The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-17
FIVE DESPERATE GIRLS
DETERMINED NOT TO BE sEPARAT-
ED FROM SOLDIER LOVERS,
So They DOnned Uniforms and Tried
to Pass as Military Servants
of the Republic.

CHICAGO, May 16-"Great barking can
non!' said Lieutenant Reeves. of the third
battalion, of the Fifth Regiment, United
States Infantry. The lieutenant was aboard
a train. Likewise the battalion. The train
was in the outskirts of Chicago, bound for
New York The lieutenant was gazing with
popping eyes at pair of small white hands
attached to what purported to be the body
of a soldier of the realm.
Madam" exclaimed the lieutenant. wax
ing the soldier, you will have to get on
this train.''
The soldier burst into tears he was
turned over to Lieutenant Maloney, of the
Grand Crossing police station in the early
hours yesterday morning. Yes" he sobbed.
'T am a girl, but that horrid lieutenant
needn't think he's so smart. There's four
other girls on that train. They're all In
uniform, too. and they're going to Cuba
with their sweethearts."
That is how it comes about that portion
of the third battalion, of the Fifth Regi-
ment. United States Infantry, late of Fort
Sheridan, ILL.,, on the way to garrison SER
vice in Cuba, is made up partly of women.
The girl put off at Grand Crossing was
Jessie Sherwood, of Waukegan. At HAM
mond, Ind. Emma Winoski. also of Wau-
kegan, was discovered masquerading in the
uniform of Uncle Sans fighters and was
compelled to detrain. The three girls sup
posed to be still aboard the train are said
to live In Fort Sheridan. They all have
sweethearts among the gallant third bat
talon. If they get to Cuba there will be
three marriage ceremonies. The five girls
were all in soldiers attire. They had cut
off their hair and had practiced the mill
tary walk and salute. AS the command
carried neither guns nor ammunition, they
were relieved of learning the manual Of
arms.
The terrible scandal which is expected to
convulse army circles from Medicine Hat
to Schenectady, N. Y, had it's inception
during the stay of the third battalion at
Fort Sheridan. Three girls of the military
town and two of Waukegan found sweet
hearts among the recruits. When it was
learned that orders had come for the COM
mand to go to Cuba there was wailing and
weeping in the northern suburbs. Love
found way. That Is 1t thought Ii found
a way. The trouble was that the fat lit
tie boy with the bow and arrow failed to
figure on Lieutenant Reeves. Reeves there
by scored on Cupid.
The names of the three Fort Sheridan
damsels are not known. Miss Sherwood
and Miss Winosh are seventeen and eight
cen years old respectively. Previous to
joining the army they were coffee and
sinker prestidigitators in a Waukegan food
parlor. Miss Sherwood fell in love with
Sergeant Michael Langmeyer, Company x.
Miss Winoskfs Don Juan was a sergeant
In Company l.. Sundays between seances
with the wheat cakes and the soft boiled
the girls stole away to the military
post and saw their adored ones. When the
sergeants could get away they would run
down to Waukegan and nearly founder
"a N no
Then came the terrible day when 1t was
announced that the battalion was ordered
to the front. Santiago was the destina-
ton, the home and county seat of the land
crab and tarantula. There were anguished
conventions between the sergeants and
their lady loves. Finally bright thought
came TO Sergeant Langmeyer: 1t nearly
Frustrated him but he gasped out his plan
to the sergeant of Company L. 1t was
no less scheme than that the girls should
cut off their hair, and on the day of de-
parture put on uniforms, mix with the re-
cruits and board the train. 1t was hoped
that once off for New York the deception
would not be discovered. In some way the
details of the plan became known to three
Fort Sheridan dulcinas who also had lovers
among the recruits. They cut off their
hair. Uniforms were struggled to the five
young women, and for ten days they did
| little else than practice before their mir
rors in the garments they had cut down
and made over to tit their somewhat I'M
military figures.
unsupported. the five girls. guided by
their lovers. got aboard the train at the
fort Monday evening. Happiness in large
punches pervaded the atmosphere. There
was thought of the weddings that would
occur when Santiago was reached. Miss
Sherwood was discovered and put of al
Grand Crossing and taken in charge by
the matron at the police station, where
she dotted her uniform and put on the
womanly garments she carried in a small
bundle. Her stepfather, Wallace Sherwood,
of los Market street, Waukegan was noti-
fed. The girl, in charge of Matron
OBrien. set out for Waukegan, where she
was joyfully reunited to her sorrowing
mother. Miss Winoski. amid a flood OF
tears and bitter sobs, was torn from the
side OF her very own sergeant and COM
PEELED to leave the train at Hammond and
make her way home as best she could