The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-10-24
BAD INDIANS.
A Fresh Alarm in Colorado.
SUSPICIOUS RETURN OF SIOUX FROM
CANADA.


New YORK. Ocs. 23.--A Rawlns despatch
saws Lieut.. Weir was killed by a struggling
band of Indians while hunting a considerable
distance from his command. - He was the son
OF Prof. Weir, celebrated painter, and many
years a professor of drawing at West Point.
His death and the shooting on the morning of
the 10Th of VIM Ward near Bogg's Rancho,
about sixty-fve miles south of Rawlins, to-
gether with sanguinary reports from North
Park, have again alarmed the people of
Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming.
Fears are expressed by ranchmen and others
lest the young and lmplacable warriors among
the Utes, dividing themselves into small par
ties, may get in Merritt's rear and steal stock
and commit desultory murders The fate of u
supply train on the way to Merritt from Raw
Inns, which went with small escort, is also
discussed with considerable anxiety.
A dispatch from Pine Ridge Agency, Da-
kota, DIST, says band Of twenty Ogallala In
dams, under Waters pout," after two years
absence, have arrived llere direct from Sitting
Bulls camp. Their coming created great
commotion among the Sioux, and fears are en-
tertained OF bad results from their presence.
Some 2000 more to follow when the Mis-
souri, River freezes they can cross on the
ice They have letter from jor Walsh
accrediting them, Their stories vary as to the
alleged suffering of the Sioux in British Amer
ica and some of them pretend that plenty of
buffalo abound, a statement which is doubted.
The agent declines to receive them, and asks
the Indian Department if he shall feed them.
Councils are being held in two camps. The
surveyors mounds just put up on the reserva-
ton have been demolished in places and his
men been ridden over by Indians from Spotted
Tails camp. The Sioux soldiers say they
want to fight the Uies, their old enemies, but
it is believed war fever has SO seized upon
them that they are willing to go anywhere in
order to have fight. No serious apprehen-
sion is felt that the disturbed temper of the
will nro1ucn SnriOuS effects 1t
ent, as they have yet their annuities to receive,
the expectation of which must hold them in
check.
DENVER, Col, Oct 23.-Captain Dodge's
colored company, numbering Is men, have ar
rived here on the way to Garland, where they
will go into winter quarters. They were ten
dered reception by the colored citizens OF
Denver, and the occasion called forth large
attendance. Capt, Dodge proceeded direct to
Leavenworth from Cheyenne.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23.-The Governor of
Colorado telegrephs to Secretary Schurz as
follows:
Information from Southwestern Colorado
satisfies me that most of Ouray's warriors
were IL the Thornburgh fight. To surrender
the criminals Ouray must surrender his tribe,
which he is powerless to do: They adhere to
him for protection only, and will not submit to
punishment, neither will they surrender the
White River Utes, who are bound to them by
the closest ties and are no more guilty than
themselves. They whipped Thornburgh
command and now Merritt retires. 1t cannot
be disguised that the fighting men of the tribe
are hostile and flushed with victory; that they
are savages; that they take no prisoners except
women, and their trophies are not banners but
scalps If the policy of military inactivity
continues our frontier settlements are liable to
become scenes of massacres. Unless the troops
move against the Indians, the Indians will
move against the settlers. Must 3O0 miles OF
border settlements be subjected to this peril?
The general government is doing nothing to
defend the settlements. The state cannot de-
fend all this border except by attacking the
enemy. In behalf of our people represent
this danger to you and urge the government to
recognize that war with barbarians now ex-
lists which involves the lives Of numerous ex-
posed mining settlements. Itcan be termin-
ated only by the most vigorous and uninter-
rupted warfare.
The Secretary replied, stating the mission Of
Gen. Adams, whom Gov. Pitkin himself highly
recommended land that favorable reports are al
ready received from him which vary material
ly from Gov. Pitkin's information. He says
the military preparations have not been re-
laxed SO the failure of Adams efforts may
be followed by energetic measures, and earn
estly hopes no extension of the troubles will
be precipitated by inconsiderate action.