The First Reporter - Robert Bogart Arrives - History - http://maxpages.com/modocwar/Robert_Bogart

YREKA, December 9--The unexpected breaking out of what promises to be a long and vexatious Indian war on this border has created the most intense excitement among the settlers in Northern California and Southern Oregon. I arrived here yesterday after a fatiguing stage ride of thirty hours from Redding over the most abominable road in Christendom, and after a few hours rest set about evolving a connected statement of the difficulty out of the mass of conflicting stories which are flying around from mouth to mouth. This is no easy matter. A dozen or more people have come in from the front at different times since the trouble began, each bringing a story that conflicts more or less with all the others.

OUR OLD FRIEND, "THE RELIABLE GENTLEMAN."

For instance, one frightened settler will rush into town, his horse covered with foam and himself breathless with excitement and fatigue, and announce that such and such a person was killed and such and such another dangerously wounded, and that their ranches were given to the flames. The story creates much excitement in town. The papers get out extras and the news is eagerly devoured. Next day the sensation is spoiled by the appearance in town of the very man whom the arrival of the day before reported murdered. And so it goes on. All these stories sound so much like the news furnished during the late war by "the reliable gentleman" and "the intelligent contraband" that I have despaired of getting accurate information from any of them, and to-day I am organizing a Chronicle expedition to the seat of war. I hope to be able to penetrate to the very scene of the conflict on Lost river, 110 miles from here, and if I succeed will send the Chronicle dispatches by special courier each day as events occur.

The History of the Troubles.

The Modoc Indians, a tribe of which but a remnant remains, have long been a source of uneasiness to the settlers in Southern Oregon. Of all the other tribes they have shown the least disposition to abide by the rules of the Indian Department or the wishes of the citizens. By reason of their superior intelligence and less tractable nature they have generally managed to have their own way so long as they did no actual deeds of violence. In this way they have lived, by sufferance so to speak. Their camp was at the mouth of Lost river where it empties into the Tule or Rhett Lake, and they got their living by hunting and fishing and ofttimes by stealing from the settlers when they got a good chance. This past Summer they country about Rhett and Klamath lakes and on the banks of Lost river has been largely settled by people mostly from the neighborhood of Eugene and Jacksonville. These people were well aware of the nature of the Modocs and knew also of their suppressed hostility, but relying partly on the Government and partly on their own ability to protect themselves, they lived in comparative peace and quiet.

THE INDIANS.

The Modoc band is under command of Captain Jack, a stalwart Indian who is well known at this place, having come here often to purchase supplies of whisky and the like. I am told that Capt. Jack's costume on these visits consisted of nothing but a black silk stovepipe and a gray woolen blanket. He always carried himself rather insolently and had many a quarrel here with people who he fancied had insulted him. The other prominent members of the band are Scar-faced Charley, Bogus Charley, One-eyed Watchman, the Doctor and Black Jim. The former is an Indian of great bravery, and is said to be a desperado of the worst kind. He, too, has often visited Yreka. He speaks English quite well, and at the beginning of the trouble acted as interpreter between the troops and Captain Jack, who is ignorant of the language. The other Indians, about ninety in number, are all warriors and are regarded as desperate men. They have repeatedly sworn that they will never go on the reservation on Rogue River, where the remnants of other tribes are fast being collected, and it was a final attempt on the part of the Government to put them there which has led to the recent outbreak.

THE BEGINNING OF THE TROUBLE.

During the past Summer the Modocs in their camp at the mouth of Lost river looked on the increased immigration to their neighborhood with a good deal of jealousy. They knew that as the country filled up they would be compelled to give way and finally submit to going on the reservation. In consequence of this they soon became more troublesome. In their manner toward the new settlers they were particularly insolent--generally treating them in a manner which implied the most intense hatred. They would often go to a ranch in the absence of the settler, walk up to the fire where a meal was being cooked for his wife and children, take the provisions and make the most frightful threats against the women if any opposition was shown. They would go to other settlers' cabins, take the food right off the table, frighten the family and threaten to burn the ranch if resisted.

THE SETTLERS FINALLY ACT.

