Spokane Prophetess Predicts End of World
An elderly Spokane woman has prophesied that the world will end on December 30th, sparking religious fervor among the local tribes.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
If Indian prophecies are to be believed, a fearful calamity is hanging over the world. The prophetess of the Spokane tribe of Indians has predicted that the world will come to an end December 30th of this year. The Indians believe that her predictions will be fulfilled, and runners have been sent to the various tribes and camps in order that they may prepare for the coming catastrophe. The ghost dance and the appearance of the red Christ early in this year convinced the Indians that their favorite priestess had not erred. She also said that she would die before the summer came, and that they were listening to the last words she would speak. The Indians are perfectly sincere in their belief, and are making preparations accordingly.
“The ghost dance and the appearance of the red Christ early in this year convinced the Indians that their favorite priestess had not erred.”
This report captures the atmosphere of the Ghost Dance movement and the existential desperation of Indigenous peoples facing displacement and cultural erasure. It reflects the settler-colonial panic and curiosity toward Native spiritual resilience during the late 19th century.
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