The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-15
BESSIE in
BOYS PANTS n
Stage Struck Girl Makes Deter
mined Effort to Rui,
Away.
SHE yoLLlED THE He POLICE
Cut Off Her Hair While Riding
Oh Flat Car and Brakeman
+ y, Plays Barber for Her.
fspecinl to The s-Dispatch)

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, May H.
Miss Bessie Austin, the seventeen-year-
old daughter OF Mr.. j. Il. Austin. OF
pronlt's, this county. who SO mysterious
" Disappeared from her home on Tues
day evening. was found last evening
roaming about tho streets OF Washing
ton In mans attire. To-day she was
brought to her home by her UNCLE Mr.
MIR. r. II. Early.
Yielding to the Influence Of that class
of fiction, which would appeal to very
Young girl OF romantic nature. and en-
iced By the gllttcring Inducements to a
stage career" offered by theatrical
school IN Chicago, Miss Austen disap-
reared from her home on Tuesday, lcav-
Inc a note saying. "Good-bye forever.
STAGE STRUCK.
Miss Austin's correspondence with the
"Zcigfred School Of Music was q care
fully guarded secret, and, although she
had frequently told her friends OF her
intention to- go away, they did not take
her seriously until Tuesday evening,
when she artfully deceived her parents
10 telling them that she was going to
spend the night with Mrs. David, who
is a near neighbor. Instead of doing this
she disguised herself by wearing her
hrother's shoes blue sweater. overalls
and black SLOUGH hat, and went BY
roundabout way to Profit, where she
arded the train for Washington. she
carricd no clothes with her and DESTROYED
all of her correspondence, except the
catalogues Of the Chicago music school.
on Thursday the parents OF the young
girl were told that two people were seen
~ emerge from 81 freight car at 'FRONT.'
TUESDAY evening and board the north
bound train from the side OF tho track
opposite the station. One appeared to pc
a boy, and the man who saw them GU
f1ar 10 nth
dressed as a man or woman. Iaklns tn rls
Information as clue, Mr.. Early lett
immediat for washington in search OF
the runaway.
- 81 PARENTS IDOL.
Miss Austin IS the idol OF her parents,
and since her home life was entlrely
happy, there Is no way to account tor5
"life before the footlshts, OF which
the romantic names OF besseIle
Austaigne'' and Miss Alright La
Besselle." which were written IN the \
catalogues OF the theatrical schools. pore
evidence. She Is of prepossessins ap-
pearance, about five feet five inches IN
height. weight about lis pounds. has
dark brown hair. gray eyes. and may Do
identified by scar on her lip ana M
mouth. which Is not unbecomlngy drawn
slightly to one side az an effect OF 1acia
naralyss. from which she suffered SONG
time ago.
IN WASHINGTON.
The Washington Post yesterday says
With the determination to necofne az
otrasa or n circus performer. pretty
Ressie Austin, seventeen years ola ran
a way from her home at Proffltt Statloh
Albemarle county, Va. on Thursday, ana
10 make travelling more easy she up
propriated a suit Of her brother clot'es,
when next seen she was clad In men S
clothes. sitting on the edge OF a plht,
form car Of a rapidly moving 3tre,snt
train, buslly engaged IN severihs i'er I'VE
hair with pair of shears. nrahe-
man. who made the discovery. found that
tha girl had ruined her tresses, ana 10
repair the damage as far as posslpie, ny
took the shears. and while the train raced
along he played at barbering. Bessie
Austin.s hair was finally rounded off. and
she philosophically slowed the long plat
in a satchel.
Az Alexandria the brakeman. who could
not leave the train. turned the girl over
10 a kind hearted gateman at one OF Tue
street crossings, and at the end OF the
DAVIS abors he took her to his home. 70
his wife Bessie Austin told her story, and
after being once more provided win
dress she promised to wait until her
parents could be notified and she could
be taken home. Instead. she chose the
first opportunity 10 SIP away CIV :. #" 90
supposed that she came to Washington.
UNCLE'S SEARCH FOR Girl.
Late yesterday afternoon her uncle. z.
H Early, Waterman at st. Asaph.
came to this city and sought the aid OF
the police. All police stations were &C
cordingly notified, and Mr. EARLY started
to make n tour OF the various missions
In the city, where he thought the girl
might have gained shelter. He found her
at the Florence Crttenton Home. but she
refused to accompany him. and Detective
Muller was called into the case. lie
placed her under arrest rs a fugitive from
her parents and sent her to the House of
Detention.
According to the story of the matron OF
the Florence Crittenton Home. Bessie
Austin applied there for work early yes
terday morning. saying that she was q
circus rider with Barnunl and Bailey. and
that she had been left behind when the
show left the city.
when Bessie Austin arrived at the
House of Detention an effort was made 10
learn more about the girl but her an
swers were not indicative OF crushed
irtt