Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-06-26
MEAcsiAM'S ACCOUNT OF THE CAN,
BY.THOMAS MASSACRE.

Mr.. Meacham, one Of the victims
of Captain Jacks treachery, has Civ.
en- to the New York Tribune
a very graphic account of the mas
sacre in which he SO narrowly escap-
ed with his life. He says:
The three Co commissioners went in.
to the conference taking their lives
in their hands. Frank Riddle, the
interpreter, and his wife, who knew
the men they went to meet, tried all
means to dissuade them from going
and Mr.. Meacham says that Mo.
doc bro ught word from his camp to
Riddles squaw, warning item oftheil
danger. But even this had no effect
on either. General Candy or DIR.
Thomas. The spirit of the latter
although perhaps not that of "a man
we'll acquainted with Indian charac
ter was most lofty. In response te
the entreatIes of Mr.. Meacham, whose
experience with Indians taught him
that these warnings had truth in
them, his reply was, in substance
"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 were
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 promise:
to be made to the Indians for TEN
porary purposes that were not meant
to be fulfilled. Mr. Meacham fol
lowed the only course in honor lef
open to him. He could not.as chair
man Of the Commission,say peremp
torily to two older and more distin
guished men than himself: "Yor
shall not co." he could not remain
behind while they ventured alone
into danger. He accepted the inevi
table and went. He naturally re
grets, now, that he did not refuse tc
permit the conference, whatever
might have been the consequences
to himself. The meeting took place
in an open space, previously marked
by the erection of a white tent
around which gathered the group,a.
closely as a circle of friends in {
drawing-room. The talk went OF
for some time without accident OF
incident. Mfr Meacham, keenly on
the watch, saw full twenty minutes
before any shot was fred that troub
lie was brewing,an saw it in an event
that was meaningless to any one un
used to Indian ways. He had lefl
his horse united, and had hung his
coat on the saddle. Hooker jim
tied the horse, and taking the coa1
from its place put it on, buttoned it
up carefully to the chin, and strutted
before a companion, saying. Me
old Meacham now. Think 1 look
like old man Meacham?' This sud
den outbreak of insolence first awak
ened his suspicious. After the in.
terval of about twenty minutes Jack
rose and moved back a little from the
circle with his side TO General Can
by and his hand in his breast. This
Mr.. Meacham thinks, was the signal
for others to draw near, as two Mo.
docs came running up with tlleil
guns. Seeing their approach all
sprang to their feet, and Meacham
cried, "Jack, what does this mean?'
"Kauturie! All readyr'-yelled out
the Modoc chieftain. as he swung
out his arm and snapped his revol.
yer at General Candy. Then began
the fight, the story which has already
been told. Mr.. Meacham was shot
bySchonchin first, who leaped at him
With a revolver in one hand and a
knife glittsring above his head in
the other. As he lay stunned, the
Indians had sufficient time to strip
him of his clothing, and were at
tempting to get his scalp VIII en- Rid
dies squaw, who seems to have been
q ready woman, cried "Soldiersr'
and the Modocs fed IN fright.