November 23, 2005 Klamath Falls Herald and News An antique document linked to the execution of Modoc American Indian chief
Captain Jack is now part of the Klamath County Museum collection. Museum Manager Todd Kepple told the Klamath County Board of Commissioners
Tuesday that the museum learned last week that a Civil War document from Fort
Klamath was being auctioned at Cowan's Auction House in Cincinnati. The Modocs lived mostly around
Lower Klamath Lake and Tule Lake, but were forced onto a reservation north of
Klamath Falls in the 1860s along with members of several other tribes. The Modocs were a warlike
offshoot of the Klamaths. Captain Jack led a failed
attempt to regain land in the Tule Lake area and was captured after holding off
federal troops in area lava beds. He was hanged for killing Gen.
E.R.S. Canby, who had been part of a peace commission. Three other Modoc leaders
were hanged with him.
Document on Captain Jack landed by museum
By ANGELA TORRETTA
The museum placed the winning bid on the document Thursday - $4,500. When fees
to Cowan's and shipping are paid the total cost will be $5,440. The money will
be paid using leftover insurance money from a fire at the Fort Klamath museum
and from a fund for purchasing documents the museum keeps.
The document is from 1873, the year Chief Kintpuash, also known as Captain Jack,
was executed.
Kepple said the museum will need to determine the authenticity of the document,
and plans on asking for assistance from the Klamath Tribes. If it's not
authentic, the auction house has said it can be returned.
Kepple didn't reveal the exact nature of the document and said he didn't know
yet where it originated.
The document will likely be kept at the main branch of the museum on Main
Street.
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