The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-11-16
PIPE OF PEACE.
SMOKING QUAKER ronAcco
The Peace Commission at Work :
Opening of the Councfi-Prepar-
10 Hcodwink the Com
mission.

Los Pinos Agency. Nov. 14.-Ouray
carried his point at the Indian council
on the night of the 18th inst, and the
principal chiefs of the White river Utes
except Jack, were present at the agency
yesterday, ready to give their testimony
when called upon. The Indians who
testify before the commission are sworn
by Chief Ouray according to the Gus
tom of the Ute nation.
Douglas was the first witness called
at the order of Ouray. He arose from
his seat, and standing erect, with arm
raised, he administered the oath to
himself as follows: "By the heaven
above; by the earth that will receive
me; by the great spirit that looks down
upon me, | dare not tell anything but
the truth. This was said with much
force, and with appropriate gestures.
The oath, like all Indian testimony.
was translated into Spanish by Ouray
and then into English by interpreter
Townsend. AT first he was very pale
and somewhat nervous, but towards the
close Of his testimony lie had regained
his wonted composure. He saw moth
ing, heard nothing and took no part in
the killing of Meeker and the employees.
and the fight with Thornburg. He
found old Mrs. Meeker running around
loose and took her to his house and
took care of her. His time was so
much occupied with the care of his
wounded boy that he did not know
what was going wrong. At the time
the killing of the employees commenced
he was in the warehouse, and does not
know who began the attack. He says
his feelings overcame him, and it made
him cry to think into what condi-
ton his friends had fallen. Meeker
told him that in two days the soldiers
would come. Douglas replied that it
would be better to have officers come
to the agency and have a council and
try to settle the existing difficulties, as
the Indians were afraid of the soldiers.
Meeker promised to go with Douglas in
the morning and meet the officers, but
while they were talking, the fight with
Thornburg was going on, though nei-
ther Douglass nor Meeker knew it at
the time.
Ouray has made all necessary prepar-
ations for the protection of the COM
mission, and il the White river Utes
should make any attempt toward an
outbreak, fifty picked men, who are
now encamped within rife-shot of the
commission, and would be ON hand in
stantly.
Secretary Schurz and Gen. Sherman
are to be congratulated on their selec-
tion of the members of the commission.
Three more competent men could not
be found to perform the important du-
ties assigned them.
Later: johnson has been on the
stand all the forenoon, but knows even
less than Douglas. To the question,
do you know whether there has been
any fght at White river?' He ans
wered, No." none of his relatives
were in the. fight, so far rs he knew,
and he could not give the name of a
single Indian engaged in the Meeker
and Thornburg affairs.
Washington, Nov. 15.-The follow
ing was received to-day:
Los'Pinos, Col, Nov. 14.-Hon. Carl
Sehirz The Commission is now organ
lied, and Chiefs Douglass, johnson and
Sawawich are in attendance to give tes-
timony. All going on smoothly.
(Signed. G. ADAMS, Spell Agt.
Denver, Nov. 15.--Douglass was on
the witness stand at Los Pinos, at the
investigation of the Ute troubles yes
terday. He repeated the story of the
Indians objecting to the plowing, and
said that on the morning of the mas
sacre Meeker had promised to take him
to see the soldiers, but as for him he
went to the store rooms awhile; then
to his surprise he heard the shots of the
advancing party, then went to the
house, and, as he remarked, 1t made
me cry to think in what state my
friends had fallen )" he did not see any
one shoot; he afterwards saw Mrs.
-N~NNASA WohASAAhB oAOhiio uhNaAC0 AOi,
and he took charge of her in spirit Of
charity. johnson swore that he did
not know that there had been mas
sacre. tits gradually becoming known
at the agency that it was determined
duri ng the council with the hostile
Utes on the ground that they deter
mined to kill Adams, but afterward de-
cided to take the course pursued. This
portion of the proceedings was not
translated to him, and he is now only
finding it out through Ouray and other
indians The Indians give their testi-
mony In the Ute language, which is
translated into Spanish, and then into
the English. Tie questions reverse
this order
Dangers or the Deep.
San Francisco, CAL, Nov. 15-The
Barkpntina Tam D,Shaptat- from Go.