The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-11-06
THE MEEKER FAMILY.

Thrilling Story of Their Captivity-How su-
san, the Ute Woman, Effected Their Re-
lease-How the Captives Fared During
Their Life Among the Savages.
A correspondent of the Denver Tribune, in
chronicling the arrival at Los Pinos Agency of
the women and children captured by the Ute
Indians at the White River Agency, gives the
following highly interesting narrative of their
captivity and final release:
The ladies look careworn and fatigued, as
they naturally would after the experience
through which they have passed during the
past twenty-five days, twenty-five of which
they were captves among savage Indians, in
wild country, 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 hope for. Said
Mrs. Meeker, 81 hardly knew what to expect
At times the Indians almost ignored us, and
went forward with their councils without re-
garding our presence at all; again they
ieered,, and tainted, and threaten us;
at other times they were comparatively
3 pleasant. There was but one. who seemed
determined to protect US. This was Susan
johnsons wife, who has shown herself, from
the beginning to the end of the troubles, g
woman of fine feeling, and genuinely humane
and kind in her disposition to her fellow
creatures. I can never forget her or repay her
kindness to myself and daughter, and our en-
tire family. She is good woman. Yes, as to
the threats, said she, being requested to pro-
coed, "we hardly expected to see the faces Of
our friends in civilized land; yet we never
lost nope, yet at times were very Respondent
indeed: We hoped, and yet we feared, at all
times"
est When Gen. Adams approached which
was noticed by the Indians, they rushed the
captlves Into secure place in the brush, where
he could not see or hear them They were Sc
curely guarded while the conference which was
held was in progress. Their camp was on s.
tributary Of the Grand river. Of course the
arrival of Gen. Adams was hailed with ioy, but
five long hours passed before they knew
whether he brought them deliverance or he
would be compelled to go away and leave them
with their horrid captors. The council which
succeeded Gen. Adams 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 while war seemed bound to win the
day. In the pow-wow 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 Johnsons wife, is a sister of the great
chief, Ouray, whose counsel is still more
weighty among the Indians She was supposed
words were listened to with respect, and were
allowed to have their full weight Notwith-
standing her entreaties and Gen. Adams,
presentation of the case, it at one time seemed
as If the Indians would refuse absolutely to
surrender 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 speech advocating the re-
lease of the captives-in fact, made strong
appeal IN favor of the women, setting forth
their great grief and the advantage 10 the In
dams in this release, which might secure
special consideration for them when it should
come to arranging a treaty. He quoted and
dwelt with emphasis on Ouray's advice to the
Northern Utes. TWAS novel attempt, as may
well be imagined, to see squaw addressing
the hardy warriors. Susan has taken first
rank as leader among them. The instance
was the first one on record of a sQuaw Joining
an important council and taking prominent
part init Asis well known. the Utes make slaves
of the women, and, so far as their councils
are concerned, impose the same silence On
them that St. Paul did. It 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 procuring
peace At any rate she obtained hearing.
and she pleaded well. Johnson, her husband,
an influential chief, is supposed to have been
brought by. her to the advocating of peace
as in large measure responsible for it, now
to see him come boldly forward and advo-
cate lenlent measures conVinces one that
resolution is possible even among savages.
Notwithstanding their eloquent appeals, how
ever it is probable that the ladies would not
be released had not Gen. Adams risen from his
seat aud told the Indians that they must give
an affirmative or he would give immediate
orders to the soldiers to pursue their own
course toward the Indians. They then prom
ised to release the prisoners unconditioually
with the hope that the General would use his
best efforts to prevent the invasion of the SOL
diers for the present.
The history of the prisoners during their
captivity forms most pathetic chapter After
the killing of Agent Meeker, the women at
tempted to escape into the brush from the
burning building. Mrs. Meeker was fred at,
with the result of flesh wound in the hip four
inches in length. Miss Meeker and Mrs Price
were called to by Indians: "No shoot white
woman; stop Indian no hurt" They were
mounted; Miss Meeker, with Mrs Prices eldest
child, years old, tied behind her; Mrs. Price,
with her infant in her arms, and Mrs. Meeker,
who is "a years of age, and lame from her
wound. When they struck the camp at mid
night, Mrs. Meeker was dismounted, and fell
to the ground unable to move, and the Indians
surrounded her and added to the misery of the
situation by jeering and tsunting the old
white squaw." The next morning they were
separated, Douglass retaining the charge of
Mrs Meeker, and Persune taking Miss Meeker,
while Mrs. Price and children were in the
charge of an Uncompahgre Ute l"
The sufferings of Mrs. Meeker were indie
scribable during her stay with Douglass, whose
squaw abused her by neglect, pushing, striking
and taunts. On one occasion Douglass threw
down blankets, and compelled Miss Meeker to
dismount, saying they were going into CAMP
He then said they were going to stab them,
and exhibited the butcher-knives to be
used for the purpose Then he placed
nusket to her forehead, 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,s"I am not afraid of In
dams or d eath," elected the admiration of the
red devils. They turned upon Chief Douglass
in derisiop, and he skunk from the presence of
the brave Miss Meeker. Soon after this they
were placed in charge of Chief Johnson, and,
through the instrumentality of Johnson's
squaw, their condition was very much i'm
proved, and further indignities ceased.
Susan proved to be the guardian spirit, and
had it not been for her intercession the fate of
the women would have formed one of the
blacklist pages of Indian deviltry.
Through the fearful ordeal of captivity
Mrs Price and Miss Meeker almost fought