Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-06-22

finger tips, which turn blue under the
nails. The Indian, full Of the liquor
and under its influence, is really about
half dead. The hands are lifeless and
the circulation is low. From the best
information which cam be obtained the
heart runs as low as p p~ulsations
per minute.
Finally by heroic work and after a
hard struggle the heart r~evives, the
numbnesS passes away, and the Indian
Staggers home.
Because of the introduction OF the
mesCal to the WinnebaSo reservation
the Indians are divided into w fac
tons. Those who use the tea made
from the mescal claim membership in
the strange society, which they assert
is really a religious organization, and
that the tea is only used to bring
about a sem~i-conscious state Of mind,
when the communicate is nearer the
happy hunting grounds and can see
and converse with friends, who have
long rested beneath the little wooden
houses which are scattered over the
great reservation, and which the In
dams call graves. 1t is further hoped
that If the Indian is in special avor
with deity that "a Jesus" will draw
the cloud which hides his face and
allow the poor Indian to see 1t.
See Imaginary God.
II was a strange tale which was
convened to the Winnebago Indians
with the mescal flower; a tale which
is a rival for Grecian mythology and
stories Of the incarnation OF deity,
which exists among the people OF IN
dia. China and Thibet.
A certain god, the tale goes, blessed
the mescal and promised that whoever
- tho pNncRol hid Anh drank
of Il should be rewarded with the sight
of the great divinity, who sails some
where in the clouds In a wizard snip
covered with snake skins.
This divinity, according to the lead
ORG of the society on the Winnebago
reservation, came n time n nveo
among the tribes Of the south. During
his residence on earth he instructed
the natives in the use OF metals, dis-
covered quicksilver and was a eTeat
b~enefactor to the Indian nations. I'm
a. i'm the earth teemed with fruits
and flowers without the pains or Gull
t,Ire An ear of Indian corn was as
much as a single man could carry,
the fu-J, as they grew TO cover the
bodies OF animals, o or their own
occord the rich dyes OF the Indian art.
m. air was filled with intoxicating
narf,mes and the sweet melody or
birds.
M~escalites Held in Contempt.
rbIs was the Jesus whom the Win
noba 90 Indians. after a long Nlgli anu
nde the TRANCE influence or the
steened mescal buds, hope TO see anG
feel near them, and perhaps 10 speas
- while departed friends are supposed
~ ~ come hack from the hunting ground
bavond and tell them of the autl
~ anotber world where sQuaws. dogs
"a bucks are admitted on equai
aro,nd and free from trouble with
vi "a the claim Of the other faction
of the Winnebago tribe, when mas no
tolerance for the Mescal society, that
the mescal drinkers claim the orus Is
,Ised In religious ceremony slihpIy a'
a ruse to make 1t diihcait, IL nIt tho
~ Cor the authorities to prohibit n
S-n;nging of the buds to the
a. Sanse as an Indian may seem at
times II is said that the members Oh
49, Mescal society are conscious that
.'u has a right to his own religious
Sa,,af and that he may worship d su,
Drama being as he pleases in TINS ianu
- liberty whose holy. just ana penen-
oant law, recognizes no religion.
Call II a Religion.
u,,.h tho end I'm view of making IL I'M
",hia for the authorities 10 apoilsn
p~S Iatest intoxicant, the Mescal society
uo formed according to the enemies
~ Tho society on the reservation
Du, has crown. new converts COM
socien 70 its fold every day to drink
ing ha mescal tea and sup the dregs OF
III he u of perdition. Even Il IL dia De,
rin as a %pretense, those OF h,,;n n
ire now undoubtedly real peiievers
.'They try to get US an 10 JOIN nne
mescal society saio MAY S,hn has
AN nucb TO assist superintendent
aohe fridge in securing Information
ao ..Tnsv claim we see the face OF Jesus.
; i'm friends come TO see them
Iney many miles. First there was only