Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-04-26
The MOdOc Massacre.
The Fun story of the sad AnaIr.

The story of the Modoc massacre, as
told by correspondent with the army
is as follows Five Indians and four
squaws came into our camp and were
made presents of elothingandprovisions
by the Peace Commissioners, and
message was sent out by the Commits
sioners asking for talk atapoint about
a mile from our picket line. Later in
the evening Bogus 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 and took
him to the tent of Gen. Candy, where
Charley left his gun, and remained at
the tent of Frank Riddle during the
night. In the morning Boston Charley
came in and told the commission that
Capt Jack and five other Indians would
meet the commission outside our lines.
Boston Charley and Bogus Charley then
mounted a horse and started for the
lava bed. About an hour after their
departure, Gen. Candy, Mr.. Dyer, Dr.
Thomas, and Mr.. A. B. Meacham, with
Frank Riddle and his squaw for inter
prefers, started for the place appointed.
The party arrived at the appointed
place and were closely watched by the
signal officer, Lieut. Adams, from the
signal station on the hill overlooking
our camp. About half an hour after
the party had arrived a cry from the
signal station was heard, saying that
the Indians had attacked the Peace
Commissioners, and that an engagement
had commenced between the Indians
and Col. Mason.
In moment the troops were under
arms and deployed as skirmishers,
under command, of Col. Green, and
orders were given to forward double
quick. Very shortly after Mr.. Dyerre-
turned, and told us that the Indians
had attacked them and that he thought
he was the only one who had escaped,
but in few moments after Riddle and
his squaw were seen within the picket
line. From him we gather the follow
ing account of how the massacre COM
menced:
Mr.. Meacham made short speech to
the Indians, followed by Gen. Candy,
and then DIR. Thomas. Then Capt.
Jack made a speech, asking for Hot
Creek and Cottonwood, the places now
occupied by Fairchild and Doris, for a
reservation. Mr. Meacham told Jack
that it was not possible to give him
what he asked. Schonchin told Mr..
Meacham to say no more; that he
(Meacham) had said enough upon that
subject; and while Schonchin was
speaking Capt. Jack got up and walked
behind the others, turned back and ex-
claimed: Cali ready"
He then drew his pistol and snapped
a cap at Gen. Candy. He cooked his
pistol again and fred Gen. Candy fell
dead, shot under the eye. Schonchir
then shot Mr.. Meacham in the shoulder
and head. Boston Charley and another
Indian shot and killed DR.. Thomas
Hooker Jim chased Mr.. Dyer for some
distance, but Dyer turned upon hin
with pistol in hand and Jim ran.
An Indianknocked the squaw of Rid
die off her horse and took it, but Capt
Jack made him return it., and then an
other Indian chased Riddle and shot a
him. Some allowances may be made
for the truth of this last statement.
The attack on Col. Mason's CAM
commenced by the Indians firing OF
Lieuts. Boyle and Sherwood, who hat
wandered some 500 yards outside thei
picket lines.
Lieut.. Sherwood was shot through
the arm and leg, but Lieut.. Boyle es
capped without injury. Both officers go
safely back to their camp.
The troops Immediately beat to arms
and general advance ensued. Col
/ Miller and Major Throckmorton's tw
batteries were leading the skirmish lin
} and, after about five minutes tram
over the broken rocks, we arrived a
the scene of the massacre.
{ In the distance we saw three of tn
) perpetrators of the murder runnin
| round the edge of the lake on their wa
: back to their rocky fastness. About
. hundred yards to the west of the plac
t of meeting we found Mr. A. B. Meachal
: badly wounded with a pistol shot owe
Q the left eye. He was Immediately a.
f tended to and carried hack for medict
f treatment.
/ Fifty yards further was the body {
g Rev. DIR. Thomas, lying on his face an
e stripped to the waist. Life was extint
e from pistol shot wounds in his head.
The body of Gen. Candy, the hero {
: many fight, was stripped of every We,
: tige of clothing. and lay about 100 yard
e to the southwest, with two pistol-sht
wounds in the head.
: Pausing only to cast glance on til
b body of the man they both loved an
: respected, the troops dashed on and IL
=. two leading batteries were within ami
:, of the murderers, when the bug
S sounded a halt" Lieut.. Egan an
Major Wright's companies of Twelft
Infantry were behind the artillery, an
then came up the cavalry.
Gen. Gillem and Col. Green and sta
;, were up with the men, but as soon
J they found that the Indians had all q
: back to their stronghold, the trool
y were ordered to fall back, but will pro-
!, ably commence active operations IL
B next day.
9 1t is supposed that Scar-faced Charlie
= and Curley-head Doctor were with IL
', Indians who attacked Col. Mason
g position, and that this attack was
blind to attract the attention of Gel
|, Gillem from the conference betwet
. Captain Jack and his men and the Pea,
b. Commissioners.