The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-04

ceipt of information which assures the safety
OF the entire party.
NO NEWS FROM THE FRoNT-oRIGIN OF THE
OUTBREAK AND THE Observation-Disclosures
BURG4's oRDERs-ACTIoN OF TIE INDIAN
oFFIcE-GENERAL SHERIDAN ON OUR INDIAN
WARS AND THEIR CAUSES GENERAL POPE S
REPORT.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 8. 1870.
Up to midnight there has been nothing received at
the War Interior departments from the Ute coun
try. Tho opinion is that there will be before
Sunday. Fears entertained for the safety of the
company of the inth cavalry. under the
command of Lieutenant Dodge. which had
been engaged in breaking up the Indian
stores and driving the wandering Indians
back to the agency At the Interior Department the
officials busy tonight scheduling all the docu-
ments and letters bearing upon the management of
the Ute Indians. Secretary Schurz will arrive to-
morrow. and 1t is understood he will ut once pre-
pare statement showing that the outbreak was I'M
provoked far the conduct of his de-
partment is concerned. The attempt by the
civil authorities of Colorado to arrest Indians
upon their reservation it is understood. will be as
Utes against the government authority. This, in
connection with the invasion of the reservation by
prospectors and others, the attempt to introduce
agricultural pursuits and the failure Congress to
make the special appropriations for the payment of
lands taken from the Utes, will be assigned prob
able cause for the recent outbreak.
eid 3s AT THE INDIAN OFFICE.
AT the Indian Office much anxiety felt for the
safety of Agent Meeker and the other whites at the
agency, respecting whom nothing has yet been
heard. In abiding to the efforts which have been
made to create the impression that the outbreak
was in degree owing to the failure of the Indian
Office to act upon certain reports which were for
warded by the War Department to this bureau it
was stated that every item OF informaton had been
promptly taken up and the necessary steps taken
prevent as far az possible outbreak. The
first intimation received of any trouble among
the Utes was on July last. when General Ptkin
Of Colorado. telegraphed the acting commissioner
in which he quotes from q letter Of Indian Agent
Meeker. dated July 2. then just received. and
tinues:- , t
He asks me to appeal to the military. and says that
Major Thornburgh. the commander ut Fort Steele.
pays attention to his repeated requests to keep
the Indians where they belong. He says that Chief
Douglas, has sent scouting parties to recall his
bands have no Information whether they have
started home or not. The Utes have burned more
timber in the last few than the white settlers
had cut In twenty years.
Agent Meeker had also advised the Indian Office
that the Indians had left their reservation and were
burning large tracts of timber in the North and Mid
die Parks p l-
~ ACTION OF THE INDIAN OFFICE
On July 9. Commissioner Hoyt autographed Gov
ernor Pitkin that the War Department had been
quested to send troops to bring the Utes back to
their reservation On July Z, telegram sent to
Agent Meeker to take immediate steps to secure the
return of the Indians to their reservation. and
that. under the direction Of the Secretary
Of the Interior he authorized to
call ON the military forces for assistance
if he found such aid necessary. The earliest report
on this question received from the War Department
was on August Is. and it's general tenor more
calculated to produce the impression that the trou
BILE had been overestimated by the Indian Bureau,
rather than to suggest impending dangers of seri-
GUS outbreak. 1t well known by the Bureau
that the Indians had reused the ire Of settlers in
many instances by the destruction Of their
property by tho fires kindled to drive the game
to particular spot and that serious
threats had been made. Tho communication
from the War Department. received August
49, contained number of reports which exonerated
the Indians. and stated that though they had killed
large quantity of game it was not believed that
they had kindled tho forest fires. In the face of
these statements. however. the Commissioner re-
ceived letter from Mr.. ]. d. Thompson. who
sides in the vicinity Of Middle Park stating that the
Utes burning timber and property him
and threatening to burn his property.
APPEAL TO THE STATE AUrHoR1rIEs.
Again, on the 18th Of August. Thompson com.
planned OF further depredations. and adj
vised the Department that he proposed to
ascertain IL these Indians were not amen
able to the State laws. 1t Is stated that
Thompson advised that the State Courts had no
jurisdiction in the reservations but that effort
would be made to secure the Identification and
rest of Indians. in which event they would DO
turned over to the civil authorities for punish
ment. Instructions to this end were sent to Agent
Meeker. 1t is known that Thompson, with q Sheriff
and posse went to the agency to make the arrests,
but could not find the Indians complained Of. Sub
sequently another communication received
from Thompson, in which he complained of the
view taken Of the damage done to his property by
the Indian Bureau. His letter closed with the fol-
lowing significant language:-
Unless the department takes immediate steps to
punish the Indians who have destroyed my property
and attempted to burn my house Will take such
steps in the matter as Will attract immediate aten-
ton.
1t is believed that the efforts of Thompson and
other settlers to secure the punishment of these
Indians was the prime cause of the outbreak which
the Indian Office and tho War Department had used
their utmost exertions to prevent.
CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING THE MATTER.
In this connection the following correspondence
is furnished by the Interior Department, copies of
which were received by the Acting Secretary Of
the Interior until yesterday
STATE OF CoLoRADo, !
EXECUTIVE DEPARrMENT.i
DENVER, Sept. IT, 1879.
Major General JOHN POPE, Fort Leayenworth, Kan.:-
MY DEAR SRI have the honor to enclose here
with communication from n. q. Mcekcr. Indian
agent tire White River agency, in which he details
the feelings of the Ues at that point, and desires
to confer with you for the purpose of securing
at least one hundred troops for the protection
OF tho agency. / also enclose herewith q
copy of u letter just received by Major j.
b. Thompson, special agent of the General Land
Office, III charge OF the government timber of the
State from J. b. Donaldson. superintendent of tho
International Mining Company at Hans Peak. in
Roua,t county. detailing what he knows in relation
to the forest fires now burning i'll that locality.
received yesterday your despatch advising mo
that u company OF cavalry had been ordered to pro-
ut TO the White River agency. Your letter.