Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-08-22
smuGging the Modocs.

uorch. 1851, gold was discovered
l, lats, and in afew weeks sew.
,ho,,sand miners We're working
AND on Greenhorn Creek. In the
Fe,sr following, q number of mer
NV Nv c}a ms in Shasta Valley and
h" "f for the Yrcka market. Bes DIES
a ~ teams used in hauling the hay to
they all .ranchcd a number OF
~. mules and cattle belonging to
n.e]yes and parties in the mines.
uodoc Indians made occasional
rs into the valley and drove of
RI hands of stock to their country, a
lied m les to the eastward. Much
T. that was no doubt stolen by white
kr.s was charged to the account OF
Z savage marauders. and it is very
lstionable if they We're guilty of hall
+" thefts ascribed to them. Late in
summer they stampeded a corral
nimals near Buttcville, and made
Nth forty-six fine mules and horses,
Inv of them belonging to the pack
: Of Augustus Meamber, then on
way to 1reka with a load of goods.
II this act was committed by the
[]ocs there was ample evidence to
". A company of twenty men was
led, consisting chiefly of miners
the vicinity OF Ireka, to follow
thieves into the heart of the Modoc
ntry. punish them for their
1lery, and, if possible, recover thu
en- property.
IN the afternoon Of the second day.
(nr penetrated into the celebrated
q Beds south of Tule Lake. about a
en- Indians were discovered, some of
mn FASTENED to war; the village of
Ger, while the others took shelter
ind rocks and juniper bushes, and
Eharred their arrows at the advance
party as soon as they came within
&c. A bushwhacking contest way
Entained for a long time, the savages
ins steadily back toward the village.
S was situated on q plateau and
no q crescent ledge of rocks, where
ground sunk abruptly to a depth of
But twenty feet. Within the ledge
! what appeared to be the smooth
Of a stream. 1t was about thirty
/ wide and one hundred yards long,
h Il slight incline terminating near
! middle of the ledge, where a cave
ened into the rocks. Here the in
bitants of the village had taken shell
tying their horses in front of it.,
ere they could protect them with
kr arrows while lying concealed in
! cave. The whites opened fire upon
I'm from the top Of the ledge of rocks,
q distance of a hundred yards, and
J savages returned the fire, shooting
Dir arrows with such force and pre-
ion that several OF the men were
mded. They soon discovered that
ir shields of tuIe rushes were not
lIct-proof, and retreated within the
Filter of the cave with the loss
several warriors. One stall
st brave, probably q Medicine
Fn who desired to exhibit his
kcrnatural powers. emerged from the
ne so enveloped in shields that he re-
nbled an animated basket. Behind
er protecting fronts he felt so secure
BIT be walked boldly forth and detied
assailants, only to BE LAID low by a
l-aimed shot from the bluff above.
er this exploit not an Indian ven
ID from the cave again.
How to dislodge them from their hole
me the next question. The men
out of provisions and could not
ege the cave, the rocky and desert
Fntry allording no game or other
Fans of subs stcnce of which they
ibid avail themselves. A smudge
Is suggested. Hurriedly gathering
s and brush, the men cautiously
shed them owe the edge OF the bluff
the mouth Of the cave and set fire tc
heap. The Indians could not pre-.
Mt this, for they were closely cooped
in the cave.bv the rifles of tho men
DO stood guard opposite. From out
dark recesses of The cavern the i'm.
Isoned savages maintained a Close
ftch upon the besiegers, and each
ad OF arm that was eXposedin adding
+ to the blazing pile was salutet
I'm a shower OF arrows, and one of thu
en was severely wounded in this way
The heat and smoke rushed into thu
france in such volume that any one
a Modoc Indian would have beer
tocated OF roasted. They prostnatet
emselves upon their faces to breathe
E little fresh air that came in along
E bottom of the cave, and, with
urage born of desperation, resolved
perish there rather than 60 out TO b'
fnghtered by their enemies. The at
k upon them had been SO suddena ant
expected that they had forgotten Il
ke water with them into their retreat
Pc place of shelter. also, was small
"a had no outlet or means of ventila
Pm % V the entrance through which
icy were receiving such generous do
Ftons of heat and smoke. The.
R'id have held out but little longer
pen they were overjoyed to c thei
Executors take their departure. Th'
zen had kept up a roasting fire TO
Fenty-four hours: but being out Q
DIVISIONS. over q hundred mites dis
mt from any source OF supplies. an
p knowing the terrible straits to whicl
e enemy had become reduced, the.
ID rolled last contribution upon tn
prnlng pile and taken up their line G
arch Tor Yrcka. To rush out into tn
esn air, scatter the blazing logs an
Push, and mcisten their parcne'
Froats with cooling draughts OF water
ERE the first acts Of the savages. The
ere too thankful for their escape t
INK Of pursuing or annoying the whit
(en fllrther-Portinna (Or.) We: