The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-06-23
EFFICACY OF
INDIAN MAGIC
PAUL MCCORMICK MAKES "MEDI.
CINE" FOR RAIN.
HIS CHARM PROVES POTENT
Wonderful Results Follow His Sim
Pile Appeal to Genii Of
the Clouds.
HIS CHARM PROVES POTENT

] No matter what the more recent
settlers may think of such things
and regardless of how much they may
scott at the childish faith OF the poor,
untutored Indian, the pioneers by ex-
perience and observation have learned
the efficacy of the redman's "medi-
cine" and are not above believing in
its potency.
The Honorable Paul Mccormick, as
all know, has made his home in these
party ever since Uncle Billy" Hamil-
ton and few more, whose arrival
ante-dates his own by only a short
time, drove the stakes to mark the
channel of the Yellowstone, which he
helped to dig. OF course, there were
Indians here in those times, and plen-
ty Of them, and Mr. Mccormick had
ample opportunity to study their ways
and familiarize himself with their
rites and ceremonials. He has seen
them cause rain to fall when for
many weeks and months drought had
obtained and has seen them cause
buffalo and other game to appear un-
til the prairies were dotted, all in
response to their mysterious incanta.
tiOns and ceremonies. Hence, it is
not to be wondered that he is a firm
believer in the powers of medicine"
when offered in the proper spirit and
backed up by the requisite faith.
He Makes "Medicine."
After vainly waiting for the clouds
to empty themselves of their stores
of moisturee and afford relief to the
parched range and burning farms, Mr..
Mccormick last Saturday concluded
to make medicine" He had pre-
pared himself for the offering he was
about to make, by fasting and solitude.
The night before had been spent in
thought and meditation on the top
of the highest butte across the Vel
lowstone, where, wrapped in a blan-
ket and calling on the Great Spirit
to hear the prayers of his children
and end their misery, he waited and
watched for the omen that was to
tell him he had been heard His
faith and devotion were rewarded. A
vision appeared to him and told him
to follow the example of his red
brother and all would be we'll. What
the vision was that showed itself to
him is not for profane ones to know.
Suffice it that ne saw something, and
he returned to his tepee to carry out
the injunction Of his supernatural Wis.,
itor. 1t was a simple thing to do. All
that was required of him was to get
small cottonwood limb, one on which
the pods had not yet opened. To this
he was to fasten feather, or rather
several of them, for a wing of
strange bird, one part red and the
other black, was the magic emblem
that was to tell the hazy clouds sail
luS 81 HIGH OVSI CuC 01IIu ClldI JuO
genii who commanded them willed
that they give up some of their treas
ure. The feather and wing were to
be displayed where the clouds could
see them and where they would be
observed by the doubling mascheelas
to show them that though the Absaro-
kee and Sioux were no longer lords
of this favored spot, the Manitou to
whom they had formerly made offer
ings still loved the memory of the
simple oblations of his children and
would give heed to the supplications
with which they were wont to move
the mysterious powers of the unseen.
Results That Follow.
Trustingly the medicine" was push
ed out of window of the second story
OF the Donovan-McCOrmic store,
where it attracted the attention of
the numberless ones who wondered