Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-05-24
MODOC HISTORY.

MODOC HISTORY.
SOME interesting facts, historical and
otherwise, concerning the Modocs and
the scene of the present campaign, have
recently come out, cmanating chiefly
from Californian sources. Some twenty
years ago, according to one of these
statements, the Modocs, then a numer-
Gus and powerful tribe, We're engaged i'll
an intermittent warfare with the white
settlers in the vicinity of the present
scene Of hostilities. A company was at
length organized for serious campaign
set on foot under the leadership of one
Wright, who proposed at first to invite
the Indians to n conference and feast, at
which they were to be poisoned. This
plan was, however, too treacherous to
meet the approval even of the Califor-
Man of that day, but one almost equally
Objectionable was adopted. A meeting
was arranged, and the hostile parties
encamped near one another During
the night drenching rain wet the bow
strings of the savages, so that their
weapons were umseviccable. In the
morning, this fact being apparent,
Wright arranged II meeting with the
chief Schonchin (the father of the one
who was engaged in the late massacrc)
advanced to meet him, Offering his hand,
and, when almost within touching dis
tance, was shot dead by Wright. This
was the signal agreed upon, and only
seven of the Modocs escaped to tell how
their fellows were killed.
1t has been truthfully said that there
are two sides to every story, and this
one forms no exception to the rule
These Modocs who were killed, it is as
serted on the most trustworthy author
ity, had, two days before they met theil
bloody fate at the hands of Capt. Wright
massacred party of emigrants in colo
blood. Capt. Wright overlook them
about shutdown, md the Modocs pro
posed to hold council of peace, tc
which he agreed in good faith, the colln
ell to be held III the moaning. During
the night, however, one Of his scouts
crawlcd into the Modoc camp, and over
heard the chiefs planning to attack sud
denly the whites, after they had takel
seats in the council, and murder them
Capt Wright anticipated them, attacke,
them before daylight, and happily dis
posed of them This is the version
Capt. Wright himself gives of the affair
and which is substantiated by old from
ticrsmen who were present and partici
patCu in the massacre.
Hos JAMES BROOKS, whose death oc
curred last week in New York, was on
of the oldest editors connected with TIN
press Of that city. He became asso
ciatcd with his brother Erastus Brooks
in the editorial management Of the New
York Express i'll 1S36-nearly fort,
years ago-since which time he has beer
continuously identified with that jour
nal He was first elected to Congress
i'll 1913, and has served several terms IL
different periods since. He has Away
enjoyed the reputation of being al
honest and faithful representative of TIN
interests of his constituents until TIN
last session Of Congress, when Tia
proofs of his Credit Mobilier transac
tons were brought to light. BY som
his death has been attributed directly t,
this cause but this is grave misap
prchcnsion, as it has been established
beyond cavil that his death was pro
duccd by Il generous affection of thu
stomach with which he had been aiIin,
for years. AS an editor Mr. Brooks
was in the front rank of his profession
Politically he has not been the most con
sistent. He was a Know Nothing dur
ing the brief existence of that party, ant
after its demise he identified hiinsel
with the Democracy. Mr. Brooks lief
an estate of upward of million dollars