The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-06-01
lREG0N JOYLAND
\ But SPIRIT BROKEN
Federal Authorities Admit
Error in Bringing MOdOcS
to This Section

Muskogee. Okla. June 1.-THE camp
flres are burning brightly and there
n iB cheer In the hearts of the handful
4 of Modocs, who, after thirty years on
ahe beautiful prairie between Peoria
and Seneca, IN the northeast corner
Of Oklahoma, are 10 be taken back TO
the home from which they were seized
in the klamath reservation IN the
Northwest Few viii share in the
fierce Joy that burns in the hearts
of this handful that Is left Of Captain
Je.clrs band, for there are only So Of
them left. All but four OF these are
fullbl0ods. Thirty years constant con-
tact with white men and the guiding
hand of the government has brought
neither contcnt nor prosperity 70 this
rapidly dying band aud the govern
ment admits the failure Of The expert
ment BY taking them back ID their
old home from which they were
snatched because they left the reser-
Yation and massacred the soldiers
sent TO treat with them.
The Modoc. while Deaceable enough,
IS more reserved than the Quawpawa
or tho Osages and has assmilated
with the white man less. This Is
shown in the statement OF Chief Yel
low Hammer that there aer only four
Irdinas in the band who are not pure
Modocs. The land on which they were
located IS rich, agricultural land and
lends itself readily to cultivation, hut
the Modocs are not farmers and they
have never made success of making
a living They have always pined for
home ard their home was IN the far
northwest and there they had always
been surrounded by different condi-
tlops. II Is said that no man Drospers
when his heart longs for home, and it
Us also said that the Modocs have died
off rapidly because Of their constant
homesickness. Their lands will be
sold TO white men ana viii add much
taNsble value 20 Miauli county, in
which it Is located
la their home IN the Klamath reser-
walton the M0docs had held theory
that some day they would be able 20
wipe out the white man and be sole
p0esessor ~ the country. for then the
white man was not numerous in their
section and they had no knowledge
OF the civilization east Of them. Steam
boat Fink, One of their leaders, once
made a trip 20 Washington, and when
he returned die was asked what he
thought about the Modocs ever extin-
guishing the white man. NO" said
he. there are too many lodges back
there" pointing 70 the Hast.
The Modoes were brought TO Okla.
holaa IN 1877 after an outbreak That
year General Candy, with detail Of
troops was sent out % treat with the
5Modocs and in some unknown manner
hostllities broke out which resulted in
the massacre OF many whites and al
most exterminated the Indians When
they were brought 10 what was then
Indian Territory, Bogus Charley was
their chief aud Steamboat Frank.
Shagnasty Jim, Scarfaced Charlie and
other worthless constituted his council
OF state, All these have gone the way
of an flesh, but sambo. WHO Is said
70 have been the most expert Of all
with his scaiping knife, remains
Princess Mary, a sister of Capiabt
Jack, was with the number when they
came. Captain Jack was killed during
fhe war. After they arrived IN their