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fissions.THE LOST INDIAN.BY BEY. EQERTOK R. YOT7NO,The following beautiful story deserves a place among the great number of real answers to prayer. Still does the Lord God say to His followers: “ I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them.” #Our Indian converts believe in God. With a simple, childlike faith, they take Him at His word. One of our Indians at his baptism received the English name of Edmund 8tephenson. He was an earnest yet simple Christian. His religion made him industrious, and so by his diligent hunting and fishing he oomfortably provided for bie wife and two ohildren.One evening about the middle of last Octber he left his family at his little home at Norway House, and started up a rapid river to visit some of his relatives who lived several miles away. In those high latitudes the cold winter sets in very early, and so already the river was covered with ice. To make the trip more quickly he fastened on his skates, and when last seen he was rapidly speeding on his trip in the evening twilight.As he did not return the next day, as he hadSomised bis family, they became alarmed, and an dian messenger was sent to inquire tim rea«on. To his surprise, he was informed by the friends that Edmund had not visited them, and they know not of his whoreaboute. When these tidings were carried home, there was great alarm and a search party was quickly organised. From the point where Edmund was lust seen alive, they carefully examined the ice as they hurried alon£, and after a little time discovered the most conclusive evidence that the poor man was drowned. Over a part of the river where the current is very rapid, they discovered that the ice hnd been broken through, and although now again firmly frozen over.'vet in the congealed mass they found one of his deorskin gloves, a button of his coat, and other evidences that here he had fallen through the ice, and had made a most desperate effort to escape.As it was nearly dark when the searchers made these discoveries as the place and manner of his death they were with this obliged to be satisfied, and to postpone the search for the body until tho next day.Early the next morning they diligently set to work. As much snow bad fallen during the previous evening they were much hamperod in their efforts, and although a large number of men, with euow-abovels, axes, and grappling-ironB, diligently sought in many places for the remains, several days passed by, and they were still unsuccessful in thoir effort*.Among the searchers were some Indians who still believed in the skill and supernatural powers of the conjurers or medicine-meu These having been discouraged in their efforts, resolved to consult one of these Id men, and so they said : “ Let us go and consu'' uid Kwaskncarp, and get him to conjure for us ami tell us wbero to find the body.”The Christian Indians proteatod against this, and tried to diauade them from their purpose. But they would not listen to them, being so discouraged in their efforts. 80 they carried a gift of tea and tobacco to the conjurer, and told him of the object of their coming. In response to their wishes, and in return for their gifts, he took his sacred drum and medicine bng into his te« t and noisily drummed away until he worked himself up into a kind of frenzy or delirium, and then he told them where they were to cut the ice and drag for the body of their dead comrade.When the Christian Indians heard that these others had thus gone to the conjurer for help they were very much grieved. One especially was very much distressed iu spirit. He is a grand old man by the name of Thomas Mustagan. While feeling deeply the loss of Edmund, he was very much hurt when the news reached him that some of the searchers, instead of going to God injtheir perplexity and trouble, had like poor old King Saul, resorted to such disreputable agencies.No sooner had he received the news of their conduct than he resolved to adopt a very different course. Getting his wife to cook a quantity of food, he carried it with some kettles and tea over to a spot on the shore near to the placo in the river where the men were now diligently searching for the body.Clearing away the snow, he made a fire, and then when the tea was prepared, he called the hungry and almost discouraged men around him and made them eat his food and drink hi* tea. Then he talked to them of the one living and true God, and of his power to hear and answer prayer. He then spoke of the foolishness and wickedness of the conduct of those who, having heard about Him, liad gone end consulted the wicked old conjurer.“ Let us go to that God about whom we have been taught by our missionaries. He is the one to help us in our trouble.” 1 hus he talked with them. Then with all the people around him, he kneeloft down in the snow, and earnestly and reverently asked God to hear and help them in their sorrow and perplexity. He prayed that wisdom might be given them, so that they might find the body of their dear friend that was lying somewhere in that cold river, that they might take it up and bury it in their little village graveyard. And very earnestly did he ask God to comfort the poor sorrowing widow and the little helpless children. Thus dicTtnis venerable old Indian, of over four score winters, with believing faith call upon God.^When (they arose from their knees he said : “ Now, trusting in God to answer'ua, let us go to work.As much snow had fallen on the ioe, they had to first scrape it away, and then use their judgment where, over the rapid waters to cut through the ice and drag for the body. Although Tthomaa waa such an aged man, he now Beemed toe most alert and active man in the party. By common consent he waa given charge of the party of Christian Indians, who now all diligently worked under Mb direction. As fast as the snow was scraped away from the ice he carefully scanned every part it.In the meanwhile the old conjurer, Kwaskacarp, in a confident voice told his followers that he had conjured, and the answer was that they were to cut the ice in a certain designated place.Paying no attention to him and Ms party, the Christian Indians worked away, and as fast as the ice was cleared of snow 'J homas looked through it as well as he could.AH at once he quickly rose up from a spot of semi-transparent ice in which he had had been carefully examining. Calling to the men with the axes and ice cMsels no said, Try here.” 8oon they had a large hole cut through the ice, the grappling-irons were speedily brought into use, and there the body was found and quickly brought to the Burface, although it was hundreds of yards from the place where the conjurer had directed his followers to look for it.Thomas, wMle intently searching through the ice, had seen on the under surface at that place a quantity of air bubbles. The thought came to him that here the body had rested, and the lost air from the lungs hod escaped and formed these bubbles. He asked for wisdom and help, and he obtained it, and in less than an hour after these pious Indians had been on their knees in earnest prayer in the snow, the body of their comrade was being borne away to his home, and from thence to its final resting place in ths “God’s Acre” of the little Christian village.
Newspaper Details
Adelaide Christian Colonist
Adelaide, South Australia, AU
Fri, Aug 18, 1893
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Vincent E.
CA 16 Jan 2022
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