The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-10-16
A HoAiEsICK INDIAN TRIBE.
UnruIy Utes, Chastened by Govern
ment, Long For Utah Home.

Out on the Cheyenne River Indian
reservation I'm South Dakota, dwell.
ing in an impromptu camp, is con.
trite band OF strayed Utes who have
wearied OF travel and adventure ano
want 10 go back 10 their Utah home
and be good once more. IL Is the
same party OF renegades which,
about a year ago, stampeded and
scampered across two States, terror
izing lone settlers along their route
OF travel and causing a good regiment
OF United States cavalry many sleep.
less nights and much chilly discom
fort before they finally bivouacked In
the country OF their hereditary en-,
emy, the Sioux, and washed the paint
from their cheekbones. The Govern
ment troopers succeeded in avertins
period Of marder and rapine only BY
q display oil tact and many repeating
carbines.
For many months the Utes have
been living among hostile aliens
Men, women and children have en-
dured the taunts and insults OF theii
neighbors, the Sioux, partially be
cause they are afraid OF the Govern
ment, and partially because they re
pent their late escapade. There are
many reasons why Ute should never
accept harsh words from a Sioul
tribesman. Any Ute knows thai
there was once a time when che mosi
truculent, the most hated and tht
most respected OF all the wild horse
men OF the plains were the Utes
Their pride in race still endures, de
spite the reverses and discourage
ments brought by encroaching civ
ilization. The Sioux are women and
drawers of water, say the Utes wheI
goaded to rage by the coarse jests OF
the hated people, and any Ute war
rior can account for three Sioux afooi
or horseback with arrow or knife.
Tradition shows many points OF
superiority Of the Ute over the Sioux
TO begin with a Ute can consume
more whisky by pint than any con
vivial Sioux. He has prior ancestry
which runs back TO neolithic days
He was once and is still the mightiei
hunter OF the two. Last and mos,
important, he is a Ute; and Siou,
is only Sioux.
So when for a year the Utes have
refrained from shedding the blood OF
their cherished enemies, in spite OF
great provocation, it signifies that tn,
men from Utah are very much chaS
tened indeed. More than this, the
refugees have pocketed their scruple.
and have actually been doing WORK
for white men. With the sleeves OF
their cotton shirts tucked above their
elbows these forlorn savages have
helped tamp railroad sections; they
have carried ties, lugged rails and
welded mauls; for which labor they
have been paid stipend. Also they
have won the renewed affection Of o
paternal Government.
The mystery of the Utes' protract
ed manifestation of virtue is ex
planned without difficulty. They are
homesick. No labor to them seemi
too mean or dishonorable IL they may
win the right Of returning to the IA
miliar reservation which Is their,
both by inheritance and Government
concession. Half savage peoples are
susceptible TO the nostalgia as well
as the entirely civilized, and the Utei
every squaw. buck and pappoose-
suffer the common ailment.
The Government thinks that the
rebels have been almost sufficiently
and soon the entire band will be per
mitted to trek for the home country
In the meantime the Utes will be very
good and respectable. The longing
for home transcends in men all other
passions and desires.-Des Moine
Register and Leader.