The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1900-12-25
The Strange and Thrilling
Career of a
WONDERFUL WOMAN
She, With Her Gambler Partner, Held Up
Stage Coaches and Railway Trains.
Both Were dead Came"

graced woman, who spent several
years of her wild career in Denver
and Colorado, is now approaching the
end in little hut at Carson City
Neb.
She is Esther Vance, daughter of a
former st. Charles, Mo-, banker and
and once a pet of society pampered
and spoiled by over-indulgent parents
and catering friends. On her death
bed she wrote to a Philadelphia pre-
late, formerly head of diocese in Ne.
vada, thanking him for his friendly
offices but censuring him for bringing
hope and comfort too late Those who
knew Esther Vance in her younger
days believe she is sincere in her
repentance and understand the pa
thos of this celebrated female train
robbers declining days.
Esther was born in st. Charles,
and as she grew became remark
able for her ready wit, musical abil-
ity and hunger for knowledge. Her
father, owner Of the st. Charles State
bank, died possessed of fortune,
which was attacked and dwindlcd
away under the claims of those VINO
held his bank notes. She had en-
tered the Paris conservatory of music
as a pupil before the estate became
bankrupt. She was not heard of
again until 1874 when she began a
stage career of one season at San
Francisco, spending most of her time,
however, in mining camps, about sa-
looms and gambling houses and riding
over the country giving exhibitions of
revolver practice which were remark
able. She repulsed many suitors,
and formed a partnership with Bud
Reece, a gambler, who took the name
of Vance and became known as her
husband. After several years they
disappeared, and were again heard of
at Helena, Mont, Denver, Leadville
and in Arizona. Finally came fro,l
Chihuahua Mexico, a story of their
determined defense of roulette
game, in which both were shot, the
woman receiving bullet in her side.
She was taken to San Francisco and
entered st. Luke's hospital Oct. IL,
1884. In December she was discharg-
ed as convalescent. Then began the
chapter of her life which stamped
her as one of the greatest female
bandits of the age.
The California Pacific express WIS
held up on the Napa valley by three
persons, presumably men, and several
thousand dollars taken, in addition to
bank drafts, notes and securities. The
bandits escaped over the American
river, above Sacramento and were
lost to the authorities. A few DAYS
later Jerome Lincoln, private bank
er at San Francisco, received all the
drafts and securities, addressed in a
identified as that of Esther Vance.
The package bore strange seal, rep
senting woman shooting down :,
man, and carrying the inscription la
Vengadora." By that name she then
became known.
A number of train robberies in the
Sierras followed, all of them un-
doubleday executed by La Vengadora
and her partner, Vance. One of the
most daring robberies at that time
was planned at Colorado Springs.
The Denver & Rio Grande Salt Lake
expressed stopped for passengers,
when woman, Esther Vance, pre-
scented dog to the express agent,
paying charges to Salt Lake. At
Marshall Pass Vance appeared with
some meat and pan of water, and
insisted upon feeding the dog himself.
The train was about to pull out, and
the express messenger attempted to
eject Vance, who suddenly drew "a
volver and shot him fatally in the
neck. He then admitted Esther Vance
and another accomplice, and, after
looting the car, the trio deliberately
passed through the coaches and re-
lieved all the passengers of their val
uables. One of the passengers made
an appeal for the women.
''They don't need the money they
never earned" scofiingly replied La
Vengadora, land they can get more
the same way"
Another story has it that the sup
posed man who entered the express
car was none other than Esther
Vance, attired in mans apparel. The
robbers stopped the train at a point
where horses were in waiting, and es-
capped into the Wasatch mountains.
She was next heard of in Honolulu.
In 1887 the Beowawe stage. carry
ing passengers and mail, broke down
in shallow ford on Stony creek.
Two horsesmen helped the passen.