Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-11-04
A W0MAN'S SAC DEATH.


| David's.
Philadelphia Ledger, Oct. 2Sth,
! woman dressed in mans Clothes
supposed TO be Annie Spence of Luu-
custer, was killed yesterday morning
! on the Pennsylvania railroad at St
| David's. 1t is Huppoaeh that she WAS
run over by freight train al o. clock.
Track, walker Petpr Malone found tho
body about 9 80. Ho thought it was
that of man. The breast was crushed,
one arm was off and the heau and face
were very much diRtigured.
Coroner Thomas Minsball of Chester,
took charge of tho body, lie found in
ono of the pockets two handkerchiefs
marked Annie Spence, Lancaster, and a
diary of her wanr!erings. The other
contents of the pockets were some
sachet powder, dice, cigarettes, a pack
Of cards, knife and pair Of scissors.
She wore her hair short, like man,
and her clothes were whole and little
worn.
The diary told in characteristic notes
the story of her wandering life, from
October I'd to Goth, Tuesday. She had
started from Lancaster in wOman's
clothes, on October I'd, Saturday. at
$50 p. M, going TO Columbia by
trolley, and thence to Wrightsvile and
York, in which town che arrived at
3. 80 on Sunday.
She stayed in York Sunday and Mon
day, went TO the opera in the evening
and started for Baltimore. but missed
the train. She finally left York in a
bux car. arrived in Baltimore on Thurs-
day. slept in the woods until day
light and got a Is. cent breakfast ut
"Schmi zel's," on Baltimore street.
The notes say that ale Walked around
all day and took in the play at kernan's
Theatre. The next day after getting
breakfast at lodging house she boldly
got on the bumpers Of Il local freight
for Wilmington, where she arrived on
Saturday at 10. 80 and slept in a straw
stack. She was still in woman 8 clothes.
Sho had a strong penchant for the
theatre, and, after seeing u play at the
Wonderland Theatre. she retired for
the night in box car. The next day
she wont to Iron Hill, and passed the
night in the woods, noting that sit
was pretty muddy She got back to
Wilmington on Monday, ard had lunch
and supper. and took the steamer for
e Philadelphia.
After enjoying the performance at Il
' .heaire she retired to roGt Under rail-
y Dad bridge. Tuesday abe had break.
i asst at Ninth and Arch stresta, went
: d another theatre at night, and again
!. iep! under railroad bridge. Thurs
a iay's hEnakfast she had at Broad and
= Gailowhill streets, and walked around
! III day, then slept in the wuUCs
a After taking in the sights OF tho city
n lgain sho noted that she took bigh-
lass freight on bumpers for Lancaster
:. nd went as far as Glen Loeb. She
y ihnily reached Lancaster on the 18TH.
!: Dassing tho night in sand hole From
q saturday until Tuesday she says she
stayed at a house in that town, and
then went TO another resort, where she
discarded her woman's apparel and put
on mems clothes. 30 she could travel
with less discomfort.
She went to the cut of to take a
freight, hut as none came she walked
to Glen Loeb, whore she jumped into a
lumber car and returned to philadel
!. phia. On Wednesday,, she SAYS. she
put up ut the Boston House, and was
! not recognized In her male clothes,
which gave her the appearance of a
good looking boy. Shu passed the time
on Friday and Saturday in watch box
along the railroad as the guest of the
!, AHgman.
On Sunday she slept 10 a shanty,
+. and again on Monday, "a it was ram
: ing hard. On Tuesday. with clear
weather, she left the shanty at 6. ID
/. and walked down TO tho wharf. Here
her diary ends with the final entry :
[ Saw a fellow got his thumb cut oil
! at III. 30 by pile driver at the foot Of
? Chestnut street..
t That night she jumped freight
train and met her death before dawn.
/. The namo on the handkerchief ia not
4 looked upon as positive Identification,
4 and the body lies in the morgue at
l. Chester to be viewed by those who
] think they can recognize IT. Tbs
!; woman was about % or % years old,
5 was . feet high and weighed lio
: hounds. Her features wera comedy and
I her skin rosy and clear.
e A number OF teeth were missing.
T She had on dark sack suit, dark
sweater, dark trousers, mems bicycle
: SHOES, men'R undarclothing, pair of
e wonen's and pair of mems stockings
/ and soft black hat.
! Railroad detectives say that women
g trampa in mems clothes are often seen
! now riding on the bumpers OF freight
| trains.
: a dispatch from Lancaster SAYS
The coroner's description confirms the
o Identification of tho ST. David's vic
. tim us Annie Spence, Of this place.
She was u hayward girl, fond OF ad
e venture, and frequently rode ON freight
traina. She loft here several days ago
. 10 mems clothes. She and her sister
Irene Spence, came from Wrightsville,
I opposite Columbia, several years ago