Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-05-19
FACED DEATH TO RESCUE
WHITE WOMEN CAPTIVES.
Thrilling Story of General Adams
Visit, With One Companion, to In
dian Camp in WiIds of Colorado.

dian camp IN WlIos OF SoioTdoo'
One night, more than thirty years
ago, a party of Ute Indian braves at
| the White River agency, Colorado
swept down upon the agency buildings
murdered the agent, Meeker, and eV-
| cry man they could find; looted the
reservation stores, and carried away
captives to the mountains three wo-
linen and two children, says the Wash
ington Post.
The nation was Mortified at the sud-
denness of the tragedy, as the Utes
had been known up to that time as
| peaceful tribe, and had never given
| any trouble under the former agent,
Gen. Charles Adams, who was on the
most friendly terms with their great
Chief Auray and others Of the tribe
But under Agent Meeker the Indians
had become discontented and threats
were made Meeker asked the gov
ernment to send soldiers for his pro-
lection. The Indians learned they
were coming and on that very night
the murders occurred.
Panic seized the settlers in that part
| of Colorado and they fed to Denver.
The governor of Colorado, instead or
urging that the troops be hurried for
ward. asked that they be halted and
that Gen. Adams be sent to mediate
with the Indians and secure the re-
lease of the captives. The Indians
would murder them if the soldiers
came, he said.
Gen. Adams, then stationed in New
Mexico, was ordered to go to the scene
with all possible haste. Accompanied
i by Count Doenhoff, a German noble
man visiting the west, he made fore
ed ride of 100 miles on horseback to
the Indians camp in the mountains
Here after a campfire parley In the
dead of night among the pines he sue
ceeded in securing the release Of the
prisoners and the promise Of the lnol-
ans to surrender those guilty OF the
murders for punishment 1t was
hazardous undertaking, as a number
of the braves wanted to kill Gen. Ad-
ans, his companion, and all the pris-
oners on the spot.
The story Of the conference as told
by Gen. Adams, afterward United
States minister to Bolivia in recogni-
ton Of this service, follows:
Riding up to the tent of Chief
Johnson, 1 found Mrs. Meeker and
little farther on Mrs. Price and her
two children The women were pitiful
looking spectacles. Wasted and wan
and worn, with clothing torn almost
into ribbons, hair streaming and eyes
dim with weeping they rushed toward
me imploring me to take them out OF
their captivity. 1 promised them that
l would not leave without them, and
that they should soon be restored to
their friends.
Some extra blankets, which the
party had brought with them, were
hastily fashioned into some kind OF
feminine apparel, and leaving them
these rude garments, with soap, wa
ter and towels went back to my COM
panion, leaving the women to prepare
for their return to civilization.
The children, who were playing
about the encampment, looked well
and healthy, and said they had been
kindly treated by the Indians, who
seemed fond of them and offered many
ponies for their purchase. At noon
Chief Douglass arrived with delega-
ton Of his warriors, but it was night
fall before the council fires were
kindled and the chiefs ready for the
council.
| That scene I shall never forget Ut
is stamped upon my brain in ineffaca-
BILE colors, as 1 fully realized that 1t
was quite likely to be the last should
see with mortal eyes. The council was
to be held in a little clearing in the
midst Of a deep pine forest about O. mile
from the camp. The night was dark
land the deep blackness Of the vast
pine forest stretched away indefinitely,
except where the little circle Of the
council fire threw it's ruddy glow. A
round it squatted the Indians, some 25
or 80 in number, their faces grim,
watchful and immovable, while 1, with
Count Doenhoff, sat apart and looked
at them reproachfully.
"They talked among themselves in
the Ute language, of which knew but
few scattering words, all my dis
course with them being carried on in
Spanish. Presently Chief Douglas
turned to me and offered me the pipe
of peace. 1 shook my head.
IT will not smoke the pipe of peace
with bad Indians who kill white men
and carry off my countrywomen," l
answered in Spanish. THE Indians
looked sullen and once more talked
apart. I could see that their discus
sion was hot and that opinions varied
some of the Indians seeming to angri-
ly protest against what others advo-
Gated.
MY interpreter. a young Indian boy
who was very devoted to me, pulled
my sleeve, and in the darkness l could
see that he shock like a leaf. on,
Adamus,' he gasped, they say best
kill Adamus-Adamus bring white SOL
dier, kill white squaw. too laughed
not very heartily, admit, and broke
into the discussion in Spanish.
You say you will kill Adamus, do
you? Well, that's all right; you can
kill me if you want to; am soldier
and soldier expects to die in the dis
charge of his duty; have been good
friend to you fellows and you know
lit; now if you want to murder your
friend, we'll and good, there is nothing
to prevent you. l can only die once,
and I am as ready to die now as any
other time But for your own sakes
want to tell you one thing. The SOL
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES