The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-26
Up Ships Side In Skirts.
WOMEN INSPECTORS MAKE GOOD
START

WOMEN INSPECTORS MAKE GOOD
START.
You go first said Miss Helen A
Taylor. immigration inspector No. /. to
Miss Matilda Wichmann, No. 2. The
ladder leading from the revenue cutter
to the deck of the steamship Invernia
was in front OF them. Half a dozen
cameras were leveled in their direction
from the other end Of the cutter-a fact
that seemed to discomfort them not 1t
all A compromise was effected. Miss
Sarah H. Harrison, inspector No. 3,
went up the ladder first, thereby gain
ing the record as the first woman
boarding officer to climb the side of an
ocean liner in behalf of the United
States government. The cameras snap
ped simultaneously and continued to
snap until the last of the three was
aboard.
on the way down the bay the three
inspectors had explained that two 9th
ers should have come along, but Miss
NJ. c. Bachelor, after debating over her
new position for many days, mad back
ed out at the last moment and resigned
while Miss Josephine LaSsOe, for some
reason or other, had not received notice
that the first trip was to be made from
the Battery at 1880 o'clock. In regard
to their costumes, or uniforms. the
three declined to give details. Miss
Taylor said.
our only uniform consisted of quiet
details that is none of the publics
business"
A little later. through an informed
larry, a semi-official statement was
given out as follows:
THE only popularity of the uniform
consists of divided skirts gathered at
the knees"
During the ascent of the ladder it
was learned on good authority that
two of the three adhered to raiment of
that description, but the third wore
some voluminous garments Of black
silk. These objects reached nearly to
her shoe tops, and a silken cord was
gathered about them at the bottoms
The costumes, as far as they were in
tended to be visible, were as follows:
Miss Taylor--BIack Jacket and skirt,
black silk mufler, laced high Shoes
with CATERS; black felt fedora hat
with veil on top at half-mast; greenish
brown gloves.
Miss Wichmann-Black skirt and
Astrakhan jacket, black felt fedora
hat with veil over her face; black
cloth gloves. with purple flowers work
ed on them.
Miss Harrison-Black skirt and
brown jacket, brown hat and veil. the
latter furled alOft
The Cunarder Ivernia was the liner
which the women intended to board,
but the cutter circled around the haT-
Dor to every newly arrived vessel be-
fore attending to the big steamship
As the big Ivernia was looming up in
the haze toward Staten Island a cOntrO-
versy arose. One Of the men inspectors
said he thought two of the women
ought to board the Cunarder. leaving
the remaining one to attend to another
vessel down in the Narrows. chorus
of feminine protests answered him.
I'VE are all going on the Ivernia,'
said Miss Taylor, emphasizing her
words with a stamp of her foot
yes, we are" assented the other two.
1N +l.F-
reason the man inspector gave later-he
yielded. 1t was agreed that the women
should not be separated. About that
time the Ivernia slowed up near by.
The cutter moved alongside. Everybody
began TO prepare to climb the ladder,
which the deckhands were holding In
readiness to fasten to the liners side
The women gathered on the top deck
of the cutter The photographers lined
up dozen feet away.
Then it was that new regulation
was put in operation as to the relations
of revenue cutters and ocean liners.
Heretofore those who boarded from a
cutter were obliged to climb a long lad
der. reaching all the way to the open
deck of the steamship. But this time
after a few words between the officers
of the cutter and the liner a short lad
der was hoisted so that it reached only
half way up to the deck A gangway
was opened in the side of the vessel
The ladder was to be pushed into one Of
&
closed deck, and the women were to
have a climb Of only ten or twelve feet.
Later they denied indignantly that the
change had been made for their bene y.
They would have preferred the long
climb, really, and they hoped they'd
never have their courage thus Indirect
I ~ questioned in future.
Its easier than hanging a curtain
said Miss Wichmann.
AS a matter of fact. the women s
climb was not much on a slant. for the
port they entered was just above the
/ level of the top of the cutter There
was nothing remarkable about the way
they climbed.
4 Once in the vessel, they followed the
customs officers and the men immigra-
/ ton inspectors into the second cabin.
There the men inspectors proceeded 70
work, passengers answering questions
as to their age, wealth. intentions, reia-
I tives, past life, and general character.
The three women inspectors grouped
themselves together and looked on.
Aren't you neryOus?' Miss Wich-
mann whispered to Miss Taylor.
But Miss Taylor answered with a
I scornful No" tt was recalled by a
man inspector lin a low tone) that Miss
] Taylor slapped mans face on Ellis
Island about a year ago. The man was
an inspector, and she was assistant
matron on the island at the time. They
I had some dispute, as result of which
/ his face ached for an hour.
According to the plan under which the
five women were made inspectors their
+ duties are to inteFrogate female cabin
, passengers. If, for instance, a lonely
woman without apparent means Of sup
port, and without a good explanation as
to why she came to this country, is dis
/ covered, it is to be the new inspectors
4 duty to investigate the case. If the UNI
desirability of the woman traveller is
I ests blished she is to be sent to the port
whence she came.
Another object of the new appoint
ments is to help lone female travellers
tiOns, but are in such circumstances
/ that they are at a loss as to how to take
care of themselves Immediately.
After the new inspectors left the liner
/ at the pier all of them said they were
| delighted with the prospect of real work