New-York tribune., 1880-02-05
THE STARVING UTES,
MORE QUESTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE By III. HI
WHAT WHITE MEN HAVE DONE AID ARR DOING io
INDIANS IN COLORADO

you say: ." The two most serious hindrances To
satisfactory solution OF the Indian question are
Indians and white men. Any problem Is
embarrassing when of its factors is addicted 10
scalping men. torturng women, and Draining chli-
dren. The problem becomes still moro embarrass-
ing when lone" of tho factors has no way
of making known to the people what the
other "factor" has done to him. In cOnnec-
ton with the present attempt to rouse
sweeping sentiment of indignation ana
denunciation against the band of 1000
well-nigh helpless Utes In Colorado, because
twelve of their number have committed murder ana
rape and some 800 OF 400 of them undertook 10
prevent the marching of United States troops into
their lands ! wish to tell to tho American people o
few of the atrocities which Colorado white men
committed upon Indians only fifteen years ago.
In June 1854. Governor Evans, OF Colorado, Gent
out circular to the Indians of the Plains inVlung
all friendly Indians to come into the neEhborhood
of the forts and be protected bg the United states
troops. Hostiities and depredatons had been
committed by some bands of Indians. and the Gov
ernment was about to make war upon them. lhis
circular says:
and killed soldiers. and murdered peaceabe citizens
For this the Great Father angry and VIII certainly
hunt them out and punish them; Dut he
does not want to injnre those who remain .n9
friendly to the whites He desires 70 pFo'esst tsat aa a
friendly Indians keep away from those who ore at war
Sho gD NO pho9Stnsn nn the Arkansas river will 90 10
Major Colby. United States Agent Mt Fort LY0n VINO
viii give them provisions aud show them place OF
safety.
In consequence of this proclamation of the Gov
ernor band of Cheyennes, several hundred IN
number came in and settled down near Fort Lyon.
After time they were requested to move
to Sand Creek, about forty miles from
Fort Lyon, where they were still guar
anteed perfect safety" and the protec-
ton of the Government RatIons of food were issued
to them from time to tims On the 9th OF Noveln-
ber, Colonel j. NJ. Chvngton. member of tho
Methodist Episcopal Church in Denver, and Colonel
of the 1st Colorado Cavalry, led his regiment
by a forced march to Fort Lyon, induced
some of the United States troops to JOIN him,
and tell upon this camp of friendly Eoians at day
break The chief, White Antelope, ALWAYS known
as friendly to tha whites came running toward the
soldiers. holding up his hands and crying stop
stop ln in English When he saw that there was no
mistake that it was deliberate attack, be folded
his arms and waited till he was shot down. fhe
United States Gag was floating over the lodge of
Black Kettle the head chief Of the tribe. Below 1t
was tied also a small white flag additional secu-
rity, q precaution Black Kettle had been advised
by United States officers 10 take If he met troops
on the Plans. In Major Wynkoop's testimony
given before the committee appointed by Congress
TO investigate this massacre. is the following pass
age:
Women and children were Killed and scalped children
shof a their mothers breasts. and al the bodies mutt
lated In the mosI horrible manner. The dead
pcc, o. ~ rse",n SoneIJ " chiyngion oil the time
uciting his troops TO their daboncai outrages.
Another man testified "a to what he saw on the
3Oth of November three days after tine battle, as
follows:
Isawaman dlsmouut from bis horse and cut the car
from the body Of an Indian aud the scalp lIon
Children sss ea"d killed. "nOtS ibey had bullet s hoe. IN
them; one ehd had been cut wi, WIN a. some t1na,
born car. had been cut OF. | saw several 0f the
81 Regiment cut OF fingers the rings OF them.
Saw Major sayre scap dead Indian. Tie scalp had
long tail OF silver hanging 10 IT,
Robert Bent testified:
saw one squaw lying on the bank whose leg had
been broken A soldier came mp 20 her with q drawn
sbre she raised her arm To protect herself Le struck
breaking She rolled over and raised her other
oui filling her. saw one squaw cut open, win
born child lying by her side'
Major Anthony testifed
There was ono H.tle child probably three years old
inst big enough TO walk through the sand The Indians
mad gone ahead and ths ltto child was behind follow
ing after them. The little fellow was perfectly uaEed
travelling IN the sand. saw eff his horse
.at distance Of about seyenty-nvc yards and draw up
his rfir and fire He missed the child. Another man
can 6if him" lie got down OF hs horse. kneeled down.
and fired the rtlle child but ne missed MIN. Ina
man came up and made similar remark ana hreu
and the Ittle fellow dropped
The Indians we're not able to make much resist
ance, as only part of them were armed the Usited
states officers having required them TO give up
fheir guns. Luckily they had kept few.
When this Colorado regiment OF demons returned
to Denver they were greeted with an ovation.
The Dcnrer Ae,cs said "Al acquitted themselves
WELL Colorado soldiers have again covered
themselves with glory" aud at a theat-
rcal performance given in the city, the scalps
taken from three Indians were held up and exhib-
tied to the audience, which appaudcd rapturousy.
After listening, day after day, TO such testi-
monies as these have quoted. and others so much
worse that maynot write and TnE TRIBUNE could
not print the words needfuI to tell them, the
mIttee reported: 1t is dihlcult to believe that
beings IN the form Of men, and dsgracng the uni
form of United States soldiers and officers could
commit or countenauco the commission of such acts
of cruelty and barbarity y; and. of Colonel Chiyng
ton &" He deliberately planned and executed a
foul and dasardly massacre, which would have dis
graced the vorost savage among those who were
the victims of his cruelty"
This was Just fifteen years ago. more. Shall
we apply the same rule of judgment to the
white men of Colorado that the Govern
ment is applying to the Utcsf
There are 10000 inhabitants of Coorado
hundreds Of them had hand in this massacre, and
thousands in cool blood applaudcd it when
1t was done. There 1000 Utes in
Colorado Twelve Of them. desperate, guilty
men, have committed murder and rape, and
three or four hundred of them did, in the
convenient phrase of our diplomacy. go to war
against the Government y: t. e., they attempted, by
force of arms, 10 restrain the entrance upon their
own lands-lands bought, owned and paid for--of
soldiers that the Government had sent there
TO be ready TO make war upon them,
In case the agent thought it best to do sol This is
the plain English Of it, This is the plain, naked
truth Of it.
And now the Secretary of the Interior has stopped