The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-04-29
THE OLD STORY.
woMAN's INHUMANITY TO WOMAN.

MEN AND CLOTHE THE GIRL IN DRIPPING
BLACK AND FEATHERY wHITE-HIsroRY
OF THE AFFAIR.
The Sentinel has already noted the fact
that young girl in Davenport, Iowa, had
been tarred and feathered there because she
was a victim of the wiles of wicked men.
The following full particulars of this dis
gra ,efuI affair are from the Davenport Ga
zssts: One of the best known citizens Of
Wilton has a daughter, who, for
two years, had had q rather bad
name. The daughter is about seven
teen years OF age, handsome, intelligent and
of winning manners. Years ago her mother
died--and in due time step-motber as
sumed maternal control OF her, and ere
long was laid at rest beside the former wife.
In the course of year che father married
egain, and gave bis child another guardian.
The fathers business called him away from
home frequently, and occasionally he was
gone for weeks at a time. The daughter
would have her own way during his absence,
and kept company her step-mother did not
approve of, the girl being only in her
first teens, but advice and warn
ing were of no avail and soon the child was
on the road to ruin. For the past two
years, as we have heard, she has had hard
reputation, and since last summer her con-
duct mas been q 6OOQ zeal ike CNaG OF most
every fallen woman. The father went
away from home week before last, and on
Saturday night a week ago, the step-mother
objected to the girls receiving company at
her home, and the girl turned her step
mother out doors, and Obliged her to go a
nsighbor's for shelter. The girl remained
in possession of the house from that time,
and it became the evening
RESORT FOR SEVERAL YOUNG MEN,
~.
citizens. The house was in a very respect
able neighborhood, too. This fact had
much to do in fastening the event we are
about to describe-this and the further fact
that all acquainted with the step-mother
sympathizsd with her to an extent that
kindled indignation. Ladies' consulted over
the matter, and day before yesterday twelve
or more of them resolved that they would
no longer permit the young woman to abide
in the city. They evidently con-
sidared themselves entirely compe-
tent to take the law into their own hands,
feeling probably that the statute law pro-
hibiting houses OF i'll fame was hardly Sc
we're enough in its penalties. At any rate
they determined to pull the house. and
fixed upon Friday. evening for the time.
Accordingly at s o'clock Friday evening
last they assembled at the home of one Of
their number. 1t was a cold, windy night,
and it was likely that there would be few
| persons in the street to notice them. Five
\ OF their number were selected as chief work
ers. SO they made their way to the hated
dOmicile. The curtains were drawn, but
there was a light in one of the rooms,
and sound of frolic could be heard.
They tried the doors and all were
| locked. In the yard were several large
/ iron bolts such as ara used in fastenin linn
/ bers of bridges. The ladies seized the bolts.
and with them smashed the windows OF the
lighted rcom,, sash and all. The crash
aroused the whole neighborhood, and soon
| there was excitement enough in the whole
vicinity, which was not lessened at all by
/ the shrieks of the girl within, and the now
limpetuous assailsnts hurled the bars al
other windows. Strange to say, no crowd:
of men rushed for the besieged mansion
Bent on vengeance, and determined not tC
allow
THE OBJECT OF THEIR HATRED
to escape by flight, the five leaders never
thought of breaking open the doors, bu
these women climbed through the windows
and came upon the parties within Xix,
avenging furies. They found nice state O
things. The inmates were four young mel
and the girl. One of the fellows was pale a
ghost in the center OF the room, with coat
vest and boots off, while the girl herself wa
not more fully clothed. The other youns
men rushed for the windows; and despite
the attempts CT the woman to stop them
they leaped through, only TO encounte
g0e ladies outside, who called them by name
and FASTENED their flight by cries of ''sham,
on you'll" The coatless and hatless gent wa.
not so fortunate; he had to fight his way t.
the windows, and in doing SO knocked two
of the ladies down. One of the young meI
was son Of lady in the room, and second
chap was in the employ of the husband o
another lady, and boarded at her home
| What did the women do with the
trembling object of their vengeance.
They tsrred and feathered the girl
That's what they did. A bucket of tar anC
la pillow Of feathers had been brought along
aud were passed through the windows Il
the five leaders. They didn't strip the girl
They poured the tar on her head and it raI
down her long hair-which was loose-ovel
her face aud upon her clothes. Then they
emptied the pillow of its feathers, and sooT
she was past recognition. Her cries fol
mercy were not heeded-her bitter tears
HAD no soFTENING INFLUENCE
, upon those about her, nor upon the womel
, outside. There were tar and feathers 70
, her-but none for the men who had mad
her what she was, snd helped along he
downward road. Her sex had absolutely n
pity for her. That which no man in Wilton
would have helped to do, was done by thes
! ladies. Having used their tar and feathers
T tina ladies then proceeded to demol
ish the windows that were LETT, and t,
break down the doors, so as to render tn
house uninhabltable. Then they left tn
premises, carrying the young mans cap
tured clothes away as trophies. And TIA
girl rid herself of the feathers as much a
possible, and scraped as much of the ia
from her head and face as she could, change,
Der clothes and left the house. Ate
wandering about for an hour she wa
found by a young man, who gave be
room TO stay in, going to her hous
to get bedding for her, and left her. She re
quested him TO go and get her trunk ant
J carry 1t to the depot, and he did so. An
early yesterday morning she left Wilton Of
an eastward train and came to Davenport