Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/597

Rh Dyar had been notified to meet them at Linkville, where the Indians would be turned over to him. But now happened one of those complications liable to arise under circumstances of so much excitement, when every one desired to be of service to the common cause without knowing in the least what to do. The same thought had occurred to William J. Small, residing three miles below Whittle's ferry on Klamath River, who organized a party among his neighbors and set out for Hot Creek with the purpose of removing these Indians to the reservation. Knowing that they were liable to fall in with the hostile Modocs, they went well armed. At Whittle's the two parties met, and the conductors of the Indians, being suspicious of the intentions of Small's men, opposed their visiting the Indian encampment, on which Small and his men returned home.

In the interim four citizens of Linkville, all good men, hearing of Small's enterprise, and anxious for its success, started to reenforce him. On the way a drunken German named Fritz attached himself to the party, and talked noisily of avenging the death of his friend William Nus. From this man's gabble the re port spread that the Linkville men contemplated the massacre of the Hot Creek Indians. Alarmed by this rumor, Isaac Harris and Zenas Howard hastened by a shorter route to the ferry to warn Fairchild, so that when the Linkville men arrived they found them selves confronted by the escort of the Indians with arms in their hands. An explanation ensued, when the Linkville party turned off to Small's place. Fritz, however, remained at the ferry and contrived to alarm the Indians by his drunken utterances.

When Dyar reached Linkville he too heard the rumor afloat, and hastened on to the ferry, although it was already night, intending to thwart any evil intent by moving the Indians past Linkville before daylight. Fairchild agreed to the proposition, and hastened to inform the Indians and explain the cause. An ar-