Year: 1879

drank no coffee. They talked it over among
themselves and said no more about it. They
made fun of Mrs. Meeker, and said maybe the
Utes will kill her / said to them mo, don't
you Kill MY mother; heap like her." "Aii
right they would say .Pretty good mother;
pretty good mother" Coho pointed his gun ut
me and threatened to kill me many times.


INDIANS CONCERNED IN THE MASSACRE. x


Tile Indians held considerable conversation
with each other in regard to the massacre and
tried to get information from us. They told
various stories how the fight occurred and who
We're concerned in it. From all that heard of
their talk think Antelope or Pauvito shot
the agent. Chief johnson said he shot Thorn
burgh in the forehead three times with
his pistol, and then got off his pony
and he went to him and pounded
him in the head and smashed his skull all in
Then took some of his clothes off, but did not
see any of them worn in camp. The Indians
Ebenezcr, Douglass, Persune, Tim johnson and
Charley johnson were at the agency massacre.
Jack was not there. He was fighting the
soldiers. Johnson's brother Iata was killed by
Frank Dresser. Washington on the ground
They all had guns and helped to shoot
Josephine said she saw an Indian named Creep
there. l did not see any of the bodies at the
agency. I only heard the firing and saw the
Indians shooting toward the buildings where the
men were working.


INDIAN INTENTIoNs@A DUSTY MARCH.


The Utes said they going to kill all the
soldiers, and that the women should always
live in the Utes' camp, excepting Mrs Meeker.
Douglass said she could 60 home by and by,
when she would perhaps Frank Dresser,
who, the Indians thought, had escaped. They
made me do more drudgery than they did
Josephine. They made her cook and made
me carry water They told me to saddle
the pony, and / told them didn't know
how. One day we left camp about three
o'clock in the morning. We had no breakfast,
only Josephine and had roasted some meat on
the Goals in the morning, and we rode all day in
the thick dust without water. We reached
Grand River about sundown, where we camped
in the sage brush. To the south the mountains
were very high and the country was bleak and
bare on the north. The Indians said they were
going to take to the agency. The next
morning we went about five or six miles and
camped in q grassy place where the horses
could get plenty to eat, and remained there two
days We were camped very near a large
mountain.


WATCHING THE SOLDIERS.


Johnson had field glasses and all day with his
field glass he was watching the soldiers, ard
would only come down to his supper. The
Indians took turns watching during the
night, and during the day they COW
cred the hills and watched the sol
diers through their glasses. Runners came in
with foaming steeds constantly. At last news
was received that the soldiers were on the White
River, moving south. At this johnson was very
angry. In the morning the ponies were uneasy,
and they could not catch them. Johnson's
young squaw did not get around to suit him,
so he took black snake whip, caught
her by the hair and gave her Sc
we're whipping She cried and screamed.
He then went to help his other squssw, Susan,
Chief Ouray's sister, pack up. They put us on
one horse and strapped my little girl in
blanket behind Josephine. l had my baby in
front of me. johnson was very mad and pointed
hss gun mt each one of us. told him to shoot
away and asked him to shoot me in the fore
head. He said


mo, good squaw; no scare


We started for another camping place south
of the Grand River.


GENERAL ADAMS ARRIVAL.


At last, one evening we heard that white men
were coming from the Uncompahgre agency for
Chief Ouray to treat for our release. The next
day the men came, and told Johnson's squaw
that we wanted to wash some clothes. She
gave us some matches and a couple OF kettles,
and went down to the creek to wash. While
/ was there Jim johnson came with couple of
shirts for me to cleanse. He then went away,
but soon came back again and said to me: =


"Don't you come to the camp, for we are
going to have big talk with all the Utes.
Don't come until Coos comes down after you.',
Coos is his young squaw. Mrs. Mceker and
remained there in the brush all day. and dinner
was sent to us by the squaws Mrs. Mceker
felt very much revived. You would not have
thought she was the same woman. Captain
Cline saw me in the brush and l held up
my hands. He seemed to be looking
at me, but presently he turned away
as if the Indians were watching him.
He did not let them know he saw me. Pres
ently Ute came down and SAID to Mrs.
Mecker, "Come, mother; white man saw" SO
l took the clothes which had washed under





There we met General Adams. Captain Cline,
Mr.. Sherman, the Los Pinos Agency clerk. and
their party. They spoke to Mrs. Meekcr first
and said .'How do you dol with deep
and pathetic emphasis. They then shook
hands with us until our hearts burned
One of the men said. Can you
give me description OF your captivityr and we
sat down and had talk The Utes all laughed
mt us. We did not have but u few minutes con-
vcrsation, for fear it would not be good for us.
Mrs. Meekcr was talking with General Adams.
lie said she looked if she were starved. He
gave her piece Of cracker and some oysters
The Indians had already opened the cans but
not knowing what they were they looked ON
with surprise, but they ate all tho canned fruit
aud got away with some blankets.


TIE DAYS OF CAPTIVITY.


In regard To my DAYS of captivity / can only