The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-11-18
THE SIOUX COULD DO MUCH HARM.



Danger Of Immediate Outbreak
CHICAGO. Nov. H.-Gcneral Niles, accom-
panied by Colonel Corbin, returned this morn
ing from St. Louis, where they Yesterday had
consultation with Secretary of War Proctor con-
cerning the sllesed Indian tsouhls g. the
Northwest. Colonel Corbin said today thai
there b no doubt that ii the Indians were to
decide upon IN outbreak, they could do much
harm. They have an abundance OF rifles and
ammunition. and plenty of horses and large
supplies Of meat. But winter Is coming on, and
the officers hardly think there is any immediate
danger of an outbreak. Colonel Corbin said
that the stories Of the evacuation Of districts by
settlers in North Dakota are 0vefdrawn. There
may be some residents, who, fearing the red.
skins, may have left their homes, but the stories
II wholesale excavations are absolutely without
foundation.
1--WE have made" he said, 80 careful estimate
OF the number affected by the Messiah craze.
and they are in all not to exceed $4,000 Indians.
OF this number perhaps one.hfth are able
bodied warriors, and 0ne-half, or 1900 could
bear arms. Such body, Of course. could do
much harm IL their movements were not
properly arrested, but we have taken measures
to intercept any outbreak"
General Miles has received from the post I'D.
jutant at Fort Custer, Mont, the report of Lieu.
tenant Robinson, who has carefully investigated
the new religious craze ct the Cheyenne agency
His talks were principally with Porcupi ne, the
apostle Of the new religion among the Chey.
ennes, and with Big Beaver, who accompanied
Porcupine on his visit to the new Christ at
Walker lake, New. last year. Porcupine told
him there were several hundred indians at
Walker lake at the time. including represents
tlves of the Cheyennes. Sioux. Arapahoes, Gros
ventres Utes, Navajoes Sneep-eaters, BAN
nocks, and other tribea Porcupine first heard
of this new Christ at q meeting in cheyenne
Wyo., where he and some other chiefs visited
last fall. An Arapahoe, who had bsen to the
Southwestern country in 1883, told them about
it
and determined 10 see this new Messiah. They
went on from point TO point, travelling some
times by railroad and sometimes by ponies or
wagons Porcupne insists that the teachings
OF the new Christ were in the interest of peace
and good order aRd industry on the part OF the
Indian.
Lieutenant Robertson asked him how II was
then that certain Indan tribes had made this
new doctrine the basis for neglectiug their
crops, indu ging in demoralixing dances and
even in disorder.
Porcupine replied that nearly all the Indians
who had gone 20 hear this new Christ with him
had gone hoping to hear him preach some in.
cendiary doctrine. They were disappointed at
hearing that the new creed required them to
simply work and behave themselves, and con-
cluded on their return not to relate strictly
what had been told them. but TO preach doc
trines more agreeable to the Indians.
These men," said Porcupine, "are all liars.
and they are responsible for any trouble thar
occurred. not the new Messiah" Porcupine
cited one case of Sioux. whom he had heard
of, but did not know This man preached that
the new Christ had told him that belief In his
religion gave the Indians . charmed life
aSr taf a.
and trouble
Reed. an Arapahoe Indian interpreter, an intel.
hgent sfbreed, information which. If true.
would esfahlish the identity of the so-called
new Messiah. Reed says he is Pah Ute Indian
named John johnson, very Intelligent, but not
an educated man. This man lives at Walker
Lake reservation, whore the other Indians claim
10 have seen the new Christ
Reed reports taat the Arapahoes are much ex-
CITED over the new doctrine, and that many OF
them have even torn down their houses and
sold the logs Reed says the agent and Indian
police have entirely lost coutrol over them
From all that Lieutenant Robertson could learn
r. rcHpine's in fuence has been constantly ex-
erted ior good, and in the line of what he
claimed the new Messiah had told him, in con-
tradiction TO the preaching of the other redskin
missionaries.
Appended to the iieutenant's statement II the
statement OF Porcupine, - written down by
Robertson with the aid OF amin erpreter. Il is
a lengthy one, describing in detail how he first
heard of the new Christ and the various stages
of the journey himself and his companions
made to meet him. He SAID:
The people at the point where the new Christ
Was seem all good people. although OF many
ifibes- There was no fighting Or drinking.
The cnieis OF the home trsbe brought word from
the AessaAh - remain fourteen days in camp.