The Ute Indians, only about 10,000 in number, were an unusual and fragmented tribe. These oldest residents of Colorado had never achieved great importance because of their almost complete lack of tribal organization, to the fortune of gold-hungry miners swarming into the Gunnison and San Juan areas during the 1870’s.
Desiccated by the white man’s liquor and “tricked” into treaty after treaty, all they received was less land with ‘not even peace in return’. The Utes’ territory was whittled from most of Colorado and some surrounding areas to a few small pockets on the western slope, one of which was on a branch of Cochetopa Creek, east of Gunnison. Their hunting grounds extended into the mountains, including the Crested Butte area.
The white man kept corning and skirmishes ensued, very few with the Utes’ at fault, until Denver Newspaper headlines of “The Utes Must Go” prompted Congress to approve the Treaty of 1880. There was a catch. Before the treaty could take effect, three-fourths of the Utes had to ratify the agreement. Enter Otto Mears, who paid the Utes two dollars each out of his own pocket to sign the agreement. He was reimbursed $2,800 by the federal government in 1881 and thanked.
On the morning of September 7, 1881, 1458 Indians, driving 10,000 sheep and goats and 8,000 ponies crossed the Colorado River and were on their way to Utah.
Source: “The Gunnison Country” by Duane Vandenbusche.
Rob Quint