davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1905-10-01

for them, that offered them no shell.
ter and grudged them apparently
their daily bread. Women had a
mighty hard time out West in those
days, but men seemed to enjoy life.
Kate Maher did not at all approve
of the dispensation which had impos-
ed petticoats upon her. Still she
honestly tried to do her duty in
that state Of life unto which it had
pleased Providence TO call her. For
several years she tried to earn her
living as a woman should. She took
a turn at all the recognized and ap-
proved feminine occupations. She
taught school, she waited on table
at hotels and restaurants, she took
in sewing, she worked out by the
day. she even tried domestic service.
and family washing. There were
no families to wash for. and the
men in the mining camps were not
particular about trifes of that sort.
There was next to no sewing to take
in; and when it came TO school
teaching-there was a pitiful lack of
pupils 1t was not a country for
young children in those days. The
sort of people who wanted their
children to go to school did not
approve Of mining camps as places
TO bring them up. So that "woman's
sphere" out West was a mighty
small one.
But mans sphere was literally "as
big as all outdoors" and it looked
TO Kate Maher as if there might be
room in 1t for her, if only she were
Jack" or "Joe," or Billy" instead
OF Kate. 1t was merely a matter of
shingling her hair and putting on a
pair of trousers and a mans name.
So one day Kate Maher disappeared
She was alone in the world. There
The Washington times., 1905-10-01

frequently, and go. to know this
intrepid young driver, lever felt
safer than when they knew that
he" held the reins.
She knew the country as few knew
it; she knew its dangers and where
they were most likely to crop up.
And she never hesitated to meet
them half way. with enough courage
and frmness for half a dozen men
in a more peaceful country.
One night lone outlaw attempted
to hold up her stage He stepped
out from behind large tree by the
roadside, his face covered with a
mask and a revolver in each hand,
and commanded her to stop. He was
a novice at the business and Kate
Maher's practiced eye instantly saw
it, AS quick as fash she whipped
out her six-shooter and took a shot
ar the bandit, at the same time
cracking her whip and giving rein
to the horses. The outlaw fell with
a mortal wound in his head and his
dead body was found the next day.
Those were days not only of hold
ups and other crimes, but of lynch
ings as well, and Kate Maher did
her part as a citizen to punish Of
tenders against the law. No man in
the hills was more intolerant of
crime and of criminals than she, and
few did more TO stamp out the one
lynching was necessary she stood
ready to do her part, and on mora
than one occasion took a hand in
stritging up 10 tree criminals OF
the type that then infested the West.
But if she was quick to punish the
guilty she was equally quick to de-
fend, with her life if need be, the in
nocent.
Kate Maher's life on the range was
no less picturesque than her life on
the road and in the camp. She was
a superb horseman and soon became
one of the best known cowboys in
the West But it was the mining
camp that she loved best, with its
perpetual hope of some day striking
it rich She never did strike it rich,
but the instinct of the gambler was
strong within her, and the noun
tains with their hidden riches called
strongly to her. Finally when the
hope of finding untold wealth had
faded she went into the mines and
worked for a miners scanty wage.
1t was not a particularly success
full career that came to Kate Maher
as a man. 1t brought neither riches
nor glory. But probably if she had
ii to do over again she would say
unhesitatingly that on the whole il
had been worth whiie-or, at any
rate, better worth while than any,
thing that was open to her under
her own name, and in the clothing
that custom has prescribed for her
Se1.
The Washington times., 1905-10-01

to suggest Ed Donovan of thirty
odd years ago as Kate Maher, except,
perhaps, quick wit, honesty, good
nature, and an abiding pluck.
Her life knew many changes,
many ups and downs. She chang
ed her name almost as often as
she changed her clothes. But never
once is it recorded of her that the
change was made to escape the pen
atty of anything she had done or
TO avoid the payment Of an honest
debt. Though she drifted through.
the West for the space of natural
lifetime, she never stayed long in
one place, and no one set of friends
knew her for long. Which may be
why her secret remained her own.
Once in brush with the Indians.
when she was freighting, she was
shot. She dug the bullet out of her
thigh herself, and the wound healed
without medical attendance. Soon
alter she was taken prisoner By
band of Indians she was given up
for lost by other members of the
freighting outfit. But enc night
she succeeded in Guiding the vigi-
lance of the savages, and mounting
one of their fastest horses made her
escape and rejoined her friends.
I'm
Black Hills, she was singled out and
challenged TO mortal combat by a
young Indian chieftaIn, anxious to
win his spurs. He recognized the
young paleface as a crack shot of
great nerve. and argued that If he
could get the scalp of so worthy
foe his place among the chiefs of
his tribe would be established on
a firm foundation. The challenge
was promptly accepted. The In
dian S first shot missed fire. He had,
no second chance Kate Maher's
shot was true, and he Immediately
qualified as the only sort OF good
Indian" recognized on the frontier.
She is said to have driven the
famous Deadwood coach, and on
one occasion to have been hello up
in it by bandits. She mortally
wounded one of them, and was her
self painfully wounded. But that
scrt of thing was all in days work
out there. Stage robberies were of
frequent occurrence in hose days,
and the occupation of a border stage
driver was a strenuous one, attend
ed with great hardship and not
little danger. But this woman WAS
Injured to hardship, and rather en-
joyed spice of danger; and the
passengers who Travelled the read
The Washington times., 1905-10-01

