Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-01-30
An Indian Belle.

1 leepeeS OIL Cnlef CnaTleyS rancher1a on
RUSSIAN river, and the heart of the
brave Solyano chieftain is heavy
within him. Coy Martinez Corea oc-
cuples cell IN Healdsburgs city Jail,
and her absence from the usual haunts
brings sadness to the red man. For
Martinez is the belle OF the Indians of
the Satyome valley. Many years she
has ruled Lnem-if not by love, with
the more dangerous weapon, bowie
knile, WHEN she yields with telling
effect.
Although born in a loWly hut by
the side OF Russian river, 70 years aau,
this UGXOm matron is not withCu, a
history. RON one end of Sonoma
county 10 IAe other she is dubbed the
pad InJun Lady" Martinez is a de-
seendant OF the San Juans, family of
long lived Indians Her mother, Vic
toria, is today one OF the handSomest
Indians in the state, while her grand
mother who has seen 50 moons" is
as gay as summer lark, and earns an
honest dollar or two by doing washing
for townsfolk. Her great grand
llo.hcr, now nearing the huuQredth
mile stone, is not as clipper as OF
yore, still she lives, and is said TO be
an excellent judge OF poor wine, in
dulges freely when opportunity pre-
sents. She seldom leaves the wigwam
now, but lies in a corner OF the little
room and smokes and drinks the time
away. With the pappoose, OF whom
Martinez is the mother, five genera
tons OF the Juans dwell under the
same roof.
But to return to Martinez. In her
earlier years she passed the lazy days
OF idleness us indians usually do.
Hers was not the lot OF water carrier
or acorn Gatherer. She scCTned labor.
she was an expert nlmrod, and more
lhan one sain On has yielded up the
ghost at the sharp tooth OF her spear,
thrown with unerring Skill before she
had seen 10 summers.
The particular pastime of the sub
ject OF inns sketch, however, is WELD
ing the bowie knife, and from her
earliest youth she developed an apti-
tude Tor following the practice with
a hdenty worthy OF better cause.
Her maiden experience appears to
ua.e back to her lOtn year, VIXEN in a
lit OF Jury she cut oil the lett ear OF
schoolmate. Not much notice was
taken OF this incident, lor the loss of
an eye or an ear is VI tulling moment
to the Indian.
lime heW and in her l7th year Che
Comely squaW was WOoed ana won by
George Brush, Il brave who stood We'll
with the tnDe. lie was wiling 10
look over the TACT that Martinez was
a dangerous hrIpmate, forgetting all
her lauIls, loI was she not the belle OF
The Solyanos, the chosen one OF the
trlbe
ne course OF true love ran smoothly
enough Tor time with the newly
welded palr. Every lew weeks MAJ
llucD Wouiu get mixed up with red
VINE, ana run the affairs OIL the
ranCherla with high hand, DuL
George never said Il word. me bowie
knife held him III awe. SO things
moved along tor Il slX-month, when,
one night, tlrlng oil married me, Mar
tinez took her bowie and stabbed
George u dozen times i'll The breast.
she meant to kill him, and almost
succeeded in DONG 50. l. he next
morning the heavy hand OIL the law
Tell upon This gay young knlte-wielder
and she was carried oil TO jail The
l,,t, -
she had aumitled staDDlng her huS-
band Sne nau the bloody knife III her
possession; ana the injured man SAID
his vile had cut HIM. For Two months
she langulsf ea Dehlnd the iron doors
OF the prison Inen the heart OF her
husband soltoned. lie was regaining
his health ana strength, ana longeu
TO see Martinez hit gally ABOUT me
lancheria, and hear her genLle voice
IN the old accustomed places The
case came TO trial, as cases sometimes
do, but not II word came from the lips
OF George against his VIE. From
what evidence he gave the jury might
have been led to believe he stabbed
himself. And Martinez held up her
hands III holy horror at the bare suS-
gestlon OF her guilC ais she said NO,
senore; ME no cut George. He my
husband; love him"
And from tar and near came the red
men 70 testify TO the good character
OF Martinez. That night they bore her
home III triumph, and JOY relgned III
lhe wIgWaus OF ncr followers.
Everything ran smoothly enough III
the camp OF the Solyanos Tor nearly
another year, when Martinez, once
more growing weary OF her husband,
cut his cheek out. This trivial OIL
tense created no disturbance, ana she
was permitted to patch up the differ
ence iii Indian style. But George LETT
the valley OF his birth ana has never
been seen in these parts since. He
was not taken With his wifes style of
punishment When her husband left
Martinez assumed her maiden name
with the legal formality Of divorce.
As she grew older she became more
cd tba fold pf