The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07
ESCAPING FROM GYPSIES.
THE REHiRKdBLE dDvENTURES
OF A PENNSYLVINI1 GIRL.
How she became "A typsv-A Midniaht In
uintiOn-LyinR. Fortune Telling and
SteaItuu-The Daughters Of the Forest.

itintion-LyinR. Fortune TELLING ana
steaIiuH-The Daughters Of the Forest.
ALLENTOWN, Pa, May ~ was under
their rule four years, and would have been In
bondage to-day II had not made up my mind
to escape from tile band, be my solemn, sacred
oath violated or not.
such was the language Of Barrota Mnrtel,"
young woman Of fine figure and appearance,
who was a passenger on an eastward bound ex-
press train from central PENNSYLVANIA a few
days ago. The conductor stated that she had
escaped from gypsy band in Western virginia,
and was going toward her home In Berks
county, which she said she had been induced TO
leave In the summer OF 1879. She had been
given the above name by the leader Of the band
shortly after she Joined them.
ayes, am willing to tell all know about
these so called pypsies," she said 81 have
riskcd my life In leaving them, and. further,
am going to keep nothing bid under ground.
They are a bad set the most Of EN-, and only
wonder that the American people allow the
wandering thieves and mscreants to swoop
down among the farmers to plumber and cheat
them.
ITO begin, I was hfteen years old when was
coaxed to leave home. We lived beyond Fleet
wood FIRST, and then moved down near the
county line Of Montgomery, In Pennsylvania.
band Of 'gypsies, as we called 'em, came along
In wagons, and one OF the women wanted to tell
my fortune. had Jet black eyes and dark
skin, and very dark hair, and the WON an took q
fancy to me. They canned In the woods near
our house. and the woman cime over 10 our
place often. Then man came and made me
present OF pair OF cheap bracelets. was silly
When went to them, they talked to me OF tho
nice kind Of life they were Leading, and. after
20 sSid fs % New
York State. was to get % a week and my
bo,rd. was 20 help cook and attend TO inc
| children. The man gave his name os Luke Mu-
rell. lie had with him four other families. but
| he was the leader. Tho camp wasa large one,
afty horses aud nine tents. In Murell's family
there were three children and his wire, MID
die aged, raw-boned Irish woman. The woman
told me to say nothing TO my friends about go
| ing. told her did not know how TO get away.
eeS brse S.y. Sefore aid was to tell my
parents was going on visit TO my aunts by
railroad. and instead Of that wes to meet the
| band at small station beyond Allentown. We
then cut ID through the country, and 1t was four
days before We stopped. never heard OF the
folks at home sfterward, although l secretly
ovERTuREs.
ave had not been gone a month before one
OF the women IN the camp asked me how /
| not thinking that anything would come out OF
Il. was getting paid right along, and thought
l could make money and save enough 70 buy
me many things. Then Mrs. Murell came to IN Q
and said she was right glad 20 hear that wa
be bound to them by still more closer ties
Right after that got to thinking. ] nevel
| suspected much Of anything out OF the way, but
strange fsnci.s crept through my mind
thought nothing more about u until Luke
Murell said TO me one evening that the CAM
was pleased with my appearance, and that tbs
folks would give me a welcome that night,
thought they were going to have a !itue evening
iittle chiidfen we're put to bed, and we wer,
camped In ravine that run well up IN oact
tain about I the date, but il vas in August wa
alone IN our tent wondering where the folks ha.
gone t9 and what hey we're dS S me- got SiIad
and toe horses you oouldn't hear. About 1
o'clock some one called me by my right pane
one OF the young sons Of the tinker Of the band
1 came out and asksd what was wanted: II
spring. They're all down there. SO Ia the horses
could see which way 10 go by the liaht OF Oh
s s whsS sS 70 Of 'b S fa
&. =; e ss'i;s II 81 y /; Is
s %ss done nse up IL Il Il: sss One q %
down. DOWN: that p Z would look better. Luke Mure
Jed me- aind sss spring Sc STONES: IAN. ana i! Z
sa s none ttsa resSrnsd and p:isad y s.,
, ssky Non. s Of Se% SsS word to say
going TO speak to MIS-. Mureil but she laid he
Gn he, %SSn Sd
woods were dark Only faint light arose iroI
the forms u The croucLins people about MI
INITIATED.
"Tten was led to the spring, and was told I
battle my han DIS, face temples, and neck. re
Which T he s SsndoS me. lie poured cold water
my mead, and then 1 sat down on a camp stoO
THO tnoSsh S an Of
bathed my feet. While this was going ON, the
Y sang one OF their peculiar melodies. l afte
the singing alone, and the words and mus
, are. only taught them after they have Nv
y they spread branches of cedar and pine befoI
me. upon which stood. The singing stoppe'
Q Luke M4reil then came 70 me with bowl Q
5 was joke or a trick, and laughed. As Oh
i ceremony went on was convinced that 1t wa
r was then taken through regular baptism, an
5 when / received my new name OF Barreta
WAS told should never forget IL, tut would n
ways he known by II. They called me Reta
ever afterward. Then ! was asked whether
:. was pleased with the people l said fe.
l Yes Whether / had any reasons to regr'
. having known them TO which / said Nc
= Then they asked me whether | had SAID that
;, desired to become one of their number, and b.
fore could answer that question ayoung ri
o about ten years old, the prettiest creature
+ THINK | ever saw, ran up to. mo an
u gave me what l siterwmd found OF
a was bunch Of wild howsrs she G,
u whispered IN my ear to say Yes loved q
child, and when sho asked me to say Yes,
. would have done anything for her. i said
; was willing q Join them, whereupon the vout
Il folks commenced 10 chant some verses. ana Sc
= eral girls ran up to me and kissed me. This
Q afterward learned, was all a trick oI trap Ia
z out by the old folks to catch me. Then WI
: told to kneel down on the palms. did so.
5 Mure stooI up and told me TO repeat after hi
i the words that he read out. l don't rememb
o them exactly as he read them OF said TN IN
me. / ouly know that II was fearful, terrlnl
= binding oath. l solemnly swore that won
n always be with and live for the people hi
= ch osen as my future companions. | swore new
+ u desert them never to reveal their secret
never 70 complain; to be satisfied at all tim
e and under all circumstances, and always To
e all In ms power for the good OF those who we
5 around me. ! swure 10y the stars and mum b
b OF other signs. Then was welcomed, my nan,
v were shaken all around, they had more musi
tue nre was relighted, ana We had a Mer
{, time.
REPENTANCE.
: "Thats how was made gypsy. when @
= TO the tent nv head WAS all IN "A daZe. ] cou
not sleep, as | more fully realized what | h
- done. Afterward l found out that my mi sci
e ings were well grounded. The next day "
% gradually let into the 81 cret OF begging a. u
- done by the daughters Of the forest, as thu
} sometimes call themselves. For two days
had to listen 10 the Old woman giving me Il
q