Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-04-18

A reporter OF THE STAR this morning had an
interview with Prof. f. V. Hayden, i'm charge OF
the United States expedition for the geological
survey of the territories, who visited the lava
beds i'm oregon last year, now occupied by the
Modoc Indians, under Capt. Jack. These lava
beds are located near Rhett and klamath lakes,
not far from the boundary line between Oregon
and California
Rep.-what is the nature Of these lava beds.
Professor, now sheltering Capt Jack and his
band?
Prof. Hsyden.-They are an outflow Of vol
eanic matter, forming perfect
SEA OF MELTED ROCK,
which gradually cooled, and in cooling became
broken. Innumerable little streams have worked
theirway through, and the whole place is filed
with caverns.
Rep.-What is the extent OF these caverns?
Prof. H.-oftentimes they connect with each
other, and extend for miles under ground. They
vary in width from fifty 10 hive or six hundred
feet. The entrances 10 them are generally very
small, 50 they can easily be defended. These
eaverns and crevices, which are well supplied
with water, are filed with rabbits. lizards
snakes, mice, and all kinds of bugs and insects
Rep.-Will IL be possible for our troops to get
at these Indians?
Prof. Hit is impossible to reach them.
These beds are, as it were, a great shell. ana
troops cannot reach them. Why, i've Indians
located there could whip the whole United
States army, IL they had plenty Of ammunition.
The only way is TO
sTARvB THEM OUT,
but that viii take some time, as these Indians
eat roots, snakes, mice, seeds, lizards, &C.. ami
they get good supply in those beds; but they
must come out some time. These Modocs are
the same as the digger Indians, aud live upon
together by means of little sinews, and thus
make their clothing.
Rep.-What Is the extent of the lava beds
occupied row by the Modocs?
Prot. H.-They comprise from 50 TO 100 square
miles, probably. Indeed, the whole country
there is about the same.
Reps there any possible way by which
these Modocs can sneak out and get away?
Prof. H.-Yes, there is a possibility OF their
getting out, as they have thoroughly explored
every part, and are familiar with every passage.
twill be difficult thing 20 surround them, and
there Is great danger of their
ELuDING OUR TROOPS
on account of their familiarity with the beds
and the comparative ignorance OF our forces a.
to tie exits and interior formation. The In
dians know every foot of that country, prOba-
bly,, better than you do the city OF Washington;
and hence they have the advantage.
Rep.-HOw large are these lava fragments
with which the beds are filled2
Prof. H.-Ihey are from ten to fifty feet in
diameter, and generally very angular and sharp
ana full of holes rendering il impossible tor
animals to travel over them, and next to impOs-
sIble for man TO do 50. We have had our
ANIMALS ruined almost by clam5erIRs over them
1Or Two miles only.
Rep.-Did you ever see these Modocs?
Prof H.-NO, none OF this particular band.
have seen the same tribes. The Ctes, Snake,
Digger, and Modocs are all the same. 1 have
seen them gather bushels OF grasshOppers,
which they roast, and grind them to a powder
and make sort OF pudding, upon which they
live.
Reptile band has half-brecds in IL?
Prof. H.-Yes, all the bands have half breeds
among them, and they are
FULL OF THE DEVIL
and create more trouble than the regular In
dams. You see these half-breeds have all the
cunning OF the white man and all the trea cherry
of the Indians. / have no doubt these half
breeds have created most OF this trouble.
Rep.-lt is pity we are not more familiar
with these lava beds.
Prof H.-well, this only shows the necessity
for minute surveys of every portion of the coun-
try, but it will probably be fifty years before we
get the whole country surveyed, 10 that we NAV
have a correct knowledge of all the public
domain west of the Mississippi.
Prof Hayden and his party leave here soon
for a survey i'm Colorado.