warriors, conducting himself in such a manner as to frighten them back to the agency. The citizens were hardly less alarmed, and talked once more of organizing a militia company. The usual correspondence followed between the Indian and military departments, and the settlers were once more assured that their safety would be looked after.[1]
While the Modoc question was in this critical stage, influences unknown to the department were at work confirming Jack in his defiant course, arising from nothing less than a scheme, proposed by Steele of Yreka, to secure from the government a grant of the land desired by him, on condition that he and his people should abandon their tribal relation, pay taxes, and improve the land, which they promised to do.[2] But no one knew better than Steele that to leave the Modocs in the midst of the white settlements would be injurious to both races, and most of all to the Indians themselves, who instead of acquiring the better part of civilization were sure to take to themselves only the worse; and that the better class of white people must object to the contiguity of a small special reserve in their midst. Not so did the Modocs themselves reason about the matter. Steele, because they could approach him with their troubles, and because he simply told them to go and behave themselves, without seeing that they did so, was the white chief after their own mind, and his word was law, even against the power with which they had made a treaty. They were proud of his friendship, which gave them importance in their own eyes, and which blinded them to their inevitable doom. So said the settlers, with whom I cannot always fully agree.
- ↑ Military Correspondence, MS., June 10, 15, and 20, 1872; Odeneal's Modoc War, 31–2.
- ↑ Steele was threatened with prosecution by Odeneal, and in the defence before referred to, after explaining his acts, says: At this last interview with Capt. Jack I again tried to persuade him to go upon the reservation, but I must confess that it was as much to avoid the trouble and expense that would fall upon me in getting the land grant through for them as from any other motive. Modoc Question, MS., 25.
