The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1918-10-17
WOMEN AS WARRIORS
Winema, the Only North American
- Woman Who RIVER 7 .ad n, rn,y

American women who may take
arms and join their Russian sisters
| in the battle against Germany, as
forecast recently by Elihu Root of
the American Mission to Russia upon
his return from that country, do not
need to seek for such a precedent in
Europe. The history of the Western
Hemisphere presents several picture
sque and inspiring instances of North
and So. american amazons, accord
ing to war geography bulletin is
sued by the National Geographic Soc
| iety from its Washington headquar-
tiers. The bulletin, which is based
upon communication to the society
from Harriet Chalmers Adams, the
explorer, says:
"Winema, otherwise known as Toby
Riddle, is probably the only North
American woman who ever led war
riors into battle. In the war between.
| the Modocs and the Pitt river Cali
fo1nia) Indians, many years ago, this
dauntless Indian maid, who had pre-
viously received the title of Kaitch-
liona Winema (sub-chief) when she
fearlesly guided her canoe through
the rushing waters of Link river and
saved the lives of two children, as
sumed command of the .Modocs when
that bands leader was shot down
Mounted on her war-horse, she rush
ed to the head of her Indian column
and led brilliant cavalry charge
which resulted in complete victory
over the Pitt river tribe.
"For Winema peace had its glories
no less than war When the Ameri-
can Peace Commissioner desired to
treat with Captain Jack, the Modoc
chief, che acted as an intermediary,
and it was she who warned the Ameri-
cans, General E. R. S. Candy, Rev
E. Thomas, Col. A. B. Meacham and
Judge J. A. Fairchild. not to go to
certain conference at which she
knew Captain Jack (who was her
cousinl contemplated treachery. In
spite of her warning, the Americans
attended the meeting. She accom-
panied them and was instrumental in
saving two of the number.
"Winema subsequently married
Frank Riddle, frontiersman from
Kentucky. She is now a widow, rs
years of age, and lives on the Kla-
math Indian Reservation, in southern
Oregon, the United States govern
ment allowing her a pension of $25
a month.
"a striking parallel to the heroism
and fearlessness 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 practi
cally all the men had been killed and
regiments had been formed of boys
ranging from II to Is years of age,
even the women were enlisted, and
struggled with despairing strength
under a heartless ruler and general
until the country, which had boasted
a population of 1887 900 at the out
break of hostilities, had only 100000
inhabitants, 100000 Of whom were wo
men above the age of 10. When
peace was declared these women be-
came the merchants and the farmers
of the land, reestablishing the COM
mercial life of Paraguay.
"In 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 Sulu fortified themselves in
the bowl of an extinct volcano. 1t
was rushed and captured by Ameri-
can soldiers who discovered to their
dismay, after the battle, that a num-
Der of their antagonists had been Wo-
men. Their figures were as slim as
those of the men; both sexes wore
their hair long, with handkerchiefs
over their heads, and the women wore
trousers similar to those worn in Tur-
key, Thus they were practically in
distinghishable from the men. The
| bravery of these women warriors APP
pears all the more remarkable when
/ it is recalled that according to the
Mohammedan faith a man who is
slain while fighting Christians is tran
| slated 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.
thrilling stories of individual in
| stances in which women bore firearms
to protect themselves and their fam
lilies against the attack of savages."