Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1874-01-24
An indian Woman Burned at the Stake.
From the Eureka Sentinel. Jan. al

From the Eureka bontnel. Jan' zS'J
From JOB Natures. an old mountains
eer and trapper, who arrived from
near Fish Spring Valley yesterday, We
are enabled To give our readers tho
particulars Of one Of the most fiend.
i.h act. Of cruelty. lately perpetrated
by ~ band Of Indians near that place.
III. Y for two weeks prior to the oc-
cu-r,nce of the events to DO narrated.
the Indians had been building signal
| fires on the most elevated portions OF
the mountaIN for miles around the
surrounding country. As 1t was past
their regular hunting seasons much
surprise was manifested as the lights
appeared night after night, calling the
absent portions Of the tribe to the gen
| ural rendezvous. On questioning some
OF their number they were. contrary to
their usual manner, retlcent on the
subject. aud only replied to questions
nut to them concerning the unusual
, occurrence that .'whits nan no sabe."
| Our informant, however. who speaks
the language like n native, heard
enough to satisfy himself that u rite
was about to be performed. which was
of rare occurrence, and on questioning
q half.breed. who frequently accom-.
panied him on his hunting excur-ions,
he learned that n young woman: q
member Of one OF tina tribes In that
country who had abandoned her peo-
ME n year or 81 since 10 live with a
white man, had returned, bringing
with her n babe about three month, old.
. Having heard that the terri
BILE decree would be carried out OH q
certain night. our Informant secretcd
hlm.elf IN position where he could
obtain an unobstructed view OF all
they would do. aud Ito arrived none
too soon. for already the prellminaries
had been arranged. and around n stake
driven In the ground the warrior
braves were marching In n circle to
the solemn, mourniul music being
played upon the native Instruments Of
the band. Prominent among them
was one who had not as yet taken an
active part In the proceedings, who
was the chief. and rs the solemn circle
passed him each OF them would let ny
an arrow from his bow at some lrnagi.
nary enemy. several OF which fell In
close proximity to the unseen watcher
otthcir actions. After the dance . fdeati
was finished, the chief by \ gesture.
gave some order to a brave In waiting.
aud from q circular tent emerged the
women Of the tribe, surrounding tho
victim who was to DO sacrificed To Of.
Tended Justice. With tho exception of
n light covering around her waist she
was devoid OF clothing anil seemed
unconscious as to the terrible death
awaiting her. Her babe, which WAS
carried by one OF the. women, uttered
the most piercing crles, trying to at
tract the attention OF its mother ; hut
she was not allowed to touch her ill.,
FAINT, and with 4 look as only u fond
mother can hestow she gave one
earnest, passionate glance at her oil.
spring aud walked brave!y OH 10 meet
her death. No time was lost. tile
..Medicins man" quickly bound her
to the stake; brush aud iaggots were
placed around her SO thick ~ 10 render
her Invisible to the fienls. who were
now rending the air with their shouts
anil cries. The fire was lighted. the
flames seemed possessed OF n helli,h
10y ~ they enwraped the form OF the
woman. Ihickly the smoke curlsd
spiteiully around her. yet not a muir
muir. not a Sroan. escaped her lips.
She appeared a statue, meeting her
fate with that wonderful stolcisln ani
bravery which characterize her race.
The fire, which at first thrust It's fiery
darts Mt intervals, was now n sheet OF
nlme. soon buried down, and nothing
remained but the cliarred bones OF her,
who. but n few moments sincr, was =
living human being, and her execu.
%tlouers. who had Ia their untutorcd
minds satisfied the wrath Of the Great
Spirit. and thu stigma OH the tribe re-
moved. silently departed from the
scene of their horrible net and separ-
ated to again seek their homes, leaving
our watcher alone with the dead vic
rim.