| CHAPTER I. |
| EARLY REMINISCENCES—POW-E-SHIEK’S BAND. |
| PAGE |
| The Author’s Fears and Hopes—A Bit of Personal History—Two Great Wrongs—Early Reflections—Removal of Pow-e-shiek’s Band in 1844—The Lava Beds—Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas referred to—Even-handed Justice—Captain of an Ox Team—Sad Scene Preparatory to Pow-e-shiek’s Departure—The White Man Wanted It—It is a Fair Business Transaction—A Gloomy Picture—Government Officials Move Slow—(The Lone Indian Sentinel)—A Fright in Camp—The Welcome—Cupid’s Antics—An Indian Maiden’s Ball Dress—The Squaw’s Duties—The Indian’s Privileges—End of the Journey—The Return—The Conscientious Church Member—Throngs of Emigrants—A Great Contrast and a Glowing Picture—Yankee Boys and Western Girls—A Strange Mixture—The People of Iowa—The Nation’s Perfidy towards the Savage | 1 |
| CHAPTER II. |
| OVERLAND—BLOOD FOR BLOOD. |
| Pow-e-shiek Visits his Old Home—His Recognition of the Writer—He Spends the Winter—His Character—The Ceremonial Smoke, and the Writer’s Mistake—Pow-e-shiek’s Return—“Van,” the Indian Pony—Crossing the Plains—Indian Depredations—What Provokes Them—The Murdered Indian—The Loaned Rifle—Arresting Indians on “General Principles”—They are Slain on “General Principles,” also—The Butchery of Indian Women and Children—The Bloody Deeds of White Men—The Indian’s Revenge | 24 |
| CHAPTER III. |
| INDIANS AND MINERS. |
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| Two Letters—Why they are Introduced—Lee’s Encampment—Gold Fields of Idaho and Eastern Oregon, in 1863—Tides of Adventurers—Means of Transportation—Umatilla City—The Saddle Train—The “Kitchen Mule”—Walker’s Line—Novel Method of Securing Ponies—Indians Hunting Lost Horses—Sublime Mountain Scenery—Punch and Judy—A Stalwart Son of Erin—He Buys an Indian Pony—His Rich Experience Therewith—A Scene Worthy of the Pencil of a Bierstadt—“Riding a Bottle”—The Indian’s Friends Denounced—Indian Integrity—Striking Examples—Tin-tin-mit-si, the Rich Old Indian Chief—“Why White Men are Fools” | 32 |
| CHAPTER IV. |
| DIAMOND-CUT-DIAMOND. |
| Treaty with the Government—The Annual Visits—Indians and Whiskey—The White Man’s Advantage, and the Indian’s Privilege—Punishment for Intoxication—Indian “Muck-a-muck”—The Salmon and their Haunts—Ludicrous Scenes—Financial Revenge—The Oregon Lawyer’s Horseback Ride—He is Sadly Demoralized—His Scripture Quotations—Fourth of July Celebration—Disappointed Spouters—Homli’s Sarcastic Speech—His Eloquence and His Resolve—A Real Change—Three Tribes Unite—A Fair Treaty—Umatilla Reservation—Gorgeous Description of an Earthly Paradise—Homli’s Return | 45 |
| CHAPTER V. |
| POLICIES ON TRIAL—“ONEATTA.” |
| The Author Appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs—Not a Political Friend of President Johnson—An Indian “Agency”—Description of a Hunting-Ground—Shipwrecks—Signal Fires—Why they are Built—A Tradition—Perilous Adventure of Two Chieftains—A “Big Canoe” Saved from Wreck—They are Rewarded with many Curious Gifts—The Squaw’s Surprise—The Pappoose’s Fears—The Chase—Squaws Disrobed—A Good Time Generally—The Chiefs Fright—He is Reassured—Comes Alongside the Ship—Love at First Sight—A Battle without the War-whoop—The Chief Boards the Ship—The Scene on Deck—The Chief’s Departure—The Lovers, Oneatta and Theodore—The Chief’s Consent—The Dance—Lover’s Conquest—The Betrothal—The Ship Ready to Depart—The Marriage on Board—Farewell to Oneatta | 57 |
| CHAPTER VI. |
| SENATORIAL BRAINS BEATEN BY SAVAGE MUSCLE—PLEASANT WAY OF PAYING PENALTIES. |
