Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-06-03
AN INDIAN SEER.
An Old St. Francois Redskin COnVinces Skep-
tic of His Power.

u. "
tic of His Power.
In reading the advertising columns of
any popular daily, writes correspondent
of The Kansas City Times, one can not
but be surprised at the number of clairyOy-
ants and other seers, who even In this age
of skepticism find it profitable to adVer-
tise their powers. My experience with
these gifted people is slight, but unique
and worth relating. was once travelling
in northern Nebraska with a guide who
knew the wilderness about US as farmer
knows his fields. One night we went into
camp by small spring, where party of
Indians had pitched their tent. They
were of the st. Francois tribe, and old
acquaintance of my guide. One of them
he pointed out to me as having received
his government annuity for 1O7 years.
If he had set his age at 10 / should not
have disputed it. He was a mere shadow
of a man, dried and withered until he
scarcely looked human. His head was
bald and polished; his face like dried raw
hide. His name in English was Louie
Coska, but his own people called him by
a any-jOinted name meaning one who
can call the spirit out: / suppose western
Indians call such medicine men.
what can you show me? Where can
you send my soul?" L asked, curlously,
when | had listened to long account of
his dOinps. He shook his head and
chuckled and looked at me awhile and
then said: maybe you han't got no soul.
Well [ will see!'' Supper was over by this
time and the fires dying down, but he
pushed the charred ends together until
they began to smolder but did not blaze.
He directed me where to stand and told
me to look into the fire. From Buck
skin bag swung around his neck he took
bits of bark and gum and threw them
into the embers muttering all the time a
sing-sOn sort of chant. His look, his
motions, as he would bend nearer, nearer
the fire as if to warm himself and then
suddenly spring up to more than natural
height, swinging one foot and one hand
alternately, were so funny that had to
fix nv whole mind on the fire to avoid
laughing. l will say that | though him
a humbug; that he could have any power
over me l did not believe. As Igazed the
embers frightened. From the bits of
bark cast N there came whiffs of perfume
indescribably sweet, followed by stencil
sitting and noisome beyond compare
By this time the woods beyond the CLEAN
of our fire was in darkness, and as | gaz-
ed the gloom seemed to lift to swing out
like curtain. The coal upon which
gazed became flame; around the flame
there was formed a crystal case, which, as
/ looked, became lamp chimney. The
old man screamed final word, and thrust
me forward almost on to the fire. Still
gazing / saw this: A room, large and
T comfortably furnished, lit by single
lamp. Lamplight and freight CLEANED
on many articles known to me of old, and
beside the fire, with knitting in her hand
and bible on her knee, sat my mother
Every feature was distinct. L noted the
gray threads among the locks once sc
black. 1 saw that her lips trembled an6
her eyes were wet. 1t was of me she
thought. 1T was my absence that wet hel
eyes with tears. | knew this in some IN
defined way, but knew it, and l benz
nearer and nearer. Suddenly her face be
came convulsed, her lips quiyered. She
raised her hands toward heaven. my
boy!' she whispered. 80 my boy" she
murmured, when, presto! as If the word
had power to dissolve the charm, room,
lamp, and mother all we're gone, and was
struggling in the arms of the guide, but
for whose interference [ should have
fallen face foremost into the fire. The
eoniurer brought a dish of water and
flung it over the the Goals, extingushing
them completely, and hobbled away tC
roost without word in reply to my ques
tiOns, without even glancing in my direc
ton, and when [ rose in the morning after
a troubled sleep their camp was deserted
and never saw them again.