Evening journal., 1899-04-21
TO WELCOME RALEIGH.
"Bumboat" Woman Waiting
to Greet Boys From Manila.
SHE DAREBD DEwBY's SOCKS

SARAH wooLEY HAS BEEN ALL
OVER THE WORLD ON THE SHIPS
OF ALL NAvIEs.
Thick and fast have honors been
crowded upon the warriors OF the Raj
oigh since they stepped on American
soil again, but when the doughty little
cruiser steams up the Delaware next
week to help honor the memory OF Grant.
her tackles will meet with a welcome
from one old friend which will be worth
more than all these formal ovatlons II
will come from woman too. Yesterday
she sat aboard the Prairie at League Is
land, and her face glowed with happy
expectation OF meeting the boys from
Manila, says Philadelphia paper
There's not jackie in all Uncle Sans
navy who doesn't know Sarah wooley.
Il would be hard to find an officer,
whether his sleeve bears the insignia OF
admiral or ensign. who is unacquainted
with the ruddy-cheeked dame. Wider
than this is her fame She's known to
Nictoria's captains and sailors, to the
mariners OF France. Germany, Italy, Rus
sia and Spain. She has been saluted by
Emperor william, and junketed on the
same ship with a prince. Lastly she
knows Dewey so well that she used to
darn his socks. Now. where Is the fame
Of the girl who first kissed Hobson?'
Who IS Sarah Wooley?
a LIVING LITTLE BUrTERCUP."
To ask such a question al League Is
land. at Hampton Roads or Newport
News. al the Portsmouth Brooklyn, Nor
Al az Al
be to get a ready answer. Sarah wooley
is the last Of the "bumboat' women in
this country the only one extant on these
shores Of those unique female merchants
who fiourished before even Columbus
sailed the seas. Marryat pictured the
type in his romances. and Gilbert. In
"Pinafore." sang OF Dear Little Butter
cup"
Sarah looks as II she might have
bobbed out OF the pages of Midshipman
Easy. She IS stout and hearty. Her waist
line is lost In the bold curves or her fig
ure. on tangled mass Of gray hair she
wears her hat after the fashion Of any
other sailor-tipped over an eye. sarah's
hat is wonderful creation-of kind
that no fashionable milliner could pro-
duce. 1t is the work OF a lifetime 1t
has as many feathers as are in pea
cocks tail. Every feather has a history.
The plumage of birds that once perched
81 the snow-clad forests OF Norway, and
the feathers Of brilliantly CARRIED song
sters OF the tropics mingle on the head
gear of the bumboat woman.
Sarah's favorte pose Is with one hand
on her hip. while with the other thrust
in the big pocket Of her skirt she jlhges
coins and keys to tune Of prosperity.
Sea breezes have painted her checks a
ruddy brown Fine wrinkles spread Ike
fans from her lively gray eyes. Sarah
shows her white teeth often. for she Is
always ready to laugh And such laugh
--as loud as a thunderclap and as Joyous
as a chid's.
HODNOrs WITH ADMIRALs
For q quarter of a century Sarah mas
followed the seas. a member Of the crews
OF hattieships and cruisers. Left a widow
70 England. she came to America with
i've youngsters toddling al her heels to
seek her fortune. ono day she appeared
aboard the Fremont In the Brooklyn
Navy Yard and asked TO see Admiral
Luce
To him she applied for permission TO
conduct "bumboat" trade. He liked
sarah's jovial countenance. and gave her
an order permitting her to ply her trade
aboard Uncle Sans ships Since then
Sarah and her ware chests have Travelled
the world over. She possesses now a
high stack Of official-looking documents.
On some are red seals. others gold. These
are permits from admirals and captains
OF all the European navics.
Sarah and her wares are aboard the
Prairie at League Island now. She has a
compartment in the forecaste all to her
self and her iron-bound chests. The va
riety OF the contents Of those chests
equals department store Sarah can
supply the sailors anything from a plug
Of tobacco to a portrait Of Dewey. a
paper Of pins to a sheath knife. a sheet
Of note paper TO pair Of shoes collar
button 20 a diamond ring. a blanket to q
gorgeous cravat a love powder to a vel.
low-bound volume entitled Elegant Love
Letters for All Kinds Of Girls" Sarah
doesn't mind admitting that she has
snug sum tucked away IN solid saw
ings bank.
SHE DARNED DEwEY's SOCKS
But neither sarah's business instinc
nor her life among the tackles havl
married her womanlncss. Many a lad II
trouble. disconnected or perplexed. ha
been chcered, consoled and encourage,
by the corpulent kindly "bumboat" wo
man. The sailors say she never forget
anyones name nor things conccrninl
them that She once has heard.
She was an iollity and hustle when
reporter saw her aboard the Prairie yes
terday. Around her were group OF grin
ming sailors. with whom she chatted an
laughed, poking one or two In the rib
and delivering mock lectures to two me
who had made merry on their shore leay
the night before
In the San Francisco Navy Yard som
fifteen years ago Sarah made the a,
qualntance Of the hero Of Manila.
e wasn't no Hadmiral then.
know" said Sarah: "'E was honly
Commander. 'Ow could ri know then
'ow ed be has big a man has Hadmir
Nelson lmself? Goodness, An I'm on
the size Of Gathn' gun. an 'e's a reg
lar ihirtecn-hinchcr, Ny an 10 thir
Of mo darnin' the socks OF Inn"
Sarah paused TO cluck her tongue
a..