Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-11-05
THE BRAVE LADIES.
The Rescued Female Captives Of the
utes---Their Treatment by the
Utes and Rescue.

49, - SO
Captain Kline, MAJOR Sherman anC
Saunders arrived at 0uray's houst
las night with Mrs. and Miss Meekel
and Mrs. Price and her two children
= little girl Of four and a nursing babe
they came to the agency this mOrnin.
and start East in the afternoon.
The captivity of twenty-five day
through which they have passed ha,
been a terrible trial, and its scene,
and incidents will never be forgotten
They were delivered over to Genera
Adams on the 2lst inst, in the camp
on the tributary Of the Grand river
after council lasting five hours. The
council was very heated, and at one
time it was thought that the Indians
would refuse General Adams demand
On the approach of General Adams
the captives were hid in the brush 0
short distance from the camp, Dur.
ing the council Susan, a sister 0.
Ouray and sQuaw of johnson, made G
speech, strongly advocating the re.
lease of the prisoners, the first in.
stance on record of a squaw's appear
ance in an important council. She
waG followed by johnson, who quoted
Ouray's orders and advice. 1t was
not until General Adams threatened
to- leave unless the prisoners were re-
leased Internationally that the peace
party prevailed.
The history Of the prisoners during
their captivity forms.a most pathetic
chapter. After the killing of Agent
Meeser the women attempted to es-
cape into the brush from the burning
bull Mrs. Meeker was fred at
and received a flesh wound in the hin
four inches in length. The Indians
called to Miss Meeker and Mrs. Price
in the following words: Indians no
shoot, white woman stops-Indian no
hurt After being secured they
were mounted on ponies. Miss Meek
er with Mrs. Prices oldest child tied
behind her, Mrs. Price with her in
FAINT in her arms, and Mrs. Meeker,
who is sixty-four years old, and lame,
we're compelled to accompany their
captors. When they struck camp at
midnight Mrs. Meeker was dismount-
ed aud fell to the ground, unable to
move, and the Indians surrounded her
aud added to the misery of her situa-
ton By jeering and haunting the ''old
white sQuaw." The next morning
they were separated, Douglass taking
charge of Mrs. Meeker, Persane of
Miss Meeker, and Mrs. Price and chill
drel being guarded by an Uncompah-
gre Ute.
The sufferings of Mrs. Meeker were
ind~escribable during her stay with
Douglass, whose squaw abused her by
neglect, and by pushing, striking, and
haunting her. On one occasion Doug
lass threw down some blankets, and
compelled Miss Meeker to dismount,
saying that they were going into camp.
He then said they were going to stab
them, and exhibited the butcher
knives to be used for the purpose.
Then be placed a musket to her fore
head, and said, Ind n going to
shoot" The courageous girl never
finched, and laughed at the burly saw
age. He asked her if she was afraid,
and her ready response, Il am not
afraid of Indians or of death, elected
the admiration of the red devils. They
turned their derision upon Chief
Douglass, and he skunk from her pres
ence.
Soon afterward the captiyes were
placed in charge of Chief johnson,
and through the fundamentally Of
Johnson's squaw their condition was
very much improved aud further in
dignities prevented.
Apprehenslons as to the treatment
Of the captives to a fate worse than
death have happily proved to be un-
substautiated by facts, and they have
arrived here in safety, although worn
out by the indignities detailed above.
Susan proved to be their guardian
spirit, and had it not been for her in
tercession the fate of the women
would have formed ono Of the black
est pages of the history Of Indian dew
iltry.
Last night on their arrival, Ouray
expressed great satisfaction and this
morning on their departure, Chapta.
the wife Of 0uray, wept like a child
The agency effects we're all destroyed
the women only saving such clothing
az thoy happened to have on, Mrs.
Meeker was permitted TO enter the
burning building to get her money
and spirit book as she told the In.
iians. The money, $50, was taker
from her. Miss Meeker had $50 in
tho building saA Mrs. Price a small
amount, which was destroyed by the
flames.
Through the fearful ordeal of cap
tivity Mrs. Price and Miss Meekel
almost fought for poor old Mrs
Meeker. They could use q LITTLE
Spanish and Ute, aud their defiance O
intrUdipg Indians and their readiness
to resent insults to the old lady chal
lenged the respect of even the blood.
Thirsty aborigines. They would pusl
the sayages right aud left when inter
fered with, and on making complain.
to Susan wer6 alWays able 10 foil then
in their brutal attempts. Susan lait
down the law in a favorable manner
and woe unto that warrior who dared
to murmur. The bravery of these
ladies has been uuexampled, and Il
this fact mal ba attributed tho favot
which they otherwise would not hayI
roaeiyed, The Indian runners, prio.
to the release Of the oaptives, rencrt
ed that the white sQuawc were hear
brave The statements of the can
tiycs have been taken in detail by In
spector Pallask Tor official use.
A few days ago a young lady an,