Letters to Ouray – from Charles Adams

Charles Adams 1880

The Ute delegation arrived in Washington, D.C. in early January 1880. Government officials soon realized most of the Utes accused of the Meeker Massacre were not present. Charles Adams and the Ute called Jack were sent back to Colorado to collect the accused and return with them to Washington.
          Adams’ friendship with Ouray and trust in the Utes is evident in this letter he wrote after arriving at the Los Pinos Agency.

Los Pinos
2 Feb 1880

Friend Ouray,
I arrived here day before yesterday with [Otto] Mears and the Indians. On the way Wash became quite sick on the [railroad] cars, but was well again after leaving Alamosa. Between there and Clines ranch Jack became sick, but he also was quite well again when we reached here.
          Jack immediately went to Grand River and asked for ten days to bring Douglas and the others here, so I shall have to wait here 10 days. Your Indians had a long talk yesterday, none came to the Agency, I suppose they were listending to Wash’s report from you. On our trip here we had no trouble whatever and on our return I expect none.
           I cannot say who will return with me. If anything important occurs here, I will write you besides telegraphing to Secretary Schurz who is a good man and your friend.
          Adios, tell Chipeta to enjoy herself, not worry and not be sick.

Your friend,
C Adams

Letter from the Colorado Historical Society Library, Box 1180 FF1

Letters to Ouray while in Washington, D.C.

Los Pinos, Colorado
28 January 1880

Chief Ouray
Head Chief Ute Nation
Washington, DC

Sir,
I write at the request of Chief Sapivaneri to inform you of the death of Tabequacheub and also of a son of Tom-a-sar-a-ca which occurred within the last two days. So far the Uncompahgre Utes have conducted themselves in an orderly and well behaved manner.

Sapivaneri is doing splendidly in the management of affairs during your absence, and everything seems to be moving along in a satisfactory way. Your people are all anxious to here from you and Chipeta and an occasional letter would be received by them with pleasure. Hoping that you and Chipeta may enjoy your visit and that all present difficulties may be amicable adjusted.

I remain yours very truly
Geo. L. Sherman
Clerk in Charge

From the files of the Colorado Historical Society

Chipeta Goes e-book

Just in time for Christmas, Filter Press announces that Chipeta: Ute Peacemaker is now available in e-book format for both Kindle and Nook.          
          This biography of a Ute Indian woman is perfect for middle grade students or readers of any age interested in Native Americans or intriguing and courageous women.
          

Chipeta and Ouray in Technology

Photo by Sam Barricklow courtesy National Weather Service

Computers named “ouray” and “chipeta” processed weather data at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) from 1995-2002. NCAR is a nongovernmental research institute focused on atmospheric and earth system science.
          The ouray and chipeta computers were part of the J90 series of vector-processor machines built by Cray Research, Inc. They were used in weather research and national security projects. In 2002 they were replaced by newer technology. Chipeta was the last Cray J90 decommissioned on September 3, 2002.
          See real time weather  forecasting tools provided by NCAR computer technology.

Taking the Census: The Name “Chipeta”

Many people ask the meaning of Chipeta’s name. Various sources suggest diverse meanings including: White Singing Bird, Charitable One, The Jewel, Spring of Clear Water, and Rippling Water.
          United States census records suggest it is a Spanish name. The 1860 census for Bernalillo County, New Mexico Territory lists Chipeta Baca, born 1825 in Mexico. Living in Texas, at the same time, with a slightly different spelling of the name, was Chipita Gonzales, born 1800 in Mexico. These women were born long before Chipeta wife of Ouray.
          Further play with spelling revealed the more common version of this name: Chepita. In 1860 there were 5 Chepita’s in New Mexico Territory and 19 in Texas (15 of whom were born in Mexico).
          “Meaning of Names“ sites list Chefa, Chepita, and Josefa among the many Spanish feminine variants of Joseph.
          Perhaps Ouray gave his Ute bride a special name. He spent much of his youth living with a Mexican family where he learned to speak fluent Spanish. As was customary for Indian children living with Spanish families (as slaves or as part of the family) Ouray was baptised and trained in the Catholic religion. Chepita would have been a popular name in Catholic Nuevo Mexico province.

Crediting Photographers

During their 1880 visit to Washington, DC, the Ute delegation toured a number of sites in the area.  On February 11 and 12, 1880, the Utes travelled to the new Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania. During this visit, photographer John N. Choate made portaits of each delegation member. Ouray also posed with Ignacio of the Southern Utes and with Chipeta (in the photo at left). The Choate photos are easily identified by the shaggy rug which appears in each image. However, many collections credit this photo to other studios (which copied the image) while Mathew Brady’s January 29,1880 portrait of the couple is incorrectly identified as Choate’s work.

Hating the Utes

In the wake of the Meeker Massacre, hatred of all Utes spread throughout Colorado. Newspapers were sarcastic and cruel. Georgetown’s Colorado Miner, February 7, 1880, reprinted the following examples from other newspapers.

From the Ouray Solid Muldoon:  “Ouray’s squaw, Chipeta, wants a seal skin sacque [a style of jacket] and a pair of French kid walking shoes. The last time we gazed upon the abnormal Chipeta we thought it was a bath ticket she wanted.”

From the Denver Republican: “A doctor in Norwalk, Connecticut, has ascertained that scalping a man awakens the auditory nerves and gives hearing at once to deaf mutes. Ouray has petitioned for establishment of a deaf and dumb asylum on the Ute reservation.”

