Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-08
Indian Affairs.
THE MODOC WAR.

The San Francisco CArOnicie's special COZ
respondent, writing from Yreka, gives the
following history of tie troubles which now
figure SO largely in California dispatches.
The Modoc Indians, a tribe of which bat
a remnant remains, have long been source
of uneasiness TO the settlers in Southern Or
egon OF all the tribes they have shown tie
least disposition to abide by the ru.es o. the
Indian Department or the wishes of the citi-
zens By reason of their superior intellI-
gence and less tractable nature they have
generally managed to have their own way 50
long as they did no actual deeds OF violence.
In this way they have lived, by sutferance,
so to speak Their camp was at the IN )uth
of Lost River, where 1t empties into the
Tule or kuett Lake, and they got their living
by hunting and fishing, and Outlines by steal
ing from the settlers when they got good
chance. This past summer the country about
Rhett ard Klamath Lakes and on the banks
of Lost River has been largely settled by
people mostly from the neighborhood of Eu-
gene and Jacksonville. These people were
we'll aware of the nature of the Modocs, and
knew also Of their suppressed hostility, but
relying partly on the government and partly
on their own ability to protect themselves.
they lived in comparative peace and quiet.
The Modoc band is under command OF
Captain Jack, stalwart Indian who is well
known at this place, having come here often
| to purchase supplies of whiskey and the like,
/ | am told that Captain Jacks costume on
these visits consisted of nothing but black
silk stovepipe and gray wooden blanket.
He always carried himself rather lnsolently,
and had many a quarrel here with people
who he fanced had insulted him. The other
prominent members of the band are Scar
faced Charley, Bogus Charley, One-eyed
Waterman, the Doctor and Black Jim. The
former is an Indian of great bravery, and is
said to be desperate of the worst kind.
He. too, has often visited Yreka. He spea ks
English quite well, and at the beginning of
the trouble acted as interpreter between the
troops and Captain Jack, who is ignorant Of
the language. The other Indians, about
ninety in number are all warriors and are re-
garded as desperate men. They have repeat
ely sworn that they will never go on the
reservation on Rogue River, where the rem
nants of other tribes are fast being collected,
and it was a faal attempt on the part of the
government to put them there which has led
to the recent outbreak.
During the past summer the Mojocs III
their camp at the mouth of Lost River looked
On the increased immigration to their neigh
borhood with good deal OF jealousy. They
knew that as the country filled up they would
be compelled to give way and finally submit
to going on the reservation. In consequence
of this they soon became moro troublesome
| In their manner toward the new settlers they
were particularly insolent-generally treat
ing them in manner which implied the
most intense hatred. They would often go
to ranch in the absence OF the settler, walk
up to the fire where meal was being cooked
for his wife and children, take the provisions
and make the most .irightful threats against
the women if any opposition was shown.
They would 60 to other settlers cabins, take