The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1893-10-27

head of the church and is looked up 70
by the Indians as Sort of ruler.
John Slocum, whose Indian name is
Squi-sacht un, acknowledges Yowa-
luck's authority and seems satisfied
with the arrangement. He goes on
preaching his simple doctrine of hell,
fire and damnation for sinners and a
happy heaven for true believers, with
as much vigor as when he first came
back from his tour to the heavenly
regions. He holds out his short
moral code to the Indians, and calls
on them to forsake their evil ways and
come into the fold.
Since the citizenship of Indian pro-
perry owners was declared the sect
has been growing rapidly,
Indian Agent Eells, in talking about
the sect to Ledger reporter yester-
day, say: "The Indians are very earn
est in this religion of theirs and seem
to take much pride in it. The doc
trine appears to be a step towards
Christianity from the old Tomanamus
worship, but it is u short step. They
have many commendable customs,
but the Indian mind gets queer ideas
and often gets carried away thereby.
These people see visions now and then,
and become possessed of various sorts
of hallucinations. Several OF them
thought they were given divine power
to fly. and accordingly jumped of high
buildings and were quite seriously
hurt. Their faith-cure doctrines they
do not carry to great extremes. They
retain some of the old Tomanamus
customs, as shown by placing the pa
tient on the ground and bowling and
praying about him. The physician at
the Cowlitz reservation says he thinks
several children have been killed by
that method of treatment.
II had an Indian policeman known
as Sandy, one time. He was a very
good man, but he joined the sect and
began to have Authorizations which
untitled him for work. was obliged
to call him in and relieve him OF his
authority. He took the matter good
naturally, as he was a very sensible
Indian, When he was leaving said
to him: Sandy. why do you go of
with those foolish notions? You get
almost crazy over Them
"He drew himself up and said;
Crazy! Look at me. Do l look
crazy? No. I'm not crazy, I'm bet
ter Indian. You know I'm better
Indian. don't drink whisky, I don't
swear, / don't do nothing bad no
more. I'll tell you all about it. l
went to these peoples meetings to
make fun. I used to stand around
and laugh at them. Bimeby l got to
feeling queer inside. I went off be-
hind stump and prayed, and l knew
that I was going to be good Iudian.
You say We are crazy because we rub
people. One time / was down in
Olympia; saw procession come
down the street. There was big
long man in front. He was all dress
ed in white. He waded down into the
bay and he took a woman with him
and he ducked her down under the
water. Then he took another and he
ducked her. 1 didn't say nothing;
just whistled. Now you people wash
your sins away with water and we
rub them away, and yet you say we
are crazy
"He had me there" laughed Mr..
| Eells in conclusion, "and could say
no more"
Sam Yowaluck is at the head of the
faith-cure branch of the work, and
claims to have performed some won
desful cures on both Indians and
whites. He was converted by John
Slocum, and says he was told in a
vision that he could become medl-
cine man.
Judge Wickersham has been attor-
ney for the sect for two years, and
believes thoroughly in the Indians
honeety of purpose. "There can be
no doubt in the world" said he, "that
they have done great good. In all my
experience with them / have know
but one of the whole sect that touched
whisky. They do not drink, gamble
or swear, and they are virtuous in all
other respects. There is nothing I'M
orthodox about their belief, except
Slocum's visit TO the heavenly re-
gions." ledger.