Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-07-30

MARY SlMfSpN.
But there are other women # notable |
character. and among them a few exam
pies stand out brilliantly and are known
to every frontiersman who has grown
up with the country. Their names have |
become household words, and their deeds !
are recounted around happy household
fires in handsome farm and city homes
on the spots where, in the old times, the
Indian, cowboy and scout roamed at
will.
One of the most notable heroines in
prairie lore was Mary Simpson, the Wife
of a pioneer, who lived in the southwest
portion of Nebraska along early III the
seventies She was the captor Of ere
land, noted desperate who had terror
lied the whole Platte valley. For months
he was heard of here, there, everywhere,
robbing. burning, pillaging, and the
sparsely scattered settlers were alarmed.
In vain did they try to protect them
selves-he was ever ready TO attack the
weakest side Of their little guards AT
last the strain became too severe. A
little baby left alone in a-settler's home
was found dead and the trace Of Ireland
was on the deed. The action touched
the quick heart of the settlers and
posse was at once formed to ride down
the brute. They formed a vast circle
and gradually closed in. On the second
day Mr. Simpson and his wife, who
were alone at the right of the line, were
surprised by big bearded man spring
ing ont of clump of bushes. Simpson
Il -. ,ssif q.
was leading his horse.
Without waiting for her husband she
sprang to the saddle and raced after the
stranger. He was being overtaken when
on plunging through a small bunch Of
trees he came suddenly ON member Of
the hunting party. a sweep of his hug=
fist sent the man out Of the saddle and
ireland was in the seat and away
Mrs. Simpson was by this time not far
behind and was lashing her steed to The
utmost Of its power to Oyertake the
criminal. Ireland saw her, and turning
fired at the woman. She returned the
shot from a revolver in the saddlebags
and then prepared for a surer method Of
warfare. She was an expert with the
lasso and the long rawhide rope If Der
husband hung at the saddle bow.
J Loosening it, she coiled it carefully
and, racing as her horse was, swung it
around her head. Ireland did not see it,
and it whirled away in graceful curves
and settled down steadily surely and
firmly over his bare head. With jerk
it came taut as Mrs. Simpson pulled her
horse back on his launches. Ireland
4
for a dozen rods over the grass before
his captor felt willing to give him per-
mission to rise. He did not rise. He
was dead, and Mrs. Simpson was the
heroine of the hour. There was no
Judge, jury or inquest The settlement
was glad to have him gone.
Another bright star of the cattle trail
was Anna Kimball, who saved the life
of Colonel NJ. T. Rankin, one of south
east Texas richest cattlemen. The
herd was making its slow way north
ward and was in the southern part of
Kansas when Miss Kimball, the daugh-
ter Of a rancher of that section, rode for
some distance alongside the animals
Suddenly there was one of those sudden
outbreaks which no man can give cause
Tor or explain-a stampede. Startled
by the crack of a whip or the breaking
of a twig the huge herd starts into mo
zion, following few leaders and rushing
pellmell over hill and vale until at last
wearied out, the animals are brought to d
stop by sheer exhaustion after many hav,
been trampled to death. Miss Kimbal
saw out ON the prairie the owner of tho
herd, Colonel Rankin, who was walking
hbout for q little exercise. She also saw
that with the great circle the herd wa
making he would be in direct line of the
Incoming tide of flesh and horns.
With a quick decision that woult
have done credit to the general of al
army. she plunged the spur into he
kony and dashed into the very jaws o
danger. 1t was race between her anC
the herd. The cattle were coming at
breakneck speed and with blind fur!
that nothing could avert. It was sim
bly question of which should reacl
the bewildered ranchman first.
AS she came nearer she leaned owe
from the saddle and motioned to him Il
catch the horn of the saddle as she cam
by. He was 1.-the and active, and with
out more than slowing up slightly sh
reached over and throwing an arm
around his shoulders half lifted him u
behind her just as the herd came up
The why little pony made tracks TO
the open plain and in a moment the,
were safe. The fact that the fair res