Page 198 - Confronting Race Women and Indians on the Frontier, 1815 - 1915

CHAPTER FIVE

This is not meant to imply that women allowed themselves to be
pushed around or intimidated by intrusive Indians. On the contrary ,
newly confident women resisted Indian demands that they deemed
unreasonable. W o men short-circuited native commands by actions that
ranged f r om slapping Indians' f a ces to waving empty pistols under
Indians' noses.98
White women also resorted to a variety of threats. On one occa­
sion, Susanna Ede evicted an Indian interloper from her kitchen by
threatening to pour hot grease on him. In another incident, she raised
a pot of boiling water to be thrown on the trespasser.99 Still other
women used direct action. One tore her belongings out of the hands of
trespassing American Indians. Some assertive women depended on raw
bravado to repel unwelcome requests. Lavinia Porter, f o r example,
refused a demand f o r bread only to have bleeding scalps thrust at her to
count and admire. When she refused to give ground, her would-be
oppressor muttered "white squaw no fe ar" and departed. 100
Some f r o ntierswomen were even willing to engage in unfeminine,
violent action when necessary. T o protect stock fr om nearby Indians,
Mary Burrell and Barsina French's mother took turns standing guard
with the men. lOr An Arizona woman defended her f a mily's horses and
mules by spending a long night shooting at a band of Pima Indians fr om
r
one end of the stable roof and then the other. 0 2 An Iowa woman
attempted to f e nd off an abusive Indian with a fireplace poker.103 And
when Susie Van De Wiele's officer husband asked her if she was afraid
ofIndians near Fort Leavenworth, she replied, "No, give me a pistol." 104
Apparently, women were learning that their physical weakness was
not as severe nor as debilitating as they had been led to believe. They
also seemed quite willing to act in a martial f a shion when necessary. 10 5
Still, they more often spoke of occasions of cooperating, trading, or some
type of positive encounter with American Indians. 106 The initial pattern
of white women's interaction with Indians was exchanges of goods and
services.Women who overcame their anxieties traded such items as trin­
kets, clothing, and f o odstuffs. This trade occurred even during the
intensified conflict of the 1 8 60s and 1870s.10 7 On the trail and in their
new homes, women bartered needles and thread, processed f o ods such
as flour, articles of apparel, and trifles with natives, who usually offered

190