The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-11-30
BILL NYE EXPLAINS
His Connection with the Origin
of the Messiah Craze.
ST AN HERE, JOHNSON SIDES"
Bill Gives Sketch of the Career of the
Inspired Piute-The Part Sam
Davis Played
4 AN HERE, JOHNSON SIDES"

NEW DIRK, NOV, 29.-Blll Nye read with
with composure the dispatch printed here
o-day, charginR. that the Nevada people
held him responsible for the Indian up
rising. Nye was seen to-day by a reporter,
and when asked to explain his connection
with the appearance of the Piute Messiah,
he said: II am very sorry my name has
been mentioned in connection with this
affair, for more reasons than one, but
because the government may, de-
eide to make me pay the costs of the war.
Still, am rich man and am prepared to
furnish even FODDER for cavalry horses, pro-
vided, of course, vouchers for all expendi-
lures are given me.
~ know Mr.. Johnson Sides quite well"
continued Nye, land [ fouad him to be a
very decent fellow, as Piute Indians go.
When l last saw him in Reno he was a
m IN about five feet six inches a stout and
very dirty. His HAIR had just been clipped
off with pair of blacksmith's pliers. l was
introduced to him by sam Davis, editor OF
the Carson appeal, whom / suspect of
having sent the dispatch about me last
night. When | was introduced to the new
Messiah he assured me he had heard Of me
frequently and was q constant reader of
my letters. In view of subsequent devel-
opnents, think johnson Sides is nearer
relative of Ananias that Messiah. Still, an
Incian Messiah does not need to have a
very high regard for the truth.
II am very sorry for the Piutes, who
choose Johnson Sides as leader, because
think Johnson Sides has not the requisite
knowledge OF modern warfare to cope sue
cessfully with the United States army. In
my opinion, Red Shirt and Sitting Bull
were Napoleons alongside of Johnson
Sides. But Johnson Sides has an appreci-
alive nature. He will take anything from
a blanket to a mustang, and feels happy
when he gets away with it. He is very
proud of his ability to read and write and
he delights above all things to mingle with
the whites. | know that one day last
spring Sam Davis was in Reno and greeted
johnson Sides in that ELUSIVE manner that
one would long lost brother with straw
berry mark on his shoulder. Sam caressed
johnson Sides who assured him of his love
and invited him over to Carson. Johnson
Sides said he would go sometime
as it was easy for him to get
| there You know that all Indians are
permitted to ride free on the Union Pacific
railroad because, it is believed, they gave
the road some valuable grants. Well, one
day johnson Sides got together about IL
cents, jumped on the train and prepared tc
visit Sam Davis at Carson. Sam didn't
know he was coming until he got mes
sage, for which he had to pay, which read
as follows:
RED DOC, Nov. 10.
Sam Davis, Carson, New.
I am here. johnson Sides
| Sam whlstled softly, wrote personal
for the appeal and was about to go out Of
the office, when painted poster was
handed him which read as follows
Sam Davis, Carson City. l am here
johnson Sides.'
''Sam swore, and refused an advertise
ment, owing to his absence of mind, and
was about to kick the town bully by mis-
take when this telegram, for which he also
paid, was handed him.
Licking Stick. To Sam Davis, Carson
| Nev.-I am here.
johnson Sides
''Then Sam got little heated under til.
necktie, sent a message along the line not
! to receive collect messages from John
son Sides. But he could not stop johnson
Sides. He came right along with the train
and for four days he slept on Sans offic,
lounge, while Sam slept on the floor.
ga year before that Johnson Sides hat
joined the temperance society and takel
the pledge He kept it, too for almost
year, but in an evil moment he fell. He wa
detected taking Philadelphia drink from
a secreted receptacle under his blanket
and the news was published far and wide
That, of course, made the good people o
Carson very angry at johnson Sides, an,
as the legislature was in session bill wa
introduced ordering Johnson Sides tota
humiliation, or at least his social ostraciza
ton. Johnson Sides felt very sad. For tn
next few days he was very busy button
holing legislators and asking them to vot
against the bill. In fact, Washington, L
c., or Albany. N. Y, never witnessed sue
wire pulling as was then INDUCED in.
''On the day appointed for the final reac
ing of the bill, the house was crowded. Th
galleries were thronged with chiefs, wal
riors and squaws. White people filed tn
rotunda. When the time came and tn
clerk called up the bill, one of the ables
speakers in the house arose ane in a mos
dienified manner said: Mr.. speaker. Sill
I move you that it be the sense of thi
: house that the drink taken by Johnso
Sides on the 18th day of January be and
} is hereby declared null and void Their
was a big fight on the question, an
the Piutes were greatly agitated, but Their
were rounds of applause when the motto
prevailed and Sides was declared TO b
as pure as driven snow. After that John
son Sides debated in his mind whether
return to his blanket and barbarism {
start gin mill. He finally decided to q
the latter. So he went up into the Sierl
Nevada mountains ana pre- empted an Of
log house over whichshe put sign, 'Johl
sons Sides, Fodder for Man and Mustangs
On the day it opened three white me
called and got three drinks for which the
forgot to pay. They advertised the plac
however, and within ten days the EMIL
Piute nation, chiefs, warriors, medicif
men and squaws, were all the guests
Johnson Sides. The fact they were q
fiat rock didn't trouble them, although it
an undeniable fact that johnson Sides w;
not entirely happy. Well, one day whe
all the PiuteS went off to a neighbour
: grove on picnic johnson Sides TOOK
sneak and, after posting sign saying,
have made an assignment, johnson Sides
4 he resumed his blanket and his barbarisr
Now l am loaSh to speak on this subjet
for | am naturally of most peaceful dlsp
, sition. I am sorry that johnson Sides is {
a the warpath, but [ have to point out Il
t inconsistency of the man. He poses
, a Messiah and in that role should brir
peace to all men, but here he is digging l
the tomahawk and scalping knife an
raising general insurrection. It is really tt
|, bad. / sincerely trust that the Unite
States government will not think harsh
Of me for what have done. AS l said b
q fore, l am immensely wealthy and in
position to pay all costs of the war. Nor
over, am very willing to 90 so. Indeed
n do not know but what will insist on beir
charged with the cost of the affair. wi
however, object to paying for any bath th
johnson Sides may take. l appreciate t
5 fact that johnson Sides reads my letter
8 and l hope he will read them more careful
after this. If l thought that any of L
y utterances would drive even an Indian
warfare would not write for any new
paper an Indian could read. There is
: fun in getting up war especially when v
have to pay the costs"
The Naydjoes Reported Getting Ugly.
Fort WINGATg, N. M, Nov. G9.-Rumo
= are current of probable uprising amo