The Meeker herald., 1902-04-12
Meeker Massacre Report.


WAsIuNaToN. d. c., March o.
(Special)-The recent passage In the
senate of bill deprived said Mrs.
Arivella d. Meeker Of Greeley, Colo.
OF the sum OF S9.Ol2, 80. recalls one Of
the most frightful OF the many tragedies
which marked the opening Of the west
for settlement. The report on the bill
in question, submitted to the senate by
s nator Warren, chairman OF the claims
C ,mmittee, gives the following succinct
statement OF the facts upon which the
proposed appropriation to Mrs. Meeker
is based:
l.. That on September 20, 1870. Ma
than Cook Meeker, appointed by Presi-
dent Hayes. commissioner for the Ute
Indians at the White River agency,
Colo. his appointment being somewhat
of a confidential nature. aud charged
with more important responsibilities
than are usually included in this office.
was brutally massacred by the said Ute
Indians. and that this massacre was
directly due to the failure of the govern
ment in not responding to the urgent
entreaties OF Mr.. Meeker. over q period
OF several months. for troops to be sent
to protect the lives and property Of him
self. his family, and his employees from
the increasingly hostile attitude OF the
Utes.
2. That the massacre of her husband
deprived said Mrs. Arivella D. Meeker
OF her sole means OF support; that this
outrage was followed BY the burning of
the agency buildings and their entire
contents that Mrs. Meeker. then aged
g.. and her daughter Josephine. aged o2.
were taken into captivity, where for %
rescued by General Adams.
they endured unspeakable outrage, in
dignity and suffering; that during nine
days Of this time Josephine Meeker was
separated from her mother and detained
in a lonely canon. to which she was for
chilly borne away to y fate worse than
death-lhis canon being known to the
inhabitants Of that part Of Colorado as
Josephine Valley; that Mrs Meeker
had her hip broken, and in this condi-
tiOn was thrust upon horse without
saddle and made tn ride for days, thus
leaving her crippled for life.
g. That on June Is. 1880. the COnfed-
Grated Utes entered into an agreement
with the United States to pay Mrs.
Meeker and her daughter. Josephine.
$500 per year each, said allowance to
have statute limitation OF 20 years;
that the said Josephine died in u little
more than three years ION December 30,
1887 from causes directlv due to the
outrages and hardships suffered during
her captivity.
4. That the meager allowance OF $500
paid to the said Mrs. Arivella ID. Meek
er expired. according to the statute limi-
tation on June Is, 1900. and that now,
at the age Of ~. a cripple. without re.
sources Of livelihood. her humble home
heavily mortsaged, Mrs. Meeker. is in
grave need Of the full recognition of the
provisions Of this bill; that the sum of
9,O72 80 which would have accrued to
Josephine Meeker had she lived until
1900, be now transferred to the said
Mrs. Meeker.
8. Your committee find that the funds
of the Confederated Utes are ample. as
they have now in the treasury the SUMS
Of $500 600 at FIVE per cent, yielding in
terest Of $25. 900 per year, and 81, ,225 600
at four per cent, yielding $4,000. max
ing In all an income Of $75. 900 per year,
besides large funds, hardly less than a
million, which are coming to them.
The report contains direct and ex-
pressive testimony taken from the oflic-
ial records relative to the causes which
led to the White river massacre, and re-
garding this the report recites:
Your committee find that Mr.. Meeker
encountered peculiar difficulties over
period Of many months. during which
he appealed, unsuccessfully, for govern
ment aid and protection. In letter to
Commissioner Hayt. Of the Indian bur-
eau at Washington, under date of March