The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-09-04
INTERESTING STORY OF
CAREER OF CHIPETA
Related by Pioneer Lady Who Knew
Her Well

heiated by Pioneer Lady Who Knew
Her Well
Clarence Stewart, writing in The
Paonia Paonian, gives an interesting
story concerning Chipeta, squaw Of
Chitf Ouray, from "reminiscences Of
Mrs Martha Hammond, pioneer Pa
onia lady:
Interesting sidelights on the career
of Chipeta, wife of the great Chief
Ouray, who died at her reservation
home in the Uintah region of Utah
a few days ago, are related by Mr..
Martha Hammond, pioneer Paonia
woman who had an intimate &C.
quaintance with the Ute queen over
a period of nearly half century.
Mrs. Hammond, who possesses
many of Ouray's treasures, yesterday
told this writer many interesting
tales of the lives Of Chipeta and Oua
ray In the early days OF the white
mans invasion Of the western slope.
Chipeta was approximately ninety-
five years old at the time OF her
death, in the opinion OF Mrs. Ham
mond, who had known the Indian
queen for more than forty-sevsn
years
There has been conflict Of opinion
at to whether Ouray and Chipeta had
any children, but Mrs. Hammond
states that to them was born ous
son, called Ouray, who ran of or Wa
stolen by enemies Of the tribe during
his early boyhood. No trace OF him
was ever found, but among the tribe
Of the Cheyennes is a man who b
called John Ouray and there is q poa-
sibility that this may be the missing
son.
Ouray was exceptionally fond Of
Chipeta who was the youngest and
most beautiful of his squaws, Mrs.
Hammond relates. In one instance
Chipetas brother, Sapinero, who was
sworn enemy of Ouray, conspired
with four braves to ambush Ouray az
he came across the street at the
Cochetopa agency, she recalls, and
explains: :. They had secreted them
selves in Hardman's smithy, where
ouray was coming to have his horse
shod- Had it not BEEN that they had
been drinking freely, Ouray would
undoubtedly have met his end. Being
naturally quicker and more skillful,
he soon had Sapinero in his power,
after the sub-chief had naarrowlv
missed Ouray with tomahawk. Had
it been anyone but Chipeta's brother,
Ouray would have killed him Instant
ly.
ouray accepted salary from the
United States government only to
provide for Chipeta, that she might
be Independent in case he met an un-
timely death
Mrs. Hammond described the resi-
dence of Ouray and Chipeta near
Montrose which they occupied when
ever they were in that region Law
ishly furnished and carpeted, it was
a home that would have made any
white proud to own She regretted
that the present owner had destroyed
the structure, which, she declares
should have been left standing as a
monument. 5si -.
Although Ouray had many wives. on
no occasion did he bring more than
one into the white mems camp. Re-
spect for the white mans custom
helped greatly to unite the two races.
Mrs. Hammond has vivid recollec-
tions of the time when the Utes
threatened an outbreak against the
'palefaceS and Chief Ouray, with his
wife and several warriors came into
the town and lived with the white
people until fear was dispelled This
was at Portland, station on Port
land creek, near Ouray.
At the time of Ouray's death, his
property was auctioned off. The Ham
monds secured a great deal of the
house furnishings, and the great
chiefs gun rack still stands in Mrs.
Hammonds residence. The cabinet
stands about eight feet high, with
racks for FIVE guns in the upper sec
tion. Directly under this are three
open drawers and one secret com
partment, which contain all of Chief
ouray's correspondence with WASH
ington, as we'll as his ration tickets
and other important papers. These
are exactly as he left them.
This editor and family has known
mrs. Hammond for many years, have
seen the relics spoken of and listened
TO many story of the early Indian
days of the Western Slope. Mrs. Ham
mond. who, by-the-way, is the mother
OF Mead Hammond. who was the faith
ser of the great Gunnison Tunnel, is
a woman of many sterling qualities,
among which is her remarkable MEM