The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-12-15
The Indian leaIn God.


The Indian Ram God.
BY SOLOMON W. JEwETT.
The story which l am about to relate of
the native American Indians, demonstrates
n fact worthy TO be looked into by liberal
scientists, Of mind acting upon mind, and
mind acting upon spirit and matter, GALL
Of which IS matter.) The student, in SCI
ence: will soon in the future better under
stand In California, among the different
tribes of Indians, they have one seer wiz
ard or prophet, sometimes called "med-
icite mar who claimed to possess
superior endowment and distinct gifts. One
leads in battle, another prophecies, some
are profound in the healing art, others
claim to control the elements and destinies
Of war, and the eleiatnts of the skies.
Some white men living among them have
witnessed woalerfdl powers acting upon
and controlling the elements and are ready
to vouch to facts hereafter presented in this
narrative.
Samuel A. Bishop and General f. f.
Beals opened, by contract with the L. S.
Government the first mail-Ioute and stage
road, extending through Texas, New Mex
leo, and California, terminating at San
Francisco. After its completion, in 1858,
they were settled over several tribes of
Indians. and held in charge the Sebastian
Military Reserve, at Ell Tejon, now Kern
county-where large number of semi
savages dwelt, who were under their con-
troll, their agents for several years.
The story was first related to me by said
Bishop, and confirmed by others, including
General Beals, who now makes it his home
at Chester Pa, but still owns a tact of
land in California covering in fec simple
900 acres, and 1900 sheep. Samuel
A. Bishop is a large land holder, as well
as of the stock of and president ofthe Santa
Clara railroad.
This Indian Reserve lay at the south
east lead of Tulare Valley, which is pro-
tected on three sides, forming an extensive
park of the richest alluvial land. In the
year 1854 portion Of this tract was under
field crops of wheat, barley, beans and corn
to the extent of one thousand five hundred
acres.
That period OF the year when rain is ex-
pected to fall-''the rainy season"-had
long passed by, with slight benefit to the
crops. At this point, the winter months
are the only reliable periods for drawers of
water. In consequence of the long con-
tinued dry weather a reduced supply of
running water, it required the constant at
tenton of those men in charge to induce
the slothful, the indolent and really the
only interested parties-the Indians to ir-
rigatc the crops at night as well as day.
From this cause the patriarchs, chiefs, and
laborers OF these tribes were necessarily
making appeals to the general supernten-
dent, entreating him to send for a prophet
or Grain chief who would supply Elite
jon with all the water it would need di-
rectly from the elements above. After
repeated assurances that bountiful supply
of water should be forthcoming, the super
intendent, more to crafty the poor Indian,
his own curiosity, and that of many others,
he consented to invite the great Rain God,
and see the proof palpable, by his works.
This wonderful Indian, whom they all wOr-
SHIPPED belonged to the Kern River Tribe,
then visiting at Keereville. The "cap.
tain Mr.. Bishop promised, that in remu-
neration for the waterfall, he would pre-
sent the rain chief with stipend to the
value of no less than $500
Five days after this on Thursday evening
in the middle of the month of May, the
prophet and thirty others of his tribe ap
peared. Mr.. b. said that of all the IndiaI
specimens in his travels, this one outdon,
them ALL he seemed to resemble the bah
Don species more than the human. Thu
news had spread abroad of the expected
visit of this wonderful and mysterious per
sonage and soon gathering Of severa
hundred Indians from the outskirts. TIL,
superintendent nterpertre-sepataro, wa
requested to ask the prophet if he though
he would make it rain, who with firmnes
replied. ''Yes that is what ] came for"
Imagine group Of more than thou
sand natives dressed in their several cos
tunes, gathered around, anxious to Sc
the result. According to their custom,
blanket was spread out before the Raj
chief and Medicine man, and down he sal
Presents were cast into his lap. The gen
eral government held on deposit at tn
Reserve an estimated value of $50, 900 j
specie, out of this deposit, the superin
tendant cast in his mite of five hundre
dollars. After the presentation gifts, tn
prophet was again asked if he intended t
make it rain? "That is what l came for,
he replies, 'Me want Il great feast, to
night, tomorrow me see what | do
the morning after their feasting upon doi
en- government bullocks the prophet calle
the attention of the captain to this fac
he said "If me bring great rain 1t will d.
stroy all of your adobes, dried bricks
and also wash down the unprotected wal
of wigwams you now have under way
"Within three weeks" the captain reptile,
"we can restore the bricks and walls, bl
to raise crop we must wait another yea
so never mind our works, ''shower it down
From this time, rot one hour had passe
before rain clouds made their appearance
the first time for months, and then wou
scatter away. The Rain God said she WI
afraid Of opposing influences here presel
operating against him." but after being a,
sured by those that were anxious to see
rain, and that there was no opposing ell,
ments or enchanted spirits around, he sal
''me will go down TO the brush-wood on II
creek and see what we can do" If we ca
make it thunder, all is right"
In looking over the native band one cou
see an unequivocal assurance, that the,
nothing daunted, were sure of success
But it surprised the whites after hearir
several cracks of thunder rolling throul