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Show ax:, past two months by V/hite River and Uinta}: Ute3. At the time of his investigation there were not mors than 35 rifles (including small 22 calibre) on hand in the stores at Vernal, and the merchant.:, claimed that the sales to the Indians were not as large, this year as they were last year. Colonel "west made inquiry of llr. Donaldson, of the firm of ITichols and Donaldson' the only store in "Tz.o Strip", and vras told that they had sold three or four rifles and 2,000 rounds of fixed ammunition cal.25 and .30 this year. He was also informed that the sales were no larger than in former years. He vras further informed 'oy Capt. Hall. Acting Indian Agent of the Uint-aA and Ouray Agency, that about the usual amount cf loose powder and ball had been sold by the stores at the agency at 'Shitcrocks, and he concludes from this evidence that the reports that excessive quantities of arms .and ammunition have been recently purchased are not verified. He was further informed 'oy Acting Agent Hall that the V/hite Diver Utes -were discontented on account of the opening of the reservation; that they desire to return to their- old reservation at Dear River, Colorado; that the prime movers toward this discontent were two Xaite River Indians named "J-ggleston" and Tim Johnson"; that they had been agitators .or a long time; that the former is said to have been one of the leaders in the He-eker massacre; also that there were, some 75 to -90 able bodied men of the V/hite River Utes, .and that in case of trouble 5 or 7 Uintah Utes would probablv join them. ! |