The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-18
THE UTE COMMISSION.
HosTILEs LYING oUrRAGEoUsLY IN THEIR
SWORN TEsTIMoNy-BAD OUTLOOK FOR
PEAcEABLE SOLUTION OF AFYAIRs-oURAY's
ASSURANCE

ASSURANCE.
Los PINos Nov. Is.
Via LAKE CITY. Nov. II. 1881
The afternoon session yesterday of the Ute Com-
mission was occupied in taking the testimony OF
Sowawich. who proved himself either the greatest
ignoramus or the greatest liar of any Indian VINO
has yet appeared before the commission. He knew
absolutely nothing about the massacre or fght and
even denied the fact that General Adams had slept
in his tent while at White River There Is
evidently an agreed plan on the part OF the
Indians to furnish no information o. any
kind and by this means thwart the
wishes Of Ouray and the object Of the commission.
At the present writing tho outlook Is not favorable
for peaceful solution Of affairs and unless there Ia
decided change the part of the Indians and will
ingness to testify the facts they have occurred
the commission will be compelled to close its labors
and turn the whole subject over to tho War Depart
the ascendancy. and they evidently controlling
the action of the Unconpahsre Utes.
PROTECTING THE COMMISSION.
Nightly pickets Of Indians under the orders of
Ouray are guarding the mountain trails leading to
the agency Lieutenant valois. the Recorder. says
1t il mooted question in his mind whether this Is
for the purpose OF keeping the commission in or
the hosties ont. The time of the commission will
be occupied in Interpreting to Oursy the sworn
statement OF the captured women.
LATEST. 12M.--Owing to the indisposition of Ouray
Ouray has informed General Adams that he will ac-
complish the purpose for which the commission
convened
1t he dies in the attempt.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE PRocEEDINas--
sowERwICKs BAREFACED LIEs-oURAY's IN
FLuENcE TREMBLING IN THE BALANCE
GENERAL ADAMS SPEECH AND THE HEAD
CHIEFS REPLY.
DENVER Col, Nov. II. 1879.
despatch from Los Pinos, dated the 18th inst.
says:-"rhe outlook for either amicable adjust
ment Of affairs with the Indians or for proving the
guilt of the parties implicated in the White River
difficulties is extremely discouraging. and unless
there IL change of front the part
Of the Indians q speedy termination of the
Commissions labors may be looked for. far
their dealings with the Utes direct is concerned
Ourays power to-day is trembling in the balance.
and within the next few days we shall prob
ably witness the Anal act of success on
his part in establishing his absolute su-
thority over the tribe his virtual dethrone-
ment and the ascendancy of the war faction. 1t IL
pretty we'll established that In all the councils
held by the Indians since the trouble White River
Ouray has only succeeded in exacting from the hos
tiles the promise to appear before the COM
mission and that r as to giving testimony
decide for themselves. sowerwick. who treated
Adams SO well during his presence in the hostile
former occasion. testified al length. but
LEO from beginning to end. General
that Sowerwick accompanied them from the point
where they secured the captives the camp OF the
soldiers aud that the fret night on Grand River
they held council at Sowerwicks tent ut winch he
spoke. Tho council lasted from eleven o'clock p. NJ
until six o'clock in the morning He replied to
General Hstchs inteTrogatories, saying that he did
not know whether not there had been q fight
with the soldiers whether massacre had taken
paceht the agency or whether any soldiers or Ind
iRns had been killed.
General Adams then put the question. "Was ever
in your house on tho Grand River?" Sowerwlck
answered mol" and was then discharged.
sPERCH GENERAL ADAMs
General Adams then made the following speech to
Ouray :-"The last answer was not true. did
sleep In Sowerwicks tent, and there held
council from eleven O'Clock until six O'Clock In the
morning. Sowerwick was present, aud. with the
others, fully cognizant of what was being
done and to-day he comes here and says he does not
know anything For that reason / believe he has
not spoken the truth. does no wish to speak tho
| truth also believe that none Of them wish
| to speak the truth. ana therefore IL n
almost unnecessary to go any further. They have
refused to mention the name of a single Indian,
while they well know the names OF all of them;
and now present the situation to you
30 that you can recommend some other course
whereby We may execute the orders Of the govern
mont. The government wants to ascertain who
were engaged in the dific uties at White River. We
want the names of the guilty parties. and you think
we cannot ind out who they were we had better 20
home"
oURAY's REPLY
they do not wish. brought them here
that they might speak for themselves" He
afterward added, 'Show me any act of
law by which man IL compelled
that he afraid Of assassination. At the last &C.
counts tho chief was very i'll.
Rose Meeker lcctured here tonight on tho Indian
question. She goes East soon.