The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-02-23
HER ROMANTIC STORY
He It Was Who Saved Semmss-Was
Commander Of Yacht Deerhound
at the Fight on Chsrburg
When the Alabama
Went Down.
Baltimore Sun.

Baltimore Sun.
Imprisoned at the city jail for want Of
imposed for disorderiy conduct yester-
day afternoon by Justice Ogden, at the
Southern Police Station. Ia an old lady,
past the meridian of life. who declares
Lancaster Of England, who. In 1854. in his
yacht, the, Deerhound, distinguished HIM
self by saving. the life Of Rear Admiral
lthen captainl Semmes Of the Alabama.
sunk of Cherbourg. France. by the Kear-
sarge.
Mrs. Rebecca White il her name She
says she is 81 wears old and has trav-
eled over much of the world In company
with a former husband, John Powell, a
pilot in the emptoye Of the British gov
ernment. She lives with her husband,
Harry White. an employe ofthe Mary
land Ice Company. at Hanover and Little
Church Streets.
Yesterday afternoon Patrolman George
boys hA and ID girls gathered at William ana
Cross Streets. In their midst was wo-
man, with saw In her hand, hitting out
right and left at her youthful torment
sss who ana were pulling a, Mrs w Mhts
Beers and do vn with England"
Lamar promptly took the woman into
custody. and at the Southern Police Sta
ton laid the charge Of disturbing the
Mrs. White was very nearly hysterical
when placed In cell. and 1t was thought
at first that she would try to do herself
bodily harm and Matron O'Connell watch
ed her for some time.
When arraigned before Justice Ogden
abe said she had tor wears been annoyed
by the boys and girls of the neighbour
hood. who teased her because of her ma
tionality. She said:
II have lived in several countries and
nowhere do find the children so rude
as here
The justice imposed a fine of 81 and
costs. Mrs. White had no money and
could not pay.
When the decision was rendered Mrs
White became excited. and turning to the
officer cried out. as she shook her fist at
him:
Il hope. you may be struck dead for
To a reporter for The Sun Mrs. White
told the following story:
II was born at the country home of my
father. John Lancaster, in Radcliff. near
Manchester. England. Ny mother was
Lady Catherine Shaw, daughter of Sir
John Shaw Lee. an influential member
of the Liberal party, as was also my
father. My youth was happy one and
my three sisters and mselt mingled with
the children OF many noble families.
In the winter we would go to London
and in the summer stay at the grand old
country estate of my Hathei. When very
young married John Powell. a govern
L
er's Yacht. the Deerhound.
MY parents were opposed to the
match. but We loved each other and were
secretly married. Shortly after the we'd
went with him. breaking away from both
social and family ties to follow the man
I loved.
I'VE went to British Burmah and lived
there for two years, my husband pilot
ing the British ships and I mistress over
happy httle home there. After two
years he was ordered to Calcutta, and
for five years we lived there. He was
away much of the time. l became inter-
ested in domestic pets. soon secured a
fine collection Of snakes and trained them
to do many marvellous things.
My husband died and left me with
two sons. 1 had enough money to send
them back to England and did SO. re-
naming myself In India. One of the boys,
/ hear. Is now holding an important po-
sition in the Bank of England
Thrown upon my own resources, /
bethought me of my pets, the snakes.
1 went to Bombay. and there for nine
years I managed to exc out an existence
as snake charmer.
well, l finally got some money to-
gether and decided to come to America.
/ came to Baltimore and married my
present husband. have no desire to go
back to my people in England, as
know that I would not be recognized,
and any claim that l might make for
portion of my parents estate would
be laughed to ridicule.
II could not bear to be laughed at or
doubted, and that Is why this present
disgrace is almost killing me.
mo, the life of lady in England has
no charms for me IL 1t would have to be
obtained through civil proceedings, which,
OF course. 1t would do not know wfleth-
er my sisters are living or dead i,
1T seems ages ago when l used to
sail with my father upon his yacht. I
was a little girl then. I remember hear
ing him tell of the part he played when
the Alabama was sunk by the Kearsarge
off the coast of France"
Mrs. White is rather a good looking
woman for her age. Though stout she
has a pleasant, smiling face, despite the
marks of age about the corners of her
eyes and mouth. Her voice is refined, and
she speaks with an English accent.
She was dressed in a neat black SUIT OF
dark cloth, and wore hat and gloves OF
the same color.
After she had been committed to Jail
she sent a messenger with a note for
her husband, but the boy was unable to
find him.
When the Jail wagon arrived late in
the afternoon she was bundled In and
no notice was taken Of her sobs as the
inl