The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-18
AN INDIAN ATR0CITY.
A Young squsw Burned to Death by Mojave
Indians on Charge Of WitchcrafL


SAN Francisco. Sept 1.-THE story comes
from good authority. at Los Angeles. of the burn
ing of a young squaw by Mojave Indians be-
cause she Was accused of practicing witchcraft.
The scene Of the torture was near the Colorado
river, in the eastern end of San Bernardino
county. For the past two mouths q strange dis
ease has attacked members Of the tribe. Its
spread at last became so alarming that the
members of the tribes became panic stricken,
and slaughtered their dogs and burros as o
sacrifice TO appease the anger of the great father.
This proving OF no avail, . council was hsd, at
which every bnck in the tribe was present.
The medicine men sat around a huge pot, which
was hlled with herbs. while the bucks were
squatted in a semicircle some distance away.
The medicine men watched the steamine Of the
herbs until the mass had been boiled down TO
teacup full of liquid Then a nale pigeon
and his mate were taken from q basket and
held by the medicine man while the liquid from
the herbs was poured down their throats. The
male bird, when released, few away. The
female bird huttcred few var de and then fell
helpless and dying on the ground. The medicine
men now seemed crazed with excitement They
leaped to their feet and danced. while the bucks
eat Ia sullen silence. While the medicine men
were in the midst of their orgie they declared
that there was witch in the tribe. The female
bird had died. while the male bird had flown
away in the night. This test determined the
sex Of the witch. When the bucks heard the
words Of the medicine men they became wild
with rage Each brave suspected the
other Of harboring the witch in his
tepee, cabin. But final test
WAS to be made. With yells and imprecstions
the frenzied reds drove their women to the
place where the council had been held and
where the white pigeon still lay among the
herbs and grasses. This squaws were driven in
single file with the medicine men watc hing with
nervous excitement the face ot each as she
passed the bird. Finally young squaw, the
daughter Of Cresco, a sub-chief, stepped out of
the ranks and was about TO PICK up the bird,
when the medicine meo with loud yells, seized
the girl and pinioned her arms. The unfortu-
nate squaw pleaded piteously for her life, which
che seemed TO foresee in peril, but her
cries were of no avail, her own rela-
tives assisting in dragging her to
the council place. The death OF
the female pigeon conclusive evidence
that squaw was the witch. The first fquaw
to touch the bird the fatal test Of guilt
The poor girl. who was but eighteen years old,
was stripped OF her clothes, tied to stake. and
slow fire built under her. For two hours she
fingered in awful agony. and while her death
screams filed the air, the braves danced about
the fire and the medicine men uttered incanta-
tioDs. When morning came nothing but the
whitened bones OF the girl and the embers Of
the fire remained about the stake. The disease
from which so many OF the Mojaye braves died
is believed to be malignant typhoid fever The
details o. the strange story were brought to Los
Angeles by rsnchers who had been attracted to
the camp OF the Indians by the noises which at
tendad the terrihle death Of tina oirl