Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1875 — Cremating an Indian. [ARTICLE]

Cremating an Indian.

Sav3 the Russian River Flag: “ The body-of Pablo, the Indian that was killed last Saturday, was consumed With due Digger ceremony on Sunday, near the rancheria, about a mile east of town, and the performance was witnessed by many whites. From the time the body was received at the wigwam, on Saturday night, till the hour of its burning, Sunday afternoon, it was surrounded by relatives of the deceased, who gave vent to their grief in loud ; lamentations and death songs. Occasionally they would pull out handfuls of their hair and tear their cheeks with their finger-nails. When the time arrived for the cremation the body was wrapped in blankets, lashed to a rail and borne upon the shoulders of two stalwart Indians to the funeral pile. The pyre had a few’ large logs for its main support, and was built about three feet high with dry fagots. The body was then laid upon the heap, together with all the worldly goods of the departed The mourners then took up their position on the windward side, and at a comfortable distance from the fire. Torches were then applied at several places and the flames began their work. Then the relatives set up a loud wailing. Some swayed their bodies to and fro and beat their breasts in transports of grief; some raisedtheir eyes to heaven, uttering weird prayers, while others expressed their woe by gathering tufts of grass aDd throwing them on the burning pile. The sight of the roasting body was sickening. The flesh became charred and blackened, and. as the cords and muscles contracted, the arms, legs and trunk were moved with writhings and contortions as though the form had life and sense of feeling. The Indian had died in a drunken debauch, and when the flames penetrated his body the alcohol ignitgd and burned in a blue flame for several minutes Chief Francisco, who was boss stoker, then replenished the fire, and with a long stick pushed the projecting limbs into the center of the flames, uttering grunts of satisfaction at the successful progress of cremation. The whole operation required about three hours’ time, although not much was left to be’seen of the body after the first hour. When the bmning was over, the remaining ashes were buried, and the Indians solemnly flled away, muttering toe equivalent in their tongue of 4 peace to his ashes.’ ”