The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-26
CRANKY RuBE.
A New Messiah Como to Save the Colorctl
Race.

A New Messiah Como to Save the Colorcd
Race.
KANSAS CRY, Dec. 25.-What was at first
source of amusement to Chief of Police
npeers has become matter of serious con-
slderation. Early last week number Of
colored men called upon the chief to ask
permission to hold ghost dances, saying
that they had new messiah who would
lead them to promised land. The chief
granted THAR request and considered the
whole matter huge joke. The craze has,
however, assumed the proportions of some
thing more than joke, and is now rapidly
spreading among the more ignorant classes
OF colored people throughout the city.
Some ten or fifteen dsys ago tall. gaunt
man, as black as coal. made his appearance
in what is known rs "Helps Half Acre"
in the packing house district, and an
nounced himself as the messiah sent to save
the colored race. The man was Reuben
Carter and he came here from Pomeroy,
Kan, where had long been known as
Cranky Rube." He went among the ne
ideas. and at last accumulated quite fol-
lowing among the negroes in the west bot
Ions.
Carter has been talking about the de-
struction the whole white race and says the
calamity IL to occur next spring. and warns
the blacks to follow him if they would es-
cape cape the general destruction. He tells
the whites will suffer % their fate, Fate
but those who 20 with him to
the promised land will he placed in power
and the wealth of the world will be theirs.
HIS story is sort of revised edition of the
Indian craze and he has evidently been
reading OF what is going on among the red
race.
He claims that the promised land is in
Oklahoma and says he will lead all the be-
levers there in the spring, and they will
then see that he possesses miraculous
power. He promises that cities will rise in
night for the occupancy of the people
who follow him. and these cities will be
sent to serve him. He enters into minute
description of the Cities and it tallies ex-
actly with the description of the city de-
scribed in the Revelations of the Rible. He
says the city will be called the New Jerusa-
lem and will be built of gold and precious
stones.
The permission granted by the chief of
police for holding ghost dances has been
fuliy taken advantage of, and the colored
people in the districts mentioned have been
holding nightly revels which they call re-
llglous dances, but which are now begin
mug 10 assume the appearance OF idola-
trous orgies. As the dancing contin-
ancient savagery, and their movements now
resemble the incarnation of the voudoo
dancers of the south. Men and women join
IN the craze, and they are becoming wilder
and wilder every night. until now the chief
OF police is seriously thinking of revoking
MS permission and stopping the dancing.
Carter has disappeared, and the followers
say that he is in retirement until New
Years day, when he will appear in all his
glory and show his wonderful power by
signs and miracles. The dancing, which
has heretofore been public to any one who
desired to witness it, is now done in secret
and admission is refused to all who do not
believe in the power of the messiah. There
IS no doubt that the man has gained great
control over the ignorant people Of his race,
stop the craze there viii be trouble with the