Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-05-17
RATTLESNAKE DEATH.
DEATH OF APIMA INDIAN ACCUSED
 OF WITCHCRAFT.
A Fierce Struggle for Lifeline Awful Sacrifices on ''Montezuma' Head' in ArizOna---A Hand-tO-Hand
 Battle With Thousands of
 Poisonous Serpents,
Cbas. l.. Mosher in S. r. Examiner

Chas. L. Mosher in 5. r. Examiner.
 Looking west from Maricopa Wells in Arizona, noted in pioneer days as a spot where the argonaut to the golden shores of the Pacific, following the route of the historic Santa Fe trail, could rest in peaceful security in the protecting presence of the ever-friend- ly Pima Indians, after his laborious, exhausting and perilous trip through the Apache county, is to be seen a peculiar and striking landmark designated in local geography as "Montezuma's Head" In a bluff Of solid rock at the southern end of a small and rugged range of treeless and barren mountains running south from the Gila river for distance of ten or twelve miles, is distinctly ont lined and perfectly formed image of a human head of immense proportions. It may be observed by any passenger on the Phenix and Maricopa Railroad, and that, too, without necessity for explanation on the part of anyone who may chance to direct attention to it.
 To any striking peculiarity in nat ural scenery the Indian Is ever fain to attach superstitious reverence and inn portance and consequently the point known as Montezuma's Head IS not without place in the lore of poor Lo, who in ignorant respect see God in everything There are few remain ing members of the once powerful race gathered together on the Gila river, where their descendants once resided, and are awaiting the time when the Great Spirit will release their good guardian and restore them to might and power and give them possession of the lands which are now occupied by the whites. They point to the old ruins of cities and mighty canals to illustrate their former glory, and at tribute their successes over the Apaches to their proximity to the Massive Head. There Is no doubt as to the implicit faith of the Pimas in the above legend, and that the Apach- es must entertain a similar belief Is justified by the fact that they have never dared to meet their inherent foe in that neighbOrhood.
 was at one time at Nurgan's ferry, on the Gila, for brief period of re- creation. While there a great com motion and agitation arose among a small colony of Pima Indians, and af- ter much inquiry and at the expense of dozen yards of red calico and a pound or two of tobacco, secured at the store, l managed to ascertain its cause from Juan Joven (young John, ) degenerate chief, who I fear cared a great deal more for his own personal qualification than for the secret orders of hs tribal religion. He explained that there was bewitched Indian at his rancheria, and that six horses which he had inflicted with the evil spirit died during the past moon, and to cap the climax papoose of chief was then very sick and would die if | the witch was not discovered and put out of the way. He hesitated some what before admitting that the sus- pected culprit had been arrested, and l llldl lIlE llIculCllC Ot lilC bilbS would hold council that afternoon to pass upon his guilt or innocence. could not induce Juan to allow me tC attend the council, but at last he promised that he would return as soon as the inquisition was over and in form me of the result.
 It was probably in the hope O further presents that Juan returned according to appointment, and in tht contentious manner characteristic O the Indian acquainted me with th' situation: "Him heap bad go to hel quick. Him full dam witch" It i an memorable law of the Pimas tha whenever one of their number is pro nounced to bewitched he shall be pu to death, as his presence threaten the lives of all with whom he come in contact. The manner of the exc cution is particularly inhqman am barbarOus. The poor victim of fanati superstition has his hands securel bound behind him, while thong above the knees prevent him iron running with any degree of speed. II IS then turned loose to be cluhbed t death or pelted with stones till life extinct, by squaws of the tribe, wh take tiendish delight in the perform ance of their repulsive work, whIl the men stind by shli king apl al plauding while the torture is bein inflicted Knowing these facts-an approaching that 1t would be futile i me to make any effort to save the lii of the unfortunate Indian-l inquire when the witch would be killed.
 "Him no die. Him say medicin man dam lie. He go mountain, sho
 medicine man heap lie, him no di Ughl"
 From this language, which to on unacquainted with the Indian woul naturally prove quite incomprehens ble, I was able to understand that u witch was entitled to a right of appei of some sort, and the test of the wi dom and justice of the decision of u medicine men was to be made on tf mountains near Montezuma's hea
 probably on Sacri6cial peak, As Jua told me that the matter was to be SC
 tied the next day, l silently resolve to witness that which l had reason
 imagine would be very unusual ar
 peculiar proceeding of a very prim
 tive race.
 Long before sunrise the followir
 morning saddled my riding hors
 and, taking with me a prospectol
 handpick, a canteen of water and
 good pair of feldglasses, started f 2. the mountain range.
 = From previous research 1 was co . yinced that it would be impossible < me to hide myself from the obsery
 ton of the Indians on the top of Sa
 rificial peak, and therefore resolved secure station on some adjace
 ndge, where, without being seen m
 self, would be able to watch all t
 movements of the Pimas. When
 arrived at the range I tethered I
 horse in place where he would |
 be likely to be noticed and beg
 climbing over the loose rocks wi
 which the mountain sides were GOV \ ed, finally reaching the summit a \ securing position about 300 yaI
 east of Sacrifeial peak, at a sligh
 greater elevation. By crouching