, 1877-02-10
a Novel Claim.

The following, from Washington cor
respondent of the San Francisco Bulietia,
would indicate that Mcucham proposes
to manipulate the Modocs at every con.
rcivabe opportunity. On the day OF
the Canby massacre he received slight
scolp.wound, which was stuck together
with cents worth Of court-pastcr,
healed up ami gave him no further trou,
Vie. Subsequently he lecturcd in all the
Eastern cities, on tie subject OF the Mo
doc war; then published book on the
same matter; travelled with and cxhib.
tied II band OF MOdoc Indimns, and now
has the check to present claim Tor iniu.
rics received while acting with the Mo.
doc Peace Commission
"rhc Senate Committee on Pensions
reported back a petition which embod.
les claim Of probably an unprecedented
character. A. b. Mcuchnm is the pct-
toner, and his claim is that $4,000
should be allowed him as compensation
Tor injuries received while acting as
Chairman of the Modoc Peace Commits.
SION. The Pensions Committr, finding
that he was not in either the military or
naval service, reported that they could
not take cognizance OF the petition, and
therefore suggested its reference to the
Committee on Claims, to whom it
was thereupon referred, Senator Mitch
ell taking occasion TO say that he was
very glad its previous inadvertcnt refer
cncc was thus corrected. (tlc is Il mem
Der of the last-named cOmmittce.) The.
grounds upOn which Mr.. Mcacham, in
his petition, supports this novel claim
are substantially Ms follows He SAYS
that on or about March 10, 1873, and
during the armistlce, Il band of horses
belonging to the ModoGs were captured
by u squad ofcavaIry under command OF
Major Bitldlc and driven into camp in
violation of the agreement for peace ne,
gotiations.
Mr.. MeaCham united with the mcssrn.
gers sent by Captain jack, to demand
the return Of the captured horses, in a
petition TO General Candy to aCcedc to
the demand. ITo says he reminded the
General that "it was done in violation of
the compact, and that refusal to re
store them would embarrass the Peace
Commission in its efforts to make peace,
would endangcr the lives of the Com.
missione!s, and would be made an ex.
cnse by the Modocs for acts of treachery
which they had threatened" and OF
which he says he had knowledge from
Judge Steele of Yreka, and Toby Rid.
die, who had visited the Modoc camp rs
messenger and interpreter. The messen-
gers who made the demand for the re-
turn Of the horses witnessed the action
OF the officers in keeping part OF the
horses apart from the band, blanketed
and groomed, with the avowed inten-
ton of appropriatng them to their own
private uses.
son the lst of April" continues Mr.
Meacham, "the army moved up within
two miles of the Modoc camp, without
the consent of the Modoc Chief. This
was done IN violation of the agreement
for peace negotiations, and against the
verbal protest OF your petitioner, who
declared that the movement would defeat
pence measures and would perhaps cost
the lives Of the Commissioners. This
action on the part of the United States
destroyed the friendship and
confidence OF the Modocs in your peti.
toner, and thereby endangered his life
IN subsequent interviews with them He
was repeatedly warned by Frank and
Toby, the Interpreters, of the danger Of
t:eachery, and these warnings were com.
mnncated to General Candy" The
agreement to meet the representatives Of
the Modocs on the 18th of April, was
male by General Candy, says Meacham,
without has knowledge OF consent, but
ne went to the rendezvous, Feeling COM