Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-03-03

captain JACK anu MS bioouthtbJ 'vnps'
lay In waiting on the morning Of April II,
1910. Captain Jack had broken his pledges
again and again within few days pro
ceding the peace talk" which he made
the cover Of q most barbarous massacre.
Friendly Indians, who knew the Modocn'
purposes, scouts, and above all squnw,
who had the privileges OF Capt Jacks
lair, and learned by unerring signs that
mischief was on foot, warned the army
leaders and Ipdian commissioners not TO
trust themselves within reach OF the Mo
docs. II was n singular state OF Affairs
there at the Lava Beds OF Tule lake. with
nm army with banners" on one side and
handful u fugitives-outlawed savagos-
on tho other. The troops numbered several
hundred. the larger part beins regulars,
provided with the best implements Of war,
including cannon. The Indian warriors
numbered about two scorc, and had good
small arms, but not much ammunition.
The United Statos forces had been In the
field for ponthB upon an expedition 70
force tho Modocs TO 20 upon reservation.
Several battles had been fought and the
Modocs, generally victorious, had secured
ammunition from che dead soldiers. The
position occupied ny the Indians had given
them the upper hand In many desperate
fight with great odds. 1t was In barren
region known as the Lava Beds, where
volcanic uphoavals have left = regular
series Of ridges, broken at the surface by
deep crevices runnlng both lengthwlse and
crosswise. The crevices formed hidden
passages for the Indians TO move about,
and where 1t suited their purposes they
blocked them against the invading troops
by rolling huge rocks down from above
TIE army ofiosrs reported that one man
In tho Lava Beds could keep twenty at a
distance
When matters reached u crisis, however.
the army surrounded tho place, and with
its cannon and mounted troops WINS In
u fair way to win at all points But DO
fore the blow came to settle the doom OF the
Modoes forever hostllitios were suspended
by ordcrs from Washington nt the request
Of the Indian bureau What the diplomatic
world calls negotiation. but In the parlanee
OF the plains Is known rs a peace talk, I"
was TO 10 brought into use at a moment
when the scalplng knives OF the Modocs
were dripping with blood and their victim,
lay unburied aud bleeding within sight OF
the council tent Candy had reached the
spot prepared TO fight and finish the bust
ness. Not that he was cruel Indian hater.
On the contrary. he was friend OF the red
man and had proved II scores OF times, even
as far back ~ the Seminole trouble But
he thought that patience had ceased TO be
nvirtuc and II was time TO cease talking and
go to shooting. The Modocs were not new
species. The soldiers knew them and the
settlers as well. They had grievances too,
but had become nuisance all the same
the more because Of brooding over their
grievances
In the early days Of California, 1917 to
lei9, they destroyed many whites and were
afterwart whipped by Capt. Nathaniel
Lyons forces for their forays upon set.
tiers In 1859 the settlers organized, and
after a terrible massacre Invited the Mo
docs to peace talk" and killed Il out Of
~ warriors who responded. Naturally,
savage tradition didn't allow that sort OF
negotiation to die out Of remembrance.
After years OF war, In which they got the
worst Of II, Of course, they oeded theiI
lands and agreed TO 20 on reservation.
The band then went on the Klamath
reservation, where they had no means Of
living, were cheated out OF their supplies
and torm,nted by their natural enemies
the Klamaths. Groups OF them strayed
back to their old home ON klamath lake
and thess In isI2 were about forty families