The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-12-14
q ripped her and washed her from head

Stripped her and washed her from head
20 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 arriving at chosen
spot they built circle of fires, which
lighted up space of ground about one
hundred feet in diameter. In the center
OF this was H stump eight or ten inches
high, to which the trembling squaw was
securely bound by one foot with raw
hide strap. She still held her child, q
bright little pappose about two years
old. When she had been secured, each
buck sought for certain plumber of
stones about the size of mans fist, and
laid them in pile within the circle of
fires. When all was ready for the sac
rifle, the Indians joined hands and be-
gan Il monotonous chant, which lasted
for few minutes, when one of them
stepped within the ring and began to
harrangue them. AS he continued
to speak, the poor, agonized squaw
gave vent to most piercing shrieks,
crouching upon the ground and pressing
her babe to her breast. This lasted for
some moments. Then, at signal, there
WAS silence, except the walls of the in
tended victim. Suddenly the speaker
sprang toward her and grasped the
child. She struggled frantically but I'M
availingly to retain it, and was com
PEELED by force to let it go. The fend
Immediately swung the infant around
his head, holding 1t by the ankles howl
ing like demon and being echoed by
the red devils about him; but the squaw
did not raise her head or emit q single
sound. Suddenly ne 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 op-
posite the pile of stones he had collected,
when the movement stopped. Step
plug forward he picked up a
stone, and going to within ten 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 q shrek
of anguish. He returned to his place
and the circle revolved until another
Indian was entitled to murderous fling
The wretched creature 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 savage, choosing the most
available target, launched rock at her
with the projectile force of catapult,
striking her between the shoulders and
cutting 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 the murderous 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 harrangued
the band at first raised large rock over
his head with both hands and inflicted
the coup de 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 luckless squaw and
her babe were burned. A few were left
to keep mp 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-
coded him to the Indians happy land
Reno Gazette.