The morning call., 1891-07-07
A BANDIT QUEEN.
Queer Mrs. Anderson Surrounded Her.
self With Outlaws In Australia

Queer Mrs. Anderson Surrounded Her
self With Outlaws in Australia.
Three years ago Mrs. Wharton j. Ander-
son, middle-aged woman of rare beauty,
who Is now spending few weeks of her
wedding tour with friends on Grand avenue,
was the leader of band of outlaws in Aus
tralia. Although possessed of over a quarter
OF million dollars, she went into that wild
country, collected the band, and placed her
self at the head of it, Her object was not
to steal, but to enable her, for the first time
In her life, to have absolutely her own way
In everything and make her will law. Her
outlaws-for outlaws they certainly we're
were pail to do her bidding, and to them
she became known as 1.-THE Bandit Queen"
Left an orphan when but year old, she
was adopted by Major E. Thompson,
cruel, stern man, who absolutely governed
her as man would an animal. A woman,
he always declared, was simply slave.
About four years ago lie died. leaving all
his property to his adopted daughter.
When she found herself in possession OF a
fortune she knew at last that the aim of her
life was reached. She converted everything
into cash and went to Australia.
Gradually she gathered around her men
who were well known in that country for
fearlessness and who lived on the proceeds
of their unlawful acts She finally col
lected a brnd OF thirty members. Each she
compelled TO take an oath to obey her
slightest wish. To each she paid a large
monthly salary. and all they had to do to
earn 1t was to obey her.
Mounted on the finest horses that cou d
be procured, with the Queen at the head, the
band that was soon TO become famous rode
to the large wooden house that had pur-
poSely been erected in secluded and most
desolate spot. They lived on every luxury
that the season afforded. Dressed in daz-
fling costume, the Queen commanded them,
ana her most absurd order WAS instantly
obeyed. She even went SO far as to attempt
to mould the mems thought.
Gradually it became known that a beauti-
iul woman was the leader of the lawIess
band and the strange house became the sole
topic OF conversation. She was declared to
be enormously rich and many weird stories
were told about her. She never appeared
IN The towns or cities aud she was myS-
terry to all.
About nine months ago Wharton J. An
derS0n. wealthy young EngliShman who
Was travelling in Australia, heard of the
Bandit Queen" and determined to see her
and ind out If all the queer tales he had
heard about her were true. With some diff
hculty he sought her out, and when he had
entered the grounds he was seized, as 9TH
els before HIM had been, and ushered into
the leaders presence
He. however, refused to either obey
orders or to listen to any directions what
ever.
OF one thing he was positive. He knew
that lie loved this mysterious and beautiful
woman, and he determined to make her his
wife or did in the attempt. Somehow or
other she acted strangely in his presence,
and the end Of it all was that love con-
quered.
Two weeks afterward the home was de-
serted and the band had separated. Mabel
Thompson, no longer The Bandit Queen"
was married to young Anderson in SYDNEY.
and they Immediately sailed for America,
landing in San Francisco few months ago.
They have been in st. Louis for nearly two
weeks. and expect to remain month
longer.-St. Louis special to the Philadel-
phia Item