The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-11-08
THE UTES' CAPTIVEs.

That shall brighten the world for him alway.
THE UTES' CAPTIVES.
THE STORY OF MISS JOSEPHINE MEEKER.
The New York Herald ofthe 3Oth ult. has
the following special despatch from Alamo
sa, Colorado, dated the day previous:
Mrs. Meeker, her daughter Josephine and
Mrs. Price and her two children, have been
detained here two days on account of Mrs.
Meeker's illness, caused by nervous reac-
ton, after a terrible journey of 500 miles on
stages and Indian ponies, bareback aud
with poor saddles, over mountains and al.
kali deserts. During this ordeal she was
only half clad IN a calico dress and single
shawl without blankets, and had only the
bare ground to sleep on In the Indian camps.
The party leave for Denver in a day or two,
going thence to their home in Greeley.
! Miss Josephine Meeker was threatened
with death, and her escape was narrow
one She is a blonde, with blue eyes and
light hair, and is tall in stature and viva
cous in manner and conversation. She
. was teacher at the agency and a great IA
vori'e among the Indians. She taught the
| boy of Chief Douglass, and had half dozen
offers of marriage from the Ute braves Her
| quick wit and knowledge of the language
undoubtedly saved her life. Her story is as
/ follows:
JOSEPHINE MEEKER's STATEMENT.
The first heard of any trouble with the
Indians at my fathers agency was the firing
at Mr.. Price while he was poughing for In
dian crops according to Government in
structions. The Indians had the idea and
said that as soon as the land was ploughed it
would cease to belong to the Utes. Two or
three councils were held, and an Indian
woman, Jane, the wife of Panvitts, was the
cause Of the whole trouble. 1t was finally
settled by the agent giving her a corral,
building her house, putting up stove
and digginga we'll. The Indians then agreed
to the ploughng for a certain distance,
half way to the river. johnson, however,
who was not at the council, got angry with
the agent and the Indians when he found
the ploughng had been resumed. lie ser-
ously assaulted my father and forced him
from his house. The agent wrote to the
Government to the effect that if its policy
was to be carried out he must have protec-
ton. The response to this was that the
agent should be sustained. Governor Pit
kin wrote that troops had been sent, and
we heard no more until Ute runner came
in, greatly excited, and said the soldiers were
on Bear river, sixty miles north of tho
agency. Next day the Indians held a
council, and asked my father to write tc
Thornburgh to send five officers to come and
compromise and keep the soldiers Off the
Reservation.
THE INDIANS EXCITED.
The agent sent statement of the stua-
tion giving the wishes of the Indians, and
said to Thornburgh to do as he thought
best. The Indians who accompanied the
courier returned on Sunday at brcakGs
time. A council was held at the camp ol
Douglass and also at the agency. Mean.
while the American flag was flying over
the tents of Douglass, yet all the Indian
women and other tents were removed bacl
and the Indians were greatly excited. On
Mondas at uoon Mr.. Eskridge, who tool
the agents message to Thornburgh, return
' ed saying the troops were making a day
and night march, and it must be kept Sc
I cret; but Thornburgh wanted it to be giver
I out to the Indians that he would meet fv,
Indians at Milk Creek, fifteen miles from
the agency, on Monday night, and desreC
= an immediate answer. Thornburgh wa
expected to reach the agency on Tuesday a
= noon with the troops. The Indians, who a
e first were angry, frightened up, and Doug
r lass sent two Indians, with one white man
J Eskridge, to meet Thornburgh.
G PLANNING THE MASSACRE.
! Secretly, however, the Utes were prepar
J. ing for the massacre, for just be ore Esk
4 ridge left with the Indians, a runner wa
seen rushing up to the tent of Douglas
with what since learned was news of tn,
= soldiers fighting. Halfa hour later TWEEN
{ ty armed Indians came to the agency from
the camp of Douglass and began firing.
THE MASSACRE BEGINS.
! was in the kitchen with my moihe
washing dishes. It was after noon. I looked
out Of the window and saw the Utes shoot
ing the boys who were workngon the new
building. Mrs. Price was at the door wash
ing clothes. She rushed in and took John
ME, the baby, to fly. just then Franl
Dresser, an employe, staggered in sho
through the leg. | said;
Here, Frank, is Mr. Prices gun"
It lay on the bed. lie took it, and jus
as we We're fleeing out by the door the win
dows were smashed III aud half a dozcl
shots were fired into the room. Franl
Dresser fred and killed Johnson's brother
a We ran into the milk room, which ha,
only one small window, and locked tn
door aud hid under shelf Firing wen
/; on for several hours at intervals. Their
~ was no shouting, no noise, but frequent Cir
ing. While waiting in this horrid suspens
ri Dresser said he had gone to the employee
rooms, where all guns were stored, bu