pectors led by James Coy, at the mouth of Josephine creek in the Illinois valley. One man escaped from camp, and fled to Jacksonville for aid, while the remaining four defended a slight fortification for two days, or until a party of thirty-five miners came to their relief. These prospectors had discovered the remains of recently murdered men before they were attacked. This was in April.
On the eighth of April, Calvin Woodman was murdered by Scarface, on a tributary of the Klamath. The miners and settlers of Shasta and Scott valleys arrested John, the head chief, and demanded the surrender of Scarface, and of Bill as accessory, but John refused and escaped. The miners then organized, and in a fight with the Indians which ensued, the sheriff was wounded and several horses killed. This collision did not tend to mend matters, and the Indians commenced moving their families to the mountains on Salmon river, in preparation for hostilities.
At this critical juncture, Mr. Elisha Steele, who was well known to the Indians, and had, like Lane, a remarkable ability to gain their confidence, so much so that they called him "Jo Lane's Brother," happened to arrive from Yreka at Johnson's rancho, in Scott valley, where he found a company of miners from Scott bar, who had been unsuccessfully pursuing the murderers of Woodman.
Concerned for the safety of Johnson's family should the Indians break out into general warfare, Steele collected the Indians in Scott valley, and held a council with Tolo, his son Philip, and John, with three of his brothers, one of whom was known as Jim. These professed to desire peace, and offered to accompany Steele in search of the murderers. A party was made up, namely, Steele, John McLeod, James Bruce, James White, John Galvin, Peter Snellback, and a lad called Harry. These were joined at Shasta canon by J. D. Cook, F. W. Merritt, L. S. Thompson, and Ben Wright, who acted as interpreter.
Proceeding to Yreka to procure the necessary order for the arrest of Scarface and Bill, Steele had some difficulty
