Semi-weekly herald., 1911-07-10
PROMINENT
VISITOR
"Chipeta," the Queen of the Ute Tribe,
Win Arrive Tomorrow

win Arrive Tomorrow
Chipeta, the Queen of the Ute tribe,
is on her way to Durango. and will
probably arrive here tomorrow night
or tomorrow, on her way to lgnacio
to pay visit to the Southern Utes,
whom she has not visited since 1881
She is the widow of the Indian chief
Ouray. for whom the city of Ouray
was named.
On July 6 Chipeta left her wigwam
near Montrose and riding her favor
itc pony went to Montrose where the
big celebration was in progress. The
Ouray Commercial club. did not know
of har .intandsd4 4yisie. ,s,,til .abe arrived,
but Immediately arranged number
of entertainments, including lunch
con at the Beaumont, following a pub
lie reception, and that in turn succeed
ed by an auto ride. Last night the
Ouray band gave a concert in her hon
or and big display Of fireworks fol
lowed
Chipeta was treated as woman of
her rank and ability should be treat
ed-right royalty, by people who
have not yet forgotten the services
she rendered to the whites at the time
of the Meeker massacre.
Our readers viii be interested in the
following account from the Montrose
Press which recounts the relation ex-
listing between the widow of the fam
our chief Ouray, and the citizens of
Uncompahgre valley:
While some Of the sports were go
ing on, history was being made by
an interested crowd on Main street
in front of Judge Bells office. Judge
Bell conceived the idea that Chi
peta should be recognized in some
way for her friendship to the white
race and her attendance at our cele-
bration and her had subscription pa
pers circulated and money raised to
present her a purse of silver. The
OLD squaw of Chief Ouray and her
brother McCook, the successor of Ou-
ray, were brought up in S. e. Daw-
sons auto and Judge Bell read the
heading on the paper and concluded
it with some remarks, after which he
presented her with the purse. Judge
Bell said that he very well remem-
bered many Of the incidents in the
life of this good squaw while she liy-
ed in the Uncompahgre valley, and
while he was a member of congress,
Mrs. Adams, the widow of the late
General Charles Adams, importuned
him to endeavor to secure the pas
sage of bill pensioning Chipeta at
500 month during her life for the
valiant services she performed in
preventing countless massacres OF
white people. Judge Bell told her of
the pleasure it had given the Mont
rose people to receive and entertain
her and he trusted that her stay
would be very pleasant, and that her
life would be spared for many years
yet.
The Judges speech was interpret
ed to Chipeta by Mrs. W. f. Crow
ley. who speaks Spanish fluently, and
as the latter touched upon the Meek
er massacre the big eyes of Chipeta
filled with tears and she could not
restrain herself Her chest heaved
and the tears flowed down both
cheeks. She used her handkerchief
freely in wiping them away. Her
feelings caused many to be saddened
in sympathy for her, when the ter
rible strains of those days were re-
called.
The following is the heading upon
the subscription paper and the donors
tn the purse of s45.50 presented to
Chipeta.
We have with us Chipeta, the IA
'vorite wife of the late Chief Ouray
During the Thornborough massacre