The Woman Who Won a Gunfight on the Road to Spokane
A woman driving to Spokane encountered a highwayman demanding her life or her money; she chose a third option.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
SPOKANE, July 11.—'Hold up your hands! I want your money, for I know you have plenty of it! Give it to me quick, or I'll blow your brains out!' These were the words reported to have been spoken to Mrs. Oleasteln Amundsen by a man who suddenly appeared in the road and seized the bits of her horses as she was driving toward Spokane early yesterday morning. Instead of heeding the robber's command, Mrs. Amundsen reached down into the bottom of the wagon for her revolver and commenced firing at the outlaw. Seeing that he had no timid woman to deal with, the man returned the compliment, firing six shots at her. Mrs. Amundsen's last shot took effect on the hold-up, for he threw up his hands and fell in front of the horses. Mrs. Amundsen then whipped up her team and hurried to Spokane. Officers went to the place where the encounter took place, but were unable to find the man.
“Seeing that he had no timid woman to deal with, the man returned the compliment.”
Travelers in the early 20th century faced genuine peril on rural roads, a stark contrast to today's paved and patrolled highways. Stories of 'outlaws' were common in the regional press, often emphasizing the grit and self-reliance required to survive in the frontier landscape.
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