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Show Ute Delegations, 1863-1905 71 In the spring of 1872 Tabby and Kanosh led People off the reservation into the San Pete Valley to hunt and hold a Ghost Dance. They were joined by a group of White Rivers led by Douglas. The presence of this large group of People caused alarm to the settlers in Utah and San Pete Valleys. David W.Jones, a Mormon trader who had had many dealings with the People since the 1850s, and interpreter Dimick B. Huntington convinced the Ute leaders to meet in council at Springville. Uintah Agent J. J. Critchlow, Colonel Henry Morrow, the commander of Camp Douglas, and several Mormon community leaders joined the council. The People expressed dissatisfaction with conditions. They complained that supplies were not available at the reservation. They refused to return there and starve. As Tabby explained: "They would as soon die fighting as to starve."10 The federal officials assured the People that supplies would be sent to the Uintah Agency, which they were. The Ute leaders again peacefully returned to the reservation. That fall Wanrodes, Antero, Tabby, and Kanosh were taken to Washington, D.C. with special agent George W. Dodge. Komus or Richard Komas, was there to act as interpreter. Komas was a Uinta-ats who had met John W. Powell when the explorer had come to the Uinta Basin in 1869. Powell had sent young Komas to the East and had him educated at Lincoln University. Komas was then employed in Powell's office. He helped prepare a Ute dictionary and collect Ute tales. The Ute leaders met President Grant and were duly impressed. They agreed to remain on the Uintah Reservation. The government agreed to stock 1,300 acres there.11 However, this agreement was neither formalized nor ratified by Congress. 1880 Delegation The Meeker incident occurred in the fall of 1879. This uprising was all the settlers in Colorado needed to prove that the "savages" must be destroyed or moved in order to keep the peace. A special commission was sent to investigate the matter. They held a council at the Los Pinos Agency in November 1879. Several People and the women who had been held captive testified. But the commission |