The Newtown bee., 1879-11-12
The Utes Give Up Their Captiyes.

A dispatch from Los Pinos agency, Col, to
the New York Herald notes the arrival at
Chief Ouray's house OF Mrs. and Miss Meeker
and Mrs. Price and her two children, a little
girl OF four and q nursing babe. This party
comprised all that was LETT OF the whites at
the White River agency, all the men having
been murdered. The captivity OF twenty two
days through which they have passed has been
a terrible trial, and its scenes and incidents
will never be forgotten. They were delivered
over to General Adams in the camp on
tributary OF the Grand river, after council
lasting five hours. The council was very
heated, and at one time it was thought that
the Indians would refuse General Adams de-
mand. On the approach OF General Adams
the captives were hid in the brush short dis
lance from the camp. During the council
Susan, q sister of Ouray and squaw OF john
son, made q speech, strongly advocating the
release of the prisoners, the first instance OF a
squaw's appearance in an important council.
She was followed by johnson, who quoted
Ouray's orders and advice. 1t was not until
General Adams threatened to leave unless the
prisoners were released Internationally that
the peace party prevailed.
The history of the prisoners during their
captivity forms a most pathetic chapter. AT
ter the killing OF Agent Meeker the women
attempted to escape into the brush from the
burning building. Mrs. Meeker was fired at
and received a flesh wound in the hip four
inches in length. The Indians called to Miss
Meeker and Mrs. Price in the following words:
Indian no shoot; white woman stops-In-
dian no hurt" After being secured they
were mounted on ponies. Miss Meeker with
Mrs. Prices oldest child tied behind her.
Mrs. Price with her infant in her arms, and
Mrs. Meeker, who is sixty-tour years OF age
and lame, were compelled to accompany their
eaptors. When they struck camp at midnight
Mrs. Meeker was dism and fell to the
ground, unable to move, and the India us sur
rn7lnIa1 her and added n
situation by jeering and taunting the "old
white squaw." The next morning they were
separated, Douglass taking charge of Mrs
Meeker, Persane OF Miss Meeker, and Mrs.
Price and chi dren being guarded by the I'm
comphagre Ute.
The sulferings OF Mrs. Meeker were indie
scribable during her stay with Chief Douglass,
whose squaw abused her by neglect, and by
pushing, striking and taunting her. On one
occasion Douglass threw down some blankets
and compelled Miss Meeker to dismount, say
ing that they were going into camp Hethen
said that they were going to stab them, AMI
exhibited the knives to be used for the pur
pose. Then he placed a musket to her lore
head and said, {" Indian going to shoot" The
courageous girl never finched, and laughed
at the burly savage. He asked her if she was
afraid, and her ready response, " am not
afraid OF Indians or Of DEATH" elected the ad-
miration of the red fends. they turned their
dersion upon Chief Douglass and he skunk
from their presence.
Soon atterward the captives were placed in
charge of Chief johnson, and through the in
strumentality OF Johnsons squaw their condi-
ton was very much improved and further in
dignities prevented Susan proved to be their
guardian spirit, and ad it not been for her in
| tercession the fate of the women would have
formed one OF the blacklist pages in the his
tory OF Indian deviltry.
Through the fearful ordeal of captivity Mrs.
Price and Miss Meeker almost fought for poor