Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-09-29
TORTURED BY HER TRIBE.
a MCjavc Indian Girl burned nj
the stake.


SAN FRANCISCO, Gal, Sept. 92.--Tht
stcy comes from good authority at Lo,
Angeles of The burning of a young squaw
by Mojave Indians, because she was
accused Of practicing witchcraft. The
scene Of the torture VS. near the Colo.
radO river, in the eastern end of san
B%ernardino county. Ter the past two
months a strange disease has attacked
members Of the tribe. It's spread at last
became SO alarming that the members
of the tribe becaIse panic stricken
and slaughtered their dogs and
burros AS a sacrifice to appeasc the anger
of the Great Father. This proving of no
avail, "A council was held. Every buck
in the tribe was preseat. The medicine
men FA around Il huge hoic which was
filled with herbs. while the bucks were
squatted In a semi-circie, some distance
away. The medicine men watched the
steaming of the herbs aniil the mess had
been boiled down to Il tea cup full of
liquid. Then a pigeon and his mate
were taken from a basket and held by
the medicine men while the liquid from,
the herbs was poured down their throats.
The male bird, when ,eleased, flew away.
The female bird battered few yards
and then fell helpless and dying on
the ground. The nedicinc men now
seemed crazed with excitement. They
leaped 10 their feet aGd danced, while the
bucks sat in sullen silence. While the
medicine men were IN the midst OF their
orgic they declared that there was s.
wittA in the tribe. The female bird l2a
died, while the male bird had flown away
into the night. This ties. determined the
sex of the witch. When the bucks heard
the words OF the medicine men they be
came wild VITA rage. Each brave sas-
peeted the other Of harboring the witch
in his tepee and cabin. But a final
test was to be made. With Wells
and impreCati0ns. the frcnAied yeds
drove their women TO the place where
the council had been held, and where
the white pigeon still lay among the
HERDS and grasses. The squaws were
driven in single filc, with the medicine
men watching with nervous excitement
the face Of each as she passed the bird.
Finally a young squaw, the daughter Of
Creso, a sub-chief, stepped out Of the
ranks and was about to pick up the bird,
when the medicine men. with loud yells.
seizel the girl and pinioned her
arms. The unfortunate squaw
pleaded piteousIy for her life. which
she seemed 10 foresec WAS in
peril, but her cries were Of no avail, her
relatives assisting in dragging her
10 the council place. TIL. death Of The
female pigeon was conclusive evidence
that a squaw was the witch. The frs,
squaw to touch the bird was the fatal
test Of guilt. The poor girl, who was
but - years old. was stripped of her
clothes, tied TO a stake and a
slow fire built under her. For
two hours ~shc fingered in awful
agony, and while her death screams
filed the air the braves danced about
the fire and the medicine men muttered
incantations. when the morning came
nothing but the whitened bones Of the
girl and the black cmbcrs Of the fire re-
manned about the stake. The disease from
which so many Of the Moiavc bravesdled
is believed to be malignant typhoid fever.
The details OF this strange story were
brought 10 Los Angeles by ranchcrs who
had been attracted 10 the camp Of the In.
dams by the noise which attended the
terrible death Of the girl.