San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-28
Legend Says "OH Posey:s" Soul
Will Rest in Canyon Salt Mine

were placed at a spot q short dis
lance away from the burial place.
There it waits for the spirit OF the
ancient fighter which Piute tradition
teaches, will emerge tomurrow-the
fourth day-prepared TO start on the
long journey TO join the spirits of the
other tribesmen in the Grand Canyon.
Was Head OF Nomad Tribe.
So peace has come to an uneasy
soul, repose TO a turbulent old man,
who for ten years ba directed the
destinies of the only tribe Of Indians
in America who followed the nomadic
habits of their fathers.
1t was a dramatic band that wan
dered over the hills under Old Posey.
His record is the history of the In
dian warriors of this region and their
frequent rebellion against white rule.
The Piutes refused to go on the res
ervation. They insisted on living In
jun way Their homes were made in
wigwamS constructed on the banks of
the rivers. generous Of fish or in the
hills where game was plentiful. They
scorned the white man and hi law.
Back in 1914 Old Posey and his
band were fighting the whites. Their
rebellions usually were short lived.
But from time 10 time they blazed
up afreSh. More than a month ago
he began what very probably will
prove the last chapter in Indian war
fare in America. He made an at
tack on the whites. Then when pur-
sued he fled toward Aliens Canyon,
while hastily sumomned posed fol-
lowed in pursuit.
One by one the members of his band
were captured. Finally Old Posey was
left alone in i natural fortress. How
and by whom he met his death never
will be known. At some time or
other while the posse was firing blind
ly into the hills in reply to his occa-
sional shots a bullet found him. The
old chief crumpled and fell behind a
big boulder. Mancos Jim, 10S-year-
old veteran, heard through tribal
sources that the old warrior was dead.
He notified the United States mar
shall and the latter, accompanied by
the Indians who witnessed the burial,
went IN the canyon and captured their
man-as has been predicted-dead
with his rifle beside him.
Came From the Earth.
The legend of the Piutes tells of
the tribe as originating within the
earth. One righteous man planted
tree that penetrated the crust Of the
salt mine of the Grand Canyon. which
furnished the egress TO the earth. The
band gathered on the surface. The
son of the chieftain died. whereupon
girl was accused of bewitching him.
She denied this and, according to the
tribal tale. returned TO the passage
way into the interior TO show his ac-
cusers that, though the body of the
boy was on earth. his spirit vas hap
PLY playing inside. The tribe then
tried 10 ford the Colorado river at
Lees Ferry but found no crossing un-
til gigantic spider wove a web across
which the band crossed They we're
told that il they ever returned n sin
gle life would have to be sacrificed.
But they found the land rocky and
to their needs. and when
they tried TO get back one youthful
warrior was drowned. Since then their
dead are reputed to have risen on the
fourth day 10 return to the salt mine
which has been, for so long as tribal
records tell, the home of their spirits. !
And. every year Piute braves 20 10
the salt mine on pilgrimages, carrying |
food and eagle feathers, which are
along the path. And it is
there that his son and the survivors
Of his band say the spirit OF Old Posey
will return tomorrow.