, 1900-11-21
WAR WITH INDIANS
COLORAD GAME WARDEN GOES
ON THE WARPATA TO
SAVE GAME.
Federal Government Too Slow in Driv-
ing Indians Back to Their Reser-
vation-Force Of Men viii Carry
Out the Terms of the Law
Bloodshed is Probable.

OO "a VI IL
dilatory methods of the government
Game Commissioner Thomas II. John
son has decided to move against the
Indians from the Utah reservations
who are Strengthening game on the west
ern slope, and it Is reported he will
leave tonight for the scene with sui
fcient force to cary his point.
There may be bloOdshed. but it is
his intention to infOrce the law at anv
cost.
Tonight he will proceed to DeBeque
with an armed force of deputies. There
he will meet another armed force.
whiChwill be joined to the body OF dep
uties from Denver. They will proceed
up into Rio BlanCo and Routt counties.
where the Indians have been conduct
ing a relentless slaughter of game. 1t
l. their intention to head the redskins
of and prevent further slaughter.
This. it is proposed, will be accomplish
ed even though it becomes necessary
to send every Indian in the various
parties to count game in the happy
Hunting grounds.
Position of the State.
The position of the state govern
ment is the result of years of dilly-
dallying tactics on the part of the fed
eral authorities. Settlers on the west
ern slope have appealed time and again
for protection. without result. Indians
from the Eastern Utah reservations
and prepared for what was to follow,
and have conducted ruthless slaugh-
tiers of game in violation of the state
laws. In addition. they have allowed
their thousands of ponies to Craze on
the pasture land depended upon by set
tiers for their stock. resulting in a tre-
mendous loss of cattle and horses.
Recently the situation has become
especially ~aggravating. Encouraged
by the mountaineering attitude of the
authorities, the Indians have boldly
driven their ponies across the border
and waited for the deer to start for
their winter quarters. They have shot
hundreds of the advance herds, and
the country is strewn with feet of deer.
indicating the extent of the slaughter.
Agent Always Away.
While the Indians We're engaged in
their illegal warfare against game the
Indian agent and his deputies were in
Salt Lake or Prince. purchasing sup
plies. It seems that they always man.
age to be out of the way about the time
of the annual raids. Notified of the
depredations, Indian Agent Myton,
who was at Salt Lake, went to the
White river reservation to investigate
and hen held a consultation with Game
Commissioner Johnson. He assured
the commissioner that the Indians
were under the control of the Indian
police and would at once return to
their reservations.
It seems, however. that Agent My
ton was having a little fun at Johnson's
expense. AS a matter of fact. he adj
nitted that he had given the Indians
permission to remain ten days longer
in the hunting grounds, and Commits
sioner Johnson did not hesitate to say
that Myton had his W pocket in view
when he made the agreement. He
doubted Myton's authority for author
izing the Indians to continue their dep
relations, and said so, out loud. He
protested against the action, but his
protests only furnished food for laugh
for