The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-07-09


bacbwoods lumber region that Tioga
is, but the story is well a~niheatica-
ted. Elijah Hanson is an old and
respected citizen of the county, and
the owner of some of its woods. His
daughter Katie had been reared amid
scenes and surroundings that gave
her many masculine ways. She had
free range of the forests, and grew
up healthy. blooming, and brown.
Ste became skillfnl with rifle and
rod, and spent much of her time
hunting and fishing. Her parents
let her run, well knowing that she
was abundau ly able to take care OF
herself. She bore an u~nblemished
reputation in II the woods around,
and was chas as Diana. Such was
her lie and cL iracter until she was
Is yesrs old. At that eye she had
an affair of the heart OF which her
parents did not approve, and told her
SO. She was dutiful and respected
their wishes. The object Of her at
tachment was a worthless young man
named johnson, the son of a neigh
boring woodman.
johnson often roamed with her on
her hunting and fishing excursions
and the liking between them was
mutual. AT last her parents posi-
lively forbade her to meet him. This
order shut her out of her range OF
woods, for he was always at her
heels. The next day she left home
with her rifle aud did not return.
That was % years ago. The woods
and streams were searched for her
her father advertised for her; de-
tectives were looking for her 10 Phil
adelphia and New York and other
cities. So she was nowhere to be
found-dead or alive. Her parents
finally gave her up for dead, or lost
to them, and at the end Of two years
discontinued the search. johnson
frequented his old haunts in the for
ests, but the woods Of Tiogs knew
Katie Hanson no more.
In the winter OF 1876, Col. Grant
Wilson, of Philadelphia, met Major
James Hopkins, formerly of Ohio, in
Cuba, Maj. Hopkins served in Gen.
Thomas division during the war
of the rebellion, and had become the
owner of fne plantation in the inte.
rior. Col. Wilson accepted Major
Hopkins invitation TO visit him al
his home, and become acquainted
with Mrs. Hopkins and her TWO chill
dren. They made it pleasant for
Wilson during his stay in Cuba. Mrs.
Hopkins was a handsome, bright wo.
man and the little Cubans were beau.
ties, and ell were happy. When Col
Wilson was about leaving the Hop.
kinses took him into their confidence
by revealing some passages of their
history, and entrusting him with a
message and On errand to the United
States.
Col. Wilson recently visited Tioga
county and hunted up the family Of
Elijah Hanson. He asked the old
man if be had a daughter Katie. He
bad, but she was dead. They lost
her % years ago. Then Wilson had
q tale to tell which caused a great re.
joicing among the Hansoas, old and
young. He told them that Katie
Hanson was alive and well-that she
was the wife of Major James Hop.
kins, a rich planter of Cuba, AMI the
mother of two beautiful children, and
was even then preparing to visit the
old homestead in the Tioga woods
during the present summer. So the
Hansons must make ready for the
HopkiDses. But how did Katie Han
son ever get 10 Cuba and become a
Hopkins, was a question that puz-
zled the old folks and young folks,
and Col. Wilson was fully empowered
and prepared to answer it. He had
the story from Katie Hsnson's own
lips, in substance as follows:
When her father ordered her to
cease associating with Johnson, she
rebelled 10 her heart but resolved to
obey. She could see DO way but
away from home, and she took it
with her rife on her shoulder. That
night she slept in the woods. The
next day she came to a hunters cab
in, and the hunters were out. She
took a suit of their clothes and dress
| ed herself in them, and her short hail
and bronzed face favored the disguise
| She wandered on her wav aimless o.
her future, save to put miles between
herself and her home, and reached
Dunkirk. Some occupation became
necessary, and she took the position
of cook on a boat running between
Buffalo and Detroit. She liked tn,
life for a time, but was frightened out
of it by reading an advertisement of
fering a reward for any Information
concerning Katie Hanson, and min
utely describing her features. Thai
was 10 Buffalo.
Making the trip to Detroit she lefl
her position and went TO Cincinnati
still farther from home. She had 8
fancy for boating and engaged on q
Ohioriver steamer, where she remain.
ed until the breaking ont of the war
As no one had ever suspected her sex
she resolved to enlist and Joined an
Ohio regiment, and participated in al
the engagements Of Gen. Thomas di.
vision. She was promoted to ser
geant in her company in 1868, and
as a soldier behaved herself altogeth.
err well. But she had attracted the
attention of her captain, aud it is alto.
gether likely the captain had attrac.
ted her attention, too. At any rate
one dav when be met her alone be
told her that ne suspected her TO be
a woman, and the ~suddenness of the
insinuation caused her to betray her.
self in the answer she made. She
begged the captain to keep her secret,
bus he evidently wanted her q WON.
an and out of the ranks, and reported
the facts to the general, who sent her
to the rear and ordered her to resume
her proper attire.
This change in her condition and
position was made in good tine, too,
for she became q hospital nurse, and
soon had the care of the wounded
captain, and all was well. The cap
tain was promoted to the rank of ma
jor, and at the close of the war Ma
jor james Hopkins and Katie Han