The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-05-23

wreathed In this temporary smile that |
made haste TO form her acquaintance, "a
proceeding that amply repaid me.
The career OF this remarkable woman
reads like romance, and fairly illustrates
the adafe that truth 10 stranger than tic-
ton. II, al IL has been ungsllAntly asserted,
IL is satin's ruling policy In winning the
with brilliant intellecls for his adIu,ants,
then he played his cards well In this par
ticular case. Yet she was purely u crea,
ture OF circumstances, u butterfly OF
fashion, and whatever criticism there IL
should BIO tempered with pity. There
was always an air OF mystery about this
cold, proud, beautiful woman, and al.
though she plunged into the giddy whirl OF
Leadyille lie and became the gayest OF the
gay, she was as silent as the tomb when
sounded about her past.
A society belle, a rebel spy, an adventur.
ess, a queen OF = faro bank, proprietress OF
q dnnce-hall and conildanie OF stage rob-
bers her life was indeed seasoned with all
The elements OF tirst.class romance, and
between the yellow covers of the west SEN
sational literature OF the day seldom can
bo found more wonderful or checktred
career.
AREBEL srY.
Belle Siddons, during the first year OF the
civil war, was the reputed belle OF 81.
Louis. A near relative Of Governor Claib
Jackson's predecessor, she created quite Il
sensation In Jefferson City Oh her debut In
society. A graduate OF the Lexington Fe-
male university, her accomplishments and
/ beauty, aud with her high family connec.
| ton made her at once tho acknowledged
queen OF the state capital society, and
around her the hot blqotei gallaots how
cred like moths around candle. But she
| kept them at their distance and preserved
| L. .I.1. n fra ri nj nAFrtGh
young Journalist OF ST. Louie, received
her love unsought, and although already
betrothed to young lady of Louisiana,
Missouri, he found he could not break the
| spell of enchRntmeut, and he became Belle
| Slddon's most devoted worshipper fought
duel with hin discarded aiiianced's
brother, followed Governor Claib Jackson's
militia southwark and fell MORALLY wound
ed on the first battle field. His death made
no apparent impression on the Siddons
woman. Her life continued TO be = round
| Of pleasure, a whire Of gsyety. the stan
officers OF Generals Hsllst and Curtis bo-
came fascinated with her charming ways
and winning manners, aud the bewitching
beauty, while holding them in vice like
grasp, wormcd many an army secret out o.
| ihsm, and could be seen almost nightly In
| De Bare opera.house, 81. Louis, lavishing
smiles on her epaulle.,ed admirers. General
Curtis ordered her arrest in December 1867,
as a rebel spy. She received hint
aud escaped, only to DO arrested ~
Ste. Gsnsvisve, Missouri, with. abso'
lutte evidence Of her guilt In her
possession. Brought before General Soho,
field she brnvely confessed her crime, and
without change OF countenance admitted
to having constantly posted Generals Forest
| and Sterling Price OF every movement made
by the Union headquarters, and unblush
inaly boasted OF betraying her admirers
(smong the staff otiicers) condolences, anc
of having rendered General Forest invalu
able aid in his weli-exeouted raia on tn'
Memphis & Mobile railroad, which cut oil
Grants supplies at Holly Spr ings, Missis
slppi, and forced him TO take the rivel
route 70 Vicksburg.
Holding her head up she defiantly dared
Schotield 10 do his worst, and was sent tc
the Gratiot street rebel prison, from which
she afterwards managed to escape south
ward through and intrigue with the proves
marshal.
FALLING FROM POWER. -
This was the last heard OF her till 1865
when she appeared rs a lobbyist at Jeiier
son City, and continued her career through
Governor Fletchers and Governor NC
Olure's administrations. The susceptible
members OF the Legislature were not proc
against her Establishments ana soon oe aa
20 feel her subtitle power. Out OF the SUD
den and mysterious passage OF many I'M
portent bills grew scandalouo tales 2
sll-night carrousals, wine suppers and it'll
trips to st. LOUIS.
About the tlme tho Gratz Brown legislt
ture began its official careeI.B Belle. Siddon'
power began to waue, ana sne came up
Kansas City, bent on 'mns a,d,
She bore letters OF introdut
ton to we'll known family (since remove,
, from tho city,, but how she obtained Their
she knows best, and under en- assume
name she plunged into Kansas City society
which was then In crude and somewhn
chaotic state. The mysterious beauty o.
tracted admirers by the score, then prom
inent merchant offering her his heart an
hand, and many of the older residents wi
remember the numerous heart.smashinG
, she caused during her brief and bus
! career. She was now at that time OF III
/ when woman's beauty Is most splendi
/ and their intellects are In full msturity
An expert at the piano, abird.like throat
queen OF politeness, a be.utiiul isce,
: modest and afiable demeanor, these wer
the passports that served as q
omen sesame before which the door
! nj many an elegant mansion swun
omen, only to make the host and hostess
terwards bitterly regret that they turne
on lheir hinges before this tudscioue W.
] man OF the world. Gossip apont miun,gl
champagne and oyster suppers with hsi
ans City bloods, and other scandalous az
inqs. began to crop out and SHE disappeare
a AZ mysteriousy as che came, whittier II
@ one knaw. About tho came time New
< Hallett, a handsome young sport, VINO uss
= to hang around the Marble hall, III GU
v and 1t afterwards TRANSFERRED that he hs
@ fallen in love with the clever adventures
!. and they cot married after their mutu
J. disaplesrancc and went to Texas. Halle
q soon after died OF yellow fever at Houston
: THE LAST sTHr.
/. Belle Siddons, or Mrs. Hallett, now
4 sumed the name Of Madame Vestal, al
under this alias opened faro banks "a bu'
8 ness her husband taught heIl az Mlcni.
/ as rapidly as the cattle centers change
q and many s,ockmen down at the yards "
: still remember her, as she presided at u
y games of chance, attired in velvets ~
A lsces, and sparkling with diamonds, Wi
her luxuriaut black hair carelessly loop
' over her shoulders and caught win 20
g. and diamond clasps. She was always siie
q and immoyable, not quarrelsome, al
4 Seldom, IL ever, spoke to women.
When the Black Hills fever broke on
n this woman with a history, was among u
i first 10 leave for the gold iields, where q
4 reopened her gambling business. She 30
II fell in with q we'll organized gang OF STA
ID robbers and became their sssoca's u,
4. confidante, and actually planned scr
of their most daring raids. Boone Me-
The chief of the Black Hills sta
= line detectives, inerstiAted himself 10
q. her confidence, and from that time dat
!. the story Of her; ELL. The gang vas So So
"A snicide by poisoning. Her star now beg
m 10 set. and she gave herself mp to liqu'
m went TO Leadville, where l met her
ar already related, then she drifted to
i. Vegas. Deming, Tombstone, Tucson a
other border towns.
M The last I heard Of this mervelo
w woman, endowed with beauty snd intell'
a year ago. when she was arrested On
s,rsets Of San Francisco for being chrol