The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-29
Remarkable TranSfOrma-
tiOn of PuyallupS.
A Native Prophet Has Arisen
and Converted His People.
Alleged Miracle Works a Real Mira
Gle Among Ab0rigines.

Tacoma Wash, March 90 Perhaps no
better material exists for the amelioration
generally supposed to be effected through
the application of the tenets of Christ
ianity than the aborigines who live in
that portion of the Northwest known as
the Puget Sound Basin. AS examples of
the natural man" they shine pre-emi-
nent, possessing in tropical luxuriance
those qualities which exist.in humanity
when unrestrained by social or religious
restrictions. Since the earliest days OF the
occupation of this section by the whites
missionaries and religious reformers OF all
sects have applied themselves with un-
varying lack of success TO the regenera-
tion of the Indian. They freely acknowl-
edge their total failure, and are more or
less inclined TO attribute it to the exis-
tenceN of innate depravity inherent In
these children of the soil.
The inevitable 1nherltances OF wee nave
not spared the Puget Sound Indian. Con-
tact with civilization has, following Its
inVariable custom, still further de-
Perforated the aborigine, and decade or
SO ago he seemed to reach the limit OF
degradation. Debauchery and unthrift
had superinduced disease and squalor, and
it seemed 10 the white man who looked on
with dispassionate interestSthat the coun-
try would soon be no more troubled by
what was, to some extent, bar In the
path of triumphant progress toward the
highericivilization of the Caucasian.
A miracle intervened. The native races
of Puget Sound were preserved from ex-
tinction by the intervention OF prophet
who appeared in the person OF John
Slocum.
Sixteen years since, n small colony of
Nisquallys and Puyallups had their homes
on Mud Bay about twenty-five miles from
IA tal nf
Washington. Their habitations were lairs
more fit for beasts than human beings,
and there was probably not one among
them who had the faintest desire or made
the slightest effort to rise above his con-
dition. John Slocum, SO far as can bo
learned, was pre-eminent in this colony,
by right of being worse than his COM
panions.
Now comes the sensation. Without IA
particle of preparation for it, with lno
circumstances, apparently, Leading up TO
it, the revolution came. with the sudden
ness of "A thunderbolt. Slocum became
ill, probably through disease consequent
upon his vices He died. The remnant
of the tribe prepared him for burial in
their Siwash custom, wailing with the
passionate lamentations peculiar to un-
tutored natures. But 10! when he was
about to be deposited in his last resting
place. he arose in his cerements and ad-
dressed the awe stricken Indians gathered
about He told them the tale of Tsch-
adam; how his spirit had been freed from
the bonds of mortality, and scared into
the presence of the living God; OF the
message he had received in those super
nal regions to carry back to suffering
Indian humanity, through which To re-
generate them and lead them through
flowery paths of virtue and prosperity TO
their eternal home. The simplicity of
the Indian character was exactly fitted to
feel the full significance of John Slocum S
revelation. The earnestness with which
they had, in the first place, pursued vice
was telnperamcntal attribute, equally
vigorous and foroible when turned into a
new channel and these simple Siwashes
trod the new path indicated by the pro-
phet with characteristic fervor and single
mindedness
Religious zeal existing in an ardent
soul readily gains proselytes among those
of similar character. The fact that John
Slocum's return from the dead was wit
messed by most of the denizens of the
Mud Bay colony gave it significance
and led To it's unhesltating acceptance by
those who had not actually witnessed the
miracle. The tenents of the new faith
were so strikingly simple and especially
adapted to the condition and needs of
the Indian of the Puget Sound Basin,
that their very suitability seemed evidence
opened for the Mud Bay Indians They
became virtuous and Industrious; they
foreswore drunkenness, gambling and
stealing In a word from being tpyes of
depravity they became shining lights of
the new cult
Such a transformation could not take
place without attracting attention. Other
Indians, from neighboring reservations
came, listened to the principles of the
new faith, saw the results in the lives of
Slocums 5 disciples and accepted the doc
trine as divine In origin. In this way,
within few years every, Indian village
of importance I'm the Puget Sound region
had its resident Tschadam community.
Religious persecution, the one thing
! needed TO ground tn new faith firmly in
| the heart of its adherents, came at this
| time. Indian Agent Eels, of the Puyallup
reservation, Presbyterian minister,
whose worship ragged AS tuInultuously in
| its narrow channels as ever during the
| palmy days of zealotry, undertook at this
| period to stamp out the new faith. He
| confounded it with the wilder aboriginal
| superstition which led TO such danger
| Gus manifestations rs ghost dances, Indian
| messiahs and medicine man practices.
| Holding these opinions, the ascetic Mr.
| Eels set his face like flint, when he
! turned il toward the Indian shakers who
| were striving To attain ideal virtue by fol-
| lowing the teachings Of their prophet,
John Slooum. The religion of TSchadam
was still inchoate, only having its
| isolated followers here and there, but 10y
| no means comprising the bulk of the
| Indian residents Of tho country. It was
! thus easy for Agent Eels, by straining a
point of his plcnary authority, 20 make IL
| unpleasant for the Shakers. Hc went so
| far. in fact, in one instance as 60 Danish
| a disciple known by tho euphonious cog
nomcn of Billy CLAIMS, from the Puyallup
reservation, of which he was a prosolyting
| resident This action created much dissat-
| isfaction which was intensiiled.when Eels
| capped the climax by imprisOning NUM-
| bcr of the converts of the new faith.
At this juncture an event occurred oi
| the greatest importance To the followers,
| OF Tschadam \ white man, being arrested
| FOR selling whisky 10 a Puyallup Indian,
was defended by Hon. James Wickersham,
of Tacoma, by appointment of the Federal
court. Mr. Wickcrsham based his defense
upon the Indian land seycralty act, which
L Il. all lnIfnna A. ln huI TAKE n