The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-27
\ LIVELY YOUNG HERMIT.
Mss FLORA BRADDOCK PREFERS
THE MOUNTAINS TO PINK TEAS.

with Plenty of Firearms For Play
things She Is COntented.
From the San Francisco Examiner.
Tn the depth of Tuolumne county's black
forests and dark canyons lives one of ma
lures own products-a specimen of wo-
rranhood seldom to be found anywhere.
tIsr home is in one of the most secluded
sn5ts in all the Slerras. surrounded by
t.rb mountains and dense forests. Access
s.ble only by means of narrow, winding
trau for a distance of two miles from any
travelled road, it seems that she must have
d.1ved about for home free from the in
auences of the moving, active world. A
r,da hut of three small rooms for a domi-
ellie. provided with the plainest furnishings
and a. horse and a dog for companions
such constitute the lot chosen by Flora
Braddock.
She is not here to dream away the cares
of a cold and heartless world, nor to
drown the sorrows of disappointment, for
of these she knows little But there is ro-
nance here and she loves it, not as the
.entimental creature who revels in day
dreams, for Flora is practical She loves
fine chase better than the conquest of hui
man hearts, and her daily climb to the
4 summit of the neighboring peak gives her
more pleasure than all the tea parties in
4 Cbristendom. She is not here through force
If circumstances either. Flora Braddock
loves the mountains, she is queen of all
4 she surveys, and any trespasser who en-
i croaches with evil purpose upon her do
main does so at peril of its life.
1t was after long and tedious horse
q back ride over a narrow, serpentine trail
II up and down gulches and canyons, that
q the correspondent finally reached the queer
a abode of this singular young woman. Her
8 cabin, d rough but substantial structure,
8 made of hewn boards, stands alone on a
s. little flat in the deep canyon of the north
g fork of the Tuolunne river, three miles
81 from Confidence, Tuolumne county, sur
q rounded by high mountains and dense
growth of tall pines.
A comedy young woman, nineteen years
81 of age of tall, muscular frame, fair COM
plexion, with heavy tresses OF natural
blond hair and a firmly set chin and
81 mouth gave the welcome, and Miss Brad
dock is in physique we'll adapted to place
where courage and daring are prerequisites
10 a life of happiness and contentment
s. Modest in manner, she is as cool and cal
q culating in speech as she is in aiming at
a bear.
AREN'T you a little timid about living
here alone?" was asked.
mot in the least" she replied. save
81 an occasional prospector, strangers seldom
come in here, and, as for wild animals
q they will not attack one. As long as there
are firearms in the cabin / fear nothing.
B Probably you would like to see my guns,
and, returning from her armory, she
brought forth new Winchester rifle of
81 the latest pattern.
This will shoot either steel or lead bull
lets and is a very fine gun" she said,
admirngly. 1T did not shoot well at first,
bat / have adjusted the sights. and now
it is perfectly accurate. OF course, use
tnis chiefly for deer and bear. My shot
gun is not so pretty, but it is dear old
thing, and l derive great deal Oh pleas
lure from it,"
you have no need of pistols?"
''Pistols? Yes" and in another moment
she returned with huge Colts A-callore
six-shooter.
This is my little pet" she said, and
for the first time a faint smile passed
over her countenance, for Floras smiles
are rare.
Il would not venture much on that pis-
tots shooting qualities but before the
declaration was finished the fair hostess
81 had SelZe0 the weapon ana was dlIillliS dl
an object outside. One shot sufficed to
prove her skill and vindicate her pet, "
for the bullet had pierced the end of a
sx-inch sapling at twenty PAGES.
This is my guardian angel" said she,
as she made another trip to her arms de-
positOry and brought out a buckskin glove
containing a 32-calibre pistol.
1T is a poor apology for a pistol" she
8 added "but it is light, and / always carry
a it when l go on a ride other than hunt
81 ing"
81 DO you ride much?" was asked.
"A Yes; l ride a great deal. Yesterday I
II rode fifty miles, and every now and then
ri ! take trips over the mountains. 1 con-
II slider horseback riding a very healthy ex-
Fl ercise for women, 1t has certainly been
very beneficial to me. All women should
ride astride, however. You see, even af-
ter a ffty-mile ride 1 did not feel much
fatigued. Could such a trip have been
possible had Isridden the old-fashioned
Il way? No, 1 consider my boomers mod
est" and she' brushed speck of dust
from her bloomer suit of blue denim-a
/ neat outfit, with blouse waist.
III Il shock some of my neighbors as 1 ride
II about the mountains" she continued, but
Il then / can't help it. The time will come
! when people will cease to shake their
i heads when they see a pair of boomers.
Il They simply must be educated to it, that's
a I used to wear mems clothing on my
hunts and it was very comfortable; but,
then, I prefer the boomer suit, because
it combines the features of comfort and
durability, and then it looks more femi-
II nine. you know.
H Have I ever had any adventures? No;
not many. A mountain lion did make me a
81 hit nervous one time l usually go with
friends up near the summit of the range
every summer, and it was on one of tha se
trips that the incident happened. Ny
4 friends had left me at camp alone for a
time and gone some distance away AS
dark approached / heard a lion bowling,
ana l finally thought it best TO build n
hfe which 1 did You know an animal
VIII keep clear of fire. Well. that lion
N'Vered about, and every now and then l
C'uld see its glistening eyes out in the
'dr'hess. At last my fire became low,
1Hd as | would have to stir about for more
.d-ots anyway l thought l might as well
wy 10 reach the nearest camp, and |
started Do you know, that lion followed
M aI the way, and part of the time was
utmost at my heels. l did not dare TO
suoot at it, for it might spring upon me
~ 'Ae darkness, and hand-to-hand fight
81 I'll 'a' lark with mountain lion is not the