has disappeared from
among men one of the
the most curious and
interesting and pie
rufesque characters ever seen among
the many interesting and pictur-
esque characters of the West. After
having known for more than thirty
years the joys and privileges, the
freedom and adventure, attendant
on supposed masculinity, her spirit
quailed at the prospect of taking up
again the burdens of womanhood
and narrowing her life to the limits
prescribed by petticoats. Her secret
discovered, she disappeared from
among those who had known her
for the most part as Edward Dono-
van, though she was known also at
various times as Jim Redfield, as Len
Stevens, and by half a dozen other
masculine aliases. They heard no
more of her until reports. apparent
ly authentic, reached them of her
death. Far away from the Black
Hill country. up in Montana, among
strangers who knew her only as
Kate Maher, an unprepossessing,
middle-aged woman, worn by years
of toll, hardened apparently by years
of dissipation, silent and plucky to
the end, passed away.
Before she was out of her teens
Kate Maher found herself alone in
the world-anj hard, rough world
1t was, that world of Colorado and
Nebraska, of Nevada and Arizona.
and the adjoining States, in the early
seventies-a world of registering,
hard-drinking, hard-hitting, rough
tongued men-a world that had no
time for women and made no place
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-16

o BTU AIRY.

Fred Colwell was born in Monroe
county, November IA, 1875, and died in
the same county November 8, 1905.
Mr.. Colwell was an exemplary, indus
trious young man. He owned farm
which he worked in the summer time,
and in the winter, he was employed in
the mines nearby. Tuesday, Novem-
Der z, while at work in Mine No. his
light became extinguished and in the
darkness he was unable to avoid coal
car, which struck his leg and severely
shattered that member. He was taken
to his home, where medical aid was
given him. His injury, however, was
too severe and he passed away the
following Thursday. The funeral SER
vices were held Friday, November 10,
at Bethel church, where Rev. j. Ran
dolph, Of Pleasant Home, conducted
the services. His employers suspended
work in all their mines upon the day
of the funeral and furnished special
train from Avery to accommodate the
miners, some three or four hundred.
who attended the services. The funeral
was attended by fully 1000 people,
who gathered to pay their last earthly
tribute to the memory of the good
man. The services at the grave were
in charge Of the q. NJ. W. of A. and
the beautiful ritualistic work was CIV
en-. Mr.. Colwell was married to Lulu
Neal August "a, 1902, and to them was
born one child. Besides his immediate
family, he leaves his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Thomas Colwell, and several
brothers and sisters to mourn his loss.
The death of Mr.. Colwell cast gloom
over the entire community in which
he lived. Contributed.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-16
eAPTIsTs BAR CUPID.
Northern Educational Society Adopts
New Law,

New Law.
North Adams, Mass, Nov 14-Young
men desiring to enter the ministry OF
the aid Of the Northern Baptist Educa-
tional society, must hereafter refrai1
from matrimony for year before en-
tering the Newton Theological semin-
airy, the only institution of it's kind in
the state where building theologians
are prepared for their work with little
or no expense to themselves.
The motion to this effect, presented
by the Rev. DR.. Rowlev of Boston was
passed without dissenting vote at
the Hath meeting Of the society. 1t
was also voted to present the motion
to similar educational societies, and to
request their cooperation In beaish-
in the evil
The Newton Theological seminary
has for many years been the Mecca of
young men desiring to secure an edu-
cation for the Baptist ministry, and
not possessed Of sufficient means to
carry them through their courses. The
rules Of the institution have long for
hidden students receiving financial aid
from marrying during the academic
course.
1t has been the custom of MANY who
were aware Of the rule to evade it in
spirit, IL not in letter, by taking to
themselves a wife just before entering
the seminary The practice has grown
to such an extent that it has been
felt necessary to formulate some strin-
gent regulations which will prevent the
society from being imposed upon
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-16
TIiE OTTUMwA COURIER

