The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-10-10
CAPT. JACKS SUSPENSION.
The Execution Of the Modoc Murderers
at Fort klamath, as Described by an
Eye-Witness.

The Execution Of the Modoc M.rderers
Eyewitness.
fort Klamath oct 81 Cor San Francisco Bulletin.l
Boston Charley and Black Jim were
led on the scaffold first, and Schonchin
next. They trod it with apparent in
difference and iron nerve, having evil
IDENTIFY resolved to die as brave as they
have lived.
Capt Jacks thin lips were tightly
compressed, and bearing himself erect,
without trace of fear, he turned his
deep-set, glittering eyes toward the
spot where the remnant of his people,
with their wives and papoCses, stood,
with a glance firm and proud, though
sad He had grown a little feshier
during his captivity. But with his
large, well-formed head, firmly poised
on hard, sinewy shoulders, his clear-cut
features, deep-set, piercing black eyes,
commanding carriage, even on the
scaf1old his appearance was striking.
Boston Charley looked the same 1.-the,
muscular savage, cunning, daring, and
cruel, that he was the morning of the
massacre, when, having breakfasted
with good old Dr.. Thomas, he treacher-
ously shot him, and kept firing until
his pistol was empty, though the first
shot was fatal. He cast his eyes over
the scene with furtive chances, but
showed no signs of blanching
Black Jim, who assaulted Mr.. Dyar,
and who was leader of the band that
committed the massacre at Lost River,
Oregon, maintained an air of stolid i'm
FEASIBILITY. Jim was only about 30
years of age, and physically was a
splendid looking fellow, muscular and
trim built.
Schonchin, who shot and mutilated
Meacham, and though over 40 years
of age and wounded in the first fight,
proved one of the most formidable of
the band, was last on the scaffold. He
had evidently made up his mind to die
boldly, and displayed no evidence of the
least discomposure. Jack walked easily
up the scafiold stairway, but looked
wretched and miserable.
The manacles had been struck off,
but their arms were securely pinioned
with cords.
At precisely 9:45 a. M, the interpret
ers, Capt O. G. Apologize and David
Hill, explained tb the culprits the ma
ture of the order to be read to them by
the Adjutant, and at 10 a. M, Adjutant
Kingsbury read the orders promulgatnng
the sentence of the commission and the
Presidents order therein, with the orders
of the Secretary of War and the Depart
ment Commander on the premises.
The two reprieved prisoners, Barncho
and Slotuk, yet stood on the ground in
front of the scaffold, shackled and under
guard. During the reading the pinioned
victims were seated on the platform of
the scatfold, which consisted of uprights
about seven feet high, surmounted by
cross-beam thirty feet in length. The
platform was set on pine poles, eight
feet below the beam, solid at the back,
and, with a hinged drop on which all
were seated, with their feet on the drop,
listening anxiously, but, of course, not
understanding a word of it. The read
ing occupied ten minutes.
Then the Adlutant read the order Of
Communication in the case of Barncho
and Slotuk, which was issued on the
ground that they were merely acting I'M
der Capt. Jack S orders in what they did.
The poor fellows were taken back to the
stockade, evidently happy at not accom-
panying the others to the happy hunting
grounds.
The collins, six in number, had been
placed directly in the rear of the gallows,
two of them destined to be unoccupied,
rs the order committing the sentences
of Barncho and Slotuk only arrived at
1890 last evening, and preparations had
been made for them likewise. The
chaplain then offered up earnest and
fervent prayer for the souls of the cul-
prits, which was listened to attentively.
At 1915 the fatal nooses were placed
around their necks, under direction Of
Capt. Hoge. 1t was necessary to cut
of little of Jacks long hair, which was
III the way of the rope. Capt. Hoge
then bid farewell to the prisoners, and
the black caps were placed over the
heads of all the culprits 1t must have
been an awful moment.
At 1920 they stood on the drop, the
rope was cut by the assistant at signal
ma e by Capt Hoge's handkerchief.
The bodies swung round and round,
Jack and Jim apparently dying easily,
but Boston and Schonchin suffering ter
rible commissions. Boston and Schon-
chin repeatedly drew up their legs, but
the two others seemed to die almost
instantly.
As the drop fell with terribly deadly
thud four poor wretched human beings
fell into eternity, and half-smothered
cry of horror went up from the crowd of
over 800 Klamath Indians who witnessed
the awful spectacle. Walls of deep and
bitter anguish went up from the stock
ade where the wives and children of the
poor fellows had a fair view of the
shocking scene.
Our Russian Emigrants.