The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-10

shifting sand, but he will find the Asiatic
railway opposed by the sand storm of the
desert steppe which will fill up his railway
channel faster than he can open il, and so
constantly impede transit as to render it un-
safe and improbable.
II Russia embarks her vast capital in the
building Of the Orenburg and Calcutta rail-
way it can be from some other reason than
the profit of the mere Asiatic trade, and her
Interior aim will be to enrich herself with the
s'barbaric gold Of the East and the absorb
ton Of o part or the whole of British India,
with the world renowned wealth
of Ormuz and the Ind.
The historian has remarked that the Caucasus,
with the Caspian and Black Seas, form huge
csA-de-sac, across whose mouth nearly all the
invaders who have entered Europe have passed.
It may be it is also through the same region
that the tide Of Asiatic invasion will reHow,
and, in this point of view, the moves now
being made on the Central Asian chessboard
by the two greatest powers Of Europe, each
aiming to secure an overland railway to India,
acquire Importance and significance.
The nIodoc Massacrc-Natural Result
OF Our Indian Policy.
Another tale of blood comes to us over the
wires from Oregon. James Fairchild, it APP
pears, was conveying seventeen Modoc pris-
oners, among whom were some squaws and
children, to his ranch for safe keeping. He
had with him guard of twelve men, the pris-
oners being huddled together in o wagon. On
the why they encountered party Of Oregon
volunteers, who made several inquiries about
the captives, the answer being that there were
no charges against them, although among them
we're the notorious Bogus Charley and Shack
Nasty Jim. 1t appears that Fairchild then
pushed on with his prisoners, leaving the
guard behind He was next stopped by two
men, supposed to be Oregon volunteers, one
Of whom pointed q needlegun OF his head,
while the other cut the traces of the mules
attached to the wagon and the frightened ami
mails galloped Off dragging their driver
with them. The two men then fred
q number of shots into the crowded
wagon, killing four Modoc braves and dam
gerously wounding squaw. The approach
of party of soldiers prevented further
massacre. Previous to this tragedy we are
told of desperate attempt made by two
Oregon women to kill the murderers of their
husbands when confronted with them in pres
ence Of General Davis.
Both stories give unquestionable evidence of
the excited feelings of the settlers against the
,oJ ~ ~
their hands, and the fear lest false, nay, GRIM
inal philanthropy at Washington, may sue
coed in saving Captain Jack and his brother
cutthroats from the gallows. Had General
Davis been allowed to mete out swift
justice to these wretches the present mas
sacre would not have occurred We are also
told that the arch-murderers, Captain Jack and
Schonchin, declare their innocence Of the
death of General Candy, but lay the blame on
the sboys'' and on some mythical Klamath
chief who led them astray 1t is not unlikely
that they may find powerful advocates in
Washington, ready to testify to their previous
good character and to excuse the late I'M
pleasantness. When all these things are con-
sidered it is not surprising that the settlers
should be very much inclined to take the law
into their own hands when opportunity offers.
They look upon the captive Modocs as a set of
incarnate fends for whom death is but mild
punishment, and forget entirely the feelings
Of those tender-hearted advisers of the gov ern-
ment who regard the savages only as erring
children. The massacre is both lamentable
and disgraceful; but the responsibility for it
rests in great part with the government, which
pursues such puerile policy in dealing with In
dian murderers. The speedy execution of the
ringleaders in the lava bed tragedies will tend
to allay the angry passions of the Oregon
settlers. Should that not take place we would
not be surprised to hear of o general massacre
of redskins in that region ere many days pass
over.
The POlaris Mysteries.