Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-09-29
THE STRANGEST WOMAN
AN IN ATE OF THE BROOK
LYN PENITENTIARY,
The Power of sampson i'm the Frame OF
Midget-Sketch OF Her Life and
Some of Her Remarkable Feats-LiUt.S
Mary Ellen Holds the Record.

match in the history of the institu-
ton. This is all the more remark
able when it is taken into account
that this woman il midget not q
monster. She is still young woman
of scarcely more than 25 years Of age
For the last dozen years, ever since
she was a mere girl, she has passed
in and out OF those grim portals
through q scarcely pretermitted
series Of incarcerations 1t is due
this strange incorrigible to state
that, although her life has been
largely spent in the company of
criminals, she has never once, so far
as can be learned, been committed
for crime of any sort She has never
been photographed. The name by
which this famous scrap is known
over the city is Mary Ellen. As the
product OF vicious surroundings she
is more to be pitied, helped, and, if
possible, saved than scorned and
Stunned. She has had many names.
Her real name. as she herself and
others state. and under which she is
now registered at the penitentiary,
is Egan. A single member OF her
family still lives about the place.
Her father and mother are both dead.
Mary Ellen was born looking out
upon the prison and its scenes. She
grew up among a motley set of
toughs.
Her exploits and encounters were
frequent and desperate. At such
times she would rather fight than eat.
So greatly was she dreaded that for
fear of infuriating her all who knew
her said: IF Mary Ellen wants any
thing let her have it" The truth is
that Mary Ellen had a vicious and
uncomfortable temper which she con-
stantly suffered to get the best Of
her. Such state of mind is rendered
almost chronic by the thought that
she has been unfortunate, has gone
from bad to worse and naturally feels
that at last nobody cares for her. She
has some good traits. nevertheless.
She can be grateful for a kindness.
She has never committed a crime and
if brought under good influences and
got away from corner saloons she
would probably work The following
official statements concerning her will
DO read with interest:
Alonzo Brymer, the former warden
of the Raymond street Jail, said IL
have known Mary Ellen for years.
She is monstrously strong. She is
known as the girl who bends the
bars. She is stronger than a great
many men. When she first came
under my charge had to have her
put in the black cell. but soon made
up my mind that l would try kind.
ness. l did and / got along well
enough with Mary Ellen after that
The trouble is that she thinks every
body's hand is against her and that
makes her desperate.
/ called on Warden Hayes at the
penitentiary.
"Is there a woman here, warden"
asked, "by the name of Mary
Elem"
There is such oman here. "
al would ike very much to see
her." l said, "but before seeing her
would like to ask you some ques-
tions.
The warden assented.
''Is it true that Mary Ellen, as she
is called, is the strongest woman who
has ever entered this PRISON."
That is the belief of all who are
here" replied the warden. Il be-
lieve that for her size she is the
etronnoct uop,an tbof oon 10 mo
duced in this country to-day. / know
that sounds like very sweeping
statement, but nevertheless that is
my conviction. 1 have had the
costody of good many women, from
all parts of the country, and have
met good many strong ones, but
never any woman that approached
Mary Ellen in strength. Everybody
here will tell you the same thing"
lis she not midget"
''She is a small woman, with small
hands, small feet, small bones and a
nervous organization. But every rib
Is iron, every sinew whipcord. every
nerve lightning. Her grip is wise
and the person she clutches a limp
Ginger She has quite a bit of
science, too, and when it comes to
putting up her hands, she would be
more than a match. for Maggie, the
boxer Of Mulberry Bend"
"Can you give me any Instances of
her wonderful strength"
There are enough of them to fill
book" replied the warden.
when. for cause, it is found neces-
sary to put her in the cooler it
takes two men to manage her, and
then they get roughly handled
When she once gets hold of you she
never lets 60"
ION one occasion" said the war
den, "a bar of iron had laid out in
the rain and had grown rusty. The
burr that at one end of it was screwed
on thread had rusted fast. 1t was
necessary to use it, and in order to
do so il was found necessary TO re-
move the burr.
1--WE called in some of the strong
est men in the penitentiary. one after
another, but none of them could re-
move the burr. At last some one
suggested that we call in Mary