Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-31
A MAIDEN IN BOYS ATTIRE.
Adventures of a 15-Year- Old Girl Who
Ran Away from Home.

Ran Away from Home.
CHICAGO, March 26.-The romantic
three-year masquerade, in male attire, of
a girl of - has Just come to light here.
In the summer OF 1882 Sylvia Hammond,
the daughter of a well-to-do farmer, near
Springfield, Ohio, after having been cor
rected by her mother for some fault,
bought suit of boys clothing, donned it,
and ran away from home. At Marion,
Ohio, she adopted the name of Sydney
Hammond. AID hired out 10 kip tally at
a railroad gravel pit. Fight L-onths later
she went TO Canton AMI obtained s.tua-
ton on a dairy farm. Within short
time she was promoted TO driver o.
supply wagon. She was also aG mitted to
the house as one OF the family. A daugh-
ter of the house became attached TO her,
and. for fear that the attachment would
result in detection. ''Sidney" quilted the
place aud came TO Chicago. She brought
letters of recommendation from the pas
tor OF the church ard superintendent of
the sunday school. which she had regu-
lATly attended. 70 the Young Mems Chris
tian Association here. Through their ir-
fluence a situation in the West Side street
car barns was procured. For i've months
she has watered horses and led them hack
and forth between the cars ana the barn.
During the last few weeks superintendent
Lake gave her place in the cOmpany's
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. anu other little incidents eX-
cited comment among the other painters.
1t vas often remarked that when Ham
mDnd mad ais coat OF and his trousers in
81 40 = u n
this would have led 10 no startling dis
coyerv mad not the ddiryman's daughter
in Ohio. who had leaned >idnpy's adj
dress, begun writing 70 him. Thinking
TO settle this troublesome feature of her
adventure, the pretended lad wrote her
that ne was married, and about the same
time changed her boarding mousse. he
left Instructions to have his mail sent 10
the new board n place, but soon after
ward, when a letter came to the
old place, il was not sent to Sid.
ney, Tut was given to Foreman
Franklin Of the paint shop where the
lad was at work. The boy heard
that the foreman had letter for him ana
asked tor il Franklin, who had heard
the talk about tAe boy. out did not think
that there va. an thing in il. sail X
iugly thar he mad letter for Mrs. Ham.
mond. and, showing Sidney tue envelope.
asked ii IL was LOT Min. his ENAQeui
embarrassment and confusion set Mr
Franklin 10 thinking, and before he bad
reached any cOnclus on the lad made q
complaint that So had been stolen from
hi- room just after pay day. The COM
plant was taken TO the police. and ii
looking up tie case they learned OF tae
talk about the new apprentice. The
letter from Oli0 was opened ana found t
be a pathetic congratuiation and nope
that Mr.. and Mrs. Hammond would b5
happy.
Saturday was Sidney's last day in the
VEST side car shops. The police had
+ Interviewed young man who mad
roo med WITH aim tIT few weeks, tlt he
t'ld strange story. During all thai
time the suspected lad uad been the last
L. retire, aud always eXtinguished tht
H4ht before retiring. Inc two occupied
separate coucles. and the second lad va:
ready TO swear that in all that time lt
never once a"oNe up. in the morIia-
without ipdin- ii ,mmond up and dress 4
ana ready q leave the room. Tais. taktT
with the other rumors, led the police t.
take charge of the boy. and nee Lnda'
+ nigat tue people about the Doardin. nous,
f have seen npthiug If him. The story al
given above was told the police by NJ ;,
Hammond herself. Ii is said that tnt
+ Zlrl Is not under arrest, but that the
police have simply taken her in cha =
4 and have 0mmuuicated with her parent,
IN Oaio, ami that she viii certainly return
- hem.
Every one who knew her as "Svdnel
+ Fl ammo md" and several who have beeI
on quite intimate terms with her, ar,
loud IN their praise ct the girl in boy
clothes. 1t is asserted that she is per
H son Of great natural strength OF character
ana that she has passed through he
strange adventures with unsullied repu