The Osceola times., 1879-11-22

all broke into laughter. Next day Pur.
sue went to fight the soldiers, and placed
me in charge of his wife with her three
children. The same day mother came
up TO see me in company with little In
dian girl. Wednesday, next day, John.
son went over 10 Jacks camp, and
brought back Mrs. Price and her baby To
live in his camp. lie said he had made
| it all right with the other Utes. We did
not do anything but be around the vari-
ous camps and listen TO the talk OF
the squaws, whose husbands were fight
/ ing the soldiers.
Sunday night Jack came and made a
I big speech, also johnson. They said
more troops were coming, and recited
what orders had been brought
from Chief Ouray. They were IN great
commotion and did not know what To
do. They talked all night and next
morning struck their tents and put
them up again. Part were for going
away, part were for staying. We had n
| long ride. The cavalcade was fully two
miles long. The wind blew hurricane,
and the dust was SO thick we could not
see ten feet back. Most Of the Indians
had no breakfast, and we travelled all
DAY without dinner or water. Mother
had neither saddle nor stirrups, but
merely few thicknesses of can
vas strapped on the horses back, while
young chiefs pranced round ON good
saddles. She did not reach Grand river
until after dark, and the ride for an JIM
valid and aged woman was long and
distressing.
After marching south some days, the
Indians said they would stay at their
camp. and if the soldiers advanced,
would get them in canyon and kill
them all. The Utcs were now close to
the Uncompahgre district, and could
not retreat much farther. Eight miles
more travel, in two other days, brought
us TO the camping-ground where Gen.
Adams found us This was near Plateau
Creek, but high up and not far from the
snowy range. Monday night an I'm
compahgre Ute came in and said that
next day Gen. Adams, whom they called
Washington, was coming after the cap
tives. Next day about ii o'clock, while
sewing in Pursune's tent, his boy came
in, picked up the Buffalo robe and want
ed me to 90 to bed. Told him | was not
sleepy. Then squaw came and hung
q blanket before the door and spread
out both hands to keep the blanket
down so could not push it away, but
! looked over the top and saw Gen. Ad-
ans and party outside on horses. The
squaws movements attracted their atten-
ton, and they came up close. pushed
the squaw aside and walked out. They
asked my name and dismounted; said
they had come to take us back If we
cared 20 go. showed them the tent
where mother and Mrs. Price were
stopping
Next morning we left for Uncompah-
gre in charge of Capt. Cline and Mr..
Sherman. To the gentlemen we were
indebted for a safe and rapid journey to
Ouray's house ON the Uncompahgre riv-
er, near Los Pinos. We rode on ponies
forty miles the first three days, and
reached Capt Cline's wagon on small
tributary of the Grand. Here We took a
blackboard wagon, and travelled the next
day to Gunnison river, and the next and
last day of fear we travelled forty-five
miles, and reached the house OF the
good Chief Ouray about sundown. Here
Inspector Pollock and my brother
Ralph met me, and was happy enough,
We found carpets on the floor and cur
tains on the windows, lamps on the ta-
bles, and stoves with fires. We were
given the whole house, and after supper
went to bed and slept without much
fear, though mother was still haunted
by the terrors she had passed through.
Next morning we brcakiastcd with Mrs.
Ouray, who shed tears over us MS she
badc us good-by. Then We look mail
wagons and stages for home.
In closing this letter l want to thank
Chief Ouray. his wife and Gen. Adams.
To them We owe our escape.
JosEPHINE MEEKER.