The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-06-10
THE MoDoc PocAHoNTAa

THE MoDoc PocAHONTAS.
A nadSt1tsr of an. IndIan Chief who Be. |
friended Whites Ia capt. eack's Reign.
Over fifty years ago there was born III |
that desolate region Of southern Ore |
gon, now known as the Lava Beds, an |
Indian girl, the daughter OF Sc Cot. a
Mddoc chief. Among the white men
who had penetrated into the Modoe
country few years later in the search
for gold was young Kentuckian
named Frank Riddle. The beauty OF
tie Indian girl bad its effect on the
white man, whose qualities were pleas.
ing to the chief, and after the usual
incidental to an Indian mar
rage Wi-ne-ma and her white husband
set up their own lodge. 1t was this
marriage that strengthened her regard
held for her white friends, and ever at.
ter she remained loyal to the race to
to which her husband belonged.
The discovery of gold in the klamath
region drew many adventures to that
field, with the usual portion OF the Lave
less element In 1851 some emigrants
who had been very aggressive toward
the Modocs were put to death by the
Indians, and the following year band
of whites left Yreka to punish the saw
ages for the act The avengers were
led bv Ben Wright, an old mountaineer
who had hunted and fought Indians
with Kit Carson; Jim Beckwith,
John Scott and Jim Bridger. After q
long chase through the rough country,
which was not productive OF gooo re-
suits, the chiefs were invited to meet
the whites and make treaty. They
agreed to do so ana the warning parties
went into camp near each other on
Lost river, the Indians outnumberlng
the white men by three to one. Early
on the morning of the conference
ysufis Moduc squaw, breathless, her
clothing torn and her feet bleeding.
came into the Wright camp and asked
to see the leader. Her errand was to
warn the invaders against treachery.
The night before she learned at the
council FIRE that her people intended to
siirfound tbs white men during the
conference and put them to death:
Wright and his men met cunning with
cunning. They went into ambush
near the place Of conference and when
the unsuspecting Modocs fell into the
trap but two escaped from the slaugh-
ter that ensued; This affair Is known
In the history OF northern California as
the Ben Wright massacre. The squaw
who conveyed the timely warning to
her white friends was Wi-ne-ma, the
wife of Frank Riddle. This fact was
never found out BY lief people, else her
life would have been forfeited
Twenty-one years passed. The Mo-
docs were confined by the government
| to reservation and treaties made with
them which were repeatedly broken.
| The tribe were the prey of post traders,
contractors, and of almost every white
man who came in contact with them.
The only one of the hated white race
| in whom they had confidence was the
| late Judge Elijah Steele. To this man
thew went for counsel and advice, bal
in the lapse of time they even contem'
| plated taking his life, as in the Indian
mode of reasoning the death of single
| white man grasses the wrongs perpe
trated by many. Snllen at first under
their injuries, the Modocs were avail
| encd to fury, and declared vengeance
on their oppressors. The memory O
the Wright affair was kept keen by thu
Ielder men Of the tribe, and after
council of the chiefs the whites wer'
apprised that war was ut hand. Short
ly after hostilities began the govern
ment appointed peace commissions
to confer with the rebellious redskin
and endeavor to make peace Ii
the mean time Riddle and othe
squaw men on the reservation
used their influence toward
settlement of the difficulty, but to n
effect The turbulent warriors led b.
Capt. Jack were bent on slaughter
When the peace commissioners arrive
on the ground the Indians refused t
treat with them. They did, however
finally agree to surrender to JudR
Steele and two other men OF that n
gion, and arranged to give up thel
arms the following day. When Steel
and his companions went to the agree
place of surrender not an Indian wa
in sight and they returned to the mil
tary camp Steele then agreed to g
alone and interview the war chic
That night Steele went through an e,
: perience few men have endured. Will
talking to him in pacific terms in I'll
Chinook jargon they were discussin
in their own tongue the advisability
numbering their visitor. Steele unde
: stood sufficiently their language
comprehend his danger, but did nj
betray his knowledge The chic
finally decided to spare his life on col
dition of his bringing the commission
< ers and commanding officers OF Il
> troops to confer with them
But for the efforts Of the brave squa,
, Wi-ne-ma, war would have broken o.
long before. Many times she took Il
weapons from the hands of warrio
bent on the destruction of settlers
t the region, and it was she who warn'
: the officers of the army of the troub
l brewing. Her influence with her pc
q pie began to wane as their rage again
the whites increased. Then, too, t
a warriors began to mistrust her husban
u Col. Meacham. who was in command
q the military post. was humane mi
, and did all in his power to right t
A wrongs of his dusky wards This nj
|. Wi-ne-ma revered. and when the 81
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