The morning times., 1897-02-14
A Horrible
New Poison

keenest medicinal experts for years They
can find no antidote, and no analyses have
been able to throw the faintest igEt on their
nature II
These words were spoken by DR. Aaron
Ripley, OF Winnipeg, to a small circle OF
listeners. He went on to say that the
medical fraternity is firm in the telief that
no poison exists, or could exist, which can
not be positively identified after the VIC
TINS death, either by the LESSONS produced
in the organs affected, or by extracting
from the corpse and testing tie POISON it
self.
mo doubt this is true he continued,
''of the poisOns that may be called staples
on the market, from the painless morpbia,
and similar narcotics on through the series
TO hydrocy aHic or prussic acid. Chemical
tests are very effective and precise, so
much so that no poisoner could ply his trade
long without detection. There was really
no mystery whatever about the pOisonings
perpetrated by the Borgias- Their crimes
and methods We're no secrets, but their
power protected them
Yet among the Cree and Salteaux In
dians, thousand miles north of Winni-
peg, the medicine men juggle with pol
sonous drugs sthat defy analysis. andachieve
other part of the world.
I'VE first learned Of the almost fncred-
ible particulars through missionaries VINO
had passed many years among those tribes
in making vain efforts to overthrow the
power OF these conjurors. We smiled at
their stories in our seIfconfident, medical
way, until the proof came to stampede U.s.
We had been told, for example OF one
drug in use which caused horrible erup-
tion to break out upon the victims body
The poison might be administered at any
time OF the year but no signs of its pres
ence could be detected before spring, when
the sores would appear Later these would
heal, to all appearances, and scales would
appear in their places. Then the scales
dropped off and were replaced by an ab-
normal growth of hair. Shortly after this
death always ensued-
"One day missionary brought down
one of the Indians thus poisoned, for the
army surgeons at Winnipeg TO inspect.
They did nothing but examine this poor,
doomed creature, day and night, for a
week, noting each change up 20 the mo-
ment OF death, and applying every con-
ceiyable test. They Were finally forced to
admit that 10 ease of the kind had ever
been reported 70 the medical profession,
and tfat they Were utterly unable 10 ex.
plain it. The deadly mixture used, what
ever it may be, is quite unknown to science
The poisons used are brewed Ly the
conjurers of these two tribes in the most
mysterious and battling manner. 1t is
their main business, and the secret has
been closely guarded. No remedy has
ever been found. Death invariably fol-
lows, sometimes swiftly and with dread
Il
suffering almost unbearable even 10 those
rugged redskins, Injured 10 pain and hard
ship fl ON the cradle. The conJurer boasts
OF the number Of his victims, Just as the
Sioux boasts of the scalps Of hI> rnrnies''
The doctor then proceeded TO explain
that the conditions Of life among these
two tribes, their peculiar habits ana traits,
create a demand for these conJurers and
their deadly drugs which Is entirely IN
known among Indians anywhere else on
the globe. As a rule, although the Indian
will occasionally resort to ambush and
treachery, he delights to face his foe and
take the fortunes OF war ike a brave.
But the Crees and the Saltcaux, away On
the borders OF the EsqUimaUx country, ara
cut from redskin cloth OF a different tex
ture- They are habituany peaceful; they
never take the war path at all, and the
traditional scaipiug knife and touahark
are unknown among them. They have,
however, enough of savage nature To make
enemies and to wish to get them out OF
the way; and as they are not accustomed
to settle their disputes by open combat,
they go 10 the conjurer with their feud
He promptly comes to their rescue with
some sort of deadly decoetion- 1t is then
the Indians business to see that this fatal
fluid in some way reaches the stomach Of
his hated rival. After that MS anxiety ia
over, for the drug can always be de-
pended on to do the rest
When called upon to perform this death
dealing service, the cunjurers steal off
in great secrecy to the depths OF the for
ests, where they collect various unknown
herbs and barks. These are brewed with
great care and plentiful incantatIuns in
their wigwans, no one but a fellow con-
jurer being allowed To witness TINS dread
Ceremony. So the secret is kept inviO-
late, and the cOnjHrer's power in the tribe
is unbountledl. Even the chiefs take a
back seat when conJurer appears Oh the
scene.''
do these conjurers constitute a sort or
hereditary priesthood?' was asked.
Not exactly hereditary replied the
doctor, but the line is continuous and
exclusive. 1t seems from all / can learn
of these strangely murderous people, that
conjurer is held to act on some sort Of
inspiration when he takes his first steps
to join the order He goes through a sin
gular and severe course OF training.
Mounting TO the summit of the highest
cliffs he Will sit there alone for hours
through the night, communing IN a low
monotone with the clouds and hearing
the messages borne to him by the winds.
During the daytime he lies hidden in a
| cave, surrounded by great mystery For
months he VIII continue this program,
starving himself meantime until ne is
| little more than skin and bones When
| the period of his spiritual probation is
| ended he returns to the tribe and is then
looked upon as qualified to practice the
| coniurer's art. Undoubtedly the secret
| recipe by which these mysterious drugs
| are brewed, and the ingredients as well,
| are communicated To him by some master
] OF the craft, for the secret has been so
| carefully preserved for generations that
none outside OF the order has been able
to fanthom it.
'In addition to these deadly drugs the
| conjurer has a stock OF milder avengers
! on hand. Ali the men OF these tribes are
remarkable lOng-distance runners. Rival
ries and animoSities spring up among
them over trials of endurance and speed,
and it often happens that some over
| matched young man viii feel moved to
I tx-irh y-faf hlFrL Az.