The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-10-30
A TALE OF WOE.
FURTHER FROM THE cAprrvEs.
A Detailed Account OF, the Expert
enee OF the Meekers and Mrs-
Price with Their
Captors-

Mrs. Meeker, she said: 81 hardly knew
what to expect. At times the Indians
almost ignored us and went forward
with their councils without regarding
our presence at all. Again they jeered
and raunted and threatened us. There
was but one who really seemed deter
mined to protect US. This was Susan,
Johnson's wife, who has shown herself,
from the beginning to the end of these
troubles, a woman of fine feeling and
genuinely humane and kind in her di-
position toward her fellow creatures. I
can never forget or repay her kindness
to myself and daughter, to our entire
party. She is good woman.
Yes, as to the threats.'' said she,
being requested to speak ON that point.
I'VE hardly expected at times to ever
again see the faces of our friends in q
civilized land. Yet we never lost hope
though at times were very respondent
indeed. We hoped and yet we feared
at all times, sometimes one feeling in
the ascendant and sometimes the other.
We believed that we would be held as
hostages, and saw in this prospect the
hope Of being surrendered to pro-
cure terms for the Indians when il
should come to the settlement of the
terms of peace. And too, we believed
that our friends would do all in their
power to rescue us as soon as possible.
But we feared that the very effort 10
save us might be the means of hasten
ing our deaths. We heard of the ar
proach of troops, and we were very
fearful lest they might push forward in
their zeal to avenge the murders com.
mitthed by the Indians, and place the
Indians in such close quarters that
they would be compelled to rid them
selves of us as burden. They would
have killed us before leaving us to be
rescued by the soldiers. And then we
never knew but that some conflict with
the soldiers might cause the death of
several Indians, in which case we were
fearful that we would fall victims to
the Indian love of retaliation. We
we're always fearful lest some over
savage ones of the tribe would kill us
ont Of mere desire for blood, and for
the sport of the thing. In fact, we felt
that our lives were subject to the merest
wliims of the savdges. The treatment
which my daughter underwent at
the hands of the Chief Douglas is an
illustration Of what mean. We owe
everything to Susan-at least, more
than to all Others"
This is the tenor of Mrs. Meeker's
language, but do not profess to give
her exact words. The entire story of
the party is of interest.
The council which succeeded General
Adams arrival lasted five hours, and
was marked by great vehemence on the
part of the Indian orators who took
part. There were two parties, Il peace
and war faction. and for while war
seemed destined to win the day in the
pow-wow.
Susan, the squaw who is referred to
above, took "a leading part in the con-
troversy, and she raised her voice for
peace, and she did good work. Susan,
besides being Johnson's wife, is sister
to the great Chief Ouray, whose coun-
Gil is still most weighty among the In
dians, and as she was supposed to rep
resent her brother in a measure, her
words were listened to with respect,
and were allowed to have their full
weight. Notwithstanding her entreat-
les and Gen. Adams presentations of
the case, it at one time seemed as if the
Indians would absolutely refuse to sur
render their captives. They were de-
termined to keep them and make the
most of them.
Susan was followed by her husband,
johnson, who also made a speech ad-
vocating the release of the prisoners
He. in fact, made strong appeal in
the interest of the women, setting forth
their great grief, and also the advantage
to the Indians in this release, which
might secure special consideration for
them when it should come to arranging
treaty. He quoted, and dwelt with
emphasis upon Ouray's advice to the
northern Utes.
It was novel sight, as may well be
imagined, to see squaw addressing the
h ardy warriors. Susan has taken first
rank as leader among them. The in
stance was the first on record of a
squaw's entering an important council
and taking prominent part in it. As
is well known, the Utes make slaves Of
their women, and so far as councils are
concerned, impose the same silence up
on them that st. Paul did. 1t Is sup
posed that in this case Jane was lis
tened to because she was supposed to
represent Ouray, and to Ouray the In
dians now look tosave them in procur-
ing a peace. At any rate, she obtained
hearing, and she pleaded well. john
son. her husband, an influential chief,
is supposed to have been brought over
by her to the advocacy of peace policy,
for, as will be remembered, he was, pri-
or to the massacre, one of the most
rabid and vicious of the savages, op-
posing Father Meeker's plans in every
possible way, and even going so far as
to beat the Agent, as has become gen
orally known. He, in fact, hastened
the outbreak and has been regarded as
in large measure responsible for it