Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1889-10-24
OREGON TO THE FRONT.
A WOMAN OF NERVE.
HOW PIERCE TEE NOTORIOUS
STOCK THIEF WAS CAP
TURED.

A remarkable instance Of resolution
and pluck was recently exemplifed in the
conduct Of woman in eastern Oregon,
by the arrest Of Pierce, one Of the three
recently spprehended stock thieves, who
are now in "durance vile,' awaiting their
trial in Idaho couaty, /. 7. They, un.
doubtediy, are members Of gang Of
desperate outlaws, who infest the entire
country from the Missouri river to the
Columbia. They have been operating
in North Idaho to some extent, aud, as
We are informed, have succeeded in run.
ming of several hundred head Of cattle
and horses. How long they have been
plying their vocation among us is not
definitely known. By their adroitness it
is evident they have successfully "cov-
cred their tracks for sometime.
But stern old Justice has ut last shit the
trail" Of these precious scoundrsls and
three Of them are now !anguishing in the
Idaho county Jail, simply awaiting the
theatre Of formal justice at next term Of
court, after which the turn key at the
Boise Pen, will shut out to them the
light Of freedom and the outlines Of
sslickears." Pierce is one. Of this trio
and there is some practical romance in
the history Of his capture. He was
''tracked," together with two Of his
coniederates, into Wallowa county.
Oregon, where two Of them were cap
tured. Pierce eluded the officers and
secreted himself in the timber aud among
the hills. After publishing reward for
his arrest the officers returned with the
others to Idaho county. Pierce re-
manned concealed for several days; in
fact, until he was literally ''staryed out, !"
when he cautiously visited the farm
house Of man whose name we under
stand is Brumly, and begged for food.
Il go happened that Mr.. B. was absent at
the time and in search Of Pierce. His
wife and hired man were at home and
Mrs. B. prepared meal for Pierce Of
which he ate voraoiously. He then left
the house and struck across a field in
which there were some hay stacks, quite
distant from the house, and hid in the
hay. Mrs. B. suspected he was the
fugitive advertised for, and watching his
movements, suggested to the hired man
that he take the gun and arrest Pierce.
The man had no relish for such an ex.
pertinent and declined. Mrs. B. said,
"if you won't 50 after him, scil2."
The man consented to accompany her as
a body guard, and procuring rope tie
plucky little woman raided the unsus-
pecting Pierce, who was, no doubt,
preparing himself for an alter dinner
nap. The sudden appearance Of the
woman, rope, man and gun, quite dis
organized Pierce's nerve forces ard Mrs.
BIS nimble fingers soon had his arms
pinioned and he was escorted to the
house. There the woman securely
shacklcd him with log chain aud pad.
locks and leaving him in custody of the
hired man, went 10 the barn, Larnessed
and hitChed the team; when the prisoner
was loaded into the wagon and taken by
Mrs. B. to the town Of Joseph, where
she delivered him to the proper authori.
ties for extradition to Idaho We pre-
sumo that Mrs. B. has been paid the
amount Of the reward placed ON Pierce's
head; she certainly deserves it together
with medal for her exceptional courage
and tact in apprehending a desperate
whose proper sphere Of exertiun is
within the castle walls OF the penitentiary.
We commend her to the detective craft,
and il We are ever fugitive from justice
We would prefer to encounter that
"hired man" alone, than to combat the
relentless will Of the woman who gave
him such an impressive object lesson in
cool bravery, and furnished to the world
another demonstration Of the tact, that
the will Of wilfull woman, when viii.
fully willed, will often brave dangers, in
the face, Of which the stoutest hearts Of
men have quailed and their boasted
courage vanished as rapidly and etfectual-
ly as did the "woii neal which our
Oregon heroine set before this Knight
Of the range" and ani,nator Of hay stacks.
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