Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/479

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ATTITUDE OF THE MODOCS.
467

and describe some other location favorable to the purpose of carrying out the attempt to tame them, they reported that no situation outside of the reservation had been found so suitable as the reserve itself for the purpose, all the good agricultural land being taken up, and most of the grazing land having been located as state land In addition, the settlers were determined in their opposition to having the Modocs located in their midst at Lost river. They recommended, therefore, that they be placed on the reservation.

This report being sent to the superintendent was forwarded to the commissioner at Washington, F. A. Walker, together with his own opinion on the subject, which was that the head men should be arrested and taken to some point remote from their tribe until they should agree to keep the laws, and the remainder b^ removed to Yainax; the time suggested for the accomplishment of this plan being the last of September. On receiving this communication, which was approved the commissioner issued to the superintendent an order to remove the Modocs to the Klamath reservation, "peaceably if you can, forcibly if you must," at the time suggested.

On the 11th of May, Otis reported that since his conference with them in March, the Modocs had been quiet, giving no cause of complaint. They were at that time scattered from Yreka to Camp Yainax, and through the mountains in the vicinity of Lost river, rendering the camp at that place useless, and he recommended its withdrawal, proposing instead of a camp, to make an occasional tour through the country. The troops were accordingly withdrawn about the last of the month. No sooner, however, were the troops returned to Fort Klamath, than the same excitement prevailed as before. Captain Jack with forty armed men presented himself at a camp of the reservation Indians, off on their summer furlough, and behaved in such a manner as to frighten them back to the reservation in great haste. The settlers were