Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-11-15

MWWUZ
| fAaorian.l
DR.. Csbaniss furnishes Ne with
/ another interesting article 10 counec-
lfion with the Modoc war The chap
ter rehearses incidents ocourrtng q
| an interview with the Modoc chief
on the day previous % The assassina.
ltion Of the peace commissioners. and
fconclusiveIy shows that assassination
had been decided on In the event OF
refusal 20 accede 70 the Indian de-
mand.
On the morning Of April 10Th. 1873.
Neacham. Major Trimble and the
writer left Gen GiIlem's camp, which
was az the northwest corner OF the
lava bed, for The camp Of Col. Mason,
which was q mile or more TO the east
of the fortified position Of the Indians,
| in 4 boat which was built by Hiram
Fields for the use OF the troops
II was In this craft that the writer
conveyed Mr.. Meachani from the
camp OF Gen. Gillem when be had
recovered sufficiently from The
wounds given him By Schonchin
and Jim on the day Gen. Candy was
shot, TO the mouth OF Lost river. when
his wife had come 10 meet him 60
corted by number OF Oregon volun-
teers
Col. Mason was awaiting the time
when the movements against the
Indians should be made. and to in
ltimidate the Modocs. But they did
s.intimidste, as the next day proved.
He was there also TO operate with the
troops who were 10 attack on the
west side, under Col John Green,
when resort TO arms was determin-
ed on.
| All communication was had by
this means boat, rs the Indians
| would not have allowed Us 10 pass
Through their stronghold.
| This stronghold lay 81 the end OF a
bay, 70 the west and east OF which
was cape that extended some dis
lance into the lake.
/ On the west cape the ponies were
herded and guarded by Indians. who
were visible 10 us daily IS they kept
watch.
To reach Mason's camp we bad 70
; pass the point Of this cape and cross
the bay 70 the other upon which ths
soldiers were encamped. The Indian
camp would be half mile away to
. the south.
II twas my intention to steer the boat
which was pulled by soldiers, but thu
major took the helm.
Extending q few yards from thu
shore lay sunken rocks, and man,
above water, which made the naviga
, ton itself dangerous; but the Moods
| rifles made IL the more SO. II w
. should be made targets for them whel
, In range. Both Of these dangers
would have been avoided by keeping
: from land, but the major, perhaps u
try my nerves and Meacham's. steeret
close 70 the shore.
This was an impruient act ant
: might have cost us our lives but TO
the fact that Jack had told his PEG
. pie not 10 fire on the whites first
This learned at the first interviev
; from Jim. Several Indians watches
. us rs we passed, but as our move
!, ments were not of q hostile character
: or any disposition manifested TO tax,
; the horses, they did not modest us
!. We had q full view of the pnsiticI
! held by the Indians, and neither Of u
: dreamed of the tragedy which was 4
]. take place next day, which would I'll
!. the nation with indignation and scr
! row.
Il Having arrived at the camp of Col
; Mason, we received cordial greet
ing from Colonel Bernard Aud Others
and took dinner with them. BerHart
commanded The troops who attacked
the Indians on the 10th Of Januar,
: from the east side, this attack havinJ
been made the evening before the gen
eral assault on the nth. When din
ner was over we saw -four In
! dians prowling about the rocks be
tween US and Jacks camp, and no
! far from the lake. Three hundred
yards In advance of Mason was on
man on picket, surrounded by ston'
walls which he had built for protec
ton. These Indians came near thi
picket and amused themselves by Sc,
. ting fire TO the sage brush. Bernar,
/, mounted his horse aud rode out I,
them. After an interview OF few
! minutes he returned and reported ths
, the leader Of the party had inquire,
II he was the captain. After receiv
| Ing a negative reply the Indian aske,
permission 10 get water from tn
lake. He then told the colonel tina
he had to go TO his camp and b.
, would go to his. The four men thel
went toward the stronghold aad In
few minutes were joined by two 9th
i ers Having q great desire to visi
! the Indian camp that | might se'
, what influence had with Jack To pre-
! rent war as well as 10 be familiar will
the position to report this to Genera
!. Gillem Ia case We had 10 attack the
!, Indians, | asked Colonel Mason's con
sent TO do so. aud accompanied By
0 him 50 far as the picket started on m
errand.
In few minutes time was nea
enough TO call TO the Indians. an,
|, two OF them came to me. Upon ask
! ing their names one said his nam
! was Rock. the other Stone. II. wa
4 evident they were giving me fictitlou
|. names. They were young men ant
. spoke English very imperfectly.
!. told them to call the others. Scar
I faced Charlie and three others cam
to me. The former greeted me col
daily and asked me for crackers, a
i he was hungry. l had none and b
. then asked me for matches. HavInI
. box Of these l gave them to him
Said !. Charlie, would like 10 Sc
Captain Jack" Z" All right, you g
: TO his house with me"
II Having reached the place when
, they had burned the brush each on
picked up his rife which had beef
laid down. This occurrence was Al
incident which showed that the uu
tntored Indian had some ehivalr,
about him and proved him To he. a
I, he was called, the Chevalier Bay
ard" among the Modocs. HandIn,
me his gun he said: Doctor, you TAX
my rifle" l did 50 mechanically bu
! immediately returning Il to him, tols
) him that | was not afraid Of the In
: dians. In passing over the lava fiel,