The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-11-18
TALES OF The MESSIAH
Redskins Say Their Christ Is a Perfect
Gentleman.
A VERY UPRIGHT FAKlR
Porcupine Tells a Fort Custer Of
ficer All About the indian Saw
iour- ur-Mandan's 'sResldentsMore
Alarmed Than Ever.

CHICAGO, Nov. 17.-General Miles, ac-
companied by Colonel Corbin, returned
this morning from St. Louis, where he
yesterday had consultation with Secre-
tary of War Proctor concerning the al
legged Indian trouble in the northwest.
Colonel Corbin said to-day there is no
doubt II the Indians were 10 decide upon
an outbreak they could do much harm.
They have an abundance Of rifles and
ammunition, 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 the stories OF evacua-
ton of districts by settlers in North
Dakota are overdrawn. There may be
some fearful residents who, fearing red
skins, may have left their homes, but sto-
ries Of wholesale evacuations are abso-
luiely without foundation.
1--WE have made, nhe said, "a careful esti-
mate Of the number effected by the Messi-
an craze and there are in all not to exceed
9,om Indians. OF this number, perhaps
one-fifth are able-bodled warriors and
one-half or 1900 could bear arms. Such
body Of course could do much harm IL
their movements were not properly ar
rested. BIT we have taken measures 10
intercept any outbreak"
General Miles has received from the
post adjutant at Fort Custer, Montana, a
report Of Lieutenant Robertson, who has
carefully investigated the new religious
craze at the Cheyenne agency. His talks
were principally with Porcupine, the
apostle Of the new religion among the
Cheyennes, and with Big Beaver, who ac-
oompanied Porcupine on his visit 10 the
new Christ at Walker Lake, Nevada, last
year. Porcupine told him there
were several hundred Indians at Walker
Lake at the time, including representatives
of the Cheyennes, Sioux, Arapahoes, Gros
Ventre, Utes, Navaioes, Sheep Eater Ban
nocks and other tribes he did not know
Porcupine is an apostle Of this new
Christ at Wyoming, where he and some
other Cheyennes visited last fall.
An Arapahoe, who had been to the
Southwestern country In 1888. told then
about ii. Porcupine and others were
much interested and determined TO SEE
this new Messiah. They went on from
point to point, travelling sometimes b,
railroad and sometimes by ponies OF
wagons. Porcupine insists that th,
| teachings OF the new Christ were
in the interests OF peace ant
good order and industry on the par
Of Indians. Lieutenant Robertson asked
him how il was then that certain lndiar
| trth.a had t,aadn THE .~,n Ia
basis for neglecting their crops, indulginl
in demoralizing dances and even in dis
order. Porcupine replied that nearly al
the Indians who had gone TO hear thi,
new Christ with him had gone hoping tc
hear him preach some iDcendiary doc
trine. They were disappointed at hear
ing that the new creed required them to
simply work and behave themselves, ant
concluded on their return not TO re
late strictly what had been TOLD
them, but to preach doctrines NOR,
agreeable to Indians.
These men, said Porcupine to the lieu
tenant, are all liars and they are respon
sible for any trouble that has occurred
not the new Messiah. Porcupine citeC
one case in point Of Sioux, whom b,
heard of but did not know. This mar
predicted that the new Christ told then
belief in his religion gave the Indians
charmed life against the whites. From
this arose the insolence and trouble
Lieutenant Robertson obtained from
Henry Reed, an Arapahoe interpreter, ar
intelligent half-reed. information, which
IL true, would establish the identity Of th,
so-called new Messiah. Reed says he is
Panute Indian. named John johnson
very intelligent but not an educated man
This man lives on the Walker Lake res
ervation, where dher Indians clam I,
have seen the new Christ. Reed reports
the Arapahoes were much excited owe
the new doctrine, ald that many Of then
have even torn down their houses an,
sold the logs. Reed says the agent ant
Indian police hav, entirely lost contro
over them. From al Lieutenant Robert
son could learn, Porcupine's inhuenc'
has been constantly sxerted for good, an,
in the line Of what he claimed the new
Messiah told him in contradiction to th,
preaching OF other red-skin missionaries
Appended TO the lieutsnant's statement /
the statement Of Pocupine, as writer
down by Robertson with the aid OF an in
terpreter. II is lengthy one, telling il
detail how he first heard Of The ne,
Christ. and the variois stages Of tn
journey of himself and companions t
meet him.
He said the people at the point wher
the new Christ was seemed good peopl,
although Of many tribes. The chiefs c
the home tribe brought word from tn
messiah TO remain IA days In camp, whe
he would come to see them. He sent ther
something TO eat like a big white nu
Finally one morning hundreds OF peopl
gathered near Walkers Lake agency in
great ring, and just before sundown MOI
people came dressed in white men
clothes. although mostly Indians, an
the Christ was with them. He WI
not so dark as an Indian, n,
so light as white man. He had q
beard. but very heavy eyebrows. 1T
was dressed like a white man, exceptir
he had on moccasins. He commenc,
our dance, everybody joining in, aud Il
Christ singing. We danced Till late
night, when lie told us we bad hs
enough. heard that Christ had be,
crlIcihed," said Porcupine. "and 1 saw
scar on this mans wrist aud on his FAC
Next evening we assembled again, /
sang. then irembled violently aud IN,
i,y doWn anparenlly lead uhiIa a