The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-19
THE MODOC
MASSACRE.
A Pension for the Dusky Maiden
of the Lava Beds.
An Awful Tragedy That Might Have Been
Avsrted if Winemah Riddel Had Been
Needed by the Commissioners.

has just performed a tardy act OF justice TO
the heroine of that awful tragedy. Among
the 13S bills which passed The House on FRI
day night was one to give Winemah Riddell
| pension of S25 month for the rest OF her
| life.
In 1878 General Candy and force of
| United States troops were engaged In n
campaign to subdue the Modoes. These In
dians, led by Captain Jack, had taken an
almost impregnabe position in the lava
beds. A commission was sent out by the
Government to negotiate peace. At the
head of the commission was A. b.
Meacham. Reaching the lava beds the COM
mission stopped at General Canby's head
quarters and opened negotiations. The in-
terpreter for the commission was a man
named RiddelL His vile was Modoc
woman whose name was Winemah Riddell,
but who was commonly known as Toby"
Messengers made half dozen trips between
the Indians stronghold and General Candy s
headquarters. The Commissioners offered
amnesty. The Modocs sent back fair PROM
ses. At length they asked that wagons be
sent in to take Them out. Winemah had re-
peatedly said that the MOdocs meant treach
cry. and warned both the commission and
General Candy to take care. When the sug-
gestion about tn G wagons came from the
Modocs Winemah said: mo Modocs come {;
maybe come to steal teams; they no give
up" The wagons were sent. They returned
empty. The Commissioners notified the In
dian Department IF the warnings OF Wine
nah. Secretary DelanO telegraphed back !:
II do not believe the MOdocS mean treach-
cry. The mission should not be failure,
| think | understand their unwililngnesS
TO coniide in you. Continue negotiations.
Will consult the President and have the War
Department confer with General Candy to-
morrow"
Thus spurred on, the Commissioners pro-
posed a council. A storm interfered with
the first appointment. The next day some
of the ModocS came to the council tent mid
way between their stronghold and the army
headquarters. The talk was not satisfactory.
Again Winemah told the Commissioners that
treachery was intended. Later there came
proposition from the Alodncs for a council
at which hall dozen on each side should
appear unarmed. 1t was refused. The sig
nal officer from his high perch reported
that he could see armed Indians in
hiding behind those who appeared uuarmed.
The Modocs repeated the request for a
council the next day, and said that II the
talk was satisfactory they would all come
into camp and surrender. Rlddell went be-
fore the Commissioners and told again Oh
Winemah's warning. He said to the Com
missioners thatif the meeting must be held
he wanted to be Tree from responsibility.
He had lived with Toby" for twelve years
and she had never deceived him. He be-
lieved treachery was intended. Ii the COM
missioners went to the council they should
90 armed. Bat General Candy and DR..
Thomas of the commission refused to be-
lieve there was any danger. They insisted
on keeping the appointment and going un-
armed. Candy said the signal officer would
keep a close lookout, and at the least intima-
ton of hostiliteS the soldiers would ad-
vance on the council tent.
COLONEL MEACHAM'S STORY.
The rest of the story is in Commissioner
Meacham's own language. He told what
happened as follows:
"rhe preparations for keeping the ap-
pointment were being made when Winemah
Riddell and her husband made last protest
against the fulflment of the unwlSe COM
pact. DR.. Thomas was unwilling TO abandon
the effort. Commissioner Dyar agreed with
me that the meeting should not take place.
General Candy maintained his views, and
gave orders for watch to be kept ut the
signal station then. giving some private in
structlOnS to his Secretary, he dressed III full
uniform, without arms, and called for DIR.
Thomas. Together they walked off, side by
side, toward the peace tent, one mile away.
Having failed 10 dissuade them from going,
1 had no honorable alternative but TO fol-
low.
~ prepared to go, and caught the halter
of my horse, intending to mount when
Winemah, unable to suppress her fears,
snatched the halter, and winding 1t around
her waist, threw herself upon the. ground
and cried most earnestly: DO not GO; you
will be kill. The Modocs mad now. Meach-
am, you no CO. Her entreaty moved me,
and | relaxed my grasp of the halter, and
calling to General Candy and DR.. Thomas,
went to them and renewed my protest
against going unarmed.
"They were mmovable. l then for the
first and only time life made Of
my fraternal relations 10 induce them TO as
sent to promise on my part, as Chairman
of the commission, to withdraw the army if
we found satisfactory evidences of premed-
itated treachery. The proposition was en-
phatically rejected also.
Seeing no alternative, l returned to the
Commissi ners' tent, handed my valuables
to Mr. Fairchilds, and securing promise
from him that If my body should be badly
mutilated it should be buried in the rocks of
| the lava-bedS and not sent to my family,
| sought again to mount my horse, when
Winemah caught me by the coat and endeav-
oTed to detain me.
Firmly refusing TO remain in camp, I
| babe Wiuemah and her husband follow. and
rode off to the council-tentsn the lava-beds,
accompanied by Commissioner Dyar. VIM
| emah parted with her boy, and with steady
nerve mounted her horse and Joined Mr..
Dyar and myself. Mr.. Riddell hastily ar
| ranged his business affairs, and also joined
| US on the danger-fraught ride.
General Candy and DIR. Thomas were
the first of our party to arrive. They were
| greeted by the Indians with extreme cordi-
atty, General Candy giving to each n cigar.
| Instead of five unarmed men, including
| Scarfaced Charley, as promised by Boston
| Charley in negotiating for the council, we
| found eight we!l-armed deSDeradOes, includ-
| ing the notorious cut-throats, Hooker Jim
| and Black jim. Captain Jack seemed anx-
| ious and i'll at ease, and did not exhibit the
friendship the others of bis party pretended.
THE FATAL COUNCIL.
General Candy was calm aud thoroughly
self-possessed. DR.. Thomas did not appear
| to note any suspicious circumstances, but
| was endeavoring to impress the Indians with
his good intentions. l made my election to
abide the consequences. l knew that the
horse beneath me was one OF the fleeteSt in
| the Modoc country, and, notwithstanding
the rocky trail, could carry me out of dam
| ger with few bounds, which he seemed
more than willing TO make at the slightest
| invitation. l made up my mind that Candy
and Thomas should not be endangered by
cowardly flight on my part.
withdrawing my OYercoat and hanging
| it upon the horn Of the saddle diSmounted,
dropping the rope halter to the ground.
Leaving his horse free Mr.. Riddell secured
| Winemahs horse, and we all gathered round
| thescouncil fire.
Before the talk began I sat down facing
tne cnleI, ana opened the council by refer
ring to the proposition made the day before
by Boston Charley, and continued by say
| ing that we were ready to complete the ar
rangementS for peace. Captain Jack asked
| if we were willing to remove the soldiers
| from the lava beds and give his people a
| home in the country. ] felt that if his de-
| mand was met we could escape, and al
| though General Candy had refused to allow
me to make this promise, l thought that,
| convinced, as he must be. of intended treach-
cry, he would feel justified in asserting to
| the request. Cautiously turning to him /
| asked him to talk.
after moments waiting he rose and