The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-09-23
The Chief Ouray-The Story OF tho Ute
Braves Life.


In the death of Ouray one of the his
torical characters Of Colorado passes
away. He has figured for many years q,
the greatest Indian of his time and dur
ing his life has figured quite rs promi
ncntly before the country as has an,
white man in the Rocky Mountains. L
is, therefore, meet and proper that or
; the occasion Of his death his life shoulC
be remembered. Til. record of his deed.
is one of simple parts, yet he has p.oyef
himself ele, ated so far above other rnef
of his race aud time that bis acts stanC
out in bold relief Ouray is in many
espects-indeed, we may say in oil res
pccts-a remarkable Indian; q man o.
pure instinct, Of kecn perceptions, and
apparently possesses -c.y proper ideas ol
justice and right, the friend Of the white
man and the protector Of the Indian, over
boldly asserting the right of hia tribe, and
as continually doing all II HE power tc
create favor for the white man with the
Indians.
Ouray, in telling the story of his life
says that hc was born in the Toas Valley
near Mexico, near the Pueblo village OF
that name, in 1889. His tribe Of Utcs
were in tho habit Of spending much of
their time in the Toas Valley and San
Luis Park, and along the Santre de
Cristo Mountains. Down in this region
they were accustomed to meet lie Apa-
ches, who came from the North. 1t is a
very common thing for the women of n
tribe of Indians to marry out of their
tribe. Ouray's father married nm Apache
woman; h Lace the cpithet which is so
often sneeringly applied to Ouray by
those of the Indians who disliked him OF
being an "Apache pnpoose." The In
dlans became so accustomed to associate
with the Mexicans that some of them
began to adopt the customs of this people,
and when Ouray's father and mother
camo to the conclusion that they wanted
to be married they quietly marched up to
the little adobe church, which stands on
the hill in the village at Red River
Crossing, and had the priest perform the
ceremony.
Ouray has long been chief among the
Utes, but is more removed for his wisdom
than his bravery. During his young
manhood, however, he was accustomed
to lead the Utes braves to battle, and was
very brave rs we'll rs successful fighter.
he generally planned we'll and fought
bravely. During these times the Utes
were engaged in deadly encounter with
the Arrapahoes, Cheyennes, and Sioux.
1t was war between the plains Indians
and the mountain tribes. Ouray entered
into the spirit which characterized his
race with will and soon became re-.
nowned warrior. He soon was famed for
wisdom, and his counsel was sought by
the Utcs far and near. When the white
men first began to settle in what is now
Colorado they found Ouray chief of the
Tabequache or Uncompahgre tribe. the
largest band Of the tribe, and in great
favor with the members of other tribes, so
that, while lie was not head chief, he was
a man of the greatest influence and power
among his people. He was also disposed
to be friendly toward the white set
tiers, and soon became known as q medi-
ator between the two races. He contin-
tlnued increasing his authority and in
fiuence among his people until, MS he
expresses it. "the year after Lincoln's
death he was recognized as head chief by
tho Indians" In 1873 he acted as inter-
prefer, and in recognition of his services
at that time and in the past the govern
ment settled an annuity of 81 900 upon
him, which he has since continued to
draw regularly
The Utes have had five wars with the
Arrapabocs, and Ourny states that during
some of these he led as many as seven
hundred warriors to the battle field. The
second war occurred about 1858, and
some or the battles were fought lust above
where Denver stands. Ouray had but
thirty men with him, while the Arrapa.
hoes numbered seven hundred. They
came upon the Utes in the morning, Just
before daylight, and took the mountain
Indians completely by surprise. How
ever, Ouray rallied his few warriors, and
they hurriedly formed in square, after
retreating q short distance, and after
q long fight repulsed the Arrapahocs.
1t was during this fight that Ouray lost
his l'ttle boy only son that has been
born to him. He says that when he saw
the Arrapahoes coming he threw water
in the face of the child, then six years
old, for the purpose of awakening him,
but failing in this he threw covering over
him and left him to go and fight the in
vaders of the camp. But the entire day
passed before he could extrcate himself
rom the entanglements involving him,
and when he did get away and have an
opportunity to return to his tepee bis
boy had disappeared and has never since
been seen by his father. This incident is
still vividly remembered by Ouray, and
he never refers to it without manifestipc
the greatest sorrow over it. He processes
to believe his boy is dead, though he
knows he is not. He is still with the
Arrapahoes, and rs Ourny heartily de.
epises the Arrapahoes be would prefer the
death OF his son to the disgrace implied
in being an Arrapahoe.
Ouray lives in good style. He owns q
farm, which is a real garden spot. 300
acre. OF this he cultivatea about 1OC
acres, raising all kinds of cereals and
vegetables. He lives in q newly. built
and commodious adobe house, built foi
him by the government, and neatly fur.
nished and carpeted. He owns great
numbers Of horses and good many cat
tie and siieep, aud when he goes oas ride:
in carriage which was q present from
Ex-Governor McCook. He hires labor
ers from among the Mexicans and In.
dians, and also expects his wife to do hcl
share of the farm work. Ouray's pres
ent Vile, Chopeta, is kind-hearted ane
very much like Ouray in her nature, be
ing kind and we'll disposed towards the
whites. The chiefha become very much
attached to his present manner of living
and, it is said, was disposed to remain on
his farm and surrender the reigns O.
government TO some young man. Spesk
ing before the commission, of which
he was member, recently in session a
Los Pinos, on the 10th Uf November o.
the past year, he said:
II do not want to be chief I grow
4 u A-aA