Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-24
The Ute Troubles.
GOV. p1TK1s TO SECRETARY scHuRz


Secretary SchuH has received a telegram from
Gov. Frederick w. Pitktn, of Colorado, as fol-
lows:
Information from Southwestern Colorado
satisfies me that most OF Ouray'S warriors were
in the ThOrnburgh fight To surrender the
criminals Ouray must surrender his tribe, which
he Is powerless to do. They adhere to him for
protection only, and will not submit to punish
ment. Neither will they surrender the White
River Utes, who are bound to them by the closest
ties and are no more guilty than themselves.
They whipped Thornburgh'S command, and now
Merritt retires. 1t cannot be disguised that the
fighting men OF the tribe are hostile and flushed
with victory. They are SavageS they take no
prisoners except women; their trophies are not
banners, but ScalpS. If the policy of military
inactivity continues our frontier settlements are
liable to become scenes OF maSSacreS. Unless
the troops move against the Indians the Indians
will move against the settlers. Must 300 miles
of border settlements be subjected to this peril?
The general go, ernment is doing nothing to de-
fend our settlements. The state cannot defend
all this border except by attacking the enemy.
In behalf of our people l represent this danger
to you, and urge that the government recognize
that war with barbarianS now exists which
involves the lives of numerous exposed mining
settlements. 1t can be terminated only by the
most vigorous and uninterrupted warfare"
SECRETARY sCHURz TO GOV. PITKIN.
To this message the Secretary has telegraphed
l entrusted with the important duty of special
agent to the Utes General Charles Adams, a citi-
zen of Colorado, who a month ago was repre-
cellent character, uncommon ability and energy,
intimately acquainted with the UteS, and emf
nently qualified to deal with them In an emer-
gency. He is with them now, and his last report
was that none of the southern and only a part
of the White river Utes have been engaged in
the troubles, and all rumors of depredatiOnS Off
the reservation are untrue, except the driving
Of OF horses from Bear river, and this before
OurayS order to cease fighting was received.
Gen. Adams reports this after having traversed
southwestern Colorado, the source Of your in
tntn
and children. who, have assurances, are safe:
Will be delivered. Troops should not proceed
south from White river, as / believe that
your conditions to secure peace will be COM
piled with. This report of responsible
man, who has your confidence as well as
mine and who speaks from personal ObServa-
uOn, is certainly entitled to credit The liberia
tion of the captive women and children is the
first thing to be accomplished. Gen. Adams eX-
poets to bring them In, if not interfered with, in
few days. He will then also report on the sur
render OF the guilty Indians. Meanwhile mill
tary preparations are not relaxed, so that fail
ure OF the efforts mentioned may be followed by
energetic action. We are endeavoring to pre-
vent general war with the whole Ute tribe
which will be better way to protect your bor-
der settlements than by a general attack upon
the Indians by armed citizens, as your dispatch
seems to suggest. 1t is. therefore, earnestly
hoped that every effort will be made to prevent
an unnecessary extension of the trouble which
may be precipitated by inconSiderate action"