The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-03-19
In Many Things They Are Much
Ahead Of Their Eastern
Sisters
An Oklahoma Girl Who Rivals
the Cowboy in Her Cattle
Herding.
The Fsminine Utopia-A Nebraska NO
man who Conquered = Pair OF
Cattle Thieves


fessions and trades alongside husbands an,
brothers and are winning both fame an,
financial reward by their efforts, those @
the prairie are not behind in the race 10
prominence. They have dared much in p
earlier days, and In the present are attract
ing attention by their unhesitating adop
fion OF the situation and making them
selves uistresses Of current events whereve
they may h. placed. Many striking RESULT
have been produced, aud, though some hay,
appeared in print, many Of them are un
known except in the vicinity where they
occur
The openings Of Oklahoma and the Cher
okee strip have developed many a heroine
and more than one deed worthy of praiss
has been performed by members of the fan
sex They have not, however, always con
sisted Of single acts Of distinguishing BRAY
cry. but have frequently been manifest in a
steady observance OF duty despite unpleas
ant conditions.
Such il the case with Miss Minnie Duval
who is known in the Cherokee strip as ''tho
female cowboy and whose fame has been
spread far and wide by the influx Of new
eOmers.
When the Duval family entered the ter
ritory, the daughter was but year old.
Indians her parents, coming from Missouri.
were allowed 10 settle on Sawleg creek and
have made their home in the land OF the
redslKin since Mr.. Duval started in 1875
with 25 cattle. They have increased to over
800 and make a large herd 60 care for Min
ME is the only child, and though SO young
Is her father chief assistant She does not
simply take the cattle TO the range and
leave them there, but remains with them
all day, looking after the herd as well as
could any cowboy.
Her duties frequently take her a score OF
more miles from home, as the cattle must
be kept moving TO feed WELL Often some
Of the cattle become mired in the mud along
creeks where they Craze OF where they wade
in TO drink. Then comes the hardest part
Of the work With true cowboy skin she
throws the la-iat over the slender branch
ing horns while the other end Of the long
but phenomenally strong rawhide rope is
fastened 10 the saddle. Then a steady pull
on the part OF the pony draws the impris-
oned animal to a place of safety on dry
ground. She has a large herd for one per
son 10 handle, but with the assistance Of
two well trained cattle dogs she does it.
While on the range she dresses in true
cowboy fashionable brmmed white felt
r.
about the saddle horn and a revolver at her
belt-aud rides the widest broncho with
thorough ease. When of duty. she is a
modest, unassuming young lady, the last
one that would be suspected of such mascu-
line accomplishments. Atthea annual round
up she has taken her place with tine other
cowboys and made good record. In lasso
throwing, when the widest Of steers are
turned loose and goaded into fury by mata-
dore methods she has held her own and got
a handsome saddle from her masculine COM
petitors "a a testimonial 20 her exceptional
deKterity and skill.
Somewhat novel is the scheme evolved BY
q numb Of women who entered the Chero-
kee strip at the time of the rush with tie
avowed purpose Of founding a feminine
Utopia. where there should be nothing Of
the harshness Of masculiuity TO annoy or
make afraid. They camped on the border
along with the other boomers and were an
parently well satisfied with the outlook.
Miss Annette Daley, a Kentuckian. was
their leader. and she had a well defined
idea as TO establishing feminine commu-
nifty.
The party Of a score or more spinsters was
laughed at by the other boomers, and their
chinerical scheme provoked much amuse-
ment all along the line. But they made the
rush together, AID reports are that they
have succeeded in establishing their longed
for community.
Not all the hcr0ism Of which western
women are capable comes along the line Of
startling reforms or new departures iu Gus
toms Of living. The everyday experiences
OF many a frontier woman are not less uota-
BILE Such was the case with drs. Mclean.
IA nit % D. Narra l..
braska frontier early in the seventies Her
bravery is yet told Of by the oattlemen who
then drove their great herds up through
the Platte bottoms
Her husband had with great dihicultv
gotten together bunch u cows-about 10
ia all-ald was endesvoring 20 start u IT.
&c herd iu orier 10 rescue IFS family from
tic poverty which hung over the claim.
airs. Mclean had the Lcrding Of them. a-
well az the care ~ the house. one uignt
when her husband had gone 80 miles e. the
hture sue wa compelled to leave inc cattle
grazing while She looked after sick baby
~ home suddenly sle saw TWO men ride
from behind tle hills aud sfurt rho cattle
OIL iuli canter, abductiuZ thc whole bunch.
sic wasted mot minute. hut mounting Ler
bruleh0 was after tlcl
lle men cvide4tlg Thought thcmseIye-
Undiscovered and in toe bustls 1f Iarr.Irg
oI Tie stock a.a uot bear lLe p4iierlag
hoaI- NJ tue purucr- pony a- She came
calterug up bra.ud. suddenly oue of lh.
men gave ID ye.l and tumhlri backward aG
ms saddle. WIIa far uY1-D of % Iariat ti,.t
around L.- Throat. Frightened. tnr either
turl'1 i' -'e % i.r.Hus woman facing hlm.
hI.. afr ynu Cl.l-. ..r demanded
't lIafe sos. De- -tu.ded emllr.