A curious, if effective, custom of cowhiding was practiced in Bloomington in its early years. The cowhide seemed to be favored by the women of the city. On May 22, 1880 a young woman took exception to words published in reference to herself in the Leader. She appeared at the old M E Church, where Moses Leland, the editor, was holding court and asked him to step outside.
About eleven o'clock, while the Board of Trade across the street were beginning to bet on the noon markets, and while Moses was engaged in a discussion on church government with Revs. Hoffman and Efflinger, the door opened and Ms. Eva Johnson entered. She inquired for Mr. Leland and when that portly form arose, quick as a flash a rawhide flashed from beneath the cloak of the stalwart female and began to zip zip through the air in the immediate vicinity of what represents the head on the Lelandian shoulders. After three or four good blows were struck the assailed enthusiastically rushed forward and clasped the engaging maiden after which he succeeded in wresting from her the weapon of offense. Then he say down panting and exhausted. The merry maiden of the cowhide, adjusted her disordered apparel , neatly knotted her veil around her head and departed.
One has to wonder what it was that Moses Leland printed about Eva Johnson! He may have hesitated before playing fast and loose with the reputation of another woman after his lashing. Since the publication of this post I gained access to the Leader! Here is the offending article:
Leland, in his paper, denied that Ms. Johnson was able to land a single blow and declared his intention to print the truth even if "horse-whipped every hour of the day."
Another cowhiding took place in March 1870 after the tender reunion of Dr. and Mrs. Keith. Dr. Keith assured his wife that no woman had come between them and that they should resume their married life after a jealous rupture. But Mrs. Keith was not quite a trusting soul, and set a watch upon her husband. When she received word that the suspect female had entered his office, she returned unexpectedly -- where she found Dr. Price and the female in a state of undress. She had not come unarmed, and laid into both of her tormenters equally.
The earliest cowhiding reported was in April, 1857. The Pantagraph was far too discreet to name the combatants this time, but on Center Street three women, a mother and two daughters called an unnamed gentleman out of a store. One daughter entered the store and prevented his escape into the store and the other daughter and mother both attacked the man with cowhides.
After acting their several parts in the play, the ladies returned to their home in fine spirits, their nerves somewhat excited, probably, by their first exertions in a business with which they were not very well acquainted. For amateurs they did fairly! The gentleman, it appears, not long since made some remarks derogatory to the character of the ladies in question, which coming to their knowledge, decided them to vindicate their honor in the manner above described.
The news has lately been filled with long secret reports of abuse suffered by women in the workplace and in public spaces, and it is interesting to think of how these women would have handled a Louis C K or Harvey Weinstein. A hat pin was always at hand, but a cow hide, there would be true satisfaction.