The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-10-16
THE MODOCS.
Another Account of their Execution.

Shortly after reveille this morning
| accompanied Lieutenant Taylor 10
the guard honse, and after securing
the services of Scarfaced Charley as
an interpreter, we went into the large
cell and informed Barncho and Slo
lux of the Communication of their sen.
tences. They did not show the
slightest emotion at their escape
from the jaws of death, and Barncho
simply remarked, "It is good"
Captain Jack and Schonchin were
in the next cell, and l walked in to
see them. Captain Jack was look.
ing very much pulled down, and had
evidently not given up all hopes of a
reprieve. Somebody asked him for
his autograph, and he mechanically
made number of crosses on some
sheets of writing paper that were
furnished for the purpose.
Boston Charley and Black Jim
were then brought out of their cells,
and the blacksmiths set to work, and
after knocking off the shackles that
bound them together, riveted new
set on each man. We were then
called back into Captain Jacks cell,
as he wished to know what the writ.
ing was for, and through the medium
of Boston Charley, he was told ii
was simply to have some remem.
brance of his handiwork. He was
evidently rather disappointed as he
still had hopes of being pardoned.-
Shortly after 8 a. m. the troops were
paraded in front of their quarters
and at half.past 8 q. m, the process
sion formed in front of the guard
house, that was to escort them to the
gallows.
The howls of the women relativel
Of the condemned were then distinct
ly heard as they came from the
stockade. The other prisoners
Curly Headed Doctor and the Los,
River murderers-were then remov
ed fl ON the guard house to tht
stockade. At half.past nine tn,
wagon and four horses were drawr
up in front OF the guard house anG
the condemned were brought out
Black Jim got in first, followed BY
Boston Charley, Schonchin and
Capt. Jack. The great chief looked
rather sick, and had to be helped in
to the cart. The drums then rolled
out the funeral march, and the pro
cession moved on to the gallows.-
The cavalry led, with the infantry
on guard around the wagon.
At ten minutes to ten the wagon
halted behind the scaffold, and they
got out. Boston Charley and Black
Jim mounted the stairs first, and
were placed on the left hand side OF
platform, facing north. Capt. Jack
came up next, and was evid, ntly
very weak, requiring assistance to
get up; and Schonchin came last.
Capt. Jack took the position on the
extreme right, with Schonchin next,
Black Jim next and Boston Charley
on the extreme left. They were
then all seated, and the four men on
duty proceeded to pinion their arms
and legs. TIE latter were fastened
just above the knees. Capt. Jack
wore striped linen shirt and pair
OF gray pants. Schonchin wore a
dark blue shirt and army pants; and
both Black Jim and Boston Charley
were in the soldiers clothes they had
stripped from the bodies of those
killed during the war. A company
of cavalry and infantry were drawn
up in front of the square, and com.
pany Of infantry aud battery OF
light artillery occupied the right OF
square. About 500 hundred Kla.
maths then came up, led by their
chiefs, and squatted on the ground
at the north side of the square. Mrs.
Body and her daughter, and the
widows of some of the settlers on
Lost River, occupied a prominen,
position on the right. They sat on
the front seat of a high wagon.
Oliver Applegate and Dave Hill
the interpreters, then explained to
the condemned the sentence, and
the crimes for which they were
found guilty. Col. Hoge made Fl
nal inspection of the condemned, and
then went down the rear stairs of the
platform. Gen. Wheaton and the
officers of the garrison then formed
in line in front of the gallows, and
the two prisoners, Barncho and Slo,
lux, whose sentences had been com.
mIted, were also marched to the
front, with their backs to the gallows
and facing Lieut.. Kingsbury, who
then proceeded to read the charges
and findings of the military commits
sion, the approval at Washington
and the communication of the sentence
in regard to Barncho and Slolux.-
There were besides the 500 klamath
Indians, some 100 citizens present
Many Of the latter had ridden 200 OF
800 miles to witness the execution.
The reading of the sentence took
up twelve minutes of the time. The
sun was shining brightly on the
backs of the condemned, and for a
moment there was dead silence
occasionally broken by the wailine
from the timber on the right. The
Post Chaplain STOOD with his prayer
book open, behind Gen. Wheaton
and Post-Surgeon, McEllerdery
stood on the right of the line.
| The correspondents of the differ
ent journals represented were scat
tered around, holding their horses
and ready to start for their 90-mil,
ride. There was considerable com
petition among the newspapers, a
there is only one wire at jackson
vile, and the couriers must have
race for it. The dispatch will b.
carried by three men, riding 80 mile
each, and they expect to ride the o.
miles in Z hours.
] At IA minutes past 10 a. m.,. tn