The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-27
TWO BRAVE WOMEN.
Holding Down Land Claims With Only
Hermit and Indians for Neighbors.

a Hermit and Indians for Eeighbors.
From the Minneapolis Journal.
Two brave Minneapolis women and a
stout-hearted 16-year-old lad all alone in
the wilderness, with no neighbcrs but an
old hermit and a rum-frenzied band of
ghost-danciDg Chippewas-that was the
rather unusual state of affairs which Dr. J.
h. Sandberg, the government botanist. ran
across in his latest wanderlngs through the
wilds OF Northern Minnesota. The women
were holding down valuable pine claims for
their husbands, and we're "roughinQ it, in
all that the term implies. 1t is wild pine
country, almost uninhabited by man, and
Sandberg's surprise eau be imagined when
he found, on the further lake Shore two
Minneapolis matrons, one accompanied by
her 1G-year-old boy, holding down claims
of 100 acres Of pine lands each. The ladies
are Mrs. John r. Whitman OF 30 Fifth
street, n. E.. and Mrs. Frank Thomas Mrs.
Willman's neighboT. Mr.. Whitman is miller
in the Pillsbury A mill.
Last spring the men went to Lake Poke
CANA and staked out their claims. Not
being able personally TO occupy them for
the six months necessary before title can
be secured, they left their wives as deputies,
with young Whitman as guardian for them.
A couple of rough shauties were hastily
constructed, not far apart on the lake
shore, and rudely furnished. Here the
women and boy have teen since spring,
and here they ill remain till late in the
fall. DR.. Sandberg found an old hermit
who, until the advent of the Minneapolis
people, was the only human being within
radius of ten miles. At the hermit's house
he by accident met young Whitman, who
promptly took him across the lake TO his
mothers cabin. The doctors SUNRISE was
Of uhar, l,au Io1
their story.
The Indiars from Leech Lake reser walton
spend portion of each summer on the
snore Of Lake Pokegsma hunting and fish
ing. All the Country around the lake
formerly belonged TO them. but was bought
by the government. The Indians in reality
have 10 right at the lake, but as they had
always been peaceabie and quiet and there
were no white people for them to annoy,
they were tolerated by the authorities
Messrs. Whitman and Thomas, it seems, re-
manned at the lake several weeks building
and furnishing the cabins and laying
in provisions. The Indians were camped
only short distance from the shanties and
as long as the men were on tho ground
were as friendly and agreeable as could be
desired. The night following the departure
of the men for Minneapolis, however, tue
Indians inaugurated ghost dance, and all
got glorious!y drunk. In frenzied state
they visited the two cabins, furnishing and
recklessly discharging firearms, and notified
the lone women TO leave within three days
or be killed. at night they kept up their
orgies near the house, and their loud cries
effectually drove sleep from the sQuatters'
eyes
In the darkness the son put off in q boat,
and made his way first to the hermit's
house and then to Grand Rapids where he
to d his story. The sheriff. a half breed,
collected posse Of citizens and went to the
cabins, where they remained for almost
week on guard, night and day, with Win
chester rifles. The indians, in the mean
time, had become sober, and the sight Of
the armed men called them to their senses.
They humbiy admitted their fault, pitlfully
| begged forgiveness, and faithfully prom
Ised III the future to behave themselves and
not to modest Mrs. Williams and Mrs.
| Thomas. With this understanding they
were permitted to remain aud were not or
dered back to the reservation. The Indians
had final ghost dance the night the sheriff
and his men arrived, before they knew of
their arrival.
Lr Sandberg remained as the guest of
the Minneapolis ladies during his two
weeks stay, and o his return was the first
one to bring news of their adventures to
MINNEAPOLIS. Their husbands, as NAV be
imagined, were horror stricken, and pres
pared 10 leave Tor Lake FOkegdna at once.
The doctor, however, assured them that all
danger was past, and they will defer their
trio.
The feelings of the two women during the
Indian uprising can be better imagined than
described The women think the danger is
over, and are resolved to stay until the six
months are up, having staid this long.
When they went to the lake both were in
| poor health, and the "roug thing it, has
worked wonders for them, much to the JOY
of both families.