Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-05-10
swUDGsSG TnE mopoC..

In March. 1851. gold WAS discovered
In freka Flats, and in a few weeks sew.
erai thousand miners were voykino
there ard on Greenhorn Creek. In the
summer following, a number of men
took np claims in Shasta Valley and en-,
nay for the Yreka market. Besides the
OF teams used in hauling the hay 20
town, they all ranched number of
norses. mules and cattle. belonging Ia
themselves and parties in the mines.
Ihe Modoc Indians made occasional
forays into the valley and drove of
small b. ads ~ stock - fhtir eouu4rv. 3
hundred niles 10 the -astxaru. Much
stock which was no doubt stolen by
Shite thieves WAS charged to the ac-
count OF these savage marauders, and ia
10 very Questionable II they were guilty.
OF hAlf the thefts sscrlbed to them
Late In the sommsr they stampeded A
corral OF aFiinais near Butfevilla ana
and made Oh with 46 fine mu.es and
horses, many of them belonging to the
pack train OF Augustus Meamber, then
ON bis way 10 Yreka with load of
goodr. That this act was committed
oy the Modocs there Eas ample evi-
denoe to shew. A company of twenty
men was raised, consisting chiefly Of
miners from the vicinity of Yreka, 10
follow the thieves into the heart of the
Modoc country, punish them for their
roguery, ana, IL possible, recover the
stolen pr pexy.
On the afternoon Of the secoad day.
having penetrated into the celebrated
lava beds south of fule lake, about a
dozen Indians ssre discovered, some of
whom hastened to warn the village of
danger. while others took shelter be-
hind rocks and juniper bushes, and
discharged their arrows at the advanc-
ing party as soon 40 they came within
range. A bushwhacking contest was
maintained. tue savages falling stead
lily back toward the village. This was
situated on a plateau and along cres-
cent ledge of rocks, where tho ground
sunk abruptly to a depth Of about
twenty feet. Within tho ledge was what
appeared to be the smooth bed of a
stream. II WAS about thirty feet wide
and one hundred yards long. with a
slight incline terminating near the mid
die of the ledge, where a cave opened
into the rocks. Here the inhabitants
OF the village hadsfaken shelter, tying
their horses In front of it, where they
could protect them with their arrows
while lying concealed In the cave. The
whites opened fire from the top of
the ledgs of rocks, at distance of
hundred yards, and the savsges rs
turned the fire, shooting their arrows
with such force and precision that sew
eral of the men were wounded. They
soon discovered that their shields of tule
rushes we're not b1llet proof, and re-
treated within the shelter Of the cave
with the loss of several warriors. One
stalwart brave, probably a Medicine
Man who desired TO exhibit his super
natural powers, emerged from the cave
so enveloped in shields that he resem-
bled an animated basket. Behind their
protecting fronts he felt 80 secure that
he walked boldly forth and defied his
assailants, only to be laid low by we'll
aimed shot from the bluff above. After
this exploit not an Indian ventured
from the cave again.
Hew to dislodss them from their hole
became the next question. The men
were out of provisions and could not
besiege the cave, the rocky and desert
country affordinR no game or other
means of subsistence of which they
could avail themselves. A smudge was
suggested. Hurriedly gathering logs
and brush, the men cautiously pushed
them over the edge Of the bluff at the
mouth of the cave and set fire to the
heap. The Indians could not prevent
this, for they were closely cooped mp IN
the cave by the rifles of the men who
stood guard opposite. From out the
dark recesses OF the cavern the impris-
oued savages maintained close watch
upon the besiegers, and each head or
arm that was exposed in adding fuel to
the blazing pile was saluted with q show
er of arrows, and one of the men WAS
severely wounded in this way.
The heat and smoke rushed into the
entrance la such volume that any one
but a Modoc Indian would have been
suffocated or roasted. They prostrated
themselves upon their faces to breathe
the Little fresh air that came in along
the bottom of the cave, and, with a
courage born Of desperation, resolved
to perish there rather than go out To be
slaughtered by their enemies. The at
tack upon them had been so sadden
and unexpected that they had forgotten
to take water with them into their re-
treat. Their place of shelter. also, was
small, and had no outlet or means OF
ventilation save tha entrance through
which they were receiving such gener'
ous donations of heat and smoke. They
could have held oat hut little longer,
when they were overioyed to see their
prosecutors take their departure. Ibe
men had kept up roasting fre for "a
hours bat being out Of provisions, aver
n hundred miles distant frore any source
of supplies, aud not knowing the terri
bic straits to which the enemy had be-
come reduced, they had rolled last
contribution upon the burning pile and
taken mp their line of march for Yreka.
10 rush out into the fresh air, scatter
the blazing logs and brush. and moisten
their parched throats with cooling
drauphts of water. acre the first acts OF
the savaaes. They were too thankfui
for their escape To think Of pursuing or