The times., 1899-12-24

While the white people in this country
are mourning the death of General I.awton
there will also be sorrow among some of
the Indians OF the far West, TO whom he
was known not only as a brave enemy in
war, but as Just and cOnsideTate friend in
time of peace. About the last incident Of
Importance in Lawton's relations with the
Indians was connected with the so-called
Ute invasion" of Utah late in 1894.
The Eastern press was then filled with
dispatches, some from Colorado, where the
Southern Utes had their reservation, and
where the people were most anxious to get
rid of them, insisting that Chief Ignacio
and his band should be left in Utah for the
winter as means Of appeasing their i'll
will toward the Colorado whites, and others
from Utah representing the Indians as
bent on a bloody erTand, and sure soon to
open new race war.
Governor West of Utah was in a partic-
ularly desperate state Of mind. Although
protesting Gentle, he Joined with the rural
Mormons Of the neighborhood where the
Indians were camped in representing con-
ditions as very serious, and in asserting the
I need Of using the military power to avert
the shedding of innocent blood
Secretary Hoke Smith had a good deal OF
confidence in the agent for the Southern
Utes, David f. Day, and as Day reported to
him that the Indians had taken with them
their women and children, and, therefore,
could not be bent on a warlike errand, he
declined to call upon the Secretary of War
for the troops which the Mormons consid-
cred a necessity He did confer with his
colleague, however, in an informal way,
the result of their conference being that
Lawton, then a lieutenant colonel, was de-
tailed TO inspectors duty and ordered 10
confer with Day and report what military
action was needed.
When Lawton and Day came together, il
vas the meeting of two of a kind as to
policy in dealing with Indians. Day said:
i am ready to stake my life on the peace
ful purposes of my Indians They have no
idea OF going TO war, and those Mormons
know it. All the Mormons are aiming at is
TO induce the Government 10 send troops
into Utah so that the farmers can turn III
handsome bills 10 the Government for food
provided and property destroyed. Why
shouldn't YOU and 90 over there and bring
the Indians back? That Will save time and
trouble for everybody, and expense TO the
Government"
Lawton asserted, and as soon as the nee
essary preliminaries could be arranged, the
two men set off on horseback with soma
packmules carrying a camp equipage and
rations for the trip They were soon on the.
trail, and a few days riding brought them
to the place where the Indians were en-
camped. A pow-wOw was called, and Day
and LawtoB presented to the Indians a SEN
sible view of the situation, telling them
that they were tTausgTessing the law, in a
technical sense at least, in going over TO
Utah without permission, and that the
them unless they went back.
The Indians explained that they were
hungry and had come to Utah, not to com
nit any aepredations on life or property
but to hunt game They reminded the
white emissares, also, that Congress had
once held out TO them a promise which had
never been fulfIIed that they should be re-
moved to Utah as a permanent place Of
residence, where they could hunt without
molestation Day and Lawton told them
that they had no responsibility in COnnec-
tion with the acts OF Congress, but had
come simply with the message from the
Great Father, which they had Just deliv-
cred; and they advised the Indians, as the
part OF friendship, to turn peaceab,y about
and go back.
The Indians reluctantly obeyed, although
the journey across the bleak mountains
with the impediment of the women and
children. caused them much suffering and
loss OF a quantity of their live stock. Day
and Lawton had brought rations enough
with them to help out in the emergency.
and few weeks later Ignacio and his
band were once more on their Colorado
reservation, without the firing of a gun or
more than the most tTifing expense TO the
Government.
The Mormons, naturally, were much dis
turbed in mind over the peaceful ending of
the affair, from which they had expected 10
derive great profit; but this did not pre-
vent some of them from handing in extor-
tonate bills for imaginary goods and chat
tells destroyed by the Indians. which Agent
Day had the satisfaction of endorsing N.
c." when they were referred to him from
Washington.