The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-11-08

~. 4, "A 81 Nv
fruit less quest. r. Al 4. sg X IN
H. In n the end Il four years had BEEN
spent In these bar rem ana nhospitable;
regions In pursuit OF q single fact. In;
that four years three wise men Of the
tribe had been induced to tell the
whole story of the occasions upon
which human beings are offered up
as sacrifices and the details that ac-
company those Ceremonies. 4 The
stories would not be consider OF
great value; were It not that alt three
agree In vital partic Three men
led to tell such stories would not
have been able to unfold them with
the same sexactness Of detail had not;
the facts been correct. Such Is the
confident belief Of Mrs. Stevenson.
The Cali: For a Sacrifice.
According to the stories OF these
Icaciques there is today but one god
to whom human sacrifice Is made.
This ts the rattlesnake god, who must
be appeased. Once In four years there
must be made, and is still made, an
foffering OF the deshsof a woman Of
each Village or Of d newborn babe.
Otherwise would destruction descend
upon his offending children.
When the occasion for the sacrifice
arrives the sun cacique issues his or
ders for the Observance. He organizes
Ibis stan that is to participate Ia the
ceremonial. The ice cacique organ
lies similar stan which Is given q
place OF equal Importance. There
may be six men and two women on
the, staffs Of each OF these chiefs.
4 The cacique Of the sun people desig-i
mates the indtvid dual VIII o is to be sac
lrificeds This individ ual may be q new
born babe for the rattlesnalse gods
are particularly fond of the flesh of
such as these. Yet the person to be
sacrificed s. not always q babe. More
likely than not It is q woman. It Is
mot known what are the considera-
lions that guide the cacIque IN select
ling the individu TO be offered up.
When the choice Is made the sacri-
heial stan Of the sun caeique Mes
forth IN Q ceremonial manner at dead
lof night II approaches the house
where Il knows the person to be sac
lrificed may be found. me leader
beats noisily upon the IGOR 5until he.
Igets o response, usually IN the person
lof the man OF the dwelling. When
that Indian looks fort 4 ana seess the
Isacrificial procession he knows what
Ito expect. The srepresentatiyes OF the
sun chief utters but two words. ne
says, s.the babe Z, or the woman, as
the case may be. " n
The man who IS thus called upon
10 give up his child or his wife says
never q word. Yet these Indians are
rs fond Of members Of their families
as are the best OF their white sneigh-
bors. SO fond are they of their chii-s
ldren, for Instance, that one Is never
ipunished. The man upon whom the
Iisuprome demand IS made disappears
for moment into his dwelling and
returns With the individual demanded.
He gives the sacrif ace over to the rep
lresentative OF the authoraty that IL not
to be denied. says no word but returns
| to his bed ana his Bereavement.
The sacriacial Chamber
In the kiya the caciaues ana the
idignitardes OF the tribe avail. when
THE sacrtfice arrives the women who
take part In the ceremony prepare 1t
for the great event IA part OF this
| preparation 3 the admlnistta Hon 81
q ~ * lsl - IL 81 ~ Y