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


TO the Indians who were holding the
horses, who had been watching the
scene in stupefaCtion, and offered
some to them. The smell Of the whis'
ky was enough for them. They drank
and wanted more,
But GrignOn shook his head.
"Not now" he said TO the spoke5-
man, "Pll give you a bottle apiece
to carry home with yOu.n And going
| up to the blanket, he shook out u
dozen bottles Of the same kind as the
last.
BY this time the Indians were in the
jolliest mode conceivable,
"Before / give you any more" said
he, "let me make you so that you will
not get drunk
He walked up to the first Indian,
aLd took his hands in each Of his, and
locked at him steadfastly in the eyes
for some time. Then he strokcd his
brows and left him; this he did to
each. The Indians had got over all
suspicion, and merely expected that
something good was coming. So they
allowed him TO do as he chose.
Grignon then stood of a little dis.
tanCe, AM in loud voice ordered
them to look at him. Whether they
understood or not made no difference.
They certainly all did look at him.
had seen plenty OF experiments
before in mesmerism and electro
biology, 50 that the present scene did
not surprise me so much as it did my
companions and the other Indians.
Grignon simply stood at distance,
waving his arms at times, and giving
words of command. Every word
was obeyed.
First they all began to dance.
Then they all knelt down.
Then they touched hands, and could
not sever themselves from one anoth-
er's contact. The Indians suddenly
rushed wildly around, with the others
all joined to them, trying to free them
selves, but utterly unable, yelling and
howling like wild beasts.
AT last at a shout from Grignon, the
charm was dispelled. They sprang
back from one another and stood mo-
tionless, like so many statues.
Suddenly they all began to shiver
as though they were suffering from
intense cold. They gathered their
blankets closely around them, their
teeth chattering, and every limb
trembling. In an instant they were
painting as though suffering from ex-
tren heat, drawing difficult breaths,
gasping and flinging off those blank
cts which but moment before they
had wrapped so tightly about them.
This then passed,
They began to bark like dogs. They
went down on all fours, and evidently
imagined that they were of the ca
nine species.
Then they tried to initiate the mo-
ton and croaking of frogs. After this
they went through performances too
numerous to mention. At one time
they became rigid, and arranged them~
selves like the stakes of q tent-heads
together, feet outward. Then four of
them knelt down and tried too run
about with four others on their backs,
then they all jumped wildly up in the
air and began to flap their hands. At
last they made furious onset upon
one another with fists, nails and
teeth, and if they had not left their
weapons behind they certainly would
have done some frightful injury.
The two Indians who held the
horses looked on in horror, bewildered
and and stupetied, not knowing what
to do. They would have fled in their
fright, but dared not leave their COM
panions behind. Grignon stood calm,
with frowning brows, watching the
uproar, himself the presiding spirit of
the scene; some Of those, they after
ward told me, throught that Grignon
was the devil,
At last Grignon gave Il loud shout.
The Indians lay flat on tie ground.
They lay there for some time, as if
dead. Then Grignon waved his arms
and they rose to their feet. All look
ed bewildered and frightened. With
terrified glances they regarded first
Grignon a terrible demon, who could
exert over them any power which he
choose.
He advanced toward them
They recoiled.
He walked up nearer.
They turned and ran toward their
| horses. ......
! Grignon ran after them.
In a frenzy terror, each man lung
himself upon his horse.
Grignon shouted after them.
Away they went. They urged their
horses at the TOP of their speed. a
Grignon followed them hut q short
distance.
Then he turned back, and came in
to our enclosure.
"Gather up those boltles,n said he,
"tackle up the cattle, and let Us be
marching..u ..
Instantly our men rose and obcyed.
Cirignon took a heavy swig Of whis-
XIV, and then lay downin in one Of the
, wagons, utterly exhausted.
We travelled all that day, and all
the next night unmolested. Grignun
slent long and souudly. After resting
for time. we pushed on our teams Sc
AS to get as far beyond the hostile In.
lians as possible,
we saw notning ol Ilem' =,
2 IHey WONT uale 70 puisTU ,tT u9,
Sulu OIlSllOui COunueutly. luCJ l.