Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1874-03-19
Burned at the Stake.
How the Indians Disposed OF One OF
Their Unfortunate Women.


It is matter of history, as every one
is aware, that the penal laws of some of
the Indian tribes surpass in rigor and
severity those of civilized nations, and
the penalties inflicted by the breaking
of these edicts, which have been hand
ed down for centuries, are of singu-
larly cruel and fearful nature. One of
the most stringent of these DEGREES is in
reference to the chastity of their fe-
males, death being the punishment if
at any time oneis known to have broken
the law. Job Natures, an old noun
taineer and trapper, gives Nevada pa.
per the following particulars OF one OF
these fiendish acts of cruelty lately
perpetrated by band of Indians near
Fish Spring Valley:
For two weeks prior to the occurrence
of the events about to be narrated, the
Indians had been building signal fires
on the elevated portions of the noun
tains for miles around the surrounding
country. As it was their regular hunt
ing season, much surprise was mani
tested as the lights appeared night after
night, calling the absent portions of
the tribe TO the general rendezvous. On
questioning some of their number, they
were, contrary to their usual manner,
reticent on the subject, and only re-
piled to questions put to them concern
ino fba nnuaual occurrenca that Hwhita
man no sabe."
Natures, however, who speaks the
language like native, heard enough to
satisfy himself that a rite was about to
be performed which was of rare occur
renee, and on questioning half-breed
who frequently accompanied him on his
hunting excursions, he learned that
young woman, q member of one OF the
tribes in that country, who had aban-
doned her people year or 80 since to
live with white man, had returned,
bringing with her a babe about three
months old. Here was the same old,
old story, 80 common with us now-a-
days. After short spell of happiness
and pleasure, he who had brought her
to her ruin became tired of his victim
and abandoned her to her fate. She,
like thousands of others placed in the
same circumstances, sought refuge at
her home and among her people, hoping
to find a shelter for herself and child;
but with the terrible penalty of the law
she had broken before her, and with the
indisputable evidence of her guilt in
her arms, we wonder at her hardihood
in placing herself in the power of those
whom she must have known would show
her no mercy.
Nothing that she could offer in palli-
alton of her offense would be received
by those who only knew that their sa-
cred law had been broken. Having
heard that the terrible decree would be
carried out on q certain night, the trap
Der secreted himself in position where
he could obtain An unobstructed view
Of all they would do, and he arrived
none too soon, for already the prelimi-
naries had been arranged, and around
a stake driven in the ground the war
rior braves were marching in circle to
the solemn, mournful music being
played upon the native instruments of
the band. Prominent among them was
the chief, who had not as yet taken an
active part in the proceedings; and as
the solemn circle passed him, each OF
the braves would let fly an arrow from
his bow at some imaginary enemy.
After the dance of death was finished,
the chief, by gesture, gave some order
10 brave in waiting, and from q cir
,ular tent emerged the women Of the
tribe, surrounding the victim who was
10 be sacrificed to offended justice.
With the exception of light covering
around her waist, she was utterly de-
void of clothing, and seemed uncon-
,ious as to the terrible death awaiting
ner. Her babe, which was carried by
,ne of the women, uttered the most pit
,ous cries, trying to attract the atten-
ion of its mother; but she was not al
owed to touch her infant, and with a
ook such as only fond mother can be-
stow she gave one earnest, passionate
glance at her offspring, and walked
oravely on to meet her death.
No time was lost; the medicine
nan" quickly bouLd her to the stake;
brush and faggots were placed around
her so thick as to render hor invisible
% the fiends, who were now rending the
,ir with their shouts and cries. The
,yre was lighted, and the flames seemed
oossessed OF hellish Joy as they enwrapt
;he form of the woman. Thickly the
smoke curled spitefully around her, yet
not murmur, not groan escaped her
Ups. She appeared statue, meeting
,er fate with that wonderful stoicism
md bravery which characterize her
ace.
The fire, which at first thrust out its
iery darts at intervals, was now sheet
If flame, soon burned down, leaving
1othing but the charred bones OF her
Who, but few moments since, was
living human being; and her execu-
;ioners, who had, in their untutored
minds. satisfied the wrath Of the Great
Spirit, and removed the stigma on the
;ribe, silently departed from the scene
If their horrible act, and separated to
again seek their homes, leaving our
watcher alone with the dead victim,
who, as soon as he was assured OF his
safety, departed from the place; but
such was the impression left on his
mind that he bid farewell to that por-
ion of the country forever.
THE ENp.-The great end OF prudence
/, d, ,,;ya obaarfulneea tn those hours