The Nevada journal., 1854-03-31
An Indian Funeral.

primitive people;
A few days since I was informed by q
friend, that he had Just found an Indian.
dead, near Wilson's Carrall, about a mile
west of Columbia. He stated that the
night previous, at about dark, he saw the
same Indian drunk; it showing at the time,
he believes that he laid down and frose dur
ing the very cold night. With my friend
| hurried over to the spot and before we
got half the distance the hills resounded
with Indian yells-denoting death. An
preaching near where the body Law it was
most affecting sight! There were a
dozen old Indian Squaws, some rolling up
on the body on the ground in most la
mentable and agonizing manner, and howl
ing most piteously. In about an hour af>
ter, they put the bod in blanket and the
squaws gathered around wherever they
could get their hands, and commenced car
rying it in the direction of their ranchere,
about half mile distant but they had
not proceeded far before their miseries
were increased by the discovery of another
of their tribe, dead-he having tumbled
head-foremost into the T. C. W. Co s
ditch, in the neighborhood of their rancherQ.
Upon the finding of this body, the male In
dians, who with few exceptions, took no
part in the bowling over the first body
found,-now became perfectly frantic, run
ming In all directions over the hills and
along the ditch, bowling most terribly, and
wildly acting, as if looking for more VIC
Tins of Ram. The terrible noise being
heard great distance, bro 'ght miners and
the indians from every direction, armed
with their bows and arrows and upon
reaching the crowd of Indians surround
ing the bodies, they would madly throw
themselves upon the bodies in the widest
anguish, and there remain until pulled off
to make room for the next. Every Amer
ican present was affected, and looked with
astonishment at the agonizing grief of the
old sqnaws, hardly able to stand with age,
while continued stream of tears rolled
down their withered faces. But now for
the most horrible sight ever witnessed in
my life. The Indians had gathered and
closely packed about cord and half of
wood, read y to receive the bodies in accor-
dance with their custom, to be burned to
ashes. Just before putting the bodies up
on the wood pile, an old Indian, who knew
me, asked me to look at the bodies, and
being glad of the chance, of course con-
sented. He, after some effort, got the
squaws off the bodies so that | could see
their faces, when, in the last one found,
recognized an Indian who had, on three
different occasions, told me of the Indians
having liquor, and got me TO go and take
it from them, he himself finally falling a
victim to it.
At about 2 o'clock, P. NJ, they placed
the bodies, face downwards, upon the wood
pile, together with every thing belonging
to them; the pile being about six feet square.
The fire being placed in at the four corn ers,
soon began to blaze amidst the most pite-
Gus howlings of hundred Indians; and
as the fire grew hot, one of the Indians did
frequently throw himself in on the bodies,
as ifwilling to burn and as the fire grew
hotter yet, the squaws would have to be
pulled off the bodies, then on fire, and sew
eral of them had their hair burned of their
heads. Each Of the squaws had some relic
to throw in upon the fire, such as bead
work, baskets, fancy things, shawls, and
blankets. At 4, p. NJ. / left, much instruc-
ted in savage affection, it being stronger
than | ever expect to witness another such
horrible sight rs an Indian funeral.
The Sailor and the Actre>>-'When I was
n rirl fho &c A
ing very hard for my thirty shillings week.
l went down to Liverpool during the HOLIDAYS.
where was always kindly received / was.
to perform in new piece, something like tho
pretty little affecting dramas they get up now
at our minor theatres and in my character
represented poor, friendless orphan girl, re-
duced to the most wretched poverty. A heart
less tradesman prosecutes the sad heroine for
heavy debt, and insists on putting her in prison,
unless some one will go pail for her. The girl
replies Then | have no hope have not
friend in the world What will no one bail
you, to save you from going to PRISON. asks
the stern creditor. Il have told you have not
friend op earth, was my reply But Just as
l was uttering these words,I saw sailor in the
upper gallery springing over the railing, let.
ting himself down from one tier to another un-
til he bounded clear over the Orchestra and
footlights and placed himself beside me in a no. mo-
ment. Yes, you shall have one friend. at ldast
my poor young woman said he, with the great.
est expression IN his honest. sunburnt counter
ance, L Will go bail for you to any amount.
And as ior you, turning to the frightened actor
II you don't bear hand and shift your moor
lngs, you lubber, it will be worse for YOU when
| come athwart your bows. Every creature in
the mouse rose the uproar was indescribahl
peals of laughter, screams of terror, cheers from
his tawny messmates in the gallery, preparato-
ry scrapings of violns' from the orchestra; and
amidst the universal din there stood the uncon-
scious cause of it sheltering me, the poor, dis
tressed young woman and breathing defiance
and destruction against my mimic prosecutor.
He was only persuaded to relinquish his care of
me by the manager pretending to arrive and