The daily sentinel., 1902-10-10
Ute INDIAN
TROUBLE.

The following from Fruita spe-
cial gives an account of the trouble
with the Utes:
The Indians are Ute from the Uin-
ta reservation in Utah, Harris says,
and are of the same tribe that has
caused trouble every fall for the last
three or four years. They are be
coming very active in the White
river country, which is the scene of
their former depredations. The set
tiers say they are violating all game
laws and threaten to take the life of
every paleface who attempts to inter
fere with them. They have left
their reservation in large numbers
and are travelling i'll bands of five to
ten. They are fully armed, Harris
says, and have bogus hunting premits
which he thinks they will use as an
excuse for their crimes if they are
brought to book.
Commissioner Harris is the first vic
tim of the Indians but it is said that
the reds will not hesitate to take the
life of any party of whites who are
not stronger than the band attacked.
Harris, who was mounted, says he
met the Indians at Gillis creek about
two miles from Rangely. There We're
five braves in the party all on foot,
and all heavily armed. The men ad-
mitted to the commissioner that they
| were hunting and stated that they
had killed game, but said they had n
permit to leave the reservation TO
hunt i'll Colorado.
II examined the permit said
Commissioner Harris, land saw at
glance that it had been written by
some half educated Indian. 1t stated
that the bearers were good Indians
and that they had never been ugly.
1t said they were hunting to keep
from starving to death. The permit
was signed Commissioner Cabzey. L
told the Indians that there was no
commissioner by that name and that
the permit was no good. They
grumbled but promised that they
would go back to the reservation.
TT was late before / started TO re-
turn to Rangely and the moon was
out when L was passing through the
canon along the creek. When L had
reached point well into the canon |
was startled by wild yells and vol
ley was fired from the rocks on both
sides of me. l turned to return the
| 1,,f hot IF
the Indians We're sheltered by the
rocks so l whipped up my horse.
The Indians followed yelling and
continued to fire. One bullet struck
me in the right side, making a wound
| about four inches long and quite deep
| through the muscles under my arm.
1 continued the retreat at gallop un-
| til suddenly my horse whinn1ed and
staggered / realized that my horse
had been shot and jumped to the
| rolled down an embankment.
81 was at the end of the canon,
where it opens onto the mile-anda
| half stretch of prairie between Gillis
creek and Rangely. | was some dis
tance ahead of the Indinas and rushed
out on the prairie where the moon
light was bright and objects could be
distinguished easily. L had not
wasted ammunition and for this reason
the Indians did not follow into the
open. I was quite weak and it was
with difficulty that l reached Range
ly."
At Rangely it is said that parties
of Indians have been noticeable in the
surrounding country for several days,
but would retreat when approached.
Harris stated here that he believed
the Indians knew him and that it
was matter of personal spite that
caused them to attack him. He says
the darkness of the canon was all that
saved him as the Indians had to di
rect their fire by the sound of the
horses hoofs.