The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1906-10-23

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\ race some tnifty-nVe years ago result
ed In sacrifice and heroism.
In 1857, when the gold fever was
leading men across the lava beds lying
between Oregon and California, Is
young Kentuckian, an ex-sergeant Of
the United States army-Frank Riddle
was among those who trespassed up
on that desolate region. He found
there Winema. an Indian girl. fifteen
years old, who was considered the
most attractive Of the Modoc women.
Riddle not only got gold. but he got
Winema for his wife. The young
couple lived In the gold disgings, and
the wife became weaned from her peo-
pie. But she knew that IL she showed
this change or q love for her husband
to her people they would kill her.
A more gold fields were discovered,
more whites swarmed across the lava
beds, and the Indians began to MUIR
der them. This melted the whites to
revenge, and a band OF seventy-five
men went from California to punish
the Indians. After pursuing them for
long while TO no purpose they invIt.
"a the chiefs to meet them for the pur-
pose OF making a treaty. The invita-.
ton was accepted, and both parties
went into camp near each other on
Lost river. In the gray Of the morn
ing Of the proposed conference a young
Modoc squaw. with clothes torn and
feet bleeding, hurried into the white
camp and asked to see the leader. size
had walked nine miles over a rougs
mountain trail TO warn them that az
the conference they were to he muir.
dered. This she had learned the night
before at the council fire.
The whites, Impressed with ths
truth OF her story, determined to NEE;
cunning with cunning. Going into am
bush near the place of meeting, the
Modoes fell into their trap and but two
ESCAPED with their lives. The sduaw
who bore the information was Wine
ma. Her people never learned that she
had saved the whites at their expense
or she would have died by torture.
This massacre of Indians brought on
q war between the United States
troops and the Modocs. General Can.
BY commanded the troops, while the
Modocs fought under an Indian called
Captain Jack. Riddle and other whites
who had married squaws strove to Ell.
feet settlement, but failed. Winema.
who had done much to prevent the
murder Of settlers by her people con.
tinued her efforts, but now both she
and her husband began to be suspect
ed Of preference for the whites WI.
nema's food was poisoned. and she
was obliged to sleep In secret places
for fear OF being murdered.
Two peace conferences were agreed
upon between the whites and the In.
dams. At the first the Indians did nor
appear. The second was arranged be-
tween the commander of the military
post OF the district. Colonel Meacham,
who was doing all In his power to
right the wrongs on account of which
the Indians were fighting. When he
was about to start to attend the con
ference Wlnema besought him to re-
main away. Since he would not llsten
to her she grasped his bride rein, at
the same time calling upon General
Candy. who was also to attend the
conference, to listen TO her When she
found they would not, she mounted her
pony and rode with them.
What followed filled the country
with horror, The meeting was an In.
dian trap and resulted In a massacre.
General Candy was murdered. A blood.
thirsty Indian. Scouchin, attacked Colo.
mel Meacham. winema threw herself
upon the savage and begged him 20
spare her white friends life. Other
Indians came up. and winema ran
among them. turning their weapons
aside or knocking them upward.
A bullet struck Meacham senseless,
and a buck ran forward to dispatch
him. The squaw turned the weapon,
crytngst"Him deadl No use to shoot"
scouchin tried to scalp Meaeham. aud
Winema grasped the knife. Scouehln
struck her Then she shouted, 'The
soldiers are comlngr This turned out
to DO true. and IN another moment
/ troop OF cavalry dashed among the IN
dlans, Seeing among the other In
+ dlans a sauaw, many earbines were
aimed at her. mo shoot meg' size
cried. Il tried to save themr' Then
n man In the ranks recognized her aa9
4 Yelled
'srhe man who harms her III kim
+ such Is the story OF this woman's
work, by her 1rst warning she savel
seventy-tive white men, Had those
to whom she gave her second warning
listened 70 her she would have saved
n major general and colonel In the
/ United States army, The penalty she
and her husband paid for her fidelity
70 the whites only remains to be stat
ed On the day OF the killing OF Can.
by and Meacham. Riddle, while ridlns
on horseback over the lava beds. was
shot from an ambush by an Indian.
The three little children Of Riddle AMI
I Winema We're murdered while sleep
Ing and the hut burned over them.
+ Wlnema, ieeing at night from her
tribe and her family. made her way
! across The lava beds TO the govern.