Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-20
The Hostile Utes.

IF PEACE OyERTURES FAIL, THEN WAR.
A telegram received to-day at the War depart
ment from Gen. Sheridan, announces that he
has directed Gen. Merritt to remain at the White
River agency, and that he will forward large
quantity Of supplies to him. Gen. Merritt will
send back his disabled men and enter into per-
manent quarters The statement made that he
is to withdraw his forces is incorrect He is not,
though, to- enter upon or either continue
the campaign against the Indians. This
determination was reached at conference
Sherman a few days ago Secretary
schurz has information which leads him to the
conviction that through Chief Ouray his depart
women Of the White River agency, who are now
held as hostages; also, the delivery Of the muir
derers of Agent Meeker and his employees, and
most of those Indians who took part in the at
tack On Major Thornburg. The general Of the
army has no Jurisdiction over the Indians except
when called upon by the Interior department..
Secretary SchurZ desiring that negotiations for
the purpose stated should be commenced through
Ouray, General Sherman naturally consented,
and orders were sent to General Merritt
the Utes. Secretary SchurZ has sent Mr.. Adams
en- his peace mission. If it fails it is agreed that
the army shall then enter upon vigorous cam
patgn. 1t is believed by the officers Of the army
that the Indians who have been on the war-path
have fed to the south, towards the reservation
occupied by the Navajo Indians 1t is intended
to head them off. To do this an expedition will
start from the south under Col. Mackenzie, of
the 4th cavalry, who will also have command Of
portion of Col. Hatchs regiment, the 9th cav
airy. Col. Mackenzie will leave from the neigh
borhOod of Alamosa and Fort Garland, and
Col. Hatchs men from the neighborhood
of Fort Lewis and Pagosa Springs If the ex-
pedition encounters the Indians, and they move
north, General Merritt can meet them. There
are great advantages in operating from the
south the principal of which is the better facli-
ty in that direction for railroad transportation
for men and supplies.
SURVIVOR OF THE WHITE RIVER MASSACRE.
E. L. Mansfield telegraphs to the Commits
sioner of Indian Affairs from Rawlins, yeSter-
day, that he was in the employ of the late In
dian Agent Meeker from Aug. 1878; that he eS-
capped the fate of the rest Of the employees by
being sent with dispatch to Captain Dodge, on
the 26th ult., and that he awaits at RawlinS any
instructions which the Commissioner may desire
to give No reply has yet been made to Mans
field, but the department will take care OF him.
SECRETARY sCHuRz SAYS,
with reference to the criticisms upon his depart
ment for alleged neglect OF Agent Meeker's tele-
graphic appeal for relief, that this appeal al
10th, did not reach Rawlins until Saturday, Sep
tember 13th and Washington at p. m. on that
day, and that it was communicated by the Com
missioner of Indian Affairs to the War depart
ment Monday morning, September 18th; where
upon orders were Immediately issued for the
movement of troops to the White River Agency.
COLORADO SAYS THE INDIANS MUST CO.
The Commissioner OF Indian Affairs has re-
ceived the following dispatch from inspector w.
j. Pollock at Denver, Col: 1.-The governor and
leading citizens here unanimously affirm that
the Indians must be removed from the state or
exterminated by the state, If not by federal
force Confidence, they say, can never be re-
stored and it is only question whether the
result shall be attained at once or by slow and
tedious warfare"