The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-17
A RAINBOW ON THE SNOW.
II IL Causing Alarm Among the Indian
Near ram JnOtntO.

II Il Causing AlAvm Among the Indians
Near sAn Jsointo.
Juan T'0Yo, who arrived Thursday eve
ming from beyond Mount Han Jaointo, re-
ports the Indians very much alarmed over
@he ssappsasancs for ths arsl time In many
years Of the singular image OF = rs;abow on
the snow covering the southeast side o. The
mountain.
II ssoms that the Cahuillas have some
fE~agmsntary traditions indicating contact
Al remote period with a raoo that carried
I've sudimsutary civilization into Mexico and
there expanded into ths elaborate works
and complex system OF worship that Cortsz
found. In their migration the Aztsos lsft
traces Of their belief In the whits God.
though II the bsnefoent side OF their deity
!as formerly spoken OF In the Indian
legends. recollection Of II has been lost In
shc Centuries of reritition BY n%arratoss M
abba TO comprehend auy but the sevsvsr
traits Of intelligent bsings. In the tribal
lore there 10 = curious siRnifoance attached
20 the rainbow. II 10 recognized ~ q sign
from a great spirit. hut not. % wtsh ~.
% 9 kindly nledRe. Ia their 9 udo idea
Of the white God. he 10 believed to have
threatened venasnnos on the race fox an
onence that nons of ths traditions clearly
explains. Rising from the earth until hts
glorious head, deco, ated with a crOvn OF
brilliantly oolored feathers curvlnR back.
ward over his shoulders. shonc from be-
hind tho mountain, he told the v stttcken
people that az punishment he wou.j, al
bis own time. bring destruction uIon all
descendants Of those who had incurred
his wrath. There are said to bc vague
teferenoss to intercession from fav0 ed
t%nortals, who succeeded in eliciting. mn I'M,
willing promise that until q certain evsnt
DO would withhold his vengeance. The
pature Of tho event Is lost in the confusion
BIT ignorant transmission. but in storms the
fair god raises his head to look at the pso-
pie whom no wishes to destroy. and tho
rainbow is a dim view of his plumsRs shat
DO Exhibits rs " reminder that he
Of ages ago. Il was le. nod from
wise men long in the lost centuries that
when he permits tho wind to blow the great
bright feathers OF his Gown against the
mountain and stain the suow Of San ia.
cinto. his anger is very great, and that i'm
putting his threat into execution regardless
Of the terms of his promise.
Within three weeks the great arch Of
many colors was again formed on the anow-
covered aides of the mountain. and the
belief Of the Indians that the wind blew =
stamped the Reudv phantom there cannot
pc shaken. II il disappearing NJ the snow
line reoedes, but a large segment Ia get
plainly visible. Disquietude was very sensi-
bly, increased by the information. received
through their peculiar. sources Of quick
Intelligence, of the volcanic eruption in
Mexico, and the spectacle Of tho rcd and
blue shooting star in the western heavens
on Monday night was regarded as 80 por-
eentous that uneasinesa has besn intensi-
fed. Nothing but tho entire Disappear
Rnce OF tho strange rainbow mirage will re-
Rssure the superst,tious inhabitants of tho
reservation. AZ, however, the snow 10 rap
Idly changing its surface under tho present
hot sun, the remarkable low cannot last
lonR.--Los Angeles Herald.