St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-11-27
AN INDIAN MESSIAH.

AIN INDIAN MESSIAH.
Something AbOuf the New Religious
Propaganda in the West.
The Indians have been responsible
for a sensation or two within a few
days. A stir has been caused by the
report of an alleged Indian Messiah
who has made his appearance in
Nevada, and by rumOrs that the
Sioux of North Dakota were going
to take the war path with many
thousand well-armed warriors. This
latter rumOr caused much cOnSterna-
ton in the vicinity of Mandan. 1t is
believed, however, that the danger
has been obviated, if it ever really
existed by the prompt massing of
troops at the Rosebud agency where
they could effectually control any
demonstration of the disconnected
savages. Gen. Miles, who COM
mands the department of the North
west, and other high officers of the
war department profess to believe
that the army can now be so
promptly modified and the methods
of Indian warfare have come to be
so well understood that little is to
be feared from outbreaks. OF course
this doesn't quiet the fears of the
scattered settlers on the frontiers of
the reServa tons, who care more
about their own scalps than about
the extent of the harm that could be
done by a few thousand evil-minded
braves.
Reports seem to differ as to the
connection between the warlike
demonstrations and the new Mes
siah. Most reports are to the effect
that the Messiah teaches that the
time is coming for the sweeping
away of the pale face and the restora-
ton of the Indians to their hunting
grounds. The best authenticated
statements tell a different story, and
are to the effect that Pah Ute in
Nevada, having learned the story of
Christ, is endeavoring in a half
savage way to initiate him and is
preaching peace on earth, good will
to men," white as well as red This
story was told by Porcupine, the
apostle of the new religion among
the Chevennes, to Lieut.. F. c. Rob-
ertson at the Cheyenne agency.
Porcupine visited the new Messiah
at Walker Lake, Nevada, last year
In his report of Porcupine's story,
submitted to Gen Miles, Lieut. Rob
ertsOn says:
He especially insists that the teachings
of the new Christ were in the interest of
peace and good order and industry
the part of the Indians. l asked him if
he could explain how it was, then, that
certain Indian tribes had made this new
doctrine a basis for neglecting their
crops, indulging in demoralizing dances,
and even in disorder, had been the
case on certain reservations. His an
swer is so shrewd, and touches so nearly
the probable explanation of the facts
that | recorded it. He said that the
Indians who had gone to hear this new
Christ with him had gone hoping to hear
him preach some incendiary doctrine,
and they were disappointed at hearing
that the new creed required them to SIM
ply work and behave themselves; that
being known by their people to have Wis
tied this new Messiah, they concluded on
their return home not to relate strictly
what this man had told them but to
put into his mouth doctrines more agree
able to the Indians. These men, said
Porcupine. are all liars, and they are re-
sponsble for any trouble that occurs, not
the new Messiah.
In concluding his story Porcupine
thus expressed himself:
Ever since the Christ l speak of talked
to me | have thought what he said was
good | have seen nothing bad in it
When | got back | knew my people were
bad, and had heard nothing of all this,
so | got them together and told them of
it, and warned them to listen to it for
their own good. | told them Just what
| have told you here today"
among the Sioux near the Standing
Rock agency squaw who claims to
have given birth to this Messiah
Her name is Waluta win, the wife of
Iikpoga, and when examined the
other day before the Standing Rock
agent and the great chiefs of the
Sioux nation she made this state
ment, speaking lin low tone, with
intense earnestnesS :"
l am the mother of Christ. who is now
upon this earth making preparations 70
rebuilding it. The earth is to belong
solely to his chosen people, and this con
tinent Is to be extended much farther
west, taking IN part of the great sun
set water The eastern part of the con
tinent will be abandoned. but in the
western part great herds of buffalo will
wander as III the days of long ago, and
simultaneously with the disappearance
of the whites from the earth will come
the resurrection of all the Indians who
now sleep, and forevermore they will
wander over the earth with no one to
question their rights to kill the buffalo,
no one to say: DO this or l will put
you in the guard-house-"
Then she went to the guard-house,
leaving the agent to cudgel his brains
for way to deal with this new and
unusual form of Indian difficulty.
Chief Gall and John Grass have