The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-08-26
IN WOMAN'S BEHALF.
spRY WOMEN OF TIE WEST.
Notable Examples of Their Grit in the His

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accomplished by man alone, says the n.
Y. Advertiser. His helpmate, woman,
has proved herself fully his equal in
courage and endurance, and has done
her part in upbuilding the settlement
of the frontier. Perhaps there is no
lot in which woman requires more ma
tive pluck than that of the frontier set
| tiers wife. Thousands on multiplied
thousands of these have acted well
their part and made of their husbands
life song where it might have been a
| dirge.
But there are other women of notable
character, and among them a few exam
| pies stand out brilliantly and are known
to every frontiersman who has grown
mp 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 roaned at will.
One of the most notable heroines in
prairie lore was Mary Simpson, the
wife of pioneer who lived in the south
west portion of Nebraska along early
in the seventies She was the captor
OF ireland" noted desperate who
had terrorized the whole Platte valley.
For months he was heard of here, there,
everywhere, robbing, burning, pillag-
ing, 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. \
little baby left alone in n settlers home
was found dead and the trace of Ire
land 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 q vast
circle and gradually closed in. On the
second day Mr.. Simpson and his wife.
who were alone 1T the right of the line,
were surprised by Il big-bearded man
springing out of a clump of bushes
Simpson was some distance away and
his wife was leading his horse.
Without waiting for her husband she
sprang TO the saddle and raced after
the stranger. He was being oyertakcn,
when, on plunging through small
bunch of trees. he came suddenly on 4
member of the hunting party. A sweep
OF mis- huge fist sent the man out of his
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 his power to overtake
the criminal Ireland saw her. and
turning. fired at the woman. She re-
turned the shot from a revolver in the
saGdlebags. and then prepared for
surcr method of warfare. She was an
expert with the lassO, and the long
rawbidc rope of her husband hung at
the saddle bow.
Loosening it, she coiled it carefully,
and racing as her horse was. swung it
around her head. ireland did not see
1t, and it whirlcd away in graceful
curves, and settled down steadily. sure
~ and firmly over his bare head. With
q jerk it came taut. rs Mrs. Simpson
pulled her horse back on his launches.
Ireland was jeri1ed from the saddle and
dragged tor dozen rods over the grass
before his captor felt willing to give
him permission to rise. lie 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 Col. VI. 7. Rankin, one of southeast
Texas richest cattlemen. The herd was
making its slow way northward, and
was in the southern part of Kansas
when Miss Kirnball. the daughter of a
rancher of that section, rode for some
distance alongside the animals.
Suddenly there was one of those out |
breaks which no man can give cause |
for or explain-a stampede. Startled |
BY the crack of Il whip or the breaking !
of twig, the huge herd starts into |
motion, following 4 few leaders and |
rushing pell-mell over hill and vale I'M
brought to stop by sheer exhaustion, |
after many have been trampled to |
death. Miss Kimball saw out on the |
prairie the owner of the herd, Col. |
Rankin, who was walking about for 1
a little exercise. She also saw that |
with the great circle the herd was MAX
ing he would be in direct line of the on
coming tide of flesh and horns.
With quick decision that would have
done credit to the general of an army.
she plunged the spur into her pony and |
dashed into the very jaws OF danger. 1t
was race between her and the herd. |
The cattle We're coming at breakneck
speed ana with blind fury that moth
ing could avert. 1t was simply ques-
ton of who should reach the bewilder-
cd ranchman first.
As she came nearer she leaned over
from the saddle and motioned 10 him to
catch the horn of the saddle as she
came by. He was 1.-THE and active, and
without more than slowing up slightly
she reached over. and, throwing an arm
around his shoulders. half lifted him up
behind her just as the herd came UP.
The why little pony made tracks Tor
the open plain. and in moment they
Were safe. The fact that the fair res
cuer tainted away Immediately on get
ting ont of danger did not decrease her
charges respect for her, as history re-
cords that he married her few months
later.
j woman of the plains who has
proved herself . good manager of the
things of field and farm IS Mrs Emma
Perry, of Morena, on the western Dor
der of the state OF Kansas. Her hus-
band died in 1873. leaving her seventy
five head of cattle and quarter section
Of land. Her corn fields early began to
'rither under the hot winds that make
western Kansas SO much of al Ameri-