Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-04-22

and in loud voice ordered them all 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, so that
the present scene did not surprise me SO
much as it did my companions and the
other Indians.
Grignon simply stood at distance, wav-
ing his arms at times. and giving words Of
command. Every word was obeyed.
| First they began to dance.
I Then they all knelt down.
Then they touched hands, and could not
sever themselves from one another's con-
tact. The Indians suddenly rushed wildly
around, with the others all joined to them,
trying to free themselves, but utterly una
BILE, yelling and bowling like wild beasts.
At last, shout from Grignon, the charm
was dispellcd. They sprang back from one
another and stood motionless, like so many
statues.
Suddenly they all began to shiver, as
though they were suffering from intense
cold. They gathered their blankets close
ly around them, their teeth chattering,
and every limb trembling.
In an instant they were painting as
though suffering from extreme heat, draw
ing difficult breaths, gasping, and flinging
off those blankets 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 i'm
agined that they were Of the canine spe-
cies.
Then they tried to initiate the motion
and croaking of frogs. After this, they
went through performances too numerous
to mention. At one time they became
rigid, and arranged themselves like the
stakes of tent-heads together, feet out.
ward. Then four of them knelt down,
and tried to run around 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, aud
teeth, and if they had not left their weap-
ons behind, they certainly would have
done some frightful injury.
The two Indians who held the horses
looked on in horror, bewildered and stupi-
fed not knowing what to do. They would
have fed in their fright, but dared not
leave their companions behind. Grignon
stood calm, with frowning brows, watching
the uproar, himself the presiding spirit Of
the scene. Ny companions we're confound-
cd. Even some of those, as they after
wards told me, thought that Grignon was
the devil.
At last Grignop gave loud shout
The Indians fell fat on the ground.
They lay there for some time as if dead.
Then Grignon waved his arms, and they
rose to their feet. All looked bewildered
and frightened. With terrified glances
they regarded first Grignou and then one
another.
The Indian is superstitious, like all saw
ages; in fact, like all human beings. These
men saw in Grignon a terrible demon, who
could exert over them any power which he
| chose.
lie advanced toward them.
They recoiled.
We walked up nearer.
They turned and ran towards the horses.
Griguou ran after them.
In frenzy Of terror each man flung
himself upon his horse.
Gricnon shouted after them.
Away they went. They urged their
horses at the top Of their speed.
Grignon followed them but short dis
lance
Then he turned back and came into our
enclosure.
"Gather up these bottles" said he.
"Tackle up the cattle, and let US be march
ing"
Instantly our men rose aud obeyed.
Grignon took heavy glass of whiskey,
and then laid down in one Of the wagons,
utterly exhausted.
We Travelled all that day, and all the
next night, unmolested. Grignon slept
long and soundly. After resting for
time we pushed on our teams, SO as to get
as far beyond the hostile Indians as possl-
Bile.
We saw nothing more of them. .
"They won't dare to pursue us" SAID
Grignon, confidently. "Theyll go back
and tell such story as will be the wonder
of the savages for many a long year"
And Grignon was right. Not only did
they not pursue us, for the remainder OF
the year, and for all the next, no travellers
on that route were molested.
81 don't see," said l, show you managed
to do those tricks, on the open ground,
without any table"
Grignon smiled. =.
"Only clumsy performers use tables"
said he. "I could have done far more
wonderful things, but they would have
been thrown away on those savages. III
reserve my good tricks for San Francisco
And SO he did; for Of all the wizards,
magicians, aud conjurors, that have visited
the golden State, none have won so much
fame or excited so much wonder, as my
| c.;o,l Gr;roou