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| The Legend in the Last Chapter—Why it is Introduced—Siletz Agency—Oyster Beds and Timber Lands—The same “Old Story” Rehearsed—The Boat Race—Indian vs. United States Senator—The Horse Race—Congressional Avoirdupois—Crossing the Siletz River—Civilized Indians—A Rare Scene—Euchre Bill—Biting off Heads—The Indian School—Too-toot-na—His Wife Jinney—Her Financial Skill—Her Husband’s Hope—Doomed to Disappointment—Indian Court Day—Hickory Clubs vs. Blackstone—The Attendants at Court—The First Case—A Woman’s Quarrel—Appropriating a Horse—Wounded Honor—An Agreeable Penalty—The Lone Chief—Indian Bashfulness—The Agent’s Fears—Old Joshua Speaks—His Eloquence—His Request is Granted—Religious Influences—A Language of One Hundred Words—Christianity and Common Sense—The Dialogue—Logs on Indian Graves—Why Placed there—Religions of the Indians Discussed Further On—Indian Agent Ben Simpson—His Report—He Arraigns the Government—Joel Palmer’s Report—Political Preacher and the Christian Agent—The Treachery of the Former—A Plea for the Siletz Indians—Base White Men and a Cruel Government—The Sad Story Repeated—A Ray of Hope—Alsea Agency—The Alsea Indians—Their Character Peaceable and therefore Neglected—Crime Rewarded by the Government—Virtue Punished—The Destiny of the Alsea Tribe—A Stern Rebuke and a Prophecy | 74 |
| CHAPTER VII. |
| PHIL SHERIDAN’S OLD HOME—WHAT A CABIN COST. |
| Grand Round Agency—Indian Houses—Cost of a Board—Gen. Phil Sheridan—A Romance of a Young Chief—The Family from Missouri—The Red-skinned Archer and Pale-face Gunner—Their Trial of Skill—Fight with the Grizzly—The Wounded Hunter—The “Medicine Man”—Santiam and the Pale-faced Maiden—The Disappointment—Faithful to Her Vows—Description of the Valley Resumed—The Writer’s First Visit—The Indians There—Their Progress in Civilization—Ceremonious Hand-shaking—The Writer’s Remarks—Replies by Joe Hutchins and Louis Neposa—A Peculiarity of Indian Eloquence—Speeches by Black Tom and Solomon Riggs—The Writer’s Speech—Its Effect—Wapto Davis’s Plain Talk—Joe Hutchins’ Sarcasm—Result of the Council | 400 |
| CHAPTER XXVI. |
| OLIVE BRANCH AND CANNON BALLS—WHICH WILL WIN? |
| The Peace Commission Appointed—Terms of Peace unwisely Proposed to the “Modocs”—The “Modocs” seem to accept the Terms—Joy in Camp—It is suddenly Dampened—The Great Mistake of Steele, the Messenger—The Fearful Crisis—A Most Suitable Time to say Prayers—Honor among Savages—The Messenger’s Strategy—It Saves his Life—His Report—The Author’s Dispatch to Washington—The Reply—Anxiety and Gloom in Camp—Modoc Messengers—What they Propose—Commission in the hands of General Canby—Prejudiced against Tobey—The Modocs offer to Surrender—Wagons sent to Receive Them—Their Intentions—They Fail to Agree—Modoc Horses Captured—General Canby won’t return them | 413 |
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| CHAPTER XXVII. |
| CAPTAIN JACK A DIPLOMAT—SHOOT ME IF YOU DARE. |
| The New Camp—The Modocs Allowed to Visit the Camp—Reasons for it—The Seven Hours’ Talk with Captain Jack—The Diplomatic Savage—His Skill in Debate—His Logic and his Eloquence—He has Right on his Side—This the Only Extended Talk with the Modocs—Capt. Jack’s Graphic Description of the “Ben Wright” Massacre—This Cold-blooded Butcher Rewarded by our Government—Full Report of this Meeting—Another Effort for Peace—Tobey’s Mission—The Result—She is Warned by a peace-loving Modoc—The Reports to the Commission—Some do not Believe Her—The Indiscretion of Rev. Dr. Thomas—Stirring News from the other Camp—Assassination Intended—Tobey is Sent for by the Modocs—She Goes—Affecting Farewell to Husband and Child—A Thrilling Scene in the Modoc Camp—True Heroism—“I am a Modoc Woman; Shoot Me if You Dare”—The Camp Moved—Strange Surroundings and Sad Reflections—An Incident—Peace Council with the Modocs—Their Hostile Intentions Foreshadowed—The Storm—Proposal to Adjourn—It is Treated with Contempt by Jack—Says he shall not Melt like Snow—The Council Adjourns | 443 |
| CHAPTER XXVIII. |
| WHO HAD BEEN THERE—WHO HAD NOT. |
