New-York tribune., 1873-05-06
LIE RIPOI

In view of the manifest desire for correct
information on the subject of tho Modoo war ana lts
ergn and Of the general uncertainty ana misappre-
henson which exist AZ 10 its connection WIN ana chect
upon the Presidents Indian policy the Board OF Indian
Commissioners deem il proper to submit TO the public
xncb facts from official sources and such other consdera
ous as seem pertinent to proper understanding OF the
matter:
The country Of the Modocs situated just east Of the
Cascade range Of mountains and south Of the boundary
line between California and Oregon. 1t constitutes
Aasn without apparent water outlet the drainage OF
which forms a number OF lakes, Lake Rhet being the
argcst The area Is about 40 by CO miles, by far the
rgest part of which covered with volcanic OF basaltc
socks and the lakes with their marginal marshes. Some
o. the rocky parts extremely rough The material
seems to havo poured in melted state into the
tasn when its formed lake OF great Depth ana
Being RAPIDLY cooled by the waters cracked into innu-
aerabe masses and blocks The subsequent sinking OF
tue surface OF the lake. the action of the waves FOR
ong period upon the gradually encrOaching shore aud
the action OF water from the slopes and from the
melting SHOWS finding It's channels for ages IN the bot
tom cracks and crcvces formed in cooling, nave
washed out the alluyial foundation upon which the
rocks were originally deposited, and tumOled them Into
the confusion which renders the place so effective
stronghold for Indians The surface Of tho lowest OF
the present lakes 400 feet above the sea level ana
ewing to ITS elevation of the land Is suitable Tor
general agricultural purposes but It's comparatively
sheltered position; les nutritious grasses ROOTS ana
berries; abundance Of wocus and other Seeds ana
Of game and the wild fowl ana fish which frequent
surface abound Ia the waters OF the lakes make II
q very choice home for Indians.
THE KLAMATH RESERVATION.
The Klamatus ana Snakes occupied country chiefly
north OF this aud OF the California lne which included
both OF the klamath lakes and previous 10 1861 ali these
Indians had for years warning With the whites III
was during that war the murders" now charged
against the Modocs were committed. In 1854 special u
,t.sta apuf md m
made settiug apart Tor the Kamaths, SDaSes, nnd
Modocs, the present klamath reservation, per TINS
treaty The Indians eeded 70 the United States FROM
1900 to square miles OF territory for tie comparS
lively small OF $l7Ooo appropriated to the Ranaths
and MOdocs by the last Congress- which was one OF the
ttpuatious of the treaty The KlamIhs and the YdhoO-
then aud tbe Wapahpe bands Of the Snakes, and the
head chief AID that portion of the Modoes who joined III
the treaty upon the reservation according to agree
en although they received none Oi th5 Dement'S PROM
lsed by the for more than two years after
they continued and SIN continue to keep their own
Promises A portion Of the Snakes continued the
until they sublued in 1903 chiefly by the aid OF
regiment Warm Spring friendly indians aud hilmath
and MOjOc scouts these tribes being the hereditary en-
smes Of the Snakes and OF each other majority OF
The MOdOcs claimed tndt they did not join in the treaty,
and they sold their country Refusing to go
apon the reservation they remained the lands COW
eted by the whites.
SEEDS OF DIsCoED.
