Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-10-16
The Ute War.

The sickening deisils OF the massacre Of
those living al the White River Agency BY
the Ute Indians have been received and
another chapter OF horrors Is added To The
history OF oar system OF dealing with the
Indians on our Western borders. As long
ago as sept. 10. n. c. Meeker. the Agent
81 tina, Post. wrote for troops TO De sent
there. As the lives vi those st the Agency
were 10 danger. Amer three weeks delay Q
few soldiers reached there bp, these were
easily overcome by the savages aud oil al
the Agency murdered, or. what Is . far
worse fate for the women and children.
taken captive TO be held ~ hostages. Hav-
Ing stripped the Agency. the Indians pre-
pared an ambush for the reception OF other
troops which were certain TO be sen, as
soon as the news OF the trouble a. the
Agency were known. This ambush came
near resulting 10 = second Caster massacre
and wss only avoided by the extraordinary
precautions OF MAJ. Thornburg. Dmand-
Ing another small detachment, who, soon
after discovering Ii and while try ing TO In
trench his force WAS shot down together
with several other Officers and men. Gen.
Merritt. following Maj. Thornburg with
. still larger force, has succeeded At last
In fighting his way through to the Agency
where the following horrible scene WAS
presented:
On entering the agency Q scene Of quiet
AASn -
inxs except one were burned to the ground
and not living thing VA 10 sight. The
Indians had taken every thing except the
Hour and dccamped. The women and
children were missing and nothing what
ever could be ioU0d to indicate what be-
came OF them They either have been
murdered and buried or else taken avay
IS hostages. and their dreadful and un-
Dentionable fate calls forth the most pro-
found sympathy. The dead body Of Fsther
4eeker was found about one hundred
yards from his house. lying on the bach
shot through the head. the left aide of bis
head mashed 10 ~iih . blunt instrument, 4
piece Of barrel slave driven into bis
mouth aud oue OF his hands and arms badly
burned.
The body Of w. II. Post. Meeker's as
sistanf, was found between the building
e''e ''Ses Ouuct sutOuku tue leu ear ana
one Under the ear. He and Meeker were
stripped entirely naked. Another employe
named Eaton Was found dead. He was
stripped naked and had bundle of paper
bags Ia his arms. His face Va. badly
eaten oy wolves, there Was bullet hole In
his left breast Frank Dresser. brother OF
the one found In the coal mine. vas badly
burned. He had been killed Instantly a
the bullet Was through bis hear. The
bodies Of Eaton. ThOmpson. Price, Esk.
ridge and oil the other employees not
named were also fosud. Eskrid2e Vas
fo0nd two miles this side Of the agency
naked. With . bullet hole throuah the
head. 10 the position occupied By The To-
diane, during Thornburgh's bsttle, 10 the
breast work made Of stone was foend the
dead body Of IN unknown white man
dreesed In buekskin. He was nn his knees
and he'd bis gen In . position TO Ore.
He vas shot through the forehead From
this u appears the lndians were no, alone
IN their heilish work. The sepposleios ID
that the Indians have gone soeth TO Join
the southern Utss and the Impression
spoux the o@csss Of Nssyits's co9msnd 10