Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-06-14
SHIELDED UNKNOWN
Fatal End Of a Young Girls Adj
venture.
FLYING FROM HOME AS A SAILOR

She Makes Friends z-ith the Crew. Who
Suppose Her a Man Until Death Dis
closes Her sex-Her Home Probably
Mobile, and the Cause of Her Flight a
Love Anair-Some Speculation as to
Who She Is.
LONDON, June IA fatal accident oc
CURED Thursday on board the bark Ida at
West Hartlepool TO sailor known as
Hans Brand, who had shipped as an APP
prentice at Pensacola, Fla. He was aloft
scraping one of the masts, when he fell to
the deck apparently uninjured, as he
jumped up Immediately, but after walk
ing few steps he staggered and fell
though an open hatch into the hold and
was killed The body was removed to the
morgue.
Proved To Be a Girl.
On laying out the remains the authori
ties were astonished to find that they were
those of girl, the crew of the Ida having
all along been unaware of the fact.
1t is supposed that the girl ran away from
home on account of being disappointed in
a love affair. Hans had been general
favorite on the voyage on account of his
extreme youth and comelness, as well as
his obllSing ways and aptness in learning
the ropes. He was not more than IL years
old, with curly brown hair and bright
blue eyes.
Some Facts the Sailors Recall.
Now that the sex of the young sailor 10
known the men recall the fact that sew
eral days before she sailed young girl
had come on board selling fruit, although
from her delicate, well-bred appearance
all with whom she came In contact re-
marked that she was no ordinary fruit
vender. She asked numerous questions
about the work of sailor and if the voy-
age 10 England at this season of the year
was likely to be rough one. She peered
into the forecastie and into the cook 5 gal
ley, and seemed interested in everything
going on about the ship.
| Was il the Little Fruit Seller?
She asked the first officer what it would
cost to take passage to England In the
ship, and seemed surprised and disap
| pointed when told that there were no &C
Communications ON board the Ida for pas
sengers. Her size and complexion CORE
sponded exactly with the dead sailor
| Hans, but her hair was braided and hung
nearly to her waist The men now be
lieye that the little fruit girl of Pensacola
| and the dead sailor were one and the same
person. Hans shipped on the very day
| that the bark sailed.
What Was Pound in the Trunk.
In the dead sailors effects "a small wood
| en- trunk and an ordinary sea bag there
were found few changes of mems clothes
| and also one or two articles of female ap-
parel. With these were brush and comb
and hand mirror, in a toilet case, some
| fancy note paper and envelopes. ewo or
| three paper-covered novels and copy of "a
Mobile newspaper, but nothing to betray
| the dead girls identity.
| Investigating the Affair.
The authorities at West HartIepool have
communicated with rhe American consul
| here, and an official investigation will he
set on foot i'll Pensacola The captain OF
| the Ida is Of the opinion that the dead girl
| sailor is well connected in Pensacola or
some nearby city. She was delica;ely con
stituted, and showed traces of good breed
ing ana refined training.