Into The High Ute Country

Into The

High Ute Country

Copyright- 2015 by Charlie Hubacek

Cover design by Charlie Hubacek

HartHillsPublishing---huba578@mail.com

ISBN-9781311362278

ISBN-13: 978-1508606536

ISBN-10: 1508606536

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales are entirely coincidental.

Authors preface

This novel, although fictional in regards to the main characters, it does portray some actual historical events.

In the late 1850s, gold was discovered in the territory of Colorado. The territory was one of two main areas that brought about a gold rush into the American west. California was one of these in 1849.

In 1859, the South Platte River and its tributaries, now flowing through what became the City of Denver became a prime location for the much sought after metal. There were also finds in the mountains west of Denver.

The other high potential region was further south in the Rocky Mountains west of a 14,000 foot mountain known as Pike’s Peak. Near the base of this monolith, a small town named Colorado City was born. It became the supply post for the men seeking riches in the high country and also was the place they returned to spend the wages earned from digging into hard rock. Not only did they spend this money freely, but they played hard during their time away from the mines.

The greed of these white men brought in an influx of get easy rich seekers, settlers, merchants, highway men and others. In general they helped to populate an area that became the State of Colorado in 1876. With this rapid growth in population and permanent settlement, the Native Americans who had lived here since time began, or so they believed, were pushed out of the way. They, as most native peoples did, revered and respected the land and all it supplied to them for survival. They had no use for gold. But, regardless, conflict ensued between the whites and red man.

This prosperity would not last forever. Eventually the gold played out or was controlled by the few. The many towns that sprang up as a result were abandoned and in time were swallowed up by earth. Some remains of these places can still be found. Colorado City is no exception. In its heyday of the 1850s, 1860s and 1870s it grew to be the second largest city in the territory behind Denver. For a short period of time it also served as the territorial capital. However, by the turn of the century, its demise was on the horizon. Another, newer city, nearby Colorado Springs began to take the limelight and grew larger, faster. By 1917, businesses in Colorado City had closed with their owners moving on to other places and opportunities. The city was broke and on the verge of becoming a ghost town. The citizens asked to be annexed by Colorado Springs. Now known as Old Colorado City, it still exists today, but is primarily a place for tourists to visit the many gift shops and dine in a variety of restaurants. It is a quiet place now, much different than it once was. Today if you were to walk the streets or lounge on one of the many sidewalk benches you can almost hear the sounds of the past; the noise from disagreements, gun fights, loud voices of jubilant miners, dance hall girls, and everything else that came with being a boom town of the west.

By all historical accounts, the Ute had lived here well before any other group and according to their traditions and legends, the creator of all, whom they called Senawahv, placed the Ute people here in the beginning to care for all things on the earth. There were seven loosely united bands scattered throughout the mountains of Colorado, eastern Utah and northern New Mexico.

Unusual to most Native Americans, the Ute were by and large, shorter and more solidly built. They were considered to be part of the Shoshone family and there is evidence that they were also related to the Aztecs who were living in what became Mexico at the time of Spanish exploration. Also, in comparison to other tribes, the Ute were the only true native culture to have roots in the central Rocky Mountains of western North America. Here, the mountains afforded them protection and allowed them to be undisturbed much later into the 19th century than the plains tribes. They were in contact with the Spanish, Mexican and the mountain men in the early 1800’s, but the influence of these outsiders was limited. This began to change rapidly though with the discovery of gold in Colorado during the late 1850’s. This increased pressure upon their lives forced the seven bands to unite under the leadership of Ouray. But, even though he was considered to be extremely intelligent and a gifted diplomat, the Ute were few in number and weak when it came time to win any disputes with the Americans. To make matters worse, the white people that settled the territory, later the State of Colorado, demanded that all Indians be removed from within the borders of the state.

Other tribes also frequented and to some extent claimed portions of the same region as the Ute did. These included the Cheyenne, Arapahoe, Comanche, Kiowa, Sioux, Pawnee and Apache. There were times when the Ute formed alliances with these other tribes for protection and to share hunting grounds. One such united effort was with the Comanche. However, there were bitter rivalries with the Arapahoe and Cheyenne.

But these disputes over territory sometimes were set aside temporarily around the mineral springs that flowed from the mountains. Most groups held these places in reverence as it was believed they were the places that the gods lived, so all could visit them without fear of being harmed.

