The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-04
henrietta CROSMAN
WRITING A BOOK
Friends Say 1t Will Be Spirited
Narrative of Frontier
Experiences.
HER FATHER AN ARMY OFFICER.
When a Child She Was Made Medi-
cine Girl of Chippewa
Tribe by War Chief
Red Feather.
HER FATHER AN ARMY OFFICER.

New York, Jan. S.-Henrietta Crosman.
who has been rather prominently before
the public ever since she made her famous
hi; in Mistress Nell' two years ago. Is
Writing a book.
Instead of being the conventional reminis-
cences Of an actress. Miss Crosman's work
will be a spirited narrative OF the decidedly
unconventional experiences OF a little army
girl on the frontier in the days when the
Indians were making earnest efforts to pre-
vent their white brothers from suffering
from ennui.
For Miss Crosman IS the daughter OF n
United States Army officer.
She was born in a garrison and spent the
years of her girlhood at army posts, princi-
paIly on the frontier. or In camp IN the
field.
She was often taken by her father on mill
tary expeditions which he led into regions
at that time inhabited only by hostile In
dams. and IL was these campaigns tnat sup
piled the girl with a wealth OF rare expert
ences as thrilling and dramatic as any coun-
terfeit situation ever portrayed on the
stage.
on one occasion her father was at the
head of a battalion of infantry and engi-
neers, sent by the Government to establish
a temporary post along the line OF a pro-
The line Of the railway cut through what
was then the home of the most troublesome
Indians in the country. The purpose OF the
Government was to establish a base for mill
.tary operations. which would protect the
construction or the ROAD.
As the soldiers expected to be In the field
many months on this expedition. a few of
the officers took their wives along. and of
this number was Major Crosman. whose
little daughter accompanied her mother.
CAMP WAS SAVED.
Although the camp was TO be established
after due elaboration. had deemed II safe
to take their wives. as the military force,
conststing; as it did. of two companies of in
fantry and one OF engineers, with the team
steers and supply train attendance. was con-
sidered sufficient to deter any band of In
the Iongknives.
The troops had planned to erect tempo
rary wooden structures for their better COM
fort during their soJourn at the point. and
had completed the excavations for the eel
lars. but were still living in the tents. when
one night a prairie fire came sweeping down
on the camp.
Along the entire sky line to the southwest
the flames were being carried by a strong
wind directly toward the camp.
The soldiers were quickly ordered into an
adjacent patch of woods to tear of limbs
and branches. and. armed with these, they
were formed into a line and advanced to-
ward the oncoming line Of fire.
swinging the branches they endeavored to
beat out the flames. 1t seemed. however, as
II this plan would fail. 1t looked to ali as
II the camp was doomed.
The few women and little Miss Crosman
were placed in one of the cellars as a pro-
lection from the smoke which rolled over
them in volumes.
Miss Crosman carries in her memory. dis
hihCt III every ueIdll. tNe IerTOrS OF that
night. the long line of flames, the long line
OF soldiers working franticaily In the face of
the hre, the fright of the horses and mules
stampede. the choking smoke which en-
veloped them.
The fire had almost reached the camp
when a. current of air which came down a
valley carried it of to the right and the
camp was saved at the moment when de-
Every head Of live stock which had ac.
Companies the command was lost. Many Of
the horses and mules had torn loose from
re: the rest were either burned or SUMO
Gated. The officers had taken along some
hens with them and every one persisted
to Miss Crosman for her pet and which she
KEPT AWAKE BY INDIANS.
Many a night as Miss Crosman lay in this
and other camps she was kept awake by the
savage cries. Of the Indians at their war
battle asainSt hostile tribes or at their cele.
brations or lamentations as they returned
either victorious or defeated.
1t was while her father was in omman
OF a garrison in Minnesota that a distinc-
ton. II such It may be called. was bestowed
sHss ne eyee rs M,ss Sr Ss nam o Which gTot bly,
she was made an Indian medicine girl of the
This honor was bestowed upon her by Red
FEATHER, at that time war chief Of the Chip
. pewas. The little girl had assisted her
% Sssn inf n eand ga Z a wound nd, which had
sauaws by another of his numerous house
hold.
The wounded squaw was the favorite of
the chief and In his gratitude for the serv-
Ice which Miss Crosman and her mother had
rendered her he created them medicine
women Of the tribe a ceremony attended
with many barbaric rites, including the be-
stowal Of many charms like snakes ~rattles,
bears claws and other articles. which to
the Indian mind has a mysterious power to
heal and perform wonders
Miss Crosman still has among her most
valued possessions this Indian pouch. with
Its contents. which is her badge of rank as
q medicine woman.
Innumerablc incidents of this character
supply Miss Crosman with an endless fund
of anecdotes.
A prominent publisher has offered natter-
ing terms for the book.
Miss Crosman expects to have the volume
ready for the publisher some time in the
coming summer.