The Record-courier. [volume] (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1904-current, 1924-11-14
new RAINMAKER
DOES HIS STUFF
Indian Calls Upon Rain-God
to Send Shower but Deluge
is Result of Mystic Cult

The Indian sign is on Hatfield when
it comes to producing rain, as every
body in this community will testify.
Last Saturday the Washoe Indians
held a pow-wow in Carson Valley to
celebrate the election of new Presi-
dent and also to envoke the rain god
to send forth heavy downpour. The
presidential celebration speech was
mad by Capt. Pete, but when it came
to the rain propaganda, that little job
was left to Charley Rain-In-The-Face.
He called upon the rain god to send
forth liberal showers to prevent the
pine nut trees from dying for lack OF
moisture and also for the purpose OF
providing a bountiful crop of nuts
next season. In his best language he
reminded the rain god that it was
rabbit hunting time and all the bum
nies had sought shelter in their un-
derground homes. Heavy rains will
make them come out of their holes
and our hunters will then be able to
provide their families with food. The
rain also would wash away all the
weevil bugs and the dreaded foot and
mouth disease that was reported as
spreading to the deer which Indians
hoped to kill and eat.
AS he stood bare headed before his
solemn listeners, his arms outstretch-
ed to the direction where the rain god
is supposed to dwell, Charley Rain-ln-
The-Face was dignity personified.
While he ranted away in his native
tongue, the soft Washoe zephyrs be-
spoke of the warm Indian summer.
Suddenly the wind began moaning as
it swept over the sagebrush flat and
Charley's raven locks were whipped
about his stolid face. Again raising
his arms to the south, he raised his
voice above the bowling wind and told
his tribesmen that the rain god would
send moisture on the morrow.
The velocity of the wind increased
until Saturday evening many whites
feared for the safety of their roofs,
but were unaware that Charley-Raln-
In-The-Face was responsible for the
coming storm. Early Sunday morn
ing rain began falling and within a
short time it was a perfect downpour.
The violent wind whipped the falling
rain through parched roofs, and many
housewives of this community spent
the greater part of the night in NOV
ing furniture and placing receptacles
in convenient places to catch the wa
ter that oozed through the roofs. .
The rainmaker slept through it all
and Sunday morning when he stepped
to the door of his wickiup, he beheld
that his wishes had been granted. In
the distance he could hear the young
hunters of his tribe killing rabbits as
they emerged from their flooded un-
derground holes. Above all he was
the real acknowledgements of the In
dian race; it was he that could make
rain. He returned to his regal robes
for further rest, because was not the
sapebrush too wet to burn In his
camp fire. The creek on which his
camp was located began to gather
force and shortly after daylight be-
came a torrent. The water reached
Charley's comfortable bed and then
before he had time to realize what
was happening, his sack of pine nuts
and cooking utensils started to float
out through the door, while his brave
wife, made heroic effort to retrieve
the vanishing property. Rain-ln-The-
Face and his family beat it for high
ground, and seeking place of safety,
thhe rain maker appealed to the In
dian god to shut off the faucet. AS
an answer to his appeal, the wind in
creased and the rain fell in torrents.
Heavenly waters trinkled down the
back of Charley and caused chill to
run up his spinal column. No Indian
language was expressive enough by
this time and the Indian cussed in the
white mans tongue at the rain-god
that had been too generous in be-
slowing rain.