Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-23
TRAGEDY OF THE LOST RIVER
A Thrilling Scene Recalled by the Death
of an Indian.
INFAMOUS CRIME OF THE aODoCS
The Massacre of General Candy and
DIR. Thomas by TrcnchcrouS Red
sl<ins--Rccollcction of
survivors.

The dispatches recently announced the
death of Scar-Faced Charley, a Modoc In
dian, on the reservation set apart for the
Modocs in Indian Territory. Scar Faced
Charley was one of the Indians who as
sisted in the massacre of General Candy
and DR.. Thomas, and the wounding of A.
b. Meacham and others during the outbreak
in 1873. 1t was one of the vilest pieces
of Indian treachery ever heard of, as the
men injured aud killed were, in reality,
the best friends that the indians had and
were working in their interests up to the
very moment that the bullets which riddled
their bodies were ilred.
George Il. Meacham, city treasurer of
Seattle, is a son of A. b. Meacham, who was
wounded seriously at the time General
Candy was killed. He was seen by re-
porter of the Seattle Post. and, in speak
ing of the Modoc war and the assassination
of General Candy, said: IL was living at
Salem ore, at the time of tho Modoc war,
and was aged about IL years. My father had
been superintendent of Indian affairs in
that section, and in that capacity had ac
qured I'll cir confidence. The ModOCs had
left their reservation, and, as my father
had Induced them to go back on another
occasion, 1t was thought he would have suf-
to return on that occasion. With that end
in view, President Grant appointed him u
peace commissioner to treat with the dis
satisfied ModoCs, who We're then encamped
at Lost River. | think the trouble rose in
this way: The Modocs had been placed on
the klamath reservation, on which the
klamath Indians also resided. The Modocs
did not like this, for the reason that the
klamath Indians were their hereditary enc
mics, and they could not dwell together in
nNlh hnIF 4 Lao Af.,g1, ls,Ht
the reservation. They were in a savage
frame of mind and committed many out
RACES on settlers and miners in that vic
Unity.
SCENE OF THE TRAGEDY.
81 have often heard my father describe
the assassination scene. Those present were:
General Candy, a. b. Meacham, DIR. Thomas,
Tobey Riddle, Mr.. Dyer, white men, and
Captain Jack Schonchin, Boston Charley
Shacknasty Jim. Hooker Jim, Ellen's Man,
Bogus Charley, Tobey and Black jim, In
dams. 1t must be remembered that the
meeting with the Indians was at their re-
quest to hold a conference for the purpose
of arranging peace, and that the -stipua-
ton was that those who attended the con-
ference should do so without arms, and this
compact was kept generally by the white
men, but not by the Indians. My father
thus described the tragedy: The Indians
had demanded Hot Creek for a home. 1t
was partially promised to them. Then Cap
tain Jack thrust his hand under the left
breast of his coat and drew forth a ps-
tol, which he pointed at General Canby's
head and pulled the trigger. The cap eX-
ploded, but the powder did not ignite
Quickly the bloodthirsty Jack revolved the
cylinder, and in another instant a bullet
passed through the generals head. The
wounded man turned and fed. Captain
Jack and Ellen's Man pursued him till he
fell on the rocks. The monsters stripped
him of every article of clothing while he
was dying on the rocks. Broncho came up
and Ellen's Man snatched a rifle from his
rands and with it put another ball into
the generals head. Dyer had fed for his
life as soon as the shooting commenced
He was followed by Hooker Jim, who fired
repeated shots at him as he ran. Dyer
had a pistol, and once in while he turned
and pointed it at Hooker Jim, who would
too fleet of foot for the pursuing Indian and
got away. Frank Riddle also ran, pursued
by Black Jim. who kept firing at him, but
failed to hit him. He also escaped
CoWARDLY ASSASSINS.
AT the time that Captain Jack fred at
General Candy, Boston Charley's first shot
struck DR.. Thomas in the left breast just
above the heart. The doctor dropped partly
down, and with one hand to steady himself
he raised the other and begged the assassns
to shoot no more, as he had already received
a death wound. Bogus Charley Joined Bos-
ton Charley. and the twain taunted the
dying man with his religion, and said to
him: "Why don't you turn the bullets?
Your medicine is not strong" The doctor
rose to his feet, and they pushed him down
and laughed and jeered in his face. Then
the red devils pushed him once more to
the ground for the last time. Finally Bo-
gus Charley put the muzzle of a gun to the
doctors head and sent bullet crashing
through his brain Then the body was
ruthlessly stripped of clothing, while the
dying man was sending up his last prayer
to his Creator
When the signal for the attack was given
Schonchin sprang to his feet, and, drawing
knife and revolver, prepared to attack my
father who was only few feet away. My
Ia Lhnr drnu q lerrinGer and nutLlnn IL