The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1882-11-25
STONED TO DEiTH.


nishes the i.ono Gazette the following
particulars Of the stoning to death Of
old Winnemucca's young wife:
The erening before old Winnsmacca
died, about one hundred Indians took the
squaw to a large spring, where she had
been ordered to bathe. Other squaws
stripped her and washed ner from head
to foot, and then sDrinkled her with fine
ashes. They then started for range Of
hills few miles from Coppersmith sta
ti0n, leading the squaw naked and bare
foot. Upon arriving at chosen spot
they built circle Of fires, which lighted
up space Of ground about one hundred
feet IL 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 rawhide strap.
She still held her child, bright little
pappoosc about two years old. When
she had been secured, each buck sought
for certain number Of stones about the
size OF a mans fist, and laid them in a
pile within the circle Of fires. When all
was ready for sacrifice, the Indians
joined hands and began monotonous
chant, which lasted for a few minutes,
when one Of them stepped within the
ring and began to harangue them. 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 moments. Then at signal there
was silence, except the walls Of the in
tended victim. Suddenly the speaker
sprang towards her and grasped the child.
She struggled frantically but unavailingly
to retain it, and was compelled by force
to let it 90. The fend Immediately
swung the infant around his head, hold.
ing it by the ankles, howling like de-
mon and being echoed by the red devils
about him; but the squaw did not raise
her head nor emit 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 babe came opposite
the pile Of stones he had collected, when
the movement stopped. Stepping for.
ward he picked up stone, and going
to within about ten or twelve 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 tn,
side, and was answered by a shrek o
anguish. He returned to his place ant
the circle reyolvcd again until anothe
Indian was entitled to murderous fling
The wretched creature at the stake wa
crouching in such an attitude that onl'
her side and back were exposed. 1t wa
forbidden to hit her upon the head; an
the second savage, choosing the mos
available target, launched rock at he
with a projectile force Of catpault
striking her between the shoulders an
cutting fearful cash from which tn
f., blood flowed down her back in sma
rivulet. He then retired to his plae
and the circle moved as before. Thr
they continued their murderous pastin
until the poor, pitiful object lay pror
upon the ground, bleeding sensele
mass of mangled flesh. As she lay upo
her back, the savage who had harangue
the band at first, raised large rock ov'
his head with both hands and inhictt
the coup de grace by smashing her skull
Then there was pandemonium for fe
minutes, after which they dispersed ar
collected wood for pile, upon which Il
remains of the luckless squaw and h
babe were burned. A few were left
keep up the sacred fire, while the othe
returned to old Winnemucca to comic
his dying moments with the assuran
that his young squaw had preceded hi
to the Indians happy land.