explained to him the impossibility of acceding to his demands, as the property had already passed in title to these men.  Old Sconchin then told Meacham to “shut up;” that he had said enough.  While Sconchin was talking Jack got up and was walking behind the others.  He then turned back and exclaimed:  “All ready!” At the same instant he drew a pistol and snapped at Gen. Canby, but cocking the pistol again shot him through the right eye.  Canby fell dead without a groan.  Almost at the same instant Sconchin shot Meacham through the shoulder, in the head and in the arm, while Boston Charley shot Dr. Thomas dead.  Just previous to the shooting Mr. Dyer had turned and walked back behind the tent.  At the first crack of the pistols Mr. Dyer fled for his life, closely pursued by Hooker Jim.  Mr. Dyer had concealed a small revolver about his person and turned at intervals of his flight and fired at his pursuer.  By this means he was enabled to make headway. and at last escaped.

Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas were stripped and the General scalped.  Meacham was insensible and as the Indians started in to scalp him Riddle’s squaw told them that the soldiers were coming, and they left him and fled.  To this fact Meacham was indebted for his scalp, as it was partly cut loose and in a few moments more would have been stripped off.

While these scenes were being enacted, two Indians approached the lines of Mason and Green bearing a flag of truce.  Lieutenants Sherwood and Boyle went out about 500 yards beyond their line to meet them.  The Indians said they wanted to see Maj.  Mason and when told by the officers that Mason would not talk to them, they appeared disappointed.  As the officers turned to go back to their lines they were fired upon by Indians in ambush and Lieut.  Sherwood was mortally wounded.

Early in the day Capt.  Adams had been stationed on Gillem’s bluff and during all the proceedings at the peace tent had watched with a strong field glass.  When the massacre of the commission began he telegraphed to Gen. Gillem, and the soldiers, held in readiness for an emergency, sprang to the advance on the double quick, but were too late to save the life of the gallant Canby and his comrades.

Thus ended the long, dreary farce of the “Peace Commission.”  And at what a price!  There lay the noble Canby prone upon his face, cold and still in death; having breasted the hurricane of many a well-fought field to fall at last by the treacherous, assassin hand of a prowling savage to whom he had come upon a mission of peace and friendship.  There was another of the Commissioners, a man of peace, a preacher of the gospel of eternal love, stricken down with the words of mercy and forgiveness upon his lips, his gray and reverend locks all dabbled in his own blood.  Another, shot and hacked and stabbed, covered with wounds, beaten down with cruel blows, motionless but still alive.  And there was another, with warwhoop and pistol shot ringing at his heels, fleeing for his life; while at the side scene was the “honorable” Capt.  Jack, stage manager of the awful play, arch demon of massacre, with pistol that took the priceless life of Canby still smoking in his hand, leaping with glee, his dark face all aglow with the glare of the dread spectacle, like a fiend dancing in the fire-light of hell.