The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1894-09-21
A QUEER COLONY.
Some Strange Settlers In the In
dian Territory
Religious Enthusiasts Who Wear Masks
Day and Night and Regard 1t Sin
TO Look Upon the Face ofa
~ Human Being.


Since the practical Abandonment Of
the Cheyenne and Arapahoe reserva-
ton has left that country almost
wilder than it was before the opening
4 year ago, o small colony of religious
enthusiasts have settled in what is
known as F county, among the sand
hills. The leaders of this colony went
there from Sedgwick and Barber
counties, Kan, and took with them
following of seventy men and women.
That was six months ago. Since that
time they have been joined by at least
sixty persons, SO they now number
about one hundred and thirty.
Their belief, says Texas correspon-
dent, is exceedingly simple. They
worship an unknown god as repre-
sented by life. and deem it moral sin
to look upon the face of a human be-
ing. Men and women wear masks day
and night, and never by any chance do
they gaze upon the face of one an
other. They teach morality in the
severest perfection, not permitting the
two sexes even to dwell in the same
valley, their homes being about two
miles apart. There is daily religious
service, when all come to a central
point, for such services are in the
open air, regardless of the weather.
John Walrond, formerly of Sedgwick
county, conducts all communication
with the outside world, and only on his
visits to FL Reno and King1sher does
he lay aside his mask. After each one
of these trips he buries himself in soli-
tude for ten days and expiates the sin
of having come in contact, uncovered,
with mankind.
Walrond and e. NJ. Scott, another of
the leaders, were formerly well-lznown
in Kansas as alliance organizers. When
the alliance was merged into the
peoples party they resolved to gather
such followers as they could and retire
from the world, or at least to disappear
from the so-called civilization of the
present day. The result was the found
ing of the colony in the Indian Terri
tory. No name has been adopted, none
is wanted. They have sought seclusior
and have found it. What little prop
erty there is in the community is helc
in common, anyone using any par
ticular thing he sees fit to desire at the
time. The colonists believe it sinful *
seek to accumulate property.
They have twenty log houses equally
divided between what are in reality
two communities, and two storehouses
from which they draw their supplies
The work is done regardless of sex
men and women alike engaging in all
the vocations common to a new coun.
try. They appear to be contented and
healthy, and were it not for the un
slightly dark-red mask constantly worn
thew would appear as other people after
having been divided off into separate
communities. They say that they are
happy; that they have no want un
supplied, and that they could not bC
induced to return to the world.
The chance visitor to the colony il
treated kindly and courteously, and il
given lodging in cabin kept for tha
purpose. He is not invited to stay, no
do they give him hint to leave. The!
converse without hesitation, but per
sistently refuse to listen to anything
about the world they have left. The,
talk simply about their spiritual state
its beauties and its blessings.
There are several married couple
there, but they live apart. There ha
been no rule adopted regarding lif
of celibacy, each one being his ow
; Judge in this matter. In fact, no on
seeks to control any of the Others.
appears to be community without
, head or ruler.