The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-17
ATROC|TY UNPARALLELED.
A Human Victim Thrown Among
Ten Thousand Loathsome,
Venomous Rattlesnakes.
Unequal but Heroic Struggle of
the Doomed Man for
His Life.
A Score of the Frichtful Creatures, Fangs
Inserted, Drawn up With the
Iangled Body.

Looking west from Maricopia Wells, in
Arizona noted in pioneer days as spot
where the argonaut to the golden shores OF
the Pacific, following the route of the his
toric Santa Fe trail. could rest in peaceful
security in the protecting presence OF the
ever-friendly Pima Indians after his laborl-
Gus, exhaustihg and perilous trip through
the Apache country, is to be seen peculiar
and striking landmark designated in local
geography as "Montezuma's Head" In
fluff of solid rock at the southern end of
small and rugged range of treelesa and bar
rem mountains, running south from the
ella river for distance of ten or twelve
miles. is distinctly outlined and perfectly
formed image of a human head of immense
proportions. 1t may be observed by any
passenger on the Phoenix and Maricopia
railroad, and that, too, without necessity
for explanation on the part of anyone who
may chance to direct attention to it.
To any striking popularity in natural
cenery the Indian is ever fain to attach
superstitious reverence and importance,
and consequently the point known as Monte
zuma's Head is not without place i'll the
lore of poor Lo. who in ignorant respect
sees God 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 re-
store them to might and power and give
them possession of the lands which are now
occupied by the whites. They point to the
ruins of old cities and mighty canals to il
lustrate their former glory, and attribute
their success over the Apaches to their prox-
unity 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 Il similar belief is justified
by the fact that they 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 recreation,
saws a writer in the San Francisco Exam
liner. While there great commotion and
agitation arose among small colony of
Pima Indians, and after much inquiry and
at the expense of doze:l yards CT red cal
leo and a pound or two of tobacco, secured
at the store, / managed to ascertain its
cause from Juan Joven tyoung John),
degenerate chief, who l fear cared a great
deal more for his own personal gratitica-
ton than for the secret orders of his tribal
religion. He explained that there was a
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 pappoose of chief was
then very sick and would die if the witch
was not discovered and put out of the way.
He hesitated somewhat before admitting
that the suspected culprit had been arrested
and that the medicine men OF the tribe
would hold 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 he promised he would
return as soon as the inquisition was over
and inform me of the result.
u ba how 81 <,,r{
presents that Juan returned according to
appointment, and in the sententious man
ner characteristic of the Indian acquainted
me with the sltuation: Him heap bad; go
to hell quick. Him full dam witch.'' It is
an inexorable law of the Pimas that when
ever one of their number Is pronounced to
be bewitched he shall be put to death, as his
presence threatens the lives of all with
whom he comes in contact. Tho manner of
the execution is particularly inhuman and
barbarous. The poor victim of fanatic su-
perstition has his hands securely bound be-
hind 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 till
life 10 extinct by squaws of the tribe, who
take fendish delight i'll the performance of
their repulsive work, while the men stand
by shrieking and applauding while the tor
ture is being inflicted. Knowing these facts
and approaching that it would be futile in
me to make any effort to save the life of the
unfortunate lndiap-l inquired when the
witch would be killed.
Him no die. Him say medicine man
dam lie. He go mountain show medicine
man heap lie, him no die. Cgh.'
From this language, which to one unac-
qualnted with the Indian would naturally
prove quite incomprehensible, was able to
understand that the witch was entitled to a
right of appeal OF SOME sort, and that the
test of the wisdom and justice of the decision
of the medicine man was to be made on the
mountains near Montezuma's head, prob
ably on Sacriticial Peak. AS Juan told me
the matter was TO be settled next day. |
silently resolved to witness that which had
reason to imagine would be a very unusual
and peculiar proceeding of very primitive
race.
Long before sunrise the following morning
sadaied my riding horse, and, taking with
me II prospector's hand pick. cantecn OF
water and good pair of field glasses, started
for the mountain range.
From previous research | was convinced
that it would be impossible for me to hide
myself from the observation of the Indians
on the top of Sacriticial peak, and therefore
resolved to secure a station on some adja-
cent ridge, where without being seen myself
l 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, finall,
reaching the summit and securing a posi-.
ton about 800 yards east of Sacrificial peak
and at a greater elevation. BY crouchine
behind the large rocks l would have al
uninterrupt view of that point, with
out the slightest danger of being observed
from it.
After waiting for about an hour nv yici
was rewarded by hearing the monoton,
sounds of Indian songs and about half a,
hour later some twenty or TWENTY-FIVE In
dams whom, by the means of my glass.
was able to recognize as the chiefs medicine
men and prominent men of the tribe, mad
their appearance on the summit of the pea L
1t was then about nine o'clock i'll the mornin
and very warm-the month being May-an
the lazy Plmas seemed somewhat overcon
as the result of their exertions in maxim
the PERCEPTIONS ascent. They sat down i
a circle surrounding, as was able TO deter
mine, the accused witch. For half an hou
they made no movement, when the chic
medicine man arose and started little fir,
which put forth little flame but volume q
smoke. After the smoke arose III suttcier
quantities he began tanning il in llffe,
ent directions by means of a blanket. hreal
ing forth in a weird, monotonous chant. II
refrain of which was taken up by all the II
dians present. On the side OF the rea
which was facing arose a sheer precipit
fully 200 feet high, from which. al a &,
tance of about forty feet from the top,
ledge of rocks, perhaps twenty feet in widtl
projected. As the song reached its heiyl
two ilmaS sfepped to the pfpe and -,