STONING A SQUAW TO DEATH.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3674, 24 April 1883, Page 4

STONING A SQUAW TO DEATH.

(From the Reno, Nov., Gazette Nov. 11.) It will lie remembered that old AVinjncniucca, the aged chief of the Piutes, died ou the 21st of last month ; that previous to his death he accused his youn<>squaw of having bewitched him and "made him sick, and that he ordered her to be stoned to death. The young squaw was ordered to go to a spring and wash li/Wlf, that she might appear before the Gre-at Spirit in the happy hunting gw-unds in a becoming condition of cleanliness. She feigned obedience, and, knowing hor fate, attempted suicide by hanging, but attempt was frustrated by a watc I,J " who out her down and brou" 1 ' the a miserable rtiilisatio** .±ul Piute, fate. Since that <-' xlt j iel . back to it has „ot be t of "her impending wunc f * _me, until a few days ago, f " .„_. positively known what be- .. Ncr, though she" disappeared. The .cts concerning' her disappearance have now come to light aud are reported by a half breed called irrizzly John, wlio is fully acquainted wiHi the circumstances of her dr-ith He was an eye witness of the horrible scene, which he described to a G'lzzotte reporter in passable English. Ihe evenhi" hefore old AV'inemucca died about 100 Indians took the squaw to a large spriim-, where she had been ordered to bathe: Other squaws stripped her and washed her from head to foot and hen sprinkled her with iine>hcs. Ihey then

started for a range of hills a few miles from Coppersmith Station, leading the squaAV, naked and barefoot. Upon arriving at a chosen spot they built a circle of fires, which lighted up a space of ground about 100 feet in diameter. In the centre of this Avas a stump eight or ten inches high, to Avhieh the trembling squaw was securely bound by one feet Avith a- raw-hide strap. She still held her child, a bright little papoose about two years old. AVhen she had been secured each buck sought for a certain number of stones about the size of a man's fist, and laid them in a pile Avithin the circle of fires. AVhen all Avas ready for the sacrifice the Indians joined hands and began a monotonous chant, Avhieh lasted for a feAV minutes Avhen one of them stepped Avithin the ring and began to harangue them. _As he continued to speak the poor agonised squaw gave AX-ut to piercing shrieks, crouching upon the ground and pressing her babe to her breast. This lasted for some moments. Then at a signal there Avas silence, except the Avails of the intended victim. Suddenly the speaker sprang toward her and grasped the child. She struggled frantically but uiniA'ailingly to retain it, and Avas compelled by force to lot it go. The fiend immediately flung the infant round his head, holding it by the ankles, howling like a. demon, and being echoed by the red devils about him, but the squaw did not raise her head nor omit a single sound. Suddenly he dashed the child upon a rock and killed it instantly. Then he resumed his place in the circle, Avhieh SAvung- around again, chanting as before, till the one avlio killed the babe came opposite the pile of stones he had collected, Avhen the movement stopped. Stepping forward he picked up a stone, and going to within ten feet of the crouching victim, ho hurled it at her Avith all the strength he possessed by his brawny red arm. The missle struck her on tho side, and was ansAvered by a shriek of anguish. He returned to his place, and the circle revolved again until another Indian Avas entitled to a murderous fiing. The Avretched creature at the stake Avas crouching in such ah attitude that only her side and back were exposed. It Avas forbidden to bit her upon Oil- head : and the second savage choosing the most available target, launched a rock at. her with the projectile force of a catapult, striking her between the shoulders and cutting a fearful gash, from which the blood flowed doAvn her back in a small rivulet. He then retired to his place, and the circle moved on as before. Tims they continued their murderous pastime until the poor pitiful object lay prone upon the ground, a bleeding, senseless mass of mangled flesh. As she lay upon her back the savage who had harangued the band at first raised a large rock over his head Avith both hands and inflicted the roujj de ijvnce by smashing her skull. Then there Avas pandemonium for a few moments, after Avhieh they dispersed and collected Avood for a pile, upon which tho remains of the luckless squaw and her babe Avere burned. A few were left to keep up the sacrificial fire, Avhile the others returned to old AVinnemucea to comfort his dying moments Avith the assurance that his young squaw had preceded him to the Indian's happy hunting ground.