Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-12-15
WINNEMUCCA'S WIFE.
Details of the Ceremony of StOning
Her to Death. as Given by an Eye
Witness.
Reno Gazette.

Reno Gazette.
The facts concerning the disappear
ance of " innemucca's wife have now
come to light, and are related by q
halfbreed called Grizzly John, who is
fully acquainted with :he circumstan-
ces of her death. Hewas an eye wit
ness of the horrible scene, which he
described to Gazette reporter IN pass
able English. INN edistely after the
affair he went north on a deer hunt,
from which he returned the other day.
The evening before I'D Wlnnemucca
died about 100 Intians took the
squaw to large spring, where she had
been ordered to bathe Other squaws
stripped her apd washed her from
head to foot, and the, sprinkled her
with fine ashes. Then they start
ed for range of hills few miles from
Coppersmith station leading the
squaw, naked and barefoot. Upon ar
irving at chosen spotthey lit a circle
of fires, which ightedup space o.
ground about 100 feet n diameter. In
the center of this was . stump about
eight or ten inches higi, to which the
trembling squaw was securely bound
by one foot with rawGide strap. She
still held her child, a bright little pa
pose about two years old When she
had been secured, each buck sought
for certain number of stones about
the size of mans fist, and laid them
in pile within the circle of the fires.
When all was ready for the sacrifice
the Indians joined hands and began q
monotonous chant which lasted few
minutes, when one of th3m stepped in
ID the ring and began harangue.
AS he continued to spueak the poor,
agonized squaw gave vert to piercing
shrieks, crouchlng upon the ground
and pressing her babe 10 her breast.
This lasted for some minutes. Then at
signal there was silence except the
wall of the intended vicim. Suddenly
the speaker sprang toward her and
grasped the child. She struggled fran
tically but unavailingly to retain il,
and was compelled by force to let go.
The fend Immediately swung the IL
FAINT around his head, hoding it by the
ankle, bowling like demon, and be-
ing echoed by the red devils about
him; but the squaw did not raise her
head nor emit single sound. Sudden
ly he dashed the child 1pon a rock
and killed it instantly. Then he resum-
ed his place in the circle which swung
around again, changing IS before, till
the one who killed the baby came op-
posite the pile ofstones he had collect
ed, when the movement stopped. Step
ping forward he picked up stone and
going forward to within len feet of the
crouching victim, he hurled it at her
with all the strength possessed by his
brawny red arm. The missile struck
her on the side, and was answered by a
shrek of anguish. He returned to his
place, and the circle revolved again un-
til another Indian was entitled 10 a
murderous fling.
The wretched creature at the stake
was crouching in such an attitude that
only her sides and back we're exposed.
1t was forbidden to hit her upon the
head, and the second savage, choosing
the most available, spot launched 8
rock at her with the projectile force o.
a catspult, striking ner between the
shoulders, and cutting fearful cash
from which the blood flowed down hel
back in small rivulet. He then re
tired to his place and thecircle moved
on as before. Thus they continued
their murderous pastine, until the
poor, pitiful object lay prone upon th'
ground, bleeding, senseless mass o
flesh. As she lay upon her back, tn,
savage who had harangued the banc
at first, raised large rock over hi
head with both hands and inflicted tn,
coup de grace by smashing her skull
Then there was pandemonium for 8
few minutes, after which they dispers
ed and collected wood for pile, upor
which the remains OF the luckles
squaw and ner babe were burned.