Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-05-01
AN INDIAN MOSES.
Why Captain Jack Killed General
Canby-A Strange Religion.

why captain JACK hiIIeu GenerhI
Cnnby-A Strange Religion.
To any one acquainted with the pres
ent temper of the Pacific coast Indians
the reason for the massacre of General
Candy by Captain Jack is obvious.
A belief exists among the tribes and
bands in the States and Territories here
tofore named that the time Of their de-
liverance from the domination of the
white race is close at hand. 1t has long
been predicted by the old warriors and
their medicine men, and within the last
three years has gained an almost univer-
sal acceptance. When questioned, how
ever, by those sustaining official rela-
tions with them, most of the Indians
deny any knowledge of these beliefs or
traditions. Nevertheless the fact that
the belief has become almost universal
is well known to all intelligent men hav-
ing friendly relations with the Indians.
On page 1863, Commissioners Report
for 1872, are some statements on this
subject by Mr.. N. A. Cornoyer, agent in
charge of the Umatilla reservation, Ore
gon, to which L. B. Odeneal, of Oregon,
at the conclusion of his report (on page
362, same book, makes the following
reference:
A STRANGE AND DANGEROUS RELIGION.
"The Indians mentioned by Agent
Cornoyer in his report as being on the
Columbia river, numbering, in his epin-
ion, 1000, are a source OF considerable
ANNOYANCE to the agents at Warm
Springs and Umatilla. They have new
and peculiar religion, by the doctrines of
which they are taught that new God is
coming to their rescue; and that all the
Indians who have died heretofore and
who shall die hereafter are to be resur-
rected; that, as they then will be very
numerous and powerful, they will be
able to conquer the whites, recover their
lands, and live as free and unrestrained
as their fathers lived in olden times
Their model of a man is an Indian; they
aspire to be Indians, and nothing else.
About 400 of them belong at Umatilla
Agency, 100 at Warm Springs, and the
remainder the Territories Of Idaho and
Washington. 1t is thought by those who
know them best that they cannot be
made to 60 upon their reservations with
out aJ l6dSJ DblHE lullmludbCu ny LhC
presence of military force"
WHO SHALL BE THE INDIAN MosEs2
This belief, substantially the same as
officially stated above, has led the In
dians in that belt of country situated
east of the Cascade and west of the
Rocky Mountains, to longingly look for
the coming of their deliverer, and to hail
all unusual occurrences as indications
of his speedy advent. No chief knows
but that he may prove to be the chosen
one, and Captain Jack in his success
will be greeted as such by great numbers
of braves. The same idea that inspired
the first gun of the rebellion, namely,
to " fire the Southern hear" actuated
these Indians. The treacherous assault
in which General Candy was sacrificed
would never have been made had net
Captain Jack and his associates been
guaranteed the cooperation of the great
tribes of all that section. IL was the
one thing needed 10 fire the Indian
heart. The fact that General Candy and
other men we're slain is as well known
to. day to the Indians about Fort Benton
as to the people of Yreka. The earth
anake which shook Oregon and Wash
ingtoa Territory last December was &C
cepted by the Indians as prophetic OF a
great event in their favor. This bloody
massacre will be to them the fultillment
of natures prophecy. Such Is the mean
Ing Of the lava bed catastrophe.