Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-21
CHIEF OURAY,S SPEECH.
Fears Of the Utes-The Danger the
Com m isSiOn was in-The Truth to
be Told About the NNaSSacre.

DENVER, Nov. 20. - During Chief Ouray's
speech to the Ute commissioners at Los Pinos
on Thursday. after the adjournment of the COM
mission, he at times discarded the services Of
the interpreter entirely and spoke in English
He began by saying that he peceived that the
commission had lost confidence in him and be-
lieved he was playing them false. He went on
to say that the whole object OF the commission,
from first to last had been misunderstood by
only so far; that they left their camp and came
here; but that every one OF them had
COME PREPARED TO FIGHT.
They thought that each witness, as he fin
fShed his testimony of whatever character it
might be. would be Immediately arrested and
put under guard. They had determined to re-
siSt this Ito the DEATH" and the first move
ment in this direction on the part of the whites
a tragedy, with all the horrors OF the White
River massacre repeated, would ensue. "Have
you not seen," he asked, .'around on these
hills, my Utes day and night! Have you not
seen all day one OF my Indians at each of these
windows watching? Had these Utes attacked
you, my brothers, blood would have been shed.
My word Is plighted to the whites and though
II cost me my life, no harm can come to them.
THE TRUTH TO BE TOLD ABOUT THE MASSACRE.
He then went on to say that Unque, an I'm
compabogue Ute, would appear before the COM
mission tomorrow and testify fully in regard
massacre. Unque, it will be remembered, tried
to stop the fight, but was not listened to by the
utes. His testimony will bear hard on Jack, as
he has before stated that Jack was the leader
Utes continued Ouray, will all come in together
to tell what they know. They understand now
and have not before. that the commission Is not
for the purpose of apprehending one single Ute,
not even one proven to be the most guilty or in
nocent. They will all come in together and
what they say will be the truth.
OURAY'S PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
They had begun to think that was working
against them, and l was obliged to act as I did,
to encourage them in their evaSionS and lies, in
order that l might retain my influence over
them until they could themselves see that this
was peace commission working for them as
well as the whites. They now see ii, and there
will be no further difficulty in getting them to
speak. The old chief then described, in brief
and feeling manner. his sorrow at the troubles
in the first place, his subsequent anxiety and
his constant anxiety that something might hap
pen to the helpless captives; his efforts for their
release, and his great joy when he saw the re-
suit Of the mission of Gen. Adams
81 DON'T WANT TO BE CHIEF"
he continued. 81 grow old and am tottering.
Let some young man, with the fire OF youth In
his veins, take my place. l have my farm,
which would rather cultivate and watch the
seed planted by me grow up to maturity than
be head chief. They all come to me with their
troubles. know everything and have all their
burdens to bear. Washington no want me to
give up my position; wants me to stay and gov
ern Utes. l want only to be known only as
Ouray, the friend of the white man."
He then went up to Gen. Adams and present
ed him with beautiful Navajo blanket, a pres
ent from his Squaw, Chipeta.