Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1888-05-03
A MoDoc WARRIOR TALKS.


Interesting Interview with Member Of
the Once Famous Tribe OF Indians.
! The Modocs on their native heath were as
determined a tribe of Indians as ever at
tempted to remove the dandruff from the
heads of their white brothers. It cost mil
| lions of money and dozens of valuable lives
to subdue them when they put on their war
paint few years ago and commenced to
raise Cain and the hair of the settlers. No
tribe of equal number ever cost the govern
ment half as much trouble as the Modocs
The remnants Of this once powerful tribe are
being slowly extinguished by intermarriage
and consumption on their reservation in In
dian territory. Two Of their number Will
| liam Clinton and the historic William Feith-
full, called at our office the other day. The
former is bright young man, who was but
child when his people were wrestling
for supremacy with the United States gov
ernment He is well educated, speaking and
writing the English language faultlessly.
In speaking of his people he said: "There
are not many of us now, death having re
duced our number to less than ninety, and in
few years we will not have a living repre-
sentative. The climate does not agree with
us at the reservation and many are slowly
dying from consumption. l believe if they
were brought back to California they would
recover. l came out here fourteen months
ago with five of my people whom it was
thought would die before they reached their
old home. Only one died and the other four
have entirely recovered. l am going back
tomorrow to sell Off my possessions and will
return with as many of my people who are
sick as my money will bring
Clinton spoke with feeling, and seemed to
be anxious that his tribe should not become
extinct.
Accompanying Clinton was William
Feithfull, who said that he also was on his
way to the Indian territory. Feithfull is
well advanced in years. and his stiff, wiry
hair will soon be gray. During the Modoc
outbreak he fought from the opening to the
close with Capt, Jack, but seems to have had
more honor and principle than that noted
leader.
Through Clinton as interpreter he spoke
freely of his part in the war. He can speak
very good English, but says he hates to use
the language of a race that has done him so
much wrong.
1--WE were being wronged,n said Feithfull,
"and had to fight. Afterward we were sorry
we had started ON the warpath, but were
afraid to stop, for Capt. Jack said we would
be killed anyway, and might as well die
fighting. Lots of times some of us would go
TO Jack and say that we would fight no
more, but he would make long speech, and
we would agree to fight on When Capt.
Jack planned to deceive the peace commits
sioners and murder them, l made up my
mind to go and warn them, but l was
watched so closely that could not get away
1 then sent squaw named Toby Riddle, and
she warned Col. Meacham, but they believed
in Jack, and not in me. Dr. Thomas was
killed. Col Meacham was in Indian terri
tory afterward, and gave me $40 for saving
his life. Lots of times 1 could have killed
white men, but never did have one squaw,
and am going home to get her out here
where she will be happy, have no chill
dren. n-Yreka Union.