New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-26
INDIAN QUESTIONS.
THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE WEST.

THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE WEST
A GENERAL BORDER WAR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS LAVA
Bids ABANDONED by THE MODoCs
SAN FRANCISCO, April 25.--A dispatch was
received here from Yreka. tonight with ews from the
lava beds up 10 yesterday Nothing particularly inter
esting had occurred. Col Perry with his cavalry had
returned from scout without being attacked. He is
convinced that none OF the Indians have left the Lava
Beds Donald GcRay reports that 10 Indians are en-
camped nthe bIg four miles OF the rst
battlefield They must out for water. and Me-
Kay's Indians are posted to pick them OF as they
come out. 1t Is thought that desperate fighting
will be required 20 oisleAs- them. Captured
squaws that during the first fight Iadian picked
up an unexpoded she'll and began 20 chew the fuse,
when the shell exploded and blew his head or cut John
schonchin two, and killed another Indian general
border feared owing to the bad faith OF tho Gov
eminent agents with indians In the and
the the latter have received by the
ample Of the Modocs. Mr.. Meacham is recovering lie
has left the hospital for Ferrer5 Rancho Capt Esan
also recovering
Later-Donald Mckay has Just returned to tho camp.
says that the Modocs have left tho Lava Beds There
hfs been no fighting since the 18th inst.
THE KANSAS sAvAGEs PEACEFUL.
TOPEKA, April 2J.-Sevcral parties just arrived
from Barbour County deny the accounts OF Indian
troubles that county recently reported by Atchson
and Leavenworth newspapers Travellers constantly
passing between Medicine Lodge and Hutchinson, and
troubles with Indians have been heard Of Three
citizens returned Hutchinson yesterday from jour
ney Of 200 miles southwest crossing the Cimarron and
Canadian Rivers. visiting Camp supply aud returning
through the Comanche country. travelling all the time In
perfect safety.
REVIEW OF TIE MODOCS POSITION.
THE CHANCES FOR An ESCAPE OF THE INDIANS
THEIR PROBABLE ACTION NEED or SHARP
SHOOTERS.
The San Francisco Chronicle of the 18th inst.
contains extended review Of the operations OF Cen
Gnlem against the Modocs and expresses the opinion
that they the whole satisfactory. 1t speaks
we'll Of that officer for his investment Of the lava bed
with so little loss to his force. The following extracts
as TO the probable action OF the Indians are OF Interest
The most desperate fighting Is yet TO come, as the
Mod1es have erected defensive works. which greatly
strengthen their position, and TO carry them by storm
will many lives, the soldiers Will he exposed 10
poson where thew can close the foe The Modocs
evidently 10th 10 quit the lava bed ana II is reason
able 10 suppose that nothing but lack Of water will
induce leave place with 80 many advantages
for defense. Notwithstanding the dlIhcuu halufe OF
the ground there is no question put II !; Vastly prefer
able To keep the MOdOcs IN the lava ecds IMAM W nave
10 hunt them down in detail more favorable ground
Beside this purely military view u Is certain mat once
out Of immediate danger from the troops, they would
commence iudiscrminale slaughter OF unarmed ana
defenseess settlers This indeed Is the opinion OF Cen
SchOheld, and NAV, therefore. be regarded ia some
indication Of the plan he intends TO pur-
Therefore the desire that Is manifested ny Gems
SchOfcd ana Giem 10 prevent the Indians from lcaF-
fcnsIbe position founded upon correct principles.
From the Of the Last dispatches received rom
The Chronicles correspondence win the troops IL seems
that the AodOcs yet completely heInmed ia as
to make IL certain that they viii not in the night
escape The probabilities that II the Modocs succeed
escaping through the Gordon now drawn around them
they viii proceed south the Pitt RIVER Mountains.
Tins contingency has been considered Dy Gen. ochOneld.
aud two batteries OF the Fourth Artillery one OF when
is mounted aud acting as cavalry LETT Tor keddnE ls
should the Modocs effect junction the Pitt River
IlIug 4
strengthened In numbers the Pit River Indians are
icrce and wal Ike TRIBE and are by TO
an attack upon the whites Indeed, they are as fully
brave and determined the MOdocs themselves CO.
ALTON of the two tribes would give Capt. Jack
than treble h present OF warriors and II they
speedily defeated they would Dc Oned by the
most reckless members VI nelghDorlng tribes IN TINS
state Oregon and Nevada and an Indian war OF serious
proportions be lnausurdteu.
IL is not probable that the MOdOcs VIII attempt 10
escape toward the north as, IN order TO avoid the
troops they would be compelled TO make deiOur OF
such extent would lose them much or the advantage
OF the long start they undoubtedly wish to gain The
escape must ia order to give them the adVaniase they
wish, be made at such early hour OF the nght as VIII
enable them 70 travel for seven or eight n9 1 4sSre
pursuit easy Much OF this advantage they would lose
BY flying the nortnward and therefore as tino Is OF
Will choose tIat route. The country TO the northward
too, open, and the chances OF beng oyerkeh
would be much greater. From these Iacts IL appears
safe predict that the MOdOcs escape frOm thelr
present posLOn they VIII make LOT the Flt hLler M9nh-
lains aud that the tide OF will roll southwark. The
two companies Of the attn Artillery viii then be ON tine
south OF the Modocs' new position while Gen. Glllems
position be really occupied, the prospects OF speedy
Termination are by no means nattering More
troops Will needed, and there would DE much reason
to fear there would be great destruction OF Ike
and property among the frontier settlements.
There is one fact mat made fully apparent by the
recent battles with the MOdOcs and that IS lack OF
good marksmen among the troops. Drawer soldiers or
better handled could not be- desired, but IN Indian
fare ability % shoot kill is Indispensable 10 success.
In Indian hgntne 100 determined men, each OF whom IS
fful marksuau, better thau three times the num-
Der soldiers VINO not good shots therefore, II the
war ASSUMES larger proportions or becomes general,
IA by no improbable 1t may become necessary 10
cali for volunteer companies, every man OF winch snail
be- sharp shooter, to bore hole through an Indian
nine times out OF at distance Of 100 yards and that
upOu quick shot. should there be call Tor volunteers,
there Is lao population IN the world OF which 80 large
proportion would make such efficient and gallant sol
aers as would the OF California ana Oregon. The
movements the MOdOos wlu now DO watched Win l-
tense interest, and they move To the southwark there
vii undoubtedly be call volunteers, the Gov
eminent has enough die possible troops the coast
10 Wale "a such magnitude As HOuIu then ensue
GIFTS TO THE INDIANS.
co-tr on TIlH THINGS WHICH THE GREAT FATHER