The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1886-12-03
moDoC nnnrsrsCExcks
The I.ava beds. We.

1he Modoc war OF 1874 Il an Interesting
part Of our national history. Notwithstand
Ing the fact that the whites numbered twent
OF thirty 70 each Indian, the killed wer
nearly all on the side Of the whites. IN
reason Of this was the very great advantag
the Indians had IN their extraordinary posi-
ton, and their intimate knowledge Of III
lighting grounds which. Il will be rcmem
bercd, was Ia The Lava beds" IN Mode
county. TO explore thia region which ha
its peculiar attractions--we secured th
services Of the original Modoc warrior. Wah
wah-fye.ax, rs guide. This Indian Il sol
OF Chief Sconchion, who was hung, middl
aged, (Indians don't know their agcs,) AZ
intelligent, shrewd fellow, and speaks fai
English. Now the Northern shore Of Tuli
Lake e the dividing line between Oregon
and California. This Lake j. nearly
square, and has an area Of about 400 squarl
miles. The LAVA beds" iIo immedlatel,
on The Southern shore. and In the distance
have the appearance Of low, nolling hills
There being no practical road TO the scene
we crossed the lake from the North b,
boat, landing first At Gen. Giliams camp
This place Is yet III the wllds. there being nc
Inhabitants near. The grounds seem to bs
just as they were left after the war. Th.
hreaat-works and ride pits were made almost
entirely Of rock. For miles almost every
movable rock has been used as means ol
dcfense. Az first our guide seemed vcry
much indlsposed but confidential argu.
inens reached bis '.'rum.tum'' and had the
desired effect Itwas extremely interesting
% hear this intellectual "sIwaAh" relate In.
cldensa Of the war. lie took as llrst to the
grave yard. which i lnelosed by rock
fence, and tells n numbers for Itself. The
remains have mostly been removed 10 Fort
klamath. The signal station = lofty rock
Stands high on the side OF amounsaitl. jusl
back Of the old camp ground. and can be
sesn from all oyer the fighting grounds
About one mile further on near the lake
shore, and toward the stronghold . Il Gen
Canby's monument, which stands about ten
feet high, based with pyramid OF rock and
bears the inscription -@Gen. Candy killed
here BY the Modocs April nth. 1873" Thi.
Is the place where It was agreed that few
whites and Indians should meet 10 council
and make terms Of peace. The conference
was In sessisn when. as a signal, Capt. Jack
frcd-kiillng canby. The others then drew
their hidden weapons. Dr. Thomas waa
killed. Msaeham was stunned and hall
sealped, when Toby Mcachan's handsome
"Poeahontas the second" exclaimed .sIsos.
tons coming" The Indians klasawaed
Agent Dyars lcng leg suddenly became
useful and took him 70 camp. Afeacham
recovered We found this same Toby llv.
Ing on the Northern shore OF the lake
About two miles farther on i the sStrong.
hold" proper, II u wonderful what nature
has done here. Human intellect coulc
hardly devise better means of protection
| Though not Of much elevation, these sLaya
bedsa am very rough. having cliffs. caves
holes and cracks of all l.nnagiaable shape.
and sizes. The Indians had every adyan.
tage. The whites were bafsied on every &C
tempt 10 approach. Our gasidr explained e
ons intense amusement how the Irdiani
Unanswered They never fired twice In
succession from the safne place. Ihes
would make sure aim, iire,and Immediately
while the soldiers we're firing ~ The snaoka
from Indians gun. would run through ths
rock crevlees and fire from another point
II shooting from behind buaehes of sage
they would itFc, then roll quickly ottf Of Isnn
| while the bullets would pepper the arount
where he was lying. They would put ha
on a stick and hold il above the rocks fol
the soldiers 10 empty their guns ~. Al ons
time they pitched tents on open grunnc
during the night, then lay In ambush ant
wAylayed the Nhsiea. who undertook 20 ap
proaeh. The In 1ians were always scatter
cd about. one OF two In place. III ono 90
into q close place others would attract ths
attention 81 the whites from some oshei
quarter while he escaped We we're In ths
caves where the Indians lived. and Of cours,
hunted for Capt. Jacks hidden treasures
Viz. hat full Of gold and between one ans
tso hundred guns. Jacks cave Is large
coEnmodious room, with entrance from lh
top. There i a small. rough. dark entranci
into one side, but We didn't venture in. Gu
Aodoc friend tells " that they had plent,
Of beef, as one would judge from the grca
amount OF bones scattered about, and tina
they enjoyed themselves finely having wa
dances every night some 81 their war song
he sung and interpreted for ~. We wen
with him 10 hts fathers quarters here h
seemed solemn, the only time he exhibite
other than joyous feeling. In order TO se
all, we were compelled 10 remain over nigh
during which, as a substitute for sleep, "
pulled sagebrush 70 keep from Ireezing. w
took some views, gathered some relics anl
at dark launched our boat and pulled 10
the ether shore.
The Modoc tribe, claimed and lived In Il,
, Tule lake and Lost river country. The
were transferred against their will 20 th
klamath reserve. They asked for and &c
permission TO 90 ID Lost river fishing. The
refused 60 return when the militia VI
sent after them. They answered the orxfs
: to return BIZ firing at the commanding Office
Then swan the river, killed all tho white
they met, Body and son amongst other
. whom they tied behind their wood WACO
q turned the horses ioose,and the dead bodil
4 were dragged home. They reached u
aI.ava beds" In safety. There were forl
. Modocs, boys and all, able 70 carry arm
i but twenty Of whom were warriors. Wright
!, Icompany was all killed but two or fou
= Altogether the killed numbered about u
e whites, and but three Indians Two Tndil
= boys were killed by trying to extract Il
le powder from an unexpiodcd bomb. III
y Indians were routed hy bombs and captur
1, by n company OF Warm Spring Indian
Sc Chief Sconchlon, Capt. Jack, Boston Charl
g and Black Jim were hung AZ Fort Kiamat
at Their graves and the scaffold from whi
!. they were hung can be seen at that pla'
About eighty Modocs are now in Indian
A few who did not engage in the war I
living quietly here. Chief Sconchion, ,brol
!. er Of the one who was hung, Is sill livir
= The Indians think Ilis age about r.o"snow
:, or years old.
,y O.C. NJ
re KLAMATH AGENCY.
1g -
GA Weather.