Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-06-20
letter from the Modoc Country.
surrcndcr-An Indian Swent-NVar
Dance. Sc.
Correspondence Of tho Bellows Falls Times.l
FARCmLD's Rancho, CAL.
Nav Doth 1879

Since my last letter many changes
have taken place in our little world
{ The Lava Bed the last of which is
none other than that we have left our
little world. Thank God for that.
Captain Jack has been hectored,
haunted and hunted from one strong
hold TO another until he has finally been
driven from the Lava Bed to the mount
aims. For the last month he has not been
allowed any rest, aud whenever we strike
him now he shows unmistakable signs of
being badly demoralized. The Hot
Creek band of Indians consisting of some
fifteen bucks and fifty-four squaws and
pappooses which was surrended by Bogus
Charlie on the 22nd inst, say that Cap
tain Jack is heartily tired of fighting
and would be glad to end the war if by
so doing ie could be assured that his
scalp would be safe. Captain Jacks
exit from the Lava Bed was the signal
for the withdrawal of the troops which
commenced on the 10Th inst. The bat
TALON Of the 18th U. S. Infantry moved
first going TO Nan Bremers, which is
about twenty miles southwest of the
Lava Bed, where it went into camp.
The battalion of the Dist U. S. Infan.
try under command of Colonel Mason
following the next day. We were not
destined to remain there long, however,
for the next day we were ordered six
miles further to Fairchild's Rancho.
This last order was given in anticipation
of the surrender of the Hot Creek band
of MOdocs, above noted, word having
been brought in, that they were in the
mountains in the vicinity of Fairchild's
and wished to surrender.
Five troops of cavalry, one battery of
artillery and the Warm Spring Indian
Scouts in all numbering about three
hundred, preceded the infantry and
were at Fairchild's when we arrived, we
were in season, however, to witness the
surrender. 1t was a peculiar sight and
molly crowd, the Modocs numbering
some sixty nine in all. Sixteen warriors,
men and boys of twelve years and up
ward, capable of bearing arms, among
them was Bogus Charley, Curly headed
Doctor, Shacknasty Jim, Steamboat
Frank, Curly-headed Jack, Hooker Jim
and others of lesser note, forty-three
squaws and thirty pappooses. The sur.
render was unconditional the Indians
giving up their arms of which five were
| Springfield breech loading rifle muskets,
two Ward Burton, and one Remington,
which had been captured by the Indians
at the Thomas massacre; one Harper's
Ferry musket muzzle loader, and the
others ordinary rifles. They were well
supplied with ammunition for each OF
these several kind OF arms, among the
guns surrendered was that of private
Gleb of Company E, 18th U. S. Infan.
try, who was killed on the Goth of A prll
Of the notoriety already acquired by
some Of these Indians, it is sufficient tC
remark that Hooker Jim is the Indiar
who attempted to assassinate Com'r Dye
at the Candy massacre, he also murdered
eight citizens in cold blood last fall OF
Lost River. Steamboat Frank is the In
dian who killed Lieut. Sherwood on tn
18th Of April while answering flag o
truce. Curly headed Doctor is the In
dian medicine man who found fame a
the white mans fog during the peace ne
gociations. He probably done more thai
any other Indian to prevent Captain
Jack accepting the proposition of tn
peace commission. 1t is very eviden
that by this surrender Captain Jack ha
lost some of his best fighting warriors
Almost the entire band, including man,
Of the pappooses were heavily paintet
with their peculiar black paint wbicl
gave them hideous appearance. Thei
customs were grotesque in the extreme
some were dressed in their natural buck
skin, some in blankets and furs, ant
some wore articles of soldiers clothin,
which they had stripped from their deac
victims. Some wore hats, some squar
hats of their own manufacture Will
others had simply an old handkerchie
or filthy rag tied around their head
| noticed one squaw was wearing tn,
blouse of Corporal Mooney, 4th artiller,
who was killed on the Goth of April
We recognized it from the chevrons be
ing still on it. With all the diversit,
of texture and color in the articles o
their clothing, they were in uniform il
one respect, mainly filth and rags. A
more deplorable set of beings in this re
spect | never saw. Many of them lit
orally had nothing but filthy strips o
rags wound around their persons. A few
of the squaws wore the usual bead ant
shell ornaments around their necks an,
arms, and in one or two instances the,
were valuable, according to their est