Finally things got so bad that the settlers resolved to do something for their own protection. About two months ago they united in a petition to Superintendent Odeneal, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the District of Oregon, requesting that he take measures to remove the Modocs, Captain Jack, Scar-Faced Charley and all included, to the Indian Reservation on Rogue river. Mr. Odeneal laid the petition together with a statement of the case, before the commissioner of Indian Affairs in Washington. That officer at once ordered that the Modocs be placed on thier reservation, peaceably if possible, but forcibly if necessary. The order was of the most peremptory character, and Superintendent Odeneal proceeded to the Indian camp at Rhett Lake, to procure its enforcement. The chiefs, Captain Jack and Scar-faced Charley, heard of his approach, and knowing what it meant, refused to meet him, set his authority at defiance, and sent word to him that they were fully determined to remain in their camp and would never go on the reservation.

THE AID OF THE MILITARY INVOKED.

Fort Klamath is situated about forty miles north of the Indian camp. It is garrisoned by Company B, of the First Cavalry, and Company F, of the Twenty-First Infantry, under the command of Major Jackson. To this point Superintendent Odeneal now repaired and requested Major Jackson's aid in carrying out his order. He placed the order in the Major's hands and stipulated that it should be carried out without bloodshed if possible, and that a force sufficient to overawe the savages should be used. But the courage and disposition of Captain Jack's band seems to have been underrated, for Major Jackson started out with only thirty-five cavalry to effect the object desired. The Indians then numbered one hundered, and it is folly to believe that they would allow thirty-five cavalrymen to frighten them into submission.

On Thanksgiving Day Major Jackson's command, accompanied by Ivan Applegate, a settler at Clear Lake, and James Brown, Messenger of the Indian Department, arrived at the Indian camp at the mouth of Lost river. They arrived there at early dawn and quietly surrounded the camps on either side of the river--Major Jackson taking the side on which was located Captain Jack's cabin, and Applegate with ten or twelve citizens, taking the other side, where about half of the warriors had their huts.

THE USELESS PARLEY.

When all was ready, the presence of the military was made known, and instantly the camp became a scene of confusion. Indians ran hither and thither, seized their guns, and huddled together in a sullen manner, apparently ready to flee at a moment's notice. Major Jackson asked if any of the Indians spoke English. Scar-faced Charley came forward gun in hand and said angrily that he did. Major Jackson then explained to Charley the nature of the order from Washington, and requested the Modocs to go to the reservation quietly. Charley interpreted to Captain Jack and the other Indians, all of whom shook their heads and turned their backs in token of unqualified refusal to obey the order. While Major Jackson was deliberating what to do, Scar-faced Charley suddenly raised his gun and fired at LIeutenant Boutelle, who stood in front of his men.

ACTUAL WAR BEGUN.

This of course was the signal for battle. Lieutenant Boutelle promptly returned the fire, and the fight at once became general. Scar-faced Charley fired more than a dozen shots, and the others kept up a sharp firing at the troops, who by this time had ranged themselves in order of battle. The officers and men stood their ground well and fought bravely, but they were largely outnumbered by the Indians, who had also an advantage in ground. While the battle was going on with the troops, Applegate and Brown, with the settlers on the opposite side of the river, were not idle. While the parley was going on with Major Jackson they took several guns away from the Indians on their side, but when the firing began the battle opened here too. Three or four Indians were killed on this side of the river and one citizen--John Thurber, a settler, who had joined the party. Major Jackson's command suffered quite severely, one soldier being killed, and four wounded, two of them mortally.

RETREAT OF THE ARMY.

Seeing that the Indians were too strong to be dislodged or subdued with the force at his command, Major Jackson withdrew the troops to the other side of the river to care for his wounded. It is not known how many Indians were wiped out by the troops, but probably not more than three or four. The Indians who had been fighting the Brown-Applegate party fled across the river and joined their band under Captain Jack, and as Major Jackson had already crossed to join Brown and Applegate the two forces eyed each other from the opposite banks all night long. So far the Indians had the best of it, but toward morning of the 20th, they deserted their camp, leaving their women and children at the mercy of the military, who at once crossed over and took them prisoners. The Indians fled down the eastern shore of Tule or Rhett lake, but it was not supposed then that they intended war against the defenseless settlers in that section.

THE USUAL MILITARY REPORT.

