The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-25
LAWTON AND yTES..
Good Management of the so-called
Indian Invasion OF Utah.
POSSESSED THE CONFIDENCE
OF ths Indians, and Exhibited Prac.
teal Friendship-How Agent Day
and General Lawton Brought the
Indians Back to Colorado without
the Aid Of Troops, and Nipped a
Mormon Scheme.

Washington Special to New York
Post: While the white people in this
country are mourning the death of
General Lawton, there will also be sor-
row among some Of the Indians OF the
far west, to whom he was known not
only as brave enemy in war. but as a
just and considerable friend in time of
peace. About the last incident of inn
portance 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 pep
pered with dispatches, some from Colo
RADIO. 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 win
ter, as a means of appeasing their ILL
viii towards the Colorado whites. and
others from Utah. representing the In
dams as bent on bloody errand, and
sure soon to open n new race war.
Governor White, OF Utah, was in par
tlcularly desperate state of mind. AL
though a protesting Gentle. he Joined
with the rural Mormons Of the neigh
borhood where the Indians were camp
ed In representing conditions as very
serious, and in asserting the need Of
using the military power to avert the
shedding os Innocent blood.
Secretary Hoke Smith has 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, ard. therefore. could not be
bent on a warlike errand, he declined to
call upon the secretary OF war for the
troops which the STormons considered
a necessity. He did confer with his
colleague, however, in an informal way,
the result of their conference being that
Lawton, then lieutenant colonel. was
detailed to inspectors duty. and order
ed TO confer with Day and report what
military oction was needed. When
Lawton and Day came together, u was
the meeting Of two of kind as to poll
cy in dealing with Indians. Day said:
81 am ready 10 stake my life on the
peaceful purposes of my Indians. They
have no Idea of going to war; and those
Mormons know 1t. All the MormOns
are aiming at is to induce the govern
ment to send troops into Utah, so that
the farmers can turn in handsome bills
to the government for food provided
and property destroyed. Why shouldn't
you and 1 go over there and bring the
Indians back? That will save time
and trouble for everybody, and expense
to the government"
Lawton asented. and as soon as the
necessary preliminaries could be ar
ranged, the two men set out on horse
back, with some psck-mules carrying
camp equlpage and ratIons for the trip.
They were soon on the trail, and few
days riding brought them to the place
where the Indians we're encamped. A
pow-wow was called. and Day and
Lawton presented to the Indians a SEN
sIble view Of the situation. telling them
that they were transgressing the law,
in a technical sense at least, In going
over to Utah without permission. and
that The Great Father would be dis
pleased with them unless they went
back. The Indians explained that they
were hungry and had come to Utah.
not to commit any dcpredatIons on life
or property. but to hunt game. They
reminded the white emisSaries, also.
that Congress had once held out to
them a promise which had never been
fulfilled that they should be removed to
Utah as permanent place OF residence,
where they could hunt without moles-
tatIon. Day and Lawton told them that
they had no responsibility in connec-
ton with the acts OF Congress, but had
come simply with the message from the
Great Father, which they had Just de-
Ilyered; ard they advised the Indians,
as the part of friendship, to turn peace
ably hDOus anu 81 bhNh' 80
reluctantly obeyed, although the Jour
ney across the bleak mountains. with
the ,mpedIment Of the women and chill
dren. 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 the emer-
gency. and a few weeks later Ignnclo
and his band were once more on their
Colorado reservation without the fir-
ing Of gun, or more than the most
trinIng expense to the government.
The Mo:mons, naturally, were much
disturbed In mind over the peaceful
ending of the affair. from which they
had expected to derive great profit; but
this did not prevent some Of them from
handing In cxtcrtIonate bills for imag-
mary goods and chattels destroyed by
the indians. which Agent Day had the
satisfaction of endorsing IN. G. when
they were referred to him from Wash
Ington.
Merry Christmas for Her.
WILMINGTON. Del. Dec. 22.-Mrs.
Alice McGonIgle. who has been an in