The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-12-29
WINNEMUCCA,S WIFE.
Details of the Ceremony of stoning Her to
Death, as Given by an Eyewitness.
Reno Gazette.

Reno Gazette.
The facts concerning the disappearance of
Winnemucca's wife have now come to
light, and are related by a half-breed called
Grizzly John, who is full acquainted with
the circumstances Of her death. He was an
eyewitness of the horrible scene, which he
described to a Gazette reporter in passable
English. Immediately after the affair he
went north on q deer hunt, from which he
returned yesterday.
The evening before old Winnemucca died,
about one hundred Indians took the squaw
TO large spring where 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 sorefoot. Upon arriving at q
chosen spot they built circle of fires, which
lighted up space of ground about one hum
dred feet In diameter. 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 rawhde strap.
She still held her child, a bright little pap
poose about two years Old. When she had
number of stones about the size of mans
fist, and laid them in pile within the circle
of fires. When all was ready for the sacri-
flee, the indians Joined hands and began a
monotonous chant, which lasted for few
minutes, when one Of them stepped within
the ring and began harrangue. As he con-
tinued to speak, the poor, agonized squaw
gsve vent to piercing shrieks, crouching upon
the ground and pressing her babe TO her
breast. This lasted for some moments.
Then at a signal there was silence, except
the walls of the intended victim. Suddenly
the speaker sprang toward her and grasped
the child. She struggled frsnLically but un-
avaIlingly to retain ii. and was compelled by
| force TO let it 60. The iend Immediately
swung the infant around his head, holding 1t
| by the ankles, bowling like a demon, and be-
| ing 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 kill d 1t instantly. Then
| he resumed his place In the circle, which
swung around again chanting as before, till
the one wko killed the babe came opposite
the pile of stones lie had collected. when the
movement stopped. Stepping forward he
| picked up stone, and going 10 within ten
feet of the rr''II." Iug ,rr i'm, hr hurled II at
her with all lhr strength possessed by lis
brawuy red arm. The missile struck Ler on
the side, and was answered by a shrek of
anguish. He returned /" hns place, aud the
circle revolvrd again until another Indian
was entitled To a murdrrous ding. The
wretched creature at the 81 axe as cIouching
in such MANNER that only her side and back
| were exposed. IL was foI oIbidden to hit her
upon the head, and the second savage, oboos.
lug the most available target, launched q
rock at her with the prrj'.ctie force Of a cat
| apult, striking her between the shoulders,
and cutting fra,fLl gssh, from which the
| blood flowed down her back IN small rivu
let. H. thea retired to his pace, and tho
clrcle uoNrh "b ~ D' lore. nus ihey con-
tinued their II ur'I-r'tis pastilne until the
poor, p'tItuI al i"'t laN prone upon the earth,
| a bleeding. nsrlr>s HAAS "f mamgl, flesh.
As she lay upon her hack, the savage "ho
had ha'angurd the hand at first, raised a
large ro, over his head " ilh bot b hands and
inflicl, tie coupd grace by smashing her
SKULL. Then there vas u pandem"nium for
few minutes, after which they dispersed
and collected wood for a pile, upon which
the remains Of the luckless squaw and her
babe " ere burned. A few were left TO keep
up the sacrifcial fire, while the Others re-
turned to old Winnemucca TO comfort his
dying moments with the assurance that his
young squaw had preceded him to the In
dian's happy land.