Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-22
Alefan0rla @axette
SATURDAY EVENING, deer. o.
The Once Murderous MOdOcs.

A gentleman just from the Quapaw Indian
Agency, Indian Territory, reports hat the once
famous Modoc Indians, since being placed 90
their own reservation by the Government. 10
November, 1878, have advanced very rapidly
| in civilization. The Modocs own, in their own
right, 200 acres of good tilable land, on which
they have seventeen good log houses, built BY
themselves; six double stables, eight corn cribs.
besides pens and houses for their stock, chg
ems, etc. On this land they have put, within
the last year. good rail ierce around l2V
acres, which is all soHn 10 wheat, Whl3h at pre-
sent gives promise Of an abundant harvest next
year, and they have split altogether 25, 600 rails
and have over eight acres OF cultivated landto
each man, woman and Child in the tribe. They
| have also ITS acres Of cora. which will average
from forty to forty-6ve bushels per acre. Fifty
nipe of their children attend school at the VI.
tawa, Peoria and Wyandotte Missions. aud
have made remarkable progress IN all the
branches taught in a common school.
Among the most prominent members OF the
tribe are Bogus Charlie, Steamboat Frank,
Shack Nasty Jim, S,arface Charlie and Long
Jim. Bogus Charlie is apparently about thirty
five years of age, medium height, and very fair
com plexion for full blooded N1odoc. lie has
six hundred bushels Of corn n one crib, ard his
partner, Shack Nasty jim, has as much more
Jim is low, heavy.set man, with the Droaa
features and sleepy look so peculiar to the ln
dians, and is 10 his way genius, and IS at all
times laughing and making tun OF those
members of the tribe who cannot speak plalu.
Steamboat Frank is tall, muscular 1e''ow'
rather good looking, and IS hafd %orS
er. His cribs contain about 800 bushels ot
corn, and he has plenty OF hogs, chicSens' tur
keys, ducks, etc. around him, and. like every
r. a. ;bo 70 10
living, as they a without an exception, say
that here they at all times have plenty to eat
and good house to keep them warm, whereas
in OREGON it was feast OF famine with them 1T
all times.
Long Jim has 500 bushels OF c>rn aud IS
also good farmer, as in fact they all are.
They own 10 common 237 head OF cattle, 'i
which eighty are COWS, aud the farm Is worked
on the partnership plan. two or threo taxing as
much as they can farm and sharing the crops
Thcy have also cut 40 tons OF hay the past
season, and in fact have plenty to keep them'
and the agent says can, after this year, 90 with
out apy hired help to assist and show them now
to farm, or any assistance from the uni'eu
States.
Bogus Charlie gavc au account OF the Lava
Red Massacre, and went through all the mo
tons Of shooting, soalpine, etc. lie says that
whcu the signal was gwen 10 Hte, I1o0kel.
Jim first shot at Gen. Candy, and that Cap
tain Jack then killed him with bullet be.
| tween tho eyes. Boston Charlie then shot
Dr.. Thomas through tho breast, when he
! threw up his hands and begged for mercy,
| and together they trippcd him up and killed
him with their knives. SchoOschln then shot
Mescham through tho shoulder, when he pre-:
sented pistol atSchonschin. but it did not 20 Gl
and that Shack Nasty Jim then shot him as no
was behind rock, to which he had run back
I wards, Schonschn in tho meantime hring At him
4 no less than five times. At this time Schonschin
/ tried to scalp Meachsm, but WAS prevented
| from doing so by squsw. who was married 10 u
| white man, although he inflicted three sever"
wounds on his head. After this the booles were
stripped and they retired to thor stronghold IN
the rocks.
| Hooker Jim, one Of thu worst mon in tue trbo.
I and who figured SC conspicuously in this massn'
! ere, apparently died on the l6!h of Novem6ar'
from fever. They purchased a collin Tor him
on the 18th, and while placing him in 1t he cam"
to life, and on the 10Th assioted in driving t@an
1 while gathering corn. but unfortunately Tor jim
his lamp was extinguished for good on the night
| of the 10Th, and the spirit Of ono moro Indian
was waited to the happy hunting grounds.
While giving description OF the msssacf,
the contorLions CT Bogus Charles DoHy ana
his general appearance would cause 4 lEtil ol
1horror TO run through any man OF ordlnaty
courage. In fact, he seoDed to live over aga'h
The many acts Of murder which ho and his t'ibs
1 ID Do,, Np,.q