The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-10-16
THE FATE OF THE MODOCS.

CAPT. JACK, BOSTON CHARLEY, BLACK
JIM, AND sCHoNCHIN HANGED AT
FORT KLAMATH-THE EXECUTION
WITNESSED BY FIVE HUNDRED IN
DIANS-GEN. CANDY AVENGED.
JACKSONVILLE, Oregon, Oct 3-The
correspondent of the Associated Press
left Fort Klamath this morning at 1l:30
O. clock, aud by hard riding arrived here
late this evening with the following report
of the execution of Capt. Jack and his
band:
Boston Charley and Black Jim were
led on the scafold first and Schonchin
next They trod it with apparent in
difference, having evidently resolved to
die as bravely as they had lived. Capt.
Jack went easily up the stairway, but
looked wretched and miserable. The
manacles had been struck off, but their
arms were securely pinioned with cords
At precisely 9:45 m, the interpreters,
Capt. 0. G. Applegate and David Hill,
explained to the prisoners the nature of
the order to be read to them, and at 10
o'clock Adjutant Kingsbury read the
order promul eating the sentence Of the
Commission and the Presidents order
thereon, with the orders of the Secretary
of War and the department commander
in the premises.
The two reprieved prisoners, Barncho
and Sholuck, stood on the ground in front
of the scafold, shackled and under guard
During the reading, the pinioucd victims
were seated on the platform of the scaffold
with their feet on the drop, listening
anxiously, but of course understanding
not word. The reading occupied ten
minutes; then the Adjutant read the
order aud Communication in the case Of
Barncho and Sholuck, and the poor
fellows were taken back to the stockade,
evidently rejoiced at not accom- panying
the others to the happy hunting grounds.
The chaplain then offered an earnest
prayer for the souls of the culprits, which
was listened to attentively. At l0:15 the
fatal nooses were placed around their
necks under direction of Capt Hoge. 1t
was necessary to cut off little of Capt
Jacks long hair which was in the way of
the rope. Capt. Hoge then bade farewell
to the prisoners, and the black caps we're
placed over the heads Of all the culprits
At 1920 they stood on the drop aud the
rope was cut by the assistant at signal
made with Capt Hoge's handkerchief
The bodies swung round aud round, Jack
and Jim apparently dying easily, but
Boston aud Schonchin suffering terrible
convulsions. Boston aud Schonchin
repeatedly drew up their legs, but the
iNo others seemed to die almost instantly.
At 1928 tt cir pulses were felt by Capt
IIoge, and as this is being written they
are swinging lifeless in the air.
As the drop fell with terrible "thud, /"
a half smothcred cry of horror went up
from the crowd of over 500 klamath
Indians who witnessed the awful spectacle.
Walls of bitter anguish also arose from
the stockade where the wives and children
of the poor fellows had a view of the
shocking scene. The coffins, six in num-
Der, had been placed directly in the rear
Of the galiows, two of them destined to
be uuoccupied, as the order committing
the sentences of Barncho and Sholuck
only arrived at 10:30 last evening, and
preparations had been made for their
execution with the others. An appliea.
ton was made this morning to Gen.
Wheaton by the Sheriff of Jackson Coun
ty, Oregon, for the custody OF the Indians
Indicted by the Grand Jury, but it was
rafuspJ