St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-23
BY A RATTLER'S Bite.
Horrible Death of a Pima In
dian Accused Of Witch
craft.
The Awful Sacrifice on "MOn-
tezuma's Head in Ari-
iona.
a Hand-to-Hand Combat With
Thousands Of Poisonous
Serpents.
indians Waiting on the ella
River for Their Return
to Power.
San Francisco Examiner.

San Francisco Examiner.
Looking west from Maricopa Wells,
In Arizona, noted in pioneer days as
spot where the argOuaut 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-frlendly Pima In
dians, after his laboriOus, eXhauStlng
and perilous trip through the Apache
country, is to be seen a peculiar and
striking landmark designated in local
geography as "MonteZuma's Head" In
the bluff of a solid rock at the southern
end of a small and rugged range of tree
less and barren mountains, running
south from the Gila river for distance
of ten or twelve miles, is distinctly
outlined and perfectly formed image OF
human head of immense proportions.
1t may be observed by any passenger on
the Phoenix q Maricopa railroad, ana
that. too. without necessity for eXplana-
ton on the part of any one who may
chance to direct attention to it,.
TO any striking popularity lnnatura
scenery the Indian is ever fan to at
tach superstitious reverence and impor-
lance, and consequently the point
known as Montezuma's Head is not
without place in the lore of poor 10,
who in ignorant respect sees COO IN
everything. There are few remaining
members of the once powerful race
gathered together on the ella 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 attribute 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 Apaches must entertain similar
belief is justified by the fact that they
have never dared to meet their Inherent
foe in that neighbOrho0d.
was at one time on Nurgan'S Ferry,
on the Gila for brief period of recrea-
ton. While there a great cOmmOtiOn
and agitation arose among small col
of Pima Indians, and after much in
curry, and at the expense of a dozen
yards of red calico and pound or two
of tobacco, secured at the store, l man
aged to ascertain its cause from Juan
JOven young john, degenerate chief,
who hear cared great deal more for
his own personal qualification than for
the secret orders Of his tribal religion.
He explained that there was beWithed
Indian at his rancheria, and that six
horses which he had inflicted with the
evil spirit died during the past noon,
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 heStated some
what before admitting that the suS-
pected culprit had been arrested, and
that the medicine men of the tribe
would hold a council that afternoon to
pass upon his guilt or innocence. l
could not induce Juan to allow me to
attend the council. but at last heprom-
iSed that he would return as soon as the
inquiSitien was over and inform Inc of
the result.
1t was probably in the hope of further
presents that Juan returned according
to appointment, and in the sententiOuS
manner characteristic of the Indian
acquainted me with the situation: Him
heap bad; go to hell quick. Him full
dam witch" 1t is an neXOrable law Of
the PimaS that whenever one of their
number IS pronounced to be bewitched
he shall be put to death, as his pres
ence threatens the lives of all with
whom he comes in tontact. The man
ner of the execution is particularly i'll
human and barbarous. The poor vic
tim of fanatic superstition has his
hands securely bound behind him,
while thongs above the knees prevent
him from running with any degree of
speed He is then turned loose to be
dubbed to death or pelted with stones
until fe is extinct by SQuaWS of the
tribe, who take fiendiSh delight in the
performance of their repulsive work.
while the men stand by Shrieking and
applauding while the torture is being
inflicted. Knowing these factS-and
approaching that it would be futile in
Inc to make any effort TO save the life of
the unfortunate Indian-I inquired
when the witch would he killed.
Him no die. Him say medicine man
dam lie. He go mountain. show medi-
cine man heap lie, him no die. Ughw
From this language. which to one I'M
acquainted with the Indian would nat
urally prove quite incomprehenSible. L
was able to understand that the witch
was entitled to right of appeal Ofsome
sort, and that the test of the wisdom
and Justice of the decision of the medi-
cine men was to be made OIL the mount
aims near Montezuma's head; probably
on Sacrificial peak. AS Juan told me
that the matter was to be settled the
next day, silently resolved to witness
that which | had reason to imagine
would he very unusual and peculiar
proceeding of a very primitive race.
Long before sunrise the following
morning | saddled my riding horse,
and, taking with me a prospector's
hand-pick, canteen of water and a
good pair of field glasses, started for the
mountain range.
From previous research [ was con.
WINGED that it would be impossible for
me to hide myself from the observation
of the Indians on the top of Sacrificial
Peak, and therefore resolved to secure
station on some adjacent ridge, where,
without being seen myself, would be
able to watch all the movements Of the
Pimas. When | arrived at the range |
tethered my horse in a place where he
would not be likely to be noticed and
began climbing over the loose rocks
with which the mountain sides were
covered, finally reaching the summit
and. securing position about 800 yards
east of Sacriliciai Peak, and at a slightly
greater elevation. BY crouching be
hind the large rocks | would have al
uninterrupted view OF lndu pOiHG Will
out the slightest danger of being oh
served from 1t.
After waiting for about an hour my
vigor was rewarded by hearing tht
monotone sounds Of Indian song. anC
about half an hour later some twenty OF
twenty-five indians. who, by the means
OF my glass, was able to recognize as
the chiefs, medicine men, and proml
nent members of the tribe, made theil
appearance on the summit of the peak
1t was then about o'clock in the morn
ing and very warm-the month being
May-and the lazy Pimas seemed some
what overcome as the result of their eX
ertions in making the precipitous as
cent. They sat down in a circle, sur
rounding, as l was able to determine
the accused witch. For half an houl
they made no movement, when the
chief medicine man arose and started &
little fire. which put forth little flame
but heavy volume of smoke. After
the smoke arose in in sufficient quanti
titles he began tanning it in different
directions bV means of 4 blanket break