The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-15
CHIEF C0L0ROW'S DEATH
TIE TERROR OF COLORADO SET
Tiers HARMLESS AT LAST
He Dies Telling of Ills Wrongs-A
Brave Indian and a Great Thief-He
Hated the Whites and Ee Loved Fire
Water.
From the Nelc York Sun.

DENVER, Dec. 2.-Old Colorow, the
White river chief, died at his camp near the
mouth OF White river, a few miles above
Ouray Indian agency, yesterday, of pneu-
monia. Colorow has teen under the mill
tary surveillance of his post since the
conference of Gen. Crook with Gov. Adams
at Meeker. in September 1897. Since that
time the whereabouts Of the old man have
been known at all times to the commander
of this post. Since the attack upon his
camp. near Meeker, by Sheriff Kendall he
has never passed east of the reservation
line, and has always accused the settlers of
w hite river of hypocrisy and betrayal. He
had passionate regard for White river,
and when driven to the reservation placed
his people on that stream only few miles
above the agency
Colorow mas been feeble for some months,
and ne obtained permission to go with
few or his followers to the mountains south
OF the post during the summer months, to
try the effect Of the cool atmosphere of a
higher altitude. A few days ago it was an
nounced that he was very sick, and the
physician at Ouray was sent for to attend
him. be soon saw that pneumonia had
fastened upon him, and so told the old
chiefs friends. Great CONSERVATION was at
once apparent. The squaws of his tribe
oIOLs OH 10 Lne WILLOWS on Inc river
banks, cut their hair, and otherwise gave
vent to their grief at he approaching de-
mise of the great chieftain. When visited by
an interpreter and asked if he wanted
to talk before dying, the old fellow
at first thoughtfully shock his head, but
followed by saying he had been wronged
and prosecuted by the whites, and that
some Of bis own people, the White River
UCes, had talked TWO ways, meaning they
dQppIVQd m hai
regarding the report he had caused sent TO
the department at Washington relating to
his losses, he said with one exception his
claims were true. He had always allowed
the impression to prevail that some Of his
followers were killed at Rangely, but upon
his death he denied this statement. He
said none was killed, but he wanted the
government to think So believing thereby
to gain sympathy and settlement of his
losses.
He admitted that the two Indians whom
Kendall tried to arrest stole the horses, but
he had offered to let the whites whose
horses had been stolen select any two horses
out of his band to satisfy them. This offer
was refused. Just n few minutes before the
old chief died he called Gus, his son, to him
and asked to be taken out to the bank of
the White river, where he was laid on is
blanket and died among the willows of the
stream upon which ne had passed the most
of his years.
Immediately after his death, as is the
custom, some of the younger members of
the band mounted ponies and rode to the
ranges, where thirty or forty of the best
horses we're shot, the Indian belief being
that the spirits of the horses accompany
the spirit of the chief to the happy hunting
grounds. Preparations are being made for
the burial, which will take place this after
noon.
The agency prepared the grave, which
was made large enough to contain the BODY
and quantity of klankets, provisions and
other articles for use in the future, which
are supposed by the Utes to be absolutely
| essential for the peace and comfort of their
| dead.
The Uintah Utes are now coming by
| families to attend the obsequies and the out
look promises the largest Indian burial
| ever accorded member of any tribe. Asa
| chief he was looked upon by all Utes with
great pride and interest, and has probably
reached greater distinction than any other
chief of the celebrated tribes.
For many years he has been the terror of
Colorado settlers, and a menace to the
peaceful settlement of the western reserve.
He first came into prominence through the
Meeker massacre in 1879. He was a lawless
nomad and resisted all the efforts of civil
cation. The White River country he
| ALWAYS called my country" aud when it
was thrown open to settlement he made life
a burden to the hardy pioneers. He
possessed much bravery, and by frequent
association with white men had acquired
knowledge of the pale faces character,
which ne frequently used to his own ad-
vantage He was never friendly with the
government or its agents, yet no Ute ever
drew his annuity money with such prompt
ness and regularity as Colorow.
When the treaty of 1879 was ma @ w tn
the White river Utes, whereby they were
&c be removed tn the Ulntah reservation,
Colorow strenuously opposed it, and alway
asserted that his name had bee1 forged to
the treaty. When his tribe was moved 30
the reservation Colorow deserted ard went
down on the White river near
where Rangley now stands. he
roamed around the country, making peri
odical visits to the settlers, frightening
women and children and quarreling with
the men. One feature OF these visits was
that he never returned to the reservation
alone. Some article of value TO
the settler always went with
him. An invent1ry of rers onai
effects always showed something missing
after visit from the willy old chief. He
never abandoned his nomadic way of living.
His whereabouts were a continual source Of
anxiety TO the agent, and The only time he
was positively known to be on the reserva-
ton was on days when annuity money was
paid out or blankets were being issued.
Since the Ute war" fiasco of August,
1887, Colorow has been under military sur
velllance, which chafed1him, and added to
his usual suriiness, but, undoubtedly. re-
strained him from annoying the people in
the White river country He was 20 years
old.
Colorow would never scare. Many times
his camp has been approached by cowboys
and he has listened to their threats without