National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-01-23
THE UTE CONFERENCE.
why the DetaIIs are not pnbIIshet {


The statement is authorized that tho only
reason for Withholding the discussions at and
results of the conference between Secretary
Schurz the Colorado delegation In Congress
and the Ute chiefs on Wednesday from the
public was to protect the plans which the Gov.
ernment has made for the capture Of the GRIM
inal Indians, which arrangements arc lust
now being pushed with all possible vigor. The
conference really amounted to little besides
discussion of the various propositions for the
removal Of tho Ute Indians from Colorado
The effort of Secretary Schurz, as well us the
Colorado delegation was to induce Ouray 10
agree to remove his whole tribe to the Untah
reservation in Utah. Ouray emphatically in
formed the Secretary that while the White
River Utes and some of the Southern Indians
would 60 to the Uintah reservation, he and
portion of his tribe would not 60 there,
that at least four or five hundred insist
upon remaining in Colorado; but they
would reliuqush for reasonable sum
the greater part of their present reserva-
tion provided there should be some definite
and reliable arrangements made for the pay
ment of their annulties and those remaining
in Colorado would 60 into the northeastern
portion Of the present reservation, take up
160 acres of land and become citizens of the
State. The opinion is expressed at the Interior
Department that the plans now being adopted
for the capture of the murdercIs of the Meek
~
fore, the question of the surrender of the
criminals was not very freely discussed during
the conference, but Ouray, whilo cOnfessing
his inability to deliver the criminals, ex-
pressed willingness to cooperate with the
Government in any way he could for their
capture. A very important feature Of the
conference was the effort to ascertain the truth
of the story that tho Mormons melted the
trouble with these Indians. Each Indian was
interrogated directly aud indirectly upon this
point, but each denied that any intercourse
whatever had been had with the Mormons, or
that they were responsible for the trouble,
A Little Prose About the Utes.
Lieutenant Samuel A. Cherry, Fifth Cavalry
and adjudant of Thornburgh's command, was
before the House Committee ON Indian Affairs
yesterday. He gave very interesting and
detailed statement of the fight in which
Thornburgh was killed and tho incidents aud
military movements Immediately preceding
and subsequent thereto. He stated that ho
was present when Major Thornburgh held his
conference with the Indians, and that Thorn
burgh made 1t very plain to them by repeated
explanations and assurances that while he
could not stop his march at that particular
spot, he certainly would before he reached
tho agency. Lieutenant Cherry stated that
the Indians when they encountered them on
tho day OF the fatal fight, were massed to the
number Of 400, evidently for an ambush and
the command had not taken by mistake side.
trail instead of the usual road, every man
would undoubtedly have been massacred. In
regard to the statement ofGeneral Adams, "that
tho Indians told him tho troops fred first
upon Them" Lieutenant Cherry said that
when the Indians were first seen he was sent
forward by Major Thornburgh to parley with
them; that he went out in front Of the COM
mand waving his hat, recognized friendly
signal, when the Indians fired upon him,
woundng soldier almost Immediately be.
hind him, aud that then the firing became
general.
More utes Coming,
Secretary Schurz yesterday received tola-
gram from General Hatch saying that the
Southern Utes arc on their way to Washing.
ton and would reach Santo Fe n NJ, to-day
General Hatch will not accompany thom to
Washington, as the War Department. is un-
willing to have him leave his post in the
present condition Of affairs.