Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-23
BURNED AT TIE STAKE.
sad Fate of an Indian Maiden Found
Guilty OF Wischcrcft.

A San Francisco special says: The
story comes from good authority at Los
Angeles of the burning of ayoung squaw
by Mojave Indians because she was ac-
cused of practicing witchcraft. The
scene OF the torture was near the Colo
RADIO river in the eastern end of San Der
nardino county. For the past two months
strange disease has attacked mem
bers of the tribe, who live IN
state of semi barbarism. The VIC
tins were seized with violent head
aches, purging, and a gradual stiitening
OF the limbs. in many cases the sufferer
showed all the symptoms of poisoning.
Death usually followed within twenty
four hours from the time OF attack. 1t
is said that Mt least twenty of the most
popular men in the tribe have died from
this mysterious disease. The medicine
men OF the tribe belabored the patients
with sticks in order to drive the devil
out of the burning body, and in the case
of Stone Head, sub-chief. the frenzied
doctors dragged the patient through the
waters of the Colorado for the purpose
OF cleansing him Of the evil spirit winch
it was supposed had taken possession OF
him.
The spread of the disease at last be-
came so alarming that the members OF
the tribe became panic-stTicken and
slaughtered their dogs and burros as a
sacrifice TO appease the anger OK the
Great Father. This proving of no avail,
a council was held while the moon was
in the last quarter. Every buck in the
tribe was present. The medicine-men
sat around huge pot which was filed
with herbs, while the bucks were squat
ted in q semi-circle some distance away.
The medicine-men watched the steam
ing herbs until the mess had
been boiled down to teacupiul OF
liquid. Then a male pigeon and his mate
we're taken from wicker basket and
held by the medicine-men while the
liquid from the herbs was poured down
their throats. The male bird, when re-
leased, flew away and was not seen again.
The female bird tluttered a few yards
and then fell helpless and dying on the
ground. The medicine men now seemed
crazed with excitement. They le0ped
to their feet and danced, while the bucks
sat in sullen silence. While the medi-
ciue-men were in the midst OF their
orgie they declared that there WAS q
witch in the tribe. The female
bird had died while the male
bird had flown away into 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
or cabin. But n final test was to be
made. With yells and imprecations the
frenzied reds drove their women 10 the
place where the council had been held
and where the white pigeon still lay
among the herbs and grasses. The
squaws were driven in single file with
| the medicine-men watching with ner-
vous excitement the face Of each as she
passed the bird whose plumage looked
like snow in the bright moonlight
I Nearly all the women passed the
pigeon without giving it any no
tice. Finally a young squaw, the
| daughter OF CrescO, also a sub
chief, stepped out of the ranks, and was
about to pick up the bird when the
medicine-men, with loud yells, seized the
girl and pinioned her arms. The unfor-
tunate squaw pleaded piteously for her
life, which she seemed to foresee was in
peril, but her cries were of no avail, her
own relatives assisting in dragging her to
the council place. The death of the
female pigeon was conclusive evidence
that q squaw was the witch. The first
squaw to touch the bird WAS the fatal
test of guilt. The poor girl, who was
but eighteen years old, was strip
ped of her clothes, tied 10 stake,
and slow fire built under her
For two hours she fingered in awful
agony, and while her death-screamsfilleG
the air the braves danced about the fire
and the medcine-men muttered incanta
tons. When morning came nothing bu
the whitened bones of the girl and the
blackened embers OF the fire remained
about the stake. The disease from which
so many of the Mojaye braves have dice
is believed to be malignant typhoid
fever. The details OF this strange story
were brought to Los Angeles to-day 10y
ranchers who had been attracted to the
camp OF the Indians by the noises which
attended the terrible death of the girl.