New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-10-06

WASHINGTON, OCT. 0.-lne 1OllOWlnS mas Oecn IT,
ceived at the Indian Bureau:
Los PINos Col, Oct 2, 1879.
To Commissioner Hay:
Arunner Just in from the White River Agency
reports that the agent and employees killed.
There has been a fight with the troops, in which
the officers in command were killed. The troops are
surrounded, away from any water supply, and their
trains have been captured.
Chef Ouray. the head of the Ute Nation. sends
the following order to his people by a runner:
To he Chiefs Captains. HeadRen and Utes at White
Rirr:
You are hereby requested and commanded to cease
hostllties against the whtes injuring no innocent
person nor any others further than To protect your
own lives and property from unlawful and un-
authorized combinations of horse thieves and des-
peradOes az anything further Will ultimately end
IN disaster 10 all parties" STANLEY, Agent.
1t is thought here that the information in the
above dispatch in regard the troops refers to the
Hrst fight with the Indians. Commissioner Hayt
lays that in any event there is only
bare possibility that the information regarding
she fate of Mr.. Meeker and his assistants Is incor
.ect. The White River Agency being about twenty
i've miles from the place where the troops first en-
.outered the Indians, Mr.. Meeker and those with
aim at the agency were entirely at the mercy of the
hostile party. and they have doubtless all persisted
As reported.
Mr. Hayt SAYS that Agent Meeker doing an
excellent work. He had persuaded his Indians to
ig irrigatng bitches and make other preparations
Tor agriculture large scale He was fast bring
ng them up TO the point where they would be SELF
supporting.
Mr. Hayt saws that previous experience shows 1t
10 be an unwse thing for troops attempt to Oper
,te Against Indians in their own Businesses
without having Indian auXiliaries. In Sep
sember of astEyear, at the beginning OF
lie troubles with the Cheyennes. an event
occurred. which. except for the presence and adj
Tce of two Indian scouts, would doubtless have
aad the consequences of the affair IN which Major
rhOrnburgh lost his life Captain Rendlebrook had
ret out in command OF an expedition into the hos
lie country being accompanied by eight Indian
,couts Six of the latter he sent back to the post
loon after setting out, retaining only two with hls
command One day when the troops were
,bout entering the mouth of canon number of
Indians were seen scampering away toward the
,her end of the canon evidently IN flight from the
,roops The latter were about starting In pursuit.
nhen the Indian scouts advised Captain Rendle-
brook not TO enter the canon they be-
ieyed large force of Indians to be in
,mbusb there The scouts advised him TO
mrn 20 the left. when they predicted
IN. Indians would be to leave
their ambush. The advice was acted upon, ana the
predictions were verified; Inc INDIANS cauie oue
from the bush in such force that the troops were
unable to face them, even IN the open held, ana
Nere compelled TO return to their startng-point
Army officers here DO not share III the Anxiety Ieit
with regard to the tate Oh captain IalhS anu HIS
command. They say that according 10 Ihe latesi
trustworthy information the troops were well
placed and well suppied for longer siege than they
have vet been subjected TO. III is expected thal |
fey will he relieved tomorrow. Jldlngs from
them NAV be received 10y tomorrow night
The position OF affairs III Colorado IS analogous 10
HAT dining the ModOc war, except that the present
lnIce of hostile Indians is much stronger auu puch
better equipped than the Mcdocs were. The coun-
nv IS qiite as favorable for defensive warfare OF
No kind waged by the Indians. ana quite as mag
,essole, in many parts as were the laya Deu FL IL
ha. Iuf
numbeiing about 900 souls, are engaged III hosti
h,. vet tue situation is serious, even II no others
arc brought into the hgnt
According to a dispatch received last Thursday
the people at the White River Agency were ten IN
number and comprised the following: Agent n. G.
Neeker wife and their daughter, Josephine. age |
twenty-one; Frank and Harry Dresser, E. l.. Mans
Rcd w. H. POST Mr.. and Mrs. Price and two chill |
lr-d Fred Shepherd. George Eaton. and boy
uaned Thompson.
Los Pinos Agency IS situated in the central part
Of the Ute Reservation in Colorado, about 40 or so
miles south of the White River, anu very near the
Utah line.
Onray the head chief of the Utes of Colorado. re-
frred to above is chief of the nation by virtue
OF hereditary descent, but in conse quence OF his
force of character He said TO be an Indian oil
remarkable ability lie is thorough Ute. but he
became convinced some time ago that MS trlpe
sbould abandon savage ways. and should adopt the
civilization of tine AuglO-Saxon. lie made TWO
firms In Washington, during winch he BECAME ac-
un,inted with the immense power OF the whites, and
with the folly OF contendiug against 1t. He returned
fo,n these visits resolved to lift his tribe II posi-
HE ont of barbarian into civilized ways, and he has
done everything he 1uld 10 accomplish that END,
Ouray has a well-cultivated farm Of sixty acres on
winch he has a large flock of sheep and some cattle.
He has carriage and drives around therein like a
white man. He dresses like a white man, and reads
aud writes. He used to write to PRESIDENT Grant
direct when he had any grievance TO be redressed.
Ouray does not live at Los Pnos Agency. but on
tie Uncompahgre River, further east, branch OF
the Grand River. on which Los Pinos Agency is
planted. His influence is very great, and were 1t
not that the family of old hereditary chief feel
bitterly toward him. frequently trying TO assassnate
him. no outbreak whatever would have occurred
at this time He has prevented with the whites
several times already.
He seems, however, not to have been able to con-
trol Colorado or Colorow. who is the chief of the
White River band Colorado having once been the
chief of the nation, and having been deposed by the
Government authorities III favor Of OuTay has De-
come a reckless, savage man. lie has been partcu-
Larry determined that pfOspect0s Should not De Al
lowed To operate in the reservation ana mas driven
them out whenever found. sometimes gong so lar
20 drive OF those prospecting near the IesefNa-
ton, by burning the grass and timber around their
CAMPS. Ii is doubtful if Colorado Will obey the
order of Ouray and suspend hostllitIes.
FLIGHT FROM THE NORTH PARK.
GENERAL ALARM IN THAT REGIOS-FlGHrING HEARD
ON MILK RIVER ON WEDNESDAY.
CHEYENNE, Wy. T., Oct. 5-s p. M.-Prospectors