Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1879-12-17
Thrilling Scene at Me citing of the
Tito Commission

PONS-Tas COSsiTlONS UPON W WHICH
THE UTES WILL BE SURRENDERED.
Special dispatches to the Denver
Tribune from Les Pinos, dated the
9th, represent that Oh Saturday there
were some decidedly animated occur
rences at the Commissioners meeting.
After Jack had declined to inform the
Commissioners what Indians had been
concerned in the White River massa-
ere, the Indians retired to Ouray's
house 10 debate what course to pursue.
No Indians appeared at the agency
until Saturday, bat they seem to have
been engaged at Ouray's in conducting
the widest dance, and in making fiery
speeches A man was sent from the
agency to Ouray's with feed for the
horses of the Indians, and judged from
the noise on the inside that the Indians
were greatly excited Those he saw
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 noon the Utes
came into the agency, and took seats
inside the agency building Jack, Col
GROW, and twelve other White River
Utes, and of course Ouray (having
been among the lndians) were present.
When the Indians and the Commits
sioners had taken seats Gen. Hatch ad-
dressed the Indians, setting forth the
full demands of the Commissioners,
their right to make the 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 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 Gen.
Hatch: "Wi:l YOU surrender the men
whose names are in this paper to be
tried, and if guilty punished, and if il
nocent acquitted?" The question was
put twice, and after a consultation, eva
sive answers were returned both times.
When the question was repeated the
third time Ouray replied without con
sulting the other Utes: "How do we
know that these Indians you name
were at White River at the time of tho
massacre, or even if they were there
we do not know they were concerned in
it. These women mentioned names
which came first to their lips, whether
they know them to have been present
or not. We cannot depend on what
they say
THAT is what we depend on" said
Gen. Hatch
Gen. Adams then addressed the In
dians, making 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 Thornburgh
fight, but the cowardly dogs who par
ticipated in the massacre of the unarm-
ed men at the agency. He closed by
saying: eve want those Utes and we
will have them"
The Indians held consultation in a
low tone of voice among themselves,
but did not seem inclined to reply at all.
Then Gen Hatch again rose and asked
whether the guilty Indians were to be
surrendered, saying that he had made
the last appeal.
No one moved or spoke for a few
moments. Then Colorow lighted a big
pipe, the '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 the next man with
out smoking, and it went round the
circle. 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 out, threw it quiv-
ering and ringing upon the floor. In
stantly every Indian present laid his
hand upon his 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 some for
ward movement. There were only six
white men in the room, while the In
dans numbered twenty-five, though
there were fifteen soldiers in an adjoin-
ing room. Finally Ouray spoke:
1--WE cannot deliver up those Indians
unless they are tried in Washington;
they must not be tried in Colorado.
The Colorado people are all our en-
em;cs, and to give them up to he tried
In this State would hang them. We
will bring those twelve men here for
Won to sec, and then those whom you de-
eide guilty shall be taken to Washing
ton. and the President shall determine
their guilt or innocence Douglass will
have to 90. We know he was in the
White River troubles, and you shall
decide who else Upon this condition,
and no other, will we surrender the
twelve men"
The chief spoke with great boldness.
Ouray added that it would require
about a week to bring the men in.
Gen. Hatch told him that he accepted
the proposition as far as bringing the
men in was concerned, but as for TAX
ing them to Washington, he would have
first to telegraph Secretary Schurz to
get permission to do so before he could
agree to take the Indians East.
Colorow and Jack were Immediately
despatched to bring in the twelve
named, including Douglass and Per-
sune. They said they would return in
five days. After they had gone, Ouray
again spoke, reiterating his belief that
the Utes could not get justice in Colo
RADIO, and could only get it in Wash
ington.
"You three" said Ouray, meaning
Gems. Hatch andAdams and their legal
adviser, Valois, "arc all my enemies.
| am one against three. You hate me-
You are all Colorado or New Mexico
men and a French devil. | have not
one friend among you. You will not
give me justice, and that is why L