The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-10
Tho Chsef Ouray-The story Of the Ufo
Braves Life.
TFrom the Denver Tribune. ]

Indian Of his time, and during his life has
| figured quite as prominently before the
| country as has any white man In the Rocky
Mountains. IL Is, therefore. meet and pro-
per that on the occasion OF his 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 bis race and time that his acts
stand out in bold relief. Ouray is in many
respects--indeed, we may say In all re-
spects--a remarkable Indian; man OF pure
instincts, OF keen perception, and apparent
~ possesses very proper ideas OF justice
and right, the friend OF the white man and
the protector Of the Indian, ever boldly as
setting the rights Of his tribe, and as con-
tinually doing all in bis power to create
favor for the white man with the Indians.
Ouray, in telling the story of his life,
says that he was born in the Taos Valley
near Mexico. near the Pueblo village OF that
name, in 1889. His tribe OF Utes were in
the habit OF spending much OF their time in
the Taos Valley and San Luis Park, and
along the Sangre de Crsto Mountains.
Down in this region they were accustomed
/ to meet the Apacbes, who came from the
North. Ii is very common thing for the
women OF a tribe OF Iudians to marry
out of their tribe. Ouray's father mar
ried an Apache woman; hence the epithet
which is so often sneeringly applied to Ou-
ray by those OF the Indians who dislked
him OF being an "Apache papoose." The
! Indians became so accustomed TO associate
with the MeXcans that some OF them began
TO adopt the customs OF this people, and
when Ouray's father and mother came to
the conclusion that they wanted to be mar
ried 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 renowned for his wisdom
than his bravery. During his young man.
hood, however, he was accustomed 10 lead
the Ute braves TO battle, and was a very
brave as well as successful fighter. He
generally planned well and fought brayeIy.
During these times the UIes were engaged
in deadly encounter with the Arrapahoes,
Cheyennes, and Sioux. 1t was a war be-
tween the plains Indians and the mountain
tribes. Ouray entered into the spirit which
characterized bis race with q 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
Uncompahgre tribe, the largest band OF the
tribe, and IN great favor with The members
OF other tribes, so that, while he was not
head chief he was man OF tue greatest in
| fluence and power among his people. He
was also disposed to be friendly toward the
white settlers, and soon became known as a
mediator between the two races. He con-
tinucd increasing his authority and influ-
ence among his people until, as he eX-
presses it, "the year after Lincoln's death
| he was recognized as head chief by the ln-
dians." In 1873 he acted as Interpreter, and
in reorganization OF his services at that time
and in the past the Government settled an
annuity of 81 900 upon him, which he has
since continued to draw regularly,
The Utes have had five wars with the Ar
rapahoes, and Ouray states that during
some OF these he led as many as 700 war
riors to the battlefield. The second war
occurred about 1858, and some OF the battles
were fought just above where Denver stands.
Ouray had but 80 men with him. while the
Arrapahoes numbered 100 They came
upon the Utes in the morning, just before
daylight, and took the mountain Indians
completely by surprise. However, Ouray
rallied his few warriors, and they hurriedly
| IL u
distance, and, after fight which continued
fourteen hours, repulsed the ArrapahOes.
1t was during this fight that Ouray lost bis
| little boy-the only son that has been born
to him. He says that when he saw the Ar
rapahoes coming he threw water in the face
of the child, then six years old. for the pur-
| pose OF awakening him, but failing in this
| be threw covering over him and left him 10
20 and fight the invaders OF the camp. But
The entire day passed before he could extri-
| cate himself from the entanglements in
yolving him. and when he did get away
and have an opportunity to return to
his tepee, his boy had disappeared, and has
never since been seen by bis father. This
| incident is still vividly remembered by
Ouray, and he never refers 10 1t without
manifesting the greatest sorrow over IL. He
processes to believe his boy is dead, though
he knows he is not. He is still with the
Arrapahoes, and as Quay heartily despises
the Arrapahoes, he would prefer the death
OF his son to the disgrace implied in being
an Arrapahoe.
Ouray lives in good style. He OWLS a
farm, which is a real garden spot, OF 300
acres. or this he cullivates about 100 acres,
raising all kinds OF cereals and vegetables.
He lives in neatly-built and c0mmodious
adobe house, built for him by the Govern
ment, and neatly furnished and carpeted.
He owns great numbers OF horses and
good many cattle and sheep, and when he
goes out rides In 4 carriage which was
present from Ex-Governor McCook. He
hires laborers from among the Mexicans
and Indians, and also expects his wife
to do her share OF the farm work. 0uray's
present wife, Chopeta, is knd-hearted and
very much like Ouray in her nature, being
kind and well-disposed towards the whites.
The chief has become very much attached
to his present manner OF living, aud, it Is
said, was disposed TO remain oG his farm and
surrender the reins OF government TO some
young man. Speaking before The Commits
sion, OF which he was member, recently
In session at Los Pinos, or the 10th OF No
vember OF the past year, he said.
81 do 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. j have my farm, which l would
rather cultivate and watch the seed planted
by me grow up to maturity than to be head
chief. They all come to me with their trou-
bes. ] know everything, and have all their
burdens TO bear. Washington no want me
TO give up nv position; wants me TO stay
and govern Utes. | want only TO be known
us 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 con-
tinued from first TO last friendly to the
whites, and an advocate Of peace. As soon
as he learned OF the Thornburgh fight he
sent runners to White river, ordering that
hostilities cease. Ee also did everything in