Many statements insinuate that the conflict had been planned, that the Indians all knew what was happening, and that they had even cached food to be used during their flight. However, after the initial search, approximately forty Utes/Paiutes--over half of the populace of Westwater--had been captured. The scant Indian testimony shows that they had no idea what was going on; the settlers just came and locked them up, never telling them why. (Mike 9) Many of the settlers insisted that Posey was "sullen," acting "deceitful," and that the Paiutes had come into town bedecked in war paint. It appears, however, the "great Indian uprising" was more of a white uprising against the grievances of the past.

Those Indians not caught in the initial sweep, fled from Westwater and started for Comb Ridge with the probable intent of reaching the Navajo Mountain area as a sanctuary. They never got that far. Posey and three or four others had gone five miles south of town to Murphy's Point where they entered an old cabin to get supplies. The posse, under Sheriff Oliver, left town and was soon joined by Dave Black and his group, which "had blood in their eyes and were ready to die if they had to in order to bring these people to justice." (Perkins, Nielson, and Jones 248)

Oliver took this opportunity to make the proceedings legal by saying, "Every man here is deputized to shoot. I want you to shoot everything that looks like an Indian." (Hurst 6)

A running gun battle erupted, and Posey and his small group bested the posse. Not everyone in the posse shared the same sentiments. Alma Jones, during an interview, was asked what his feelings were toward Joe Bishop's Little Boy. He said,

"He was just as friendly. He would shake hands with me and talk. He would want to know what I was doing. I remember when I was in that posse on his trail, I just kind of asked myself, 'What am I doing here? What would I do if I did come face to face with that boy and had to choose between shooting him or letting him shoot me?' It would be just like shooting one of your friends. He never done anything to harm me." (Alma Jones 60)

Who fired the first shot is questionable, but Posey's high-powered 30.06 rifle put the white men at a disadvantage, and the Indians made their escape. Soon after, Posey and two or three others fought a delaying action near White Mesa Canyon in order to give men, women, and children time to escape their pursuers. Who did the actual shooting is again questionable, but Albert R. Lyman pictured Posey "concealed there with his big gun on a dead rest over a rock....He figured on cutting down the men in the posse like clay pigeons when they appeared around the point of the rock....With more careful aim he could have slaughtered everyone who came in sight." ( Lyman Indians and Outlaws 171) Two close misses left Roger's horse mortally wounded and three passengers in a Model-T Ford thankful they had not been skewered by a bullet that passed four inches from them.

The Ute Roundup

That night in Blanding, the first of a number of mass meetings was held to decide on a course of action against the Indians. Great excitement and storytelling helped to convince the people of Blanding that strong measures must be taken. According to John Rogers, "It was unanimously decided that this was going to be a fight to the finish. We all know that Old Posey wasn't going to be taken alive, and there was not one dissenting vote about what we must do." (Rogers "Piute Posey..." 7)

Harrison Oliver, Dean Oliver, and William Edward Oliver. Sheriff Oliver, on the right, was a key participant in the Posey War of 1923. (San Juan Historical Society photo.)

The following day, determined posses fanned out through the hills and ravines looking for the fugitive Utes. Posey appeared near Comb Ridge and was shot at but did not return fire. Shortly after this, Joe Bishop's Little Boy and Sanup's Boy were spotted as they chased a member of the posse up a canyon. The harried white man, Bill Young, hid behind a bushy cedar tree until the Indians were close, then fired a shot killing Joe Bishop's Little Boy instantly. The other Indian escaped, although Young could have killed him.

One testimony claimed that Young said, "There's one good Indian up there." Another claimed that he said, "It was no fun to kill an injun." But probably the most realistic and sensitive report came from Alma Jones who remembered, "It wasn't long until he came down. He was upset. He said, 'I have killed a man.' He just kept saying that and that wasn't like Bill Young at all. He is one of the most calm and collected men that you ever saw. He was really upset." (Rogers, "Piute Posey..." 5). (See also Fern Oliver Shelley, "The Life Story of William Edward Oliver 1858-1935," in possession of James W. Oliver, Jr., Mapleton, Utah, and Alma Uriah Jones interview, pp. 68-69.)

Although the posse did not know that Posey had been wounded and taken out of action, events from this point on proved to be part of the denouement. The white men soon realized that the Indians had no desire to fight, since the Utes had left strips of white cloth tied to trees or on branches stuck in their moccasin tracks. Two more freezing days and nights, food shortages, and uncertainty forced the women, children, and men to surrender. The Indians approached the settlers standing around the fire--came in unarmed, leaving their weapons hidden in the canyon. They were nervous, but they also realized that resistance was futile. Only one incident marred the truce, when "Sanup's Boy became frightened and suddenly ran from the fire and escaped into the darkness. Mr. Newman from Bluff, who had formerly been sheriff in Arizona, fired a shot at him as he vanished into the darkness. He was quite upset to find that he had missed the mark." (Rogers "Piute Posey" 7)

Some Paiute women who were held at Blanding during the Posey uprising. The Ute women preferred that their pictures were taken with shawls, to appear proper. So the muslin was provided to use as a shawl for the picture. (Ute Representation National Archives photo.)

The next day, word was sent to Blanding for two trucks to haul the prisoners to town. Only one arrived and so after fitting in all they could, the posse still had eight Utes left. Following a short wait, the settlers decided to start walking their captives to Blanding. But the posse was taking no chances.

"We lined the Indians up abreast in the bottom of Comb Wash and a man with a gun got behind each Indian. The Sheriff on his horse rode out on one side of the wash, and I on my mule rode out on the other side. We told the Indians that if Posey attacked or any trouble started, the posse would immediately each kill an Indian without questions. The Sheriff and I were to fire shots if Indians were sighted or any trouble was encountered. This would be the signal for the others to shoot the prisoners. If we'd have fired a shot for any reason at all, those eight Paiutes would have been killed." (Rogers "Piute Posey..." )

Finally, two or three miles later, the second truck arrived.

These last eight prisoners were detained in Bluff overnight. The white men decided to interrogate each Indian individually about where Posey was. When Anson Posey was taken out, his response was immediate, four or five men having to wrestle him down in order to control him. He then started to express his fear of the situation. "Me know! White man kill Joe Bishop's Big Boy and skin him now! Mebbe so kill me and skin me too!" (Rogers "Piute Posey..." 8) Although no such incident occurred, the Indians viewed their captors as being capable of such actions.

Stockade where Indians were kept. A stockade was erected in the center of Blanding with Navajos hired to build two hogans inside the 100-foot-square compound made of cattle fencing with barbed-wire strung along the top. (Lyman, "History of Blanding 1905-1955 77-78) Within a week after the Indians had been settled in the school house basement, they were relocated in the stockade where some additional makeshift shelters were constructed and where a twenty-four-hour armed guard insured that all eighty of the inmates made no attempt to escape. The Mormons' attitude towards the Utes in the stockade was one of victory. Bishop Wayne H. Redd remarked, "This is the first time these fellows have been stopped since the days of Gadianton." (Utah State Historical Society photo.)

Paiute Posey and the Last White Uprising continued

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