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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 14, 1963)
Anniversary of Canby Massacre Is Observed T - HURDER SPOT - This no;- nurks the place where General Ctnby icll, shot durum tlic peace talk by Captain Jack. The ross bears the inscription " General E.R.S. Canby was mur fltred here by Modocs April 1 1, 1873." Thursday, April 11, was an important date in the histori cal heritage of Americans, particularly western Ameri cans. For it was on that dale 90 years ago that the Modoc In dians, led by their chief. Cap tain Jack, attacked the U.S. Peace Commission in the Lava Beds, now preserved as a Na tional Monument, and pro tected by the National Park Service. Irvin Kerr, superintendent of the Lava Beds National Monument, called attention to the anniversary, announcing that the Lava Beds are open all year and extending a spc ! cial invitation to the public to visit the area where most of the battles of the Modoc war were fought. IU-Faled Commission The ill-fated Peace Com mission tried to negotiate a peace with Captain Jack's in surgent Modoc band of 160 men, women and children en trenched in the Lava Beds at Tuie Lake, Calif. Two com missioners were shot and killed In the "Peace" tent April 11, 1873. It was during the Battle of Lost River near the present town of Merrill. Ore., that the Modocs thwarted the U. S. army's attempt to arrest them and force their return to the Klamath reservation. That was on Nov. '.!9, 1872. After their escape the Modocs found CANBY MASSACRE APRIL II. 1873 i ( CRATER L'AKE kiamath Falls i "calTfobTnia y tmm PAVED ROAD V . iIRONCH01-D &AAPE.0 ROAO JL r I TX. Canby' s ju iiWM- CHOSS fr ;'J f' "oV'" m ;WCAPT. JACK-'O i J') LAVfti BEDS F' NATIONAL I V MONUMENT - I 1 XOH6ADQ.UAP.TtRS 1 Sj . "4" " .Ji ...- -. AUTUP.A TIME TO TOUH - This is an ideal time to visit the Lava Beds National Monument, ehown in this map, accordinc to Superin tendent Irvin Kerr and others who have made the tour. Most of the hattles ot the Modoc War were fought in this area, Kerr points out, inviting people to visit the authentic battle ground to recall the violent and historic conflict of 1873. The National Monument, protected by the National Park Service, is open all year. l'j '! ' ' SPRAGLE & CARLETON MAPLE in the Mood for Music As pretty as your musical collections, and just as mellow in the tone it creates in your home. This Sprague & Carleton record cabinet is a "collector's item," too . . . generous in size, lovely to look at. and a joy to live with. It's finished in damage resistant MAPLELUX to stay beautiful despite accidents. And it's the finest solid rock maple, through and through. Sec our complete Sprague & Carieton maple eollection today ... for living rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms. All finest quality ... all pleasantly low in price. MAPLELUX is the trademark of Sprague t Carleton Maple. The Colonial House At Trowbridge Electric, Main at Fir Phone 773-6241 Ample cuitomer parking ares afetv in the natural fortress of the Lava Beds which be came known as Captain Jack's Stronghold. Kerr related the history leading up to the mas sacre. The 55 men of the Modoc band scored a sensational vic tory over the more than 35 army and volunteer troops : who attacked the stronghold ! on Jan. 17, 1873. The Modocs ! suffered no casualties. They killed 16 and wounded 49 of J tile attacking troops. Yield to Demands following this "startling'' defeat, President U. S. Grant's administration yielded to the demands of humanitarian Easterners to seek a peaceful settlement with the Modocs. The Peace Commission was appointed and sent to the Lava Beds to end the hostil ities and to relocate the Mo docs on a protected reserva tion. Alfred B. Meacham, former Oregon Superintendent of In dian Affairs (1869) headed the Peace Commission. The Rev. Elesser Thomas from Pcta luma. Calif., and Klamath Reservation Sub-Agent L. S. Dyer also were members of the commission. Gen. Edward Canby, how ever, commanding general of the Military Department of tile Columbia, was the mili tary adviser and guiding fig ure in the Peace Commission. He had gained fame as the commander of the Union Forces in the New Mexico Territory and as conqueror of I Mobile, A!a., and as military governor during the post-Civil War reconstruction period. Attempt to Dictate The Modocs attempted to dictate to the Peace Commis sion messengers from the be ginning. General Canby re fused Jack's demands that the Commission negotiate only in the Lava Beds and without a military escort. When it ap peared that Captain Jack was not willing to compromise, Army Chief of Staff William T. Sherman telegraphed Can by to set an example with the Modocs so that "no other res ervation for them will be necessary except graves among their chosen Lava Beds." General Canby moved his reinforced troops to the Lava Beds for a show of force April 1, 1873. This movement of troops brought a quick agree ment from Captain Jack to meet face to face with the Commission. The first meeting with the Peace Commission was held on April 2. The Modoc chief demanded that the soldiers leave the Lava Beds. He de manded Lost River for a Mo doc