Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-06
WINNEMuCcA,s WIFE.
Details Of the Ceremony OF Stonisg Her to
DEATH, as Given By an Eye Witness.
Reno Gazette.

DEATH, as Given by an Eye Witness.
Reno Gazette.
The facts concerning the disappearance
of Winnemucca's wife have now come te
light, and are related by half breed called
Grizzly John, who is fully acquainted with
the circumstances Of her death. He was
an eye witness of the horrible scene, which
he described to Gazette reporter in pass
able English. Immediately after the affai,
he went north on deer hunt, from which
he returned yesterday.
The evening before old Winnemucca
died about 100 Indians took the
squaw to large spring, where she had
been ordered to battle. Other squaws
stripped her and washed her from head to
foot, and then sprinkled her with fine
ashes. Then they started for range of
hills few miles from Coppersmith station,
leading the .squaw, naked and barefoot
Upon arriving at a chosen spot they lit a
circle of fires, which lighted up a space OF
ground about 100 feet in diameter. In
the center of this was a stump about eight
Or ten inches high, to which the trembling
squaw was securely bound by ono foot with
rawhide strap. She still held her child, a
bright little papoose about two years old.
When she had been secured, each buck
sought for a certain 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 sacrifice the
Indians Joined hands and began monot-
onous chant, which lasted few minutes.
when one of them stepped into the ring
and began an harangue. AS he continued
to speak the poor, agonized squaw gave
vent to piercing shrieks, crouching upon the
ground and pressing her babe to her breast
This lasted for some minutes. 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 frantically but
unavailingly to retain it, and was COM
PEELED by force to let it 60. The fend i'm
mediately swung the infant around his
head, holding it by the ankle. bowling like
demon, and being echoed by the red devils
her head nor emit a single sound. Sud
denly 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 baby came opposite the pile of
stones he had collected. when the move
ment stopped. Stepping forward he picked
up stone, and going forward 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
shrek of anguish. He returned to his
place, and the circle revolved again until
another Indian was entitled to a murder
Gus fling.
The wretched creature at the stake was
crouching in such an attitude that only her
side and back we're exposed. It was for
hidden to hit her upon the head, and the
second savage, choosing the most available
target, launched rock at her with the pro-
jectile force of catapult, striking her be-
tween the shoulders, and cutting fearful
cash, from which the blood flowed down
her back in a small rivulet. He then re-
tired to his place, and the circle moved on
as before. Thus they continued their muir
derous pastime until the poor, pitiful OBJ
ject lay prone upon the ground, bleeding,
senseless mass of mangled flesh. As she
lay upon her lack, the savage =ho had ha-
rangued the band at first, raised g l.rge
rock over his head with both hands and in
flicted the coup de grace by smashing her
skull. Then there was pandemonium for
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
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
Indians happy land.