The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-03
COURT MARTIAL ON A DEAD INDIAN.
tragic Incident of Early California Days
That Had q Sc ia.Comic Interest

~.
Tragic Incident of Early California DAYS
That Had a Serio-Comic Interest
When half dozen army officers get
talking of old times at the Army and
Navy club some curious bit of forgot
ten history IS always brought to light.
Ihe other evening an officer who has
been IN the service for IS years related
to the Washington correspondent of
the New York Sun story of the early
Gays OF California that was historic,
tragic, serio-comic and curious. 1t is
herewith reproduced:
When California was newly ac
CURED territory" said he General
Flournoy was in command of our forces
there, with headquarters at Sacrament
to. The settlers were troubled with
frequent Indian uprisings, in which a
small marauding band under a petty
chief, Matera, were chiefly concerned.
AS soon as the soldiers were after them
these Indians would break into squads
of three or four and hide until the SOL
dlers had returned to headquarters,
when they would suddenly reappear
and renew their depredations.
"A settler discovered small cave,
the entrance to which was almost en-
tirely obscured by dense growth of
bush. He also found evidence that
Matera took refuge in this retreat when
too closely pursued. When the Indians
next made raid on the settlement one
of the settlers started with all speed
for military aid while the others gath
cred for resistance. Such haste was
made by the messenger that in 36 hours
he had laid his plant before General
Flournoy. Colonel Ben Bell of Florida,
Indian and Mexican war fame, was in
command of the dragons and in two
hours time after receiving orders went
to the generals headquarters to report
his readiness to start and to receive
final instructions. Now General Flour
noy and Colonel Bell We're personally
most intimate, regular cronies. Like
all old-time army officers they made
great display of rank and authority
when under observation, but when they
got by themselves all this was discard
ed and they always called each other
by their first names -E'
when Colonel Bell entered the gem
erals room there stood on the side ia
BILE a bottle and glasses, and while TAX
ing 9 parting drink the general said:
Ben, go up there and look into this
cry, and if it's false alarm made by
the settlers themselves with the object
of selling their barley for horse feed
at so cents bushe1 when it's only
worth 5, forage on the country and
don't pay 'em damn cent; but if it's
genuine call offer a reward for the
capture of that old Tedskin devil Ma
terra, dead or alive. If you get him
alive, CONT bring him here; hang him,
hang him there, damn him, as high as
Haman! Now, goodbye, and good luck
to YOU.
ut was on Sunday morning that
Colonel Bell and his men started out.
On Wednesday they reached the scene
of disturbance, to the great relief of
the settlers who crowded about the
colonel, giving the latest news, to the
effect that on that very morning one
of their number had been killed and his
hut burned The discovery of the cave
before sunset a part of the command
set off for it. A squad of men was sta
| toned about the mouth of the cave to
prevent the escape of any one within
| Early the next morning scouting par
/ ties were sent in several directions, re-
| porting later in the day that there was
no sign of the enemy. Late in the af-
| ternoon, a brisk wind soming up from
| the desired direction, a hot fire of fag-
| gots and dead wood was started in
| front of the cave, and when it was
burning fiercely quantities of green
| bushes were thrown on it and in a few
minutes such volume of dense smoke
was sent into thee that no human
thing could long withstand il, and di-
rectly out through the smoke ran five
redskins. FIRE.! rang out the command,
and the sharp crack of musketry
brought four of them dead upon the
ground. The fifth, Matara, threw up
his hands in token of surrender
HE was quickly bound and brought
before Colonel Bell just as twilight was
settling down. The old chief could
speak some English and said that he
wanted the treatment of a prisoner of
war.
"'You do, do your said Colonel Bell.
You'll get it. Do you see yon limb p
pointing to a huge branch about SO
feet above their heads. When the sun
rises tomorrow morning you'll swing
high as Hannah, it'll do the business
right