Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-04-03
A Maiden In Boys Attire.

CHICAGO, March 25.-.The romantic
three-years masquerade, in male at
tire, OF girl of 10 has just come Ia
light here. In the summer of 1882
Sylvia Hammond, the daughter of
well-lo-dO farmer, near Springfield,
Ohio, after having been corrected by
her mother for some fault, bought
suit of boys clothing, donncd il, and
ran away from home. At Marion,
Ohio, she adopted the name of Sidney
Hammond, aud hired out TO keep tai
ly at a railroad gravel pit. Eight
months later she went to Canton aud
obtained u situation on a dairy farm.
Within short time she was pro-
NOTED TO driver of supply wagon.
She was also admitted TO The house
as one ofthe family. A daughter of
the house became attached to her,
and, for fear that the attachment
would result in detection. "Sidney"
quilted the place and came to Chica-
60. She brought letters of recom-
mendation from the pastor of the
church aud superintendent of the
Sunday school, which she had regu-
larly attended, to the Young Mems
Christian Association here. Through
their influence situation in the
West Side street car barns was pro-
cured. For five months she had wa.
tered horses aud led them back aud
forth betweeI the cars and the barn.
During the last few weeks Superin-
teudent Lake gave her a place in the
the comDanys paint shops, furnished
her with clothing, and rendered her
other help.
Recently the suspicious of several
persons were excited. The boy was
often seen crying, and other little IN
cidents excited comment among the
other painters. 1t was often remark
ed that "when Hammond had hi,
coat off aud his trousers in his boots
he looked like a woman" All this
wonld have led to no startling dis
covery had not the dairyman's daugh-
ter In Ohio, who had lelm,d Sid
ney's address, begun writing TO him.
Thinking to settle this trou uolesome
feature of her adventure, the pre-
tended lad wrote her that he was
married, and about the same time
charged her boarding house. lie
left instructions TO have his mail sent
to the new boarding place, but soon
afterwards, when letter came 10 the
old place, it was not sent TO Sidney,
but was given to the Foreman Frank
lin of the paint shop where the lad
was at work. The boy heard that
the foreman had letter for him and
asked for it. Franklin, who had
heard The talk about the boy, but
did not think that there was any
thing in it, said iokingly that he had
letter for Mrs. Hammond, and,
showing Sidney the envelope, asked
if it was for "him.' His evident en-
barrassment and confusion set Mr..
Franklin to thinking, and before he
had reached any conclusion the lad
made complaint that $40 had been
stolen from his room just after pay
day. The complaint was taken to the
police, and looking up the case they
learned of the talk about the new ap-
prentice. The letter from Ohio was
opened and found 10 be a pathetic
congratulation and hope that Mr..
and Mrs. Hammond would be hap
py.
Saturday was Sidney's last day in
the West Side car shop. The police
had interviewed a young man who
had roomed with him for a few
weeks, and he told strange story.
During all that time the suspected
lad had been the last to retire and
always extinguished the light before
retiring. The two occupied separate
coaches, and the second lad was
ready to swear that in all that time
he never once awoke up in the morn
ing without finding Hammond up
and dressed and ready TO leave the
room. This, taken with the other
rumors, led the police to take charge
of the boy, and since Sunday night
the people about the boarding house
have seen nothing of him. The sto-
ry as given above was told the police
by Miss Hammond herself. 1t is
said that the sirl is not under arrest
but that police have simply taken her
in charge, and have communicated
with her parents in Ohio, and that
she will certainly return to them.
Every one who knew her as "Sld-
ney Hammond" and several who
have been on quite intimate terms
with her, are loud in their praise of
the girl in boys chothes. 1t is as
serted that she is person of great
natural strength of character, and
that she has passed through her
strange adventures with unsullied
reputation.