Morning journal and courier., 1880-08-25
Berrying in Indiana.
A FIuckleberry Swamp, it's Inhabitants
 and its ssQueen.''

NA and its ssQueen.'
 Correspondence of the Cincinnati Enquirer.l There are at least 30 huckleberry marshes in St. Joseph county or close to its borders. The largest of these is the Great Schroeder marsh, which contains over 100 acres. It is three miles southeast of Walzerton, and lies in three different counties Near it are the Baltimore and Ohio, and the Indianapolis, Peru and Chicago roads, which make it a de- sirable shipping point. There are two men who buy all the berries picked here, and all through the season the number of piokers is estimated at POO and 1, 800, while on Sun days there are not less than 5000. This Sunday increase is made up partly of people who go to work for their own use, but most ly of curiosity seekers who, under the guise of pickerS, manage to see more wickedness than can be crowded into one day elsewhere In the centre of this immense marsh, which goes by the name of s'Huckleberry He'll y there is an island dotted with few trees where the regular pickers resort when not at work. It is covered with tents and shanties used for cooking, sleeping and sinful purpos- es. Besides these there are more imposing shanties of rough boards, filled with general merchandise to exchange for berries or sell to the pickers, who, as long as the season lasts are flush of funds. '' Still larger shan ties are stocked with liquors, others are filled with prostitutes, and when the piokers are idle, and at night, gambling, drinking and vice carried on to fearful extent Chi cago has vomited it's depraved of both sexes on the island-women from the vilest haunts, pickpockets, sneak-thieves and burglars min gle among the pickers, intimidating every body and attempting to pollute all. Decent people who go there to pick berries have to keep in body, and no man is safe if he be- comes isolated from his crowd. Fights are of such constant occurrence that unless ac- companied by stabbing or shooting. they ex- Nlbo-,o fg c. any crime, for there is no law on the island except that enforced by woman who is known as the "Huckleberry Queen" A few years ago thousands saw this woman in Mont gomery Queens circus, and wondered at her marvellous beauty while they were astonished at her feats of strength. She combined in her body the grace and beauty of Venus and the strength of Hercules with the wickedness of Mama. She was known as ''The Woman with the Iron Jaw" She commanded large salary, and was the principal attraction of every show with which she travelled. One day she took as sudden freak as the wicked and voluptuous Mama, and refused to appear any more in public. She settled down in the little town of Tyner, some eight or ten miles from Lebweder Huckleberry marsh lived decorous life, joined church and married She soon tired of the matrimonial career and four years ago, when she first made her ap- pearance at the marsh, she became the wild
 
 dash and utter abandon won her by common consent the title of 'sHuckleberry Queen'' A score of times her title has been disputed and she has asserted her assumed rights by sheer force of her individual strength. She has had more contests than any prize-fghter, and has never been whipped Last summer she drew two revolvers on two Chicago row. dies, who attempted undue liberties with one of her female friends. The men were quick enough to knock the revolvers from her hands, but she knocked them both down and brought them to terms. Her conduct fright ened her husband into running away last sea- son, but she did not mourn his absence. On the contrary, she picked up a green country youth named Falkenberg proposed to him, and, against his feeble resistance, marched him out to Justice Schaffer's office to have the ceremony performed. It was after mid night when they got there. The justice is bachelor and sleeps in his office. She kicked the door open and ordered the frightened justice out of bed. He attempted to put on his clothes before striking light, but she told him to dash" that formality, lighted the lamp herself, and forced the justice to marry her to Falkenberg, while he stood there shivering in that single on which hotel clerks are wont to display their diamonds. This wedding took place last November, but this summer she found it marriage of incon- venience, as 1t interfered with her wild life, and she bought this second husbands absence with suit of clothes. Despite her rough, wild life and immoderate drinking, the FsHuck- leberry Queen'' is still handsome woman.
 Sunday is always gala day at this marsh, and at the stamping ground yesterday special attractions were offered. There were a walk ing match greased-pole climbing, rife tar get-shooting, greased-pig chase and the Huckleberry Queen lifted by her teeth chair with man weighing 25O pounds seated in it. There was dancing platform, where all day long prostitutes and their associates danced to execrable music and drank them selvet into the widest revelry