New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-10
MODOC TRAGEDIES.
INDIAN PRISONERS MAssACRED IN COLD
..r. BLOOD.

fRloONEhc htsooANAeASN ~
BLOOD.
wHETE MIN TAKING LAwLEss VESGRANCb-FoOF1
CAPTIVE MoDocs SHOT DEAD-THE MURDEiAHH0
SUPPOSED TO BE OREGON VOLUNTEERS.
SAN FRAScIsco June 9.-Dispa.ches from boyles
Camp dated yesterday, relate the particulars OF an
atrocious massacre Of MOdOc prisoners supposed 10
have been perpetrated by Oregon volunteers. On
Saturday morning James Fairchild aud about q
dozen other men left Fairchilds Rancho, Cotton
wood Creek with II MOdOc eaptives, including
women and children and Shack Nasty JIM Bogus
Charley. Tehee Jack, PONY and Little John. The
Indians we're in wagon, drawn by four mules At
the crossing Of Lost River the party encountered
body of Oregon volunteers under command OF Capt.
Hiser The soldiers gathered about the wagon and
questioned Fairchild. The latter told them the In
dams were all Hot Creeks except Little John, and
that there were no charges against them. Fairchhd
undertook TO push on to Boyles Camp, and the vol
unteers retired TO their camp, near Crawleys.
On the road Fairchild noticed two men ahead nd
ing to Rocky Poin. as if TO intercept him. When
the team approached the two men one Of them
presented ncedle-gun at Fairchild saying:
Get down you old white-headed -"
"By what authority" said Fairchild.
"By mine. am going 20 Kill the Indians and You
too was the reply.
The leader caught hold Of the mules. and I'M
htched them cutting the harness Fairchiid clingng
to the lines leaped to the ground. The poor wretcbes
implored mercy and begged Fairchild to save them
The warriors were unarmed and knew that resist
ance was useless. They were the coolest in the
party although facing inevitable death, but the
women and children shreked groaned, and Wept
pteously. Farchld had nothing but a small pistol,
and six inches from his ear was the muzzie
of needle-gun. He says that the tears
4kne h Wwfah
his entreates with those Of the Modocs in hope that
the massacre might be avoided. he adds: " 1t was
terrible scene and never shall forget IT, shud-
der when think what | saw and heard. The tear
full voices of those women and children still ring IN
my ears"
But the cowardly hounds were not to be baked.
A shot and Little John lay dead in the wagon with
bullet in his brain. The mules dashed away With
Fairchild who became entangled in the lines Five
more shots were fired in rapid succession, by which
Tehee Jack Pony. and MOOch were killed, and Lat
tie Johns squaw frightfully wounded III the shoul'
der. Away ahsad on the road, in the direction OF
Boyle's Camp, cloud Of dust was perceived, indl-
eating the approach of a team. The murderer
espied tire dust and shortly afterward were ndins
rapidly away. Sergeant Murphy Of Battery IT,
4th Artillery with ten men and teamsteI, came
up to the scene Of the The Sergeant toos
charge of affairs and remained with his men on the
ground.
Falrchild a teamster, and the wounded squav
with her two children came in at o'clock this
morning. Fairchild reached Gen. Dayis's headquar-
tiers and related his story. Teams with an escort
were at once semitic bring the prisoners, dead and
alive No steps were taken for the apprehension OF
| the felons who performed the bloody work 1t IS
| generally supposed that they were Oregon volun-
! teers Fairchild is of that opinion himself The
warriors killed were not charged with murder
| Those who know them best say that they have only
! participated in open fights. Every one here con
| demns the affair as atrocious and without excuse
There is no doubt that the murders were carried out
| upon a carefully arranged plan, as Farehild no.
ticed horsemen on the road ahead and behind him
when the shots were fired. Had John Fairchild
! instead of James been presents another murder
| might have been added TO the list. as tne Orego-
mans are bitter in their hatred 10 John, the old
man, and other Californians.