Facing down murderous outlaws. Starting schools. Saving the lives of strangers. Rose Maria Segale’s life would one day become the stuff that legends are made of, but she started out with humble beginnings. She was born in the tiny Italian village of Cicagna on January 23, 1850, but her family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, when she was four years old. She wanted to become a nun, even at a young age, and she told her father that as soon as she was old enough she wanted to join the Sisters of Charity. When she was sixteen, she entered the novitiate, becoming Sister Blandina.
For a short time in 1872, she taught in Steubenville and Dayton, Ohio, but much to her delight, she received word that she was to go to Trinidad to work as a missionary. Her hopes of traveling to a foreign country were soon dashed when Sister Blandina boarded the train and realized that the Trinidad to which she was going was not a tropical island, but the westerner frontier ofColorado.
In Trinidad, she taught she discovered a town frequented by outlaws. Lynching was a common practice, and law was often determined by the mob not the sheriff. One day, two men shot it out, ending with one man fatally wounded and the other in jail. Friends of the dying man were waiting for him to pass and then they planned to storm the jail and lynch the shooter. The son of the shooter, one of Sister Blandina’s students, rushed to her and begged for her help. Appalled, she hurried to the dying man’s bedside and pleaded with him to forgive the man and allow the law to determine his punishment, rather than the frenzied mob bent on revenge. He did, and the shooter faced a judge, not a lynch mob. This fascinating story was later re-enacted on the CBS series Death Valley Days. The episode was called “The Fastest Nun in the West.”
Sister Blandina Segale was later transferred to Santa Fe, where she co-founded public and Catholic schools. During her time in New Mexico, she worked with the poor, the sick, and immigrants. She was also an advocate on behalf of Native Americans and Hispanics who were losing their land to swindlers.
Though Sister Blandina helped many, it was her encounter with Billy the Kid that made her famous. The sister learned of a wounded outlaw the town’s doctors refused to treat, and she found the man and nursed him back to health. When Billy the Kid came to Trinidad to scalp the doctors for not treating his cohort, he met Sister Blandina and thanked her and offered to do anything she asked as a reward for her kindess. What she asked for was that he spare the four doctors. Billy wasn’t happy, but he kept his word, and Sister Blandina saved four men that day.
In a later encounter with the outlaw, the sister told how she was inside a covered wagon when Billy tried to rob its passengers. Seeing her there, the outlaw supposedly tipped his hat to her and left empty-handed.In letters to her sister, she described Billy the Kid as having “a rosy complexion and the air of a little boy. … He could choose the right path, and instead he chose the wrong.” Many of the tales she wrote in letters to her sister later became a book, At the End of the Santa Fe Trail.
Sister Blandina Segale choose the right path for her life and ended up helping many people.
Bio: Bestselling author, Vickie McDonough, grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead, she married a computer geek who’s scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams in her fictional stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen and others living in the West during the 1800s. Vickie is the award-winning author of over 30 published books and novellas. Visit Vickie’s website to learn more about her books or to sign up for her newsletter: www.vickiemcdonough.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/VickieMcDonough
Twitter:http://twitter.com/vickiemcdonough
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/VickieMcDonough/
History lovers: check out the daily historical posts at: http://christianfictionhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com
Vickie is giving away an autographed copy of Call of the Prairie, book 2 in her Pioneer Promises series.
Here’s what the book is about:
Sophie Davenport fears life is passing her by. Her strict, overprotective parents have kept her close to home because of the severe asthma attacks she sometimes endures. She longs to live a normal life and hopes to marry, but that dream seems impossible. When her aunt has a tragic accident and requests someone come to Kansas to help her, no one is available except Sophie. Her father, tied up with business, reluctantly agrees to let her go. Sophie is ecstatic and sees this trip as her one chance to prove to her parents—and herself—that she’s capable of living on her own. But things in the small town of Windmill are not as her aunt portrayed. And her aunt’s handsome neighbor, Josh Harper, guardian of two of the children her aunt cares for after school, obviously doubts her abilities. Will the Kansas dust, the drama, and difficulties prove too much for Sophie? Or will she lose her heart to her neighbor and succumb to the call of the prairie?
How very interesting! I would like to read more about this very interesting person.
Looking forward to reading Call of the Prairie.
Wow! Very interesting that she came face to face with Billy the Kid and made a deal that saved several men and later on the people on the stagecoach.
I love history and learning things new. Thank you for your post Vickie! I would love to win a copy of Call of the Prairie. Thank you for the opportunity.
Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.
countrybear52 AT yahoo DOT com
Wow, what a fascinating story! The Old West has such an interesting history with stories like this.
Thank you for your post. There’s nothing wrong with being around computer geeks in fact I have been around them for years.
wonderful submit, very informative. I’m wondering why the other
specialists of this sector don’t notice this. You must proceed your writing.
I am sure, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!
Wow! That is an amazing story of an amazing woman. Thank you for sharing, Vickie!
