National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-01-30
THE UTE INDIAN OUTBREAK
Governor Pitkin's Statement to the
Committee.
The Whole Blame Laid to the Utes-Re.
peatcd Violations of Treaty obligations
Instances Quoted by tho Cow
ernor-His own Experience
with the Indians-Agent
Meeker's Oncnse.
The story Told by n Fropttcrsmap.


Governor Pitkin, of Colorado, was before tn,
House Committee Of Indian Affairs yesterday
morning, aud was examined relative to the
causes leading TO the recent Ute outbreak
| The Governors testimony is most positive
against there being any cause other than tho
"cussGdness" of the Indian Nation, and the
| evidence hc has given thus far shows cOnclu.
| siyaly that in many respects the Indians have
violated their treaty, have been the aggressors
| in every instance aud have committed depre-
datiOns upon the whites living in remote To-
calities fifty to one hundred miles from their
reservation, thus showing that the Ues have
In organized marauding bands, left the bounds
Of their reservation to wage war uDOn defense
less white settlers and miners. The evidence
given by the Governor was substantiatcd by
him by the original official correspondence at
the time, and by statements of parties having
Knowledge of the facts detailed by the Gov
eTnOr.
Among the matters covered by Governor
| Ptkn's testimony, was the recital of facts
connected with the raid of the Ute chief
Antelope, and his band into Middle Park
during May and June last--the fires which
thoy started, tho minors driven out of theft
mines by threats that they would be killed Il
they did not leave, and the large amount of
game and timber destroyed. lie gave the
names of many miners who were forced to
leave their mines. He described the raid OF
Colorow the famous Ute chief aud his band
through the North Park in June last and gave
a list of miners aud stockmen driven out of
that locality. He narrated the manner in
which John X. Ashley, surveyor, In charge of
Il party of eleven men engaged in making sur.
veys ior the Government IN North Park, were
driven out, and constantly referred the com.
mittec to maps showing the locality where
these depredatiuns were committed, showing
that the Utcs engaged were long distance
away from theii reservation.
Governor Pitkin spoke of the forests de.
stroycd in San Juan county aud the action
OF the grand jury of San Juan county. and in
troduced his correspondence ,transpirng early
in July last, with Agent Meeker and Commits
siOncr Hayt In relation to these Indian depre.
dations aud fires. Ho described tho lawless
way in which the Indians lived on their reser-
walton, and that they never pretended to stay
OH It, but roamed ut pleasure in all parts Of
the state. lie presented official documents
from Agent Meeker General Pope and army
officers, and petitions to General Pope from
citizens of Middle Park, made as far back as
1871, showing tho settled purpose on the part
of tho Indians to drive the whites entirely out
Of the Middle and North Parks, and showed
that tho annual raids through these two parks
had kept that country almost depopuiatcd
Hc referred to the interview had with the Ute
chiefs lust August, when they officially visited
him for the purpose of securing the removal
of Agent McLker, aud detailed tho complaints
which they made and reasons they assigned
for asking the removal.
Their reasons were that Agent ,Meeke er was
eudoavoriug to educate their children, was
cultiyating the soil and was trying to induce
them to labor There were no complaints
made by these Indians that any miners or
other settlers had encrOached on their
reservations or that Agent Meekerdd not sup,
ply them with food, and that there was no
charge made of dishonesty on his part. The
tlyvfs Al .tftt /,
following the instructions OF the Interior De.
pHrtmcnt in cndCavOriug to induce them tu
I'D. pit the habits of civilized life. The Gov.
ernor gave the names Of persons prescnt dur.
ing the interview with these chiefs who were
witnesses and listeners TO the entire cuuversa,
tiOu, and read u statement to the same effect
from MI. Woodbury., OF the Denver Times, who
was present and took notes OF tho interyiew,
n to his reCOColiCC.iOu Of the words spoken
then. lie further stated the fct that after
this interview Chief jack started for the Ute
reservation, and on ,reaChug the Hot Sulphur
Springs told Frank Bycrs, whom Jack had
known for many years, that after hc and his
band would pass Dodgcs command, then in
Middle Park, they would "sct the country on
hIe.' In confirmation Of the fact that Jack
made his words good, Governor Ptkin road
letter from William Hegtherly, mail carrier
describing the fires that followed Jack 5 trail
after his passing the soldiers
The Governor gave an aCgoUnt Of tho bnrn.
ing of the houses OF A. II. Smart aud Major
Thompson, in ROutt county, long distance
from the reservation; of the warrants sworn
out aud his (GuveIuor Pitkiu's) correspond.
cuce with General Pope in relation to the ar.
rest ofthe oliendors-that uone were over ar-
rested. lie also introduced letters received
from Agent MCeker up to the time of his
death. These letters from Mcoker rcror TO
his being roughly handled by Chief johnson
aud his band, and that he would have been