Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-07-07
An Indian Funeral.

We copy, says the San Francisco EroHjng
Journal, the following recital of AN Indian
funeral and attendant circumstances. Grou,ar
interior journal. We rccolect nothing more
strange and interesting in all our knowledge Of
the customs and habits ola primitive rcoll
On last Saturday was informed hya friend,
that he had lust found an Indian, dead, near
Wilson's Corral. about mile west OF Col
umha. lie stated that the night prcvonS.
at about dark, hc saw the same Indian drunk
it showing at the time, he believes that he
laid down and frozc during the very cold
night. With my friend hurried over to tic
spot and before We got half the distance, the
hills rcsoundcd with Indian yclls,--dcnoting
death. Approaching near where the body
lay, it was II mast qF,ciag 1gM! There
were a dozen old Indian squaws, some rolling
upon the body on the ground in n most la
inrntnhlo and agoni2ug manner, and bowling
most pitcously. In about an hour after, they
put the body in blanket, the squaws gath
cred around wherever they could get their
hands. and commenced carrying itin the dircc-
tion of their ranchcro, about half mile dis
tant: but they had not proceeded far before
their miScrirs were increased by the discovery
of another Of their tribe dcad-hc having
tumhlcd head foremost into the +. e. W Coz
ditch, in the ncighborhood Of their ranchcro
Upon finding this body the male Indians,
who with II few exceptions, took no part in
the huwlng over the first body found ,-npw
became perfectly frantic, running i'll all d-
rcctions over the hills and along the ditch,
bowling most terribly, and wildly acting, as
if looking for more victims Of RUjn The tor
riblr nps" being heard a great distance.
brought miners and the Indians from every
direction. armed with their bows and arrows
and upon reaching the crowd Of Indian, sur
rounding the bodies, they would throw them
selves upon the bodies in the widest anguish
and there remain until pulled of to max"
room for the next. Every American present
was affected. and looked with astoni,hmcut
at the agonizng grief Of the old squdws hard
ly able to stand with age, while continued
stream of tears rolled down their withorod
faces. But now for the most horrible sight
ever witnessed in my life The Indians had
gathered and closely packed about cord and
"a half Of wood, ready to receive the bodies in
accordance with their custom, to be burned
to ashes. just before putting the bodies
upon the wood-pilc, an old Indian, who knew
me. asked me to look at the bodies and being
glad Of the chance, Of course consented -
, flc, after some effort, got the squaws of 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
, 90 and take it from them, he himself finally
falling victim to it.
At about two clock I. NJ, they placed
the bodies face downwards, upon the pood
pile, together with everything belonging 70
them the pile being about six feet square
$ The fire being placed in at the four corners,
= SOON began to blaz" amidst the most litcous
howlings of hundred Indians and as the
fire grew hot one Of the Indians did frequently
l throw himself in ON the bodies as if willing
{ to bu I'm and as the fire grew hotter yet, the
squaws would have to be pulled off the bodies
then on fire and several of them had their
9 hair burned off their heads. Each Of the
c squaws had some relic to throw in upon the
t fire such as bead work baskets, fancy things,
: shuws, and blankets At ! p. VI. | lett
, much instructed in savage affection, it being
b stronger than | ever expect to witness again
/ in my life. hope never to witness an
: other such horrible sight as an Indian funeral