Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1879 — The Ute Indian War. [ARTICLE]

The Ute Indian War.

Rawlins, Wy. T., Oct 13. Two couriers from what was the White River Agency have arrived, with the following particulars of Gen. Merritt’s advance: Gen. Merritt advanced upon the agency on the 11th inst On his way he found many dead bodies. Among others he found the body of Carl Goldstein, an Israelite, who left here with Government supplies for the Utes at White River Agency. He was found in a gulch six miles tins side of the agency. He was shot twice through the shoulder, and was about two miles from his wagon. A teamster named Julius Moore, who was with him when he le?t here, was found about 100 yards from Goldstein, with two bullet-holes in his breast, and his body kicked and mutilated with a knife or hatchet. As the command advanced through the canyon, they came to an old coal mine, and in it was found the dead body of an agency employe named Dresser. He had evidently been wounded, and crawled in the mine to die. His coat was folded up and placed under his bead for a pillow. On entering the agency a scene of quiet desolation presented itself. All the buildings but one were burned to the ground, and not a living thing in sight except the command. Tbe Indians had taken everything except flour and decamped. The women and children were missing, and nothing whatever could be found to indicate what had become of them. They have either been murdered and buried or else taken away as hostages. Their dreadful and unmentionable fate calls forth the most profound sympathy. The dead body of Father Meeker was found about 100 yards from his house, lying on his back, sho: through the head. The left side of his head was mashed in with some blunt instrument A piece of a barrel-stave was driven into his mouth, and one of his hands and arms badly burnt The dead body of Mr. W. H. Post, Father Meeker’s assistant, was found between the building and the river with a bullet-hole through the left ear, and one under the ear. He, as well as Father Meeker, was stripped entirely naked. Another employe named Eaton was four d dead. He was stripped naked, and had a bundle of paper-bags m his arms. His face was badly eaten by wolves. There was a bullet hole in his left breast Frank Dresser, a brother to the one found in the coal mine, was found badly burned. He had, without doubt, been killed instantly, as a bullet had passed through his heart The bodies of Eaton, Thompson, Pric a , Eskridge, and all other employes not named, were also found. Eskridge was found two miles this side of the agency, na&d, and a bullet hole through his head. In the position occupied by the Indians durirg Thornburgh’s battle, in a breastwork made Of stone, was found the dead body of an unknowp white man dressed ip buckskin. Be was

sitting on his knees and had his gun in position to fire. He was shot through the forehead. From this it appears that the Indians are not alone in their hellish work. The supposition is that the Indians have gone south to join the Southern Utes, and the impression among the officers of Merritt’s command is that the Indians who fought Thornburgh numbered at least 700. Denver, Oct. 16. Word is received from White River Agency that the women and children, the money and the papers at that agency when the outbreak occurred are all safe with Mrs. Meeker, and are shortly to lie sent to Los Pinos Agency. The troops at White river have been reinforced, and water and provisions are plenty. At Los P nos no fears are felt of any trouble with the Indians, unless trouble is caused by the whites, who since the White river uprising are more than ever determined that “the Utes must go.” If this determination creates trouble, there is hkely to be plenty of it, for nothing is more certain than that the immense region in Colorado now occupied by a few hundred worthless Indians will soon or late be cleared of these incumbrances and obstructions to settlement and development Rawlins, Wy. T., Oct 16. A courier just in from Merritt’s command reports that the troops are at the White River Agency; that they have been scouting throughout the country for fifty miles about them, And have been unable to find a single Indian. It is evident that the Indians have gone south and split into small ban Is, going into the various agencies. The troops will have an all-winter campaign to ferret out those of the savage tribe who brought on the trouble. Den rsa, Oct. 20. In accordance with orders from army headquarters, the troops now at White River Agency will, with the exception of a small force left at the agency, return to their respective stations. A force will be concentrated at some point in the southern portion of the reservation to conduct operations against the Utes shou'd they <iil to deliver up tbe parties engaged in the killing of Maj. Thornburgh. Gen. McKenzie, commanding the Foui th cavalry, will be placed in charge of the latter force.' Thus it is seen tho camp lign against the savages is virtually abandoned. The danger of a winter campaign in that country is given as the reason of the order.