urday evening. The popular game
was whist In which the honors were
won by Miss Audrey Burgess. Light
refreshments were served. The little
affair was greatly enjoyed.
Mr.. and Mrs. Edwards, of Moulton,
spent Sunday at the home Of their
daughter, Mrs. Will Votaw.
Mr.. and Mrs. G.. w. Garner left the
first Of the week for the northern part
Of the state to visit their son, DR.. Den
yer Garner, whose home has been
frightened by little son.
Mr. and Mrs. N. s. Johnson are pre-
pairing to close their residence in the
north part of the city for the winter
and will board at tho Sax hotel.
Miss Jennie Burgess spent Sunday
in the country visiting her aunt, Mrs.
C. A.. Patterson, who is very sick with
paralysis
Mrs. Nancy Wallace has improved
her residence in the west part of the
city by giving the neat little cottage
a new roof.
]. H. McCuston left Sunday for
Kirksville, Mo-, to visit Mrs. McCus-
toms sister, Mrs. William Johnson.
who is very low with typhoid fever.
Yes McAllister, of Nebraska, passed
through this city the first Of the week
and spent a few days at the homes
of Frank Martin and j. H. Nc
Cushion while enroute to Illinois
where he intends locating
Misses Lizzie and Kate Mott, Of
Troy, spent Sunday with their sister,
Mrs. j. G. Wilkinson.
Mrs. Jas. Reiger, who has been
visiting at the home of her parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. G.. NJ. Wray has returned
to her home in Kirksville, Mo.
G. M. Burgess is layin- a brick
pavement in front of his residence
property in the north part of the city
The street has been we'll graded and
the Collier hill leveled to scarcely
perceptibie decline.
]. S. Barker has sold his farm prop.
erty southeast of the city to George
Rudd for $4,000. Mr.. and Mrs. Bark
er intend moving to this place in
February and Mr.. Rudd will take pos.
session of the farm March L.
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Horn and fam
lily left Monday for Centerville to visit
relatives for a short time.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dan Hedrick have
rented their farm property and are
moving into the Richie property in
the west part of the city.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-16

j. c. Krejci every attempt was made
TIC bring the aged woman back to con-
seriousness, but they proved unavail-
ling.
'Althougn Mrs. O'Connor was 70
years Of age. she had enjoyed perfect
health Her habit Of arising from her
bed in sleep was discovered by her
nurse some time ago. and since that
time the members Of the household
have cautioned her many times
against attempting to use the gas
lights In her bed rooms. The danger
of just such an accident as the fatal
one Of Sunday had been mentioned
to her by her son.
Born In ireland.
Margaret Linehan O'Connor was
born in Ireland in 1927. She came
to America with her parents and To-
Gated with them in Ohio. She was
married ct Cincinnati in 1S4S. Her
husband died in 1857, while resident
of Cincinnati. The year Of her hus-
bands death Mrs. O'Connor removed
to Ottumwa, where she resided until
1899, when she moved to Carroll. She
came to Sioux City to reside with her
son in 1902.
"Of the six children born to Mrs.
lO'Connor, Rev. Father O'Connor is the
only one living. A grandson, Andrew
j. O'Connor, is student in Creighton
university at Omaha. Mrs. O'Connor
has two sisters, Mrs. Catherine Daily
and Mrs. Nano Murphy, both Of New
York City. Mrs. Daily may be here
to attend the funeral. However, the
poor health of Mrs. Murphy will make
it impossible for her to attend.
"Mrs. O'Connor was an enthusiastic
and tireless worker in the Roman
Catholic church She is known to
many bishops and church prelates for
her many deeds Of charity and efforts
in behalf of the church. She was a
member of the Married Ladies' sodal-
|ity OF st. Joseph's church and Of the
Rosary Arch confraternity.
1.-THE funeral will be held at 10
O'Clock Tuesday morning from st.
Joseph's church. Bishop P. J. Garri-
gan will preside and will perform the
absolution. The services will be in
charge of the older priests of the city.
1t is expected to have Monsignor Len
chan of Ft. Dodge here, providing the
illness of near relative will not in
terfere. The pallbearers will be J. F.
Gearen, Robt. Larkin, J. j. Enright, W.
H. Kean, F. q. Gill, and Mr.. Micka. In
terment will be in Mt. Calvary Gene
terry"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-16
ASH GROVE.

