The Plan to Assassinate the Commissioners - (about 4 April 1873) - History - http://maxpages.com/modocwar/Night

After the council . . . with the Commissioners, the Indians held a war council. John Schonchin, leading man, was assisted by Black Jim. Schonchin told his men he knew peace was out of the question, as the Commissioners would not agree on anything that he, Schonchin, suggested. He jumped up and shouted his speech thus: "My people, I am old. I have been trapped and fooled by the white people many times. I do not intend to be fooled again. You all see the aim of these so-called Peace Commissioners; they are just leading us (Muckluxs) Indians on to make time to get more soldiers here. When they think there is enough men here, they will jump on us and kill the last soul of us. I know it. Now I want to hear some one of you to give your opinion on what I said, or what shall we do."

Black Jim, when Schonchin concluded, mounted a big rock. Every eye was on him. Jim said: "Schonchin, you see things right. I for one am not going to be decoyed and shot like a dog by the soldiers. I am going to kill myman before they get me. I make a motion that we kill them peace-makers the next time we meet them in council. We just as well die in a few days from now, as to die a few weeks from now. All that is in favor of my proposition, step up to me."

John Schonchin, Boston Charley, Dave Rock, Shacknasty Jim, Little Steve, Ellen's man, Bogus Charley, Curley Headed Doctor, Steamboat Frank, Boncho and four or five others came forward and declared themselves ready to kill the Commissioners. The other Indians never moved.

After the Black Jim men made their war speeches, one man that was sitting pretty well back from the sage-brush fire got up and came forward. His name was Weuim. He said: "I am a Modoc. I'm one of you. I object to the way you decide. You are wrong. Schonchin is not head chief. Capt. Jack is our head chief. I have not seen him tonight. We shall not, must not, reach any agreement or plot against any one or parties when he is absent. Let us hear Capt. Jack's idea or opinion on what you men have decided to do."

Black Jim said: "All right, Weuim, I will go and fetch him here."

Jack and Jim were among the rest of the Indians. In a few minutes, Weuim stepped forward and addressed Jack in the following words: "You have been holding peace councils with the peace-makers. You are our head man. Now, I want you to tell these people here tonight what you think of the councils, or, in other words, what is your intentions. Tell us. You ought to know by this time. Do not be hasty. Weigh your words, Jack, for you know I for one depend on you and will stand by your judgment."

Capt. Jack searched every face the best he could by the dim firelight. He knew something was wrong among his men. He did not know that Schonchin, his sub-chief, had been talking war. Finally he said: "Weium, I just do not know how to commence, but will say I have a hard fight ahead of me in the coming councils, to save my men that killed the settlers, or to win my point to secure a piece of land in this country for our future home, but I am going to do it without any trouble. All I have to do is to hold the councils and stick to my point. I shall win, at least, I think I will. All I ask you people to do is to behave yourselves and wait. I do not want to do anything rash, that will not do. We may go to Yainax, Oregon, where our other Modoc people are. They live in peace, why can't we?"

Schonchin said, "Yes, I have a brother at Yainax. I know he enjoys life there with his people, but he nor any of his Yainax people killed whites, but we have. We never could get along there, even with our own blood, let alone the whites."

"Oh yes, we could Schonchin. I will work it so no whites will bother us. They will protect us in time. The way I intend to do is this, with them peace-makers. I will hold out for a reservation at Hot Creek or right here in the Lava Beds, as I have been doing. When they see I insist on either one of these places, they will offer us Yainax. Then I accept with the understanding I take all my people, none to be tried for murder. My people, depend on me, I will pull you all through right."

Black Jim jumped on a big rock and said: "Jack, you will never save your people. You can't do it. Are you blind, my chief? Can't you see soldiers arriving every two or three days? Don't you know the last soldiers that came brought big guns with them that shoots bullets as big as your head? Then you say you are going to win your point. Never! The Commissioners intend to make peace with you by blowing your head off with one of them big guns. You mind what I tell you, Jack, the only way we can get an even start with them peace-makers is to kill them next council; then all we can do is to fight until we die. If I had my way them peace shammers would have been killed long ago, before so many soldiers got here. They are going to force us to leave our country or fight, and I am going to fight, and soon, too. I will not be trapped like our fathers were."

Jack never said a word.

Others followed Black Jim in pretty much the same kind of talk.

Jack said: "My men, your talk looks reasonable, but does not my talk look reasonable and safer for all of us?"

Ten or twelve men rushed up to Jack, saying: "Your talk is not good. Let us take the advice of Black Jim. We are doomed. Let us fight so we die sooner. We have to die, anyway."

Jack turned from his crazed mob and said: "I cannot agree with you tonight."

Black Jim caught Jack, saying: "You are head chief. Promise us that you will kill Canby next time you meet him. Schonchin already said he would kill Meacham."

Jack says: "I cannot do it and I will not do it."

Hooker Jim stepped up to Jack and said: "You will kill Canby or be killed yourself. You are not safe any place. You will kill or be killed by your own men."

Jack says: "That is not fair, my men. Why do you want to force me to do a coward's act."

"It is not a coward's act we ask of you to do. It will be brave to kill Canby in the presence of all these soldiers. You show them you dare to do anything when time comes."

"But my men, I will not promise just now."

One of the men said, "You will," as he placed a squaw's hat on his head, and another one threw a shawl over his shoulders. They tripped him and threw him down on his back and taunted him by saying, "You coward, you squaw. You are not a Modoc. We disown you. Lay there, you woman, you fish-hearted woman."

Jack jumped to his feet, threw the woman's hat off his head. He shook the shawl from his shoulders and said: "I will do it; I will kill Canby, although I know it will cost me my life and all the lives of my people, but I will do it." He pushed the men out of his path and went to his cave.

Schonchin and his few followers danced the war dance till the break of day.

Steamboat Frank (7 July 1873)

[The Proposal]

(Did you know they were going to kill the Commissioners at that meeting?) Yes, I knew it. (Who first proposed that you should kill them?) Captain Jack. William, Curly-headed Jack and David and the three other scouts, and another Indian, did not want to kill them. (Did the women have anything to say about it?) No, nothing. (How long before this meeting was it proposed you should kill them?) Several days. (What reason did Captain Jack give for wishing them killed?) He didn't talk to us much . . .

Shacknasty Jim (7 July 1873)

[The Two Chiefs]

(Did you know that he and the commissioners were to be killed?) Yes. (How did you know it?) They had a talk at night. (When was this talk? How long before?) The evening before. (Who talked?) Most of the Indians; the two chiefs were talking. (What two chiefs?) Captain Jack and Schonchis. (Did you hear them state they meant to kill them?) I didn't hear them say they were going to kill them. (What did you hear them say?) I heard them talking about killing the commissioners; that is all I heard them say. I didn't hear them say who was going to do it. (How long before the meeting of the peace commissioners when General Canby was killed was this talk?) I almost forget. I don't want to lie. I have forgotten how many days it was.

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