The record-union., 1893-11-03
A TEXAS HEROINE.
The Remarkable Career of Ellen
Quinn, the Queen.
A Pioneer School Ma'am of the Lone
Star State--She Was Absolute Ruler
Over q Large Territory-A Judge
from Whose Decision There Was
No AnDeaI.
No Appeal.

Over a Large Territory-A Judge
from Whose Decision There Was
No Appeal.
Fourteen miles south of Belcherville,
Texas, and four miles northwest Of the
little city of Bowie, says correspondent
of the st. Louis Globe Democrat, there is
Il sharp point of land raising abruptly
above the prairie, and known to all the
country as Queens Peak.
Its history is closely associated with that
of woman who seems to have como
very near to be being Queen in reality as
we'll as in name. While the women of
to-day have their own building in Chi
cago for showing what they have accom-
plished along various lines, it may, per-
haps, be worth while to call attention to
what one rough woman of the Texas
frontier accomplished in the latter days
of the 60's.
1t was in 1866 that Ellen Quinn came
from Western North Carolina to this part
of Texas. As would be judged from her
name, she had Irish blood in her veins,
but it was mixed with copious strain or
Indian, derived from the Cherokees that
still inhabit q reserve among the Carolina
mountains. Just under what clrcum-
stances she came no one seems to remem-
ber, but soon alter coming she announced
her intention 10 open school for the BEN
eiit Of the surrounding country. 1t
seemed as if the school would likely ben
etit the country" literally so-called, as
there were very few Inhabitants to get
the good of it. What few men there were,
however, got together and put up house
for her. 1t was the first school-house
ever put up in Montague County, and,
all things considered, could hardly be
cited as 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 half way
up and on the southern side in order to
protect it from the cold northern winds of
winter. There were several reasons why
this cite was chosen. Wood was near at
hand for building the house and supply
ing 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 sighted. Moreover, the
peak, though only a hundred or so feet
above the surrounding prairie, was the
highest point for miles around, and from
its summit watch could be kept for the
approach of Indians or other hostile
characters. From it signals could be
given III case of danger, and would prob
ably bring assistance 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 as 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 lived on the
frontier without educational advantages,
would come 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
a few months consecutively, 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 at
tendance would run as nigh as thirty,
and then again it would drop down to
three or four. Tuition was uniformly So
per month.
1t must have been an interesting sight
to see the little room crowded with big,
bearded cOwb boys pouring over their
books. They probably had spurs jing-
ling at their heels and big siX-shooters
dangling from their belts, but the black
haired little 1ndian-Irish woman was
for all that. On one occasion a
big siX-footer refused to obey some COM
mand she had given him. Going to the
old flour sack in which she kept a collec-
ton OF her miscellaneous belongings, she
gathered up a handful of black pepper.
She had probably prepared this for just
such emergency, and before her recalci
trant 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 school
shouted uproarlouS approval of the act OF
discipline. Trouble might have arisen,
but before the fellows eyes were clear
enough to see how to shoot, had he been
so inclined, dozen of the devotees of
learning grabbed him by the arms, legs
and other available portions of his anato-
my and carried him bodily to the foot of
the peak. He was then informed that if
he ever entered the schOol-room again or
in any way molested the teacher there
would be feast for buzzalds and coyotes.
Thus was one unruly pupil expelled
case ever came up again.
A WARNING TO INTRUDERs.
For while 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 such a party were pushing
III the door, roar like that OF cannon
startled them, and on investigation it was
found that rusty old musket had dis
charged about double handful of slugs
into the roof with force enough to have
killed dozen men had they been in the
way. The gun had evidently been ar
ranged so as to discharge its load harm
lessly. However, when the affair got to
be generally known it was taken as a
warning of what the teacher would do
second time, and was respected accord
ingly. From that time ON no nocturnal
intruder ever entered that school-house
by the door, and as windows had not yet
come into fashion in this part of Texas
the house was free from intrusion.
The teacher always had a loaded rifle
sitting IN the corner of the school-room
during school hours, and had il slung be-
hind her saddle as she rode. She was
fearless rider and an unerring shot. There
was general impression that she would
shoot to kill If necessary, ,and it was prob
ably well founded, though there is no
record of her ever having actually justi-
fed 1t. There was one loud-mouthed,
blatant biackguard named Starke, who
was once heard to make filthy remarks
in regard to the teacher and TO boast Of
his personal powers of fascination for
women generally. One night shortly
afterward. his riderless mustang came up
to the ranch where Starke had been work
ing. Nobody ever happened to find the
body, and nobody cared to look for it.
Some supposed the teacher knew all about
II, ana she may or may not have done so.
A SUPREME JUDGE.
After the school at the Peak had been
going on Tor about two years, singular
state of affairs began gradually to come
into being. The fame OF her school had