The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-03-22
CHANTED ON DEATH ROCK.
An Indian Murderer Executed after an old
Custom.

| oASCuleu eSSO1uio6 w tno 4uuldu CustoA
at Apuckshunuble, village thirty miles
west of here.
On January 20 Loring murdered an old
woman named Cavette, aged eighty-fve
years. She was reputed to have money,
and Loring killed her while trying to
steal her hidden wealth. Loring was ar
rested and tried in the Circuit Court, and
sentenced on Feb. 20 to be shot on March
10. In compliance with the decree of
the court Loring was guarded by de
tachment of the Choctaw Light Horse
Company until this morning, when he
was taken to the place of execution.
Just as the first streak of dawn appeared
Loriug was awakened from his sleep and
taken to the incosure which surrounds
the council chamber. The inclosure
is in the form of a stockade about
fifteen feet high, and is strong prison Of
itself.
The entrance is through massive gate
which is strong enough to resist the at
tack of regiment. About fifteen feet
from the eastern side of the inclosure is
a square rock half sunk into the ground.
This is the famous and historic death
rock. This store is fiat topped and is
sunk into the ground until Its top is two
feet above the surface. Here all the ex-
ecutions of the tribe have taken place in
the last thirty years.
The Choctaws are greatly enlightened,
but the form of execution is one of the
relics of barbarism that has been retain
ed, and, while the court proceedings are
according to the latest forms ofjurispru-
dence, the executions must take place &C.
cording to the long established forms and
ceremonies of the tribe. The MURDER
ers in the tribe must be executed by the
family of the murdered person. The
death penalty has been exacted many
times, and the blood of many.victims has
assisted the sun and rain in staining the
brown rock around which queer and
molly group assembled.
Within the enclosure were the relatives
of the murdered woman and also those of
her slayer. The tribal council and the
Light Horse Guard, with but few visi-
tors, completed the number that were al.
lowed within the ipclosury. The death
rock Is go situated that the sun does not
strike it until about II o'clock
in the morning, and according to the
law of the tribe, the execution cannot
take place until the sun has kissed the
rock"
It was while waiting for this time to
arrive that scene that could notbe dupli'
Gated in no other portion of the globe
took place. 1t was fate that Loriug should
die, and the savage was so strong in him
that he was ready to die and make no
Sign that he felt the penalty. There was
no fear in him, for he knew that his time
aad come and he would go.
Just as the day broke this morning the
sound of drum aroused the inhabitants
OF the village and called together the
members of the Light Horse Company.
It was the death signal. With the dying
away of the sound men, women and chill.
dren came from the huts and houses, and
the village was alive with the p-epara-
tions for holiday. Breakfast was hur-
riedly eaten, and then every one went
towards the inclose. Neither the dead
woman nor the man who was to suffer
the penalty had relatives in the village
and from the surrounding country came
those who were to be the principal actors
in the tragedy. As the sun rose there
came from the woods, along the creek
that runs north of the village, those who
had camped there over night, ready to be
on hand at the earliest possible opportu'
nifty in the morning.
Loring had been kept under guard in
the council chamber, and at the beating
of the drum was given his last breakfast.
He ate heartily and marched between
two files of the Light Guard into the en-
closure. Here had already assembled
those whe we're to witness the closing
scene. The condemned man was loosen.
ed from the bonds that had been placed
about his arms, and was permitted to
miugle freely among his friends and rel
atives. To all appearances he was as
free as, anyone in that inclosure. He
passed from group to group and chatted
and laughed as if he had no thought of
death. He talked as if he was going on
long journey and laughingly bade his
friends farewell. The whole scene was
that of pleasure party, and to one who
did not know of the meaning ofthe gath.
ering it would have appeared as a holiday
assembly.
All morning che merriment continued,
while the sun slowly crept towards the
death rock. This was the only place in
the inclosure that was Stunned by the
crowd. Finally the fatal hour drew near,
and then silence came over the assem-.
bled people. The relatives of the mur-
dered woman drew away to themselves
and selected these who were to fire the
shots that would end the bloody feud be-
tween the two families. This was soon
decided, and then the doomed man walk
ed to the death rock. As he proceeded
be began singing in low tone peculiar
mouotonous song. Louder and louder il
came until the sound could be heard fal
beyond the enclosure. Those on the
outside knew that the hour of death was
near, for they heard the death
song of the Choctaws as it had been
sung in all the ages Of the tribe since itt
beginning.