OCR Text |
Show WA~NINGTODN. ,C ., Ja.fluary 20, 1881. Sm: The undersigned, commissioners appointed by the President, in pursuance of the act of Congress approved June 15, 18H0, entitled "An sot to aoeept and ratify the agreement submitted by the oonfederet:ed bauds of the Ute Indians in Colorado, for the sale of their reservation in said State, and for other purposes, and to make the necessary appropriations for carrying out the same," reapectfullr report the progreas made in the duties ooufided to them under said act of Congress and in pursuance of gonr instructions of the date of J m e 21, 1880. Immediately after the close of the meeting held for consultation between yourself and all the members of the oonlnissian (except Mr. Mears), in your office on the 19th and 21st of June, it was agreed that the board meet at Denver, Colo., on the 28th day of June. On that day Messrs. Manypenny, Bowman, and Meers met at the Grand Central Hotel in Denver. Mr. W. S. Stiokoey, the gentleman appointed disbursing clerk of the Conlmiesioo wna also present. Mr. Meoypeony, having beendesiguated as chairmen, called the meetiug to order sud deolared a qoorom present. The law and your instructions were read, followed by a desultory conversation in relatlpn to the duties oouficled to the Commission, when it was determined that, while awsltlng t,he arrival of DIeasrs. Maaoham sod Rossell, who were unsvoidshly detained, the disbursing olerk be authorized t,o proceed s t once to porohase su outfit of provie-ions and tbe necsseery furniture for oamp life, for the use of the Conlmisaion and olerk, and forward the ssnle without delsv to Alamoea. Mr. Msars was requested to asnist Mr. St i e k~e yin his work. Ou the 29th of Jane telegram was sent to Agent Berry, at the Los Pinos Agency, advising him that it was the desire of the board to meet the Uncornpahgro Utes in oounoil on or about the 12t,h of July. At the same time the members preaeut agreed that the Commiision assemble at the Loa Pinos Agency on or about the 8th of July. On that day a rn@rity of the members being present at the,agency, an informal conno11 was held wlth several of the leading men of the Uncampahgre bands, who wern then present, with reference to the business with which we were entrusted. In thia conferenas it was made apparent that there wns not at the aKency any one suffic-iently acquainted with the Ute language to sot as interpreter, and it was deemed nec-essary to havesuoh su one. On makio inquiry as to where a oompetent and reliable m&n oonld be fonnd who could render tie Engiish into the Ute language, the onme of Cspt. U. M. Cnrtis was suggested. The Indians all concurred in the wish that he be employe$. Ou further cousineration of the subject, sod when all the members were present, it was decided thsf, if the aervioes of Captain Curtis oonld bo hed, he he em-ployed. On iuquiry it was found that he was then engaged in theRuby mioingdistriet, and that it would require several days to reach and brioy him to the agency. It was the 15th day of July when Captain Curtis arrived. A Spanish interpreter was also deemed necessary, and I. Ssbioa Espinosa was employed as such. On the 16th of July, Chief Ourap, by request, met the members of the Commission to consult e.3 to :he proper time when a preliminary eonnoil should be heltl. We were informed that there was a defioiency in tlle supply of flour at the agency,and that all then on hand would be issued on the followiog day, and the agent was unable to indi-cate wlth any degree of oertaiuty when hashoold receive additional flour. This faat was communicated to Ooray, mho, being ill, asked that we advise with S&pavanari and Cbavaoa~lxa nd learn their views as to the propriety of oooi.eoing the Indians in couuoil in the absence of flour ration. The chief at the aame timeexpressed a desire that the lirst council shol~ldb e deferred until the White River Utes arrived, and stated that he had dispatched a runuer for them the day that the Commiasion sent s. messen-for Captain Curtis. He thought these shoctld join the Unoompahgreludians in the rst couuoil. On the 17th of July, Mc. Stiokuey, o;r eeoretary and disbursing clerk, was unable from illness to attend a business meetiug of the Cornmiasion. At that time his illness was not regarded as serious. He died soddeolg s t 12.30 p. m. on the 20th July. His death was calm and qmiat, and he mas surrouoded by his frie~ldsa nd physician. Mr. 'The Report oP the Ute Commission, the ratifioatlon of the Ute sereement, and the correspondenos between the Commission are dao poblished in Sen. Er Doc. No. 31, 46th Cong., 3d Sees. |