USA > California > Siskiyou County > History of Siskiyou County, California > Part 41
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" I guess I'll sleep here too."
The other Indians withdrew to their various camps, which were in other caves or among the rocks outside, leaving the two men with Scarface and Captain Jack. The mat was made of two rushes, and was just large enough for the two visitors. Scarface lay across the end at their head, and Jack stretched himself at their feet. Ellen's Man mounted guard on top of the cave with two Henry rifles and all the ammunition he could pack about him. This was necessary, as an enemy from the outside could shoot down into the cavern and kill any one sleeping there.
The night passed quietly away, and in the morn- ing, having renewed his promise to bring Canby, Rosborough, Meacham, Applegate, and Chase to the cave, Steele took his departure with his companion. They mounted their horses and worked their way carefully up to a ridge about two miles from the cave. When they surmounted this, and a long stretch of good road was spread out before them, Atwell broke the silence by saying,
" Whew! I'm glad to get out of that hole."
" Why?" exclaimed Steele, who had supposed Atwell ignorant of the situation, "did you know what was going on last night?"
" Yes, I did, but I don't care now. I can outrun them."
When they reached camp they rehearsed their adventures, and Steele told the commissioners of the promise he had made to save their lives. He said he would never go back, and he strongly urged Canby and the others not to go to the cave and never to put themselves in the power of the Modocs, as it would be equivalent to their death. He then returned to Yreka. Judge Rosborough went to Shasta to hold court. Applegate and Chase left in disgust refusing to have anything more to do with the nego- tiations.
The situation was not comprehended by the authorities at Washington. They thought peace could still be made, and would not permit hostilities to be resumed. The commission was recognized, and consisted of General Canby, Judge Rosborough, A. B. Meacham, T. B. Odeneal and Rev. Dr. E. Thomas, of Petaluma. Odeneal declined and Reser- vation Agent L. S. Dyar was appointed.
While these arrangements were being perfected, Colonel Biddle's cavalry kept scouting through the country. A few days after the adventure in the cave, they came upon a band of horses guarded by some squaws and boys. They captured the animals,
low hitting
CHARLES WILBER NUTTING, M. D,
Was born at Barnesville, Pike county, Georgia, October 3, 1852. His father was James Nutting, still living near Marietta, Cobb county, Georgia, and engaged in farming, aged about fifty-five years. His mother's maiden mame was Epsie Adeline Holmes. She died in her fortieth year, in November, 1872. When sixteen years old, the subject of our sketch finished his school days at the private school of Profs. Baker and Manget, at Marietta. In January. 1870, he went into the bank of John H. James, Atlanta, twenty miles from his home. He continued there four years. He left the bank in January, 1874, and began studying medicine in October of that year, and also attended lectures at Atlanta Medical College, of the regular school. He gradu- ated near the head in his class in 1876. In anatomy and surgery he ranked the highest among all grad- uates for ten years. For two successive collegiate
years he held the position as demonstrator of anat- omy with considerable credit to himself and the institution, being one of the city physicians at the same time. In 1878 Dr. C. M. Hill, of Etna, with- drew for his old home in the southern part of Geor- gia. Dr. Nutting, then in his twenty-sixth year, cor- responded with him and took his practice, which he still holds to the present day. The practice is very extensive, he being obliged to travel much by night and day. Although quite a new-comer, the doctor, by prompt attention to business, by his skill as a surgeon and physician, and gentlemanly bearing to all classes, has become quite popular and bids fair to remain as a permanent citizen of the county. The other members of his family are :- Millard H., teller in the Atlanta National Bank, the eldest; James R., a cotton buyer at Atlanta ; Lutie A., wife of Mr. Brown, a planter near Marietta, Georgia ; and Min- nie F., now at her father's home.
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RESIDENCE AND PROPERTY OF FRANCIS C.E.COOLEY, FORT JONES, CAL.
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HISTORY OF SISKIYOU COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
thirty-four in all, but did not molest the Indians. On the twenty-first of March General Canby and Colonel Gillem went on a scout with the cavalry to the lava beds, and were met by Indians on a bluff. The Modocs said they wanted two men to come up and talk. Dr. Cabaniss and Edward Fox, the Herald correspondent, advanced, and were held as hostages while Jack, Scarface and Curley-Headed Doctor went out and met Canby and Gillem. Jack stated his terms to be let alone and be permitted to live on Lost river. Nothing was accomplished by this inter- view.