After the battle was over, Major Jackson sent a messenger to Linkville, where Odeneal was waiting, with the usual flaming military report. He said that eighteen Indians were killed, including Captain Jack, Scar-faced Charley, and others, and that the rest of the band had scattered in every direction. He had captured the women and children, and he believed that all danger of further trouble was over. Relying upon the truth of this report, and believing that all trouble was at an end, the Superintendent started for Jacksonville. Three hours after his arrival there, Mr. Colin, the Land Officer at Linkville, arrived at Ashland with the alarming intelligence that after the battle the Indians had begun the butchery of defenseless citizens, that Wedelin Nuss, a sheep herder named Dutch Charley, and three men on the Boddy ranch had been killed; that women and children were flying for their lives, and that not one of the Indian leaders had been either killed or captured.

MAJOR JACKSON'S VIGOROUS PURSUIT.

The Superintendent at once returned to Lakeville to see what could be done, and since then nothing has been accomplished by the troops, although it is said that they are in active pursuit. As the Indians have not moved out of an area of twenty miles, however, and are not yet captured, it is safe to say that the pursuit has not been very vigorous. Indeed, as I telegraphed the Chronicle last night, the Major, until within two or three days past, has not moved out of his camp, and did not do it then until reinforced by forty Klamath Indians, under command of Captain Ferre.

THE INDIANS AFTER THE BATTLE.

When the Modocs left their camp on the night of the battle they started down the eastern shore of the lake. The first persons they met were Wedelin Nuss and the sheep herder Dutch Charley, who were coming up the road in perfect ignorance of what was going on. The Indians at once fired upon Nuss, killing him instantly, and mortally wounding his companion. Leaving both in the roadway, they went on to the Boddy ranch, about two miles below, where were William Boddy, William Cravigan and Richard Cravigan. William Boddy was first attacked and shot down instantly. The Cravigans were off in the woods after a load of rails, but the Indians followed the wagon trail into the woods and soon came upon them. They were both murdered before they had a chance even to beg for mercy. The Indians then stripped the bodies, and unhitching the horses, threw the bodies across the wagon-tongue, where they left them, of course taking the horses with them. The next place they seem to have made for was the Brotherton ranch. On the way they overtook William Brotherton and his two sons, aged respectively eleven and twenty-two years. They had been in the woods for a load of fuel, and were then approaching the ranch on their return with two four-horse teams.

MRS. BROTHERTON'S THRILLING DEED.

The Indians under command of Scar-faced Charley at once stopped the teams and shot down the elder Brotherton as he sat on the wagon. The two boys tried to run, but were killed before they had gone fifty yards. The Indians then unhitched the eight horses, mounted them and started for the house, where they doubtless intended the murder of the rest of the Brotherton family--the mother and two young sons, mere boys. Here they met the first check. The plucky woman, suspecting that something was wrong from the fact that they were mounted on her husband's horses, resolved to sell her life dearly. She had three rifles in the house, and putting one in the hands of each of her sons, she locked the door and built a barricade behind the windows of sacks of flour. Then she waited the approach of the Indians. They soon came up and demanded admittance. The brave woman's answer was a rifle bullet, which she sent crashing through the skull of one of the savages. The boys also began firing, and the Indians taking shelter in some trees returned the fire vigorously, but without doing any damage. The woman and her two sons kept up the battle, and it was not long before another Indian was killed. For two days, or until the night of the 2d instant, the daring woman kept watch rifle in hand, but the Indians did not renew their attack. She had beaten them off, and kept them at such a distance that they could not burn the house. That night George Fiock and party came up and rescued Mrs. Brotherton and her children, carrying them to the settlements.

ONE MAN RESERVED FOR TORTURE.

I have been unable as yet to learn the particulars of any more of the murders except that of Henry F. Miller, who was taken from his wagon in the road and carried off, as is supposed, for torture. Miller was exceedingly unpopular with the Modocs, he having on a good many occasions treated them harshly. Once he drew a gun on Scar-faced Charley, it is said, and this probably accounts for his having been preserved for torture. Miller's team was taken off by the savages, but the wagon was found in the woods and near it the body of a man whose name is unknown, but who was employed by Miller as a woodchopper, and was known to be with him at the time of the massacre. Miller was undoubtedly taken to the southern shore of Rhett Lake, where the Indians now have their headquarters, and as the Modocs were never known to take a prisoner except for purposes of torture, it is almost a certainty that he has been murdered by inches.

SAMUEL WATSON'S THRILLING ADVENTURE.

