Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-01-23
A Lively Georgia Girl.

A dispatch from Condor, Ca, says
Dare devil Mat is the name given by
admiring friends to Miss Matte Hes
ter, who is not quite %, has deep blue
eyes, wayy black hair, the whitest OF
| teeth, pretty features, and trim fig
| ure, and has had more exciting expert
ences than fall to the lot of most men
Up to short time ago she carried
| the United States mail between that
place and Lothian, Montgomery coun.
ty, where she lives, twenty miles away
She drove fiery Texas bronco hitched
to tiny road cart, and went over the
route tri-weekly. rain or shine, all by
herself. The road lay through wild
and sparsely settled section, but she
never feared any danger. At her side
in small pocket, the butt fully ex
posed to view, was handsome 38-cali-
| bre revolver of the most approved
model, and, as she was known to be a
crack shot, she was not often modest
ed
She resides with her widowed moth
er and is the real head and director of
the family. For the last five years she
has superintended all the work on the
farm. She has helped to plant and
harvest the crops and carried them to
market, where her tact enabled her to
secure the highest prices. Being in a
tight place for money once, she went
into the woods, cut a quantity of pine
timber, had it hauled tothe river, raft
ed it herself, and placed the raft in
charge of her brother to be disposed of
in the Darien lumber market. Every
autumn she cut down trees, which she
split into rails until she had a sufficient
quantity to enclose small section of
the farm. She has taught in several
writing schools.
During one of her mail trips she per-
formed most daring feat. 1t had
been raining necessarily for a week,
swelling the creeks and branches be-
yond the banks, and impeding travel.
MERGERS creek, which Matte had to
cross on her route, was roaring tor
rent. The long bridge which SPAWNED
the creek was in danger of being swept
away. Matte appeared on the scene
and took hasty survey of the situa-
ton.
eff there is any possible chance to
get over,n said she. 81 intend to cross,
come what may, even If | have got to
swim the creek. The mail must go
through
with the lash, sending it trotting swift
ly into the foaming water. 1t was
over five feet deep around the abut-
ments. Here the pony got entangled
in some vines, and reared on his
launches, kicking vigorously until he
was cut loose from the harness by the
daring girl. All this time she was
struggling shoulder deep in the water.
By skilful man9nvrlng, and at the
peril of her life, she lifted the road cart
by sheer force out of the water on to
the bridge, which was almost afoat,
and crossed to the opposite side, swim
ming part of the way, with the vehicle
ahead of her. She arrived all right
and got the mail through.
Not long after this she ceased to car.
ry the mails. Instead, she learned to
play the festive draw poker. which she
now plays with the knowledge of al
expert. 1t is further alleged that she
operates a "blind tiger" in small
shanty in front of her mothers resi-
dence, at least that is what the grand
jury thought when they indicted her
She was not prosecuted, however.
Two years ago, learning that the rev
enue officers were on her trail, she dis
guised herself in male attire and as
sumed the name of Bill Jones. In this
masquerade she travelled through sew
eral States without anybody penetrat
ing her disguise. During the execu
ton of the five Scuffletonians at Mount
| Vernon near Condor, last September q
year ago, she sold large amount O.
liquor publicly to the people. She wal
| not mOlested.