The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-05
%REDsSKINNED POISONERS,
Tribos or Indians Whose Only Weapons
Wero Deadly Poisons.

Were Deadly Poisons.
Among the Cree and Saltsaux Indians the
administration of deadly poisons has boon
reduced to an exact science, says the Cht-
oAgo Herald. These tribes never go on tho
warpath. They have not learned the uses
Of Tho scalping knife and tomahawk. Such
a thing as shooting from ambush never oc-
ours. When a Cree or Salteaux Indian
gets ready to dispose of an enemy or . rival
he consults the coniuror of the tribe, and
that individual deals out poisons that are
not known in any other place on earth.
These poisons baffie the most Skilful doc
tors and chemists.
British army surgeons. who have exam
roisonsgs, suy that the deadly mixturea
used by them are absolutely unknown to
science. Missionaries and trappers who
came to Winnipeg with stories OF the fatal
liquida were not believed. The only way
they convinced the doctors was by taking
several victims before u board of examin-
ing surgeons. These poisons are brewed
in the most mysterious manne by the old
conjurors of The tribes. chat ia their
chief occupation. They go into the forests
alone and come back to their
barks, which are converted
into liquids that work terrible execution
among the bucks signalled out for death.
No remedy has ever been found to operate
against these drugs. Death invariably fol-
lows, sometimes swiftly and with awful
bat more frequently after the lapse
of months of dreadful suffering. Fourteen
braves have been sent to the good trapping
grounds by this hand,' said one old con-
jurer, shaking his and in n threatening
gesture to the Roy. Egerton Il. Young. a
tribes.
Tn Rev. MIR. Young is visiting friends in
Chicago. He tells q thrilling story of his
life among these savages. The missionary
is q man of powerful physique and athletic
proportions. II lived with W of the tribes
no long that they all called me their little
BROTHER he said. '"Ihey are n powerful
race. The men are large and very strong.
As You may know, the Cree and Sulteaux
Indians ave the last tribes we find on this
before reaching the Esqulmaux.
My work as u missionary was IN = country
about 700 to LOCO miles north OF Winnipeg.
The line that separates the Indians from
the Esouimaux is not marked, and, while
their hunting grounds ais not far apart IN
sone places, the customs OF the people ate
very different. This Crea and Salteaux In
dians are not bloodthirsty. but once their
or envy is aroused, death more terri
bls than that inflicted by the scalping knife
tomshawk awaits the victim. Their
knowledge of poisons is extraordinary. i
many victims OF tho deadly drugs ad-
BY old conjurers. and during my
years residence with the tribes had
frequent occasions to administer to
victims, for l was Il doctor.
preacher, and teacher for them.
Many is the time / have been called from
bed to go and stitch up some poor fellow
had been clawed almost to death by a
bear. Some OF these poisons operate IN the
most mysterious amer. One OF the drugs
in common use when l first went among
The Indians caussd great sores to appear on
he face and body of the victim. No mat
Ter what season of the year this poison was
given it's effects were not visible until
spring. Then the sores would appear.
After a while these sores would apparently
Try up and scales would appear. When
these scales dropped off great tufts Of hal
'prung from the sores. Then death fol
owed. l told some army surgeons at Win
,lpeg Of these remarkable drugs and their
but M story would not be believed.
Such things ara not known to msdica!
icisnce," the doctors replied. When l went
back to Winnipeg again I took one of the
Indians With me. The surgeons
'psnt nearly a weok in examining him.
This is certainly the frat case OF the kind
hat has ever been reported to the medical
was their verdict when they
the examination.
1.-The only means of travel in that coun-
ry ia by means of sleds drawn by dogs.
The Indians are remarkable runners and
'rlde themselves on their powers of endur-
nee in that line. Ii al Indian IL 80 unfor-
innate as to excite the envv Of q rival run
Ter he is very apt to get q dose of poison.
Nhe drugs given in such cases are equally
8 mysterious in their effects as those where
leath is to be produced. Some of these
rugs paralyae tho legs of the runners, but
ave TX other effect. Other drugs simply
tiden the limbs.
''The power exercised BY the coniurers
'ver their tribes ia very great, and they
now that the missionaries come to break
When an Indian feels an Inspiration or
n inclination, whatever it may be. to be-
ono a ecnjurer, no goes through a singular
Curse of training. He will sit alone Tor
ours at night on the summit of the cliffs,
to tho clouds and listening to ths
of the winds. During the daytime
10 is ssoreted i'll q cave. An air of mystery
urrounds his life n movements. He
tarves himself almost to death. Months
.fter absenting himself from the tribe he
ONES back. He is then a coniurer."