The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-06-13
BLOODY RETALIATION.

The Murders by the MOdOcs Terribly
-AvenSed-Five OF the Captured War
riors Massacred by Oregon Volunteers
The Murderers Make Good Their Es-
cape.
While a number of Modoc captives were
being removed from Fairchds rancho to
Boyle's camp, on the 9Th inst, party of
Oregon volunteers made raid and killed five
of the savages incontinently. The following
particulars of the massacre are furnishedby tele-
graph from San Francisco On Saturday morn
ing James Fairchild and about a dozen
other men left Fairchild's rancho, Cottonwood
creek, with II Modoc captives, women and
children, including Shacknasty Jim, Bogus
Charley Tehee Jack, Pony, and Little John.
The Indians were in wagon drawn by four
mules. At the crossing of Lost river the
party encountered the Oregon volunteers
under command of Capt. Hiser. The soldiers
gathered about the wagons and questioned
Fairchild. The latter told them the Modocs
were all Hot Creeks except Little John
that there were no charges against them.
Fairchild undertook to push on to Boyle's
camp and the volunteers retired to the
camp near Crawley's. On the road he noticed
two men ahead, riding to Rocky Point, al if to
intercept him. When the team approached
ing:
. Get down, you old white-headed s. of a
b." By what authority" said Fairchild.
90 BY mine. l am going to kill the Indians and
you too, was the reply Their leader caught
hold of the mules, unhitched them and cut
the harness. Pairchid, clinging to the lines,
leaped to the ground. The poor wretches i'm
plored for mercy and begged Fairchid to save
them. The warriors were unarmed, and knew
that resistance was useless. They were the
coolest in the party, though facing inevitable
death, but the women and children shrieked,
groaned, and wept piteously. Fairchild had
nothing but a small pistol. Six inches from
his ear was the muzzle of needle gun. He
says the tears came to his eyes. He mingled
his voice with those of the Modocs in the
hope that the massacre might be avoided.
"Oh, it was a terrible scene. / never
shall forget it. / shudder when / think
what saw and heard. The fearful voices of
those women and children still ring in my ears,
butthe cowardly hounds were not to be banked
A shot, and Little John lay dead in the bed of
the wagon, bullet in his BRAIN The mules
dashed away with Fairchild, and tangled him
in the lines. Five more shots in rapid sue
cession, and Tehee, Jack, Pony and Mooch,
the remaining warriors were dead. Little
Johns squaw had frightful wound i'm her
shoulder Away ahead in the road in the di-
rection of Boyle's camp was cloud of dust.
indicating the approach of a team. The mnr-
riding rapidly away. Sergt. Murphy, of bat
terry G., 4th artillery, with ten men and team
sters, came by team. The sergeant took charge
of affairs and remained with his men on the
ground. Fairchild and the teamster. the
wounded squaw and her two children.
came at two o'clock this morning. Fair
child reached Gen. Davis Headquarters
and related his story. Teams, with an escort.
were at once sent out after the prisoners.
dead and alive. No steps are taken for the
apprehension Of the felons who performed the
bloody work. 1t is generally supposed the
Oregon volunteers are the guilty parties.
Fairchild is of that opinion himself The war
riors killed were not charged with MUIR
der Those who know them best say
they have only participated in open
fight. Every one here condemns the
affair as atrocious, and without an
excuse. There is no doubt but the murders
were carried out upon carefully arranged
plan, as Fairchild noticed horsemen on the
road ahead and behind him when the shots
we're fired. Had John Fairchld instead of
James been present, another murder might
have been added to the list AZ the Oregon
ians are bitter in their hatred to John, the old
man, and other Californians.