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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1884)
THE WEST SHORE. 317 would ensue if they were not met by a supply 6f provi sions. James Thomas, an auctioneer, took the letter in his hand and rode up Minor Btreet, calling the poople together. . Before the crowd which quickly gathered the letter was read and a call made for volunters and buI Hcriptions. Such a call was never made in vain in a mining camp; volunteers and gold duut poured in thick and fast Preparations were completed as quickly as possible, and a company of men, well armed, and witli pack animals carrying a generous supply of provisions, started in the direction of Lost River, with tho hearty cheers of the benevolent citizens of Yreka. Captain Charles McDermit after whom Camp McDermit Nev., is named, was in command of the expedition. When the Rebellion broke out Captain McDermit joined the army, rose to the rank of colonel, and died in battle with the Indians, in 18GC, in Nevada. The relief party encountered the first train of emi grants before reaching Lost River, who reported that they had been annoyed by the Modocs. They pushed on through the Modoo country, and after passing Tule Lake met a party of eight or nine" men who had come acrosB the plains with pack animals. Warning them to look out for the Indians, McDermit and his men continued on, while the packers resumed their journey towards Yreka. The emigrant road after it crosses the divide between Clear and Tule lakes, going west, passes along the south biise of a high ridge which terminates in a rocky bluff on the east shore of Tule Lake. Winding around this point of rocks on the very margin of the wator, it opus out into a large Hut covered with wild rye and grass. This was a favorite place of ambuscade, and has been well named " Bloody Point" As the packers passed around the bluff at Bloody Point they were attacked by scores of Indians, and all save a man named Coffin wore killed. This man cut the pack from one of the animals, charged through tho yell ing savages on horseback and made his escajio. The Modocs, unlike most of the tribes of the West, were not horsemen, and were unable to pursue the fugitive. When Collin arrived in Yreka with news of the mas sacre the excitement and horror were great Bon Wright was Bent for, and within a few hours a volunteer company of twenty-seven men, bouutifully supplied with arms, horses and provisions by the citizens, were riding in haste toward Tule Lake, to rescue the emigrants that were supposed to be following close behind tho murdered packers. Meanwhile the work of death went on in the Modoc country. At Black Rock Springs McDermit had met twotraius, and hail detailed three of his men, John Oimby, Thomas II. Coato and Long, to guide and guard them to Yreka, He then went on, distributing his men and provisions among the trains lie met until both were exhausted. It was. about the 1st of August that the two trains referral to encamped on Clear Lake, but two or three daya behind the packers. In the morning CoaU, Lung and Oimby rode ahead to select camping place for noou. One of the trains remained behind to make some reiuunt, while the other, consisting of six wagons, thirty men, one woman Bnd a boy, Blowly followed the trail The captain of this train was David M. Morrison, and tho woman and lxy were tho family of W. L. Donnellan, who was with them. As they crossed tho divide and the road to Tulo Lake was spread out liefore them, they could plainly see the Indians swarming in the rocks at Bloody Point while the three guides were riding directly into the jaws of death. Iu vain they endeavored to warn them. Uncon scious of danger the men rodo on, passing around the fatal point and were never seen alive again. The sound of rifle shot was soon borne to tho anxious ears of tho emigrants, telling tho story of a bravo defence, while the silence that followed was vocal with it tulo of dentil. Tho train moved slowly on, and tho Indians again concealed themselves in tho rocks and tides to await their now victims. As tho emigrants rounded Bloody Point, they were greeted with a shower of arrows and yells that might well fill their hearts with fear. Two men were woundoil These were placed in wagons, and the others, divided into a front and roar guard, kept tho savages at bay with the few rilles they jMWSossod until they reached the open flat where thoy made a corrid of the wagons and retired within it for protection. . The Modocs, well hidden among the rocks and tides, bombarded tho- corral with arrows, though their fear of tho rifles kept them at so long a range that they did but little damage. The day wore away and the darkness of night settled around that Imlengucrod camp and iU dis tressed occupants, many of whom scarcely iokh1 to see the light of another day. Oh, tho horrors of a night spent in tho in'ulut of savago enemies! Only 0110 who has exjierioneod them can realize their hours of agony, What form the attack will take, or from what xint the enemy will appear, are unkuown; the faintest sound is magnified into a footfall, and the slightest waving of tho grass becomes the form of a crouching, creeping savage. Intervals of fierce yelling and then a profound silence, followed by an attack npou the camp, first on one side and then on another, succeeded each other throughout that terrible night At one time tho Indians vet firo to the wild rye, and made a rush upon tho corral under cover of the smoke; but a oouuter firo built by the emigrants burned out and met the other, leaving a clear space across which they (hired not come. A howl of rago and a shower of arrows told of their diapiointmoiit and anger, i At length the welcome daylight came, and the men liegan to dig for water. Tho lake was only a few hun. dred yards away, but the tub on Its Imnk were full of ' savages, ami to reach it was inixmmlle. As noon approached the Modocs were wen to again take their stations among the rocks at Bloody Point and by this they knew that the other train wan approaching. With that train was an old monntaineer who hod Indiana before, and knew better than to run into a trap whn ho could see it plainly before him. JWU were nothing to him; and when the emigrant were listening