Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-01
THE LOST RIVER TRAGEDY.
4 Thrilling scene Recalled by an
Indians Death.
Seattle Observation-Disclosures.


Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
The dispatches last week announced the
/ death of Scar-Faccd Charley, Mod0c
Indian. on the reservation set apart TOR
the MOdocs I'm Indian Territory. Scar
1 Faced Charley was one of the Indians who
assisted in the massacre of General Candy
and Dr. Thomas, and the wOunding Of \.
h. Meacham and others during the out
/ break I'm 1873. 1t was one OF the vilest
pieces Of indian treachery ever heard OF.
as the men injured and 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 Iiddled their bodies were fired.
George L. Meacham city Treasurer of
Seattle, is a son Of a. i. Meacham. who
was wounded seriously at the time Gene
raj Candy was killed. He was seen by a
reporter, and, I'm speaking of the Modoc
war and the assassination Of General
Candy, said: II was living az Salem. Ore,
at the time Of the Modoc war, and was
aged about II years. My father had been
superintendent Of Indian affairs in that
section. and I'm that capacity had acquired
their confidence. The Modocs had left
their reservation, and as my father had
induced them 10 go back on another Occa-
sion II was thought he would have sufii-
ceut influence with them 10 induce them
to return on that occasion. With that end
i'm view, President Grant appointed him
peace commissioner TO treat with the
dissatisfied ModOcs who were then en-
camped at Lost River. l Think the trou-
bic rose In this way: The Aiodocs had
been placed on the Klamath reservation,
ON which the klamath Indians also re-
sid l. The MOdOcs did not like this, for
the reason that the Klamath Indians were
their hereditary enemies. and they could
not dwell together I'm peace and harmony.
and so the ModOcs left the reservation.
They were IA savage frame OF mind
and committed many Outrages Oh settlers
and miners I'm that vicinity
II have often heard my father de-
scribe the assassination scene Those pre-
sent We're: General Candy. 4. p.
Meacham. Or. 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. Indians.
1t must be remembered that the meeting
with the Indians was at their request
10 hold a conference for the pur-
pose of arranging peace and that the
stipulation was that those who attended
conference should DO so without arms
and IS compact was kept generally by
tho white men, but not by the Indians
Ny father thus described the tragedy:
THE Indians had demanded Hot Creek
for n home 1t was partially promised
TO them. Then Captain Jack thrust his
hand under the left breast of his coat
and drew forth a pistol. which he pointed
at General Canby's head and pulled tho
trigger. The cap exploded, but the
powder did not ignite. Quickly the blood
thirsty Jack reyolved 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 I'D
and Ellen's Man snatched a rifle from
his hands and with IL 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 a while he turned and pointed
IL at Hooker Jim, who would drop TO
avoid the shot Finally Dyer proved 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.
d" AT the time that Captain Jack fired
at General Candy, Boston Charloys first
shot struck Or. Thomas I'm 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 assassins 10 shoot no
more. as he had already received a death
wound. Bogus Charley Joined Bos-
ton Charley. and the twain tainted the
dying man with his religion, and said
10 him: why don't you turn the bull
lets? 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 Bogus Charley put
the muzzle OF 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 10 his feet, and
drawing a knife and revolver, pre-
pared 10 attack my father. who was
only few feet away. My father drew
a derringer and putting II squarely
against Schonchlns breast. pulled the
trigger. The weapon did not go or be-
cause IL was only half-cocked. Schon-
chin's thrust his pistol forward almost
into my fathers face. AS Schonchin
fred my father drew back. and the ball
tore through the collar OF his coat and
vest, and burned his whiskers. Ny
father ran with Schonchin in pursuit.
and soon tho derringer was ready for
use Schonchin soon emptied one re-
volver and quickly drew another. Ny
father was afraid 10 risk his only shot.
At this moment Tobey. an Indian wo-
man. came up. and she pleaded with
schonchin to spare my fathers life, for
the reason that he had always been a
good friend Of the Indian. The woman
was struck on the head by Sioux. and
then shacknasty Jim grabbed gun from.
Sioux and pointed II at my father.
''rhe latter struck his left breast with
his hand, and said: Strike me here. you
cowardly. red devil The woman. Tobey,
struck down the gun. Shacknasty jim
raised the gun and fired. just as my IA
Their took refuge and fell down behind
a low ledge OF rocks Then he decided
~ fir, his only shot and he pushed the