Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1879-11-08
HAPPY DELIYERANCE.
The Women and Children from the White
River Agency-How they Were Treated
by Their CaptOrs.

lowing special has been received by the Den
yer Tribune from Los PinOs Agency, Oct.
%, via Del Norte, Colo, %:
We this morning have had the best possi-
bic evidence of the success of Gen. Adams in
his mission of procuring the release of the
captive women and children who have been
in the hands of the hostile Indians since the
massacre of all the males at the White River
Agency on the 2Sth of September, on the ar
rival in person Of the recent captives, who
were Mrs. Meeker, Miss Josephine Meeker,
Mrs. Price, and two children of Mrs. Price.
They came into the Agency quite early this
morning, and were, OF course, received by
the few white people here, representatives of
the people of the entire country, with feel
mgs of mingled joy and gratitude, and sigh
Of relief ut being released from the terrible
bondage which had ensaved them, and which
threatened them with the most terrible of all
fates-even death. Among others who were
here to meet and welcome the cap
tives was Ralph Meeker, the only
living son of Agent Meeker, who, as
will be remembered, accompanied Maj.
Pollock on his journey to this place with the
intention of penetrating the reservation with
the Major, had not Gen. Adams taken his
departure before Maj. Pollock, Mr.. Meekcr
and your correspondent arrived. Will not
attempt to describe a meeting which was so
full of gladness, and, at the same time, by
necessity, of Sadness meeting full of joy
on the part of the son and brother, of graf
itude and thanksgiving on the part OF the
mother and sister, and yet full of sorrow in
the recollection of all of the fate of the hus-
band and father. don't think Mrs. Meeker
or her daughter knew of the good fortune
which awaited them here, of meeting Ralph,
till they reached Ouray's house last night,
where they were told of his presence, which,
of course, only increased their impatience
to push on to the Agency. The ladies look
careworn and fatigued, rs they naturally
would after the experience through which
they have passed during the last twenty-five
days, twenty y-two of which they were cap
tives among savage Indians, in wild coun-
try, and apparently cut off from sue
cor The ladies express themselves as
most thankful for their early deliverance,
which was almost more than they dared to
hope for.
SAID MRS. MEEKER,
i'm speaking to your correspondent: :"
hardly knew what to expect. At times the In
dians almost ignored us, and went forward
with their councils without regardd, and
presence at all; again they jeerc times
taunted, and threatened us; at other
they were comparatively pleasant. There
was but one who seemed determined to pro-
tect us. This was Susan, Johnson's wlfe,
who has shown herself, from the beginning to
the end of the troubles, n woman of fine feel
ing, and genuinely humane and kind in her
disposition to her fellow-creatures. L can
never forget her or repay her kindness TO
myself and daughter, and our entire family.
She is good woman. Yes, as to the threats" /"
said she, being requested to proceed, 1--WE
hardly expected again to see the faces of our
friends in a civilized land; yet we never lost
hope, vet at times were very despondent in
deed. We hoped, and yet we feared, ut all
times. Sometimes one feeling was in the
ascendant, and sometimes the other. We
believed we would be held as hostages, and
saw in this hope the prospect of being
surrendered TO procure terms for the
Indians when ii should come to the
settlement of terms of peace; and, too, we
believed our friends would do all in their
power to rescue us as soon as possible. But
we feared that the very effort to save us
must be the means of Fastening our death.
We heard of the approach of troops, and we
were fearful that they might push forward
in their zeal to avenge the murders commit
ted by the Indians, and place the Indians in
such close quarters that they would be COM
PEELED to rid themselves of us rs a burden.
They would have killed us before leaving us
to be rescued by the soldiers. Then, we
never knew but that some conflict with the
soldiers might cause the death of several In
dians, in which case we were fearful we
would fall victims to the Indians love of re-
taliation. We were always fearful lest some
savage ones of the tribe would kill us out of
the mere desire for blood, or the mere sport
of the thing. In fact, we thought our lives
were subject to the merest whim of the saw
ages. The treatment which my daughter
underwent Mt the hands of Chief Douglass il
an illustration of what | mean. We owe
every thing to Susan, at least more than to
all Others"
guage, but L do not profess to give her exact
words.
THE ENTIRE STORY OF THE CAPTIVITY
is Of interest. They were brought to Ouray's
house by Capt. Klein, who resides near the
A and Sta or Nai
Sherman and Mr.. Saunders, who are con-
nected with the Agency, and who accom-
panied Gen. Adams on his mission. When
Gen. Adams approached, which was noted
by the Indians, they rushed the captives into
a secure place in the brush, where he could
not see or hear them. They were securely
guarded while the conference which was held
was in progress. Their camp was on tribu-
tary of the Grand River. OF course the ar
rival of Gen. Adams was hailed with Joy, but
five long hours passed before they knew
whether he brought them deliverance or he
would be compelled to go away and leavet them
with their horrid captors. The council which
succeeded Gen. Adams's arrival lasted five
hours, and was marked by great vehemence
on the part of the Indian orators who took
part. There were two parties-a peace and
a war faction-and for a while, war seemed
bound to win the day. In the powwow
Susan, the squaw, who is referred to above,
took leading part in the controversy, and
she raised her voice for peace, and she did
good work. Susan, besides being Johnson's
wife, is sister OF the great chief, Ouray,
whose counsel is still more weighty among
the Indians. She was supposed to represent
her brother in measure. Her words were
listened to with respect, and were allowed to
have their full weight. Notwithstanding
her entreaties and Gen. Adams's presenta-
tion of the case, it at one time seemed rs if
the Indians would refuse absolutely to sur
render their captives. They were deter
mined to keep and make the most of them.
Susan was followed by her husband, John
son, who also made a speech advocating the
release of the captives-in fact, made II
strong appeal in favor of the women, setting
forth their great grief and the advantage to
the Indians in this release, which might Sc
cure special consideration for them when il
should come to arranging treaty. He
quoted and dwelt with emphasis on Ouray's
advice TO the Northern Utes. 1t was a novel
attempt, may well be imagined, to see a
squaw addressing the hardy warriors.
Susan has taken first rank as leader among
them. The instance was the first one on
record of Il squaw joining an important
council and taking prominent part in it.
As is well known, the Utes make slaves of
the women, and, so far rs their councils are
concerned, impose the same silence on them
that st. Paul did. 1t is supposed that in this
case Susan was listened to because she was
supposed to represent Ouray, and to Ouray
the Indians now look to save them in pro-
curing peace. AT any rate, she obtained a
hearing, and she pleaded well. johnson,
her husband, an influential Chief, is sup
posed to have been brought over by her to
the advocating of peace policy. Notwith-
standing their eloquent appeals, however, il
is probable that the ladies would not be re-
leased had not Gen. Adams risen from his
seat and told the Indians that they must give
an affirmative or he would give immediate
orders to the soldiers to pursue their own
course towards the Indians. They then
promised to release the prisoners uncondi-
tiOnally, with the hope that the Cen
eral would use his best efforts to pre-
vent the invasion of the soldiers for the
present.
On the morning of the 22d inst, Gen.
Adams started north to meet the soldiers,
and, at the same time, the captives were per-
mitted to leave for the south. The Indians
seemed 10th TO have them depart until AS
surance had been given that Adams would