South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-05-02
FEELS QUEER TO
Be QUEEN OF A
JUNGLE COUNTRY
American Heiress Recently
Awarded Large Tract In
Mattagorssa.

mai btnAtAL QOES not Know A.
least that is what she told the inter
viewer shortly after she had learned
that she had become the mistress Of
vast domain OF South American
jungle territory through the same
court decree which gave her a d.
vorce from Bruce Vincent Douglas
and permitted her TO resume her
maiden name.
I'D much rather not talk" she
said with a wan smile al her coy
little apartment upon her arrival
dresser in a downtown beauty estab-
lishment.
It's all such surprise. It hard
ly seems possible, but I know it is
true. as my attorney tells me there
Is no question as to my legal right
to the property which belonged to
my husband. I feel a bit tired this
evenings I usually do"
The uncrowned queen Of a princi-
pality larger than many European
countries and sole ruler OF a king
dom of 100000 acres is good
looking brunette, who looks younger
than the % years credited to her.
Has No Plans.
at has come too suddenly TO make
, plans" she said in response 10 a
query as to what disposition she
would make of the property award
ed her by Judge A. +. St. Sure in
lieu Of alimony.
''Will you go down and develop it
yourself or sell it?" persisted the in
| terviewer.
That question I can't answer just
now, for 1 will not be granted my
final decree of divorce for a year,
and until that time my attorney tells
me will be unable TO actually take
possession Of the property. That
gives me plenty Of time to plan.
Yes, I'd like to go down there,
but perhaps IL would not be the best
thing to do. I really don't feel like
a Queen at all"
You will give up your position %
she was asked.
mo, not at all. I'll be back at
work tomorrow as usual. There is
really no reason why I should give
| It up, is there Is" she parted naive
ly.
Mrs. Douglas. or Miss Bennett as
her decree entities her to be called
lives with her mother and sister.
! Both her mother and sister are
guarding her against publicity in
connection with her newly won do
main. 1t was only after persistent
efforts that she agreed to see the
interviewer, and not until she had
received word from her attorney
that it would be all right to talk.
Prefers Her Romance.
She was much more willing tC
discuss her romance with Douglas
now serving time in Sing Sing. than
how it feels to be a jungle queen.
"Dr. Douglas was a diplomat, ex-
plorer and soldier Of fortune. I met
him in Oakland early in 1920. we
were married in New York City a
short time after-April 2, to be ex-
act. The day after the wedding
was forced to return TO Oakland be-
cause Of business reasons relative
to Mr.. Douglas. He followed me
here a month later and we left fol
a honeymoon"
81 understand 1t was a rather
whirlwind affair" the interviewer
asked.
"Whirlwind is right" she said
laughingly. I'm less than a month
we toured the entire United State,
always stopping at the best hotel.
and taking in every worthwhile
amusement. He seemed TO have
plenty Of money, and I never
thought anything but that he was {
millionaire until when in Seattle h
was arrested on a charge Of passinl
fictitious checks. and is now in Sins
Sing serving time. I understand n
Is wanted in practically every state
in the union on the same charg'
and that the northwest mounted
police want him for something"
But how did Mr.. Douglas acquire
the territory awarded you in Bra
zip"
Sure of Title.
The property was awarded hin
by Don Manuel Valdez for the Bra
lillian government. The propertl
originally belonged TO Valdez
father, who had been given It b,
the Queen Of Portugal years before
My attorney has investigated tn
matter thoroughly and says Their
Is no question as to my ownership
oft
THE tract is rs miles long ant
80 miles wide. It is located in tn
province Of Mattagorssa and Il
bounded by the River Juruenna. tn
I Rio Tapogas, and the RIO Sumido
rivers. 1t is some 700 miles inland
but there is only one mountain
range between It and the coast, anc
transportation facilities would no
be difficult to establish, as Their
is a railroad now within 80 mile
OF il.
whether or not Mr. Douglai
aided the late Theodore Roosevelt
in his explorations Of Brazil I can
say. I do not believe he was witt
Roosevelt. for he told me he was II
Brazil before Roosevelt.
The life Of Douglas. as detailed
by his divorced wife. sounds more
like an over-colored modern move
than a chapter from real life.
According TO Mrs Douglas heI
husband is but 35 years old, and
despite his youthfulness served as
a major in the Brazilian army foi
many months years later. He also
Is said 10 have discovered the River
Of Doubt" made famous by Theo-
dore Roosevelt. and carried or
RooseveIt's work Of exploration into
new territory.
! "Nfr. Douglas was made a major
IN the Brazilian army because ne
suppressed a revolutionary uprising
Il IL. cnrrr+rt- 80 he told - she