The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-06-10
WHO ARE THE SAVAGES !?
COWardly Massacre Of MOH0C
Prisoners by Oregon Volunteers.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 9.-Despatches from
Boyle's Camp yesterday, relate the particulars
ST an atroc1Ous massacre OF the MOdOc prison
ers. supposed to have been perpetrated by the
james Fairchild and about dozen other men
left Fairchild's Rancho, Cottonwood Creek,
with seventeen Modoc captves, including
women and children, Shacknasty Jim, Bogus
Charley, Tehee Jack, Pony and Little John.
The Indians were in wagon drawn by four
mules. AT the crossing at Lost River the party
encountered body of Oregon volunteers under
Capt. Haiser. The soldiers gathered about the
wagon and questioned Falrchild. The latter
told item the Indians were all Hat Creeks ex-
ceptt Little John, and there were no charges
agalnstthem. Falrchild undertook to push on
to Boyles Camp and the volunteers returned to
to their Camp near Crowley's.
On the road Fairchild noticed two men
ahead riding to Rocky Point as if to intercept
MN. Whenthe team approached the two men
one :,S or them resented needle gun at Fair
child, saying, Get down you old white-headed
- b whatNutbority" said Fairchild by
mine; am congo kill the Indians and YOU,
too" was the reply The leader caught hold
OF the mules ana ,uaitched them, cutting the
ru to the gronud nsng to the lines esGa
ed for mercy and beaed FaircbId to save
| them. The warriOrs Wee unarmed and knew
| resistance was useless. lhey were the coolest
in the party, although faciiy inevitable death,
n n
wept pteously Fairchild hid nofbinn bnt a
small pistol and six inches from his ear was the
muzzle of a needle gun. He saw thar the tears
came into his eyes, and he mingl.d his entrea-
ties with those of the M0docs, IN homes The
massacre would he avoided. Heads: "It
was terrible scene One never sail FORGET.
shudder when L think what saw aid heard.
The fearful voices of those women aid chill
dreu still ring in my ears, but the covardly
hounds were not TO be baked" A shot and
Little John lay dead in the wagon with a bullet
Fairchid who became entangled in the line
Five more shots were fred in rapid succession,
by which Tehec, Jack, Pony and Mooch were
killed and little Jonhs squaw was frightfull Y
wounded in the shoulder
Away ahead, on the road in the direction OF
Boyles Camp a cloud OF dust was perceived, in
dicating the approach of team. The murder
ers espied the dust and shortly afterwards were
riding speedily away; Sergeant Murphy of
teamster, came up to the scene of the massacre.
The Sergeant took charge of affairs and r.
maine with his men on the ground. Fair
child, teamster and the wounded squaw with
her two children, came at two o'clock this
morning. Fairchid reached Gen. Davis head
quarters aud related bis story.
Teams with an escort were at once scnt to
bring the prisoners. dead and alive. No steps
were taken for the apprehension of the guilty
parties, who are supposed to be Oregon volun-
teers The warriors killed were not charged
with murder Those who know them best say
they have only participated in open fights.
Every one here condemns the affair. There is
no doubt the murders were carried out on a
carefully arranged plan, as Fairchild noticed
horsemen in the road ahead and behind them
when the shots were fred.