Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-10-24

WASHINGTON, Oct0Der zo.-SecreldIy
Schurz to-day received the following tel
egram from the Governor OF Colorado:
DENVER, October %.
Hon. Carl Sch,Ts, Secretary Of 1ts Interior,
Washington, ID. e.: J-'e "
Information from southwestern Colo
rado satisfies me that most OF Ouray 8
warriors were in Thornburg's fight. To
surrender the criminals, Ouray must
surrender his tribe, which he is power
less TO do. They adhere TO him for pro-
lection only, and will not submit to pun
ishment. neither will they surrender
the White River Utes, who are bound to
them by the closest ties and are no more
guilty than themselves. They whipped
Tbornburg's command, and now Merritt
retires. 1t cannot be disguised, the
fighting men of the tribe are hos
tile and flushed with victory;
that they are savages; they take no
prisoners except women, their trophies
are not banners but scalps. II the poll
CIV OF military inactivity continues
our frontier settlements are liable to be-
come scenes Of massacres. Unless the
troops move against the Indians the In
dians will move against the settlers.
Nust 800 miles of border settlements be
subjected to this peril? The General
Government is doing nothing to defend
our settlements. The State cannot de-
fend all this border except by attacking
the enemy. In behalf of our people |
represent this danger to you and
ulge that the government recognize that
a war with the barbarians now exists
which involves the lives OF numerous
exposed mining settlements. 1t can be
ended only by the most vigorous and
ISigned!I F. w. PIrKIN.
Governor.
To this message the Secretary tele-
graphed the following reply:
DEPARTMENT OF TIE INTERIOR,
WAsHISGToS, October PSI. !
Cor. Pikia, Denrer:
Your dispatch received. l entrusted
with the important duty OF special agent
10 the Utes General Charles Adams,
citizen of Colorado, who, a month ago,
was represented to me by yourself as
gentleman of excellent character, aud
uncommon ability and energy, inti-
mately acquainted with the Utes and
eminently qualified 10 deal with them in
an emergency. He is with them now,
and his last report was that "none ofthe
Southern and only part OF
the White river Utes have
been engaged in the trouble, and
all rumOrs of depredatiOns of the reser-
vation are untrue, except the driving
off of horses from Bear River, and this
was before Ouray's order to cease fight
ing was received" General Adams re-
ports this after having traversed south
west Colorado, the source OF your lnfOr-
nation. He also states that the captive
women and children, he has assur
ances, are safe and will be delivered.
The troops should not. proceed south
from White River, as / believe your
conditions to secure peace will be COM
piled with. This report OF responsible
man who has your confidence as well as
mine, and who speaks from personal OBJ
servations, is certainly entitled to credit.
The Liberation of the captive women
and children is the first thing to be ac-
complished. General Adams expects to
bring them in, if not interfeTed with, in
a few days. lie will then also report
on the surrender of the guilty Indians.
Meanwhile military preparations are
not relaxed, so that failure of the
efforts mentioned may be followed by
energetic action. We are endeavOring
to prevent a general war with the whole
Ute tribe, which will be a better way to
protect your border settlement that by
a general attack on the Indians by
armed citizens, as your dispatch seems
to suggest. 1t is, therefore, earnestly
hoped that every effort will be made to
prevent an unnecessary extension oil
the trouble which may be precipltated
by inconsiderate action.
TSigned1 c. SCHURZ, Secretary.