The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-10-23
GEN. CANBY'S DEATH.
The story of the M0.iOcs' Treachcry Re
tol,l-HOw Their Scheme Could Hav,
lgs.,.n Defeated.

GEN. CANDY'S DEATH.
The story Of the Mo.,oc.' Trcachcry Re
toId-How Their scheme Could Have
Iscen Defeated.
DR.. I. I. Cabaniss, in The Ast0ridn,
of Oregon, retells the story of the
treachery Of the Modocs in the lava
beds: Gen. Candy and DR.. Thomas
led the party on foot, and Dyar and
Mcacham followed on horseback,
though the nature Of the ground was
such that one could make better time
on foot over the rocks than on q horse.
The distance from Gen. Canby's tent to
the council tent was about nine hum
dred yards, aud the latter was hidden
from us (except the signal officer) by
fall of in the lava bed. The General
was about fifty yards from the place
where it stood ut the end Of our camp
next to the Indians,, and DIR. Thomas
behind. shall never forget those two
men as they looked that day, marching
into the jaws of death Candy with his
tall figure, dressed in new military
coat, and Thomas in suit OF Scotch
gray At this moment Meacham turned
his horse from the trail and rode up to
me. Said he: DIR. Cabaniss, do You
think there is danger under the arrange
ment which we have made? What
is the arrangement? asked. There
are to be five unarmed Indians and five
of us. Under that arrangement, re-
piled, there is no danger, but
Meacham, if you are suspicious Of these
Indians. remain here and let me go and
~ 4
seeing that Gen. Candy and DIR.
Thomas hal gotten some distance in
advance, without replying, followed
them. Subsequent events proved that
the Modocs intended to kill Col. Mason
as we'll as Candy, Gillem and others.
After the commissioners had been
with them some time, and at the no
ment that Candy was making them
laugh, while smoking cigars, an IL
dian came in sight of Mason's camp, :
mile and half from Jacks headluar
ters, and more than two and half from
| the council tent. and waved white flag.
Gen. Candy had told them to do this if
they wanted to see the whites. Lieut..
Sherwood was the officer of the day,
and went to meet this Indian, accom-
panied by Lieut.. Boyle. When within
few yards Of this man, Sherwood asked
him what he wanted. Nothing, was
the answer. As the official turned, sew
eral Indians rose from the rocks and
commenced firing at him and Boyle.
The first shot was through his thigh,
breaking the bone, from which wound
he died several days afterward. Boyle
escaped. Sherwood took shelter be-
hind rock, and the man who was on
picket several hundred yards away
opened fire on the Indians, and kept
them from advancing on Sherwood.
The troops turned out, and the Modocs
retreated to their camp.
Almost Immediately after this oc-
currence Lieut.. Moore, the signal Off
Ger in Mason's camp, telegraphed to
Glen. Gillem: The Indians have fired
on this camp, killing Sherwood and
Boylee Upon receipt Of this message
Gen. Gillem sent his Adiutant, Lieut.
Rockwell, for me, and desired my pres.
ence. Upon reaching his tent Gillen
said: DIR. Cabaniss, will you take q
message to Gen. Canby? Yes, SIR
/ have selected You out Of this entire
command, but do not want you to GO
under any misapprehension.' an.
swerel that would go to the rescue oi
Gen. Candy if he was in danger from
the Modocs. 4 will write the mes.
sage, said he, because if you carry a
verbal message Bogus will tel the
other Indians As he banded me the
message, telling of the death of Sher-
wood. the officer of the signal station
called out: They are firing at the
council tent. The men turned out
Immediately, and some of them, under
Sergt. Woeten, an eX-Confederate ssl-
dier Of X Company of cavalry. started
without waiting the orders of the OFF.
GERS.
"Meacham has told what followed
and l will merely correct few mis-
takes which he makes. DIR. Thoma
was shot with pistol by Boston,
and then through the front part of tn,
head with ball from carbine. Gen
Candy had a wound from pistol-bal
under the left eve, and one from
pistol-hall at the side of the head
above the left ear, without passing
through, and stab with narrow
bladed knife under the right ear. Can
by was thirty-tive yards from the spo
where he sat when shot, and Thoma
was about eighty yards in another di
rection.
Had / gone to these Indians first
l would have counted eight instead Q
J five, and would have seen that the
were armed, as Dyar did when he GO
to the ground. / would have mad
Jack believe that Candy was delaye
in camp and then walked away. Thi
could have been done with perfee
, safety, as they were after large game
. and knew that to shoot me would de
, feat their plans. and Gen. Candy an
DIR. Thomas would he living to-da,
! Had / reached the General before til
firing commenced, the whole plan {
tue Indians would have been changed
! and, being armed, standing by Dyar
, horse. l would have killed Jack an
possibly have saved the Generals lif,
| What my fate would have been (
course is not known, but believe ths
one cool and courageous white mar
under such circumstances, can viii
that number of Indians, especial
when he had Meacham, Dyar, and otl
| ers to divert their attention. At lea
. the risk run would justify one in I'll
/ hope of saving such man as Gel
!: Candy
Appealing TO the Imagination.