Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1879 — DECIDEDLY DRAMATIC. [ARTICLE]

DECIDEDLY DRAMATIC.

<wy-*ra>li Kajhrea ta tZirfti Ow ripe P«Me-(W •my Iftterpme as* Amotumw tee OWHOom om Wk left tee Twelve * teplte**«4 RadMaßs Will be >eUv> erefl Vp—T*e AvOeaeT tee Ciaair aflea. Specials to the Denver TVibwne from Loe Pinos dated the 6th, represent that Saturday witnessed some decidedly animated occurrences at the Commissioners’ meeting. After Jack had declined to inform the Commissioners what Indians had been concerned in the White River massacre, the Indians retired to Ouray’s house to debate what course to pursue. No Indian appeared at the agency until Saturday, but they seem to have been engaged at Ouray’s in conducting the wildest dances, and in making fiery speeches. A man was sent from the agency to Ouray’s with feed for the horses of the Indians, and discovered from the noise on the inside that the Indians were greatly excited. They were bedecked m feathers and war paint, and he was so frightened that he turned back and did not deliver the hay. Saturday at twelve o’clock the Utes came into the agency and took seats inside the agency building, Jack, Colmow, twelve other White River Utes, and, of course, Ouray being among the Indians present. When the Indians and Commissioners had taken their seats. General Hatch addressed the Indians, setting forth the full demands of the Commission, its right to make the demand, and the patience already exercised with the Utes. “To-day,” he said, “is your last chance. We will wait no longer. We want your final answer, and we want no evasions.” A list of the Utes charged by the Agency women with taking part in the massacre, was then read, and the question put by Hatch: “Will you surrender the men whose names are in this paper to be tried, the guilty punished and the innocent acquitted?” The question was put twice, and after consultation, evasive answers were returned both times. When the question was repeated a third time, Ouray replied, without consulting the other Utes: “How do we know that these Indians you name were at White River at the time of the massacre? Or, even if they were there, we do not know they were concerned in it. These women mentioned the names which came first to their lips, whether they knew them to be there or not. We cannot depend on what they say.” “That is what we depend on,” said Hatch. Adams then addressed the Indians, making a speech of over an hour’s duration, saying, among other things, that the Commissioners did not want to punish Colorow, Jack and others that took part in the Thornburgh fight, but the cowardly dogs who participated in the massacre of the unarmed men at the Agency, closing by saying, “We want those Utes, and we will have them.” The Indians held a consultation in a low tone of voice among themselves, but did not seem inclined to reply at all, when Hatch again rose and asked if the guilty Indians were to be surrendered, saying he had made a last appeal. Not one moved or spoke for a few moments, when Colorow lighted a big pipe, “the pipe of peace.” Each Indian present drew his knife and laid it on his knees. The question of peace or war being the one pending, Colorow passed the pipe to the next man without smoking, and it went round. When the circle was finished he jumped to his feet, straightened-up to his full height, pulled his belt around until the knifesheath was in front, pulled his knife out, and threw it with force on the floor, quivering and ringing. Instantly every Indian present dropped his hand to his belt and laid his hand on his knife or pistol. The whites did the same, and the two parties stood fronting and defying each other for some moments, each awaiting for the other to make a forward move. There were but six white men, while there were twenty-five Indians in the room. Fifteen soldiers were in an adjoining' room. Finally Ouray spoke: “We cannot deliver up to you those Indians unless they are tried in Washington. They must not be tried in Colorado. The Colorado people are all our enemies, and to give them up to be tried in this State would be to surrender them to be hanged. We will bring those twelve men here for you to see, and then whom you decide guilty shall be taken to Washington, and the President shall determine their guilt or innocence. Douglas will have to go. We know he was in the White River trouble, and you shall decide who else. Upon this condition, and no other, will we surrender the guilty Indians.” This was said with great arrogance and boldness. Ouray said it would take about a week to bring the men in, and Hatch told him he would accept the proposition so far as bringing of the Indians in, but as far as taking them to Washington be had to telegraph for permission to Schurz. Colorow and Jack were immediately dispatched to bring in the twelve named, including Douglas and Persune, saying they would ne back in five days. After they had, taken their departure, Ouray again spoke, reiterating his statement The Utes could not get justice in Colorado, and could only get it in Washington. “Youthere [meaning Hatch, Adams, and the legal adviser, Valoi] are all my enemies. lam one against three.' You hate me. You are all Colorado or New Mexico men, and a French devil. I have not one friend among you. You will not give me justice, and that is why I want to go to Washington, where I can have at least one friend.”

Dknvkr, Col., December ». A special to the Tribune from Los Pinos, dated the 7th, says: To-day’s developments prove that the casting of his knife upon the floor by Colorow, expressed his vote for war, but the fact of the other Indians retaining their knives overpowered his vote. It was noticed that as soon as it was perceived that no other Indians wished to follow this example of Colorow, two Utes arose from their seats in the coun-cil-room and went out, giving away the talking to the Indians outside, who immediately mounted thpir horses and rode away. They had evidently been waiting for the signal which would call them to arms, and at no time were any of them distant a hundred feet from the council-room. Every Ute at the agency carried with him more arms than any two soldiers of the regular army could muster, a Winchester rifle and two revolvers being about the allowance to each man. Yesterday brought out also the fact that Ouray’s respect for the President is due to his thinking that the Great Father is elected by, and rules over the whole world. In one of his speeches he made that assertion, and Mr. Townsend, the interpreter, not exactly understanding what he meant by it, repeated the question, his answer showing plainly that he considered Washington the center of the universe, and President Hayes the ruler of all Nations. He has not been undeceived, and will not be by this Commission, as it is now plain that his friendship for the whites is assumed for policy, and he thinks, if necessary, the armies of the world could be called to crush his tribe. —Presents of mind—Bits of advice.