The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-24
RAINBOW IN THE SNOW.
Indians Terrified By a Supposed Man.
Hesitation From the Four Gods.

From the Redlands (Cal) Citregraph
Juan Toro, who arrived Thursday even
ing from beyond Mount San Jacinto, 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 south
east side of the mountain
1t seems that the Cahuillas have some
fragmentary traditions indicating contact
at a remote period with the race that car
ried its rudimentary civilization into
Mexico and there expanded it into the
elaborate works and complex system Of
worship that Cortez found.
In their migration the Aztecs left traces
of their belief in the white god, though
if the beneticent 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 una
BILE to comprehend any but the severe
traits of intelligent beings. In the tribal
lore there is a curious significance at
tached to the rainbow. 1t IS recognized
as a sign from a great spirit but not, as
with US, as a kindly pledge In their
crude idea of the white god he is believed
to have threatened vengeance on the race
for an offense that none of the traditions
clearly explain.
head, decorated with a crown of human
ity colored the feathers curving back
ward over his shoulders, shone from be-
hind the mountain, and told the awe
stricken people that as punishment he
would at his own time bring destruction
upon all descendants of those who had
incurred his wrath. There are said to
be vague references to intercession from
favored mOrtals, who succeeded in elicit
tain event he would withhold his ven
geance
The nature of the event is lost in the
confusion of ignorant transmission, but
in storms the fair god raises his head to
look at the people whom he wishes to de-
stroy, and the rainbow is a dim view of
his plumage that he exhibits as remind
er that he has not forgotten or forgiven
the crime Of ages ago. 1t was learned
from wise men long in the lost centuries
that when he permits the wind to blow
the great bright feathers of his crown
against the mountain and stain the snow
of San Jacinto his anger is very great,
and that, impatient over delay, he is
contemplating putting the threat into
execution regardless of the terms of his
promise.
Within three weeks the great arch of
many cOlOrs was again formed non the
snow-covered sides of the mountain, and
the belief of the Indians that the wind
blew rainbow against the white drifts
and stamped the gaudy phantom there
cannot be shaken. 1t is disappearing a s
the snow line recedes, but a large seq
ment of it is vet plainly visible Disquie-
tude was very sensibly increased by the
information received through their pecu-
liar resources of quick intelligence of the
volcanic eruption in Mexico, and the
spectacle of the red and blue shooting
star in the western heavens on Monday
night was regarded as so portentiOus that
uneasiness has been intensified Nothing
but the entire disappearance of the
strange rainbow mirage will reassure the
superstitious inhabitants of the reserva-
ton.
As, however, the snow is rapidly chang
ing it's surface under the present hot sun,
the remarkable bow cannot last long. 1t
is a matter of regret that the magnificent
spectacle does not present itself Oftener,
or that it is beyond the present lines of
easy travel. Owing to its infrequent oc-
currence and its never having been seen
by trained scientific observers, no suffi-
cient explanation of the singular phe-
nomenon has ever been given, but the
opinion of learned men who have heard
it infinitely described is that a meeting of
several currents of wind during a 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 men, impelled by curiosity and
perhaps hoping to tiud the tabled pot of
gold have made an ascent to inspect the
great specter rainbow where it lay, but
upon arriving where they had seen it
from the plains, found nothing but the
white snow, though far above the mi
dimmed, curving gradually toward the
peak.