The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-02-19

Indian race. This was the day when the
famous Porcupine announced his messiah
doctrines, and there was great JOY. The
tears of the poor, ignorant people burst
from their eyes on hearing of the marvel
Gus things which they were promised that
the coming of the messiah would bring to
them. During Porcupine's talk the poor
creatures cried with Joy and murmuredf for
their wickedness.
1t was horrible dayl 1t seems as if the
incantations would cause the resurrection
of the dead Ii was all excitement, how
ever. After the ceremonies of the day
were over the ghost dance commenced,
which lasted four successive days and
nights 1t was a terrible scene, and one l
shall never forget. After that the dances
were held every month, and commenced
with the new moon. all the warriors and
their wives dancing according to their
standing in the circle l told them not to
force their minds on the subject,
but on the contrary to turn their
minds from such an insane idea,
and let it go, that there was only one
Christ and he would save all Ny remarks
had no effect on them.
What were their particular ideas of the
messiah?
l have learned this from them and will
make account" of them, just what
know from their own lips. In the fall of
1888 was the first thing heard of the mes
siah. When our people made avisit to the
Arapahoe and Shoshone tribes in 1889 an
Arapahoe Indian named Sage who had
been to the Southwestern country in 1888
ia - - Ii
the Indians, told where he could be found
and explained to them his doctrines. l
had personal interview with Porcupine,
who told me all about the messiah he saw
near Walkers Lake.
Il and the other Cheyennes," said Por
cupine, relating to the story of Sage, "were
much interested in the story and deter
mined to see this messiah, but as all
couldn't 90 so far nine of the Cheyennes
were sent back to Tongue river agency to
tell the people there what we had heard.
When we got to Utah we received large
accessious to our caravan, Indians joining
with them in the route at the several
agencies. At last we arrived at Walkers
lake to hear the new messiah speak. There
were many people present there including
women and children. Immediately 1
sought out Christ and said to him: 81
and my people have been living in ignor-
ance and want to find out the truth" The
messiah was sitting all the time with
bowed head and meditating, but after
awhile he rose and said he was very glad
to see his children. Il have sent for you"
said he, land am glad that You have
come and l will soon talk to you about
Int xrhn " Obi
l want you to listen to all that l have to
say, and will teach you to dance my
dance. | want you to get ready and dance,
and when it is over | will talk to you
The messiah was dressed in a coat with
white stripes, the rest of his dress being
white mans with the exception of moe
cosins We commenced our dance and
Christ sang all the time for us. We danced
till late at night, and then he said we had
danced enough. In the morning we went
in the circle and spread grass over 1t and
Christ stood in the middle of the circle
and told US that he would be back
next day and talk to us In the night
when first saw him thought he was an
Indian, but the next day, when | could see
him better, he looked different. He was
not so dark as an Indian, nor so light as
white man; he had no beard or whiskers
but had very heavy eyebrows, and was
good looking man. We were crowded up
very close, and we were told that no one
was to talk or even whisper. l heard that
Christ had been crucified and l stepped
up near him and saw that he had a scar
on his wrist and one on his face. On that
evening we were all assembled again to
l, ha1
he began to sing and tremble violently. all
over his body for short while, and then
he laid down and died We danced all
that night, and the next morning when
we arose Christ was with US again. Her
aids were sent out who shouted the glad
tidiugs that Christ was back again and
wanted to talk with u.s. The circle was
prepared again and he came among us and
sat down and said: L am the man who
made everything you see around you; l
am not lying TO you. dear children, for I
made this earth and everything on ii. l
have been to heaven and have seen your
dead friends and my own father and moth
er. In the beginning after this earth was
made was sent back to teach the people
but the people were afraid of me aud
treated me badly. This is what they did
with me, Showing the scars on his hands
and feet where they nailed him to the cross
and did not defend myself for | found
nv children were bad and went back to
heaven telling them when l left that
would return liz after years TO see my
children. Before returning my father told
me that the earth was too small, and that
he would do away with the heaven and
make the earth big enough to contain
verybody and that we should tell all the
people we met about what be had said. He
spoke to US about fighting and said that
fighting was bad and that we mist keep
from il: that the earth was to be all good
hereafter: that all people must be friends,
that in the fall of the year the youth of all
the good people would be renewed so that
one of them would be more than forty
years old. He said if we would all be good
ne would send people among Us who would
heal all our wounds by the merest touch,
and that We would live forever
This. said Sommers, IS what POrcuplne
told me. II Is an absurd tale, but nine out
OF every ten Indians in the tribe believed it.
Do they still believe it,
No, not al of them. There are a few
who still insist that an Indian Messiah has
been bora 10 save them, and dance at the
beginning of every morn. ! think the
craze has about died out and that in few
years it will. live ouly in the legends Of the
tribes who were effected by IT,
The series OF grand concerts sud balls