The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1890-12-13
THE INDIAN MESSIAH.

Piute chief, johnson Sides, bOOs up
into public, says the World, and then
adds; New stories of his wiles are
told by Capt. York who recent
~ returned to this city from Nevada,
where he became we'll acquainted
with the self-asserted Messiah.
~IIe is a queer character said Capt.
York yesterday to a World reporter,
~and some of his work in knavery is
very funny. l remember chat about
four years ago johnson Sides became |
imbued with strong desire to Chris
tianize and educate the members Of
his tribe, and to that end made battle
for sehoolhouse. A 'dugout' or a |
log cabin would not do. lie had to
have schoolhouse, properly framed |
and built lie was then near Virginia
City, and il was on the outskirts of the |
city he wanted TO build the school,
house. He had no money and the
tribe was poor Neither did he have
credit, but he determined to have the |
school at any cost. So he laid his
plans and soon the lumber dealers be-
gan to miss scantling, timbers and
boards, and carpenters had their tools
stolen. No one could detect the thief,
and the matter was mystery until
one day lumber dealer in riding
across the country happened on to
johnson Sides schoolhouse. He ex-
amined the marks on the rough timber
aud recognized it as having been stolen
from him, and he returned to the city
to tell the others of his find. They
went to the scene and found the school
house well on toward completion, aud
nearly enough lumber to finish the
building. The dealers compelled John
son Sides 10 return all the stuff, aud in
disgust he exclaimed: 'Huhl Chris
tians make Jesus pay one bit one foot
for his cross He was thoroughly dis
gusted with the whites.
"Another evidence of the shrewd-
ness of the Piute chief is told by the
San Francisco Examiner. 1t Is as fol-
lows: Two years ago johnson Sides
brought down lot Of Piutes to take
part in the pony races at the State fair
in Sacramento. The Agricultural
Society gave him big silver badge
with his name and "Peace Maker on
it. lie is as proud of 1t as u small boy
of sore toe. He shows il and tells a
wonderful story about 1t. He says II
was given to him by tho whites as
token Of their gratitude for his services
in stopping the Indian war;"
"About u year ago johnson Sides
made a speech at Woodwards Garden.
Capt Sam M. made speech and
Prime Minister johnson Sides got up
to interpret 1t. lie told the history of
the Piutes from the start aud Dragged
about their progress; but he informed
his hearers that they never again would
fight the whites. In the next war
they would fight with the Govern
ment.
"lle Is a cunning old chap. When
Piutes came down here to show at
Woodward's he made raise for the
tribe that earned him their everlasting
gratitude. The Indian show had been
billed and advertised lavishly. Two
hours before the time for the show,
Sides, backed by Sam, approached the
manager:
awe want um money said johnson.
"'What for = asked the manager.
"'Buy um grub
"'0h, all right. How much do you
need r
"'Four hundred dollars
-h-h-a-tl 0, come now; I'll give
you 500
"'Giye 'em S400'
"'No.,
"'All right. | can heap 90 back
right away
And IN five minutes the Piutes had
their blankets rolled up and were
ready to start. They could not let
them go after all the advertising, aud
the manager swore and shouted about
breach of contract. johnson Sides
grinned The agent offered TO com.
promise, but IL was no use, and at last
he paid the $400
johnson Sides has not been in San
francisco since then. He wears a
long blue coat, a shirt of black and red
check, peacock feather in his hat, and
somebody else's trousers and moe
casins."