The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-11-23
The Story Of a Woman's Career.

An English paper says: "An incident
is just now being discussed in military
circles SO extraordinary that were not its
truth vouched for by official authority,
the narration would certainly be deemed
absolutely inaudible. Our officers quar-
tered at the Cape between fifteen and TWEEN
ty years ago, may remember certain DIR
Berry, attached To the medical staff there,
and enjoying the reputation for consider
able i'll i'll his profession, especially for
firmness, decision an rapidity in difficult
operations. This gentleman bsd entered
the army in 1919, had passed, of course,
through the grades of assistant surgeon
and surgeon i'm various regiments, and
had served as such i'm various parts ofthe
globe. His professional requirements had
procured for him his promotion to the
staff at the Cape. He was agreeable and
clever, save for the drawback ami an in
perpetually brought the former peculiari-
ty into play. lie was excessively plain. of
feeble preparations, and l;litorrd under
the imperiectiOn of a iudicrousiy squeak
ing voice. ANY natural chatting with re-
gard to these, however. especially aroused
his ire, but was at length discontinued on
his ''calling out pcrsevering offender
aud shooting him through the lungs. .
."About $40 he became promoted to
medical inspector, and was transferred to
Malta. There he was equally distinguish
by his skill and by his pugnacious propen-
sites, the latter becoming SO incunvenient-
ly developed upon the slightest difference
of opinion with him, that nj last no notice
was allowed 10 be faiien of his fits of tenn
per. lie proceeded from Malta to Corfu,
where he was quartered for many years,
still conspicuous for the same peculiari
ties. When our government cedrd the
IOliian Islands to Greece, and our troops,
of course. quilted the territory. DIR. Berry
eicCted Ia leave the army and take up his
residence for the rest of his life at Corfu.
He died about a month ago. and upon his
death was discovered to lie woman
Very probably this discovery was ELECTED
during the natural PREPARATIONS for inter
ment, but there seems to be an idea preya-
lent that either verbally. during his last
Illness, or by some writing. perused I'M
nicdiateiy after his tfor we must still use
the 'mascuIine''b death, he had begged to
be buried without II post-mortem examin-
alton of any sort
This, most likely. only aroused the cur
iosity of the two nurses who attended him
for il was 10 them. il Hppcars, that the dis
closure of this mystery is OWING. Under
the circumstances, the fact was deemed so
important that medical testimony was
called in to report upon and record its
truth. BY this investigation not only was
the assertion placed beyond doubt, hut il
was equally beyond a doubt, brought T."
light that the Individual i'm question had
mt some time or another been mother.
This is all that is as Vet known of this eX-
traordnary story. The motives that oc-
casioned and the time when commenced
this singular deception are both shroudcd
by mystery. But thus ii sands an. .indub-
liable fact that a woman was for forty
years an sfffcer in the British service, had
fought one duel, and had sought many
more, had pursued legitimate medical
education, had acquired almost Il ce!ebri
~ for skill aS a surgical operator.