II will be remembered that President Grant IA pursu
ance OF the determination to reform the Indian Service
expressed his inaugural message refused 10 reappont
any Of President JOhnsouS Indian agents. As fast as
their commissions expired tdc agencies were placed in
charge Of army officers detailed Tor the duty This
intary regime was continued until civil agents could
be substituted under the present policy In the Latter
part OF 1869 tho klamath reservation was in charge OF
military officer. Tie following extract from the report
Of tho Hon. A. W. Meacham, superintendent of Indian
Affairs III Oregon, dated 1879, continues the story;
Another band the siooo. belonging bs treat, the kam1hs aPtO
Ii December resisted al eiors 20 tr1nf them put o Joy ~,
r. n T s sacoesiei removing the reservation
t t Al Molc Pons ReserySiOu provided them with
80 NJ , Tod SnJ uod.f syOIabe oanances uRsl tlem over
Csp Knapp acting Agent hey rs9snei ooa 'ls.s %SaGs
srer tatn % nea oa-ou Here aga the
% orr hen change where they wolh be
Uuaso o' - t sas Si rai aieTtoa or no. It used hea
1s aupee mistake have ben Of glo"S esnnot
blame The nisns Tor eayny gnlef Iea ln a
= Lot kef sS 70, s i,1 OF SIs Aasi 0 PAGE 81
1t Is only far gye Capt. Kuapps statement also,
which i Is follows; 49,, ,... L.. .-d ,,,, .,, ,toi
Dr. a@la'' o. y & River fr tbe Ju,o inisug item
=; % ] Sp "a Aher @ a oT 10 d1ys tney conntei TO
Seturp JOb Of Decener We returned win .S3 da1s
SsI TeI rensDed ouey the fene until April 18Th vuen
sog, t1o e 81 G. tnat time ID " roaming
country between Lost Rger anu irea.' ,ilsa '5e o. .,
subsequently tnc sdprIuuVendcut sent TWO special
roIri tioner5 to the MOdocs Lost RIVER, who made
ssSrpi that Tue Indians were wiling TO have a small
Snare of y miles square set apart tor tnen aud TO
nam at peace. Accordingly, ia his Iepois lor 1871,
ISos eomaerd st tey be sovel small reservation the
place irce ed shove ard ao pro ra doo " e ha' a'
kOoc ans ior eaPoyn a-a anntines OtleN ss me, WI
@ W ,' VII. 1ts pear them TLis rro,o
oppOa b. persons Who are 70 ontlin <e @
Tor complying ianar ~ldi
Ie t not sfsne uaress9abc tal sIea,
u extended - those people de'r' o Commissioner o.
Te ,,e Conn,s-ioner Of Indian Affairs. the Hon. +.
a walker ia hs report for 1872 age C5 speaking OF the
They settle small reservation BY them eve: Uo5e[ .
,slect irscl o. i.e M4leUr Reservation.
These recommendations were in accordance with the
peace policy ami the dictates OF common se1se as well
a. c,tnOu humanity. Neither the Board its OnCcrf,
nol a. tory f The Interior have tne slightest rea-
son f0 spu se tia any other mode OF settlement was
couemptcd until startled bY the ciCSfaphc announce
ent an lie rst collision between the troops ana the
Tndans In tine latter part of 1871 end before the Pc
c0glmendaOn could be carried Odt change TOOK pace
An the OREGON supe1ntendehSy AnG ne" W @ ul'1nN t
sScdocs 10 rho Kalnath Reservation, ana accordingly
,t 3n1rtior with them for tbs ayowcd purpose.
s ieians said IL was Of "NO use" aud refused
L. meet Lin, whereupOn ne requested tne
Suilifary officer at the nearest post 70 remove tnel
,c bly or frclby. TIc officer applied 10 az once set
nnI will "A lorce OF 50 men 10 surprise the hOaVrs
,,d n,.'.rb of 30 miles brought hun ~ Capt. Jacks
Iapld hi' hi't'h m W .,,,nanded cary in the morning Tue
Iadisis were called upon 10 surrender, and az iney
.ie ant f thcjr lodges and learned tho object or tbe
i generally eX pressed Themselves ~ will
ius 10 20 ~ klamath rdtAcr tidi uoiit tn
yTicn fney faid Gney did not want - DO Inc ohchr
eeens 10 have performed his duty-thus iar at least
with piOmpu ude aud discretion Niio "l' I'm I'm "',s s
RoiC ou = aTigced Charley leading warrior can't o.'
iron, hs tent, gun in ndnd, ~ thfcdteni1S h
ner" A leatrnInt and four bOidlers Were "lu't'u ~
advance aud him. Tue attein NIs Icstou auu
a general d I, cieuod, which several soldiers were
kilci OI wounded auC four t1dans sfclOitHu hI''u -
Indians csraueI 10 the Willows, aud the troops "'lc
1u9uy Obtgeh 10 retreat IBg camp contains hDouI 10
Or - warriors. Iie Hir having bcRdn, sJme Ol u' ~
aia1t ,et yut 20 surprise nearest settlement ie
peOpio al wlDcf. nun0pply, had not been properly
Natned OI Lle dAIRei aA ii men ana bOyH,lt ~ sn'
were killed. Inc wouIen and cniid.en we're leit uo