The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-11-16
A Savage Belle.

In the early history of 4 certain min
ing town OF the Montana frontier is EN-
| Ulllned ii Wild little bit OF romance, which
a correspondent OF the Alta California de-
rives from the recital of one who witness
ed what he relates. When said town was
but camp, where Il company of hardy
miners had "struck a new prospect" an
Indian tribe OF the vicinity made over
lures for a treaty, whereby they were to
receive arms and tobacco in exchange for
their protection of the gold-seekers from
other savages. Confident of their ability
to defend themselves, the miners declined
negotiations; and the Indians We're incit-
ed by this to either tempt a quarrel, or in
duce a bargain for another kind Of cx-
change; for, on several successive days,
they rode in state through the camp in
picturesquely warlike procession; cen
tral figure of the barbarous pageant being
a white girl about fifteen years old, dressed
in Indian fashion and with superb hair
reaching almost to her feet Whether
this spectacle meant a defiant taunt or a
challenge for ransom, was what could not
be at once decided by the miners general
ly; but one of their number, an English
man, who because he had been educated
.tI u NiCilI1elIi 1uiN W StS hlicN IL III
camp as Dutch Pete" was SO moved in
his chiyalrous sensibilities as to halt the
chief of The red braves with his rifle and
demand IN immediate surrender of the
beautiful white captive Through an in
terpreter the painted warrior answered
that if the girl wore his raptivn she had
been such ever since her earliest infancy.
when he had taken hel from a train Of
emigrants on the Plains; and rs for sur
rendering her, he should DO nothing Of
the kind without a fight, unless his white
brothers chose to buy the young lady with
adequate arms ammunition and tobacco
The miners were at first inclined to trv
the virtues of rifle and powder without
mercantile stipulltions; but, upon satisfy
ing themselves that the girl. despite her
complexion, was a veritab.e savage. and
had no thought of appealing for q rescue,
they allowed the Englshman to work up
on their abstract civilized humanity for Il
barter. The articles demanded were ac-
cordingly given to the mercenarv old
chiettain; who, then, with characteristic
lack Of sentiment, directed the whites to
take charge Of their human prize. Upon
comprehending the disposition thus made
of her, that prize not only exhibited no
= StlllttiilioI ttJ lllc CIliI9t- but hlthtNl-
screamed, and bit at her new masters like
young colt. Seeing the stolid Indians
departing, she gave way to such q frenzy
Of wrath and yengeful grief that it was
actually necessary to confine her in u
strong cabin under bolt and bar. a ma
iorty of the miners believed that they
had made most Improbable trade, and
doubted that the ''voung wild beast" rs
they called her, would ever rest until she
had killed either herself or some one else
but the Englishmal volunteered to pay her
whole cost, if desired, from his first cola
dust, and tame her into civilization and
usefulness by sheer force of kindness. In
the latter part Of his undertaking he eX
perienced danger as we'll as difficulty to
the white savage once bit the palm of his
right hand through and through when he
offered food to her in her prison, and
again scalded him fearfully in the face,
with a pot of boiling coffee. Patiently
and with unvarying kindness he perseyer-
ed, however, and by slow degrees taught
her to speak some English. and to under
stand that only the tenderest OF treatment
was intended for her In short, after
about six months of tanning, the girl was
sufficiently reclaimed from wildness to
accept the situation more lnteihgently,
and act as cook for the encampment,
though never able to realize that she had
not been born an Indian With the
rapidity of growth peculiar to good min
ing ''placers," the cncampment presently
developed into town by the rival OF new
companies and enterprises. Other wo-
men emigrated thither from California
and the East, missionary established a
church, q capitalist opened a hotel, and
the law organized its system. All this
occurred in few years, during which
time the belle from the wild was educated
and converted to Christianity by a mis-
sonary, and then became the wife of the
Englishman who had been her so faithful
benefactor. The two are even now the
host and hostess of prosperous eating
house of the town, and may be seen by
any traveller willing to test their excel
lent fare.