Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-09

was marked out for assassination. Tie
regro who did the job made a mistake in
the darkness and shot the wrong man.
Matte White Is simply an exaggerated
type Of the dcpraved white people who live
in the hills about Rome called the Lave--
der mountains. She Is about 10 years cid.
and in spite Of the exposure she has In
Cured In her half savage life she has a
certain kind Of wild beauty. Her coin
plexion is fair, her eve clear and keen, and
she has remarkably beautiful hair
She Is the daughter Of an old county
officer who died seyersl years ago. leaving
q widow and six young children. Matte
being the eldest and about l2 years of age
at the time. Her mother bore % very un-
snvory reputation, ard finally became IN
sane from the effects of evil life and was
sent to an asylum.
Matte got u home in a respectable fam
lily by the name of Harbour, but she
showed her vicious tendencies by running
away and taking up with well to tln
farmer, who had q vito and children of
his own. She was only about Is years old
Mt that time, but she soon acquired Il nnme
that made her Il terror 10 the community.
The old woman re2.ined her reason aft.
er u year or two, and was set Ut liberty.
She camo back and took up her abode with
Matte in one roorncd log cabin in the
Lavender mountains. There the two held
high revel. The place became the head
quarters for number Of tough characters
until the people could stand IL no longer.
and both women were placed under arrest.
The mother was released and died soon
| after, but Muttie was sentenced to the
chain gang. Out OF pity for her youth
and frieEdless condition she was allowed
to remain In the common jail, and was
aftorward released on a IroInis: II reform.
Soon after her release she took Up her OLD,
habits ana was agnin arrested aud sen
fenced to Il year in the chain gang
Matte mad big time while in the chain
gang Her associates were the toughest
| white men and the lowc-t class cf negroes
| in all the mountain region, she being the
| Only whita woman in tho prison at the
time. She found means 10 escape from
her cell at Eight By raising "a plank in the
| floor, and would go cut and attend the
| mountain frolics that uro of frequent &C.
| currcnee in that region. She would dance
ali night, and just before dag creep into
| her cell, where she would bc found next
morning sleeping as ilcocently as II moth.
ing Ind happened.
At last sic was detected. and wien the
| superintendent asked her why she came
back she laughed ut him.
| "Wby, you must be crazy she said.
| 81 have better bed here and more 60 eat
than would in my cabin. I'd be fool
not to come back
| Along In September some benevolent
people learned that she was the only white
woman in the chain gang, and they inter
ested Themselves in her behalf ard secured
a pardon On her promise TO reform. In q
| week after her release she was back at her
| old tricks and was surrounded by gang
| Of the worst characters in that section.
| When young Mason was shot down, all
TINT saved his life was the fact that the
bullet struck his suspcnder buckle. lie
was badly wounded, hut WIS allie tn give
a general description OF the negro who Lad
shot him. This opened up the clew OF
which tho crime was traced 20 Matte
| White.
Matte was back In her old haupts 81
the mountains, and she might have beer
pursued for months without being cap
turcd had not the bloodhounds been re
sorted to. After long chase the kound
ran her down near the rlinsbacklc old hui
she lived In. she climbed u tree % espnp,
the dogs and grinnod et the sheriff ans
his posse when told 60 come down. sh,
obeycd and took her capture quite coolly.
she Is back In jail now and apraIentl,
In excellent spirits. The worst she antic
ipGtes is another turn In the chain gang.