The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-08
a STRANGE LIFE HISTORY.
The Death Of q Modern Disna-Lucy
Skaters Thrilling Adventures.
Her Career as a Huntress, Pauper, n Min
lister and vagrsnt. ~.


Slater, known throughout Tue bcie"afo var
lev as the "Female Hunter Of Long Eddy
has been received here, and it recalls most
singular life history. In 1851, Lucy Ann
Lobdell, daughter of lumberman living on
county and Sullivan, was married to a RATS
man named George Slater She was then IL
wears old, and was known far and wide for
her wonderful skill with the rifle, not only in
target-shooting, but in hunting deer and
other game, for which the valley was then
noted After year of married life,
Slater deserted his wife and a babe few |
weeks old, and has never been heard from
since. Mrs. Skaters parents were poor, and |
she left her child in their charge, laid aside
the habit of her sex, donned male attire, and
adopted the life of hunter. The mountains
of Delaware, Sullivan, and Ulster counties,
in this State, and the Delaware river coun-
| ties in Pennsylvania were then filled with
game For eight years the unfortunate wife
and mother roarned the woods of that section,
making her home in the wilderness, where
she erected rude cabins for her shelter. She
never appeared at the settlements except to
procure ammunition and needed supplies, for
which she exchanged skins and games. Her
wild life was one of thEilling adventure and
prvation, and it was notuntil she was broken
down by the exposure and hardships of it
that she returned to the haunts of civilization.
She wrote book detailing her adventures in
the woods and giving an account of her suf-
ferings from cold hunger, and sickness. She
recorded in this book that she had killed 1913
deer II bears, one panther, and number
less wildcats and foxes. When she
returned to Long Eddy she, for time, re-
sumed the clothing of her sex, but after re-
cruiting her health she again put on male
attire and disappeared. She did not return
| to the woods, but assuming the name OF
!, Joseph Lobdell, she went about the country
!. making living as music teacher. While
engaged in teaching singing school al
Bethany, Pa where she was not known, she
won the love of young lady scholar,a mem
berof one OF The leading families of the vii
d lage The two wee engaged to be married
e / but the sex O. tE teacher was accidental,
' discovered, and he was forced to fly from
5 the place in the night to escape beins
5 Itarred and ,eathesed. Shortly after this sh
: returned TO Long Eddy, put on women
; lclothing, and being again in failing health
: applied for admittance to the almshouse Il
d this place, whereher child had been place
v some years before. When the child, a brigh
IS into the family of a farmer in Damascus, K,
It The mother remained in the poorhouse.
lei In the spring of 1868, a woman about
lie wears of age applied to the poor authorize
10 of Delaware county for admittance to tn
ir Ialmshouse She was in miserable health, bl
20 was apparently of more than ordinary into
er ligence, and to all appearance respectabi
n. She said her name was Marie Louise PERI
is Wilson. She was from Massachusetts, whel
an |her parents lived. She had eloped with
he man named Wilson, to whom she was ma
his ried in Jersey City, but who had desert'
or Iher. leaving her destitute. She had too mut
ne pride to return home Having heard tn
IL her husband, who was railroad man, was
Susouehanna, . Q had started out to find hil
is but was taken sick in the cars, and, not ha
ar ing money enough to pay her way, was p
off at Iordville No other alternative pI
I'D lsentine. she was forced to enter the poo
ess house She was taken into the almshou
led with the understanding that as soon as S
al Twas able to, she would communicate with
BILE family and have them remove her. S
lty recovered her health, but in the mes
! a thine had made the acquaintance
nv Lucy Ann Slater A strong affection spra
:. Inn between the two women, notwithstar
ing the difference in their habits, charact
and intellect. They refused to be separat
nv. and in the spring of 1869 they left the po
nd lIor,se topether, and for two years they WI
n not heard from in Delhi In the summer
tbe the above wear couple calling themsel'
,re Rev. Joseph Israel Lobdell and wife
,er- peared in the mountain villages of Nom
md County, Pa. For two years they roam
her about that Section, living in caves and cab
zio lin the woods, snbsisting on game, berries, 9
,er- on the charity of the numbering forest
nse scattered about in this region. They g
Il = INF
Mr. Ibear which they had tanned. The man
az Iliyered meaningless harangues on religi
re- Isubiects. a and proclaimed himself
nee prophet. Finally they became pul
nd Innisances, and were arrested
call warrants in jackson township u
nan LODGED in Stroudsburg Jail. While t
I'd were in iail the discovery thatethe suppc
the man was woman was made, and soon ri
Init ward the prisoners were recognized p,
was. raftsman from the Upper Delaware us \
M. Ann Slater and Marie Louise Perry, the |
mist, pers of Delhi. They were returned to
- place. They remained here some time W
Mia thew again left, and until 1876 roamed
tert, woods Of Northern Pennsylvania, lead
was their vagrant life and insisting that
He were man and WIFE In 1876 they were
nee ing in a cave in the Moosic mountains,
rr;ed w aymart, Pa. Lucy Ann continued
her luse Of male garments She was arrested
,e as day while preaching in the al
viiluge, and lodged in the Wayne COZ
n Of iail. She was kept there several We
act, Her companion finally prepared
the petition to the court for the releas
her shusband" from jail on account Of
lack failing health The document was rem
IA IN able one, and is still in the records Of
ynar Wayne county court l. "as 1loue.s 5 - =,
those guage which was q mooei OF ciesr auu -
fully English, and was Po"erlui - ~ a.s ~
Mr.. 1t was written with pen macs troili
part.' stick, the ink being the juice Of pokebel
You Lucy Ann Lobdell was reieaseo . y =