The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-10-07
UTESz NORTH PARK,
JOHN M M INTERVIEWED.
He Denies Having Killed coiorow-
His Farley With Eighteen
Utes-Forest Fires
Trouble Ahead.

Utes-Forest Fires
Trouble Ahead
On Sunday a host OF Indian news
foated about Cheyenne, some of them
wild and startling, and all calculated
TO create a sensation. 1t was said that a
stampede of all the miners had taken
place; that men on coming out had
seen the remains Of miners lying in
their destroyed camps; and that every
hill and valley in the Park was brist-
ling with savage Utes ready to kill the
whites. As these stories were retailed
by men not given to ex~aggeration, they
were believed. The LEADER set about
investigating the matter and soon
learned that some middle man or other
had charged a monstrous profit on the
goods that passed through his bands.
Primarily the rumors originated on
account OF the return of two prospecting
parties under j. ). Taylor and John.
Cummins respectively. The former
had been only two days out from Chey-
enne, while the latter had been out in
the Park all summer. They met AS the
latter WIS coming out, aud the party of
the hrst part concluded to return home
also.
As Mr.. Cummins, an old frontiers
man ana miner, was reported to have
seen Indians, the LEADER enticej
him to the office where lie was be-
yond the reach of help or friends, and
proceeded to interview him. This was
on yesterday.
ut was about thirteen days ago, ''said
Mr.. Cummins, In answer to a leading
question, shat I saw some Indians.
l was out hunting about % miles west
Of the mines in the Park. Seeing a
band of Indians approach 1 prepared to
stand them of as best l could. They
were friendly, however, and they zoe
gathered near to the number Of eigh-
teen in ALL"
"Was 1t Colorow and his band?" the
scribe asked.
II don't know. The chief was a
very large man and spoke as good Eng
lish as I cam"
"what did he sayp"
"Well, he wanted to know what /
was doing, and I told him I was hunt
ing. This d~ispleased him very much.
He said: The white man is killing all
the game. Me burn all grass in Park
SO antelope go away"
IF you do, says I, we'll kill the last
one Of you"
How many men you have?'
"Why these mountains are FULL"
where their Campo
81 told him on Jack creek, Illinois
creek and on all screams In the eastern
part Of the park"
Where you campedp'
II told him two miles nurth Of Jack
creek where the Cheyenne road
crosses"
lie talked a good deal, and was very
angry at first, but 1 cussed as good as
he did, and finally lie wanted to shake
hands, but l wouldn't do it. I told
him to mind his own business and let
The whit men alone"
WA the big Indian Colorow2n the
reporter asked.
81 don't know. Asked him his name,
but he wouldn't tell me. 1t might have
been, for he answered the description
of Colorow."
did you see John Stokes?"
Eyes; but it is some time since.n
"Did John and you go hunting elkP''
"Yes, SIR" .
Ibid either of you kill any Indians?''
mo, sir. We didn't see any to-
gether,n and he smiled.
"You are positive then thut you
didn't kill Colorow or any other In
dian."
"well, l have killed Indians, but not
this year"
The writer here showed Mr.. Cum
Minis a copy OF the Denver Tribune of
Sunday, wherein it was stated that
Cummins and Stokes had killed Colo
row, after the interview above de-
tailed.
81 don't know anything about that, -
Mr.. Cummins said, as he laid the paper
down.
"You are aware that It would be an
honor to have killed Colorow at this
timer"
"Well, I wish / had killed him."
Mr.. Cummins then said he believed
the Utes would scatter through the
the Park in small bands If the troops
pressed them too closely from the west.
Otherwise they would 60 southwark.
He believed there were small rowing
bands Of Utes in the Park now. On
last Tuesday, when he left, he saw City
or sixty fires on the east side of the
Park along the foot of the noun
tains. Believed the fires were started
by the reds to burn down the timber.
Ibid you see any signs OF Indians as
you were coming out?"
.Well, at dusk on Tuesday evening /
saw something OH the road ahead winch
/ supposed to be an elk, and raised my
gun to fire, when my wife stopped me,
saying that Indians we're In sight in
stead Of elk. Mr. Anderson, who WAS
with me, also said he saw Indians.
The object soon disappeared. However,
we weren't troubled any, although An
derson says he saw their camp fire in
the distance that evening""
tkG., vnn loff tho PARK nm acrount NJ