The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-12-14
STOSlNG A SOUAW.
Details of tho Sacrifice of tho Young wife
OF Winuemucca. tho Pluto Chief, After
fila Death.

The facts concerning the disappear.
ance of WinueTucc 9 wife have now
come to light, anu are related by q half
breed called Grizzy John, who IL fully
acquainted with the circumstances of her
death. He was an eye witness of the
horrible scene, which he described TO q
Gazette reporter in passable English.
Immediately after the affair he went
North on dee; hunt, fEo1l which he rs.
turned yesterday.
!he evening before old Winuemucca
died about one hundred Indians took the
stquaw to large spiing, where she had
been ordered TO battle. Other tquaws
stripped her and washed her from mead
to foot, and then spTinkled her with fine
ashes. They then atarted for g range of
hills few miles from Coprersmilh Sta.
lion, leading the squaw, naked aud bare.
foot. Upon arriving at q 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 stump eight or ten inches high
TO which the trembling squaw was se.
curely bound by one foot with rawhide
strap. She still held her child, bright
little phppoose about two years old.
When she had been secured each buck
sought for 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 sacriice the
Indians joined hands and began monot.
onous chant, which lasted for few
minutes, when one of them stepped
within the ring and began harrangue.
As he continued to speak the poor ago
nized squaw gave vent to piercing
shrIeks, crouching upon the ground, aud
pressing her babe TO her breast. This
lasted for scme moments. Then at
signal there was n silence, except the
walls of the intended victim. Suddenly
the speaker sprang toward her aud grasp.
ed the CHILD. Sho struggled frantically
but unavailingly to retain it, and was
compelled by force to let 90. The fend
Immediately swang 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 emf. a single
sound. Suddenly he dashed the child
upon a rock and killed it instantly.
Then he resumed his place in the circle,
before, till the one who killed the babe
collected, when the movement stopped.
Stepping forward he picked up q stone,
and going to within ten feet of the
crouching vic. he hurled it at her with
oil the strength possessed by his brawny
red darm. The missile struck her on the side
and was answered by shrek of anguish.
He returned to his place and the circle
revolvel again until another Indian was
entitled to a murderous fling. The
wretched creature ut the stake was
cronching in such an attitude that only
her aide aud 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 projectle force of catapult,
striking her between the shoulders and
cutting fearful cash, from which the
blood flowed down her back in O small
Tivuiet. iio then retired 10 bis piacc
and the circle moved on as before. Thus
they continued ths:. riaTdsTous Pastime
until the poor, pitiful object lay prone
Upon the ground, bleeding, senseless
mass of mangled flesh. Aa she lay upon
her back the savage who had harraDged
the band Mt frst raised large rock over
his head with both hands and inflicted
the coup de grace by smashing her skull.
Then there was pandemonium for o few
minutes. after which they Dispersed aud
collected wood for pile, upon which the
remains of the luckless squaw and her
bsbe were burned. A few were left to
keep up the sacrifcial fire, while the
others returned to old Winuemucca to
comfort his dying moments with the assur-
ance that hia young squaw had proceed
ed him to the Indians happy land
Reno Gdzette.