Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-09-04
The Chief Ouray.
THE STORY OF THE UTE BRAVES LIFE.


Denver TribuneI
In the death OF Ouray one OF the historical
characters OF Colorado passes away. He has
inquired ior many years as the greatest Indian
quite as prominently before the country as has
any white man in the Rocky Mountains. 1t is,
there fore, meet and proper that on the occasion
OF MS death his life should be remembered.
The record Of his deeds Is one OF simple parts.
yet he has proven himself elevated so far above
other men OF his race and time that his acts
tand out IN bold relief. Ouray Is in many re-
spects-tndeed, we may say In all respect 5--a
remarkable Indian; man of pure instincts. OF
keen perception, ana apparently possesses very
proper Ideas OF justice aud right, the friend OF
the white man and the protector or the Indian
ever boldly asserting the rights of his tribe
and as continually doing all In his power to
create favor for the white man with the In-
dian.
Ouray, in telling the story OF his life, says
that he was born In the Taos valley. New
Mexico, near the Pueblo village OF that name, In
spending much OF their time in the Taos valley
and San Luis Park, and along theSangre de Cr1sto
Mountains. Down In this region they were ac-
customed to meet the Apaches, who came from
the north. 1t is very common thing for the
women OF tribe OF Indians to marry out of
their tribe. Ouray'S father married an Apache
women; hence the epithet which Is so often
snceringly applied to Ouray by those of the In
dams who distked him, OF being an apache
papoose." The Indians became so accustomed
to associate with the Mexicans that some of
them began to adopt the customs of this people
and when OuTay S father and mother came to
the conclusion that they wanted to be married
they quietly marched up to the little ad Jb5
church, which stands on the hill, in the village
at The Red liver crossing, and had the priest
perform the ceremony, just as any good Catho-
llcs would. And when Ouray was born they
took him TO the same adobe building and had
him baptized into the Catholic Church the only
instance on record of the kind.
Ouray has long been chief among the Utes
but Is more renowned for his wisdom than mis-
he was accustomed to lead the Ute braves to
pattle, and was very brave as we'll as SUCCESS
M gh5e He generally planned Wen and
were engaged In deadly encounter with the
Arrapahoes, Cheyennes and Sioux. 1t Mszs> a
war between the plains Indians and the noun
tain tribes. Ouray entered into the spirit which
characterized his race with WILL and soon
became a renowned warrior He soon was
famed for WISDOM and his counsel was sought
by the Utes far and near. When the white men
first began to settle In what is now Colorado
they found Ouray chief of the Tabequache or
Incompahgre tribe, the largest band Of the
other bands, so that While he was not head
chief, he was man of The greatest Influence
and power among his people. He was also dis
posed to be friendly toward the white settlers
ana soon became known as mediator between
the two races He continued increasing his
authority and influence among his people until,
as ne expresses it, 1.-The year after Lincoln's
death he was recognized as head cher BY the
INDIANS" In 1878 he acted as interpreter, and,
in recognition Of his services at that time and
Ia me u past me government settled an annuity
unued to draw regularly.
The Utes have had five wars with the ARA
pahoes. and Ouray states that during some OF
battle field. The second war occurred about
1855, and some Of the battles were fought Just
ABOVE ABOVE Where Denver stands: Ouray had but
numbered 700. They came upon the UJeS In
the morning, just before daylight, and took the
mountain Indians completely by surprise.
However, Ouray rallied his few warriors. and
they hurriedly formed in a square, after re-
treating short distance, and after q fight
which continued fourteen hours, repulsed the
1t was during this fight that Ouray lost his
little bOy-the only son that had been born to
him. He says that when he saw the Arrapa-
hoes coming. he threw water in the face OF the
CHILD. then 6 years OF age, for the purpose OF
awakening him, but falling in this, he threw
covering over him and left him to so and fight
the invaders OF the camp. But the entire day
passed before be could eXtricate himself from
the entanglements involving him, and when he
did get away and have an opportunity to re.
turn udr to his tepee, his boy had disappeared and
1ncl0ent is Still wildly remembered by Ouray
and he never refers to 1t without mantfesting
Inc greatest !t sorrow over II. He processes to
not, He is still with the Arrapahoes, and as
Ouray heartily despises the Arrapahoes, he
would prefer the death of his son to the dis
|
Ouray lives In good STYLE. He owns a farm.
Wnlcn is a real garden spot. OF 300 acres. or
this he cultivates about 100 acres, raising all
hiheS OF cereals and vegetables: BE lives in
for him by the government, and neatly turn
1shed and carpeted. He owns great numbers
OF horses and a good many cattle and sheep,
and when he goes out, rides in carriage which
was present from ex-Gov. McCook. He hires
iaoCreTS from among the MeXicanS and Indians
and also expects his wife to do her share OF the
fvxjFn
klnd hearted and very much like Ouray In her
nature, being kind and well disposed toward
the whites. The chief has become very much
attached to his present manner of living, and
Ii Is said was disposed to remain on his farm
and surrender the reins OF government to some
young man. Speaking before the commission,
at Los PinoS, on the 10th OF November of the
present year, he said:
~ Go not want to be Chief. / grow old and
am tottering. Let some young man with the
fire OF youth In his veins take my place. have
my farm, which l would rather cultivate and
watch the seed planted by me grow up to ma
me with their troubles. l know everything
and have all their burdens to bear Washing.
ton no want me to give.up my position; wants
me to stay and govern Utes. want only TO be
known as Ouray, the friend OF the white man"
SO far as the late difficulty, resulting In the
White river massacre and the Milk creek fight,
was concerned, Ouray continued from first to
last friendly TO the whites and an advocate of
peace. AS soon as he learned OF the Thorn
burgh fight he sent runners to White river, Or
der1ng that hOstilitieS cease He also did every
thing 10 his power to secure the surrender OF
the captive women, and when there was pros
pect OF the southern Utes breaking out he sent
timely warning to the white settlers near.
Although baptized into the Catholic church,
Ouray does not profess the white mans re-
ligion. SenoughlbaSe Is the Ute god and In
him Ouray believes. BE says that when good
people die they will go TO delightful place like
beautiful valley, with clear stream Of water
running In it, there to meet with the friends
ana ana the spirits of friends who have gone be.
toie. Ihey Will all meet there-friend5,