The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-26
ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT.
A Young Squaw Burned to Death by
Mojave Indians in California.
Eron1 the Mean York S1ln


From the Neto York sun.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 16-The story
comes from good authority at Los Angeles
of the burning of ayoung squaw by Mojave
Indians, because she was accused of preach
ing witchcraft. The scene of the torture was
near the Colorado river in the eastern end
of San Bernadlno county. For the past
two months a strange disease has attacked
members of the tribe, who live in a state Of
Standardization. The victims were seized
with violent headaches, purging, and a
gradual stiffening Of the limbs. In many
cases the sufferers showed all the symp-
toms of poisoning. Death usually followed
within twelve hours from the time Of the
attack. 1t was said that at least twenty Of
the most popular men i'll the tribe have
died from this mysterious disease.
The medicine men Of the tribe belabored
the patients with sticks in order to drive the
evil spirit out of the burning body, and in
the case of Stone Head, sub-chief. the
doctors dragged the patient through the
waters of the Colorado to cleanse him of
the evil spirit which it was supposed had
taken possession of him. The spread of the
disease at last became so alarming that the
members of the tribe Lecame panlc-stricken
and slaughtered their dogs and burros as a
sacrifice to appease the anger OF the Great
Father.
This proving of no avail council was
held while the moon was In its last quarter.
Every buck in the tribe was present The
medicine men sat around huge pot, which
was filled with herbs, while the bucks were
squatted in a semicircle some distance away.
The medicine men watched the steaming of
the herbs until the m IS had been boiled
down to teacupful of liquid. Then male
pigeon and his mate were taken from a
wicker basket and held by the medicine
men while the liquid from the herbs was
poured down their throats The male bird
whom released few away and was not seen
again. The female bird fiuttered few
yards, and then fell, helpless and dying, to
tho ground. The medicine men now seemed
crazed with excitement. They leaped TO
their feet and danced Economically, whlle
the bucks sat in sullen silence.
While the medicine men were IN tine
midst Of their orgies they declared that
there was witch in the tribe. The female
bird had died, while the male bird had
flown away into the night. This test de-
termined the Sex of the witch.
When the bucks heard these words OF the
medicine men they became wild with rage.
Each brave suspected the other OF harbor-
ing the witch in his teepee or hut, Dut a
final test was to be made. With yetls and
lmprecations 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 grass. ! he squaws
We're driven past in single file, the. medi-
cine men watching tho face OF each
as she passed the bird whose plumage
BOXED like snow in the bright moon
light. Nearly all the women passed the
pigeon without giving it any notice. Finally
eyoung squaw, the daughter of Creso, also
asub-chief. stepped out of the ranks and
was about TO pick up the bird when the
medicine men, with loud yells, seized the
slll and pinioned her arms. The IN
iiortunate squaw pleaded piteously for her
ne, which she seemed TO foresee was ID
peril but her cries we're Of no avail, hei
own relatives assisting in dragging her e
tle council place. The death of the female
pigeon was conclusive evidence that
squaw was the witch. The first squaw te
0ueh the bird was the fatal test 81 guiit'