only reply by still protesting. The commissioners, under tiie orders of the government, repaired to Fairchild's rancho in order to be nearer Captain Jack's headquarters, as well as to be placed in earlier communication with army headquarters and with Washington by means of courier and telegraph, and commenced their labors. On his way to Fairchild's, at Yreka, Meacham expressed the opinion in public that Jack was an honorable man, and would go upon a reservation if requested by him to do so; but in his dispatches to Secretary Delano he was less hopeful. A messenger was immediately sent to Whittle's ferry to secure the services of Bob Whittle and his Indian wife Matilda in carrying on negotiations with Jack. Pending the result of Matilda's interview with Jack, she havinp* been sent to solicit a conference between the Modocs and the commissioners, the board entered upon an investigation, so far as they were able, of the causes of the present attitude of the Modocs toward the government and the people of Oregon.
On the 21st of February, the chairman telegraphed to the acting commissioner of Indian affairs at Washingrton, that his messeng^er to Jack had returned brinafing the intelligence that the Modocs were expecting some one to come to them with a message; that they were tired of living in the rocks, and desired peace; were glad to hear from Washington, but did not wish to talk with anyone who had been engaged in the war; and that if Case and Meacham would meet them outside the rocks they should not be harmed. That was not, however, what was reported to the commission by Bob Whittle, who said that the Indians, twenty in number, met him accidentally a mile and a half from camp. The two parties advanced within 100 yards of each other, dismounted, and laying down their arms, went forward and shook hands. Jack and Sconchin, with seventeen armed men, soon came up, and dismounting, also shook hands. Whittle then made known his errand, and Jack consented
