New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-02-10
A ROMANCE or THE SEA.
THE STORY OF A FEMALE SAILOR.

10 the Editor Of rae Tribune.
SIR: The new steamer Victoria Of the
Anchor Line, which arrived at New-York to-day from
Glasgow brought back to her native shores Maggie alias
Billy Armstrong She has served before the mast in
several British ships. Her having been at last dis
covered, she found herself at Glasgow. ana In petit
coats again about the time Victoria to sail. AS
old sailor she had gone tho shipping master of tue
port and he brought her before the managers OF
Anchor Lne who gave her free passage home. During
the passage l have had many conversations with our
romantic feow-traveer. and sub3on an account OF
her story as nearly as possible IN her own words. She
is 10 years old. of medium size. with play or humOr
about eyes that partially redeems the painness OF
her determined somewhat masculine face SO high has
she female virtue through all her vicisstudes that
when steerage passenger of the Victoria insuited
woman in her presence two days ago. she very
calmly struck out from the shoulder and knocked him
down.
"My name she says. lis Maggie Armstrong though l
called myself Billy when put on pantaloonS' was
born in the State OF NewJersey. America My tather II
farmer five miles from Trenton, and he has told me
hundreds OF times could do more work than any
man. always of wild passionate nature USED
TO hate men, when was at home thought they 0nSht
not 20 get than women, and OFTEN "isneu
was q man NY mother died eight years ago, ana ieit
another little sister and Father kept hOuseSeepo
until was able to do his work. which did I'LL the hrs'
a "a
new wife he got in New-York She came to our house
and thought TO rule me and everything; but l soon
taught her her mistake left the house and went and
hired out at a neighbOring farmers My father came
after me and took me homo, and stayed elght dsys
leading cat-anddOg life with my stepmother Thought
could not endure that long, so took strange notion
into my head. I was up stairs one day along
with one of my schoolmates. I engaged
cleaning and folding my fathers clothes and said 10
hart hoti IN drpS clothes
have Job to find me She laughed. and said he would
There was silence between US for few minutes and
without saying anything more about 1t to her secretly
determined try it, At o'clock that night OF the next
morning mean went up stairs and dressed myself in
my fathers clothes took the scissors and cut my hair
short could and then went down stairs again ana
took S25 out OF one the bureaudrawers for knew 1t
was no use going away without money. Then went to
the station and took the 400 train for New-fork |
wandered city good DEAL stopping at small
hotel in Warren-st think. had MT begun 10 make up
my mind what TO do, for had never been in New-York
before when of those hailed me and wanted
me TO ship on which ne said going
to London and back to New-York in q month. That
seemed to suit me, curious to see London He
shipped me as engineers steward. sea-sick
Once-in fact never well before In my life as |
have been at always used TO have Jersey head
aches in the Summer time at home No more
feverishness now. All the engineers were very well
pleased with my work. But they informed me that the
ship was not going back 70 NewYork but to China,
when she left London SO was discharged at my own
request IN London, the head engneerspresenting me
with ten shlings being good, clean lad With this
aud my wages shnss. and what was left OF my Vs.
was enabled TO live in London three weeks. went
all over the great city and saw no end or Things AS
soon as learned that the steamer was going 70 China
made up my mind had got 10 get back TO America
as sailor, IL got back at ALL 80 used, during
my spare hours on the steamer to practice going aoft
or il they were slowing sails doing anything or the
kind, was 10 be hand. | used to 90 into the
wheehOuse and learn TO steer and before we got
10 the Banks OF Newfoundland knew all the compass.
when therefore shipped board the bark Princess
bound for Mlddlesboro' it not apprentice, but
as an ordinary seaman, for two pounds five shilngs
month had bought a sailors chest and recruited my
sailor wardrobe with set Of Oil-sk1ns. These had
taken from the Sailors Home boarding house
TO the forecastle OF the Princess, and my
life as common tar began. There were
only eight OF the fOrecase, and as was always
first to reef the topsas fur the small sails in gale
Of wind we got along very we'll was discharged
finally with the rest at Mddlesboro after three weeks
run Then thought should like to see Shields. which
s only six miles distant there and tried to ship
again but here great difficulty. Unfortunately
I had lost my discharge. The captain Of bark. the
Eskdae OF Whby bound for italy would take me AZ an
apprentice but not as ordinary seaman-that is not
NOT get any apprentices We left Shields loaded with
coal for Genoa We had head winds and bad Gather IN
the English Channel, but the Mediterranean far
enough to make up for it. We we're IN Genoa niue weeks
in all and It after had been there SIX weeks that
was found out not to be man IL happened IN tins
way: There was brute of sailor in the fOrecaste, who
was always imposing me when we were shoveilng
coal in the hold he made nil two baskets to his one
I was telling this to tho rest Of the crew after
-ge were done work; he gave me the lie. and
the result was knockdown tght between
us; ne was the bigger and he got the
better Of me- and began crying THIS led to suscions
OF my sex. / stouty maintained that was man; but
IL wasno use The affair got to the captains ears NOW
the captains wife board. aud TO him and her
was at last forced to confess my whole story was
soon babited as g woman again, and engaged az stew
ardess in the cabin for the homeward rum stopping
some weeks Malaga for cargo, the bark landed finally
AZ Aberdeen whence l came by train TO glasgow"
During the passage from Glasgow TO New-fork the
hero and heroine Of the foregoing story has conducted
herself in quiet modest way-eKcept In the crater OF
knocking down the steerage passenger Tor insulting
woman; and, "a for that you never saw quieter OF
mOdesteF Touchdown in your NE Maggie starts Al
once for New-Jersey and her father. RALPH KELLER
Net- York, Feb ., 1873.