The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-11-05
Chiefs Appah and Red Cap of
obstreperous Tribe Which
Has Been Disturbing Mon
tana Settlers Go to Washing
ton for a Conference.
THE TROUBLE ORIGINATED
TWO YEARS AGO IT'S SAID
Chief Appah the William Jen-
nings Bryan of the White
River Utes.
(By E, C. Snyder.)

Washington, D. c., Nov. 5.-Chiefs
Appah and Red Cap, White River Utes,
the two warriors now leading the band
of runaway Utes from the Uintah res
ervation in Utah to better hunting
grounds either in the Dakotas or Mon
tana, are by no means unknown to the
officials of the interior department in
Washington. Over the mantel back of
Commissioner Leupp's desk in the In
dian Office hang two plaster casts, re-
lief heads of these two much-talked of
grizzled warriors. Commissioner
Leupp's casts, suspended on the wall
among many handsome Indian decora-
tions, have been hanging there more
than year. They were not put up in
honor of the latest Indian uprising. 1t
just happens that at this time they are
very much in the public eye, as they
were in Washington year ago last
spring, when they took the first steps
in the movement which has since led
to such fear on the part of Montana
farmers.
The trouble with the Utes originated
two years ago, when congress passed
a law opening their reservation to set
tlement. The Indians couldn't believe
that this would be done, and Appah
came to Washington and upbraided Mr..
Leupp for permitting the act to be
passed, He wouldn't take the commits
sioner's word that their lauds were
opened to settlement, and Mr.. Leupp
took them to see Secretary Hitchcock.
They wouldn't believe the secretary of
the interior.
Take us to see the great White
Bear Hunter take us to see the White
Father" demanded Chief Appah, dra-
matically. Appah is one of the most
noted Indian orators OF the present
generation. He has a silvery tongue.
He is the William Jennings Bryan of
the White River Utes. Also, he has
much faith in Roosevelt. Take us to
see the Great White Father" again
demanded Appah. Him big hunter;
no lie; tells Indians with one tongue"
So there was strange audience at
the White House that afternoon. Pres
ident Roosevelt received the Ute chief
tain and his gauiy followers with mucn
pomp, and Appah sat In the executives
cabinet chair, in the council room,"
and the president Of the United States
told them 1t was true that congress
had passed law opening their lands
to the white man. Then Appah and
his tribesmen returned to the noun
tains Of Utah. and a large majority of
them accepted their fate. When the
lands were opened all but the White
River Utes accepted their eighty acres
and settled down to the peaceful occu-
pations of farmers. Appah, however,
declared that he would not accept the
proposition, and put up a stiff opposi-
ton. Finally. year ago, Commits
sioner Leupp went out there to settle
matters. For time the situation was
threatening. Chief Appah and the Utes
gathered in the council room, Commits
sioner Leupp talked. When he con-
cluded, Appah talked. He stalked up
and down, denouncing the advent of
the white man, and every now AMI
then he shook his fist under Mr..
Leupp's nose. Mr.. Leupp. although
accompanied only by guide, calmly
thrust lighted cigar in his mouth,
and after Appah had singed the back of
his hand. he became more careful.
The White River Utes left the council.
That night the telephone lines connect
ing the agency with Fort Duchesne
were cut, and the situation looked ugly.
Finally the break was discovered and
the line repaired Mr.. Leupp was not
troubled by the Indians.
This summer Appah and Red Cap
led their band from the Uintah reserva-
tion into Wyoming, bound for the Rose
bud agency in Dakota, where they in
tended to visit the Sioux. They sold
ponies and furs, and purchased arms
and ammunition.