The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1893-11-22
REMARKABLE CAREER AND
TRAGIC DEATH OF ELLEN
QUINN.
A Pioneer School Ma'am Who Was
an Absolute Ruler Over a Large
Territory-A Judge from
Whose Decision There was
no Appeal-Her He
roic Death.

BELcHERvILLE,. TEX, November TO-
Fourteen miles south of this place, an
four miles northwest of the little city c
Bowie, there is sharp point of Ian
rising abruptly above the prairie, AM
known to all the surrounding country a
Queens Peak. Its history is closely as
ISOLATED with that of a woman who seem
to have come very near being queen il
reality as well as in name. While th
women Of to-day have their own building
in Chicago for showing what they hav,
accomplished along various lines, it ma,
perhaps be worth while to call attention
to what one rough woman of the Texas
frontier accomplished in the latter day.
of the Cos
1t was in 1866 that Allen Quinn came
from Western North Carolina to thi,
part Of Texas. AS would be judged from
her name, she had Irish blood in her
veins, but it was mi xed with copions
strain Of Indian, derived from the Cher.
okees that still inhabit reserve among
the Carolina mountains. Just under
what circumstances she came no one
seems to remember, but soon after COM
ing she announced her intention to open
a school for the benefit of the surround
ing country. 1t seemed as if the school
would likely benefit the Country" liter
ally so-called, as there were very few in.
habitants to get the good of it. What
few men there were, however, got to-
gether and put up house for her. 1t
was the first school house ever put up in
Montague county, and all things consid-
cred, could hardly be cited as a model Of
architectural grace and elegance. 1t was
made of rough logs cut from the timber
surrounding the base Of what is now
known as Queens Peak. 1t was situated
about halfway up and on the southern
side in order to protect it from the cold
Northern winds of winter. There were
several reasons why this site was chosen.
Wood was near at hand for building the
house and supplying the fires in winter,
which items were very important ones
to the Texans OF those days. Water
could be obtained from spring close at
hand and this also was not to be slight
ed. Moreover, the peak, though only
hundred or 80 feet above the surround
ing prairie, was the highest point for
miles around, and from its summit a
watch could be kept for the approach of
Indians or others hostile characters
From it signals could be given in case of
danger, and would probably bring assist
ance in case there were any one to see or
hear them.
A QUEER SCHOOL.
School opened with four pupils, all of
whom came from the only house within
two miles OF the place. Soon, however,
it began to increase rs the fact of its ex-
istence began to be noised abroad
through the country. Grown men who
had come to Texas when boys and who
had lived on the frontier without educa-
tional advantages, would cone to school
to Miss Quinn in order to redeem their
lost time. They came from anywhere
within 100 or 200 miles. Most OF them
could come for only few months conse-
cutively, at times when there was little
to do on farm or ranch, but they put in
good work when they did come. For
some months the attendance would run
as high as thirty, and then again it
would drop down to three or four. TUT
ton was uniformly So per month.
1t must have been an interesting sight
to see the little room .crowed with big,
bearded cowboys porting over their
books They probably had spurs jingling
at their heels and big six-shooters dang
ling from their belts, but the black hair
ed little Indian-Irish woman was mis-
tress, Tor all that. On one occasion big
6-footer refused to obey some command
she had given him. Going to the old
flour sack in which she kept collection
of her miscellaneous belongings, she
gathered up a handful OF black pepper.
She had probably prepared this for just
such emergencies, and before her recall
ctrant pupil knew what was coming she
threw the pepper square into his eyes.
The bully sprang to his feet with roar
of pain, while the rest of the schol shout
ed uproarious approval of the act of dis
cipline. Trouble might have risen, but |
before the fellows eyes were clear
enough to see how to shoot, had he been
80 inclined, a dozen of the devotees of
learning grabbed him by arms, legs and |
other available portions OF his anatomy
and carried him bodily to the foot OF the |
peak. He was then informed that II be |
ever entered the school room again or in
any way molested the teacher there
would be feast for buzzards and coy
otes, Thus was one unruly pupil Eek I
PEELED" and there is no evidence that
any similar case ever came up again.
A WARNING TO iNTRUDERs.
For awhile Ellen Quinn was troubled
by occasional travellers who, in passing
through the country, would use her
school house as lodging place for the
night. They would use her supply OF
firewood and besides, would detract
much from the general cleanliness OF the
place. One night just as party were