The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-03-25
The Women who Followed the Sea in
Ancient and Modern Times.

1t is no new thing for women to become
sailors. Weare informed in an ancient
history that ArtemesiO, Queen OF Halicar-
nassus. commanded five ships at the defeat
of the Persians at Salaulis, and made a
brave resistance, distinguishing herself by
undaunted courage and ability and a per-
feet knowledge of strategy. Toward the
end OF the battle, seeing herself in great
danger of being taken, she lowered her
FLAG and attacked Persian war vessel with
terrible fury. Her stratagem had the de-
sired effect, for the conquerors, believing
the vessel to be one of their own, failed to
pursue her. There are several instances
on record of American women, wives OF
deceased captains, navigating their vessels
into port after the death of their husbands.
In the reign of George Ill, of Great
Britain, an Irish woman named Hannah
Whitney served for five years in the Royal
British Navy, and kept her secret so well
that she was not known to be woman
until she retired from the service. a few
years later young Yorkshire girl walked
! from Lull to London in search OF her low
er. She found him enlisted on His Majes-
tvs man-of-war Oxford, and thereupon
she donned a sailors suit, assumed the
name of Charlie Waddell and enlisted on
the same ship. Her lover, not being as
faithful TO her as she TO him, deserted the
ship, and, in attempting to follow his eX-
ample, was arrested and her sex detected.
! The officers raised a contribution for her,
and she was dismissed from the service
| and sent home.
! In 1872 a Mrs. Cola became somewhat
famous by serving on board man-of-war
as a common sailor. She afterward as
sumed her proper attire and opened a
coffee-house for sailors. In 1890 girl OF
| fifteen tried to ship at London, on board
South Sea whaler, and being refused, she
put on boys clothes and hired herself TO
waterman. and became very skillful IN
rowing. She did not learn to swim, how
ever, and one day the boat capsZing, she
was nearly drowned. In this crisis her
sex was discovered, aud she ceased to be
s'a iolly Young waterman" and became a
| domestic servant in her own apparel.
Another girl, aged fourteen, named
| Elizabeth Bowden, being left an orphan,
went up to London in 1907 from village
| in Cornwall, in search of employment. She
| did not succeed in finding such work as
she desired. and putting on male AZURE
walked to Falmouth and there enllste / as
.bov'' on board His Majesty's ship-ot'
war, Hazard, and did good service alofi
and below. Her sex was finally discover
ed, however, and by the kindness OF the
officers the poor girl was placed IN
proper position. Still another, named
Rebecca Ann johnson, had cruel father
who dressed her as boy when she was
thirteen years old. and apprenticed her to
collier Ship, on which she served 1oui
wears. and then left the service because
brutal mate gave her severe beating 1oi
being slow when called on watch.
| In 1915, when the British war yesse
Queen Charlotte was paid OFF, negro
woman was found among the crew wnt
had served ten years at sea under tn
name of William Brown, and had becom'
so expert sailor that she was promote,
to be captain of the foretop. She had al
the peculiarities of good sailor, and ma
kepther secret so well that no one suS
pected her real sex. This woman ha.
been married. and had adopted a sailor
life to escape the abuse of a erue
husband.