Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-11-02

WHIPPED THE GIRLS.
Women of 0sceola, Neb., Try Severe Social
Reform Measures.

"A special telegranl from olroNlSDufS,
Neb., under date of Oct. %, says:
Eleven prominent women are under
arrest and several of them occupying
cells in the Polk county Jail; fiveyoung
women frightfully bruised and one
dangerously injured, and 1,5OO per-
sons terribly excited, is the result of
the vigorous efforts Of the women of
Osceola, Neb., to introduce radical
reforms in the social ethics of that
city.
Osceola is the county seat OF Polk
county, and situated in the southern
portion of the state, ten miles from
this place. Efforts have been made
to suppress the details of the sensa-
tional affair, hence reports concerning
il are being given to the press from
here. For some time the better class
of women of Osceola have felt that
the fair name OF the city was being un-
necessarily scandalized by the bad
actions of several of the young women
of the city in company with their male
companions. Secret meetings were
held and after a thorough discussion
of the affair, it was determined to
take summary action.
The regulators did not see fit to
take their fathers. brothers or hus-
bands into their confidence in refer
ence to the proposed efforts at moral
reform, and arranged with the utmost
secrecy in their meetings to make II
success of the undertaking. A COM
mittee was appointed to devise a
place for reaching the girls. The COM
mittee prepared a number OF notes
purporting to come from the lovers OF
| the proposed victims requesting the
girls to meet them in a grove adjacent
| to the city in which the girls were ac-
cused of meeting their lovers.
The girls were unsuspicious OF the
approaching danger and all kept their
appointments. The white caps to the
number of twelve secreted themselves
in the grove. All were disguised with
pillowcases thrown over their heads.
They were understood to be anxious
to conceal their identity, but in this
they appear to have had some dis
agreement, some thinking that the
work should be done openly, and de-
pend upon the sentiment OF the COM
munity for protection from any an
noying consequence. AS the girls APP
peared in the grove they were siezed
and bound and kept in concealment
until all had been captured. Then
the committee commenced a vigorous
| hogging of their victims. Some OF the
girls were courageous and resisted the
efforts of the whitecaps to chastise
them with all their strength. Two OF
the girls broke their bands and fought
their tormentors. They tore the pill.
lowcases from the women's faces and
called their names aloud, and screamed
for assistance.
After vigorously fighting for several
minutes the two girls ran into town
screaming. Their clothing was torn
and they were almost nude. The
white caps were not frightened by
their escape, but continued to chastise
their remaining victims. One OF the
girls tainted and was left lying on the
ground. Finally the white caps dis.
persed to their homes, a ter admonish-
ing their weeping victims not to re-
/ peat their OffenSeS.
Today eleven OF the whitecappers
were arrested for assault and battery
and disturbing hepeace. The twelfth
has not yet been found, but it is un.
derstood that she will come forward
tomorrow when her companions have
their preliminary examination, as
they are not ashamed of their work
Several OF the women would not &C
cept bail and are confined in the
county Jail.
The greatest excitement prevails
At the trial tomorrow it is understood
that the women of the town will at
tend and protest that it was for the
public good that such radical measures
were adopted. The girls. with the ont
exception, were not injured otherwise
than fogged with the bundles o
switches. Both sides have employed
all the local talent obtainable and
propose to fight the cases without re
gard to expense.