Most of these other Indian groups at one time lived much further to the north and east of Colorado. The Sioux for example, had been one of the largest and most powerful of all tribes in North America, and therefore forced other weaker tribes further west. With this influx of additional Indians, coupled with white settlement, there came a tremendous pressure upon the Ute in how to maintain their lifestyle and isolation.

As time continued to march forward, they eventually lost nearly everything and were squeezed onto reservations comprising but a fraction of the former territory they once called home.

The sun's rays were bearing down on him with ever more intense heat. A very faint breeze was blowing from the south, but just hard enough to stir up some dust from the sandy plains. He had drunk the last of his water hours ago. He had found a small, solitude cactus recently that he managed to suck out just a minuscule amount of moisture from its flesh. As he continued to walk slowly, stumbling and falling at times, his course remained focused on the mountain range that never seemed to get any closer. He had spotted the snow capped peaks several days ago and he knew he would have to get to the foothills soon, or perish in this desert. His horse had died yesterday, so now he was on foot.

Then something moved just ahead and so he stopped to determine what it may be. He waited and watched! Was this just his imagination brought on by the heat and exhaustion? Maybe it was just a leaf or other plant matter blowing in the wind, or maybe nothing at all? Then slowly, just a few more steps further he went. There it was again; another slight movement! Now, he could tell for sure that it was a small rabbit; a skinny, sad looking rabbit! Yes, just another half-starved creature like himself!

But, it was food and nearly anything would be better than nothing at all. He lowered himself on hands and knees. The sand was hot and burned his hands he until moved them around and deeper under the surface where the sun had not penetrated. He finds a rock and gradually, ever so slowly crawls forward to where the rabbit lies hidden behind a small ridge. From this point of view he cannot actually see the critter, but he is sure it has not moved. As he reaches the area he last saw it, he lowers himself to his belly and inches along like a snake. Peering over the rise of dirt and sand and through some dead weeds, he sees a hole in the ground, but no rabbit. Possibly it found a cool place to hide from the heat. Obviously the creature has gone into hiding. Disappointed that he has lost his prey, he falls flat on the ground, sweat pours down his face, the salt burning his eyes. Looking up and ahead, the cool snow covered mountains beckon him, knowing full well there is water and food there. But, they are at least two more days travel on foot. No way can he survive that long exposed to the elements without nourishment or water. Then a thought occurs; there must be more than one hole. So pushing and pulling the sand, he fills in the hole. Nearby he sees a small tree that could afford some shade from the sun. Moving there and sitting cross legged he awaits, looking about, 360 degrees for any movement at all that could indicate the rabbit found another way out of the earth. An hour or more goes by. Hunger begins to gnaw at his stomach. Then maybe 25 yards away, two ears and the top of a little head appears. The rabbit has found another way of escape. Cautiously looking around for any danger, he must feel safe before moving on out further. Slowly he moves out into the desert and finding a tiny patch of green grass he nibbles on some blades, always aware of his surroundings.

The man again leans forward, slowly crawling towards his hopeful, intended meal. Now only ten feet away, the rabbit is totally unaware of danger with his back towards the man. At the speed of a snail the man pulls himself up just enough and to raise his right arm, and throws the rock with all the power he can muster. It is a perfect shot! The rabbit jumps up once, three feet in the air, then falls to the ground, twitching a few times, then lies still. The man has succeeded. Rising to his feet and almost to the point of falling back from his own weakness, he proceeds to claim his prize.

Then suddenly, without warning, there is a screech overhead. Looking up to where the noise came from, he sees a hawk circle, then dive; diving and landing on the rabbit. The hawk with such grace simply scoops up the dead animal with his sharp talons, stretches out his wings, and lifts up and away. The man can only watch with disappointment as the raptor disappears, flying directly towards the highlands.

He falls back to the ground, totally spent and exhausted at his loss. The sand heated by the sun burns through clothing and into his skin. Slowly, he attempts to rise off the ground as biting ants crawl up his arms and move out over his side and back. The blistering sun and attacking ants spur him into a little burst of energy, brushing off the annoying insects.

It is mid afternoon with temperatures far exceeding 100 degrees. Taking a bandanna from around his neck, he drapes it over the top of his head tying two corners below his chin to shelter his now blistered face from any more damage.

Now on hands and knees again, and taking all of his determination and strength left, inch by inch, foot by foot, he makes it back to the small, scraggly tree. The tree still has some green leaves and is no more than four foot tall. But, it is alive which suggests there must be water close by. Clawing with the fingers of both hands, he moves sand and dirt away from the base of the