Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-09-03
A MOD0C FIGHTERS END.
Safe Through the Lava Bed 10 Die
by an Accident.


From the San Francisco Chronicle, Aug. Is. ]
Sixty miles to the eastward of Yreka,
on the line of the Hot Springs Valley,
lived the brothers John and James c.
Fairchild. They owned the only frame
house for miles around, and their cattle
range covered thousands of acres They
located within twenty miles of Captain
Jacks famous camp in the lava beds,
and we're both personally acquainted
with all the Indians who therein so long
defed the powers of the United States
Government. John Fairchild, fsmiliarly
known as Captain Fairchild, led a
company of rancheros and vaqueros
into the big fight of January II, 1873,
and the whole troop behaved in such
way as to put the regular troops to the
blush They were real bush-fghters,
regular Indian hunters, and their exam.
pie did much to spur on the soldiers in
! the campaign which followed.
In the subsequent operations which
preceded the massacre of General
Candy. the latter with his staff and the
Peace Commissioner made their head.
quarters at Fairchild's ranch. General
Candy made his bed every night on the
floor of James Fairchild's room, Every
night after the meagre supper, which
was served in the little log kitchen, the
General would come out aud light his
inevitable cigar at the blaze of a torch
especially lighted by Uncle Jimmy-as
he delighted in being called-and would
listen with delight to the latters stories
concerning the habits of Captain Jack,
Scarfaced Charley, Bogus Doctor aud
Steamboat Frank. Uncle Jimmy Fair
child was one of the features Of the
snowbound camp in that memorable
campaign, and his duties there led him
to be looked up to, watched for and
eagerly sought after day and night.
Uncle Jimmy had charge of four-horse
team, which hauled wood for the camp
and it was his especial province to keep
the camp fires blazing
A telegram of August 10 announces
that a few days since Uncle Jimmy,
while driving his team on his brother 5
ranch, met with an accident. His thigh
was fractured, his body bruised and he
was otherwise injured internally, and
died few hours subsequently.
James G. Fairchild had not only a
wood drawing record. He was with his
brother Johns company on the 18th OF
January, 1873, and was one of the no.
blest fighters of the whole troop After
the capture of Captain Jack and his
chiefs Uncle Jimmy, on the 7th of June,
1873, with a dozen cavalrymeu, lett
Fairchilds ranch, on the banks of Cot
tonwood creek, with seventeen Modoc
captives, including Tehee Jack, Pony,
Little John and Moocha, and took the
road for Boyle's camp, on the Tule Lake
peninsula. He was to take them to the
Indian reservation above Lost river.
! The cavalrymen rode in advance, leav-
/ ing Uncle Jimmy and several Indians a
dozen miles behind, in wagon drawn
by four mules. Later in the afternoon,
and shortly after leaving Crawley
house on Lost river, couple OF men,
whom Mr.. Fairchild took to be Oregon
volunteers, intercepted him at rocky
point, and, by force of arms and threats,
] compelled him. to dismount. They told
him that their purpose was to kill the In
dians in his charge. He protested in
the name OF humanity, but they Needed
him not, and in an instant the warrio.
Little John lay dead in the Bottom Of the
wagon with bullet in his brain. Five
more shots were fred, and Tehee, Jack,
Pony and Moocha, the remaining war
riors, were dead, and Little John
squaw had a frightful wound in her
shoulder. The murderers espied cloud
of dust rising in the direction of the army
camp about this time, and rode suddenly
away. Nothing was ever found by the
military authorities to fasten this outrage
upon any one, and the matter was al
lowed to pass into oblivion. The princi'
pal witness was Uncle Jimmy Fairchild
and he has now passed away, and the
persons guilty of the base deed may
breathe easier.