The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-10

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mere merchant chip, but served seven
weeks OH the United States coast defense
vessel Monterey, over which Big Betsy
reirrs as ting biggest 81 American guns.
She also claims 10 have seen service on
other ships 81 the American navy, but.
alas: the young darnses In fraii. and has
All Imagination which carries her on board
ships whose decks she has never trod
TO places she has never seen. Sttil, al
though she is not exactly all that a
woman should be, and has allowed fancy
10 extend her nautical experience beyond
the bounds Of facts, she has the proud
distinction OF being the only woman OF
the present day known 20 have actually
served on board warship and to have
worn her dlsgBise 50 well as to have de-
ceived all the officers except the few who
were In the secret.
The girl who has this unique career has
borne several names and has had many
yicissitadez, though still young The
first name she bore after coming into the
world at st. Cloud. Minn..' about fifteen
years ago was Ida May Townsend. her
father died when she was but 3 years old
and she was adopted by couple named
Bunf. whose name she took. Six years
ago the Bunt family moved to whateom.
and last May the girl. stiil a child in
years, married "A bricknason named F.
j. Love. But she had always had a pas
StoG tDE the sea anu IGr assuming u2Scu-
line attire, and could not settle down 20
the rrosaic bliss of married life. Thus
II was that last August she deserted her
husband for the free life OF the sea, and
donning the clothes Of an apprentice went
on board the Monterey. only three Of
flcers and three or four seamen know
ing her secret
The rumor has been abroad for several
days that there WAS a woman among the
crew OF the Monterey. and the Post-In-
tclligencer with some difficulty discovered
that IL had basis of truth and that the
fair lover OF Neptune had taken TO dry
land again at this port. and after roll
licking saiisr-Iike time had gone TO the
big Rock dance hall at Leavenworth. Isl
miles east OF Seattle on the Great North
ern railroad. where frail women, bad
whisky and gamblers Join forces TO re-
lieve railroad men and miners OF all their
cash, surplus or otherwise. The girls
abode was no sooner iocate,s iran a Post
InteIligencer reporter was dispatched TO
see her. and the Post-Intelligencer spe-
ctal artist quickly followed to obtain a
picture of the sailor girl of Puget sound.
and he thereby obtained an insight into
various phases OF Western life.
Muscular and Boyish- Looking.
At Leavenworth the girl was found
IN stuffy little room adjoining
the Big Rock dance hall and sa-
loon. For several days she had been
suffering from indisposition and IL was
thought that she had lung fever. She
was glad that a visitor had called. but
st first was not Inclined 10 be laxative
Although II is claimed that she Is hut
Is years old. she looks to be about rs, and
she claims she Is n. She Is of slight build
weighing about Us pounds, and Is as well
mnseied as any athletic young fellow
Her face IL n study. She has a very boy
ish appearance and her features are
sharply outlined and would attract at
fention anywhere. While not handsome
she Is not bad looking, although her coal
black hair, which IL cut short, and her
piercing black eyes and high cheek bones
suggest strain OF Cherokee blood Her
short upper lip. which she is in the habit
OF puckering M when she smiles. dis
plays fne set of snowy teeth. Her
hands arc large and calousca indicating
their Familiarity with tarred rope and
sails. and from her feet one would
Imagine she halls from the Windy CITY
She wears No mans shoes and Is
somewhat proud of the distinction.
She continually talked about s'us bovs''
snd de gang" and, finding that her vis-
itor was from Seattle. was anxious 10
know about Callahan Jack o. the
Dust" and some of the other sailors on
the Mohicar. When she began talking
about the sailors she warmed up and
quite forgot that she was supposed 10 hs,
sick. and, when asked II IL was true that
che had been on the Monterey. the fnde-