Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-04-26

an Indian nation divided into many
smaller tribes-Pi-Ute Moache- Utes.
Capoto and Wiminuchie Utes and 30
on. Their original home was In north
western Utah and large part OF Col
orado. For a long time they gave the
government comparatively little trou-
BILE, remaining quietly on their reser-
walton and leading moderately peace
full lives.
But as the west began to fill with
gold seekers and settlers the same old
pitifully frequent series Of petty frauds
and bulldozing set In. The Indians at
fairs were badly managed by the local
officials appointed by the government.
Pioneers interfered grossly with the
Utes' affairs and refused to respect
their property rights.
The Ute hunting grounds were year
ly more and more encroached upon.
and white men boosted loudly to the
bewildered savages that soon the
whole tribe would be cleared or the
reservation and its lands turned over
to immigrants from the eastern states.
This sort of thing continued, steadily
growing worse. until the formerly
peaceful Ute settlements were seeth-
ing hotbeds of discomfort. Danger
threatened Even the government rec.
ognized that. So. In 1878, Nathan
Meeker, q sensible and just man. was
sent out there as chief agent
Meeker tried to convince the Indians
of his own good faith and of the pres
ident's alleged desire to deal fairly
with them.
But he came too late to stem the tide
of hatred The Utes did not trust him.
To his kindly diplomacy they replied
with sullen resistance. When he tried
| to enforce the wise rules he had made
he was met with almost open mutiny.
Then something occurred to fan the
embers into fame.
The Colorado legislature early In
1879 petitioned congress to remove the
Utes to some other part Of the Union
and to give their reservation to white
settlers. The Indians. learning Of this,
became so turbulent that Meeker In
alarm sent TO the government asking
military aid. No attention was paid
at The time to his request. and all
summer affairs went from bad to
| worse.
Finally in September body OF
troops were marched to the Ute reser,
walton under command Of Major Thorn.
burgh. The order for their advance
was given secretly In hope that the
rebelliOus savages might be surprised
into submission by sight Of strong
military force suddenly appearing
ancng them. But there was break
somewhere in the chain Of secrecy.
News spread through the tribes that
| United States soldiers were coming to
| drive them of their reservation. The
tidings served as signal for general
armed insurrection. An army of fran
tic Ute braves rushed to oppose the
oncoming troops. They met and at
tackled Thornburgh's force at point
Oh the Milk river. on the Reservations
northern boundary line. The soldiers
could make no Roadway against the
savage assault.
| In the battle that followed Thorn
burgh himself and many Of his mer
were slain. The survivors fell back
and tried to defend themselves behind
intrenchments. The Utes surrounded
them, dashing madly against the de-
lenses. wounding numbers Of soldiers
and killing or running Off" all the
cavalry horses so as to make escape
impossible.
The besieged government force was
at the mercy Of its savage assailants
and must quickly have been annihi'
/ Iotoa bod NOT