Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-12-09
THE UTE INDIANS.
DEBATING THE QUESTION OF PEACE
OR WAR.
Animated Scenes at the Commissioners
Meetng-The Redskins Draw Their
Knives and Show Fight
But Nobody Hurt

DENVER, Col, December Specials
to the Denver Tribune from Los PinOs,
dated the 9th, represent that on Satur-
day was witnessed some decidedly ami
mated occurrences at the Commission
ers' meeting. After Jack had declined
to inform the Commission what Indi-
ans had been concerned in the White
river massacre the Indians retired to
Ouray's house to debate what course to
pursue. No Indians appeared at the
agency until Saturday, but it seems
they have been engaged at Ouray's in
conducting the widest dances and in
making speeches. A man was sent from
the Agency to Ouray's with feed for the
horses of the Indians, and discovered
fromIthe noise on the inside that the In
dians were greatly excited. What he
saw of them were bedecked in feathers
and war paint, and he was so frightened
that he turned back and did not deliver
the hay.
On Saturday at II O'Clock, the Utes
came into the Agency and took seats
inside the building, Jack, Colorow and
twelve other White River Utes, and
of course, Ouray, being among the num-
Der present. When the Indians and
and Commissioners had taken seats,
General Hatch addressed the Indians,
setting forth the full demands of the
Commission, its right to make the de-
mand and the patience already eXer-
cised with the Utes. To-day" he said,
ais your last chance, we will wait no
longer; We want your final answer, and
we want no evasions." The list
of the Utes, charged by the Agency
women with taking part in the massacre,
was then read, and the question put by
Mr.. Hatch:
"Will you surrender the men whose
names are on this paper, to be tried, and
if guilty, punished, and if innocent ac-
quitted?'
The question was put twice, and after
consultation an evasive answer was re-
turned both times. When the question
was repeated the third time, Ouray re-
piled without consulting the other Utes:
"How do we know that these Indians
you name were at White River at the
time of the IT assacre, or even il they were
there, we do not know they were con-
cerned init? These women mentioned
the names which came first to their lips,
whether they knew them to be or not.
Wecannot depend on what they say"
That's what we depend on said
Hatch.
Adams then addressed the Indians,
making a speech over an hours dura-
tion, saving, among other things, that
the commissioners did not want to pun
ish Colorow, Jack and others that took
part in the ThOrnburgh fight, but the
cowardly dogs who participated in the
massacre of the unarmed men at the
agency, closing by saying, 1--WE want
those Utes and we will have them"
The Indians held a consultation in a
low tone of voice among themselves,
but none seem inclined 10 reply at all.
When Hatch rose and asked if the
guilty Indians were to be surrendered,
saving he had made his last appeal, no
one moved or spoke for few moments,
When Colorow lighted big pipe, ''The
Pipe of Peace" each Indian present
drew his knife and laid it on his knee,
the question of peace or war being the
one pending. Calorow passed the pipe
10 the next man without smoking, and
it went the round. When the circle
was finished he jumped TO his feet,
Strengthened up to his full height, pulled