The Leadville Chronicle presented a verse ending with a slogan popular in 1880 Colorado:

There never was a lower brute,
A less deserving, mean galoot,
And one more fit for gallows’ fruit,
Than this despised and hated Ute.

When snow-drifts melt and
South winds blow,
When spring-time comes,
The Utes must go!

Dancing in DC 1880 Style

Social events in 1880 Washington, DC were late night affairs. During a delay in treaty meetings, Chipeta and Ouray were invited guests for the Friday, January 30th Literary and Social Entertainment at the Columbia Commandery No. 2 of the Knights of Columbus. The evening started with musical performances and literary readings. The dancing began with a promenade that allowed the ladies to show off their elegant dresses. To claim a dance with a lady, gentlemen signed the dance card dangling from her wrist. Waltzes, lanciers, quadrilles and polkas were popular. Supper was served during the intermission, which lasted from 10:30 pm to 12:30 am. Then the dancing resumed until 3:00 am.
           Chipeta and Ouray likely found the music and dancing quite strange, the food odd, and the evening very long.

Government Accounting 1880

Chipeta went shopping in Washington, DC on January 27, 1880. Accompanied by Henry Andrews of the Indian Bureau, she visited Trunnel, Clark & Company located in a market on Pennsylvania Avenue. She purchased $27.99 worth of fabric and sewing notions. The purchase was charged to the Indian Bureau.

Approving the bill for payment involved at least fifteen people dipping pens in ink to complete, sign or initial the required documents: 

January 29, 1880 – Clerk Jesse Arnold noted receipt of the bill by the Office of Indian Affairs. Indian Agent W.H. Berry signed his approval of the charge. Clerk Arnold completed Office Form No. 58 stating the purpose of the appropriation: “Fulfilling treaty with Tabauache, Muache, Capote, Weeminuche, Yampa, Grand River and Unitah Bands of Utes 1880.”

February 2, 1880 – Clerk J.C. Brown noted receipt of the bill by the Department of Interior, Indian Division.

February 4, 1880 – E.J. Brooks, Acting Commissioner of the Office of Indian Affairs, signed a statement (prepared by a third clerk) that the bill was “correct and just; that the articles named were required for immediate use of Mrs. Ouray;” and the goods were “purchased in open market at the lowest attainable rates.” To be perfectly clear, Brooks also noted “I have certified this single voucher only.” In an additional statement in his own handwriting, Brooks further certified “the articles charged for this account were delivered to Chipeta, Mrs. Ouray, in this City.” Someone named Burnett signed the bill as “Examiner.”

February 11, 1880 – The bill was reviewed and approved by William Stickney and E. M. Kingsley, Ex. Commissioner.

February 12, 1880 – Carl Schurz, Secretary of the Department of Interior, signed his name beneath a stamp reading “The action of the Executive Committee is hereby sustained.” Two men initialed the stamp as “J.I.C.” and “W.J.V.”

February 14, 1880 – H. C. Harmon, Acting Auditor of the Treasury Department, approved the bill for the Second Auditor’s Office. The approval was initialed by “T.T.”

On February 20, 1880 – W. Welleton, Second Comptroller, certified the Auditor’s document and it was initialed by “J.D.T.”

A final official Treasury Department document was completed, restating the nature of the appropriation and authorizing payment. This document was signed on February 14, 1880 by Jesse Arnold, Clerk of the Second Auditor’s Office, and on February 20, 1880 by J.C. Brown, Clerk of the Second Comptroller’s Office.

All of the documents prepared in order to effect payment for this purchase became part of Indian Claim No. 629. The documents are preserved in the National Archives (Reg 217, Stack 12E3, Row 8, Comp 27, #629-1880).

And when did Trunnel, Clark & Company receive payment? Ah, those documents are in another file somewhere among Treasury Department records.

Leaving Colorado

High in the Rocky Mountains the temperature hovered near zero in the early hours of December 29, 1879. Before dawn, a delegation of twelve Ute Indians gathered on horseback at Los Pinos Agency to begin the long journey to Washington, D.C. Ouray and Chipeta led the delegation which included Uncompahgre Utes–Wass, Golata, Jocknick, Sieblo and Augustine–and White River Utes–Nickaagut (Jack), Sowawick, Toppaganta, Alhandra, and Unca Sam. Los Pinos Agency farmer William H. Berry served as interpreter. The group rode out before dawn escorted by General Hatch, Lieutenant Taylor, and ten soldiers.
           The 140 mile trip from Los Pinos to Saguache, Colorado took six days due to heavy snow on Cochetopa Pass. Joined by General Charles Adams and Otto Mears, the group spent the night at the Perry House Hotel in Alamosa. The soldiers fended off an angry mob that gathered outside the hotel, threatening to hang the Utes for the murders of white employees at the Meeker Agency four months earlier. The next morning the Ute delegation left town on the 6:20 am Denver & Rio Grande train.
          The delegation arrived at the South Pueblo station at 1:45 pm. Before they boarded another train to Chicago, General Adams led the group into the station to eat lunch. A crowd of angry local citizens gathered outside. They shook their fists and shouted “Hang the red devils.” The soldiers held back the crowd while Adams, Mears and Berry hurried the Utes to the eastbound train. People in the crowd threw rocks and lumps of coal at the Utes and one man hit Sowawick on the head with a club. When the Utes were safely aboard the train, the soldiers and railroad workers convinced the citizens to go home.
          Displays of hatred for the Utes did not end when they left Colorado. People in prairie towns gathered along the tracks to shake their fists and shout as the Utes passed by. Another mob waited at the Rock Island depot in Chicago. The Utes and their travelling companions worried about what waited for them in the nation’s capitol.