Thus time wore on. About the last of March Dr. Thomas arrived at headquarters. When he passed through Yreka he had a long conversation with Judge Steele about the situation, and was warmly urged not to put himself in the power of the Indians.
Messengers kept going back and forward between Canby and Jack, but to little effect. The Indians evidently striving for delay in the hope of receiving the assistance promised them by other tribes. On the third of April, Judge Rosborough, the last of peace commissioners arrived in camp, arrangements having been made for a grand council to be held the following day. A council tent was erected some distance from the camp, in which to hold the con- ference. About nine o'clock the next morning, Boston Charley came in and said Jack would not go to the tent, but wanted Meacham, Fairchilds, Ros- borough and Riddle to meet him on the lake shore. They went, and Jack stated that his terms were to have the soldiers removed and himself given a reser- vation on Lost river. Meacham said he could not have a home on Lost river, as he would be in per- petual trouble with the settlers. Jack then insisted that he should be allowed to live in lava beds or on Hot creek, and said to send his proposition to Wash- ington, and when an answer came back they would have another talk.
On the sixth, Boston again came in with a propo- sition for Canby, Gillem and the commissioners to meet Jack and seven others at a eave in the lava beds. Steele's warning of intended treachery led to the rejection of this and all similar proposals, until the fatal step was taken that led to a realization of the value of that warning. Judge Rosborough was compelled to return to Shasta to hold court, and could participate no further in the actions of the commission. Boston again came in on the seventh, and proposed a conference of five on each side the following day. This was accepted, but the Indians failed to appear, sending the excuse that one of the braves was dead. Boston again came on the ninth, and said that Jack wanted to surrender, but Schon- chin would not consent. On the tenth, both Bogus Charley and Boston Charley appeared, and proposed that a meeting be held on the following day at the council tent in the gla le, both parties to be entirely unarmed. The terms were accepted and Bogus remained all night in camp, while Boston went back with the news. During the long suspension of hos- tilities, the Indians in their frequent visits to the camp had been treated with unvarying kindness. They had been given food, clothing, and tobacco. In fact, so much better had they been treated than the soldiers and friendly Indians, that complaints and murmurings were heard. It was thought by this
kindness to win their hearts, but the location of an Indian's heart is uncertain indeed.
The morning of the fatal eleventh of April, 1873, broke fair and calm. After breakfast, during which the two messengers (Boston having returned in the morning) sat at the same table with those they soon after assisted treacherously to murder, preparations were made for the coming council. Fairchilds was fearful of treachery from the way the two Indians acted, and asked them if they did not want him to come also. They said no, they only wanted Canby, Gillem, Thomas, Meacham and Dyar, besides the interpreters. He talked with them a little more, and then warned the commissioners that in his opin- ion they were going to certain death. Riddle and his Modoc wife, Tobey, both gave the same opinion. It was suggested that they take revolvers along, but they said that was a violation of the agreement. Meacham and Dyar were loth to go, being now satis- fied that treachery was intended, but Canby, no less certain of the fact than they, thought his duty and honor as a soldier required him to go, and Dr. Thomas said that it could not be possible that the Indians would act in bad faith after the great kind- nesses that had been shown them, and that God would watch over and protect them in their mission of peace. He believed what he said, and it cost him his life. General Canby preserved his soldier's honor at the same fearful price. Meacham and Dvar were both uneasy. They feared treachery. Riddle gave them a last warning: " Gentlemen, I have been talk- ing with my wife; she has never told me a lie nor deceived me, and she says if you go to-day you will be killed. We wash our hands of all blame. If you must go, go well armed. I give you my opinion because I do not want to be blamed hereafter." Fairchilds also added a word: "It is my firm con- viction that if you go out there to-day you will never come back." Meacham and Dyar were both convinced. They endeavored to have the interview abandoned, or to have them go armed, or to at least have Fairchilds go along with a revolver, but Canby and Thomas would not listen to the propositions. They were a breach of faith, and honor with the soldier was more than life. Canby was then entreated to promise to remove the soldiers from the country, if it was demanded and the Indians were armed, but he looked up resolutely and said: " Gen- tlemen, I will never promise anything I do not intend to perform." The sentiment was echoed by the venerable minister, and the brave soldier and Christain disciple started on foot for the conneil tent. The one arrayed in his full uniform, marched boldly to his death at the call of duty; the other, a man of peace, followed trustingly whither the voice of his Gol led him. With these went B gus Charley, with his rifle on his shoulder. He was the most treacher- ous and cruel of them all, but had completely won the good Doctor's heart by pretending to have become good, or playing what is commonly known as the " pions dodge " upon the old gentleman. To him and Boston the kind-hearted man had but the day before given new suits of clothes, and it was hard to believe that he now walked by the venerable man's side with murder in his heart. Meacham and Dyar both put little derringer pistols in their coat pockets, and leaving directions with their friends of
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HISTORY OF SISKIYOU COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
their disposition in case of death, mounted their horses. Meacham was chairman of the commission, and was ashamed to remain after the other two had gone. Dyar was too proud to stay away. Accom- panied by Tobey on horseback, and Riddle, who said in case of trouble he did not want to be bothered with a horse, they set out towards the council tent. Gillem remained behind to command the troops, who were held in readiness for an emergency. Leaving them on their way, let us see to whom and to what they were going.
