Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-11-12
A BANDIT QUEEN.

llWS III AuStrtlll. Although possessed
of over Il quarter of Il million Of dollars,
she went to that wild country, collected
tho band and placed herself at tho 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
wcrc--yvcrr paid to do her bidding. and
to them she became known as Tho
Bandit Queen" .... .
Up to the time she was twenty-five
years Of age, says the San Francisco G:i-
nIai:lcr. she had never hal her wish III
the slightest thing, and even her small
est wish WAS denied. Left an orphan
when hut u year old, she wa; adopted
By Maj. L. Thompson, Il cruel, stern
man. who absolutely governed her rs Il
man would an animal. a woman, he al
ways declared, was simply slave.
About four years ago he died, leaving
all his property to his adopted tlaugh-
ter.
when she found herself in possession
of u fortune she knew ut last that the
aim Of her life was reached. She con-
vcrtcd everything into cash and went to
Australia.
Gradually she gathered around her
men who were we'll known in that
country for frarlcSSncss and who lived
on the proceeds Of their unlawful acts.
She finally collected q band Of thirty
members. Each she compelled to take
iii oath To ,lo her slightest wish. To
each she pail Il large monthly salary.
and all they had to do To earn il was TO
obey her.
Mounted on the finest horses that
could he procured, with tho queen at
the heal. the band that was soon to be-
come farI0rG role 10 the largo wooden
house that had purpascly bccn. erected
in Il secluded and most dcsol:ltc SPOT.
There they lived on every luxury that
the season afforded. Dressed in daZ-
cling costume tic queen commanded
them, and her most absurd order was
instantly Obcycd She went SO far rs
to attempt to mold the mems thoughts.
Gradually it became known that a
beautiful woman was tho leader OF
fav'lca$ band and the strange house bc.
came the sole topic of conversation.
She was declared to hc enormously ricll,
and mIny weird stories were told abont
her. She never appeared in the towns
or citicS and She was 4 mystery to
all.
Many wealthy Englislmcn heard of
her, and %il desired to behold her.
William Griffin, u young officer Of the
queens army, who was stationed in
Australia, became possessed of
strange idea that he must sec tho myS-
FERROUS woman who, Dame RUmOr said,
was rCrlHr';"',lv b"nntiful Sccurinr n
leave OF absence nc set out tor ncr PAL
ncc, and after :: weary journey he found
himself within her grounds.
No sooner had he entered than he
was seized by armed men and roughly
rushed into the presence OF the. one he
sought
''Eou arc my prisoner for three
months" she s;sid, land for three
month"; you must obey my wishes"
Zach day she issued written set of
orders for the prisoner to execute and
his keepers saw that lie obcycd the or
{tclH TO the letter. Two hours each day
nc spent in her presence and listened
silently to her as she told him of his
many faults and the many reforms that
would have to occur before he was lib
Grated. He was made to ride the wick
eldest Of horses, pGrforln. daring fcut8 he
never Ch0uTht lie was capable OF, and
sometime" Inc was compelled to work
about tho place.
When three months had gone he was
nShC~2d into the leaders, presence, and
after Sic compelled him II take Gil oath
70 respect Ill WON IL for thC rClnaindcr
vi hii LIE Ire was escorted by mounted
m@n about two miles from tho place and
set It liberty.
About nine morAhs aro Wharton J.
Anderson, u wealthy young In dish.
mail, who was tr;vcliilfc il A,,%tl'alia
heard OF Tho Bandit Queen" ;:nd dc
:N'raincd 20 sec her and find ont if I'll
to queer tales he had heard bout hcl
:ycrc true. With some difficulty ne
sought her out, and when he had on
tered the grounds he was seized, n
others before Kim had been, and ush
cred into the leaders, presence.
4. n =