OCR Text |
Show the past two months by V/hite River and Uintah Utc3. At the time of hi3 investigation there -were not more than 35 rifles (including small 22 calibre) on hand in the stores at Vernal, and the merchants claimed that the sales to the Indian3 were not as large this year as they were last year. Colonel West made inquiry of Llr. Donaldson, of the firm of Uichols and Donaldson, the only otore in "The Strip", and wa3 told that they had sold throe 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 v/as further informed by Capt. Hall, Acting Indian Agent of the Uintah and Ouray Agency, that about the usual amount of loose powder and ball had been 3old 7y the stores at the agency at Whiterocks, and he concludes from this evidence that the reports that excessive quantities of arms and ammunition have "oeen recently purchased are not verified. He was further informed oy Acting Agent Hall that trie White River 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 V/hite River Indians named "Rggleston" and "Tim Johnson"; that they had been agitators for a long time; that the former is said to have been one of the leaders in the keeker maasacrs; also that there were some 75 to 90 able bodied men of ths White River Utes, and triat In case of trouble 6 or 7 } Uintah Utes would probably join them. |