Ever since the adventure of Steele and Atwell in the cave, a month before, the murder of the com- missioners and the head officers had been a bone of contention among the Indians. The majority were in favor of it, while Jack, Scarface and a few others violently opposed it. There were two considerations that led to the action-revenge for the Ben. Wright massacre, which was the ruling motive of Schonchin, who was present at that event, and a belief that the death of the Tyees would end the trouble, and let them make peace on their own terms. So little did they understand the nature, power, and resources of our government, they actually believed this would be the result of the death of Canby and the com- missioners. It was largely owing to this dissension among the Modocs that negotiations were delayed, broken off, and resumed so many times.
When Boston Charley returned to the cave with the news that the commissioners had agreed to meet five of them unarmed the next day, a heated dis- cussion arose between the two factions. Schonchin was eager for the murder, while Jack insisted that it should not be done. They gathered around him, put a woman's hat on his head, and threw a shawl over his shoulders. While thus arrayed they taunted him, said he was a squaw and a coward, a traitor to his people, that he had established a principle that the majority should rule, and now he would not abide by it. Stung to the quick by these taunts, he stood up among the reviling circle of demons and gave his assent. Having now under- taken the task, he claimed the right as chief to manage the whole affair, and kill General Canby himself. Plans were carefully laid. It was decided that Captain Jack, Schonchin, Hooka Jim, Black Jim, Ellen's Man, and Shacknasty Jim, should go to the tent armed with revolvers. These, with Boston and Bogus, who were to come with the whites, would make eight, three more than the stipulated number. Besides this, Slolux and Watch- in-tate were to be secreted near by with several rifles, and were to rush up when the signal was given. To each of the five expected victims, Canby, Gillem, Thomas, Meacham, and Dyar, were appor- tioned two of the Indians. Scarface Charley refused to have anything to do with the affair, and gave notice that if Riddle was killed he would take vengeance upon the slayer of his friend; and during that whole terrible scene he lay near by, his rifle in hand, ready to execute his threat. A plan was also laid to decoy the Little Tyee, Colonel Mason, from his camp on the east side of the lava beds, and murder him. Curley-Headed Doctor, Curley-Headed Jack, and Steamboat Frank, were assigned to this duty.