But it must not be understood that all of Captain Jack's band were engaged in the murders above mentioned. Bogus Charley, it seems, had command of a section which was operating in another direction, viz: up Lost river. It was here that a man named Samuel Watson of Yreka had such a narrow escape. He had been to the westward of the scene looking after some sheep, and was returning to Yreka in ignorance of what had take place, when all at once he came across Bogus Charley's band, numbering about twenty Indians, who were huddled behind a haystack belonging to Charles Monroe. Just before reaching them he had discovered a file of soldiers descending the hills a considerable distance off, and on the opposite side of the river. On seeing them he suspected the condition of affairs, but was too close to the Indians to turn back and retrace his steps without their assent. So he rode right in among them in as unconcerned and careless a manner as possible.

THE VALUE OF BOGUS CHARLEY'S FRIENDSHIP.

Bogus Charley was an old firend of Watson's, the latter having stood between him and oppression from the whites on a former occasion. Watson felt much relieved, therefore, when he saw him in command. Charley seized his horse by the bridle, when Watson, in a friendly manner, reached his hand over the pommel of the saddle and said: "Why, Charley, how are you?" The Indian looked up sullenly at first, but when he recognized Watson he took his hand and saluted him.

"Don't you know we're at war?" said Charley. "No," said Watson. "Who are you fighting?"

Charley then told him the soldiers had come to take them to the reservation; thay they had refused to go, and had a fight with the soldiers, and they intended to fight it out.

"Well," says Watson, "Charley, you aint goin' to fight me, are you?"

The Indian looked down and said nothing, but his hand was still on the horse's bridle. Pretty soon he stepped aside, and engaged for a short time in earnest conversation with the other Indians, after which he returned and told him they would not hurt him if he would return to Yreka.

Watson promised to do so; and to show his confidence in their word he walked his horse slowly up a slope two miles long. When he reached the top he looked back and beheld the home, barn, hay, etc., of Monroe in flames. It was afterward leanred that Monroe was killed. It is hardly necessary to say that when Watson got out of sight of the Indians, he made the fastest kind of time to Linkville.

THE SITUATION NOW.

At this writing the situation may be summed up as follows: The party under Captain Jack are still at large. None of them have been captured. They are raiding and marauding around the neighborhood of the lava beds south of Tule or Rhett lake, where they will probably stay until rooted out by the military. The Hat Creek Indians of the Modoc tribe, whom the citizens at Linkville would not allow to go on the reservation, as was telegraphed you, and who broke and ran, fearing that they would be killed by the whites, have returned to Fairchild's ranch at Cottonwood. It was feared here that they would join Captain Jack's band, which if they had would have given him twenty or thirty desperate fighters in addition to his own. The news which reached here last night, that these Indians had returned to Fairchild's has relieved the anxiety of the people on that score. In a few days I hope to be able to send you something fresh and reliable from the front.

*** *** ***

The Reporters

A fair number of reporters covered the Modoc War. Tolerated by the military, they were regarded as an unmitigated nuisance by the civilian authorities, local, state and federal. Some left a substantial body of work. Among these were:

Robert Bogart (December 1872 to early March 1873) of the San Francisco Chronicle was the first reporter on the scene. His style was abrasive, and local settlers regarded his coverage as too favorable to the Modocs. His attacks on the Applegate family for past dealings with the Modocs forced the resignation of Jesse Applegate as peace commissioner. His work also appeared in the San Francisco Alta California and the Sacramento Record.

H. Wallace Atwell (February to October 1873) of the Sacramento Record covered the war longer than any other reporter, and probably represented more papers. Besides the Record he also represented at various times the San Francisco Chronicle, the New York Herald, and the Yreka Journal.

Alexander McKay (February to June 1873) of the Associated Press was probably the most familiar with the situation; in real life he was a local surveyor. His work appeared in Associated Press affiliates.

Edward Fox (February to May 1873) of the New York Herald was one of the most aggressive of the reporters; he even horned in on a supposedly private conference between the peace commissioners and the Modocs, and got an interview with Captain Jack. He returned to cover the hanging of the Modoc leaders in September.

Samuel A. Clarke (May to June 1873) of the New York Times combined local knowledge with newspaper expertise.

A few other reporters worth noting: William Bunker of the Associated Press covered the Modoc surrender; "Anti-Modoc" gave the Oregon spin on events for the Salem Statesman; J. N. Sutton provided some background for the Portland Bulletin, and William M. Turner of the Associated Press was first to file a story on the execution of the Modoc leaders.

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