Thanks for stopping by, everybody. I also found the story of Sister Blandina very interesting. An old friend sent me a Facebook message and old me to look her up. I did and was instantly engaged in her story.
When I signed up to be a guest today, I didn’t know I’d be helping my sister today with an estate sale at her mil’s house. I’m not sure if there’s internet, but I will stop by again this evening if I can’t get online there. Have a great Saturday!
What a great post! Thank you for sharing and thank you for your giveaway.
Sister Blandina reminds me of a darling spitfire nun at the college I attended (which was founded by the sisters). No one could say no to her as she zoomed around on her nun-mobile (I mean, electric wheelchair), and she was a great advocate for students and the environment, posing for whatever propaganda was needed to protect the college, including having her face plastered on every recycling bin on campus. Given the opportunity, she’d have been right out with Sister Blandina!
Hi Vickie, welcome back! We’re so glad you could come to visit. You always bring something interesting. Sister Blandina sounds like a person I’d love to sit down with. Very wonderful lady who did special things. She certainly made her years on earth count. What a lady. Thanks for sharing her with all of us.
Love the cover of Call of the Prairie. The blending of all the colors make it very appealing to the eye. Sophia sounds like a wonderful character. Wishing you much success!
Hi Vickie! I enjoyed learning about Sister Blandina and the path she chose helping others. Thank you for sharing this interesting post and wonderful giveaway.
Wow fascinating story and so interesting. Thanks for the chance to win! =) have a wonderful weekend Vickie! =) truckredford(at)Gmail(Dot)com
The story of the fastest nun in the west was really interesting to read. The Call of the Prairie looks like an interesting read to. 🙂
Vickie, welcome to the Junction. I absolutely adored learning about Sister Blandina. What a wonderful example for us all to follow. Thanks for being here today and sharing such an inspiring story about a woman I would have loved to meet.
That’s an interesting story
My partner and I stumbled over here different web address and thought I might as
well check things out. I like what I see so now i’m following you.
Look forward to looking at your web page
for a second time.
Very interesing post and I have not heard of her before. She must have been one tough women. Would like to learn more about her. Your book sound like a great read. Thanks for sharing with us today.
She made a difference in peoples lives She let her light shine for Our Lord
And God bless you for writing it
Have a terrific day
Hey Vickie! It took me forever to find where to leave a comment. LOL I kept looking at the bottom! Loved the post. I was fascinated with Billy the kid ever since I read a book on him when I lived in Missouri. Congratulations on the new book release!
A very courageous lady, this one, to nurse people back to health, in the presence of so many outlaws. Love your books and love to win! and I found a new blog-Pistols and Petticoats. Thanks, Vickie
Wow, Vicki, what a great woman you introduced us to. I had no idea about Sister Blandina. I sure would have loved to meet her and her generous spirit. Thanks for spending time with us in Wildflower Junction today. Congrats on the latest release!
I would not ever want to miss out on a book you wrote. They are such a blessing. Would love to review it.
Vickie, welcome to P&P! What a great person to blog about. I’ve not heard of her, but what a wonderful addition to the old west saga. I’m familiar with many of the stories about Billy the Kid, but what you told us just adds to his persona. Thanks for a great blog and thanks for dropping by P&P for a little visit. Hugs from Texas, Phyliss
Thank for all of your kind comments.
Rachel, your nun sounds like a hoot.
Waving at Linda. And thanks for the welcome, Renee, Phyliss and Tanya.
Arisha, I’m glad you found the P & P blog. It’s a great place to be.
Waving at all of my friends who stopped by today. Thanks!
I so enjoy the unexpected history of our beloved western days! Hope to have the opportunity to read Vickies book!
Thanks for sharing and I would love a chance to read your book.
Hello Vickie. glad you are here. this article was very interesting. she was a brave woman.This what was needed in the West. Brave women. I would love to win your book. Thanks. Maxie
mac262(at)me(dot)com
Wonderful story about Sister Blandina. It reminds me a lot of Sister Theresa, both women’s with sincere, devotional hearts for our Lord’s work. It’s too bad Billy the Kid never learned his lesson to change his direction in life when given he was given Second chance.
For your book, I find it interesting that you added a ailment such as asthma to the one of the main characters. Ingenious… I’m looking forward to reading it.
Really liked the post. Very interesting and informative. Who knew Billy the Kid would be influenced by a nun. The books heroine with asthma makes it of interest to me as I have asthma and have dealt with it all my life. It will be a great read to see how you have her deal with it.
What a great and interesting story. I enjoyed reading it. Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to reading book 2 of the Pioneer Promises series. I read book 1 a few weeks ago and really, really enjoyed it.
Thank you for a most interesting post. It is always interesting to find out more about the wide variety of peoiple that made the West what is was and is today.
I hope CALL OF THE PRAIRIE does well. It sounds like a book many will enjoy.
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What a great post! I would like to see that old Death Valley Days story. In the 19th century Catholic nuns frequently went where no one else did, founding schools, social services and hospitals. They were courageous women.