The plans being perfected, each one took his sta-
tion. A fire was built behind the council tent, so that the movements could not be observed from camp, and the six murderers lay down by it to await the coming of their victims. Soon Bogus Charley and Boston Charley appeared and an- nounced the approach of the unarmed men. Jack made a last appeal to them to forego their design, but Bogus Charley exclaimed, " Kill these men and the war will stop. It will frighten the soldiers all away." With a sigh the chief said, " So be it, then, but it will cause the destruction of my people, and my blood will pay for the act." He had but just finished speaking when Canby and Thomas walked up to the fire, and were cordially welcomed with hand-shaking and words of friendship. Canby dis- tributed cigars, and they all sat about the fire and smoked in silence. Soon the balance of the party arrived and met with the same hearty welcome, even before they could dismount. Meacham left his horse untied and took off his overcoat. It took but one glance to see that there were eight Indians instead of five, and that they all had revolvers under their coats. Whatever may have been his opinion before, even Dr. Thomas was now well aware that treachery was intended. All appeared restless ex- cept Canby and Thomas, the former too proud to exhibit a want of confidence and the latter too full of trust in Providence to feel fear. The massacre was almost precipitated before the talking began by the intrusion of a Mr. Clark who came up unexpectedly while hunting horses. The Indians sprang to their feet when they observed him, and nothing but the coolness of the whites postponed the work. Mr. Clark was requested to retire, and then the talk began. Seated about the fire were the commission- ers and the chief Indians. Riddle interpreted the remarks of the Indians into English, while Tobey made the words of the white men intelligible to her countrymen. Meacham opened the council by say- ing, " We have come here to-day to hear what you have to propose. You sent for us, and we are here."
Captain Jack replied, " We want no more war. We are tired, and our women and children are afraid of the soldiers. We want them taken away, and then we will make peace."
" General Canby is in charge of the soldiers," was the reply. " He cannot take them away without a letter from the President. We are all your friends. If you will come out of the rocks and go with us, we will leave the women and children in camp on Cottonwood or Hot creek. We will need the sol- diers to make other people stay away, while we look up a new home for you."
While this conversation was being carried on at the fire, Hooka Jim wandered restlessly about. He went to Meacham's horse, which had purposely been left untied and secured him to a sage-brush. He then put on the owner's overcoat, and buttoned it up to the chin exclaiming, " me old man Meacham now, Bogus you think me look like Meacham?" This action was not resented, as he had hoped it would be, and thus the inevitable trouble was again postponed. Hooka Jim's actions told only too plainly the bloody intentions of the savages. Dyar strolled carelessly to his horse and pretended to arrange the trappings on the saddle, keeping his face towards the fire. Riddle did the same at his wife's horse. They
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HISTORY OF SISKIYOU COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
intended to have the cover of the animals when they started on the race for life they knew must soon be made. Tobey stretched herself out at full length upon the ground, to be out of the way of flying bullets.
Meacham saw by Canby's countenance that he realized the danger they were in, and asked him to speak, with the hope that he would promise to remove the troops and thus avert their impending doom. The inflexible soldier stood ereet, and in a voice slightly tremulous, from the intensity of his emotion, slowly said, "Tobey, tell these people that the President sent the soldiers here to protect them as well as the white man. They are all friends of the Indians. They cannot be taken away without the President's consent. Tell them that when I was a young man I was sent to move a band of Indians from their old home to a new one. They did not like me at first, but when they became acquainted with me, they liked me so well that they made me a chief, and gave me a name that signified "friend of the Indian." I also moved another to a new home, and they too, gave me a name that meant " the tall man." Many years afterwards I visited these people, and they come a long distance to meet me and were glad to see me. Tell them that I have no doubt the Modoes will some day like me as those people did, and look upon me as their friend."
Dr. Thomas then said: "Tobey, tell these people that I believe the Great Spirit put it into the heart of the President to send us here to make peace. We are all children of one Father. Our hearts are all open to Him. He sees all we do. He knows all our hearts. We are all your friends. I have known Mr. Meacham fourteen years, I have known General Canby eight years, I have known Mr. Dyar five years. I know all their hearts are good. They are all good men. We do not want any more blood shed. We want to be your friends. God sees all we do. He will hold us all responsible for what we do."
During these talks Jack sat speechless and irres- olute. He seemed loth to give the signal for the bloody work to commence. His companions were restless and eyed him with impatience and distrust. He finally arose and walked slowly away from the fire. Schonchin sprang into his place, and in an excited manner exclaimed: "Give us Hot creek and take the soldiers away."
He was assured that Hot creek belonged to Fair- childs and Dorris, and they would probably refuse to sell it. In a threatening manner he exclaimed fiercely, "Take away your soldiers and give us Hot creek, or quit talking. I am tired of talking. I
talk no more."
While this was being interpreted, Captain Jack, who had returned to the little group around the fire, gave the signal, and the Modoc war-whoop rent the air. At the same time he drew a revolver from under his coat and presented it at Canby's head, exclaiming " Ha-tuk !" (all ready ). It missed fire. Quickly revolving the chamber, he again pulled the trigger, and buried a bullet in his victim's head.
