The New York herald., 1879-10-30
BRAVE JOSEPHINE! ]!
Miss Mssksr's Thrilling Story Of
Her Captivity.
TIE MASSACRE AT THE AGENCY.
The Women Carried 0G-SceneS in
Camp and on the Trail.
A STRANGE PICTURE TALE.
Bullied by Braggart---Served by
an Indian Gallant.
MRS. MEEKER'S HARSH TREATMENT.
A Squaw's Touch of Nature---Medcine
Songs---A War Dance.
F r. e E A II L A S T!
Bullied by a Braggart---Served by
an Indian Gallant
MRS. MEEKERS HARSH TREATMENT.
A Squaw's Touch of Nature---Medicine
Songs---A War Dance.
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

ALAMOsA, SAN LUIS PARK Col,
Oct. 20, 1879.
Mrs. Meeker, her daughter Josephine, and
tanned here two days on account of Mrs.
1eeker's illness, caused by nervous reaction,
after a terrible journey of 500 miles on stages
and Indian ponies, bareback and with poor sad
dies. over mountains and alkali deserts
During this ordeal she was only half
clad in calico dress and single shawl, with
out blankets, and had only the bare ground to
sleep on in the Indian capps. The party leave
for Denver in a day or two, going thence to
their home in Greeley.
BRAVE MISS JOSEPHINE.
Miss Josephine Meeker was threatened with
is q blonde, with blue eyes and light hair
and is tall in stature, and vivacious in manner
and conversation. She was teacher at the
agency and great favorite among the Indians
She taught the boy of Chief Douglass and had
half dozen offers of marriage from the Ute
brdves. Her quick wit and knowledge of the
language undoubtedly saved her life. Her story
IL as follows:-
JOSEPHINE MEEKERs STATEMENT.
The first heard Of any trouble with the
Indians Mt my fathers agency was the firing ut
Mr. Price while he was ploughing for Indian
crops according to government Instructions
The Indians had the idea and said that as soon
asthe land was ploughed it would cease to be-
long 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
corral building her house, putting up a stove
and digging well. The Indians then agreed
to the ploughing for 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 ploughing had been resumed. He seri-
ously assaulted my father and forced him
from his house. The agent wrote to the govern
ment to the effect that if its policy was to be
carried out he must have protection. The re-
sponse to this was that the agent should be
sustained. Governor Pitkin wrote that troops
had been sent, and we heard no more until a
Ute runner came in greatly excited and said
the soldiers were ON Bear River, sixty niles
north Of the agency. Next day the Indians
held council, and asked my father to write to
Thornburgh to send five officers to come and
compromise and keep the soldiers off the re-
servation.
THE INDIANS EXCITED.
The agent sent statement of the situation
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 breakfast time. A council was
held at the camp of Douglass and also at the
agency. Meanwhile the American flag was fly
Ing over the tents of Douglass, yet all the
Indian women and other tents were removed
back and the Indians were greatly ex-
cited. On Monday at noon Mr.. Esk-
ridge, who took the agents message to
Thornburgh, returned, saying the troops were
making day and night march, and it must be
kept secret but Thornburgh wanted it to be
given ont to Indians that he would meet five
Utes 1T Milk Creek, fifteen miles from the
agency, ON Monday night, and desired immc-
diate answer. Thornburgh was expected to
reach the agency on Tuesday at noon with tho
troops. The Indians, who at first were angry,
frightened up, and Douglass sent two Indians,
with one white man, Esxridgc, to meet Thorn
burgh.
PLANNING THE MASSACRE.
Secretly, however, the Utes were preparing
for the massacre, for just before Eskridgc left
with the Indians runner was seen rushing up
to the tcntof Douglass with what since learned
was news of the soldiers fighting. Haitian hour
later twenty armed Indians came to the agency
from the camp of Douglass and began firing.
THE MASSACRE BEGINS.
/ was in the kitchen with my mother washing
tho dishes. 1t was after noon. looked out of
tho window and saw the Utcs shooting the Bows
who were working on the new building. Mrs.
Price was Mt the door washing clothes. She
rushed in and took Johnnie, the baby, to fly.
just then Frank Dresser, an employe, staggered
In shot through the leg. said-
: sfksrs, frank, u Mr.. Prices gun,