Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-05-30
TWO BRAVE WOMEN.
uoldIng Down Land Claims with Her.

,,,no Down Land CHAINS Win Her
po" ,,it and Indians for NelGhbors
n,ro brave Minneapolis women and
49,, hearted sixteen-year-old lad all
NC in the wilderness, with no neigh !
49, 49, hnt an old hermit and rum fren-
.;sd hand of ghost dancing Chippewas-
.s.t was the rather unusual state Of af-
w.. aas which DR.. j. II. andberg, the gov
srnment botanist, ran across in his latest
ran1erings through the wilds Of north
wv Minnesota. The women were hold
w. down valuable pine claims for their
hrsbands, and were ''roughing it" in all
that the term implies.
n s a wild pine country, almost unin.
,.hited by man, and DR.. Sandberg's sur
nr;se ran be imagined when he found, on
shs farther lake shore, two Minneapolis
,aotrons. one accompanied by her SIX
.ssp.vear-old boy, holding down claims
a 16O acres of pine land each. The la
aiss are Mrs. John r Whitman, of %
Fifth street, N. e., and Mrs. Frank
Tbomas. Mrs. Willman's neighbor. Mr..
whitman is miller in the Pillsbury A
mill
Last spring the men went to Lake
pokepama 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
shauties 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 DR..
sandberg found an old hermit who, I'M
iii 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 the ladies
and heard the;' soy.
The Indians 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 to them, but was
bought by the government. The Indians
in reality have no right at the lake. but
as 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
several weeks building and furnishing
the cabins and laying in provisions.
The Indians were camped only short
distance from the shanties, and as 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, fourishing 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. and their
loud cries effectually drove sleep from
the squatters' eyes.
In the darkness the son put off in
boat and made his way first to the her
mits house and then to Grand Rapids,
where he told his story. The sheriff.
halfbreed, collected posse of citizens
and went to the cabins, where they re-
manned for almost a week on guard
night and day with Winchester rifles
Inc Indians in the meantime had be-
come sober, and the sight of the armed
men called them to their senses. They
humbly admitted their fault, pitifully
begged forgiveness and faithfully prom
ised 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
nered back to the reservation. The In
nians had a final ghost dance the night
!he Sheriff and his men arrived and be-
fore they knew of their arrival.
Dr. Sandberg remained as the guest of
fne Minneapolis ladies during his two
weeks stay, and on his return was the
nist one to bring news of their adven-
lures to Minneapolis. Their husbands,
as may be imagined, were horror
stricken, and prepared to leave for Lake
Fokegama at once. The doctor, how
ever assured them that all danger was
past and they will defer their trip.
Inc feelings of the two women during
Tue indian uprising can be better inn
asihed that described The women
.nihk the danger is over and are resolved
70 stay until the six months are up,
having stayed this long. When they
went to the lake both We're in poor
neaith' and the "roughing it" has work
ca wonders for them, much to the joy of
ooth families, minneapolis Journal