Ash Grove, Nov. 1s.-Little Ruth
Cassill is on the sick list.
Miss Belle Hannah Is visiting her
sister, Mrs. Will Reynolds.
County Superintendent Roland Wis
tied the school in this community last
week.
Wesley Peoples is visiting at this
place.
Miss Lucy West is visiting her sis
ter Mrs. Vess Hoover at Pleasant Hill
to her home at Bunch after visit
Eere.
The meetings at the Christian church
are growing In interest. Large crowds
are in attendance and the people are
well pleased with the music rendered
iby Miss Sea
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-16
WEST END ITEMS.


Mrs. H. Utterback, 1929 West Main
street, left yesterday for three weeks
visit in Sigourney.
The Y. w. c. A. training class in
the West End Presbyterian church
tonight.
Mr.. and Mrs. David Thomas of Abba
visited at the home Of Mr.. and Mrs D.
j. Griffith, corner of West Second and
Caldwell streets Sunday.
Mrs. Jefferson Reese of Margaret, is
visiting at the home of her sister, Mrs
John Wharton, on West Main street
Gravestown.
Charles Williams of Fairview is visit.
ing in Oskaloosa
Mr.. and MRS. Richard Price Of Phil
lipstown, have returned from visit in
Des Moines.
. The West End Aid society will meet
at the home Of Mrs Mary Lord, in
Faicvier, at 10 q. M, Wednesday.
Mrs. c. e. Phillips and Miss Rosie
Gordon of Seymour returned home last
night after o visit with their sister
Miss Sadie Gordon, 1042 West Fourth
street.
Joseph L. Mering, 235 Clarence
street, has gone to Bussey on bust
ness.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-16
FOR A NEW SYSTEM
BOARD OF HEALTH WILL TNvEs-
TIGATE OTHER METHODS OF
DlsPoslNG OF GARBAGE
Present Method Of Dumping Waste in
River From the Vine Street Bridge
Observation-Disclosures Appoint.
ed-Provide for Care of Sick Girl.

With a view to establishing a better
method of disposing of the city's
waste than by dumping it from the
Vine street bridge, a committee of five
members of the city council was an.
polnted last night by Mayor B. r.
Suits at the meeting of the board of
health to investigate the advisability
OF change and to ascertain the costs
OF any new arrangements. There has
Deen numerous objections raised to
dumping the city garbage in the river
from the Vine street bridge and Mayor
Suits action last night, upon the mo-
ton of Alderman William O'Malley, is
the first step to the establishment Of
a better system.
Another item of Importance trans
acted by the board of health last night
was the provision made for the care
OF Miss Hazel Wall, who is suffering
from scarlet fever. Miss Wall is in no
TOO prosperous circumstances. She
lives with Mrs. Margaret Bier, 42S
West Second street. The board of
health, upon the recommendation of
City Physician M. w. Fascoe, voted to
allow Mrs. Bier So per week for the
care of the unfortunate girl.
For sufficient cause the scavanger,
bills of Mrs. S. j. Hunt and Mrs. Con
Fox were abated. Those of H. Peck, J..
]. Connell, Mary ]. Burgess and e. L..
Brizendine were certified up to the
county treasurer for collection. D. A.
Emery presented petition that the
scavanger tax of Mrs. S. H. Sherman
be abated. This matter was referred
to the two South Ottumwa aldermen
for a decision
Following short report by DIR. M.
w. Pascoe, the board of health ad-
journed.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-16
HIGHLAND.

Richland, Nov. 14.-E. L. Breiten.
bach Of Valley was in town Wednesday
calling on friends.
Henry Bruins, clerk of the Mine
Workers of America, has been comput-
ing the amount each member Of the
order has paid in the last twenty
years and finds that the most any one
man has paid is $500.
Mrs. Jane Halferty is out in the
country visiting her children.
Mr.. and Mrs. Joe Coffman of Wool
son gave an opossum dinner last Sun.
day to large number of friends,
among whom were Mr.. and Mrs. Will
liam Gregory. Mr.. and Mrs. Riley
Coble and Daniel Fogleman of this
city. They had a fine dinner and nm
enjoyable day was spent.
Attic Wilson OF Washington was in
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-16
The s.ork Route.

Denver, Colo, Nov. IL. Major
Hopper, general passenger agent OF
the Denver & Rio Grande is thinking
OF changing the well known catch
phrase, "The Scenic Line" to "The
Stork Line" Within the last three
months four babies have been tcrn
on Denver & Rio Grande trains-two
in the Royal gorge, ore at Tennessee
Pass, the very crest OF tho continent
and surprising to relate, only one in
Utah. All are doing well. the major
included.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-16
.HOL CONFERENCE.
RURAL TEACHERS MEET AT OF.
FlcE OF COUNTY suPERIN-
TENDENT NYE
Conference Will Be Held Each Month
More Than Fifty Teachers in At
tendance saturday-Plans for Gen.
eral Meeting at Agency.

