The San Francisco call., 1908-07-19
The San Francisco SUNDAY Ca

Now loosen the Grape that has clouded the stars
OF our sorrowing dag as II hung halI mast;
Let the sun kiss its rppies-ths vino h11 III
Our dead have been buried. our wailing Is past;
In silence 1t clung. and each sow-neaving sNs we
Was sigh for the soldier that carried II Wen
But uD! To the peak! Let IL hoat to the song
OF the cavalry bugle that rings on the trail
OF the cruelest murder and deadlest wrong
That has made women weep or the strongest
grow pale
Captain Adams was sitting on the
blun three miles away anxiously watcn-
ing. with field glass in one hand and
signal flag in the other. and as the
smoke rose from the muzzle of Jacks
pistol he sent the appalling message 10
the troops below. Instantly nearly
thousand men leaped to arms and start
ed on a run Then began the three
days battle. memorable in the annalS
of that bloody war. For three days
and nights without ceasing the battle
ragged. The ringing shots from thou
sand rifles. mingled with savage yeils
and the deep boom Of hve mOrtars and
three howitzers, with the bursting
shells. presented a scene no one VINO
witnessed 1T can ever forget. On the
night of the second day Colonel John
Green drove his column between the
Indians and the lake and fortified his
position, thus cutting them of from
water In vain the savages strove to
break his line. There was no water TO
be had elsewhere They were surround
ed by Gordon OF troops on all Sides
and finding 1t impossible to reach the
lake passed out between the soldiers as
an ant would pass through sponge.
Surprised and Slaughtered
The stronghold was then occupied
with a strong fsrceN But where were
the savages? On the 11th Of April Gen.
eral Gillian sent Colonel Wright and
Major Thomas with a force of so men
to scout through the east side OF the
lava beds. Both officers were without
experience in Indian warfare. Captain
Appelgate warned the general OF dan
ger, pointing out that Donald Mckay
was there with rs Indian scouts. while
Bernard. Green. Perry, Mason and Has
brook had grown gray In Indian wars
General Gillian replied that Wright and
Thomas desired an opportunity to dis
tinguish themselves and be had decided
to grant their request. Scouting through
the lava these officers saw no sign OF
the savages. They concluded they had
abandoned the vicinity and sat down
with the troops to enjoy their lunch
They stationed no guards. Had they
watched closely dark forms might have
been seen httting from rock TO rock or
writhing snakelike through the lava.
Without warning q murderous IRE was
poured In upon them. At the sound OF
firing Donald Mckay with his Indian
scouts started on the run TO relieve the
column. Too late. He reached the
fatal spot only to find the dead bodies
OF so men. Two were alive but wound
ed Every officer OF the column was
dead
After this massacre-it was not a
battle-General Jen @. Davis was sent
AnnATGa6a "a fAA
command OF the scouts, saying II there
was 10 be more masSacreS he would
know who was TO blame. Captain Has
brook was sent to circle the lava beds
and ascertain II the savages had gone
out. He camped at Dry lake, There
was no water there and Donald Mckay
was sent with his scouts ana a pack
train TO get water from the lake. The
next morning, May IL, Hasbrook's COM
mand was attacked at daylight The
indians came within 100 yards and
opened FIRE. -Four soldiers were killed
and six wounded. HasbrooE's men were
momentarily thrown into panic but
were soon rallied. At this time Nc
Kay, returning from the lake heard
the firing and came up In the rear OF
the savages and attacked them The
latter broke and fed. This was the last
battle fought with the Modocs and rene 2
gade allies They split up and some
came in and surrendered. The other
bands were run down and captured by
Captain Hasbrook and Captain APP
pelgate.
The story OF the hanging OF Captain
JACK and his accomplices in the mas
sacre of the peace commission need not
be repeated here.
This was Captain Appelgate's last In
dian campaign After an almost con
tinuous warfare OF more than 80 years
as private. scout, chier or Indian scouts.
captain OF United States volunteers and
again captain of Oregon volunteers. he
abandoned the warpath forever and en-
gagged in the more peaceful pursuits OF
a rancher and stockman AS before
stated, he has been engaged in more
battles with Indians than any man
on the continent. Quiet and retiring OF
disposition. he possesses nothing of
the brag and buster OF the long-haired
Indian lighters of novels and reputed
histories. And in this grave sedate
gentleman one would scarcely expect to
find the dashing cavalry commander
and tireless lighter. He mas lived the
simple life. never on any account In
dulging In the use OF Inroxicants. and
now at the age OF 81 he is as straight
served specimens Of manhood to be
found on the Pacific coast. His family
resides at Fruitvale. a suburb Of Oak
land, while he exercises general super
vision in the grazing OF his aocks and
herds inNthe lava bed region which
erstwhtle rang with the noisy battle
and warwhoop Of Indian savaRes.