The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1875-02-04
Women as Sailors.

1t is no new thing for women TO be
come sailors. We are informed in nm
Gent history that Artcmesia, Queen o.
Halicarnassus, commanded FIVE ships al
the defeat OF the Persians at Salamas
and made brave resistance, distinguish
ing herself by undaunted courage and
activity, and perfect knowledge Of
strategy. Toward the end of the bat
tie, seeing herself in great danger OF be
ing taken, she lowered her flag, and at
tackled a Persian war vessel with terrible
fury. Her stratagem had the desired
effect, for the conquerors, believing her
vessel TO be one OF their own, failed 10
pursue her. There are several instances
on record OF American women, wives OF
deceased captains, navigating their vcs-
sells into port after the death of their
husbands.
In the reign of George ILL.,, of Great
Britain, and Irish women, named Hannah
Whitney, served for five years in the
Royal British Navy, and kept her secret
so well that she was rot known To be a
woman until she retired from the SER
vice. A few years later young York
shire girl walked from Hull TO London
in search of her lover. She found him
eolisted on his Majesty's man-oiwar
Oxford, and thercupon she donned a sail
or's suit, assumed the namo Charlie
Waddell, and enlisted on the same ship.
Her lover, not being as faithful TO her
as she 10 him, deserted the ship, and IN
attempting to follow his example, she
was arrested, and her sex detected. The
officers raised a contribution tor her, and
she was dismissed the service and sent
hume. La 1882, a Mrs. Cola became
somewhat famous by serving on board
a man-of-war as common sailor. She
afterward resumed her proper attire, and
opened coffee-house for sailors. La
1900, a girl of fifteen tried 10 ship al
London on board South Sea whaler,
and being refused, she put on boys
clothes, hired herself TO u waterman,
and became very skIllful ia rowing. She
did not learn Ia. swim, however, and,
one day, the boat capsizing, she was
nearly drowned. In this crisis her sex
WAS discovered, and she ceased To DO ga
Jolly young Waterman" and became a
domestict servant in her proper apparel.
Another girl aged fourteen, named
Elizabeth Bowden, being left an orphan.
went up TO London in 1907, from wi
lage in Cornwall in search Of employ
mcnt. She did not succeed in finding
such work as shc desired, and, putting
on male attire, she walked to Falmouth,
and there enlisted as a "boy" on board
his Majesty's ship-Ofwar Hazard, and
did good servic" alcft and below. Her
sex WAS finally discovered, however, and |
by the kindness of the officers the poor
girl was placed in proper position.
Still another, named Rebecka Ann
Johnston, had cruel father, Who dress
Ell her rs boy when she WAS thirteen
years old and apprenticed her to a
collier ship, on which she served fO9
years, and then left the service because
4 brutal mate gave her u severe beating
for being slow when called on watch.
In 1915, when the British VIZ vessel
Qreen Charlotte was being paid off, a
negro woman was found amons The
crew, who had served eleven years at
sea under the name of William Brown,
md had become 80 expert sailor that
he was promoted to be captain of the
oretop. She had all the peculiarilics
)t good saiiCr, and had kept her secret
20 well that no one suspected her real
TEX. This woman had been married,
IND had adopted a sailors lite 10 escape
he ahuse of !. crael husband