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
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CRATER
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kiamath Falls
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y tmm PAVED ROAD
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Canby' s ju iiWM-
CHOSS fr ;'J f' "oV'" m
;WCAPT. JACK-'O i
J') LAVfti BEDS
F' NATIONAL
I V MONUMENT
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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 '! ' '
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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.
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