The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-11-08
MODOC MASSACRE.
EHE BLOODY TRAGEDY OF THE
OREGON LAVA BEDS.
Murder OF the United States Peace
{ Commissioners Execution OF Cap
tain Jack. Black Jim. Boston
Charlie and schonchin.

The San francisco Chronicle has an in
teresting article recalling the murder OF
General Candy by Captain Jack, the
Modoc chief. The Modocs had gone on
the warpath, and intTenched themselves
In the lava beds of Oregon. The Gov
eminent appointed a Peace Commission,
headed by General Candy, TO treat with
them, and a conference was appointed to
be held on April II, 1873, each side to
60 to the meeting place unsrmed. The
Shy0Riolss account continues Is follows
When the commission party reached
the place Of conference they found Cap
tain Jack already there, accompanied by
SIX Of his Warriors-Schonchin, Boston
Charley, Black jim, Shacknasty Jim,
Euen's Nan George and Hooka Jim-al-
though it had been agreed that each
party was to consist Of five. After some
little maneureriug for position, the In
uians making numerous changes so as to
get the commissioners all grouped TO-
gether, the party finally dismounted, and
General CANDY, advancing toward Cap
tain Jack, made a short speech, ard then
asked Dr. Thomas TO talk The doctor
mHde his last speech coolly and calmly,
with the slow, distinct manner, that was
50 peculiar 10 him. He said:
riddle, tell these people for me
that I think the Great Spirit put it in the
heart Of the President of the United
States 70 send me here. know all these
men. have known General Candy Tor
thirteen years, Meacham for eighteen
years, Dyar for four years; know their
hearts are all good. We want no more
blood"
When the doctor had finished CAPTAIN
Jack rose 10 his feet and stepped toward
Dysr, 20 the right of General Candy.
while e1honchin moved to the left of the
General Captain Jack made short
speech. and while Riddle was interpret
ing it. tso Indians, Barncho and sloiuck.
were seen creeping out Of the bushes with
three rifles each in their arms. The COM
mission party instantly jumped 10 their
feet, with the exception of Toby. who
threw herself fat on the ground. As the
party spr.ng up, Meacham called out to
Captain Jack:
"What does this msan7g
For answer the Indian drew a pistol
from bis side and pointed it at General
Candy. who was but four feet away, and
shot him IN the face. The General
staggered back, and then ran for a dis
fance q about forty yards, when rife
hui'ei. frud By Ellen's Nan George, went |
rrashirc through his brain and he fell on
the rocks. Captain Jack then ran up
and stabbed the fallen man IN the neck,
and Black jim proceeded to strip him of |
his clothing.
By this time the rifles were all distri- /
bufed. a1d Boston Charlie, seizing one,
shot Dr. Thomas IN the chest. The In
diaus then tarnfsd him with the remark
that next tine ne had better believe a
,squaw, called him Sunday doctor, and
thea Bogus Charley put an end 70 his
EasIcrines by shooting him through the
head with a rife, killing him with a
PRAYER On his lips.
Dyar, WHO hsd been on the alert, was
running when the first shot was fred.
Black Jun was 70 have dispatched Dyar,
bur De ras otherwise engaged and Cap
taia JACK ordered Hooka jim to shoot
hini. Hooka followed Dyar for several
hnndr-i Yards, but did not oTertake
him. aad 50 returned to the scene Of car
Riddle rras also On nc aiert and he
TOO bounced away toward the camp.
One Of the Indians bounded after him.
but be was brought TO bay by scar-faced
Charleys rife This Indian had de-
ulared when the massacre was agreed
upon that Riddle should not die, and he
had posted himself II the rocks, some
distanss oil. rife in hand, prepared TO
shoot The ran who shot Riddle. Thus
Riddle escaped.
sioiuek dubbed Toby and stole her
pony, but Captain Jack interfered IN be-
hall o. The squaw and her pony was re-
stored and her life saved.
Srhonchin was to have been Aeacham's
ezerutioner and he approached the COM
missioner with 3 revolver and knife. His
first sho- Only grazed Meacham's left
shoulder, q small deuinger which he had
drawn probably spelling his aim.
-I.---sprn, says Meacham IN his
statement Of The massacre, 81 aimed at 1
sel1achin's heart, bat the doringar
failed 70 fire. The sight o. the knife /
had placed me n terrible position, that /
being the worst thing 10 face, and there /
were tkrse other Indians who had Joined 1
schonchin and fred at me from dis !
lance Ct twenty CT thirty feet. Why /
frey missed me I cannot tell. I only
.-0T that I had made up my mind that
Toe end had come, that could not pos
sihiT escape, and I had the curious hope
tat some bullet would strike me IN the
hszn and Kill me instantaneouslv, thus
HaTing me from torture and mutilation.
BE direction I took was over a small
ridge Of rocks, over which I Jumped.
with no hope Of ever getting up again.
r.ised ny head, 70 discover schonchin
q the sz1ne distance from me. 7 felt
ae sting Of a bullet IL my face. Then
be Cred bis pistol, and the sting CT an
irlcr bullet was felt In my night arm.
Another strrck ne On the temple; one
battered my ear, and I caught another in
y icft hand. Some Of these shots
termed nc and 7 became unconscious.
lhe rest I learned from the Indians.
sli-e Trey were stripping me, Shack
asylum cane uF and was preparing 70
ho1t again, whea hii gun was pushed
SIDE with the remark. he Is dead: be
s desd' Boston then began 70 take ny
'alp Eith e blunt knife, but Toby IN i
elpoc4d with devices 10 delay the opera
Jon. H-heu at length he had raised five (;
9 siz irehss Of scalp on the left side Of
81 head, IcbT- Hnman-likc. accom-
.i'le4 By strGtegy what could not be
eae otherEise Sic shouted. SOL
ierz. so-dienF and Boston left his zrorI,
nanisaed- Returning 20 consciousness
ans time after, ] heard the word Of com !,
and giFen 70 tie advancing soldiers !,
I'd knew tisat ] was saved. :
7 Is impossible 70 describe the intense :,
zeiteineat caused By This massacre q
elFeis.i cry Of Tengeaucs arose. and mo- :
here cid the desire burn more fereelv Z
l-n Do tie hesrfs Of Canbv's gallant :.
aiaiarions u arms. General Gillen. n
len ~ command. made immediate prepa- n