The San Francisco call., 1903-01-05
WOMAN Slows
AWAY ON COPTIC
Premature Appearance
Foils Plan Of Fair
Adventures.
Pilot Brings Her Ashore, but
Her Identity Is Shrouded
in Mystery.

handsome Young woman. about .
years OF age. dressed in the height Of
fashion. cIambering down q rope ladder
hanging over the side Of a big ocean
liner. vas the spectacle afforded the pas
senEers Of the steamship Coptic Saturday
~ The beginning OF the transpacihc Voy-
aCe OF that vessel.
The fact that the woman was caught
90 an attempt TO beat her way 30 Shang-
liai as a stoWawav. and her absolute L.
1usal 10 disclose her identity TO the pilots
who brought her back 10 this city and
landed her nj Meiggs wharf. lend add
riOual mystery TO the case.
Shortly after the vessel had passed out
side OF the Heads the Young woman pre-
sented herself 10 the pErser and stated
that she was without a ticket and intend
Cd 10 beat her way 10 Shanghai, no doubt
believing that the pilot had already left
the ship and il would be impossible for
the officers 10 frustrate her design The
purser Immediately reported the matter
10 Captain Frank T. Beadnell, i'm com
mand OF the Copuc, and that gentleman
called the pilot. Captain @. +. Wallace
Jr-. and ordered him to take the woman
ashore in the pilot-boaI Lady Mine when
he left the ship.
SHE NJ V Eh ALI
At the lightship Captain Wallace bade
farewell TO the COpuc and ordered the
Young woman 10 accompany him. He i'm
mediately clambered down the swaying
rope ladder and the unknown would-be
stoUaway. without fsltering an instant.
followed. In calm weather the experience
would prove a nerve-tping sensation for
many men and particularly member OF
the fair sex A heavy ground swell Wis
n 10 Gh frf
rolled and careened I'm a startling man.
ner Cndaunted by the condition Of the
sea or the crowd Of curious faces above
her. she finally reached the boat forty
feet below. And then hearty cheer
broke forth from the assembled passen-
gers on deck and as the ocean greyhound
resumed her journey toward the Orient
hundred -handkerchlefs fiuttered out on
the breeze in a farewell to Miss Courage
Gus
The Lady Mine arrived at Meiggs
wharf at II O'Clock Saturday night and
The fair passenger was landed at the
dock. She consented 10 the offer OF es-
cort 10 Market street by Captains VA
lace and Boyd and A Third and Kearny
street car was taken for that point. Al
Geary street the trio separated. the young
woman thanking her escorts kindly for
their courtesy. She went north on keaTny
street and the officers went 10 their re-
spectiEe homes. To every inquiry touch
ing upon her identity she refused TO
NOuchsafe an answer and would give no
cleW as 10 who she was and why she had
made an attempt 10 90 TO Shanghai
TOOK MATTER PLEASANTLY.
Captain Wallace said yesterday:
The first intimaton ] had or the fact that
r woman had slowed away on the COpuc was
when Captain Beadnell informed me OF the
matter on the bridge. he told me that the
woman would have 70 be taken ashofe on the
plot boat Lady Mine when We reached the
lFhtship. When we reached that point the
woman aas brought 20 me 10y the purssr and
reached 20 put her ashore She laughed ana
a5 thsr she would undoubtedly have 10 agree
f1 d. ] vent down the rope ladder first and
sic followed. ] was afraid she might become
rsint hy the rolling Of the ship and fan. but
che cid not hesitate for instant and got IN
ruE boat safely The passengers gave several
hearty cheers for her courage During our
ulp hack % the city We endeavOred 10 learn
something Of Der identity. but 10 all our ques-
fCrs about herself she refused % give an
answer on ether topics. however. she talked
freely and was AZ all times very Jolly She
and weighed about l7O pounds She wore
forn-nttng tailor suit Of black goods OF fine
texture and a black hat In her hand she
carried a chain purse. which she held care
fully and I am of the impression that IL con-
1alned her 1eWelry- When arrived
y nsrf asked her Il there was any objection
20 our escorting her uptown. and she said she
street car and a. Geary street got out and
after hiding Us good-by and ShanAing US FOR
our courtesy. she walked hastily up- KearnN
street and We went 20 our homes.