The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-06-04

pne If which would have killed him. The unfortu
nate man had been stripped of all money, jewel
ry and other valuables.
lies Apaches" said the police, stondly. he
should have known better than to go PROVING
about alone at night" And in the police RECORDS
another murder was put on the score of 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 season were given glimpse
of one phase of their life in the skilful but re-
voting Apache dance" imported from the French
music halls Yet the story of the origin de-
veopment and deeds of these outlaw gangs is
fascinating il not edifying
Nearly ten years ago there appeared suddenly
in the underworld of Paris a young woman so
beautiful and animated that she at once attract
ed general attention and admiration among It's
other denizens Her head was crowned with
great mass of lovely reddish-gold hair on ac-
count of which she was promptly nicknamed
"Casoue dor" or Golden Helmet" Suitors
quickly focked about the girl and in time she
Mselected from among them as her protector one
NlLecat known among his comrades as a clever
z thief and bold fighter whom the police would
be glad to have behind the bars.
All went we'll for time until there came on
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 or the other. Many
bloody battle was fought in the streets between
the two bands cheered on by their female friends
and not few men were slain in these conflicts.
Finally In one of the fercest of the encounters
Iecat himself was killed and Golden Helmet
shouted aloud in joy But her triumph was
short.lived Another leader for Lecat's band,
known IS "Le Manchot" sprang up and the
feud was continued with increased fury. One
night lie Manehot caught Manda on 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 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 a life sentence.
Golden Helmet, made notorious by the success
sion of battles and crimes which her attractions
had inst,gated now sought other conquests and
decided that the drama was her forte. only the
Intervention of the police prevented her expoita-
ton nv an INSCRIPTIONS 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 II temporary. one
of the most notorious of these was "ChiHonnetle.
who reigned last year. She was 70 years Old,
tall and graceful, and would have been beauty