The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-08-31
oHIEr oUnAI's DEATH.
sketch OF HIS Life. Character and Ser.
vices.

sketch OF HIS Life, Character and Sei
NEW YoRk, August SO.-chief ouray, o
the Ute Indians, whose death on Friday
at the Los Pinos Agency, colororado, 4
announced by telegraph, was one Of III,
most remarkable Of Indian statesmen
since the death Of Black Hawk and Red
Jacket. He was born probably within the
present territory OF Colorado, some fifty
or sixty years ago, when that region nom
inally belonged 70 Mexico, but WAS NJ.
terly unknown 10 white men.
The important tribe OF Utes, Of which
he the most conspicuous individual,
occupied an immense territory, embracing
large part OF Utah, which derives its
name from the tribe, and nearly all OF Col.
orado west OF the Rocky Mountains. The
chief settlements Of the Utes were upon
the Colorado river and Its upper tribu.
tAries, the Grand, Green, White, Gunni.
son and San Juan rivers. They are divided
into several bands, under separate chief.
tAins, the best known bands being the
Uintah Utes in Utah, the White River
Utes, the Southern Utes and the Uncom-
pahgre Utes, the latter being the. most
numerous and the one 70 which 0uray be-
longed. The name Is derived from the
range Of mountains which they inhabited,
and this probably from the Spanish words
tln oompGdre, literally fellow godfather,
but colloquially meaning good friend.
ouray became acquainted in early life
with some OF the Mexicans OF the northern
confines Of New Mexico, traded with
them, and learned the Spanish Language
60 as TO be able to use it in conversation.
Since the settlement OF Colorado and
Utah by Americans he came into close re.
lations with many settlers and was known
as the white mans friend. Many years
ago, while hunting east OF the Rocky
Mountains his only child, boy twelve
years old, was captured by the Sioux and
Is believed TO be sullliying. This was the
greatest grief Of his life, and be repeated
ly, and not unTeasonably, appealed TO the
influence Of the "Great Father" at
Washington to secure his return.
Since the opening of treaty relations
with his tribe 0uray rapidly sdopted
many Of the distinctive habits OF civiliza-
ton. Though the greater part OF the
Utes remained sayages, he learned from
the whites the methods OF agriculture, es.
tablished farm oil sixty acres, on which
he raised good crops aud cattle, and built
a acomtoTtAble house and bad Ii well furn.
ished. Gov. McCook, Of Colorado, made
him present OF q handsome csrriage, and
with stylish team and Mexican driver,
he was able to "Astonish the ma
iyesh by his magDifeehce. Being
q natural diplomstist, he soon
learned the secret OF communi.
eating his views by writing TO the Indian
department or directly to the President.
and used to sign his name to such letters
as be caused TO be written. He made
at least three visits to Washington, being
received with proper attention. His
efforts to avert war last year IN connec.
ton with the Meeker murder by the
White River Utes, his appointment as
peace commissioner, along with one or
two white men, his eloquent speeches on
the grievances Of his Lnbe, his visit TO
Washington last winter and bis appear
ance before the Committee on IndiAn
Affairs, will be remembered by our read
ems. Quite recently he had been negoiia-
ting the sale OF large portion OF the Ute
in Colorado, but his premature
death will probably make It difficult TO &C
complish that coveted object.