The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-24
INDIAN VENGEANCE.
a Digger Buck Rids Himself Of n
Jealous SquaW.
rNevada Civ Trauscriptl

Nevada City Transcriptl
For some time past Pete Ramus, a
half-breed Indian, who lives with his
"wife" aud their two young children on
a small ranch below the Digger campooda,
have not been on the best of terms. He
was a very industrious, thrifty sort of
fellow, and she is lazy, don't-care-
abOut-to-m0rrow woman. Last week he
went to Cofax, and while there met an
old flame in the shape of a young and
good-looking squaw. The passion OF
other DAYS was revived. Pete came
home several days ago. The story of his
amours, as well as the apple Of his eye,
70 lowed him to his threshold. Before
this time he had often remarked that he
was sorry he did not take the Colfax girl
for wife instead of the one he did. and
the mother of the children had heard of
the expressions. Last weeks develop
ments served to confirm her suspicious,
aud she grew uglier than ever.
The Indians say the only wonder is
that they did not try to put one another
out of the way several days ago. Late
Friday afternoon a man, in passing along
the Herring Road, saw the mother of
Petes woman lying by the wayside
about mile west of the city, aud just
this side of the campooda. She was dead
drunk, and Pete's two little children sat
there watching her. The man went to
the camp and told the Indians that they
ought to send out and have the children
taken home. Pete's woman and the
squaw of Chief Sam, the head man of
the tribe, went after the little ones Pete
came along on horseback and met them.
lie had some high words with them.
The quarrel resulted in his drawing
revolver and firing at them once without
effect. He shot twice more, one bullet
lodging in his wife's breast and killing
her, the other inAicting a slight wound
on the head of the chiefs wife. The
shooting occurred about dark. Pete
started off on his horse. As soon as the
news of the killing reached the camp,
nearly all the braves armed themselves
and started out to find him. Capt. Sam
came into town and told the authortieso of
the crime. The Indians say they VIII burn
him at the stake if they catch him alive
He is reported To be reckless, smart and
good shot. The pursuers expect a
fierce conflict if they find him-a thing
they had not succeeded in doing at late
hour yesterday afternoon. Various par
ties who know Pete pretty well think he
will dodge the Indians and give himself
into the custody of Sheriff Montgomery
at the first opportunity.
A short time after the murder one of
the Indians-presnmably the drunken
mother of Pete's squaw--set fire to the
cabin on the ranch and totally destroyed
it. The Indians were intending ycster-
day to also burn the barn. which con-
tanned five or six tons of hay; but finally
wiser counsel prevailed and they con-
cluded to sell the hay for the benefit of
the two motherless children. Pete was
in the city Friday and took demijohn
of whisky along when he left about noon.
1t may be that he was drunk when he
committed the murder, but the Indians
aver he was perfectly sober. He is cred
tied with having been very fond of his
children, and for several months past has
frequently said he would leave their
mother and live with the other squaw if
it were not for wanting to keep them
with him.