Life Of Alfred B. Meacham. Together With His Lecture The Tragedy Of The Lava Beds

T. A. BLAND

Publication: T A & M C Bland, Publishers, 1883, Washington

First edition. 8vo. Original gray printed wrappers, 30 pp., 48 pp., frontispiece (portrait), illustrated, portraits. The first part of the book deals with the life of Alfred B. Meacham (1826 - 1882) was an American Methodist minister, reformer, author and historian, who served as the U.S. Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon (1869–1872). He became a proponent of American Indian interests in the Northwest, including Northern California. Appointed in 1873 as chairman of the Modoc Peace Commission, he was severely wounded during a surprise attack on April 11 by warriors, but saved from death by Toby Riddle (Winema), a Modoc interpreter. Meacham continued to work for justice for American Indians. He wrote a lecture-play about the Modoc War, and made a national tour with Modoc and Klamath representatives in 1874 - 1875. He helped represent American Indian tribes to Washington officials, and testified about relocation issues to Congress. In 1880 he served on the Ute Commission. TRAGEDY OF THE LAVA BEDS has its own title page. The two works were issued together. Meacham was part of a peace commission negotiating with the Modoc Indians in 1873 and was wounded in the attack in which General E. R. S. Canby was killed. Cowan 1914 p. 20: "Col. Meacham was survivor of the massacre by the Modoc Indians, under Capt. Jack, of Gen. Canby and Dr. E. Thomas, in 1873. For this outrage, Capt. Jack, Schonchin John, Boston Charley, and others were hanged. Meacham was desperately wounded, but after recovery he traveled extensively, delivering his lecture many times. Although a victim of their treachery, Meacham shows that the Modocs were suffering under great injuries and in justice inflicted upon them by the whites." Meacham would later play a key role in negotiations with the Utes in 1880-91 after the Meeker massacre, incurring the wrath of the Colorado settlers for his support of the Utes. He died from exhaustion in 1882. Light wear to the spine ends and with a small chip and a few nicks to the front cover fore-edge else a clean, tight very good copy of a very scarce title.