Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-02-27
[FrOm the Philadelphia Ledger.i
A LADY sAIL0R-H0w SHE WAS
i DISCOVERED.

esdng from the fact of sailor woman
beng connected with it, is now pending
before Alderman Israel, of the third
ward. growing out of the recent ship
ment of seaman on board of the ship
James Rea, OF this port. At recent
hearing the Alderman's Office was dense
ly crowded, and the following examina-
ton of female witness took place by
Mr.. Joseph NJ. Doran, the counsel for
the plaintiff. The witness was very
tall and fine. e.looking woman, dressed as
women are usually dressed, but there
was a certain air about her that indica-
ted she would have been more at home
in pantaloons and round jacket than in
bonnet and petlicOats I! We give the
questions and answers verJatim.
What is your name p Emma
Barnes Where were you born, ana
what is your business ?'-"I was born
in Moscow, in the state of Maine, and
for eighteen months past have followed
the sea as sailor How old are you .
Il am little over seventeen years.
Have you had protection ?'-'I had,
and have it STILL Under what name
did you ship ?'-'George Stewart >
what is your height and your weight o
My height, Sir, in my bare feet, is
full FIVE feet nine and a quarter inches ;
and my weight is one hundred and eigh-
ty pounds on shore-at sea it is rather
more Did you ship on board the ship
James Rea ?'--I did, In what capac.
ity PAS an ordinary seaman Did
you sign articles ?'-'I did not I'm
der what name and what wages %
George Stewart, and at eighteen dollars
a month Did you get your advanced
II did not Did you go in the ship
and do your duty as an ordinary sea
man ?'-'Certainly, and 1 came back to
this port when the ship put back 'Are
you sailor, and can you go aloft and
do all you ought 10 DO PAS an ordin-
airy seaman, think 1 have 20 superior;
as cook and steward, every captain
has said l was A No. L. what is the
duty Of an ordinary seaman PIT is to
do all he can, obey orders and work
cheerfully; that 1 have always DONE
Is the James Rea staunch ship p
She is a crank ship what do you
mean by a crank ship ?'-I mean that
her rigging is too heavy for her hull aud
she is not ballasted right why didn't
they pay your advance money ?'-'That
| can't tell 1 know 1 deserved it, DO
you like the sea ?'-'That 1 do; rough
as it is, there is something pleasant about
it-a landsman's life is but one thing
over and over again. A sailor at sea is
kept too busy to be trouble with blues
Where did you intend to go next p
Down East to see my friends and folks
at home How did you conceal your
sex "-'That, sir, l can't tell you now
perhaps when we are better acquainted
and are alone l may tell you; women
can keep..secrets as wellas men, Didn't
you lick Yankee captain once ?'-'That
L did; it was round the Horn, l mind it
well he was big fellow, as big as
am, but over six feet. He picked a
quarrel with me and struck me with his
fist. l knocked him down with a left
handed blow-he fell on the quarter
deck and halIoo'd like calf, and l gave
the saucy fellow just what he deserved
'Were you not afraid to trust yourself
with sailors ?'-'God knows / was not.
They are easily managed, and, general
ly speaking, they are the warmest heart
ed beings in the world. l drank and
smosed with them at all times. George
Stewart hasn't an enemy among them
is there any one of your messmates
here ?-'Why, yes, there's my old
friend Gorge, his last name l don't re-
member, (here the witness pointed out
an old salt in the corner, chewing mon
strous quid and looking all astonish
ment, many and many night have We
slept together 'Didn't he know you
were woman ?'-Indeed he did not
the thought never entered his mind. =
Are you really woman ?'-'I suppose
[ am That is not direct answer
are you woman or not ?'-'On my oath
[ am woman and not a man.
At this answer some of the sailors
present cried, George, you know you
e,' but they were promptly called to or
Ter by the Alderman, and the examina
ion proceeded for short time and then
closed, exhibiting on the part of the wit
ness great readiness in answering al .
questions touching the duties of a sailor, |
he perils of the sea, and the attributes
'f good ship. She then left the Office.
vas handed into carriage by Jim Tar
,aulin,' friend of hers. and was driven
off amid the cheers of the throng Of
men and boys who stood on the payment. |
The discovery of her sex by the mate Of
he James Rea, occurred from her hav
ng unintentionally responded to an or
Ter given while alOft furling sails, in
eminine tone, instead Of the rough voice