The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-01-13
Winnemucca's Wife.


The facts concerning the disappear
ance of Winnemucca's wife have now
come to light, and are related by a
half called Grizzly John, who
is fully acquainted with the circum-
stances of her death. He was an eye
witness of the horrible scene, which
he described to Gazette reporter in
passable English. Immediately after
the affair he went north ON deer
hunt, from which he returned yester-
day.
The evening before old Winnie
mucca died, about one hundred In
dians took the squaw to large spring.
where she had been ordered to battle.
Other squaws stripped her and wash
ed her from head to foot, and then
sprinkled her with fine ashes. Then
they started for a range of hills a few
miles from COppersmith station,
leading the squaw, naked and bare
footed. Upon ARRIVING at chosen
spot they lit circle of fires, which
lighted up space of ground about
100 feet in diameter. In the centre
of this was stump eight or ten in
ches high, to which the trembling
squaw was securely bound by one
foot with rawhide strap. She still
held her child, 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
a pile within the circle of fires.
When all was ready for the sac
rifice the Indians Joined hands and
began monotonous chant, which
lasted for a few minutes, when one
of them stepped into the ring and be-
gan 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 grasp
ed. the child. She struggled franti-
cally but unavailingIy to retain it,
and was compelled by force to let it
go. The fiend Immediately swung
the infant around his head. holding it
by the ankle, bowling like a 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 instantly.
Then he resumed his place in the cir
Gle, which swung around again,
chanting as before, till the one who
killed the baby came opposite the
pile of stones he had collected, when
tie movement stopped. Stepping
forward he picked up a stone, and,
going to within ten feet of the crouch
ing 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
a shrek of anguish. He returned to
his place, and the circle revolved
again until another Indian was en-
titled to murderous fling.
The wretched creature at the stake
was crouching in such ar attitude
that only her side and back were ex-
posed. 1t was forbidden to hit her
upon the head, and the second saw
age, choosing the most available tar
get, launched rock at her with the
proiectile force of a catapult, striking
her between the shoulders and cutting
a 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 their murderous
pastime until the poor, pitiful object
lay prone upon the ground, bleed
ing, senseless mass Of mangled flesh.
AS she lay upon her back, the savage
who had harangued the band at first.
raised large rock over his head with |
both hands and inflicted the coup de
grace by smashing her skull. Than
there was pandemonium for a few
minutes, after which they dispersed
and collected wood for a pile, upon
which the remains of the luckless
'quaw and her babe were burned, A
lew were left to keep up the sacrif-