The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1879-02-22
TROUBLES OFA PIUTE DOCTOR.
Virginia Enterprise.l


Nearly twenty years ago, while resi-
dent of Silver City, we taught a Piute
Indian named Nose to write his lame.
he was very proud of the accomplish
ment, and at bis request was given a
pencil and note book in order that he
might show off among the members of
his tribe and such white men as he
CHANGED to meet. He wss taught to
make the letters after the fashion of
those in print. but in defiance of rule
would always turn thd letter IS" the
wrong way.
Seeing that Nose could write his name
the people of his tribe began to regard
him as man "wise beyond his day and
generation. and expected him to dis
tineuisbf himself in some way. Nose
felt that he i ust do something to keep
up his reputation and as it was not easy
for him 10 write anything more than his
name, he set up az doctor.
He has been practicing some years
and it would seem with much better sue.
cess than the majority of our white
physicians, as he has killed only three
men. But "the pitcher that goes often
to the we'll is broken at last" and at last
poor Nose is in tight place and is liable
to lose his life-to be stoned to death by
his own people.
The'Lyon County Times of yesterday
morning gives the following account OF
the trouble which has overtaken Nose,
and all because of his shallow draught of
the Piorian spring:
Captain Bob, the renowned Indian
warrior. who is the pride of that portion
of the Pluto tribe which lives between
the Comstock and Pyramid Lake is lying
on his death-bed, and there is much
sorrowing and lamentation thereat in
the Piute campoodies, as we'll as threat
ening of the tribal medicine man. Last
Sunday one who is known as Nose was
escorted to this city by over two hundred
Indians of all ages, from the pappoose
in arms to the aged buck or squaw.
These Indians represented every cam.
poodle from Walker river to Pyramid,
and had been summoned to try the medi-
cine man, who was accused of trying to
poison Captain Bob The evidence was
to the effect that only three OF the medi-
cine mans patients had died. and if Cap
tain Bob were soon gathered to the
bosom Of the Great Spirit. he would
therefore only be the fourth. This cir
cumstance saved the life OF the man of
medicine, as by custom of the tribe the
medicine men are allowed to live until
five of their patients have preceded them
to the happy hunting grounds. Then,
however, they are executed by being
stoned to death, each member of the
council which passes sentence upon him
being compelled to throw at least one
stone at the doomed man. But, not
withstanding the fact that, according to
Piute law, Nose was not yet doomed,
many members of the council held that
if Nose were killed the life of Captain
Bob might thereby be saved. and for a
time this opinion seemed to prevail.
But finally Nose who, during the trial
had stood in the center of the council,
pale as death and perspiring profusely,
was told that he might go, but that be
must save Captain Bob or he surely
would be tied into shaft head down.
ward. Nose lives near the Alta works,
in Lower Gold Hill, and he started
homeward. without awaiting for a second
order.