The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-19
PEACE, NOT A SWORD.
Tho Indian Messiah Came Preaching
the Doctrine Of Industry
and Sobriety.
Unworthy Apostles Preached the
False Doctrines Of War
and Murder.
Account Of the visit Of Porcupine - the
Chrlst-Identity OF the
Prophet.

Christ-Identity OF the
Prophet
CHICAGO, Nov. 18.-Gen. Miles has re-
peived from the post adjutant at Fort Gus
ter, Mont. the report Of Lieut.. Robertson.
who carefully investigated the new religious
craze at the Cheyenne agency. His talks
were principally with Porcupine, the apos-
tie Of the new religion among the Chey-
ennes, and with Big Beaver, who accom-
panied Porcupine on his visit to the new
Christ at Walker Lake, Nevada, last year.
Porcupine told him that there were several
hundred Indians at Walker Lake at the
time, including representatives Of the
Cheyennes, Sioux, Arapahoes. Gros Ventures.
Utes, Navajoes, Sheepeaters, Bannacks and
some other tribes he did not know. Porcu-
pine first heard Of the new Christ at meet
ing in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he and
some other Cheyennes visited last fall. An
Arapahoe who had been in the southwest
country in 1883 told them about It.
Porcupine and the others were much
this new messiah. They went on from
point to point, travelling sometimes by
railroads and sometimes BY ponies or
wagons. Porcupine insists that the teach
ings of the new Christ were in the interests
of peace and good order and industry on
the part of the Indians. Lieut.. Robertson
asked him how it was then that certain In
dian tribes had made this new doctrine a
basis for neglecting their crops, indulging
in demorallZing dances and even in disor-
der. Porcupine replied that nearly all the
Indians who had gone to hear this new
Christ with him had gone hoping to hear
him preach come incendiary doctrine.
They were disappointed at hearing that the
new creed required them 70 simply work
and behave themselves. and concluded on
their return home not to relate strictly what
had been told them, but to preach doctrines
more agreeable to the Indians. These men,
said Porcupine to the lieutenant, are all
liars, and they are responsible for any
trouble snas mas ai1ed sne new
Sioux whom he had heard Of but did not
know. The man preached that the new
Christ had told HIM that belief in his reli-
Rion gave the Indians charmed life
against the whites. From this arose inso-
lence and trouble.
Lieut.. Robertson obtained from Henry
Reed, an Arapahoe interpreter, an intelli-
gent half-breed, information which, If true,
would establish the identity of the 90 call
ed messiah. Reed says he is a Piute In
dian named John johnson, very intelli-
lives at the Walker Lake reservation,
where other Indians claim to have seen the
new Christ. Reed reported the Arapahoes
very much excited over the new doctrine,
and that many OF them have even torn
down their houses and sold the logs. Reed
entirely lost control over them.
From all Lieut.. Robertson could learn
Porcupine's influence has been constantly
exerted for good and in line Of what he
claimed the new messiah told him, in com
redskin missionaries,
Appended to the lieutenant's statement
j. . statement of Porcupine, as written
down By Robertson with the aid Of an in
terpreter. II is lengthy one, describing
Christ, and the various stages Of the jour
ney Of himself and companions to meet
him. He said:
''The people at the point where the new
Christ was seemed to be all good people,
although of many tribes. There was no
home tribe brought word from the messiah
to remain fourteen days in camp. when he
would come and see them. He
sent them something to eat, like q
big white nut. Finally one morning hum
dIeds Of people gathered near the
just before shutdown more people came
dressed in white mems clothes, although
mostly Indians, and the new Christ was
with them. He was not 20 dark az an In
dian nor 80 light as white man. He had
no beard but very heavy eyebrows. He was
dressed like white man executing he had
on moccaslns. He commenced our dance,
everybody joining in, and the Christ sing
ing. We danced until late at night when
he told us, we had enough. heard that
Christ had been cruoified, }" said Porcupine.
land saw scar on this mans wrist and
bis face. Next evening we assembled again.
He sung. then trembled violently aud then
ali nie lit. The next morning Se ss ts DOWN
amongst us and talked with Us, saying: I
am the man Who made everything You eco
Ground yog. ! have been 70 heaven and
own father and mother. In the begin
ming, after God made tho earth,
they sent me hack to teach the
people. but the people were afraid Of mo
and treated mo very badly. This Is what
they DID to me (showinR his scarf. found
Heaven and left them. ] told them that in
20 many hundred years would come back
to go them. Ny father told me the earth
was getting old and worn out and the peo-
Pile were getting bad, and that ! was to re-
new everything and make it better"
Porcupine said that the Christ eaid al
come back to earth ana that il was too
small for all. Now he would do away With
Heaven, and make earth itself large enough
to contain all. He spoke to ne about hight
ing. and said that il was bad, and that No
must keep from it; that the earth wac TO b
all good hereafter; that We must be friends
with one another. He told rs not to quar-
rel. or strike, or fight, or shoot one
another; that the whites and the Indians
were TO be all one people. He sald
that il any man disobeyed what he
ordered his tribe would be wiped from
the face of the earth. We must believe
everything he said, and he would know our
thoughts and actions, no matter in what
part Of the world We might be. 81 thought
all he said was good" added Porcupine.
land when ! got back knew my people
were bad and had heard nothing Of this,
Sol got them all together and told them Of
it, and warnea them to listen for their own
good. ! told them just what have told
yon here to-day. II you think / am not
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