The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-27
Merritt IS On
Indian Fighter

There is one locality in the United
States where General Wesley Merritt,
our military governor in the Philip
pines. is regarded as a hero second to
none in the annals of American history.
This is in Colorado, where he Is remem-
bered with reverence and affection for
the important part he played in one of
the most thrilling episodes in Colorado's
early history-the Ute outbreak i'm 1879.
Father Meeker was one of the kindest
and most humane men that ever lived.
Taking charge of the White River
agency i'm 1873. at a time when the re-
lations etwee the settlers and the In
dIans were already strained, he at
tempted by kindness to soften the anger
of the Indians n bring about an era
of peace and good will. This attitude
was looked upon by the Indians as an
evidence of weakness. A year or two
before one or two men had been killed
on each side in brushes between the
white men and the Indians. n TO add
to the hostile feeling of the Indians, the
Indian bureau had sadly ~mismanaged
affairs. All the supplies for the agency
We're in the government warehouse at
Rawlins, Wyoming, and no efforts were
! btlnS Hldut 10 StNult AdAiSH'i oAici
from the railroad to the agency. The
Indians were destitute, and naturally
blamed the agent for their condition,
while the agent was helpless. The
Utes finally ven to Rawlins to en-
deavor 10 get some of the food and
clothing that belonged to them, but the
government regulations were an 1nsur-
mountable barrier To the accomplish
ment of their purpose and the hungry
49, Vann0GaG and hra NpS made the
weary journey Of 1856 miles back To the
agency. ne had Travelled $40 miles
TO get what was their " and failed
Through the efforts of Agent Meekei
the supplies We're finally brought &c
the agency. and the Indians were made
more comfortable than they had beer
The Ions delay and their own suffering
for years. But they were not satisfied
had exasperated them. and they com,
mitted one outrage after another, unit
finally Agent Meeker became alarmed
and sent for the troops, after he ha'
been brutally assaulted by Chief John
son.
News of the serious state of affair
was carried to Rawlins by Colonel Johl
W. Steele. a mail contractor. who tele
graphed the facts To General Sheridan
Colonel Wesley Merritt. commandini
the 9Th cavalry. was then stationed a
Fort Russell, near Cheyenne. and Majo
T. T. Thornburg of the 4th infantry
was at Fort Fred Steele. on the Unio
Pacific road. with a detachment of nj
regiment and a company of the Sd cav
!, airy. Upon receipt OF his request 10
troops from Agent Meeker, the war dt
partment directed General Sheridan I
send a force to the agency, but tn
troops received special instructions tha
they were not To punish any Indian
only TO inquire into the causes OF IN
5 trouble and to restrain the Indian
from further characterization. Undo
no circumstances were the troops to fin
b first In the event OF a collision with n
Indians. Hampered by such instru,
: tons. Major Thornburg went to n
agency. He had only recently assume
command. and his first campaign in n
West was his last. Colonel Merritt Va
directed To AFFORD Major ThornbuI
every assistance possible. The responi
TO this order was characteristic OF Ca