The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-16
AMAZOSS IN WAR.

Washington, y. G, Oct 15.---Ameri-
can women who may take arms and
Join their Russian sisters in the battle
against Germany, as forecast recently
by Elihu Root Of the American mis-
sion to Russia. upon his return from
tfIar country, 90 not need 10 SEEK Tor
such precedent in Europe. The
history of the Western hemisphere
presents several picturesque and in
spring instances of North and South
American amazons, according to n
war geography bulletin issued today
by the National Geographic society
from it's Washington headquarters.
The bulletin, which Is based upon a
communication TO the society from
Harriet Chalmers Adams. the explorer,
says:
'TYinena, otherwise known as Toby
Riddle, is probably the only North
American woman who ever led war
rlors into battle, In the war between
the Modocs and the Pitt River Cali
formal Indians many years ago, this
dauntless Indian maid. who had pre-
-yioualy received title OF Kaitcbkoua
Wfnena tsnbchief3 wflsu she fear-
lessly guided her canoe through the
rushing waters OF Link river and saved
the lives of two children, assumed
command OF the Modocs when that
bands leader was shot down. Mount
ed on her war horse she rushed TO
the head of her Indian column and
led q brilliant cavalry charge which
resulted in a complete victory over
the Pitt River tribe.
For Winema peace had its glories
no less than war. When the Ameri-
can peace commission desired to treat
with Captain Jack, the Modoc chief,
she acted as an intermediary, and II
was she who warned the Americans,
General E. r. S. Candy, Rev. r.
Thomas Colonel A. r. Meacham and
Judge J. A. Fairchild not TO 20 TO a
certain conference at which she knew
Captain Jack (who was her ooustnl
contemplated treachery. In spite Of
her warning, the Americans attended
! the meeting. She accompanied them
and was instrumental in saving two
OF the number.
! 'FWinema subsequently married
| Frank Riddle, frontiersman from
Kentucky. She is now a widow, sew
enty-f1ve years of age and lives on
! the Klamath indian reservation, in
Southern Oregon. the United States
| government allowing her pension Of
! $25 a month.
"a striking parallel to the heroisrn
and feariessness of the Russian wo-
mems command OF death is to be
found in the story OF the women of
Paraguay during the Five Years war,
when Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay
all made war on the little republic
In this terrible struggle. after praeti-
cally all the men had been killed and
regiments had been formed of boys
ranging from twelve to fifteen years
OF age, even the women were enlist
ed. and struggled with despairing
4, strength pnfpr a hen rt1 =
general until the country, which had
boosted a population OF ! 1897 900 at
! the outbreak OF hostilities, had only
/ 22o, GOO Inhabitants, 100000 of whom
were women above the age of fifteen
/ When peace was declared these wo-
men became the merchants and the
farmers OF the land. re-estahlishing
the commercial life OF Paraguay
TN the Philippines American SOL
diers on several occasions came in
contact with Sulu women warriors
In one OF the last battles on the Is
lands the Sulus fortified themselves in
the bowl of an extinct volcano. It
WIS rushed and captured by American
soldiers, who discovered to their dis
may after the battle, that a number
+ OF their antagonists had been women
Their figures were as slim as those of
the men; both sexes wore their hair
long, with handkerchiefs over their
heads, and the wcmen wore trousers
similar to those worn In Turkey Thus
| they were practically indistinguish-
a Die from the fftefr' The bravery of
the women warriors appears all the
more remarkable when 1t is recalled
that, according to the Mohammedan
faith. man who Is slain while fight
ing Christians is translated at once to
heaven, but as the women are not
supposed TO have souls their sacrifice
Of life is without hope OF reward in
a hereafter.
The history OF pioneer DAYS in the
West Is punctuated, with many tf.Ss4se
ing stories OF individual instances in
~hich women bore firearms 10 protect
tina attacks OF aavages.~