Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1884-05-29
THE MODOCS.
How Party Of Sturdy Miners Smudg-
cd Them Out From their Strong.
hold in the Lava Beds.

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cd in Yreka Flats, and in few weeks
several thousand miners were work
ing there and on Grcenhorn Greek.
In the summer following, number
of men took up claims in Shasta Val
ley and cut hay for the Yreka market.
Besides the OK teams used in hauling
the hay to town, they all ranchcd n
number of horses, mules and cattle,
belonging to themselves and parties
in the mines. The Modoc Indians
made occasional forays into the valley
and drove off small bands Of stock to
their country, Il hundred miles to the
eastward. Much stock that was no
doubt stolen by white thieves was
charged to tho account Of the savage
marauders, and it is very questiona-
bic if they were guilty of half of tho
thcfts asscribcd to them. Late in the
summer they stanpcded Il corral of
animals near Buttcvillc and made off
with forty six fine mules and horses.
many of them belonging to the pack
train Of Augustus Meamber, thcn on
his way to Yreka with load of
goods. That this act was committed
by the Modocs there WINS ample evi-
dcncc to show. A company of twenty
men was raised, consisting chiefly Of
miners from the vicinity OF Yrcka, to
follow the thieves into the heart of
the Modoc country, punish them for
their rogucry, and, if possible, rccov-
CT the stolen property.
On the afternoon of the second day,
having penetrated into the celebrated
Lava Beds south Of Tule Lake, about
n dozen Indians were discovered,
some of whom hnstcncd to warn the
village Of danger, while the others
took shelter behind rocks and juniper
bushes, and discharged their arrows
at the advancing party Us soon as they
came within range. A bushwncking
contest was maintained for a long
time, the savages falling steadily
back toward tho village. This WIS
situated on plateau and along n
crescent ledge Of rocks, where the
ground sunk abruptly to depth of
about twenty feet. Within the ledge
was what appeared to be the smooth
bed OF n stream. 1t was about thirty
feet wide and ono hundred yards
long, with slight incline terminal
ing near the middle of the ledge,
where cave opened into the rocks
Here the inhabitants Of tho village
had taken shelter, tying their horses
in front Of it, where they could pro-
tect them with their arrows whilc ly-
ing concealed in tho cave. Tho whites
opened fire upon them from the top
of the ledge Of rocks, at Il distance of
II hundred yards, and the saynges re-
turned the fire, shooting their arrows
with such force and precision that
several Of the men were wounded.
They soon discovered that their
shields Of tulc rIshcs were not bullet
proof, and retreated within the shell
ler Of their cave with the loss Of sew
eral wounded. Ono stalwart brave,
probably Il Medicine Man who desir-
cd to exhibit his supernatural powers
emerged from tho cave so cnvcloped
in shields that he resembled I'm ami
mated basket. Behind their protect
ing fronts he felt so secure that he
walked boldly forth and defcd his
assailants, only to be laid low by II
well aimed shot from the bluff above
After this exploit not an Indian ven
tured from the cave again.
How to dislodge them from their
hole became the next question. Tho
mon were out of provisions and could
not besiegc the cave, the rocky and
desert country aifordjng no game or
other substinencc of which thcy could
avail themselves. A smudge was sug-
gested. Hurridly gathering logs and
brush, the men cautiously pushed
them over the edge OF the bluff ut the
mouth of the cave and set fire to the
heap The Indians could not prevent
this, for they were closely cooped up
in the cave by the rifles of the men
who stood guard opposite From out
the dark recesscs of the cavern the
imprisoned savages maintained u close
watch on the besiegers, and each head
or arm that WAS exposes in adding
fuel to the blazing pile was saluted
with shower of arrows, and one man
was severely wounded in this way.
The heat and smoke rushed into
tho entrance in such volume that any
one but Il Modoc Indian would have
been suifocated or roasted, They
prostrated themselves upon their
faces to breathe the little frosh air
that came in along the bottom Of the
cave, and, with a courage born of des-