New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-04-17
k'an,afD lack at Home.

SLroy.ic!e writes from the MOdoc camp
The principal portion OF the camp Is STU
| ated IN D huge opening or widening OF inc
ravine. of perhaps an acre in area. On al
sides of this opening, which eeems more
like huge wash bowl than anything else
the natural wall rises hundred feet OF
more. but it is easily scaled for the inner
aide is inclined, and the recks are sharp
and tut ont all over it. Once in this basin
there is but one open way out, and that Is
by the trail we entesed. There are other
vavs out. but they are by tunnels leading
to the many caves or sink holes III another
mart of the lava bed, aud which will be
more fully described further. On the out
! aide of the basin there il succession OF
ridges rs high as that which inclOses II,
hut these do not extend all the way around,
To the west of the basin is a flat, tHble-ike
| surface of lava, extending from the very
summit of its rim clear back for more than
| a mile. In this level place are the sink
| holes or caves formed thousands Of years
ago, perhaps in the cooling of this immense
| body of molten earth. The openings of the
holes are very small indeed, one does not
see them until he has almost fallen in.
But they widen as they go down. and their
! sides being sloping one can pick his way TO
| tbe bottom without difficulty. Most of
! these caves are connected with each other
| and with the larger basin by subterraneous
passages so that one can 60 for half mile
| III the bed without coming to the surface
! at all. This is Of incalculable benefit in
| defending the stronghold, for one man can
keep 100 at bay almost snywhere in 1t
without fear of being smoked out or having
I retreat cut Oft.
After supper, which, by the way, was
| shared with a Keen relish 10y about dozen
naked Indian babies Bogus Charley came
| and saids he would conduct as to Captain
Jack So the whole party gathered up
| their blankets aud followed. Charley led
the way right up one side OF the basin.
through little trail not easy of ascent by
| unpracticed feet, and across the level pace
about fifty ards, when We came suddenly
TO the mouth u pit hole. at least forty
feet deep. The hole inclined as it led down
ward, and at tho bottom widened and
formed perfect cave, extending under the
| rock at least fifty feet. At the mouth Of
the cave proper. but yet thirty or forty feet
below the surface, piece Of canvas was
stretched.
This was Captain Jacks front door, and
the cave behind it was his abiding place
the palace of the Modoc king. Behind the
canvas we could see bright fire burning,
and nearly the whole tribe encIrcled around
it. ready for the talk, which they knew was
TO come. The descent into the cave was
somewhat peIilous. but by vigorous cling
ing 70 The rocks and careful stepping, we
manaoed 10 reach the canvas. Then, throw
ing that back, We stood in the presence OF
Captain Jack. 1t was easily seen that he
was sick. His eyes were dull, cheeks e1na-
ciated, and he was So weak he could NOT
stand, but remained reclining on huge pie
of bearskins. with his two wives by his side.
MFR. Steele went up to him and shook hands
warmly, as did the lest of the party. Then
pass NJ CONF lete.y around the circle. al!
SHOOK hands with the entire tribe. This
ceremony lasted several minutes, and,
when finished we were furnished vii b seats
in the circle, near Captain Jack. The on y
wood in the lava bed is sage bush, but this
was piled on the fire with an unsparing
hand, and the flames shot upward and allu-
| minated the cave brilliantly. Then each
member of our party lighted his pipe, and,
| after taking q whiffor two. passed it around
| to the right, beginning with Captain Jack,
| who took Whit and passed it on to the
next. and so on. In such a large circle. of
course, one pipe full would not go round,
| and SO when it got smoked out they did
not hesitate to bring it back to be refilled
and then send it on to complete it's journey
During this ceremony not word was
spoken, and so the correspondent had
abundant time TO take look ct the saw
ages Captain Jack was the central figure,
aud attracted most attention. He is stern,
dignifed looking man, not over thirty,
though he looks older. He has good
head, though, like all Indians, the forehead
| is low. His complexion is dark, the pure
copper color; and bis eyes black, full
| and piercing. His hair Is long, hanging
down to his shoulders, and he is. of course,
destitute of al beard. His mouth is large,
| and its shape ind Gates frmDess, determi-
nation, and great deal of character. He
| was very glad to see Steele but he did not
show it by his manner. When be shook
| hands. it was with an Indifference
| that. TO one unacquainted with the Indian
| character, would seem to be absolute rude
| ness. lIo was dressed in a hickory shirt
aud was covered with blankets. Scarfaced
Charley, the next noted ono in the tribe,
has u jewish cast of COuntenance, his nose
being long and aquilne and his face thin and
narrow. He has terrible scar on his right
cheek, which, but for his natural pleasant
expression. would make his countenance
rather repulsive. He is about thirty five
Years old, and is regarded "a the bravest
Indian in the tribe. But enough has been
to his guests, and did ali he could to
make them comfortable. He was well
dressed, and all he wanted to do
was to get ont of the lava bed.
| Shack Nasty Jim is youngster of
not over twenty to twenty-five. He sat in
the circle with soldiers coat on ana
looked wise as a Judge. Hooker Jim, the
| leader of the band who committed the
murders on the east side of the lake, was
| rigged out in a cavalry jacket, army pants
| and black hat. He has a bad face, and
| though quite young. looked as if he could
be guilty of anything. He is inst now
! anxious for peace. in the hope OF getting
amnesty for his share in the massacre, and
\ is doing all he can to make treaty. The
| doctor is decidedly the worst looking man
| in the whole tribe. His face is absolutely
| deViish, narrow, contracted, with a little
| eye that twinkles its wickedness and
mouth full and sensual. IL is countenGnce
that would make any body shudder. He
had on Il straw hat. with long black
| feather in 1t, and several articles OF sol
| dier S clothing; need hardly say that all
clothing of This description was stripped
| from the bodies of the soldiers killed in tho
| late battle. Black Jim, smother of the muir
| derers, is q fine looking iel'ew, but one that
l would rather not meet alone OF a dark
| night. He wore the military cap that Cap
tain Burton lost in the fight 1t had II
bugle aud the figures twenty ono on it. He
also carried a cavalry carbine, lost on the
day of the battle. In fact, l saw quite u
number of Overwhelming muskets and
whole piles of metallic carirides, all Of
which goes to show that our troops in their
retreat must have left a god deal of war
material behind them.
4 little girl visiting Niagara with her