Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-01-15
A Young Woman's Adventure.
KNOCKING ABOUT THE UNITED STATES IN
The CLOTHING OF MAN.

Miss Alice Holmes was detainod in
the police station iu Astoria yesterday
20 give officers an opportunity to pro
cure suitable wearing apparel in which
TO send her TO her home in Massachu-
setts. She wore a midshipman's cap, a
ireavy pea jacket, blue flannel sailors
shirt, pantaloons, and mems boots: and
her hair, Of auburn shade, was short
cropped, and parted on the side, making
her appear as a stout and coneiy lad OF
sixteen or seventeen years &c was
taken TO the police station on Sunday
for Disgusting herself IN male attire
Her sex was discovered in the boarding
house of Alfred Horn, to whom she
was sent as boardsr by Mr.. Anton
Pea-se, the proprietor OF the Csrnona
Chemical w mks at Dutch Kills. The
latter was crossing the ferry to Hunters
Point on the Sth inst, when he was ac-
costed by boy, as he supposed, who
asked for employment. The boy said
that he would work as a farm la5orer
for his board and clothes. Mr.. Pearse
offered to provide him with board and
clothes and give him SS month if be
wouli WORK for him. He accepted The
offer and was employed in the depart.
ment for making chlorotorm. He gave
the name Of Walter Holmes. He was
sent to live with Mr.. Horn, who keeps
boarding house for young men. On
Sunday last he was accused Of stealing
a shirt, and it was then that he was dis
covered to be young woman.
Miss Holmes is between IS and l9
years old, with blue eyes and fair com
plexion She is five feet five inches in
height. Her story, as told Recorder
Palsells of Long Island City and TO
others, is that she is from Marion Mass
achusetts where her mother lives. She
was secretly married when she was
about fifteen to a young telegraph ope
rator named Barslable, and went with
! him to Indiana. She had child three
years old that her mother has the custo-
dy Of She deserted her some nine
months ago, because she could not ge,
some money that she thought belonged
to her. Her adventures IN male dress
began in Providence. She tried TO OBJ
tain work there suitable for woman,
and, failing TO do so, hired herself 10 n
farmer. She deserted him to go on the
Sound Steamer Shullz rs deck hand,
and was afterwards steward on tie
coastwise schooners jamestown, Gar.
! and William ii Baker. She kept her
sex n secret wherever she went. In
August or September last she became
acquainted with two young men named
Jackson and Brier, one Of whom told
her that he had run away from his faith
er, taking large amount OF money
They persuaded her to enlist with them
in the United States Navy, and she then
revealed 10 them Who she was. She was
taken as a ward room boy on the steam
er Powhatan at the Navy Yard. Shr
alleges that her two companions paid
the examining surgeon SIS each to pass
her without exposing her sex. She over
stayed her leave from the vessel onr
day, and Oh her return she and one OF
her companions were phi in the brig
under arrest. On her release she de-
serted.
She told Recorder Parsells that she
had never tasted intoxicating drinks -
Her hands show how she has oiled.
Tie palms are hard aud calloused. She
says she belongs toa good Massachu-
sets family. After hearing her story
Recorder Parsells discharged her, aud
Police Commissioner, bodine gave her
some money to take her home.