The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-09

Denver Letter in the Sun.
The selection of General Wesley Mer-
rift as military commander in the
Philippines is particularly gratifying
to the people of this state, who re-
member the important part he played
in one of the most thrilling e%odes
of Colorado's early history. This was
in the Ute outbreak of 1879.
Father Meeker was one of the kind
est and most humane men that ever
lived. Taking charge of the White
River agency in 1878 at time when
the relations between the settlers and
the Indians were, already strained, he
attempted by kindness to soften the
anger OF the Indiansan bring about an
era of peace and good will. This atti
tude was looked upon by the Indians
as an evidence of weakness. year
or two before one or two men had been
killed on each side in brushes between
the white men and the Indians, and
to add to the hostile feeling of the In
dians the Indian Bureau had sadly
mismanaged affairs. All the supplies
for the agency were in the government
warehouse at Rawlins, Wyo., and no
efforts were being made to secure
transportation 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 went to
Rawlins to endeavor to get some of
the food and clothing that belonged
to them but the government rcgula-
tions were an insurmountable barrier
to the accomplishment of their pur-
pose, and the hungry squaws, pap
pooses, and braves made the weary
journey of 1S5 miles back to the agen-
cy. They had travelled $40 miles to get
what was their own and had failed.
Through the efforts of Agent Meeker
the supplies were finally brought to
the agency and the Indians were made
more comfortable than they had been
for years. But they were not salts
fed. The long delay and their own
sufferings had eXasperated them and
they committed one outrage after an
other until finally Agent Meeker be-
came alarmed and sent for troops, af-
to- he had been brutally assaulted by
Chief johnson.
TROOPS TO THE FRONT.
News of the serious state of affairs
was carried to Rawlins by Colonel John
w. steele, a mail contractor, who tele-
graphed the facts to General Sheridan
Colonel Wesley Merritt, commanding
the Fifth cavalry, was then stationed
ct Fort Russell, near Cheyenne, and
Major II. II. ThOrnhurG Of the Fourth
infantry was at Fort Fred Steele, on
the Union Pacific road, with a detach-
ment of his regiment and company of
the Third cavalry. Upon receipt Of the
request for troops from Agent Meeker,
the war department directed General
Sheridan to send a force to the agency,
but the troops received special instruc-
tons that they were not to punish
any Indians, only to inquire into the
causes of the trouble aud to restrain
the Indians from further insubordna-
ton. Under no circumstances were
the troops to fire first in the event OF
collision with the Indians. Hampered
by such instructions, Major Thornburg
went to the agency. He mad only re-
Gently assumed command, and his first
campaign in the west was his last
Colonel Merritt was directed to afford
Major Thornburg every assistance pos
siDle. The response to his order was
characteristic of Cavalry" Merritt, as
he was best known in the Army of the
Potomac. Within an hour after re-
the Fifth cavalry were on the way
to reinforce Thornburg
AMBUSCADED.
The command which left Rawlins on
September IA, 1897 consisted of Com
panics ID and T., Fifth cavalry, under
the command of Captains Payne and
Lawson; Company +, Third cavalry
commanded by Lieutenant Paddock
and Company f of the Fourth infantry
commanded by Lieutenants Price and
Woolloy. At the old Fertilization camp
about fifty miles from Rawlns, the in
fantry was left behind to act as a
reserve, and TO afford protection for
passing supply trains, while Major
Thornburg, with the three troops, COM
prising $50 men, pushed on to the
agency. A number Of Indians were en-
countered at different times, and they
always professed the greatest friend
ship, and went SO far as to propose
that Major Thornburg should take an
escort of five men and accompany