Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-06-18
AtroCious Murder of Cap
tive MOdOCS
A Horrible Sickening Scene.

SAN FRANCISCO, JUNE "a dis
patch from Boyle's Camp, dated yes
terday relates the particulars of an
atrocious massacre of Modoc prisoners
by supposed Oregon volunteers:
Saturday morning John James Fair
child and about dozen other men left
Fairchild's ranch on Cottonwood creek
with II Modoc captves, some of them
women and children including Schnack
nasty Jim, Bogus Charley, Techee
Jack, Pony and Little John. The
Indians were in wagon drawn by
four mules At the crossing Of lost
river the party encountered Oregon
volunteers under Captain Histon. The
soldiers gathered about the wagon and
questioned Farchild. The latter told
them the Modocs were all Hot Greeks
except Little John aud that they were
no charges against them. Farchild
undertook TO push on Boyle's Camp
and the volunteers retired to camp near
Crowley's- On the road he noticed
several men ahead riding to Rock
Point, as if to intercept him. When
the team approached one Of them pre-
sented a needle gun at Faircbild's
head, saying ''Get down you white
headed s. of a b." "By what au-
thority' said Fairchild, 'By mine.
am going to kill these Indians and you
too,' was the reply. Their leader
caught hold of the mules, unhitched
them and cut the harness Fairchild
clinsing to the lines leaped to the
ground. The poor Indian wretches
impIored for mercy and begged Fair
child to save them. The warriors were
unarmed and knew that resistance was
useless. They were the coolest ip the
party, though facing inevitable death,
but the woman and children shrieked.
groaned and wept piteously. Fair
child had nothing but small pistol
and six inches from his head was the
muzzle of needle gun He says, with
tears his eyes, he mingled his voice
with that Of the Modocs, IN hopes the
massacre might be avoided 1T was
terrible scene [ never shall forget
it. | shuddder when I think of what
[ saw and heard the fearful voices
of those women and children, bathed
in tears; but the cowardly hounds were
not baked, and shot Little John, who
soon lay dead in the bottom of the
wagon with bullet in his brain"
The mules ran away with Fairchild
and tangled him in the reins. Five
more shots were fred in rapid success
sion. Techee Jack, Pony and the
remaining Modocs were dead. Little
Johns squaw had frightful wound
In the shoulder. Away ahead in the
road, in the direction of Boyle's Camp,
was cloud of dust, indicating the
approach of team. The murderers
espied the dust and in a minute was
riding rapidly away. Sergeant Mur-
ply, of Battery G, 4th artillery, with
ten men and teamsters, came by the
team. The Sergeant took charge Of
affairs and remained with his men on
the ground. Fairchild and his team
ster, the wounded squaw and her chill
dren came on. At 2 o'clock this morn
ing Falrchild reached Generali Davis
headquarters and related his story.
Teams with escort, were at once sent
out after the prisoners, dead and alive.
No steps have been taken for the
apprehension of the felons who perform
ed the bloody work. 1t is generally
supposed the Oregon volunteers are
the guilty parties. Fairchild is of that
opinion himself. The warriors killed
were not charged with murder. Those
who knew them best know they have
only participated in open fights. Ev-
cry one here condemns the affair as
atrocious and without excuse. There
is no doubt but the murders were car.
ried out on carefully arranged plan,
as Fairchild saw horsemen on the road
ahead and behind him when the shots
were fired. Had John Fairch Id, in
stead of James, been the person, anoth-
er murder might have been added to
the list, as the Oregonians are bitter in
the hatred Of John. the old man, and
other Californians.
BoYLE's CAMP, Jure s, 3 NJ.
In an interview between General
Davis, Captain Sock and Schonchin,
just terminated, the Modoc Chief says
he was melted to his cruel warfare by
Allan David, Chief Of the Kalmaths.
He also denied having killed General
Candy, and laid the blame on his boys.
Schonchin told the same story.
FIRES. "A fire in San Francisco,
Sunday morning, destroyed the Office