In order that the rural teachers may
meet together and consider plans re-
garling their work, Miss Emma Nye,
county superintendent of schools, has
inaugurated the plan of holding a
teachers conference each month. The
meetings have proven very successful
and at the conference Saturday, which
was the second of the series, over fifty
teachers were in attendance.
Teachers meeting have long been a
regular feature Of the work of the in
Fstructors in the public schools, but
heretofore the teachers in the rural
schools have had no such conference.
The plan adopted by Miss Nye is meet.
ing with the appreciation Of the teach.
ers as 1t gives them the opportunity
of considering the problems regarding
their work with their other teachers
The meetings are held at the county
superintendent office.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-16
the city last week. q guest of his
daughter, Mrs. Fred Smith.

daughter, Mrs. Fred Smith.
While Henry Pringle and son were
out on their farm east of town at work
last Friday, their attention was at
tracted by an unusual noise, not far
away and on investigating found q
large chicken hawk caught in the
brush, with rabbit in its claws They
caught the bird and brought 1t to town.
Mr.. and Mrs. c. w. Mills enter
tanned large number OF friends Inst
Friday evening at their home.
Mr.. aud Mrs. John Newhouse sad
Mrs. Kate Bergh and children, who
have been visiting the T. r. EfcCarty
family returned and their homo in
Harper Saturday.
Mr.. and Mrs Hairy Massey Of Black
hawk township were guests OF John
Chacy and family Sunday.
Miss Frances Meachsm will close
very successfuI term OF school Friday
at the Greeson school with an interest
ing. program
Enoch Cox had a sale last Saturday
Of all his household goods. A large
crowd was present and everything sold
fairly we'll
Mrs. John Mills has been quite sick
at her home for some time.
Miss Carrie Prugh, who has been
confined TO the house for couple Of
weeks, is able to be up.
Arthur Williams Of Columbus juno
ton arrived in town last week and as
sisted the orchestra Sunday night.
Jack DeFrance, who has been travel
ing with theatrical company all
summer, arrived In town last week.
Mrs. Earriet Sydmore and baby de-
parted last week for her home in I'M
ionville. Her parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
Bridger, accompanied her to Brighton.
j. Fl. Dagget, editor Of the Clarion.
is again In the Ottumwa hospital, after
spending a week at home.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ed Swank have rented
the Enoch Cox property and will
move into 1t soon.
Mr.. and Mrs. Neal Smith are visit
ing relatives in Washington and Sig
Quincy.
The Hoyles orchestra from Chicago
gave a splendid entertainment at the
Methodist Episcopal church Monday
evening to a large and appreciative
audience.
John Greenlee and Fred Smith have
just completed cement works around
their property on WATSON avenue
James White and wife were over
Sunday visitors at the parental G. w.
Mills home.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-16
/ MARrlNsRuRe.

Martinsburg, Nov. 1S.-Mrs. English.
Of Fremont, visited with her son the
first of last week. Mr.. English Is the
agent at the c., B. & @. railway here.
Mrs Ida Bacon, who lives east of
town, and has been very i'll for some
time, is improving slowly.
Earl Brown, who left for Oregon last
month has returned home.
The Martinsburg band took in four
new members last Tuesday evening.
They will give a home talent play and
concert in the town hall in the near
future.
Mrs Earl Ogden was at Hedrick last
Tuesday
Marvin Graves left recentlv for Dali
las, Texas, where he intends locating.
Mrs. Cartwright and daughter, Miss
Alice, who formerly lived at Ottumwa
were visiting in town this week.
John Jones, Jr, is dangerously Ill
with appendicitis ss,s-, = ~
Mrs. Clara Shaffer Is not expected to
recover from her Illness.
Mrs. Graves, Miss Florence Graves
and Mrs. A. EYestone were at Oska-
loosa Wednesday.
Mr.. and Mrs. o. w. Glass and NJ.
Glass visited over Sunday with J. w.
Glass at Kirkville.
Mrs. Snyder, of Burlington, is visit
ing with her daughter, Mrs. Joe
Kupka.
Harry Emery, Of Highland Center,
was in town on business Monday.
Mr.. Hell has purchased the tile fac
tory Of John Harvey and taken possess
sion.
James Mills. of Richland, has moved
on the farm he recentlv purchased
north Of town.
A. w. Glass j. on the sick list at
this time.