The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-05-10
Death Of Gen. Canby---The Gov.
ernment's Indian Policy.
From the Republic


From the ,Republic.]
It is Friday, April IL, 1873. A trag-
edy at the lava beds Candy is dead
Thomas is dead! Sherwood is dead
Meacham lies mutilated! The nation
is shocked! The cry is vengence
RetributiOn, swift, sure, exterminat-
ing!
twas foul deed. A deed Of perfdy
and blood. There might be possible
aggravations, but. the Imagination
shrinks from their contemplation.
Far up in Northern California lies a
volcanic region, rugged, wild, grand
with the majesty of nature. In the
bosom of the great hills are spread
three sheets Of shining water. They
are Wright lake, Rhett, and klamath.
Magnificent forests stretch around
them. Near by, upon the south is a
range Of rocks, mile or two in
breadth, extending a dozen miles in
length. They springup in some points
two hundred feet from the ground
smirched and jugged, yet clear cut
from everything around them. They
are full Of caves and secret passages
a piece of gigantic honey comb which
the hidden swarms of forces beneath
have lifted into sight. They form the
fortress Of the Modocs. Inaccessible,
impregnable, they look down upon
the troops OF the United States. No
batteries can subdue them. No mining
can explode them. They frown defiance
on the highest art and most destructive
elements of modern warfare. Panic
or hunger only could dislodge from
such position even a feeble force.
Who are the Modocsq They are
but a small tFibe-not more than $50
or 800 all told.
They have been known to our people
some twenty years. When first discov-
cred they were found in their own
haunts ON Lost river, in Southern
Oregon, and were entirely friendly.
About 1850 the search for gold
brought into that region a class Of
miners OF the roughest and most ruth
less sort. Their outrages upon these
friendly Indians We're simply terrible.
But after a time better state of
things ensuetl, and the Modocs re-
manned without molesting or being
molested. -4...
In 1864 Il treaty was negotiated, by
the provisions OF which the klamatfs
ard Modocs were to be placed on a
reservation in the Klamath country,
and though this treaty was not ratified
by the United States Senate till 1870,
yet prior to this Il portion of the
Molees, about{7O or 50, went OH to
the klamath reservation. But Captain
Jack, followed by about tive-sixths of
the tribe, had never 81 gned this treaty
nor assented to it any way.
In the winter of l869-7O Supcrin-
tendent Meacham induced them to go
upon the reservation. They were as
signed a place, where they commenced
erecting tents and clearing land. The
klamaths annoyed and vexed them.
BY the direction of the local agent
they were removed to another part of
the reservation. Here again they
were still more annoyed by the kla-
maths, who now demanded a tribute
upon all they produced. For the
third time the local agent ordered
them to another more distant part of
the reservation, and refused the ra-
tions he had before allowed them. It
was in the rigor of winters night
when this was done, and Captain
Jack, followed by the people, took up
the line Of march back to their old
.haunts, so miles away, on Lost river.
Here they remained without disturb
ance till the Superintendent (Mr.
Meacliam) again approached them by
two persons, (his brother and Mr.. APP
plegate), who were instructed to in
duce them it possible to return to the
klamath reservation, but, as the last
resort, if they would not yield, then
to offer them Il reservation on Lost
river. To this latter proposition they
eagerly consented. But Mr.. Meach-:
am was soon after superseded, and
this arrangement was never formally
sanctioned by the Government.
The Modocs, however, remained as
they were, suppOsing the matter had
been finally settled. They were now
divided into three camps or villages,
extending over some Is or 20 miles.
And the first they knew that any other
course would be pursued toward them
was from an order sent up in Novem-
Der last to remove them to the Kla-
math reservation, peaceably if they
would, forcibly if they must" The
next morning before day break Capt
ain Jack was surprised in his camp
or village by an assault Of some 80
soldiers, with other parties Of hunters
and settlers, which resulted in killing
four or Ave Indians. The Indians i'm
mediately retaliated by going through
the settlements marauding, pillaging,
and killing innocent victims. This
was the commencement of the Modoc
war.
But the Modocs were not alone in
this. Other tribes for similar causes
have acted in !. similar manner. AS
against the United States Government
with all its power they know they are
weak and helpless; they have nothing
to oppose but cunning, perfidy, and