The Washington times., 1901-12-29
WOMEN PIONEERS
ON THE FRONTIERS.
Their Work in Tanning the Wild
Places of the Country.
OUTLAWS ROUTED BY THEM.
side by side of Their Husbands I'm
the Mad Rush for Land in Okla
homn-Their Influence in bringing
in the CIergymcn-Fenr No work.

in the Clergy No work.
In late years women have come Into
frontier life more prominently than is
generally known. In great measure
they have been responsible for tanning
most OF the once noted bad men.
AS the great West is being opened TO
settlement more every year. one sees the
frontier. with its outlaws. gamblers. and
saloons. slip further into the great un-
known. A few year hence. the cowboys
say, there will be no frontiers. as there
are today few large cattle ranches. An in
dustrious element OF Americans who
have terror for nothing so long as there is
money TO be made. have invaded the from
tier and captured il.
But not without the woman; the quiet
and gentle type who would as soon talk
with bad man as to her own husband.
SO far as fearing them is concerned. 1t
is wonderful how woman will shrink as
in dread when she reads long accounts of
the do!ngs on the frontier. but when she
is brought face to face with them shc will
HDl IlspitH-t ittls Abl AAAdA AlAtAtAtA ehf
more emotion than We're she meeting
ordinary men who cannot even handle a
six-shooter.
Settlement of oklahoma
Into the hot, dusty towns of Oklahoma
have emigrated women upon whose faces
anyone could read refinement. First opin-
ions of the practical were that they would
die of loneliness or leave the community
before a weeks end. They were much
surprised when they did neither. but re-
mained and accomplished their purpose
that OF making the town fit place to
live in.
In the settlement OF Oklahoma women
played a most important part The land
there was given away to those who were
fleetest of foot or who rode the swiftest
horses. in the mad. wild race were many
women. Some came from the large de-
partment stores of the East, others from
quiet country towns, and even others out
of society. All we're anxious TO make
fortune alone and in new country.
Stories in the dispatches were, of
course, read and discussed; the manner
in which such a bad man would treat
them were they face TO face with him.
was turned over and analyzed by the
pretty clerk Then she concluded with
true grit to come out and meet him. tax
ing the worst If necessary, but always
considering that other men would be on
hand 10 see fair play.
The Rush for Land.
Again. in a majority OF instances, too.
the woman who invaded the Oklahoma
frontier came with her husband ana his
family He had just lost fortune in
some wild speculation, and was deter
mined to get a free home in the West.
Some had had no fortunes to lose and
wished to secure one. They consulted
their wives. Few spurned the proposition.
Camping with the multitude along the
borders was most unpleasant task.
Cooking in the open, sleeping in COW
cred wagons tprairie schOoners), and en-
during all the distasteful manners Of the
drunken cow-puncher and homcseeker.
was surely enough 10 make them wish
their trip had never been undertaken.
None ever turned their backs upon the
golden future, however The prospect of
quarter section Of land, all their own,
was something which appealed strongly.
To let il slip was not to be considered.
And then came the race-a wild, mad
rush for land, in which everybody sought
10 outdo his neighbor by stealth or dar-
ing, he cared not. Thousands crowded
along the dead line, and at a shot from
the soldiers they were of; in wagons. on
horseback, bicycles, trains, and every
thing that would 90. The ones who had
fast mounts, when safely ahead OF their
stopped and set fire to the
tail grass. The flames caused death to
many. But the women fared about as
well as the men.
Woman the winner.
The husband, drivinS. depended upon
the wife to leap at first call, set her
stake on corner. and hold firmly to it
while he unhitched and plowed a line
around his new home. Those who came
aloae depended upon their nerve to hold
the claim upon which they stopped, and
in the thousands OF contests which fol-
lowed as TO who was the first settler, the
woman in six cases out OF eight came out
winner.
Months Of hard work, loneliness, and
follows the woman's advent into
border life. Then she ends that her ef-
forts to raise a class OF Sunday school
scholars is bearing fruit. minister has
to visit the neighborhood once
every two weeks, and a song book has |
found many readers. The first Sunday
service on the border brings a motley
crowd. One may sit next to killer OF
men. ne who has done time for train rob-
berry or a fugitive from Justice come
thi;her 20 conceal his identity and get a
fresh start.
Conversions are brought about by the |
evangelist, who holds services in tent 1
and whose circuit includes some of the |
toughest communities on the frontier. and |
are always lasting. 4 man will come into |
b new country who has never been inside |
rkarch, but he viii readily turn his at
ientioG to the service in a tent. He may |
be impressed with the words OF the evan
gelist and turn his life into the narrow
pathway. Some Of our worst outlaws have
been reformed hy these prairie sermons.
which though coarse OF construction. are
ieep Of meaning.
The Minister'S Mainstay.
The woman can be credited for il all
She frst brings the minister to her com
nuhity by assuring him that she will
get enough 10 psy his expenses and that
ie viii not be il-treated For drunken
,owpunchers are apt to make il hot for
he preacher who they think is trying to
nme their community. II woman Of the
settlement introduces him to the congre-
,afiOu IL SETS thtuPg arfphf