National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-07-04

Peace C0mmisstOner Meacham's First
S(atememt.

Gen. Candy and DR.. Thomas. Mr.
Meacham arrived in New York on Thurs
day, returning from Washington on his
way to Yreba, and thence to Fort kla
math, where the military commission IL
to sit Although it is but little more
than two months since the day OF the
massacre, Mr.. Meacham's wounds have
almost oil healed, and although much
wasted from his former bulk, he is re-
stored to something like his former
ACTIVITY. The right hand, the nerves
of which were paralyzed by the passage
of bal! through the wrist, he can bare
ly close, but can make no use OF it. The
forefinger of the left hand is still swoll.
en- and tender, and is twice its natural
size. This the doctors wished to am
putate, but they proposed to take away
SO much of the hand that the wounded
man did not think it wise for him to
risk the operation. There still remains
slight scar on the forehead from ball
which fortunately glanced off, and on
the right side of the head there is n
lump raised by similar shot. Other
wounds received on the ear, in the SIDE
and elsewhere have entirely healed.
Mr.. Meachams weight is reduced from
100 pounds or more to 154 | ounds, but
he seems in fair way to regain his old
strength.
With characteristic reserve the Peace
Commissioner has refrained from max
ing any statements of any kind since
the massacre. Having now visited the
seat of government and conferred with
the proper officials there, he probably
feels that there is less necessity for pre-
serving silence in regard to the event
full history in which he took so promi-
nent part, and his statements made to
"A Tribune reporter, are his first utter
ances on the subject since the day OF
the tragedy.
The three Commissioners went into
the conference taking their lives il
their hands. Frank Riddle, the inter
prefer, and his wife, who knew the men
they went to meet, tried all means
to dissuade them from going, and Mr.
Meacham says that Modoc brought
word from his camp to Riddles squaw,
warning them of their danger. Bur
even this had no effect on either Gen
Candy or DR.. Thomas. The spirit OF
the latter, although perhaps not that OF
a practical man well acquainted with
Indian character was most lofty. H.
response to the eDtreaties of Mr..
Meachan, whose experience with Indians
taught him that these warnings had
truth in them, his reply was, in sub
stance "God will call me at his proper
time. If he desires me to offer my life
in this manner | shall not withhold it. "
Both he and General Candy We're firm
in the refusal to permit any member OF
the party to carry arms, as there was a
stipulation to the contrary, or to allow
any promises to be made to the Indians
for temporary purposes that were not
meant to be fulfilled. Mr.. Meacham
followed the only course in honor left
open to him. He could not, as Chair
man of the Commission, say peremp-
torily to two older and more distin
gushed men than himself, :" You shall
not go ;" he could not remain behind
while they ventured alone into danger
He accepted the inevitable and went.
He naturally regrets, now, that he did
not refuse to permit the conference,
whatever might have been the conse.
quences to himself. The meeting took
place in an open space, previously
marked by the erection of white tent,
around which gathered the group as
closely MS circle of friends in draw
ing groom. The talk went on for some
time without accident or incident Mr.
Meacham, keenly on the watch, saw
full 20 minutes before any shot was
fired that trouble was brewing, and saw
it in an event that would have seemed
meaningless to any one unused to
Indian ways. He had left his horse I'M
tied, and had hung his coat on the sad
die. Hooker Jim tied the horse, and
taking the coat from its place put it on,
buttoned it up carefully to the chin,
and struttered before a companion, say.
ing "Me old Meacham now. Think !
look like old man Meacham ?"
This sudden outbreak of insolence
first awakened his suspicious. After
the interval of about 20 minutes Jack
rose and moved back little from the
circle, with his side to Gen. Candy and
his hand in his breast. This, Mr..
Meacham thinks, was the signal for
Others to draw near, as two Modocs
came running up with guns in their
hands. Seeing their approach all sprang
to their feet, and Meacham cried,
Jack, what does this mean" "Kau-
turie All ready !" yelled out the No,
doc chieftain, as he swung ous his arm
and snapped his revolver at Gen Candy.
Then began the fight. the story of which
has already been told. Mr.. Meacham
was shot by Schonchin first, who leaped |
at him with revolver in one hand and |
a knife glittering above his head in the |
other. He afterward became the target
of nearly 20 shots, he thinks, all OF
which were fired at range of less than
half-a-dozen yards. BY marvellous
good fortune, none of them entered the
skull. AS he lay stunned, the Indians
had sufficient time to strip him of his
clothing, and were attempting to get
his scalp when Riddles squaw, who
seems to have been a ready woman,
cried "Soldiers !" and the Modocs fled |
in fright. The scarcity of his hair, on
which he had then his first cause of con-
was the reason of this de-
lay, but the ingenious savage, rather
than lose such trophy, was evidently
to take the scalp from the
side of the head, by this expedient
gaining the additional ornament of an
ear.
Perhaps the most remarkable fact to
be noticed in Mr.. Meacham's bearing is
the absence of anything like revenge
full feeling toward his would-be assas-
si.s. Although they had inflicted nearly
half score of wounds upon mis- body,
and had left him for dead on the ground
Of the massacre, he expresses no desire
for anything but Justice as the issue,
and speaksof the Modocs with calmness
and moderation, while the wounds OF
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