Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-09
THE EVENING STAR.
TPESDAY........ .Decembcr Q, 1879.
The Ute Commission.
THE ASSASSINs TO RB DELIVERED Up II TRIED
w

TIE ASSASSINS to EB DELIVERED VI ~ TRIED IN
WASHINGTON.
A dispatch from the Los Pinos Indian agency
says: The following answer t. the demand OF
the commission has just been delivered by
OEray: I'VE Will deliver for trial Douglas and
those Indians engaged in the massacre of NeeSer
ara ms employees providing they are tried in
Washington: The people OF Colorado are not
friendly, and fair trial here or in New Mexico
is not to be expected Runners have just started
by order OF ouray to bring In those Indians
called for by the commission.
EXCITING SCENES IN THE LAST COUNCIL
special dispatches TO the Denver Tribune from
Los P1nos dated the 9Th. represent that Satur-
day witnessed some decidedly animated occur
renceS at the commissioners meeting. At noon
the UteS came into the agency and took seats In
side the agency building. Jack Colorow and
twelve other White River Utes, and of course
Ouray (hay1ng been among the IndanS) were
present. When the Indians and the commits
SionerS had taken seats Gen. Hatch addressed
the Indians, setting forth the fun demands OF
the commissioners. To-day" he said lis your
last chance. We will wait no longer we want
your final answer, and we want no evaSionS."
The list of the Utes charged by the agency
women with taking part in the massacre Was
then read, and the question put by Gen. Hatcn:
''Will you surrender the men whose names are
In this paper to be tried, and. If guilty pun
question was put twice, and after a con sui
tatton evaSfve answers were returned bDih
times. When the question was repeated tn
third time Ouray replied, without consulting
the other Utes, "How do we know that these
Indians you name were at White River at
the time of the massacre? or even If they were
it. These women mentioned names which
came first to their lips whether theF
knew them to have been present o.
not not; we s.9,. cannot depend on what the,
General Hatch. General Adams then addressed
the Indians, making speech of over an hours
duration, SAYING among other things that the
commissioners did not wish TO punish Colorow.
Jack and Others who took part in the Thorn
burg fight, but the cowardly dogs who partici-
pated In the massacre of the unarmed men at
The agency, closing by saying: 1--WE want those
Utes, and we will have them" The Indians
held council then in low tone of voice among
themselves. but did not seem inclined to reply
at ALL when General Hatch again rose and asked
II the guilty Indians were to be surrendered
saying he had made the last appeal No one
moved or spoke for few moments. when Colo
Each Indian present drew his knife and laid it
on his knees, the question of peace or war being
the one pending. Colorow then passed the pipe
pround the circle When the circle was finished
he jumped to his feet and Strengthened up to his
full height, pulled his belt around until the
knife out, threw it quivering and ringing upon
the floor. Instantly every Indian present laid
his hand upon his knife or pistol the whites fol-
lowing their example. The two parties stood
fronting and defying each other for some mo-
ments, each waiting for the other to make a for
ward move. There were but six white men in
the room, While the Indians numbered
twenty-five, though there were fifteen
soldiers in an adjoining room. Finally
Ouray spoke: 1--WE cannot deliver up those
Indians unless they are tried in Washing
ton. They must not be tried in Colorado. The
Colorado people are all our enemies, and to give
them up to be tried in this state would be to
surrender them to mob who would hang them.
We will bring those twelve men here for you to
see, and then those whom you decide guilty shall
be taken to Washington and the President shall
determine their guilt or innocence. Douglass
will have to go; We know he was in the White
river troubles, and you shall decide who else.
Upon this condition and no other will we sur
render the twelve men,"
The chief spoke with great arrogance and
boldneSS. Ouray added that 1t would require
about week to bring the men in. Gen. Hatch
told him he accepted the proposition as far as
bringing the men in was concerned. but as for
taking them to Washington he would have first
to telegraph Secretary Schuz to get permission
to do so before he could agree to take the In
dams east. Colorow and Jack were immedi
ately dispatched to bring in the twelve named,
including Douglass and PerSkne. They said
they would return In five days. After they had
gone Ouray again spoke, reiterating his state
ment that the Utes could not get justice in Colo
RADIO, and could only get 1t in Washington. ''You
there" said Ouray, meaning Generals Hatch
and Adams and their legal adviser, ValoiS) "are
all my enemies / am one against three. You
hate me. You are all Colorado or New Mexico
men, and French devil have not one friend
among you. You will not give me justice, and
that is why want to go to Washington, where
can have at least one friend"