The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-12-20

THE CnIErs IN coNsUIrArron.

i Denver, Col. Dec. 8.-Specla dis
patches to the Denver Tribune, dated
Los Pinos, 9th, says: After Jack had
refused to name the Indians concerned
lin the White River massacre, all the
chiefs retired to Ouray's house for con-
sultation.
i A man, afterwards sent from the
agency to Ouray, with hay for the In
dams horses, reports that the Utes
were decked out in feathers and war
paint, and were making fiery speeches
and indulging in wild dances.
Saturday noon the Utes came into
the agency and took seats Gen, Hatch
addressed them at length, setting forth
in full the demands of the commits
sioners, their right to make demands
and the patience already exercised
with the Utes.
To-day" he said, sis your last
chance. We will wait no longer. We
want your final answer and we want
no evasion"
The list of Utes charged by the
agency women with taking part in the
massacre, was then read and the ques-
ton put by Gen. Hatch, "Will you
surrender men whose names are on
this paper, to be tried, and if guilty
to be punished, and if innocent ac-
quilted ?"
The question was put twice, and
after consultations evasive answers
were returned both times. When the
question was repeated the third time,
Ouray replied. allow do we know
the Indians You name were in the
| White River massacre? We cannot
depend upon what these women say"
"That is what we depend on" said
Gen. Hatch.
Gen. Adams then addressed the In
dams, and made speech of over an
hours duration, saying, among other
things, that the commissioners did not
want to punish Colorow Jack and
others who took part in the Thorn
burgh fight, but the cowardly dogs
who participated in the massacre of
unarmed men at the agency. Closing
by saying, tive want those Utes, and
we will have them.'
The Indians had consultation In
low tone among themselves, but did
not seem inclined to reply at all, when
Gen. Hatch again rose and asked if
the guilty Indians were to be surrender
ed? saying, he had made the last APP
peal. No one moved or spoke for
few minutes, when Colorow lighted
his big ''pipe of peace" Each Indian
present drew his knife and laid it on
his knees.
The question of peace or war being
the one pending, Colorow then passed
the pipe to their next man without
smoking, and it went around the cir.
Gle. When the circle was finished he
jumped to his feet, Strengthened up to
his full height, pulled his belt around
until the knife sheath was in front, and
snatching his knife threw it qrivering
and ringing upon the floor. Instantly
every Indian present laid his hand on
knife or pistol, the whites following
their example.
The two parties stood fronting and
defying each other for some moments,
each waiting for the other to make al
forward move. There were but six
white men in the room, while the In
dams numbered twenty-five though
there were fifteen soldiers in an adj
joining room. Finally Onray spoke,
saying, in substance, that they would
deliver up the Indians named only on
condition that they should be tried in
Washington.
"Colorado people," he said, fare all
our enemies, and to give them up to
be tried in this State would be to sur
render them to a mob, who would
hang them. We will bring those
twelve men here for YOU to see, and
those whom You decide guilty shall be
taken to Washington, and the Presi-
dent shall determine their guilt or in
nocence."
The chief spoke with great arrog-
ance and boldness. Ouray added that
it would require about a week to bring
the men in. Gen. Hatch told him he
accepted the proposition as far as
bringing the men in was concerned,
but as to taking them to Washington
he would have first to telegraph Sec
rotary Schurz to get permission.
Colorow and Jack were Immediately
dispatched to bring in the twelve nam
ed, including Douglass and Persnene.
They said they would return in five
days. After they had gone away Ou-
ray again spoke, reiterating that