Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1909-06-10

one of which would have killed him. The unfortu-
nate man had been stripped of all money, jewel
ry and other valuables.
Les Apaches," said the police, stodly. "He
should have known better than to go prowling
about alone at night" And in the police records
another murder was put on the score or the
thugs of the gay capital"
Paris is not proud of her Apaches and the rest
of the world has known little of these criminal
bands, though theatergoers in many American
cities during the last given glimpse
of one phase of their life in the skillfu but re-
voting Apache dance" imported from the French
music halls Yet the story of the origin, de-
velopment and deeds of these outlaw gangs is
fascinating, if not edifying.
Nearly ten years ago there appeared suddenly
in the underworld of Paris young woman so
beautiful ard animated that she at attract
ed general attention and admiration among it's
other denizens. Her head crowned with
great mass of lovely reddsh-god hair, on ac-
count of which she promptly nicknamed
"Casque dor" Golden Helmet" Sutors
quickly hocked about the girl and in time she
selected from among them as her protector one
Lecat, known among his comrades a clever
thief and a bold fighter whom the police would
be glad to have behind the bars.
All went well for time, until there came on
the scene a more attractive scoundrel. named
Manda Pretty, tickle Golden Helmet promptly
transferred her affections to the newcomer, and
then the trouble began. Lecat the forsaken
vowed vengeance on his successful rival and
summoned his followers to his aid. Manda also
had no lack of friends and soon all the thugs in
the district of the Halles markets had ranged
themselves on one side the other Many a
bloody battle was fought in the streets between
the two bands, cheered onby their female friends
and not few men were slain in these conflicts.
Finally in of the tiercest of the encounters
Lccat himself was killed and Golden Helmet
shouted aloud i'll joy. But her triumph was
shortlived Another leader for Lecats band,
known lie Manchot" sprang up and the
feud was continued with increased fury One
night lie Manchot caught Manda off his guard
and plunged knife deep into his back, and
for weeks the stricken leader lay in hospital near
to death. He recovered at last and was being
taken in an ambulance to q cell when the blood
thirsty lie Manchot, seeing his victim escaping
from his vengeance, broke through the police
guard, leaped into the vehicle and stabbed Man
da to death. For this murder lie Manchot is now
serving life sentence.
Golden Helmet, made notorious by the success
sion of battles and crimes which her attractions
had instlgated, now sought other conquests, and
decided that the drama her forte Only the
Intervention of the police prevented her eXpoita-
ton by an unscrupulous variety hall manager.
Golden Helmet then speedily sank out of sight,
but the rivalry for her favor had lasting results.
Always the Apaches have one queen" whose
rule over them is absolute if temporary. One
of the most notorious of these was "Chiffonnette"
who reigned last year. She was % years old
tail and graceful, and would have been 4 beauty