, 1873-07-13
BEN WRIGHT AND THE M0DOCs.

cd to rcncll Oregon by tho nhott Laka route.
For soyoral days nftor leaving tho valloy Of Pit
Nivor thoy had Travelled without molcstation, not
having acon slnglo Indian, when, about mid
day, they struck tho oaatorn shoro Of Rhott
Lako. md imprudontly camped under blufr,
nov known aa "Dloody Point" for dinnor.
Thoae poor pooplo folt rejoiccd to think that
they had 30 nearly reached thoir destination
In safety; nor 1roatnod that thoy Ind
reached thoir final rosting-place. md tint
soon tho gray old ,rooka aboyo thom
wcro to receive q baptism that would
asaociato tlom for ovor with cruel and vauton
massacre. The tired cattle wero quietly grazing,
and the littlo pnrty wore ,eatl,lg their meal III
brush was fired tho air rang with donlon,no yolle
and swArthy and painted Bnvagoa poured by tho
acore from tho rocks overhead. In q fow mo-
monts tho can'p was filled with them, and their
ill-fatod party escaped. Happening to DO ont,
pickoting Lis horse, whom tho nttack was matlo,
ho sprung upon 1t, bare-backed, and 1loycr drew
roin until ho Ind roaohed Yrolza a diBtanco Of GO
miles,
The men Of aarly timea in those mountains
wore brave mid cl,iyalroun nleu. In lcsa than
twenty-four hours, q mounted forco Of ninors.
packers, and proBpoctora who feared no
living thing-wero at tho scono Of tho massacre.
Tho ron,aiEs OF tho victims wo1o found, A',ocls-
wagons. aud half charroa but not an Indian
oo.lld le forud.
Il waa not until the Rext yoar tint the htoaoee
mountsinocr, named Ben Wrght-ono of Those
strange beings who iinngino tint they aro born
Nh Instruments for tho fulll1nloi,t Of tho
rod 1nan'H deatiny-.orgauizod All independ-
s s sf%sny oaos eon xs a IN a 4sS3 ssd yse ax te
but Ben was patient and enduring. Meeting
with poor succeBs, and accomplishing nothing
except protection for incoming emigrants, ho
improyised m " "omigrant train" with which to
dccoy tho enemy from tho cover Vt tito hills and
Tavnos. Winding slowly among tho hilla and
through tho Hago-plainB, DenR cnnyas~covercd
wagons rolled quietly along, camping at tho
usual watering. PLACES and aPparoatiy in caro-
bo attacked. tho ruao failed, howoyor -
for tho keon-sighted Indian, soon por-
ceiyed that there were no women or children
suspicious. After seyoral months Of funsatis-
factory, skirmishing, Bon resolved on q change.
instead Of scalping them, llo took thom to his
camp. treated thom kindly, and making them
back to their pooplo. Negotiations for general
council to arrange q trosty wore oponot1. othcrs
visited tho white camp; and soon tho b1odoce,
ways OF white diplomacy, began to think that
Bon was i very harmlcse and rospoct-
ablo gentleman. a spot on the north bunk
Of Loot River a fcw hundred yards
from tho Natural Bridge. WAS SOLICITED
for the council. On the appointed day f1fty-ono
Indians {about equal III number to Wright'a
company attended, and as agreed upon by both
PARTIES no weapons wore brought to tho
proaonts were distributed, and tho day passed
in mutual professions OF friendships whon
Wright-whose quick, restleHH eye had beon
busy-qaietly filled his pipe drow q match. and
tho frat curling wreath Of smoke wont up, fifty
royolvers wero drawn from their plaoos Of con
coal1nont by Wrght'a men, who Werc now scat
tered among their intondod victims a few
moments Of rapid and deadly firing, and only
two Of the AIodocs ssonped to warn their pooplet
The Scotch have iyen uB proverb, that u Ho
n1aun l,ao o lang spoon villa eupB wi the dell y
and 1t may be Wright thought so. PerhnpB tho
cruol and morciesB character OF these Indians
justified m act Of treachery, now passed. into the
history Of the country but, certainly, the decd
was not calculated to inspire tho savage heart
and tair,-dealing Of The superior race. Bon
at Tho mouth Of Rogue River. No nan
may judge him; bnt; to this hour,
his name Is: used by, Modoc moth
enco. Tho Modocs were now filed with rovongo,
and their deprcdatlons continued, till it bocano
absolutely necessary for tho Territorial Governor
Of Oregon to send armed expeditions against
thom. Fur norernl yoarn thoy wore pursued by
volunteer forces through their rugged mountains,
0auntlosa spirit; but, year after year, tho
number OF their warriors WAS diminishing
From Scraps Of ifot0o Uisfo,.y," in lhe Oper-
land Monthly for july.