The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-05-31
Betrayed by His Beard.

/ The strange and romantic career OF
"Sackett, the woman priestess OF the
Ouatsinos," has been brought to SEN
sational close by Supt. Hussey. of the
provincial police. and Sackett now
awaits the sailing of the first coastng
steamer in order TO return to the tribe.
For years this person has been held as
little short Of a tribal deity along the
west coast, has rendered great aSsis-
lance to missionaries. and has held the
unique distinction of being the only
woman ever admitteD TO the councils
of the tribe"
It now turns out that Sackett is not a
woman. although passing as one among
both whites and Indians for quarter
of a century. Sackett was among the
witnesses brought down Quatsino sound
to give evidence against party of
| whiskey pirates convicted here yester-
day. Dressed in a blue figured print
dress with bright colored shawl over
his shoulders, and his long hair dang
ling down his back in two neatly braid
ed black ''pig-tails." Sackett was, from
tousled head TO pigeon-toed brown feet.
an ordinary lookink Indian woman, Of
apparently 0years of age. The bogus
woman was during the necessary de-
tention prior to the trial. given room
in the provincial police station. and 1t
was there that the detection o fher sex
came, because ''she" had no oppOrtuni-
~ to shave, and in the course Of two
days a stubby beard made its appear
ance.
Sackett, when accused Of masquerad-
ing in false attire. at first protested IN
dignantly in a shrill soprano voice. and
then burst into truly feminine tears.
Afterward he explained that though a
man he had always lived as a woman.
and been accepted as such assuming
his role of religious guide and mentor
partly because the "Saghalie Tyhee'
(God), had commanded and because Il
facilitated the masquade by permitting
him 10 separate himself from the tribe.
as he otherwise could not have done.
He is a good looking Siwash. an or
phan Of the Quatsina tribe, and tells
the following remarkable story in ex-
PLANTATION of his lifelong masquerade:
MANY years ago" he. relates. when
I was a very little boy. I fell into sleep
by the side Of the great water, and to
me as I slept, there came a mighty
voice which instantly awoke me. II
was not OF the wind nor Of the sea nor
of the thunder. l looked and was
afraid. for before me appeared the
Saghalie Tyhee. 'Sackett.' said the
mighty voice, from this night thou art
a woman and my priestess 70 do my
service and mine alone and never shalt
thou appear but in woman's dress and
with thy hair uncut. after the fasNioa
Of women. Then I promised the Sag
halle Tyhee that would obey. and hid
my face in the sand. Again ! slept.
and when I woke once more I was alone
From that day ] have been a woman
and the good worker OF the Quat-
sinos."
Sackett seems 70 thoroughly believe
that the Saghal!e Tyhee did appear 70
him and that his wish had been carried
out On this point all arguments were
useless, and examination as 20 his
sanity VIII in consequence be made to-
morrow. In the meantime the police
have overruled the great spirit COM
mand and cut the 'priestess' hair. be
sides insisting on his DOMINIC mans at
tire. He has submitted 20 the change.
but says he Will surely die of shame II
compelled to 70 out among men IN such
garments.-San Francisco Examiner.