The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-18
"A sPOOK RAINBOW.
Portentous Omens That Are Alarm
ing the Desert Indians.

ing the les 9rt Indians.
From the Redlands (CalD Cifroqrdph
Juan Toro, who arrived Thursday eveu-
ing from beyond Mound San Jecinto, re-
ports the Indians very much alarmed over
the temperance for the first time In many
years of the singular image Of a rainbow on
the snow covering the southeast side Of the
mountain.
1t seems that the Cahuillas have some frag-
mentsry traditions indicating contact at a
remote period with the race that carried It's
documentary civilization into Mexico and
there expanded it into the elaborate works
and complex system OF worship that COrtez
found. In their migration the Az,ecs left
traces of their belief in the white God,
though If the benehcent side of their deity
was formerly spoken of in the Indian legends
recollection of it has been lost in the
centuries of repetition by narrators unable
to comprehend any but the severer traits Of
intelligent beings In the tribal lore there
Is curious Significance attached 20 the
rainbow. 1t is recognized as q sign from a
great spirit. but not as with US, as q kindly
pledge. In their crude IDEA Of the white
God he is believed to have threatened ven-
geance on the race for an offense that none
of the traditions clearly explain. Rising
from the earth until his glorious head, deco
rated with crown OF brilliantly Colored
feathers curving backward over his shout
ders, shown from behind the mountain, he
told the awe-stricken people that as punish
ment he would at his own time bring de-
struction upon all descendants of those who
had incurred his wrath. There are said to
be vague references TO iutercession from
favored mortals, who succeeded In eliciting
al unwilling promise that until a cert~lh
event be would withhold his vengeance.
The nature of the event is lost in the confu-
sion of ignorant transmission, but In storms
the fair god raises his head to look at the peo-
pie whom he wishes to destroy. and the
rainbo is a dim view Of his plumago that
he exhibits as a reminder tina. be has not
forgotten or forgiven the crime OF ages ago.
lt was learned from wise men long ago in
the lcst centuries that when he permits the
wind TO blow the great bright feathers of
his crown agaiL st the mountains and stain
the snow of San Jaclnto his anger is very
great, and that. impatient over delay. he is
contemplating putting tue threat into ex-
ecution, regardless of the terms Of his
promise.
Within three weeks the great arch of
many colors was again formed on the snow
covered sides of the mountain, and the be
lief of the Indians that the wind blew
d rainbow against the white drifts and
stamped the gaudy phantom there cannot
be shaken. IL is disappearing as the snow
line recedes, but large segment Of tits yet
plainly visible. DisQuietude was very sen-
sibly increased by the information, received
through their peculiar sc3rces OF quick
intelligence, of the volcanic eruption in
Mexico, and the spectacle of the red
and blue shooting star in the west
ern heavens on Monday night was regarded
as SO portentous that uneasiness has been
intensified. Nothing but the entire dsap-
pesrance of the strange rainbow mirage
will rehssure the superstitloUs Inhabitants
of the reservation. AS, however, the SNOW
is rapidly changing It's surface under the
present hot sun, the remarkable bow can
not last long. 1t Is matter OF regret that
the magnificent spectacle does not
present itself oftener, or that 1t 10 beyond
the present lines of easy travel. Owing to
its infrequent occurrence and It's never
having been seen by trained scientific OBJ
servers, no sufficient explanation of the elm
gular phenomenon has ever been given, but
the opinion OF learned men who have heard
it infinitely described is that meeting of
several currents Of wind during q storm
places the snow in drifts at such angles as
to give beholders from below what may
surely be termed natures grandest work OF
art. White mea impelled by curiosity and
perhaps hoping to find the tabled pot of
gold, have made the difficult ascent to in
spect the great specter rainbow where it
lay, but upon arrival where they had seen
it from the plains found nothing but the
white snow, though far above the hinge
remained, its gaudy colors undimmed,
curving graudIy toward the peak.