Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-14

kA4xO SA0 A00S 0AA0A N0A40
from White river these mel we're still alive.
The U,es then proceeded to the agency,
and attacked the employee, who had barri-
caded themselves in one building. The
house was set on fire, and the men shot one
BY one as they rushed out. Agent Meeker
and every employe at the agency are dead,
but the tate of the three women who were
there is still 10 question. Immediately up-
on The intelligence reaching the Los Plnos
agency Maj. w. n. Stanley sent Joseph
Brady to the White river agency. accom-.
panied BY a body guard of fifteen U,es sent
by Ouray. II Is possible if the party reach
White river before the soldiers are all kill
ed that their lives may be saved, Oaray
sending q positive command to the hostile
Utes to cease lighting When the outbreak
first occurred, Ouray had started on a big
hunt. which was to have lasted three
months, but the news, carried through 10
him by a runner IN twenty four hours,
caused his speedy return to the sgency,
and he is now there.
Ouray has always been q firm friend 10
the whites. and this horrible massacre fills
him with grief. We may be assured tina, i,
any effort of his eau save the imperilied lives
of the troops at the seat Of war they will he
saved, aod bis past reputation leads US TO
believe that should there be danger of sn
instruction among the Uncompahgre U,es
the people will be warned by him. He has
called in all the hunting parties which we're
out, intending to keep them under his wi
eye, and not let them have any grounds for
serious fears that an attack will be made
upon our people by the Uncompahgre
Utes. While We approve of the precautions
which have been taken, as a measure Of
safety. we hardly think it possible that the
Utes at Los Pinos would dare to 60 upon
the war-path in the face of Ouray's direct
commands. To our thinking the danger is
principally tn settlers around, who might
be attacked by a band of White river Utes
or . few reneRades from Los Pinos. There
fore We heartily approve of the wives and
children of the exposed settlers being sent
to Ouray, as We notice is being done at this
time. Nothing would hurt Ouray so much
IS Indian troubles, and We cannot afford to
have any false alarm raised. Every posi-
BILE precaution has been taken to prevent
any surprise. An efficient volunteer force
has been raised, which can be called into
active service at any time. We have arms
and ammunition, and have scouts who will
give warning at the first symptom of danger.
Therefore We can afford to keep cool and
await Developments.
LATER.-Maj. Stanley, the agent, came
up to Ouray this morning, and reports
everything quiet at the agency, and no fur
Their received from White river. Ouray, he
says, is sick with anxiety and trouble, but
is confident that there will be no trouble
among his Utes. As long as they remain
quiet no danger may be apprehended in
this part of the country. The southern
utes have sent q runner to Ouray, with as
that the White river Utes would
have neither support or encouragement
from them. The major has returned TO his
post.
THE DENVER INDIANS.
referred to in the Los Pinos dispatch relat-
ing to Meekers death and the fight at Milk
creek are bands Of four chiefs and visited
Denver last summer to see Gov. Pitkin to
lave Agent Meeker removed. The chiefs
names were:
Capt. Jack, leader Of the band; Sahwitz,
Musisca and Unkumgood.
These chiefs spent two days here, and
called twice on Gov. Pitkin with frivolous
against Agent Meeker. Capt.
Jack did all the talking, he speaking Eng-
lish and there being no Interpreter. No
complaint was made of failure to pay an.
or dues or of encroachments on the
reservation. Jack found fault with nothing
except Meeker's romantic efforts to %civilize
the tribe, and the fact that he uped beef
from the government herd of cattle at the
instead of buying from abroad.
Jack argued that the Utes owned the cattle,
and Meeker had no right to kill them;
whereas, the government bought and paid
for them IS q matter Of economy. White
river valley is a good grazing country, and
the government has fed the Indians out of
the increase of the herd since the first pur-
chase, without any additional expense
whatever Capt. Jack indignantly repu.
dated the idea that he would work or al.
low his children to be educated. He want.
ed, several things. among others work
,horees and wagons, to which he was not en-.
titled. He repudiated Ouray as chief Of
the coniederated Utes, saying "Ouray
PLAYED out same as white man.
Jack ia q practical rascal, but 4 bold
leader. He no doubt led the e citing at
Milk creek, and it was doubtless By his
orders that Meeker and the agency people
were killed. The other chiefs who visited
Denver with him were similarly minded,
and should be punished as severely as he
before a truce is declared. The people of
Colorado will never allow those Indians to
live in the state, and If the Indian bureau
wants to save their worthless lives it must
take them out Of the state.
N H