Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1880-01-22
MORMON.UTES.
Tho Hostiles to be Provided for by Their
Mormon Friends and Allies.

Mormon Friends and Allies.
From the Denver Tribune.
Mr.. James G. Rankin, Sheriff of Carbon
county, Wyoming, and brother OF the no.
ted scout, Joe Rankin, arrived in Denver
last evening, on pleasure visit to some
of his old friends here. Not long after his
arrival, he was seen and recognized by
reporter of the Tribune, who entered into
a conversation with him with a view to
find out any late groupings of news from
Rawlins. Mr.. Rankin, however, happen
ed to be IN possession Of and gave to the
reporter, information OF a far more sensa-
tional and astounding character than
anything he had thought OF hearing. The
facts, simply, are these:
In the early part Of last week, Monday
or Tuesday, some cattle men or prospec.
tors, on Bear river, observed a pack train
Of seventy-eight burros, with their atten.
dant drivers, making its way due south;
a course which taking the position the
train occupied when seen, into considera-
ton, would indicate that Utah had been
the starting point, and Grand river the
objective point OF the animals. Wien
noticed the pack train was on Big Spring
creek, between Bear and Snake rivers,
and directly west of the White River
Agency.
A pack train being rather an uncommon
object at this season of the year, the men
were interested enough to examine the
loads of the ANIMALS carefully, they them.
selves being, as it happened, Sc ,ure from
observation, and found them to be rifles
and cartridges-only this and nothing
more-Seventy-eight burros laden with
arms and ammunition, coming from Utah,
going to Grand river. What does that
appear to indicate to the casual observer?
These observers thought enough of it to
report the occurrence to the military
stationed at White River Agency, and the
officers in command there thought enough
OF it to start out two companies of cavalry,
with the well.known Jim Baker, the 'front.'
iersman, as guide, in pursuit of these
mysterious bearers of the implements Of
warfare, last Wednesday. Should the
pack train be overtaken, whichit probably
will, the men who are in cnarge of it will
have an opportunity Of explaining for
whose use the burdens were, and by whom
they were sent out. There are several
facts which it will be well to mention in
this connection as they almost certainly
have a bearing on the case. The first is
that the Utcs, that is Jacks band, and
all of the recalcitrant redskins who were
demanded as prisoners by the late com.
mission, are camped on Grand river
Secondly, they were, at the time OF the
commissions leaving Los Pinos, without
cartridges for their breech-loadng rifles
and were using muzzle leaders for theil
hunting. Consequently, It will easily
appear that four or five hundred round,
OF cartridges for those who were in poss
ession Of breech loading rifles, and an en-
tirelyinewI outfit for thoseI who had defective
arms, would be a pleasing sight to oui
red friends. The connection between
these loads Of arms and ammunition pro
coeding toward Grand river, and tn,
destitution of the Utes, so far as these ex'
ceedmgly necessary articles Ito Indian
who mend to remain at peace with tn,
whites) is concerned, become now clearl,
evident.
The next question which Will naturall'
suggest itself is, whence came this pacl
train, and by whom was it sent out? !
will be remembered by readers Of tn
Tribune that in our Los Pinos reports, tn
MOrmOns were not untreqnentlv mention
eel as aiding and abctting the Utes in an
move Of theirs against the whites. Upo
the last day of the cOmmi ssion Chief Oura
made the remark that the Mormons wer
the best friends Of the genial Jack and hi
, associates.
, 1t will also be remembered that til
/ day before Jack delivered himself to Or
=. ray and Hatch, that white men were rt
: ported by runners to be IN his camp o
n Grand river, making some sort Of owe
lures to him, the nature OF which were NJ
: known, but could he correctly guessed
White men were also seen at about I'll
n same time or little before with tt
l. southern Utes, endevorlng to stir them u
r. TO war against the settlers, and an attaC
p. upon the insulated ranches round abou
: Col. Buell. was fortunate enough TO d
v cover this, and possessed energy enoug
n to stop tins promptly and provide again
/. its recurrence. But the hostiles, for The
is can be regarded as nothing else, hay
nothing to prevent their hob-nobbing
ns much rs they please with their TREND
the saints, and there is doubtless consta
ct communication between them.
s, Grand river and the camps of the Ute
l.. are not far from the eastern settlement
of Utah-only a days Journey for an |
Y dian pony. This furnishes an easy col
. munication, but it doesn't furnish an
in and ammunition. Messages may be c.
il red, requests for these things go throuI
o. this channel, but the articles themselv
ID have to come through from some 9th
Wv place than border settlement. I'll
~ pack train, when seen, was coming
nd rcctly from Utah, and must have be
#, fitted out and equipped at some OF I!
n, larger towns Of the territory; which
cv them may possibly appear latter if t
is pursuing cavalry are successful. If t
train bearing lis important freight arriy
in safety at its destination, those who Of
fitted it may have the satisfaction
knowing that they have made one mc
is point on their monogamist foes; havi
he given to the hostiles fresh courage u
Il, sustenance, and have prepared for t