed to have been perpetrated by Or
egon volunteers. On Saturday NOR
ming James Fairchild and about a doz-
en- other men left Fairchild's Ranch,
Cottonwood Creek, with seventeen Mo-
doc captives, including women and
children, and Shack Nasty Jim, Bogus
Charley, Tehee Jack, Pony, and Little
John. The Indians Were in wagon
drawn by four mules. AT the crossing
of Lost River the party encountered
body Of Oregon volunteers, under COM
mand of Capt. Hiser. The. soldiers
gathered about the wagon and ques-
toned Fairehild. The latter told them
the Indians were all Hot, Creeks oex-
cept Little John, and that there Were
no charges against them. Fairchild
undertook to push on to Boyle's camp,
and the volunteers retired to. their
camp, near ,Crawleys. On the road,
Fairchild noticed two men akead, ri
ding to Rocky Point, as if to intercept
him. When the team approached the
two men, one of them presented nee
dle-gun at Faircbild, saying, SECT
down, you old white headed -----,---- :. :" .
"By what authority?" asked Fairchild.
"By mine. am going to kill the In
dians, and you too" was the reply.
The leader caught hold of the mules
and unhitched them, cutting the har7
ness. Fairchild, cliuging to the lines,
leaped to the ground. ..,, - y,to,
The poor wretches implored for mer-
cy, and begged Fairchild to save them.
The warriors were unarmed and knew
4
that resistance, was useless. They were
the coolest in the party, although ia
cling inevitable death, but the women
and children shrieked, groaned, and
wept piteousIy. Fairchild had moth
ing but a small pistol, and six inches
from his ear was the muzzle of a nee
dle-gun. He says that the tears came
into his eyes, and that he mingled his
entreaties with those of the ;Modocs, in
hopes that the massacre might be
avoided. He adds: i""It was a horrible
scene; one never shall forget, I shud-
der when / think what 1 saw and
heard. The. fearful voices of those
women and children still ring in my
ears" t.t.. ..f.... ,,,.,,;.,,... -
But the eowardly hounds were not
to be baked. A shot, and Little John
lay dead in the wagon v it'll a bullet in
his brain. The mules dashed away
with Fairchild, who became entangled
in the lines Five more shots were
fred in rapid succession, by which Te-
hee jack Pony, and Mooch were kill
ed, and Little, Johns squaw frightfully
wounded in the shoulder. qlrB qt..ti
1H Away ahead on the read, in the di-
rection OF Boyle's Camp, a cloud OF
dust was perceived, indicating the ap-
proaeh of a team. The murderers es-
pied the dust and shortly afterward
were riding rapidly away. Sergeant
Murphy, of Battery g, Fourth Artil-
lery, with ten men and "a ateamster,
came up to the scene of the massacre.
The Sergeant took charge of affairs and
remained with his men ON heground.
Fairchild, a teamster, and the woun-
ded squaw with her two children, came
in at 2 O'Clock this morning. FairchiId
reached Gen. Davis headquarters and
related his story. Teams with an es-
cort,, were at once sent to- bring the
prisoners, dead and aiive..n No steps
were taken for the apprehension of the
felons inexperienced the bloody work.
1t.is generally sdpposedithat the gull
tya abartiess We're OREGON volunteers
The warriors Killed were hot charged
with murder. Those who Know them
best say that they have only partieipa-
ted in open fights. Every one here
condemns tlle afriir' as atrocious and
without excuse e.''li' % % "h's -" J =