OCR Text |
Show 154 Indians as near this point as practicable. Messrs. Mears and Russell, accompanied by seven soldiers, arrived at Green River on the 18th of August, and at once commenced the erection of such buildings as were deemed essential for the temporary use of the agency. All of the materials, aside from the lumber were obtained in Salt Lake and freighted over the mountains, a distance of nearly two hundred miles. The buildings are constructed chiefly of cottonwood logs, and consist of a warehouse 25 by 100 feet, three houses, each 16 by 33 feet, one 15 by 32, with an L 12 by 14 feet; also one building for a council house and office, one for employes, one for blacksmith shop, and one for carpenter's shop. In fitting up these buildings we found it difficult to employ and keep the workmen necessary to their prompt completion. Nearly all the men and teams employed were obtained at points forty miles from the agency, and they were frequently impelled to return to their homes by reports which were kept constantly in circulation by evil-disposed persons, to the effect that the Indians were opposed to the completion of the building, and were intending to massacre all who were engaged in their construction. Mr. McMorris, having been assured that the building would be ready for the supplies early in September made the necessary arrangements to have the Indians leave Los Pinos on the 25th of August, but they hesitated and declined to go. They were assured that if they refused to go peaceably the work of their removal would be intrusted entirely to the military authorities, and finally, on the 28th, they all started, and by slow and easy marches some of them reached Green River on the 25th of September; others lingered along, hunting in the mountains, and did not arrive until late in October. 21Ute Commission, op. cit., p. 327, |