THE UTE WAR OF 1887
Carryover hostility from the Meeker Massacre, September 29, 1878, was the probable cause of the last major struggle of Indians versus White Man, resulting in the Ute War of 1887.
Chipeta and Colorow were the only surviving participants of the massacre that resulted in the Ute Indians being driven out of their “Shining Mountains” and banished to a reservation in Utah.
Ouray, the great compromiser, died before the exile. Ute Jack, war chief during the Meeker Massacre, was killed by a detachment of soldiers on the Arapaho reservation in Wyoming.
Chipeta, widely known as a heroine for her efforts to save Mrs. Meeker, Josephine Meeker, and Mrs. Price, followed her people into exile. Colorow, who assumed leadership of the Ute Indians on the Utah reservation, now knew that any further fighting with the whites would be a lost cause, advised moderation and caution to his people. In spite of his efforts, hostilities broke out in August 1887.
Chief Ouray and Chipeta
The Indians had continued to come back to the White River to fish, gather berries, and hunt. When the trouble started, they were camped at the forks of the White River. The main body of Indians were picking berries, and only a few old men, women, and children were in the camp.
A posse of settlers invaded the camp without provocation or warning, and two of them seized an Indian boy. Wish-e-up, the boy’s father, tried to stop them and was shot for interfering. The posse released the boy and opened fire on the Indians, wounding three of them. The Indians at once abandoned their camp, sheep, and goats, and set out in a panic for the reservation.
