The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-28
The Modoc War-Our Corrcspondent'a
Interview with Captain Jack.

l
1t is inexpressibly refreshing to turn from
the wearying front of Credit Mobiler knavery
and the fatiguing farce of it's trial in Congress
to the manly doings of Captain Jack. Senator
Nye, of Nevada, has said that 'the country
is sick of these investigations" and so it is.
We must take the Senator's word for it. He
is such an honest, conscientious, scrupulous,
dignifed, and, above all, such moral man
that we are fain to believe him. The
country is sick of seeing fraud exposed,
but never punished, of seeing such
polished ornament of Congress as
''Jlm" Nye shrug his shoulders and
utter words worthy of an ex-convict Thieves
are long ago sick of having their conduct
investigated, and receivers and receivers
friends hold a similar opinion. It is refreshing,
indeed, to turn from the close, foggy corrup-
tion-laden air of Congress to take in draught
of the bracing Californian atmosphere, where
Captain Jack, in his lava beds, bids defiance to
Indian agents and other robbers and despoil-
ers Of his simple rights.
In another part of the HERALD will
be found the despatch from our special
correspondent at the seat of the Modoc
war, wildly describing his experience
of the Indian stronghold and also his
interview with the Modoc leader, Captain
Jack The feat which he has accomplished
is no inconsiderable one, and will remain as
o record Of that daring which is peculiarly
the attribute of the HERALD correspondent in
the pursuit of his duty. The instances where
an exercise of similar dash and tact is called
for nearer home in the HERALD service are
many; but it is not often that they can boast
of such surroundings as those which make the
HERALD correspondents work among the
Modocs verge towards genuine heroism. 1t
will be recalled that Mr.. Meacham, in charge
of the Peace Commission arrangements,
strenuously objected to the presence OF
HERALD correspondent in the company of
those deputed to seek Captain Jack and
arrange for meeting and council between the
whites and the reds. 1t may here be remarked
that what followed justified in great meas
ure the dislike of Mr.. Meacham to newspaper
men going among the Indians Captain Jack
and his friends had, in fact, much to say of
Mr.. Meacham that the latter would be far from
happy to see made public. It would, thought
Mr.. Meacham, be the correct plan to tell the
HERALD correspondent that all the information
good for anything should filter through him.
1t probably entered dimly into Mr.. Meacham's
mind that he could play the Morales role with
our correspondent in Cuba, and with better
effect. 1t was miserable failure, however,
like the terrifying effort of his prototype The
HERALD correspondent could not see that
Mr.. Meacham had power to interfere with
his going and coming, and so he took
counsel of his own common sense to carry out
his mission. BY diverting suspicion from his
movements he was enabled the next day to
trail the footprints in the snow made by the
deputed settlers and squaws on their way to
the lava beds. He overlook the party just as
they had entered the Indian territory and was
soon in the presence of the man he had
travelled four thousand miles to see.
1t is not every day that the Modoc chicf
could expect the honor of visit from q
HERALD correspondent, and he and his braves
appeared deeply touched by the attention
which our representatives presence made
manifest. They sent a messenger post haste
to the wikkiup of Modoc Dave, where
our correspondent had his temporary
headquarters, requesting his assistance and
presence in the weird recesses of the council
cave. There he heard their. stories, their
plaints their resolves and their desires, and
had from the terrible Captain Jack himself
the sad history of their treatment by the
agents, military and settlers, who tried to
make life as miserable for these children of
poor Lo as possible. The victor of the terri
BILE battle of the 18th ult., speaking in his i'm
pregnable fortress, which the God of the Uni
verse made thousands of years ago for his
use, had no particular exultation to indulge in.
There was, to be sure. strain of fine sarcasm
in his saying that it was his desire to ''gas''
before fighting, rather than after it, as the
white men now proposed. It was, no doubt, in
o similar spirit that he regretted MIR. Meacham's
dislike to travelling in the lava beds. He did
not like Meacham; for 10 him Meacham was a
man with two hearts and two tongues-in
other words, treacherous friend, and there
fore, the thing of all things Objectionable to
an Indian. That the tribe was moved three
times from place to place in the Winter season,
left without supply of food, and only given
half q blanket each, with none for the squaws
or children, are certainly facts deplorable in
themselves The right of an Indian to his
reservation until he is moved from it by
proper treaty or Legislative means is the base
Of the present peace policy; but three movings
in the Winter season are the very negative of
this. Moreover, that they were swindled by
rascally Indian agents is clear, if their story
is true Half blanket each for the men, and
none for the women and children, and their
being compelled to eat their horses, and dig