The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-04-02
RECALLS DAYS
OF FRONTIER
Echo of the Meeker Massacre of
Days Gone BY.
MONEY FOR THE VICTIMS
is TO BE RESTORED IN REVISED
PENSIONS.
Especial corresDondence.)

Especial Correspondence3
HASHINGTON, March 27.-The re-
w cent passage in the senate Of a
bin proposing to pay Mrs. Ari-
Vella D. Meeker of Greeley, Colo. the
sum OF S9,Ol2.S0. recalls one of the most
Iilgnttul 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
senator Warren, chairman of the
claims committee. gives the following
succinct statement of the facts upon
Mhlch the proposed appropriation to
MIS-. Meeker is based:
That on Sept. %, 1879, Nathan Cook
Meeker, appointed by President Hays
commissioner for the Ute Indians at
the White river agency, Colorado-his
appointment beng somewhat of a con-
ndential nature. and charged with
more important responsibilities than
are usually included in this office-was
ofutally massacTed by the said Ute
indians, and that this massacre was di-
rectly due to the failure OF the govern
ment In not responding to the urgent
entreatles Of Mr.. Meeker. over a period
OF several months, for troops 10 be sent
TO protect the lives and property of
himself his family, and his employees
from the increasingly hostile attitude
Of the Utes.
Basis of the Claim.
That the massacre Of her husband
deprived said Mrs AriYella 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
o., and her daughter Josephine. aged
q were taken into captivity, where
Tor tWenty-three days, until rescued
by General Adams, they endured IN
speakable outrage. indignity and suf-
ieTlngi that during nine days of this
time Josephine Meeker was separated
from her mother and detained in a
lonely canyon, to which she was fore
IDLY borne away to a fate worse than
death-this canyon being known to the
inhabitants Of that part of Colorado
as Josephine valley" that Mrs. Meek
er mad her hip broken. and in this con-
dltlon was thrust upon horse without
saddle and made to ride for days, thus
leaving her crippled for life.
That on June Is, 1880, the confeder-
ated Utes entered into an agreement
with the United States to pay to Mrs.
Meeker and her daughter, Josephine,
5000 per year each, said allowance to
have a statute Limitation of twenty
years; that the said Josephine Meeker
died in a little more than three years
ION Dec. 80, 1882, from causes directly
due to the outrageS and hardships suf-
fered during her captivity
Her Allowance Expired.
That the meagere allowance Of $500
paid to the said Mrs. AriveIla D. Meek
er expired, according to the statute Of
limitation, on June Is, 1900 and that
now, at the age of 81. a cripple, with
out resources Of livelihood, her humble
home heavily mortgaged, Mrs. Meeker
is in grave. need of the full cOmpensa-
ton OF the provisions of this bill, that
the suQa OF Ss.al3,S0. which would have
accrued TO Josephine Meeker had she
lived until 1900 be now transferred to
the said Mrs. Meeker.
Your committee find that the funds
of the confederated Utes are ample
as they have now in the treasury the
sum of $500, 900 at per cent. yielding
interest Of $4,000 per year, and 81. 225.-
600 at per cent, yielding $50, 600. max
ing in all an income Of $4,000 per year,
besides large funds. hardly less than
I,O00,OOO, which are coming TO them.
The report contains direct and ex-
pressive testimony taken from the Of
ficial records relative to the causes
which led to the White river massacre.
and regarding this the report recites.
Your committee find that Mr.. Meeker
encountered peculiar difficulties over a
period Of many months, during which
he appealed, unsuccessfully, for gov
eminent aid and protection. In a let
ter 10 Commissioner Hayt Of the Indian
bureau in Washington, under date of
March ii, 1879. Mr.. Meeker urged his
need Of sufficient military force to re-
strain the Indians from wandering AMI
depredauOns On Sept 10. 1879. he
again wrote to Commissioner Hayt thar
he had been assaulted by Chief John
son, forced out Of his house, injured
badly, and rescued by his employees:
that Chief JohnsOn's son had shot at
p.owman; that blowing was stopped.
Life Of self, family and employees.
not safe he says, and I want pro-
lection Immediately. 1 have asked
Governor Pitkin 30 confer with General
Pope" With Major Thornberg at Fort
steele, Mr.. Meeker is seen 10 be in fire.
quent communication. and this officer
more than once replies that he Is pre-
pared to send military protection 10
him at days notice, but cannot do
so without orders, and that he has re-
cefved no orders to so proceed.
General William 7. Sherman. in his
report QS7O 10 the secretary of war.
says; Mr. Meeker. the Indian agent
al White river. has had occasion fire.
quently TO address complaints to the
commissioner Of Indian affairs, TO the
governor of Colorado, and the com
handing officer Of the nearest post sta
items"
The report contains a copy Of a reso-
luton in Mrs Meeker's behalf adonted
by the Colorado Fedora ton Of Women's
clubs. having a membership of over
1850 Colorado women. also a copy Of a
petition signed by hundreds of citizens
OF Greeley, Colo, praying congress 10