The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-12-18
The Commissioners and the Utes.

Aspecial dispatch to the Denver TiJ"ne,
dated Los Pines, the 9th, says that after
Jack had refused to name the Indians
concerned in the White River massacre
all the chiefs retired to Ouray's house for
consultation. A man who was afterward
sent from the agency to Ouray's house
with hay for the Indians horses reports
that the Utes were decked out in feath-
ers and war paint and we're making fiery
speeches and indulging in wild dances.
Saturday noon the Utes came into the
agency and took seats. General Hatch
addressed them at length, 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, "is your last
chance. We will wait no longer. We
want your final answer, and we want no
evasion"
A list of the Utes charged by the
agency women with taking part in the
massacre was then read and the question
put by General Hatch, "Will you sur
render the men whose names are in this
paper to be tried, and if guilty punished,
and if innocent acquitted?" The question
was put twice, and after consultation
evasive answers were returned both
times.
When the question was repeated the
third time, Ouray replied, "How do we
know the Indians you name were in the
White River massacre? We cannot de-
pend upon what the women say"
"That is what we depend on" said
General Hatch.
General 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 participated in the
massacre of unarmed men at the agency,
closing by saying, Eve want those Utes
and will have them"
The Indians had consultation in a
low tone among themselves, but did not
seem inclined to reply at all.
When General Hatch again rose and
asked if the guilty Indians were to be
surrendered, he said he had made his
last appeal. No one moved or spoke for
few moments, when Colorow lit his
"big pipe of peace" Each Indian pres
ent then drew his knife and laid it on his
knee, the question of peace or war being
the one pending. Colorow then passed
his pipe to the next man without smok-
ing, and it went around the circle. When
the circle was finished, he jumped to his
feet, Strengthened himself to full height,
pulled his belt around until his knife
sheath was in front, and snatching his
knife out, threw it quivering and ring
ing upon the floor. Instantly every In
dian present laid his hand upon his knife
or pistol, the whites following their ex-
ample.
''The Colorado people," he said, "are
our enemies, and to give up to be tried
in this State would be to surrender them
to mob who would hang them. We
will bring those Twelve men here for you
to see and then those whom you decide
guilty shall be taken to Washington. The
President shall determine their guilt or
innocence"
The chief spoke with great arrogance
and boldness. Ouray added that it
would require about week to bring the
men in. General Hatch told him he ac-
cepted the proposition as far as bringing
the men in was concerned, but as to TAX
ing them to Washington he would have
first to telegraph General Schurz to gel
permission.
Colorow and Jack were immediately dis
patched to bring in the twelve named, in
Guiding Douglas and Persun. They said
they would return in five days. After
they had gone Ouray again spoke, reiter-
ating his statement that they could not
get justice in Colorado AID could only
get it in Washington. "You, there"
said Ouray, meaning General Hatch and
Adams and their legal adviser, Volois,
care my enemies. 1 am one against
three. You hate me. You are all Col
orado or New Mexico men and French
devil. I have not one friend among
you. You would not give me justice,
and that is why I want to go to Wash
ington, where I can have at least one
friend"
Finally Ouray spoke, saying, in sub
stance, that they would deliver up the
Indians named only on condition that
they should be tried in Washington. -.
The two parties stood fronting and
defying each other for some moments,
each waiting for the other to make for
ward move. There were but six white
men in the room. while the Indians
numbered twenty-five, though there
we're fifteen soldiers in an adjoining
room.