River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-04-25
SHOCKING BUTCHERY BY THE MO.
DOCS.

| Commission Assassinntcd by Captain
| Jack.
A dispatch from the lava beds, dated
April 18th, says:
" Yesterday twenty Indians and four
squaws came into our camps and were
made presents of clothing and provis-
ions by the Peace Commissioners,
and a message was sent out by the
Commission asking talk this morn
ing, at a point about mile from our
picket line. Later in the evening Bo-
f. gus Charley came in and told the picket
that he could take his gun that he
\ Charley did not intend to go back
any more. The picket brought him In,
where Charley left his gun and remain
ed at the tent of Frank Riddle
during the night. This morning
Boston Charlie came in and told the
Commission that Captain Jack and five
other Indians would meet the Commits
sion outside our line. Boston and
Bogus then mounted a horse and
started for the Lava. bed.
Between 10 and IL o'clock the Peace
Commission party, comprising General
Candy, A. b. Meacham, Dr. Thomas,
Mr.. Diar, Riddle, the interpreter
and squaw, and Bogus Charley and
Boston Charley, went odt to the desig-
mated spot. There they met Captain
Jack, John Schonschin. Black Jim,
Shacknasty Jim, Ellen's Man, and
Hunker Jim. They had no guns with
them, but each carried pistol at his
/ belt. This, however, was not noticed,
as in previous interviews they
had their arms with them. They
sat down in kind of broken circle,
and General Candy, Meachan and DR..
Thomas sat together, faced by Capt.
Jack and Schonschin. Diar stood by
Jack, holding his piece, with Hunker
Jim and Shacknasty Jim to his left.
/ Meacham opened the talk, and gave
/ long history of what they wanted to do
/ for them after which Gen. Candy and
\ DIR. Thomas both talked for some time.
Capt. Jack then talked in an apparently
good, serious strain, and when he had
finished stepped backed to the rear,
near where Meacham's horse was
hitched. Scohnschin then began to
talk, and while he was speaking Diar
heard cap miss fire looking around he
saw Capt. Jack to his left with his pis-
toll pointed at General Candy. This
was the signal for general massacre,
and a dozen shots were fired inside half
minute. Capt. Jack fred again on
Gen. Candy, and the noble old gentle
man ran off to the left, but was shot
and killed instantly. Meacham was shot
by Schonschin and wounded in the
head. He tried to draw his derringer,
when the Indians ran up and knocked
him down. DIR. Thomas was killed al
most instantly by two pistol shots in
the head. Riddle ran off, and it APP
pears they did not fire ut him, but they
knocked his squaw down. Diar, Rid
die and the squaw returned in safety
to the camp. About a hundred yards
to the west of the place of meeting
was found A. b. Meacham, badly woun-
ded with pistol shot over the left eye
Fifty yards further on was the body
of Rev DIR. Thomas, lying on his face
and stripped TO the waist Life was
extinct from pistol shot wounds in the
head. The body of General Candy was
stripped of every vestige of clothing,
and lay about 100 yards to the south
ward, with two pistol shot wounds in
the head. "
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.
The following is a dispatch received
at the Office of the Adjutant General of
the army
HEADQUARTERS Division OIL
THE PACIFIC, April ~.
] "a IL eIs ay,f.,.
The following report Of the horrible treach-
cry and murder has just been received. /
have telegraphed Colonel Gilem to let the
punishment OF the Modocs be as severe as
1 their treachery has meuted ana hope to hear
that , he has made an end OF q them D.,
Major General Commanding.
[Copy Of the telegram 10 the Assistant Adj
I jutant General, Department OF California, from
the Modoc cxpcdition.l
General Candy, with the Peace Comms-
siouers. went "a meet the Indians about one
mile IN front Of the camp, az 1870 this morn
( ing AZ 1880 p. II. the signal officer, whom /
had watching the conference, reported firing.
{ Upon reaching the place CT meeting, | found
I that General Candy and Rev. DR. Thomas had
been killed, and Meacham wounded. The
other Commissioner, Dyer, escaped unhurt. /
shall az ouce commence active operations
I against tie Indians.
Is grtdt ALVIN GuLEM. Colonel.
Seventh Cavalry Commanding.
Dated az Camp south of Tule Lake, April
18th.
The following dispatches show the
earnestness Of the Government to pun.
ish the Modocs
HEAnoUARrrRs ARMY OF UNITED SrArEs,
WASHINGTON, d. G., April ~, 1878.
10 Cen. GHcn, M0doc Camp, fcrtd, CAL
Your dispatch announcing the terrible loss
20 the country ot General Candy: by the pei
iidy Of the Modoc band ct Indians, has been
shown the President, who authorizes me 70
instruct you to make the attack so struug and
persistent that their fate NAV he commcnsur-
aic with their crime. You will be fully just.
UA1 i'm fhflr ffffpr 80 taru1tnaftY1