Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-06-24
TWO BRAVE WOMEN.

Holding Down Land Claims with q Her
NIT and Indians for Neighbors.
Two brave Minneapolis women and
stout hearted sixteen-year-old lad all
alone in the wilderness, with no neigh
bors but an old hermit and rum fren-
zied band of ghost dancing Chippewas--
that was the rather unusual state of af-
fairs which DIR. J. II. Sandberg, the gov
eminent botanist, ran across in his latest
wanderings through the wilds of north
ern Minnesota. The women were hold
ing down valuable pine claims for their
husbands, and were ''roughing it, In all
that the term implies.
1t is a wild pine country, almost unin.
habited by man, and DIR. Sandberg's sur.
prise can be imagined when he found. ON
the farther lake shore. two Minneapolis
matrons. one accompanied by her six
teen year-old boy, holding down claims
of 100 acres of pine land each. The la
dies are Mrs. John r. whitman, Of %
Fifth street, N. f., and Mrs. Frank
Thomas. Mrs Willman's neighbor. Mr.
Whitman is a miller in the Pillsbury A
mill
Last spring the men went to Lake
Pokegama and staked out their claims
Not being able personally TO occupy
them for the six months necessary be-
fore title can be secured. they left their
wives as deputies, with young William
as guardian for them. A couple Of rough
shanties were hastily constructed. not
far apart on the lake shore, and rudely
furnished. Here the women and boy
have been since spring, and here they
will remain till late in the fall. DIR
Sandberg found an old hermit who. I'M
til the advent OF the Minneapolis people.
was the only human being within ra-
dius of ten miles. At the hermit's house
he by accident met young William, who
promptly took him across the lake to his
mothers cabin The doctors surprise
was complete when he saw tho ladies
and heard their story.
The lndians from Leech lake reserva-
ton spend portion of each summer on
the shore of Lake Pokegama. hunting
and fishing. All the country around the
lake formerly belonged 10 them, but was
bought by the government. The Indians
in reality have no right at the lake. but
ms they had always been peaceable and
quiet and there were no white people for
them to annoy, they were tolerated by
the authorities Messrs William and
Thomas, Ii seems, remained at the lake
several weeks building and furnishing
the cabins and laying in provisions.
The Indians We're camped only short
distance from the shanties, and MS long
as the men were on the ground were as
friendly and agreeable as could be de-
sired. The night following the depart
ure Of the men for Minneapolis. how.
ever, the Indians inaugurated ghost
dance. In frenzied state they visited
the two cabins, 1ourishing and reckless
ly discharging firearms, and notified the
lone women to leave within three days
or be killed. All night they kept up
their orgies near the house. aud their
loud cries eifectually drove sleep from
the squatters' eyes.
In the darkness the son put off in a
boat and made his way first to the her
mit's house and then to Grand Rapids,
where he told his story. The sheriff. a
halfbreed. collected a posse OF citizens
and went to the cabins, where they re.
manned for almost q week on guard
night and day with Winchester rifles,
The Indians in the meantime had be.
come sober, and the sight OF the armed
men called them to their senses. They
humhly admitted their fault, pitifully
begged forgiveness and faithfully prom.
Used in the future to behave themselves
and not to modest Mrs Whitman and
Mrs Thomas.
With this understanding they were
permitted TO remain and Were not or
dered back to the reservation. The In.
dians had a final ghost dance the night
the sheriff and his men arrived and be
fore they knew Of their arrival
DIR. Sandberg remained AS the guest oi
the Minneapolis ladies during his tive
weeks stay. and ON his return was tn,
first one to bring news of their adven
lures to Minneapolis Their husbands
rs may be imagined. were horror
stricken. and prepared to leave for LAX,
Pokrgama at once The doctor. how
ever. assured them that all danger wa.
past, and they will defer their trip,
The feelings of the two women during
the Indian uprising can be better i'm
agined that described. The womer
think the danger is over and are resolvet
TO stay until the six months are up
having stayed this long When the,
went TO the lake both were in poo
health, and the ''ronghing II" has work
ed wonders for them. much TO the JOY o
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