Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-03-21
CATTLE KATE.
THE WILD LIFE OF A FEMININE
RANCH OWNER.
AL the Border Rufians Adore Her as
Queen-Very Handy with Her
Revolver Surrounded by a Law
less Gang.

The recent exploit of Mrs. Kate Max
well in closing up ''brace" faro game
At Bessemer, Wyoming, and then saw
| ing the lives of the two ''tin horn"
gamblers who had robbed her cowboys
md were about to be summarily swung
ap has raised Seattle Kate" as she Is
called, to q pinnacle of notoriety second
,nly to that attained by Belle Starr.
Mrs. Maxwell's ranch is ON Sand Greek,
in Sweetwater County, Montana. She
rode into town with her foreman, enter
ed the gambling saloon, six-shooter IN
hand, and while she cowed the dealer,
her foreman snatched to faro-box and
exposed the trickery of the game to the
assembled cowboys.
! Cattle Hates intercession saved the
ives of the gamblers, and they We're
started ont Of town on horseback while
the crowd pillaged and then burned
| their saloon. All hands went TO the
Maxwell ranch, where Kate, who had
secured the gamblers money, made
some sort Of division among those who
bad been duped.
The daring female had been on Sand
Creek four years, and since her husband's
death has managed small cattle ranch.
Maxwell WIS quiet sort Of fellow, and
used to make trips to Chicago every Fall
10 sell cattle and spend the money in
''doing the town" He brought wife
back with him after one OF these trips.
She had been a yariety-hall singer, but
took to ranch life at once. She liked TO
ride and shoot, and showed a great fond
ness for all sorts Of athletics. Before
Maxwell died his ranch was known to
every feet-footed Indian runner and
bad prize figher in the Territory. There
we're running races and prize fights, dog
fights and cock fights at the Maxwell
place nearly every day, and it soon be-
came rendezvous for q pretty touch
class Of people. Kate had induced her
husband to send to Chicago for an old
friend of hers-Tom Masen-an ex-faro
dealer, and he was installed as foreman
Of the ranch. After Maxwell died the
place became notorious, and to-day 1t IS
headquarters for the most reckless gang
Of cowboys and half-breeds in the terri
tory.
aCattle Kate" maintains her position
as mistress of the ranch easily. Her men
are devoted to her and boast of her
horsemanship and steady aim, wherever
they may be. Kate has killed one man
az least, and wounded another. A drum
ken ''greaser' insulted her at round
up and before the cowboys could reach
him Kate had shot him dead. One of
her own men presumed to call her
"Katie" and she sent bullet into his
right arm, to teach him manners, she
said.
Last fall Kate took nearly all her
stock to Chicago and came back with
considerable money. Neighbonng cat
tlemen declare that there are more cat
tie with her brand on to-day than she
ever had, and Mrs Maxwell's career is
liable to be cut short at any moment.
She has committed the most venal Of
fence known among stockmen. She has
been trusting. Her cowboys are
adopts at this. and the Maxwell ranch is
believed to be the headquarters of the
greatest gang Of ''rustlers" ever known
in the Territory. "Rustling" is the alter
ing of brands on cattle, and the Y l.
brand, through the exertions Of Cattle
Hates gang, is becoming the most nu-
merous in Sweetwater County. The
stockmen have organized for protection,
and a raid on the Maxwell ranch may
be made some night. Ii it is there will
be a desperate fight, for the ''rustler"
carries his life in his hands and knows
that death will follow detection.
Mrs. Maxwell was in Cheyenne last
Summer. She put up at the best hotel,
and occupied a suit Of rooms that were
fitted up for Harry Oelrichs, brother of
Hermann Oelrichs, the New York mil
lionaire, when Harry was drawing a
sos, 900 yearly salary as manager of an
English cattle company. She was on
her good behavior, and only once be-
trayed the Amazon. She had been
spending money freely, and big stories
were in circulation concerning her
wealth and the extent of her cattle
ranch. A tramp" printer, named
Deylin, accosted her on the street one
day, announced himself as reporter,
and asked her some impertinent ques-
ton. She knocked him down with q
stunning left-hander, and dashed his face
with her Kidding whip tlll ne begged for
mercy.
Cattle Kate is above the average
height, with black hair and eyes and
regular features. She would be hand
some but for scar ON her chin, which
she has worn for years. She is little
over thirty, and is as fond of dress rs a
society woman, despite her rough life
and surroundings. She wears silks and
velvets, with AN abundance of jewelry
when about the ranch or in town.
When on horseback she usually wears
mans suit of corduroy, with sometimes
a short skirt Of the same material, but
oftener without.
Old Washable, the Shoshone Indian
chief who had Just then enrolled as
Government scout, used visit the Max
well ranch frequently. He had two or
three young bucks who could rutrun
anything in the Territory, and Hates
cowboys were constantly challenging
them to a race, and as constantly being
beaten. Kate always backed her own
men literally, and she finally sent to
Chicago for professional Splinter. He
was dressed up as cowboy and kept
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