The San Francisco call., 1897-01-24

In 1850 band of adventures VINO nau
come West for gold caused disturbance
among the Indians. A few months later
the Indians retaliated by swooping down
upon them and putting them all to death.
AS an outcome of this, Ben Wright, atthe
head of a number of whites, started Tor
Yreka fully determined to punish the In
dlans for the death OF their countrymen
The country was rough and hard to travel
over. The Indians knew every inch OF the
way and they gave Ben Wrlghts men
hard chase. Finally they resolved to meet
together and make treaty; truce was
declared and the opposing parties went
into camp at some distance from each
other on Lost River.
On the morning of the day on which the
conference %as to be held young squaw
hurried into the camp of the white men
and asked to see Ben Wright. She was
pathetic sight as she was led before him.
Her feet were bare and torn by rocks, her
garments were rent, her dark hair hung
.unkelnpt about her shoulders and her
lace showed signs of weariness.
When asked what she had to say she
hurriediy explained that her people out
numbered his, three to one. She told him
that the night before, at the council fire,
she had learned that while their chiefs were
conferrlng with the white men they had
planned to surround the whole party and
kill them. Then Wi-ne-ma, for it was she,
refusing to remain a second longer, for
fear her people would find that she had
been there, stole away back to her lodge.
That DAY the white men went into am
bush and surrounded the Indians. Only
two escaped the slaughter, which is known
to history as the Ben Wright massacre.
During the years that followed the Mo-
docs, like all other Indian tribes in the
West, were given a reservation and COM
PEELED to live thereon. They rebelled
against the loss of the wild freedom they
had enjoyed. They could not hunt, their
lands were appropriated by the hated
whites, whom they had failed to drive
out, the treaties which they made with
the Government were repeatedly broken
and they were not strong enough 10 avert
the punishm ents that followed.
All this time Wi-ne-ma stayed among
them. When they armed for strife she
took their weapons from them and when
she herself could not calm them she
warned the settlers and officers of the
army and sought to have the trouble
righted.
After twenty-one years had passed the
Modocs had become stronI again. There
had been small outbreaks during this
time, but apparently they were sub
dued. The older chiefs, however, had not
forgotten The fires of revenge had been
only smolderlng. They kept the Ben
Wright massacre with all its terrors fresh
in the minds OF the younger braves. At
last they determined to even up their ac-
count by slaughter.
After hostilities began the Government
sent peace commissioners 10 confer with
meet them. The only white man whom
the Indians had any faith in was Judge
Elijah Steele. Although they refused to
meet the peace commissioners, they con-
sented to meet Steele and two other men
and to give up their arms to them on the
following day. At the appointed time
Steele and the other men were at the
place agreed upon, put there was not an
Indian in sight, so they returned to the
military camp. Steele then consented to
interview the war chief alone. He re-
paired at night to the Indian camp, and
had an experience that was frightfully
unique. While Captain Jack and few
others sat around the fire talking, part OF
the time in English, to Steele on the sub
ject in hand and considering terms of sur
render-in their own language the rest Of
the time they we're actually discussing the
advisa bility of numbering their visitor.
Steele understood their language suffi-
GENTLY well to know what they were say
ing, but he did not betray his knowledge,
and they finally decided to spare his life,
that he might bring the officers and peace
commissioners to confer with them.
Colonel Meacham. who was in charge of
the military post at the klamath reserva-
ton, had done all in his power to alleviate
the wrongs of the oppressed people. On
account of his efforts he had won the
gratitude OF Wi-ne-ma. AT this time Wi
ne-ma did all in her power TO persuade
Meacham not to go to meet the Indians.
When she found herself unable to restrain
him she followed on her pony.
When Meacham arrived at the appointed
place he was attacked by Sconchin, an in
furiated redskin. Wine ma threw herself
upon her countryman begging him to
spare the life OF her friend. When the
other warriors came up she ran from one
to another, turning aside their weapons
and begging them not to shoot. A bullet,
however, struck Meacham, rendering him
senseless. Then Wi-ne-ma declared that
he was dead to prevent his being shot
| again and snatched the knife with which
brave attempte to scalp him. The
| Indian struck her a blow, which daZed
her. Realizing that she could no longer
control her people she bethought herself
| of last resource ard cried out that the
soldiers were coming. The savages beat
a hasty retreat and soon a detachment of
| troops did appear.
Wi-ne-m nursed Meacham back to life,
although he always remained cripple,
broken in health. She helped him TO
reach his wife and family in safety, and
then returned to her husband.
The colonel never forgot her faithful
ness, but did all in his power to aid her
people during the remainder of his life.
] After his death the brave little woman en-
dured many hardshIps, but lately the Gov
| eminent has come to her assistance and
granted her a pension of $40 month.
Wi-ne-ma certainly has history that any
woman might be proud of. She is the
only woman in the United States who is
drawing pension for so much heroism
and bravery.
| And the faded calico gowns and the little