Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/588

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making trouble, but "his people were good people, and would not frighten anybody. He desired only peace, and was governed by the advice of the people of Yreka, who knew and understood him.^[1] The old chief Sconchin then made a strong appeal to Jack to accept the benefits of the treaty, and pointed out the danger of resistance, but in vain.

The commissioners reported accordingly, and also that in casting about for some locality where Jack's band might be placed, apart from the Klamaths, no land had been found unoccupied so good for the purpose as that upon the reservation. Camp Yainax was, in fact, nearly as far from the Klamath agency as the Lost River country. Nothing now remained but to prepare to bring the Modocs on to the reservation. Odeneal gave it as his opinion that the leading men among them should be arrested and banished to some distant place until they should agree to abide by the laws, while the remainder should be removed to Yainax, suggesting the last of September as a proper time for carrying out this purpose; and the commissioner issued the order to remove them, "peace ably if you can, forcibly if you must."

In May, the Modocs having broken camp and begun their summer roaming, Otis reported his station on Lost River unnecessary, and the troops were with drawn about the 1st of June. No sooner, however, were the troops back at Fort Klamath than Jack appeared at the camp of Sconchin's people, away from Yainax on their summer furlough, with forty armed

↑ Who besides E. Steele Jack referred to is not known. Steele admits giving advice to Jack and his followers. My advice to them was, and always has been, to return to the reservation, and further, that the officers would compel them to go. They replied that they would not go, and asked why the treaty that I had made with them when I was superintendent of northern California—they supposing that our state line included their village at the fishery—was not good ... I told them they had made a new treaty with the Oregon agency since mine, and sold their lands, and that had done away with the first one. Jack said he did not agree to it. . .1 have written several letters for him to the settlers, in which I stated his words to them, etc. These ex tracts are from a manuscript defence of his actions, written by Steele to his brother at Olympia, in my possession, entitled Steele's Modoc Question, MS.

[1] Who besides E. Steele Jack referred to is not known. Steele admits giving advice to Jack and his followers. My advice to them was, and always has been, to return to the reservation, and further, that the officers would compel them to go. They replied that they would not go, and asked why the treaty that I had made with them when I was superintendent of northern California—they supposing that our state line included their village at the fishery—was not good ... I told them they had made a new treaty with the Oregon agency since mine, and sold their lands, and that had done away with the first one. Jack said he did not agree to it. . .1 have written several letters for him to the settlers, in which I stated his words to them, etc. These ex tracts are from a manuscript defence of his actions, written by Steele to his brother at Olympia, in my possession, entitled Steele's Modoc Question, MS.

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