Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-03

was ill one Sunday and unable to at
tend tofh6 congregation. Belle, who
was always supplied with DISCUSSES as
wen as consummate amount of cheek,
undertook to take his place in the pull
pit, which she did in such manner as
TO deceive everybody, both as to her
sex and personal identity. She was
not even recognized by her own rela-
tives, several Of whom were present
during the service. After her sermon
she went around with the box and col
lected $25. One of the church men,
bers who was known to be both wealthy
and stingy, handed her fve-cent piece,
saying that he had no other change
less than $40. II will change it for
you, said she, and she did so, handing
Mm back the five cents and retaining
the $40. In like manner she collected
quite a respectable sum for the old par
son, and leaving the church by the
back door left the money at his. house
and changed her clothes so rapidly that
sne was enabled to meet the congrega-
ton on their way homeward.
Bellies fight with panther on "Nan
Lila Creek, in the Choctaw Nation. is
not the least interesting feature of the
journal. As she was prospecting on
the aforementioned water course. in
company with her daughter Pearl. and
Pan,nlng out small particles of gold, a
little after shutdown, a panther leaped
on the back of her horse, which was
tied to tree close by. Drawing her
pistol, she Immediately advanced to the
reseue. After wounding the animal
and rendering it furious, her pistol
failed to perform its duty, and she was
left at the mercy of the brute. She
did not, however, lose her presence of
mind. Thrusting her pistol into the
animals mouth, she drew her dagger
and buried the blade in his heart.
OF the many killings attributed to
Belle Starr, or Belle Read, her journal
only accounts for four-that of Sheriff
Nicols of Dallas, Joe Linn of Parker
County, the slayer of her brother, and
John Morris, her husbands (Jim Read's)
murderer, and lastly, a man named
Jones, whom She disposed of near San
Diego. Cal, for running a young orphan
girl who had been placed in her charge
by the deceased's parents. OF these
killings none Of the evidence was suf-
ficient to convict her, and she was not
supposed to be implicated in the kill
ings of either Jones or Linn.
Belle Starr met tragic death. While
riding lonely road she was assassin.
ated by an unseen enemy, who had am
pushed himself in a thick growth of
scrubby timber which skirted the high
way. A charge Of buckshot struck the
left side of her head and neck. The
position of the body would indicate that
she instantly grasped her Winchester,
but the plunging of her horse threw
her from the saddle, and she soon died
with the rife firmly grasped in her
hand.
Dressed in mems clothes, riding in a
mans saddle, and armed with a brace
of formidable revolvers, Belle Starr
has raided, caroused, and participated
in every known form of outlawry,
prevalent in the Indian Nation. She
rode perfectly, shot with great skill;
and withal was well-educated and &C.
complished woman. She leaves one
daughter, named Pearl Younger, 6
beautiful girl, possessing her mother.
frs and her fathers reckless Grimm
ality. Bellies intentions were to com
mence the publication Of her journa
about this time, but death prevented
her personally giving to the world the
records of the strangest and most no
torious woman Of the present c01Bry