The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1873-05-15

May LIST being the time fixed by the member
of the Rhode Island Ten-Hour Association fo
a strike in all the cotton and wooden mills il
the State heretofore working Ga to 66 hour.
per week, most of the operators left work Al
O'Clock that evening, instead of remaining
until 6ls or Z, as the regular time might be
Some trouble was apprehe but no acts Of
violence were committed. The owners have
adopted no concerted plan of action. 1t is sale
that the cotton mills will shut down tcmpora
rily if there is trouble in getting help to run
on the present basis.
The funeral services over the remains of the
late Hon. James Brooks took place in New
York City on the 4th. Large numbers were in
| attendance, among whom were several Con-
grcssmen.
The West.
San Francisco dispatches of the Goth bring
intelligence of another terrible encounter with
the Modocs. On the Goth Reconnaissance was
made by two batteries Of artillery and one
company OF infantry Under command of Capt.
Thomas. The party proceeded in the direc-
ton of the Modoc stronghold and advanced
without hesitation until they reached the blum
south of the lava beds, when the Modocs OPEN
ed murderous fire, driving the troops to seek
shelter in the crevices and chaslns. As soon
as information was received at headquarters
relative to the peril Of the troops, aid was at
once pushed forward to their rescue,
four companies 1eing ordered out.
Strctcllcrs for the conveyance of the
wounded were also forwarded. The loss
OF our troops was very large in proportion to
the number engaged, among the killed being
Captain Thomas and Lieutenant Howe, of the
Fourth Artillery, and Lieutenant Wright, If
the Twelfth Infantry. supposed to be MORALLY
wounded. The Modocs, it is stated, were
armed with Spencer carbncs and breech-load.
ing muskets.
Governor Beveridge, of Illinois, has issued a
proclamation setting apart the 3Oth day of
May as decoration day, and inviting all loyal
citizens to devote the day to acts to commem-
crate the glorious deeds of the nations dead.
Market Hall, in Iowa City, was burned on
the 18th, and five persons We're buried by the
falling walls, twp o. whom, Robert Love and
George Andrews (colored), died soon after be-
ing taken out from the ruins. Mr.. Hart,
University law-student from COmanche. Iowa,
- "ssS "ouIN NV sNINNc. Lie
had their limbs broken, but were not other
wise seriously injured.
Additional details concerning the recent
unfortunate encounter with the Modocs ut the
lava beds state that the accommodating party
comprised sixty-nine men-forty nine of whom
were either killed or wounded. The object of
the expedition was mainly to find out how the
Modocs were situated, and whether the mortars
could be brought up and used effectively against
them. As the troops approached the cave in
the lava beds, the command was brought to a
halt and the men allowed to take a rest While
in this position, the Indians opened fire from
bluff to the eastward of where the troops
were stationed Capt. Thomas Immediately
threw his men into diminishing order, with
Lieut.. Wrght's company on the right. Tne
latter, however, had not got into position be-
fore they We're fankca to the right by party
of fourteen other Indians, that had come up to
the advance of those who had fired first. The
cross fire on Wright's men proved very demon
alizng, and they broke back in confusion,
leaving their gallant leader in an exposed con-
dition, and supported by a few of his non
commissioned officers. In the meantime an
othNi t'htS VI 1LNlttNS ODtdlIlcu II
position to the left, and opened a raking fire
on the two batteries of artillery. 1t was a
fearful trap, and the first four shots were only
fired to draw the troops more directly between
the fire of the twenty-four Indians on the right
and left. The rout was complete. The Off
GERS and non-commissioned officers mostly lay
stretched on the rocks with their life blood
ebbing fast away, and confused and democrat
lied as they were, the men became an easy
prey to the Modocs, who, confident in the pro-
lection of their native rocks, shot them
down like so many frightened deer.
The officers killed are, Captain Evan Thomas,
Fourth Artillery; Lieutenant Albion Howe,
Fourth Artillery; Lieutenant Thomas Wright,
Twelfth Infantry, and Lieutenant Arthur
Cranston, of Battery A, is missing probably
killed. The Indian loss could not be ascer-
tanned, as their dead and wounded were
secreted in the caves. Colonel Green, in an
official Dispatch containing the report of the
disaster, says: "Justice to the memory of the
gallant dead compels us to record the following
wcll-authenticated facts: When Capt. Thomas
found himself and his men surrounded by the
vindictive foe, true to his nature as soldier,
he sought to cheer the soldiers on to the bitter
end, obtain, if possible, life for life, and sell
their lives dearly, saying: Men, we are sur
rounded. We must fight and die like soldiers
In his noble efforts to sustain the courage of
his small command, he was ably seconded by
Lieut.. Howe and Lieut.. Wright After receiv-
ing his mortal wound he buried his gold watch
and chain among the rocks and empticd his re-
volver among the enemy before dying. If liv-
ing, he would also write in terms well deserved
the praise of Lieut. Harris, who was similarly
situated"
More Indian troubles are apprehended in
California. A dispatch from Yreka, 10Th,
says the people of that place and SCOTS Valley
are arming, and apprehensive of a general
Indian war. The ladies have taken measures
to send the sick and wounded lint, bandages,
fruit and other necessaries. The settlers in the
valleys of Oregon above the lake and lava bed
are getting out with their cattle and property,
and are afraid to remain longer.
Commodore A. NJ. Smith, United States
Navy, who was in command of the frigatc
Congress when she was sunk by the Merrimac,
died at st. Louis, on the 3Oth ult., aged 20
years.
The following decision in reference to the
new postal cards has been made public by the
Third Assistant Postmaster General: Postal
cards that have been once properly transmitted
through the mail, and the stamp thereon can
celed, can, after their being returned to the
sender in sealed envelope with remittance, be
transmitted to the person originally addressed,
with the word "Paid' stamped or endorsed
thereon, by placing upon the card one-cent
adhesive stamp. The Postmaster General de-
cides that no discount can be allowed to pur-
chasers or agents who desire to keep postal
cards on hand for sale to the public.
The report of the special commission at
Vienna appointed by the President to examine
into the alleged irregularities of the original
commission, is to the effect that some of the
suspended commissioners appear to be impli-
Gated on charges of improperly receiving
money. 1t leaves the following persons free
from the charge of any irregularity, viz: DR..