The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-10-09
THE UTE MASSACRE.
Particulars of the Outrage-The Cause OF
the Outbreak.


Particulars OF the Outrage-The Cause OF
the Outbreak.
RAwLINs, WYOMING, Oct. 2, 1879.
The following particulars regarding
the massacre of Major Thornburgh, scout
Lowry and thirteen privates by the Ute
Indians are obtained from the courier
who brought the dispatches from Captain
Payne after the fight:
Mai. Thornburgh's expedition against
the hostile Ute Indians, when within
seventy miles of the agency, halted for
the night (of the 29th), and the Major sent
Grafton Lowry, one of his scouts, to the
agency to communicate with Agent
Meeker, and to see how matters stood.
He found tho utmost confusion and eN-
element prevailing. They were about
to murder Mr.. Meeker, but Mr.. Lowry
prevailed upon them not to commit the
decd. Mr.. Meeker told Mr.. Lowry that
he attempted to leave the agency with his
family, but was prevented by tho H.
dians. They then mado another move to
kill Mr.. Meeker and fire the buildings,
but were induced q second time to desist.
Lowry now attempted to return to the
command, but was informed that he
must remain; but after giving the In
dians a number of assurances of his
peaceable mission, he was allowed to de-
part. but was accompanied by about
thirty warriors, who rode with him sew
eral miles, and then left him. Lowry
arrived at the command near Milk Creek
on the evening of the 2Sth, and gave
Major Thornburgh the above informa-
tion.
The next morning (September 20) the
command advanced, Under the guidance
of Joe Rankin, who is we'll acquainted
with the country. About o'clock in the
morning Rankin discovered fresh Indian
signs, and having arrived at a canon
through which the road passed, and
which would afford an excellent oppor-
tunity for an ambush, he led the COM
mand around over the hill, over an old
trail well known to him. BY this move
meat he saved the lives of the command,
for, on arriving at the top of the, hill, he
either side of the canon through which
the road passed. Major Thornburgh
formed his men in line and awaited the
coming attack. He was repeatedly
urged to fire on the Indians, but persist
emily refused to do so, saying that his
orders would not justify an attack. Two
Indians now rode up to within hum
dred yards, dismounted, and with q saw
age yell, fired, shooting Captain Payne
through the arm. At this signal the In
dams gave a war-whoop and the battle
begun. Thornburgh now found that he
was surrounded. He ordered charge,
which he gallantly led in person, and
succeeded in cutting his way out; and
when within about 500 yards of his
wagons he fell dead, with two bullets
through his brain. Captain Payne now
took command, and the battle was car
ried on until p. m. The Indians fell
back a short distance and went into
camp. During the engagement Lowry
was killed. Captain Payne, Captain
Lamson, Surgeon Grimes, Lieutenants
Paddock and Wolfe, and thirty-five men
were wounded. Major Thornburgh's
body was not recovered when Rankin
left with dispatches.
Settlers from Snake and Bear Rivers
Ire flocking here for safety, and much
excitement prevails.
THE CAUSE OF THE OUTBREAK.
Upon inquiry at the Indian Bureau, as
to the probable cause of the recent Indian
fight at Milk Creek, the following facts
were learned:
N. C.. Meeker, agent for the Ute Indians
at White River, wrote few days ago a
letter to friends III Greeley, Col, explain
ing the direct cause which led to the out
break on the part Of the Indians. Mr..
Meeker has endeavored to the ut
most to urge the Indians to engage
in the cultivation of the soil. He says
that tho agency employees had plowed
one field and started work upon another.
This was of about 200 acres, not fenced
and only one half was to be plowed.
The remainder was to be irrigated for q
bay meadow. They had irrigated bed
100 feet wide and half mile long. Sew
eral Indians objected, one called Jane in
particular, who had built a corral on the
ground. Although he had been told the
ground would be plowed, Jane held that
it was Ute ground and no agent should
dictate to them. The Utes did not want
any more land plowed That piece Of
land was theirs, and they would not
have it plowed.
Tho agent, however, ordered the plow
to run, but before single round had
been turned there came two Indians with
guns and forbade the plowing. The
agent told the breaker to go ahead, but
he soon came back, saying he had been
shot at from brush, where two Indians
were seen lying. The plowing was Or
dered stopped, and Douglass, chief, was
sent for, but he would do nothing. Jack,
another chief, was sent for up country,
and he came and big talk was had. 1t
was decided that the plowing might go
on and it would be settled. But it was
not settled. Next day the plowing was
resumed, but the plowman was at once
threatened by two Indians, and was COM
PEELED to give up the job. The bad feel
ing developed by this attempt OF the
agent to cultivate this patch of ground
soon became more general, and it was
not long after that the attacks were made
upon the agency, and the depredations
committed elsewhere, which resulted in
the calling for assistance.