Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-30
NEW WOMEN
-Four Specimens of the Feminine Forces of
Evolution, ,nh,
PLUCNtsT QUEEN lNo THE WORLD
Denver's Energetic and Aggressive
Garbage Contrnctor-A Muscular
Husband Bentcr-Gussie and
Her own Canoe.

three OF native STOCK, one an lslanu queen'
In their differing spheres Of activity they
illustrate the dominant spirit Of getting
there without masculine supervision.
Queen Mamea of the island of Huaheme
of the Society group is buxom ruler who
for years has defed the power of the French
authorities at Tahiti.
Mamea has often been spoken of as the
handsomest woman in the South seas, but
whether her claims to this distinction are
based upon substantial grounds residents OF
Raeatea are inclined to doubt. The fact re-
mains undisputed that Mamea has held her
island against all comers in spite of numer-
Gus expeditions that have been sent out TO
conquer the rebellious tribes over which
her majesty reigns.
The barkentine City of Papeete, which re
Gently arrived at San Francisco from the
South seas, brought interesting news OF the
latest attempt to dethroDe Queen Mamea.
saws the San Francisco Examiner, but with
her usual good generalshp the woman ruler
managed to retreat to the mountains OF
Huaheme in good order, where she now
awaits the advance of the enemy.
France, always Jealous of her South sea
possessions has been for some time trying
to annex Huaheme and Bolabola, both OF
which islands lie in a northwesterly dlfec.
tion from Tahiti and have been long coveted
by the Germans. Under the tricolor pro-
tectorate has been established on Bolabola,
but to French aggression brave Mamea mas
been fiercely opposed.
1--WE will annex the island and you must
submit" was the edict sent out by the gov
ernor of Tahiti to the queen. Her reply
was raid on the French missionaries near
Uturoa and the slaughter of several traders
The French shelled Huaheme and landed
troops at the queens palace. but the willy
lady led her forces by rapid march INTO
tho mountain Businesses of the interior, and
at the head of 500 natives held the foreign
soldiers back, losing but few followers In
administering the French soldiers a sound
thrashing.
Queen Mamea makes her headquarters at
Uturoa, on the east side of the island, within
easy marching distance of range of noun
tains the highest peak Of which is 1889 feet
above sea level. Swamps abound in the low
lands and their dangerous surfaces are
crossed by narrow paths, hidden by dense
underground, known only to the natives.
The mountains are natural strongholds. They
are steep and rugged, cut up by canyons
and deep ravines. Samll streams are fire.
quent. Cascades of great beauty can be seen
on every hand. 90
At the height of about 500 feet the noun
taina are almost inaccessible, but the queens
fighters Chamber up their steep sides like
goats, and once the top OF the ridge Is gained
they are in a position to defy any army OF
civilized soldiers. 51tl 100
In the very heart Of the mountains the
queen has caused to be erected large store
house, in which is kept supply of pro-
visions. Smaller storerooms are located in
secret places, and food enough is kept In
all the stations to feed a large body of peo-
pie for several, weeks. Stone forts, of
crude but formidable character, have been
built at the entrance TO all the mountain
passes.
Mamea's subjects are the most warlilSe of
any tribe in the South seas. Her people
seem to be devoid of the. finer feelings often
displayed in the natives Of the Gilbert and
Marshall groups. The men and women alike
are exceedingly quarrelsome,' and when not
at war with the French are fighting among
themselves Thus the forces of Mamea have
been reduced to about 500 fighting men and
300 fighting women.
The Amazon of Huaheme Is not so cruel
nor so heartlessf as her African sister, but
she is capable of enduring great suffering,
and in battle shows savage cruelty. She is
weaker physically than the Dahomeyan ter
rors, but her power of endurance is as great.
Huaheme's Amazon can live days on a star
vaton allowance Of food. and perform long
journeys over the Huaheme heights without
thought Of rest.
DENvER's GARBAGE CONTRACTOR.
Mrs Mary Maryland Pickrel is the gar
bage contractor of Denver, She is a muscular
widow of 40 Her face has a matronly look,
and the eyes seem to have merry twinkle,
but the square chin plainly indicates the
strength of character which has stood her
well in good stead these many years She
has no eccentricites of dress, unless the
soft felt fedora hat, such as men wore
few seasons ago, might be so classed. She
wears a short jacket with sleeves of a style
antedatng the present fashion, a shirt
waist and plain skirt of proper length and
fulhes3. Although she has held Office just
sixteen days, she has already won the ap-
proval of the business public.
my husband died about five years ago."
she said to a correspondent OF the New
York Sun, land ever since have been run
ming the two ranches and boarding house
on Arapahoe street. | had but two children,
and they both died have been very busy
woman, but, thank the Lord, / keep my
health and have plenty Of strength yet. Down
at Sedala stack all the hay myself and run
the moving machine and hay rake. / don't
care to trust that kind Of work to hired men,
they are SO shiftless. l do a good deal Of
plowng also, and when we were putting up
the outhouses / bought all the lumber and
hauled it from Denver to the ranch.
1T makes me laugh sometimes to think
how my theatrical accomplishments occa-
sionally come in handy. You see, / learned
to box quite skillfully, and that accomplish
ment came in good play one time. Soon
after my husband died an Englishman living
near me in Douglas county lost plow and
suspected that had secreted it somewhere
about my premises. So he got the sheriff
to search my place. Never mind who the
sheriff was; he's dead now, but he should
have died before he was elected, for he was
no good Well, they hunted high and low
on my ranch for that plow. breaking into
closets and everything 1t made me tired, so
I said to that Englishman:
"'If you don't find that plow here I'm
going to give you the darndest licking you
ever got when you get. through hunting for
it. Il e2l9v
"He looked scarey, and stuck to the sheriff
closer. or course. they 'didnt find the plow.
and then i asked the sheriff to get off the
place so that / could do up That Englishman.
But the sheriff stuck close ITO his man, and
they walked off together.ss1 followed the
Englishman to his home, and sent his little
girl to call him out into oths yard. When
he came sneaking out II'pitched into him.
Every time hit him he dropped, and when
he could not stand any more l let go of
him. He said Afterwards 1hat | used a
whip handle to him, butJthat was lie. /
done him with my fists. The funny thing
about that trouble was that we have been
warm friends ever since i'fIt was my only
trouble on the ranch, but the Lord knows ]
have had hard time In other ways
Before / went into oiofice there was no
system to the work. andi,the city was not
half tended to, but because iI0want to system
atize things and do justioelto my office the
hog men get hot. Well they may as well
come in line, for [ mean to have my own
way / like to hold Office, and i know i can