The New York herald., 1879-11-01

him, though he had previously taken his little
boy from the school and said the boy was
afraid of the soldiers, but that he would bring
him back that evening. He picked around the
table, was laughing and joking with Mrs.
Mee1er, Josephine and me. He drank little
coffee and ate some bread and butter. Sud-
denly he turned around and went out doors
Mr.. Price and Mr. Thompson and Frank
Dresser were working the building
few steps from, the house. l saw
him there when went out after my little girl.
Douglass seemed to be in very good spirits and
was joking with the men. had just returned
and began washing some clothes when the Ind
ians fired. l saw, should judge, about twenty
Utes around the houses The firing party was
down at the barn, so Frank Dresser said
saw one Ute, don't know his name, fire at Mr..
Price and Mr.. Thompson and Frank. He was
White River Ute. l saw Mr.. Thompson either
walking running with the purpose to escape
or because he was shot
TIE WOMENS EFFORTS TO ESCAPE.
rushed in, took my baby and ran to my
room. Frank Dresser went to the boys room,
when he found the Indians had stolen all their
guns He ran in after Mr.. Prices gun and
came out and shot through the window Chief
Johnson's brother, who died two days after
ward. We then ran to Josephine's room. In
a few minutes after twenty or thirty shots
crashed through our two windows, and we
crawled under the bed. The Indians were
shooting all around. 1 could hear reports
Of guns in all directions and glass fall
ing from windows. Josephine said the milk
room is the safest place, and we ran there as
quickly as possible, and reached the milk room
just as Frank Dresser came in, and we all sat
May was quiet and we remained there all the
afternoon till nearly sundown and until they
Set the building ON fire. The shooting had
ceased and we began to BEE the smoke curling
through the cracks. l said -
"Josie, we have got to get out of here you
take May, I'll take baby and we will try to es-
cape in the sage brush across the road.'
She took Mays hand and we went out, but
first went into Mr. Meekers room. 1t was not
disturbed. The doors were open and the books
were lying on the stand as he had left them.
1t was at first thought we had better secrete
+I,o T J,J
better try to escape then, as the Indians were
busily engaged in stealing annuity goods. They
had broken open the warehouse and were pack
ing blankets on their ponies. We started for
the garden. when Frank said:-
"Perhaps we can hide in the sage brush and
escape"
He ran through the gate in the field with Mr.
Prices rifle. He was near the field when 1 last
saw him, and did nof suppose he was hurt at
ALL Mrs. Meeker and l went inside the field
through the wire fence, and the Indians saw us
and came toward us on q run, firing as they ran
Some were afoot and some were on horseback,
and they said:-
"GoOd squaw; come, squaw; no shoot squaw."
We then came out, as it was of no use to run,
and gave ourselves up.
IN THE HANDS OF THE sAvAGEs.
hestated to go with them at first, and told
them they would burn me shoot me, but
they said they would not harm us, and then
came up and took my hands and pulled me
through an irrigating ditch. Then they took
me to the river as fast as they could, one Oh
each side of me, to where the horses were, and
then seated me a pile of poles. Iasked them
if l could go back to the agency and get my
money and clothes. They said no. told them
l was thirsty, and Ute who claimed
to be an Uncompaghre-I don't know
his name-caught me ,by the shoulder and led
me down to Douglass Spring, where he dipped
up pail Of water and drank aud then gave it
to me. We then went back and the Indian
packed his effects on pony and spread o
blanket on the saddle and told me to mount my
horse. My boy baby was with me and Mary
girl from the first and carried my oldest child,
Mary, all through the captivity. We were
in three separate parties, but all in one
company, not very far apart, through the diff
ferent journeys mounted the pony and the
Indian took n seat behind.me. l held the baby
in front of me and guided the animal About
eight or ten Indians were in the company. jim
johnson, a White River Ute, rode out in the
party with us. He did not say anything to me
only that he was going to take me to the Utes'
suuaw camp and he said the Utcs "no hurt me. "
l think he had little whiskey in him.
on THE JOURNEY.
The road over the large mountains was
stecp il was all / could do to sit on the horse.
BY this time it was quite dark. The Indian