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The general did not fall, but essayed to escape, pursued by Ellen's Man. He soon fell, shattering his jaw on the rocks, and was then cut in the neck by a knife. Watch-in-tate and Slolux at this point arrived with the rifles, and Ellen's Man, grasping one of these, sent a bullet crashing through the pros-
trate man's brain. He was then stripped of his clothing and left naked on the rocks.
Simultaneously with Jack's attack upon Canby, Boston Charley shot Dr. Thomas in the breast. He partially fell to the ground, begging them to shoot no more as he had a death wound. He was allowed to rise by his two pet Indians, Bogus and Boston, who were now making their return for the kindness he had shown them. They tripped him down, taunting him with his religion. Three times they permit him to rise and three times they push him over, jeering him the while. Bogus then seized a rifle from Slolux and buried a bullet in the brain of him who had thought of nothing but kindness to his murderers. The body was denuded of its outer clothing and left where it fell.
No sooner did the whoop of the Modocs sound, than Tobey crouched close to the ground, and Riddle and Dyar started at the top of their speed. Dyar was pursued by Hooka Jim, who dropped quickly to the ground when the fugitive turned and pointed his pistol at him. Dyar then resumed his flight, and ran so swiftly that the pursuit was abandoned. At the same time Riddle was running at the top of his speed towards the camp, followed by Black Jim. The pursuer fired rapidly, but to no effect. Riddle escaped, and Scarface Charley needed not to use his avenging rifle.
To Schonchin and Shacknasty Jim had the work of killing Meacham been assigned. When the sig- nal was given Schonchin drew a revolver and knife, but was too slow. Meacham drew his revolver and placed it against his opponent's breast, but it would not explode. In his haste and excitement he had only half cocked it. It was too late to correct the fault, Schonchin's bullet passed through his coat and grazed his shoulder. He fled, pursued by Schonchin, who fired rapidly. The Indian emptied his revolver and drew another. Tobey sprang up and seized him by the arm, exclaiming, " Don't kill him. He friend of the Indian." Slolux then came up and struck the squaw on the head with his gun. It was snatched from his hand by Shacknasty Jim, who took deliberate aim at the fleeing man. The squaw struek down the weapon, but he again took aim and fired, wounding the man in the shoulder, just as he leaped over a pile of rocks, behind which he fell. Thrusting his pistol over the edge of the rocks, Meacham took aim at Schonchin, and was at that instant wounded in the forehead by a bullet. Aim- ing again he fired his only shot, and Schonelin fell on the rocks wounded. At the same time several bullets found lodging in Meacham's body, and he fell back apparently lifeless. Shacknasty Jim ran up and began stripping him of his clothing, while Slolux advanced and placed the muzzle of a gun to the wounded man's head, but Jim pushed it away, saying " You need not shoot, he is dead. He won't get up."
The Indians were then called together by Jack, and with the spoils of their victims started for the cave. But Bogus Charley was not satisfied; he wanted Meacham's scalp. Drawing a knife, he stooped down and commenced the operation, when Tobey exclaimed, " The soldiers are coming," and thus frightened him away to join his companions, who were hastening to their stronghold.
HISTORY OF SISKIYOU COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
While these events were happening at the council tent, still another tragedy was being enacted at Colonel Mason's camp at Hospital Rock. A white flag was observed beyond the picket line and reported to Lieutenant Sherwood, officer of the day, who reported the flag at headquarters. Colonel Mason was suspicious of treachery, but Major Boyle, commander of the camp on the isthmus, on the east side of Tule lake, was there, and requested permis- sion to go out and investigate. This was granted, and accompanied by Lieutenant Sherwood, he walked toward the rocks upon which the little emblem of peace was fluttering. Steamboat Frank rose up from the rocks and asked for Colonel Mason, and was told he would not come out. He then wanted the two officers to come up into the rocks. This was refused, and Boyle catching sight of a gun peeping over the top of the rocks, started on a run for camp, exclaiming to his companion, " Run for your life." Two volleys were fired in quick succes- sion by the concealed savages, Sherwood falling at the second one with a bullet in his thigh. The troops from the camp instantly charged, and the treacherous devils fled to their stronghold.
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