The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1882-12-14
stOning a Squaw.

The facts concerning the disappear
ance of Winnemucca' wife have now
come to light, and are related by half
breed called Grizzly John, who is fully
acquainted with the circumstances OF
her death. He was an eyewitness of
the horrible scene, which he described
to a Gazette reporter in passable En-
glish. Immediately after the affair he
went north on deer hunt, from which
he returned yesterday.
The evening before old Winnemucca
died about one hundred Indians took
the squaw to large spring, whore she
had been ordered to bathe. Other
squaws stripped her and washed her
from head TO foot, and then sprinkled
her with fine ashes. They then started
for range of hills few miles from
Coppersmith Station, leading the
squaw, naked and barefoot Upon ar
irving at chosen spot they built cir
Gle of fires, which lighted up a space of
ground about one hundred feet in diam
eter. In the center of this was stump
eight or ten inches high, to which the
trembling squaw was securely bound by
one foot with a raw-hide strap. She
still held her child, bright little pap
poose about two years old When she
had been secured each buck sought for
a certain number of stones about the
size of a mans fist, and laid them in
pile within the crcle of fires. When all
was ready for the sacrifice the Indians
joined hands and began a monotonous
chant, which lasted for a few minutes,
when one of them stepped within the
ring and began harangue. As he con-
tinued to speak, the poor, agonized
squaw gave vent to piercing shrieks,
crouching upon the ground, and press
ing her babe TO her breast. This lasted
for some moments Then at q signal
there was silence, except the walls of
the intended victim. Suddenly the
speaker sprang toward her and grasped
the child She struggled frantically but
unavailingly to retain it, and was
compelled by force to let it go.
The iiend Immediately swung the in
FAINT around his head, holding it
by the ankles. bowling like
demon, and being echoed by the red
devils about HIM; but the squaw did not
raise her head nor emit a single sound.
Suddenly he dashed the child upon
rock and killed it instantly Then he
resumed his place in the circle, which
swung around again chanting as before.
till the one who killed the babe came
opposite the pile of stones he had col
lected, when the movement stopped
Stepping forward he picked up stone,
and going to within ten feet of the
crouching victim he hurled it at her
with all the strength possessed by his
b,.a Il.
her on the side. and was answered by
shrek of anguish. He returned TO his
place, and the circle revolved again
until another Indian was entitled to a
murderous fling The wretched Great
ure at the stake was crouching in such
an attitude that only her side and back
were exposed. 1t was forbidden TO hit
her upon the head and the second saw
age, choosing the most available target,
launched rock at her with the pro-
iectile force of a catapult, striking her
between the shoulders and cutting a
fearful cash, from which the blood
flowed down her back in a small rivulet
He then retired TO his place and the
circle moved on as before Thus they
continued theirmurderous pastime until
the poor, pitiful object lay prone upon
the ground, bleeding, senseless mass
of mangled flesh. As She lay upon her
back, the savage who had harangued
the band at first raised large rock over
his head with both hands and inflicted
the coup dc grace by smashing her skull.
Then there was pandemonium for a few
minutes. after which they dispersed and
collected wood for pile, upon which
the remains of the lu kless squaw and
her babe were burned. A few were left
to keep up the sacrificial fire, while the
others returned to old Winnemucca to
comfort his dying moments with the as
surance that his young squaw had pre-
ceded him to the Indians happy land.
Reno Gazette
Newton Ashton, aged twenty-four,
committed suicide at Martins Ferry,
a u -