Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-20
TWO STRANGE LIVES.
The story of Two Women Who Insisted
That they Were Man and Wife.
Fro1n "a Nelo York 81.


Ann Slater died in a New York State in
saue asylum on Saturday. She was 50
wears old, and few years ago was famous
oil through the Delaware river counties
as the female hunter Of Long Eddy. She
was born at Long Eddy. Delaware county,
Y. Her father was lumberman. At
the age of 10 years she was noted for her
stiIl with the rife. She killed a panther.
after following it ten miles through the
woods, when she was y years
old. At the age of II she was
handsome and intelligent girl. She was
an excellent violinist and a good singer.
Her maiden name was Lobdell. She was
married to a raftman named George Sla-
ter when she was IS. He deserted her
and her 2-months-old baby a year after
ward. leaving her in destitute circum-
stances. Her parents were unable to give
her a home. She left her baby in their
charge and went away. She went to
bethany, Pa, disguised as a man. and.
hinder the name of Joseph l. Lobdell.
bDened a singing school. She carried out
her assumed character so well that. in
Inc fall of 1855, she become engaged to be
married to one Of her pupils, the daughter
bf leading citizen Of Bethany.
A few days before the day set for the
wedding arrived LobdelPs identity was
discovered by young man who had been
a rival of the music teacher for the hand
of the young woman. He planned with
Others to seize the music teacher. tar and
Feather her, and drive her out of town,
1.-The Young woman who was to have mar
ried the singing master was let into the
secret, and she warned Lucy Ann of her
danger, and she escaped Returning
to Long Eddy. she resumed the
apparel Of her own sex, and remained
in the vicinity some months. Deslr-
ing to find employment, she cast aside
women's clothing, and, DOMINIC a hunting
suit. entered the woods. For eight wears
she led "A wild life in the upper Delaware
valley wilderness, coming into the settle
ments only when she desired to exchange
her turs or game for ammunition and
necessary supplies. Her eight years in
the woods were a constant struggle with
bardships, prIVatiOns, and danger. She
had many narrow escapes from wild ami
mails, and, as she recorded it, she "k1lled
1853 deer, 70 bears, one panther, and num-
berless quantities of small game of the
glade and fur bearers of the stream and
lake, When she returned to Long Eddy
she put on wOmen's clothing again. She
had grown prematurely old, and was but
q wreck Of the former dashing backwoods
fay0rite. Her parents were dead, and her
child was in the pOorhouse. After
wandering about the valley for some
time the female hunter entered the poor
house also. Soon afterward the child.
Mary Slater, was adopted by rich farmer
in Damascus township, WAYNE county,
this State. The mother remained in the
poorhouse, and became yearly more mis-
erable and wretched.
In the winter Of 1868 Marie Louise Per-
~, the 19-year-old daughter of a well-to-
do Massachusetts family, and graduate
Of q Boston school, ran away from her
native place with man named James
Wilson. The couple went to Jersey City,
where they were married. In the spring
Of the same year Wilson elOped with the
daughter of the landlady where he and
his wife were boarding. His wife traced
the runaways along the Erie Railway,
and at LOrdville, Delaware county, was
taken sick with fever. She was placed
in the county house, where she soon
recovered. AS she made no move toward
returning home after regaining her
strength, the poorhouse authorities
finally notified her father of her
whereabouts and condition. IN the mean
time the young woman had formed the
ineXplicable as it seems, the two formed
amutual affection so strong that they re-
fused 70 be separated, and when the girls
latber arrived at Delhi to take her back to
Massachusetts,, she and Lucy Ann Slater
had left the poOrh0use, and no trace of
them could be found. 1t was subsequent
ly learned that Lucy Ann had again as
sumed the character of a man. and, under
the name Of Joseph Israel LObdell, had
been married by a Wayne county Justice
Oh the Peace to Marie Louise Perry, a few
days after they ran away from the poor
house.
In the summer of 1869 couple calling
themselves the Rev. Joseph Israel Lob
dell and wife appeared in the mountain
villages in the western part Of this Mon
roe county. For two years they roamed
about in the region, living in caves In the
woods, and subsisting on berries and
roots, such game as the long rifles which
the man carried might provide, and the
cotrity of the people. In 1871 they became
such a nuisance that they We're arrested
on the charge of vagrancy and lodged in
the Stroudsburg Jail. Nothing was known
OF their history, and nothing could
Oe obtained from the couple that would
throw any light on their antecedents.
On the very night that the mysterious
couple were placed in Jail mere Mary
Slater, Lucy Ann Lobdell'sdauQh liter, who
had grown to be beautiful young
woman, was seized by two men near her
loster fathers house i'm Damascus, and
was gagged, bound, and thrown into a
wagon, which was driven rapidly away
toward the Delaware river. In the voice
Vi one OF the men the girl recognized that
VI george Kent, a young man whose at
.ehll0ns she had refused n few days be-
+. .VIe' Miss Slater was so maltreated by
we men that she became unconscious.
cue was aroused by the sound of rushing
waters. The men lifted her from
Ile wagon aud, carrying her TO the
p5i'ef bank, threw her into the stream.
cue remembered nothing more. At
uayhsht next morning she rogained con-
'n'ii island in the river. She was dis
covered by Il man who lived near, who
GoA her of the island in boat. Before
sue could give any account of who she
vas, or bow she came 20 be on the island
ole lost Der reason, and was permitted to
"ah1er away. She was found three days
a.tf IN the sullivan county mountains,
1luE maniac. II was several days be-
g.e ehe could give an account OF her
3sWrlous disappearance. Kent was ar
,,e"u, but escaped from custody and was
"5, IN, recuptured.
tAe story Of the abduction, outrage
NV attempted murder Of Mary Slater
N printed i'm the local papers, and one
.l u was read In StrOudsburg jail by
o"eph Israel LObdel,v and from his
NlNNa uVnr fha otstru.ta a Nuaa laupnaI