Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-08-26


was done for the purpose of assuming
an air Of indifference. So none of US
noticed him particularly.
Our representative stood outside
waiting for the Indians. Ten of them
dismounted, and walked toward us in a
friendly manner, while the rest held
the horses.
One ofthem addressed our man in
broken English
The Indians, he said, did not want
our lives. They wanted powder If
we would give them what we had,
they would letus go in safety, and pro-
tect us from other tribes till we got be-
yond the plains.
Give them our powder! A pleasant
request. 1t scarcely needed debate.
We refused.
Well, then, would we give them our
bullets? They were very much in
want of bullets.
One of us said in Il low voice that
bullets were the only thing they would
get from us, but the Indians did not
hear him. Our representative refused
very mildly. ......
The Indians now stood talking with
one another. GrignOn ADVANCED to-
ward them, lie whispered something
in II low voice to our representative,
who Immediately withdrew.
GrignOn then stood facing the In
dians.
care you the Captain? said the
spokesman of the Indians, suddenly,
as he noticed GrignOn.
mo, Pm the medicine man, you
can't shoot these men nor these horses;
| save them.n
The Indian translated this to his
companions, who burst into rOars of
laughter.
Grignon advanced more closely,
He was looking steadily at the Indian,
and we noticed the latter appeared to
be uncomfortable under his gaze.
"See," said Grignon, "you can't
shoot me. Here''-and lie drew Il
pistol from his pocket, "a revolver
"fire at me-"
The Indian smiled.
"You don't want me to kill you,"
| said he, scOrnlully.
"YOu can't"
The Indians eyes flashed.
The Indian hesitated mOmCut.
lie looked at us suspiCiously. Then he
looked at his companions, and said
Something in their language. They
all responded vehemently.
The Indian took aim.
"YOu tell me to shootN' said he,
"Shoot!" said Grignon again.
The Indian fired,
Grignon smiled, and walked for
ward to the Indian; he handod him n
bullet.
The Indian looked paralyzed.
GrignOn showed him how to fire it
again,
The Indian fired the other five
shots.
Grignon caught each bulle, some-
times seeming to catch ii from his
breat, sometimes from his face, and
each time he handed it to the Indian.
The other Indians were now in a
state of wild excitement.
"They may all shoot, ifthey choose"
said Grignon, and saying this he
went to his trunk, drew out nine pis-
tolls, and coming up to them, pro-
ceeded to load each one. He took the
powder and put it in, then the wad-
ding and bullet, and the Indians saw
him do it. He handed n pistol to
each on loading it. Suddenly, one
of these fellows took aim, and fired.
Grignon, without seeming to have
noticed him, raised his hand and SEEM
ed to catch a bullet from his forehead.
He tossed this toward the Indians,
who picked itup with an air OF stupc-
faction.
Then he stood and told all the rest
to fire.
Eight reports sounded in rapid sue
CussiOn.
Grignon took up his hat and walk
ed up to the Indians. To their amaze
ment eight bullets were in his hat.
Each man took and looked at it in
wonder.
"Do you want to fire again?o asked
Grignon. -
They all expressed u wish to do 50.
"Wcll, hand me the pistols"
To theiramazement the pistols were
gone. They looked at one another i'll
wonder.
"N'ou see," said Grignon, "they
fired the pistols at me too and |
swallowed them" ...
"Swallowcd them?n laltered the
Indian, and he told this TO his aston
ed companions.
"Yes, do you want thcm"
The Indian nodded.
4 Whereupon Grignon opened. his
mouth, and, rolling back his eyes, he
inserted his fingers and drew u pistol
apparently from his throat. Another
I followed, then he drew forth q third,
then fourth, and SO on, until he had
drawn forth the eight pistols from his
throat, while the Indians stood look
inc on in utter bewilderment. And
no wonder, for we ourselves felt no
less astonishment We could not ac-
count for it; we were as much stupe-
fed as the Indians themselves.
!. After this Grignon calmly drew
forth six or eight more pistols, and a
number OF cartridges, and finally a
caIbine.
"Tm the medicine man, said he
solemnly.
The Indians said not word.
"DO you want to fire again. SAID
T he, and he offered the pistols TO the
Indians.
They all shruna bac in horror.
, Grignon tossed the pistols, cart.
ridges and carbine over to us, and
smiled benignantly on the astonlshed
savages. .
T He then shook his hand.
A knife fell out of the palm, anOth'
r er followed, and another. He SHOOK
. three more out of his left hand, anC
drew q score or so out of his ears.
"Perhaps you would like something
/ to drink?h said he smilingly, to The
/. Indian who spoke English.
e The savage looked at him suspi
: ciously. ..
"Whatll you have? Rum, brandy
d gin, whisky, ale, porter wine o
S cider?n
!, The Indian frightened up, ant
y spoke to his fellows. They all pre-
e ferred whisky. 49,
! GriguOn asked the Indian to lent
!. him loose blanket which he wore
!. The Indian took it OIL doubttully
). Grignon shook it; a bottle rolled oul
r He Shook it again; n glass rolled out