The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-04-06

gifts she became weaned to the life and
thought of white people But she never
dared, on pain of assassination OF poison
ing, to reveal her change of faith or to
show that she really loved white man.
In 1860, when gold was discovered in
large quantities in the Klamath region
and thousands of venturesome Ameri-
cans rushed through northern California
and across the lava beds, the anger OF
the Modocs was reused to fullest pitch
by the lawlessness of the invading
whites. In June, 1860, the Modocs lured
IA gold miners into a narrow canyon,
and there, after unspeakable cruelties,
extending over two days, let the white
men die. The news Of the murders BY
the Modocs got abroad month later
and set on fire the whole white popula.
ton Of northern California and southern
Oregon.
In August band of 70 whites left
Yreka, Cal, to punish the Modoc saw
ages for the act. The avengers were led
by Benjamin Wright, an old mountain.
eer, who had hunted and fought Indians
with Kit Carson, Jim Beckwith, John
Scott and Jim Bridger. After a long
chase through the rough country, which
was not productive of good results, the
chiefs were invited to meet the whites
and make treaty. This they agreed to
do, and the warning parties went into
camp near each other on Lost river, the
Indians outnumbering the white men by
three to one. Early on the morning Of
the conference young Modoc squaw,
breathless, her clothing torn and her
feet bleeding, came into the Wright
camp and asked to see the leader. She
had run and walked some nine miles
across the rugged mountain trail. Her
errand was to warn the invaders against
treachery. The night before she learned
at the council fire that her people in
tended to surround the white men dur
ing 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 slaughter
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 her people, else her life
would have been forfeited.
Eleven and half years passed. The
Modocs had been confined by the gov
eminent to a defined reservation, and
treaties were made with them, which
were repeatedly broken. The tribe was
the prey of post traders, contractors and
of almost every white man who came
in contact with it. The only one of the
hated whites in whom the Indians had
confidence was the late Judge Elijah
Steele. To this man they went for coun-
sci and advice, but in the lapse of time
they even contemplated taking his life,
as in the Indian mode Of reasoning the
death of single white man grasses the
wrongs perpetrated by many.
Sullen at first under their injuries, the |
Modocs were awakened to fury and de-
clared vengeance ON their oppressors.
The memory of any detail Of the Wright |
affair was never allowed to fade At
every council Captain Jack or Scar !
Faced Charley called upon the vengefuI
Modocs to remember the August day
when the palefaces had killed their IA |
theirs and brothers. At last in January,
1873, the whites in northern California
knew that another Indian war was at
hand
Shortly after hostilities began the
government appointed peace commits
sioner to confer with the rebelIious red
skins and endeavor to make peace. In
the meantime Riddle and other squaw
men on the reservation used their influ-
ence toward settlement of the diff |
Guilty, but to no effect. The turbulent
warriors led by Captain Jack were bent
ON slaughter. When the peace COM
missioner arrived ON the ground, the |
Indians refused to treat with him They |
did, however, finally agree to surrender |
to Judge Steele aud two other men of |
that region and arranged to give up
their arms the following day. When
Steele and his companions went to the !
agreed place of the surrender, not an
Indian was in sight, and they returned
to the military camp. Steele then agreed |
TO go alone and interview the war chief |
That night Steele went through an ex-
perience few men have endured. While !
talking to him in pacific terms in the
jargon they were discussing in |
their own tongue the advisability Of |
numbering their visitor. Steele under
stood sufficiently their language to COM
prehend his danger, but did not betray /
his knowledge. The chiefs finally decid- |
ed to spare his life on condition Of his |
bringing the commissioners and COM
officers of the troops to confer
with them.
But for the efforts of the brave squaw,
war would have broken out |
long before. Many times she took the
weapons from the hands of warriors
bent on the destruction of settlers in the |
region, and it was she who warned the |
officers of the army of the trouble brew
ing. Her influence with her people be- J
gan to wane as their rage against the
whites increased. Then, too, the war
riors began to mistrust her husband.
Her food was poisoned by Modocs, and
she was compelled to sleep in secret
places for fear of death from her own
brothers and relatives for her suspected
undue liking for white people.
Colonel A. B. Meacham, who was in
command of the military post, was a
humane man and did all in his power
to right the wrongs of his dusky wards
This man Wi-ne-ma revered, and when
the second peace commissioner was APP
pointed she did all in her power to pre-
vent him from attending the council
with the chiefs. She grasped his horse
by the bridle begging Meacham and
Candy not to meet Jack and his band.