The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-01-03
The Idaho Horse Queen.

The st. Louis Globe Democrat
has the following to say about
Miss Kittie Wilkins, who used to
live in Challis, and who now en-
joys the sobriquet of "Idaho's
Horse Queen :"
A big deal in horsefesh will
probably go through in st. Louis
within the next few weeks. Miss
Kittie Wilkins, the famous Idaho
stock seller, expects to close a
deal with John Kirk, of the Ma
tional Stock Yards, representing
himself and other commission
men, for the transfer from the
Wilkins ranch in Idaho of 1000
head of western horses. Miss
Wilkins is at the Lindell Hotel.
She has been selling horses for
ten years, and is probably the
only woman horse dealer in
America. She is what may be
called typical Western girl, and
when she left her fathers ranch
in Idaho she came in advance of
eight carloads of horses. The
last of these she is now selling in
East ST. Louis. She is a young
woman of fine education, polish
ed and agreeable manners and
her father and brothers say she
gets better bargains with the
customers than they did when
they sold the stock.
For the past ten years Miss
Wilkins has taken the horses to
market and disposed of them, and
that she knows her business all
the horse dealers have long ago
discovered. She is full of push
and energy, and is business
woman from the word go. She
says that during all the time she
has been visiting stock yards to
sell her horses she has never met
with an unkindness from any OF
the horse buyers, and not one of
them has attempted to swindle
her or even impose on her in a
deal in horses. Her home is on
the Wilkins ranch of 165, 00C
acres in the Bruneau valley OF
Idaho, While there she rides
the range with her father and
brothers and lives the life OF
pretty much every other western
young woman of fortune. When
away from home she visits the
stock yards, passes her days in
the pens and sells horses.
An Idaho woman stock seller
who rides and shoots, who was
reared in the atmosphere OF
horses, who knows cowboys and
herders, who is brave and quick,
who can rely on herself and yet
who wears stylish tailor made
gowns and lace fichus, has the
odor of violets and carries gold
lorgnette, whose hair is done in
the latest style, whose face and
hands are untanned by the sun
or exposure, such is Miss Kitty
Wilkins as she sat in the parlor
at the Lindell last night.
81 drifted into the horse bust
ness naturally" said Miss Will
kins, and | think l have made a
success of it. At least, my faith
er and my brothers say so. When
| am on the ranch I do pretty
much as other western girls do,
and make cakes and even read
poetry. My favorite poem, how
ever, is not Lucille" but 1.-The
Ranch Girl of The West" writ
ten by an unknown western auth
or. l can recall one verse of it
She can ride the restless broncho in its most
rebellious mood,
Till 1t hangs its head in meekness till its spirit
is subduod;
She can pitch the long RATA DER the horns OF
fleeing steer,
And her dauntless border spirit never feels
the thrill Of fear.
She will ride upon the roundup with free
and dashing air,
While the breezes softly ripple through her
loose imprisoned hair;
All the dangers Of the riders she win share
with nervy zest
For tImidlty's a stranger to the ranch girl Of
the West.