Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-03-17
Observation-Disclosures
WASHINGTON, March 10Th. lST5

WASHINGTON, March 18th, 1876.
Dear Coarier:-On Monday, Tuesday
and Wednesday evenings of this week
the people of Washington were favor
ed with an exhibition at the National
Theatcr, given by tho Modoc Indians
who participated in the the Modoc
war, and who were also the principal
actors in the assassination OF General
Candy and DR.. Thomas. Col. Meach-
am who was one Of the Peace Com
missioners on that memorable occa-
sion, ard who witnessed the massacre
Of Gen. Candy and DR.. Thomas, and
was himself wounded, has charge of
this band of Indians. They arc exhib-
iting under al engagement with Red
path, of Boston, ofthc Lyceum Dareau,
and they arc termed the "Modoc Lee
ture Company" Among the distin-
guished "cusses" are Scar Faced Char
ley, Shack Nasty jim, and Steam Boat
Frank who were the most desperate
characters in Capt. Jacks forces in the
Lava Beds. In addition to these, there
are klamath, Shasta, and Rogue River
braves and equaws, making sweet
scented and interesting group. The
entertainments given by them are IL.
Illustrative Of wild Indian life and char
acter, and including war dances, med.
icine dances, wrestling matches, court.
ing ecenes, marriage ceremonies, scalp
dances, death sougs, SC. Col. Meach.
am described infinitely tho thrilling
scenes and incidents Of the Modoc war,
and particularly, tho massacre of Zen.
Candy aud Or. Thomas, which he wit.
messed.
Quite an amusing incident Is said to
have taken place at the Executive
mansion on last Tuesday. 1t was a
capital joke on old Ben Butler, and
one, presume, which be will enjoy
about as much as any one else. A
great many Senators, ex-Scnators and
ex.membcrs of Congress called to see
tho President to pay their parting re-
spects before returning to the bosoms
of their families. or their constituents,
~ the case may be. An old gentle
man, whose custom 1t has been for the
last twenty. five years to visit Wash.
ington annually, and who has kept
we'll posted with regard to all the
prominent men Of the country, and
who has keen perception of their ca.
liabilities, worth, and political influ.
ence, was among the spectators at the
White House. While he was standing
converting with o friend. General But.
passed In. Pausing for a moment in
bis conversation, the old gentleman
said: "Well, there goes old Ben But
ler." His face suddenly frightened
up as he said this, and pointing with
his fingers az il to some imaginary
time in the future he added with EN-.
phasis: Twelve years hence, old
Ben Buffers hide stuffed with straw
will be worth moro than one half OF
the members Of the present Congress. y
The old gentleman was perhaps too
extravagant and sweeping In his esti.
mate, but there can be no doubt that
bis assertion is true in regard to few
of them Erratic, self-willed and stub.
born % Butler may be, and although
he may have his serious faults and
failings, his name will always occupy
q conspicuous place In the history OF
our country, while the names of many
other mon, occupying equally import
ant positions, will pass into oblivion.
But few men live who have the indom.
table rinck and energy that Don bat.
Ter possesses, and while his adversariel
fear him, they respect him as q foe
worthy Of their steel. 1t IL q query
what tho Democrats in the next House
will do for something to butt against.
In tho organization of the new Sen.
ate, Mr.. Allison occupies the position
Of Chairman of the Committee on In.
dian Aflairs, and is alec a member Of
the Committee on Appropriations, tho
Committee on Private Land Claims,
and the Committee on Pensiona- .,.
= Mr.. Wright 10 Chairman oftho Com.
mittee on Claims, and is also on the
Judiciary Committee, and the Com
mittee on Civil Service and Retrench-
ment. l have noticed q paragraph
going the rounds of the papers, that
Senator Wright declines rc-nomina-
ton. II he docs not want q re-nomin-
alton, be is taking the worst possible
course to keep ont Of the scrape. Let
him take warning from the sad fate of
our Representative, Geo. w. McCrsry.
The cancuscs held by the Republican
and Democratic Senators on last Sat.
urday were very interesting, and set
tied tho political status of several new
members who were in doubt. " was
believed that Christiancy who succeed.
ed lack Chandler, from Mich; Csm.
ORION who exceeded Matt. Carpenter,
from Wis. and Mcmillan who sue.
ceeded Ramsay, from Mimi, were all
Independents" with Democratic pro-
clivities and would not affiliate with
the Republican perty. But such was
not the case az they went into tho eau.
Gus with the Republicans and took au
active part in the deliberations. On
the other hand it was thought that