Reservation and a general amnesty for those Modocs in dicted by Oregon authorities for murdering settlers along Lost river. A rain storm broke up the meeting with an agree ment to erect a lent for shel ter and lo continue the talks. Interpreters Listed Frank Riddle and his Mo doc wife Toby (Winema) were interpreters for the Peace Commission. Immediately aft er the meeting Riddle cau tioned General Canby to watch lor treachery. Canby ignored the warning. The Modocs met the Com mission, as planned, on April 5 at the tent. Captain Jack complained about the near ness of the army troops and claimed that he feared Com missioner Thomas as a reli gious leader. He stated that if the army would leave and concede Lost River to the Modocs, there would be no more trouble. Finally he asked for the Lava Beds as a reservation. He was advised that if he would surrender to the army, the Peace Commission would try to have the Lava Beds re served for the Modocs. The next meeting was scheduled 1 for April 8. Toby Riddle (Winema) was sent to the stronghold o n I April 7. She reported that she was secretly warned by a j Modoc friend not to go to the Peace tent again. Only Com imissioners Meacham and Dyer heeded her warning. On April 8. Jack sent word that he would meet the Com ; mission at the tent with six 'unarmed Modocs. As the ! Peace Commission group pre- pared to leave the army camp (for the tent, an army signal- man reported six Modocs at I the Peace tent and at least 20 others hiding in nearby rocks. General Canby refused to let the Commission leave camp that day. The Modocs then sent a messenger requesting a parley for Friday, April 11. On Hie night of April 10. the Modocs agreed to kill General Canby and the Peace Commis sioners at the next day's meet ing, believing that killing the Cancer Checkup Is Subject of Show "Adventures in Medicine" will be seen at a new time i today over KBES-TV. The medical panel program will be presented at 3 p.m. in Itead of the usual 1 p.m. In keeping with national Cancer Control Month, a pan- : el of physicians will discuss "Cancer Checkup," and what the term means to the patient and to his physician. Dr. Brian D. Stinger, gen eral surgeon. Dr. John R Wat-' son. abstetrician gynecologist, and Dr. Robert M Turner, general practitioner and presi dent of the Jackson County chapter of the American Can cer Society, will form the I panel. They will discuss important factors the physician takes in- j ' to consideration when doing a physical examination on a j patient, and will explain cer I tain followup procedures that I might be indicated as a result I of the medical investigation , for cancer According to Mrs. C I Bur i ton, program moderator, the object of today's discussion is lo clarify the term "Cancer Checkup," and to emphasize I that early cancer detection by means of a checkup is a joint responsibility of patient and physician. SECTION D leaders would cause the army to withdraw and leave Lava Beds to the Modocs. On the fateful Good Friday. April 11, 1873, the Modocs arrived ear ly at the tent. Warnings Discounted Frank and Toby Riddle's repeated warnings of disaster were discounted by General Canby and Mr. Thomas. Com missioners M e a c h a ni and Dyer, however, armed them selves with derringers. The commissioners found eight Modocs, two of them armed, when they arrived at the Peace tent. As soon as talk began the Modocs revealed an ominous attitude which alarmed Commissioner Dyer and Riddle, both of whom moved to the edge of the group. Sensing imminent dan ger, Toby Riddle casually stretched herself out on the ground into a more protected position. Suddenly, with a signal to the other Modocs, Captain MEDFORD PAGES 1 to 8 Tribune MEDFORD, OREGON, SUNDAY. APRIL 14, 1963 Jack drew a concealed revol ver and shot the amazed Gen eral Canby. At the same mo ment, Boston Charley shot Commissioner Thomas. Dyer and Riddle, who had suspect ed treason, ran for safety in the army camp. Hooker Jim chased Dyer until Dyer drew his concealed derringer. Frank Riddle reached the army camp close behind Dyer. Bluff Saves Life Schonchin John and other Modocs wounded Meacham who fell among the rocks. Bos ton Charley was interrupted in his move to scalp him by Toby Riddle shouting. "The soldiers are coming!" This bluff saved Meacham's life. The Modocs retreated to their Stronghold before the troops left camp. Violating the truce with their attack upon the Peace Commission, Captain Jack and his band were doomed to re lentless pursuit. Three more costly and violent battle were fought in the Lava Beds be fore the Modocs could be cap lured. When they were captured, Captain Jack and three other Modocs were hanged. COMMONWEALTH E!3Z0 SECURED UT4OBON LIMITED ISSUE AVAILABLE TO OREGON RESIDENTS ONLY For people who wish to up-grade invest ment earnings Commonwealth Secured 5 Bonds are the answer. Interest pay. able monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually. Mail Coupon or Phone Medford 773-278S For Complete Information to (omm6nwealth 711 E. Main St., Medford, Or. (Home Office. 200 Equitable Bldg . Portland 4. Oregon) Please Send Complete Information to: NAME ADDRESS. 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