THE UTE WAR.

Kumara Times, Issue 1056, 18 February 1880, Page 4

THE UTE WAR.

The Utah or Ute tribe of Indians is composed of seven branches or clans known as the Winta, Tampa, Grand River, Tabequache, Muache, Capote, and Weminuche bands. There are three principal agencies from which the Government annuities are distributed among the tribes. The Yampa Utes are located in the north-western portion of the State of Colorado, in the Rocky Mountains, and their agency is situated on the White River, a tributary of the Yampa, or Bear. Ouray, though nominally chief of the whole nation, has in reality but little influence with his people, and of late years has been growing exceedingly unpopular with a portion of the tribe, owiug most probably, to the fact that he has adopted to a considerable extent the habits and customs of the whites. He resides in a house which is furnished with carpets and all the comforts of civilised life ; drives a two-horse carriage, and is possessed of large herds of horses, mules, and sheep. At present he has several hundred acres of land under cultivation, and expresses a desire that all of his people should follow hi 3 example. Because of his friendship for the whites he has been accused by some of his followers of being in sympathy with the Government, and on two or three occasions attempts have been made to assassinate him. Chief Colorrow, or Colorado, was deposed some years ago in favor of Ouray, and has since become a belligerent and dangerous leader of a certain band of disaffected Indians in Middle Park. He is a villainous looking man, and has massacred a number of white settlers within the past few years. Jack (Nick a-a-gah, meaning green leaf), the war chief of the White River band, is a powerful man, nearly 6ft in height. He is treacherous and cunning, and is believed to have been the leader in the recent massacre of agent Meeker and his men. At the head of the White River or Yampa band is a chief who goes by the name of Douglas, but whose Indian name is Quin-cor-ruck-unt. He is a man of medium size, with a mild eye, and is characterised by a straggling moustache growing in two tufts at the corners of his mouth. He is possessed of but little strength of character, aDd has always allowed his warriors perfect freedom in their actions rather than risk their disapprobation by asserting his power in attempting to restrain them from deeds of violence. At the same time, he has always heretofore professed friendship for the whites, and has been ever foremost in accepting the innovations and improvements of civilisation. The disaffection whichfinally resulted in the uprisihg of a portion of the tribe has been steadily growing for many years. A feeling of discontent, produced by the treatment they have received from the Government and unprincipaled individuals, has at length culminated in an open revolt. In war the mountain Indians are less cruel than the tribes which infest the plains. The scalps of white men are rarely captured as trophies of battle, but when fighting with other tribes the Ute Indians invariably mutilate the bodies of their wounded or dead foes. After any scalps have been taken the victors engage in a general war dance. The scalps are elevated on the top of a long pole, and the warriors leap around in frantic excitement, chanting the while a weird song. When the excitement has reached the highest pitch pistols are fired at the bloody trophies until they are completely riddled with bullet holes, when the dancing subsides and the singing dies gradually away. This performance is repeated night aftar night after night for two or three weeks. The entire Ute tribe will number at present scarcely more than 4000 souls, among which there are, probably, not more than 400 or 500 warriors. They are all armed with excellent arms and ammunition, which have entirely superseded the bow and arrow and other savage weapons. _ The principal amusements of these Indians are gaming, horse racing, and hunting. As in other savage or barbarous people, all of the labor falls upon the women, while the men lie around their lodges in luxurious indolence. The squaws, however, are a cheerful happy class, who beguile the tedium of the short Indian summer and their brief hours of rest with cards made from the parchment obtained from the deer and the elk, on which are painted conventional representations of animals and human beings. Small trinkets and articles of apparel are put up to be won or lost, and in many cases the players retire with scarcely an ornament left.