| General Gilliam’s Opinion about Taking the Modocs—Colonel Mason’s Opinion—Difference in Judgment—Another Discussion Going On—Colonel Greene Speaks—Colonel Tom Wright in Commissioners’ Tent—A Growl—Wager Offered—Proposition to Send Away Nine Hundred Soldiers—Waiting for the Warm Springs—Desertion—Common Soldiers’ Opinion—They Want Peace—Commissioners’ Cooking—Work Divided—Canby Enjoys a Joke—“Don’t Throw Off on Bro. Dyer” | 457 |
| CHAPTER XXIX. |
| UNDER A WOMAN’S HAT—THE LAST APPEAL. |
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| New Efforts for Peace—Dr. Thomas’ Faith—It Avails Little—Riddle Appealed to—The Author’s Fatal Absence—Modoc Cunning—The Guileless Betrayed—The Author’s Fears—The Compact Made—The Last Breakfast—The Indian Judas—He Wants Meacham to Wear his New Boots—The Modoc Council—Captain Jack and Scar-face Oppose the Massacre—The Former Taunted with being a White Squaw—Being only a Representative Chief he Yields to the Majority—The Bloody Work Allotted to Each—Another Butchery Agreed upon—The Warning Repeated but Unheeded—Canby and Dr. Thomas are Determined to go—The Latter Seems Doubtful of the Result—The Farewell Letter—Tobey and Riddle Implore them not to go—Meacham Makes One More Effort to Save Life—He Pleads with Dr. Thomas and General Canby—A Sad Scene and a Terrible Resolution—The Derringer Pistol—Departure for the Scene of Slaughter | 462 |
| CHAPTER XXX. |
| ASSASSINATION—“KAU-TUX-E”—THE DEATH PRAYER SMOTHERED BY BLOOD—RESCUED. |
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| The Scene near the Council Tent—Several Desperate Modocs Described—Preparing for the Carnival of Death—The Boy Murderers and their Weapons—Bogus and Boston Announce the Approach of the Commission—Why does Meacham Remove his Overcoat—The Modocs Suspiciously Cordial—Fighting a Battle with Pride—Appearance of the Commissioners—Hooker Jim’s Strange Movements—The Intruder Near the Council Tent—The Butchery for the Time Being Averted—Hooker-Jim’s Ominous Movements—He puts on Meacham’s Overcoat—“Me old man Meacham now”—This Act is instantly Interpreted—All are Conscious of their Impending Doom—Reflections During the Fleeting Moments—What will General Canby Say—Will he Accede to the Demand of the Modocs and thus Avert Death—Will he Take the Soldiers Away—He Breaks the Silence—Duty Dearer than Life—Death before Dishonor—Dr. Thomas’s Last Speech—What will Captain Jack do now—Will he Give the Signal—He Changes Places with Schonchin—The Manner of the Latter—The Attack Begins—General Canby the First to Fall—His Horrible Death—Dyer is Shot at by Hooker-Jim—He Makes his Escape—Riddle Pursued by Black Jim—The Latter Fires at Random—The Reason—The Bloody Work of Boston and Hooker-Jim—Dr. Thomas’s Tragic End—His Murderers Taunt him with his Religion—Why don’t he Turn the Bullets—Schonchin, his Dagger and his Pistol—Meacham Attacked by Schonchin—Slolux and Shack-Nasty Jim—The Struggle for Life—Tobey’s Efforts to save Him—The Dreadful Scene of the Tragedy—Boston as a Scalper—The Squaw Tobey—Her Strategy—Another Bloody Tragedy Planned but not Executed—Lethargy followed by Vigorous Action—Meacham Discovered—The Stretcher—Brandy—“No Time for Temperance Talk”—The Council Tent a Winding-sheet—Rewards to the Couriers—The Eighty-three Mile Race—The Gray and the Pinto—The Exultant Winner | 478 |
| CHAPTER XXXI. |
| HARNESSED LIGHTNING CARRYING AWFUL TIDINGS—HE MAKES IT—A BROKEN FINGER WON’T DISFIGURE A CORPSE. |
| Making Coffins in the Lava Bed—The Patient in the Hospital—A Broken Finger will not Disfigure a Corpse—The Commotion in the Modoc Camp—The Disputes—Common Interest a Strong Bond—The Great Medicine Dance—The Modocs Exultant—The Wife’s Suspense—The Dreadful News—Its Effect on Wife and Children—First Robbed by the Government, then its Defenders—Our Nation’s Perfidy—The Sorrowful Hearts at Home—Prayer and Praise in Camp—A Lesson for Bigots and Cowards to Learn—The Medicine Man in the Modoc Camp—He Fires the Modoc Heart—Capt. Jack Despondent—Long Jim—Novel Scene in the Soldier’s Camp—The Murder of the Commission to be
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