Evening star., 1902-02-19
TELLS ROMANTIC STORY
WOMAN WITH A HISTORY IN
BALTIMORE JAIL.
Claims to Be the Daughter of John
Lancaster, Who Rescued Cap
tain Semmes.
From the Baltimore Sun of today.


Imprisoned at the city Jail for want of
$245 with which to pay a fine and costs
imposed for disorderly conduct yesterday
afternoon by Justice Ogden, at the south
ern police station is an old lady. past the
meridian Of life, who declares she is the
daughter~of the famous John Lancaster of
England. who, in 1864. in his yacht, the
Deerhound, distinguished himself by saw
ing the life of Rear Admiral (then captaim
Semmes of the Alabama, sunk off Cher
bourg, France, by the Kearsarge.
Mrs Rebecca White Is her name. She
says she is ffty-two years old and has
travelled over much of the world in conf
pany with a former husband, John Powell
q pilot in the employ of the British govern
ment She lives with her husband, Harry
White, an employe of the Maryland Ice
Company, at Hanover and Little Church
streets.
Her Offense.
Yesterday afternoon Patrolman George
Lamar was attracted by a large crowd Of
boys and girls gathered at William and
Cross streets. In their midst was woman.
with a saw in her hand hitting out right
and left at her youthful tormentors, who
were pulling at Mrs. Whites skirts and
crying: "Hurrah for the Beers and
Down with England"
Lamar promptly took the woman into
custody and at the southern police station
laid the charge of disturbing the peace
against her.
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 OConnell watched
her for some time.
When arraigned before Justice Ogden
she said she had for years been annoyed
by the boys and girls of the neighborhood.
1aar rf how Homo ify
She said:
II have lived in several countries and
nowhere do find the children so rude as
here"
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:
II hope you may be struck dead for this
injustice
Story Of Her Life.
To 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. My mother was
Lady Catherine Shaw, daughter of Sir
John Shaw Lee, an influential member Of
the liberal party, as was also my father.
Ny youth was a happy one and my three
sisters and myself mingled with the chill
dren Of many noble families.
I'm the winter we would go to London
and in the summer stay at the grand old
country estate Of my father. When very
young I married John Powell, a govern
ment pilot. I had met him on my fathers
yacht, the Deerhound.
Married in Secret.
'My parents were opposed to the match.
but we loved each other and were secretly
married. Shortly after the wedding John
was ordered to India and went with him,
breaking away from both social and family
ties to follow the man / loved.
1--WE went to British Burmah and lived
there for two years, my husband plotting
the British ships and l mistress over
happy little home there. After two years
he was ordered to Calcutta, and for five
years we lived there He was away much
of the time. became interested in domes-
tic pets. I soon secured a fine collection Of
snakes and trained them to do many mar
velOus things.
my husband died and left me with two
sons. I had money enough to send them
back to England and did so remaining
myself in India. One Of the boys, I hear is
now holding an important position in the
Bank of England.
Thrown upon my own resources, / be-
thought me Of my pets, the snakes 1 went
to Bombay. and there for nine years !
managed to exc out an existence as snake
charmer.
Comes to America.
'tWell, finally got some money together
and decided to come to America. I came to
Baltimore and married my present hus-
band. I have no desire to go back to my
people in England. as 1 know that would
not be recognized, and any claim that I
might make for a portion Of my parents
estate would be laughed to ridicule.
Il could not bear to be laughed at or
doubted. and that is why this present dis
grace Is almost killing me.
mo, the life of a lady in England has no
tained through civil proceedings which, of
course, 1t would. I do not know whether
my sisters are living or dead.
Recollections Of Her Father.
ut seems ages ago when I used to sail
with my father upon his yacht. I was a
little girl then. I remember hearing him
tell OF the part he played when the Ala
bama was sunk by the Kearsarge off the
coast OF France
Mrs. White Is rather good looking wo-
man for her age. Though stout she has
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 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 hus-
band, but the boy Was unable to find him.
When the jail wagon arrived late In the
was taken OF her sobs az the wagon ratified
Va -. q -