The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-11-21
PKEPAR1NG THE YIoTIM.

OGIOdys
PREPARING THE VICTIM.
The evening before old Winnie
mucca died about one hundred In
dams 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 them sprinkled her with
fine ashes. They then started for a
range of hills a few miles from Cop
persmith station, leaving the squaw
naked and barefoot. Upon arriving
at a chosen spot built circle of fires,
which lighted up space OF
ground about one hundred
feet in diameter. In the cen
tire of this was stump eight or ten
inches high, to which the trembling
squaw was securely bound by one
foot with q TaW-hide strap. She
still held her child, a bright little
pappoose about 2 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 a pile within the circle
of fires. When all was ready for the
sacrifice, the Indians joined hands
and began 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
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 to-
wards 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
fiend Immediately swung the infant
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 in
stantly. Then ne 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 forward he
picked up a stone, and going to
within ten feet of the
CR0UCEING VICTIM
He hurled it at Der with ali the
strength possessed by his brawny red
arm. The missile struck her on the
side, and was answered by asshriek
of anguish. He returned to his
place and. theEciTele Ieyolyed again
until another Ihdian was entitled to
ansther murderOus fling. The
Wretched creature at the stake was
crouching in such an attitude that
only her side and back were expos
ed. It was forbidden to hit her
upon the head and the second saw
age. choosing the most available tar
get, laIa9 ehed a rock at her with the
prejecti1e force of a catapult, strik-
ing her between the shoulders and
cutting a fearful cash from Whichs
the blood flowed down her back in
small rivulet. He then retired to
his place and the circle. moved on as
before. Thus they cntinaed the
NURDRRoUs PAsTIME
UntN the poor, pitifGl object lay
prone u9Sh the ground. a bleeding,
Senseless mass of mangIed flesh. As
she lay up her back, the savage
Who had rRangued the band at
first, raised a large rock over his
head with both hands and inflicted
the coup de grace by smashing her
skull. Then there was a pandemo-
mum fer few minutes, after which
they dispersed and collected wood
for a pile, upon which the remains
of the luokleSs sduaW and.f1er babe
were burned. A few were left 20
keep up the sacrifcial fire. while the
others returned to cid Winnemucca
to comfort his dying moments, with
the assurance that his young squaw
had preceded him to the Indians
happy land.-Reno Gazette.