him by shooting him in the same manner that he had killed
Chief Johnson. The adventurers who were hanging around
the Uncompaghre valley (Colorado) waiting for an opportu-
nity to get possession of the valuable lands of the Utes, know-
ing that Colonel Meacham would stand by the legal rights of
the Indians, were anxious to get him off the Commission.
Having little hope of this they now proclaimed throughout
that country the incredible and infamously false charge that
Colonel Meacham had conspired with Agent Berry, Captain
Cline and the Utes, to have Jackson killed. The object of
this was to have Colonel Meacham and Agent Berry hanged
by a mob of ruffians. The mob was organized for this pur-
pose, but although it comprised perhaps 300 armed men, and
the officer in command of the military post declined all pro-
tection, yet the ruffians failed in the accomplishment of this
hellish purpose, for the very good reason that the Utes volun-
teered to protect their innocent friends, and their vigilance
overmatched that of their foes. After enduring four weeks of
deadly peril Colonel Meacham and Agent Berry were escorted
by Indian guides over a wild and dangerous route, never before
trod by white men, to White River Agency ; from thence they
proceeded to Denver. Colonel Meacham came at once to
Washington, and held a conference with Secretary Schurz.
These Utes were entitled under the agreement to some forty
thousand dollars in money, and Colonel Meacham had pledged
his word to them that he would return with this money before
two moons had passed. He therefore procured an order for
the disbursing officer of the Commission. Colonel French, to
meet him at Rawlings, Wyoming Territory, with a military
escort, and at once started back to his post of duty. As he
stepped from the train on reaching Denver, an officer arrested
him on a warrant sworn to by a ruffian, to whom perjury meant
nothing save the price he got for it. The charge was that he
had conspired with Agent Berry and others to procure the
murder of Jackson. The object of this arrest was to delay,
if not prevent, his keeping his promise to the Indians to pay
them their money, with the hope of forcing an outbreak which
would give the conspirators an excuse and an opportunity to
