interview with Jack, and endeavor to persuade him to go to live on the reservation. Major Otis had previously made an attempt, through his Indian scouts, to have a conference, but had been repulsed in a haughty manner. However, after much negotiation it had been agreed that a meeting should take place at Lost River gap between Otis, Agent High, Ivan and Oliver Applegate, with three or four citizens as witnesses, and three or four Klamath scouts on one side, and Jack with half a dozen of his own men on the other. But according to his former tactics, Jack presented himself with thirty-nine fighting men, arid had Otis at his mercy.
The council at Lost River gap was productive of no good results, Jack denying any complaints made by the settlers, and one of the witnesses, Miller, testifying that his conduct was peaceable, under the selfish and mistaken belief that he was insuring his own immunity from harm.[1] When Odeneal's order arrived for a council with Jack, that he might be informed of the decision of the commissioner of Indian affairs, Sconchin was employed to act as messenger to arrange for a meeting at Linkville; but Jack returned for answer that any one desiring to see him would find him in his own country. After considerable effort, a meeting was arranged to take place at the military encampment at Juniper Springs, on Lost River. Agents Dyar and Applegate, attended by some of Sconchin's head men, met Jack and his warriors on the 14th of May, when every argument and persuasion was used to influence him to conform to the treaty, but without success. His unalterable reply was that he should stay where he was. and would not molest settlers if they did not locate on the west side of Lost River, near the mouth, where he had his winter camp. The settlers, he said, were always lying about him and
- ↑ It is said that Miller went to Fairchilds and complained bitterly of the position in which Otis' questions before the Indians had placed him. He admitted that he had not told the truth, but declared that he dared not say otherwise. Siskiyou County Affairs, MS., 53.
