Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-04-18
MoDoC BUTCHERY.
General Candy and Commissioner
Thomas Treacherous1y Murdered.

LAVA BED, Apr. IL, via YREKA,
Apr. l2.-Yesterday afternoon five
Indians and four squaws came into
our camp, and were made presents
of clothing and provisions by the
Peace Commission, and a message
was sent out by the Commission
asking for a talk this morning, at a
point about mile from our picket
line. Later in theaevening Bogus
Charley came in, and told the pick
ct that he could take his gun; that
he Charley did not intend to go
back any more. The picket brought
him in and took him to the tent of
General Candy, where Charley left
his gun and remained at the tent of
Frank Riddle during the night
This morning Boston Charley came
in and told the Commission that
Captain Jack and five other Indians
would meet the Commission outside
our lines. Boston and Bogus then
mounted a horse and started for the
lava bed. About an hour after their
departure General Candy, DR..
Thomas, Mr.. A. b. Meacham and
Mr.. Dyar, with Frank Riddle and
his squaw for interpreters, started
for the place appointed.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE SIG
NAL STATION.
The party arrived at the appoint
ed place, and were closely watched
by the signal officer, Lieutenant
Adams, from the signal station on
the hill overlooking our camp
About half an hour after the party
had arrived, a cry from the signal
station was heard. saying that the
Indians had attacked the Peace
Comm ssion, and that an engage
ment had commenced between the
Indians and Colonel Mason.
THE TROOPS UNDER ARMS.
In 4 moment the troops were I'M
der arms, and detailed as skirmish-
ers under command Of Col. Green,
and orders were given to forward
double quick.
THE TALE OF THE MASSACRE.
Very shortly after Mr.. Dyar re-
turned and told us that the Indians
had attacked them, and that he
thought that he was the only one
who had escaped; butt in few mo-
ments after Riddle and his squaw
were seen within the picket line
From him we gather the following
account of how the massacre com
menced: Commissioner Meacham
made a short speech to the Indians,
followed by General Candy and then
DIR. Thomas. Then Captain Jack
made a speech, asking for Hot Greek
and Cottonwood, the places now oc-
cupied by Fairchild and Dorr, for a
reservation. Mr.. Meacham told
Jack that it was not possible to give
him what he asked. Schonchin told
Meacham to say no more, that he
(Meacham) had said enough upon
that subject, and while Schonchin
was speaking Captain Jack got up
and walked behind the others, and
turned back and exc.aiming, "All
ready" fired his pistol, and snapped
a cap at General Candy, cooked his
pistol again and fired at General
Candy, who fell dead, shot under
the right eye. Schonchin then shot
Meacham in the shoulder and head,
but he is still alive. Boston Char
ley and another Indian shot and
killed DR.. Thomas. Hockey Jim
chased Mr.. Dyar for some distance,
but Mr.. Dyar turned upon HIM with
pistol in hand, and Jim ran back
An Indian knocked Riddles squaw
down and took her horse, but Cap
tain Jack made him return it, and
then another Indian chased Riddle
and shot at him. This last may be
taken with a grain of caution.
THE TROOPS IN THE LAVA BEDS.
The troops are now about mile
in the lava beds, lying on their arms,
and will probably advance tonight
under cover of darkness.
There are here about 800 troops
which can be brought into active
service, and it is believed they will
end the Modoc war.
No event since the assassination
of President Lincoln has excited
such an intense feeling Of eXaspera-
ton in the country at large and on
the part Of the government, as this
most foul and and dastardly murder
Of Gen. Candy and his companions,
and as in that case, the consequence
es will fall with heaviest weight up
on those whom the act was intended
to benefit. The most sweeping ret
ribution is determined upon. With
the consent of the President and
War Department, Gen. Sherman
has telegraphed an order for the
determination of the Modoc tribe.
We supplement the above with
the following succinct history of the
Modoc troubles, which we find in
the Inter- Ocean,, and also a descrip-
ton of Jacks stronghold, the lava
beds, furnished a reporter of that
paper by Major MacFeeley, Of Gen.
Sheridan's staff:
MODOC HISTORY.
The present troubles with the
Modocs, may be said to have orr gi-
mated in 1855. In that year num-
Der of the Oregon, California and
Washington Territory tribes form
Ell a combination and commenced
hostilities against the white settlers.
A force was sent there by the Gov
eminent, and the result was a par.
tial suspension of the war, the Indi-
ans still remaining in possession
of portions of the territory in which
hostilities had been carried on
Most of the other tribes were on a
quasi peace footing with the Gov
eminent, but the Modocs were de-
cidedly unfriendly, and manifested
their feelings by raids upon the