Sunday Washington globe., 1901-12-22
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Pike-residing at Lakewood, Pa, have
won wide fame for bravery by capturing
and turning over 10 the authorities a gang OF
notorious horse thieves. The manner IN
which they accomplished this feat demon
strates not only their personal bravery, but
their resourcefulness, and all the country
roundabout is singing their praises.
The Misses Pike are the daughters OF
George Pike, who spent many years in
Arizona when that territory was wilder than
il is to-day. He was there noted as a thief
catcher and terror to evil doers Of every
sort, fearless of his personal safety, cool
headed in time of danger and never afraid to
do his duty as an officer of the law, no mat
ter what the odds against him might be.
His daughters spent the early part OF their
lives amidst surroundings peculiar to "the
wild and woolly west, and naturally i'm
bibed some Of their fathers iutrepidity.
The girls had no fear of bullets, nor did
thev at any time shrink from hardship or
exposure that might be necessary in the
carrying out of their plans. With the use
of the rife and revolver they are familiar
and either one can snuff out a candle with
a bullet at fifty yards distance. Their most
dearly priced treasures are silver-mounted
pistols with which their father presented
them before they we're out OF short dresses.
The exploit for which the Pike sisters are
now receiving such instituted praise was
one that illustrated their characters and the
impress of their early training The vicin-
ity of Lakewood has for some time past
been terrorized by gang of horse thieves.
For several weeks horses were stolen right
and left and the authorities seemed power
less to do anything Repeated thefts
aroused the people to high pitch of excite
ment; the farmers watched their stock night
and day.
A few nights ago the Misses Pike heard
an unusual noise in the barn of Thomas
Bryan, neighbor, and proceeded to make
an investigation. As was expected, horse
thieves were at work. The young woman
notified their father and few moments
later a posse was in hot pursuit of the
thieves
When next day the pursuers returned
home in despair Mr.. Pike found that his
daughters we're missing. That night they
did not return and were still absent the fol-
lowing day, but a day later word was re-
ceived from Pine Valley, eight miles south
of there, that the horse thieves had been
captured by three young women, Twenty
minutes later between 100 and 200 men
were on the way to Pine Valley
To make the capture the Pike sisters had
ridden all night and part Of the following
day finally discovering by accident the
home of the thieves, cave along the
mountain side, south of Pine Valley.
An hour later the robbers appeared The
young womem fully armed, were hidden
back of some bushes in full view Of the
mouth of the cave. Just as the thieves dis
mounted from their horses the sisters arose
with their guns pointed at the robbers and
gave the command to halt
Up went two pairs of rough muscular
arms but with an oath the leader of the
men quickly passed his hand to the hip
pocket Of his trousers
A shot cut through the faded leaves Of the
bushes and passed so close to the robbers
head it took off the brim of his hat and the
words in lis throat died upon his lips.
= Up went his hands There was a quick.
whispered conversation among the girls.
one gun was lowered and its owner coolly
walked over to the three men, took their
weapons from them and laid them aside at
a safe distance, tied the mems hands behind
their backs and returned to the side Of her
companions
Forward marchW
The girls, their guns cooke ed marched be-
hind, ready 70 shoot at the first sign Of re-
sistance Arriving at Pine Valley, the
young women turned their prisoners over
to Constable w Il. Carter, of Instanter
They were brought to Hazlewood to await
trial at the January term Of criminal court
They gave their names as James Rodgers,
Pete Armstrong and John Parker,
This is not the first achievement of a sim
liar nature in which the Pike sisters have
borne part. While they were living in
Arizona, Petrini Civent and two others had
cut the throat of an Italian and robbed him
Of considerable gold dust. Alone EDNA
trailed the murderer over mountains and
after several days returned with him tri-
umphantly. He is now serving a life sent
ence az Yuma.
The district where the Pixies lived Is in
the heart of what once constituted the bad
lands" of Arizona. Here famous old Cerou-
imo, at the head Of the wickedest band OF
Indians then in existence infested the Rich
Hill mountains and the Weaver and Blue
Tank districts, firing settlers cabins, muir
dering, plundering, robbing stages, bullion
trains and creating reign of terror that will
live IN history.
Such sensational adventures as these
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sisters from their infancy, they began at last
to long for novelty. But of what sort they
did not know Their knowledge and ex-
perience Of adventure had been so pre-
cocious and so abundant that there was little
left for them to learn or to do.
One day Edna Pike after considering the
melancholy plight Of three young women
who had exhausted the possibilities Of
thrilling adventures before they we're 90
made daring suggestion.
we know all about guns and horses and
Undertaking, said this remarkable self
reliant young lady; suppose we try the
sort Of thing other girls like. ! mean
clothes and parties and men and that sort
Of thing"
The other two thought il over Then
they agreed Mr. Pike, apprised Of the
situation, gave his permission for two years
Of boarding school in Philadelphia. So the
young ladies' put away their rifles and their
riding trousers and went. And they liked
IL very much so much, in fact, that when
they returned they declared they had had