The Press., 1886-06-24
Volume g. Number l3.
MOTHER OSBORNE.


 Speaking If female road agents, says a S,die (M n correspondent of The San Francisco Chronicle, the most remarkable sl.ecimen of the kiud ever seen or heard of in the northwest was a frightful character called "Moths.r Osborne. The old yirago did here in Montana short timt. ago III d cabin on the Clark < fork of tue Yellow stoue, from the effects of starvation and exposure. A cowboy working with an outfit near here knew the old dame very well, and says the last time he saw her was while he was rounding up cattle on the dry Cheyenne in northern Wyoming. "It was in August" he said, "and our company decided to move their stock from the dry Cheyenne to the fresher bottoms of Beaver creek, some score of miles to the north. Now, Beaver creek was the most talked of stream in the country in those days, for 1t was the territory of Mother Osborne' and her gang of road agents and desperadoes. Two years before Mother Osborne had located on Beaver, and was accompanied by two men, who came from no one knew whither. Sue was about 50 years old, enormously fat, and sported quite beard. She soon developed wick edness in as great bulk as her fat.
 ''She was perfectly fearless and .woDdel- IullY hSblN0 lOE I1EL NhC "ONAAO AASSO any horse over the toughest kind of cOun- try with the greatest ease. She built 8 capacious cabin and soon gathered around her as desperate band of ruffians as ever loosened a rein or killed 8 man. The Black Hills ran near. and the coaches were ire quently robbed We'll, we finally reached our new pasture gronnd, turned the herd loose, and after supper of antelope ribs, we were about to turn in for the night, when suddenly there came on the clear, night air the sound of horses hoofs ln the long, steady prairie lope. Another mo- ment and score of riders surrounded the camp on every side. The leader strode to the fire and said he had come for us ac- cording to orders; in word, that Mother Osborne was little lonesome that night and desired our presenca at a late tea and dance. In view of the score of armed reasons standing about, the pressing lnvi- tation was accepted with alacrity, and Tn a few minutes we were speeding to Mother Osborne's ranch, which happened to be but short distance of.
 "A sharp ride of half an hour brought us to the spot. In spacious room, in an immense armchair, sat a wonder of obesl ty. This was Mother Osborne. About her huge girth appeared the shining butts of divers revolvers, while her lap appeared to be trying to smother one of the old fashioned heavy barrelled Henry rifles. She greeted us warmly, and soon had us seated at supper. Then came whisky and cigars without stint, and then began the dance. The mother always kept about her dozen or more girls, and these brazen creatures were queens among the bandits. Toward morning the revel assumed dia- bolical character. Pandemonium seemed to break loose. The mother had great ado to keep some of her interesting chil- dren from cutting each others throats. On more than one occasion the long barrel of the Henry was invoked to prevent blood shed. At last morning came. The moth CT dismissed us, and we rode back to camp, to remember Mother Osborne as long as ~ro. .lSvod g ....-.... i