Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-02-08
GIRLS WHO TRoD THE DECK
Some Who Have BraVed the Horrors
Of War and 0thersssufered
Flogging.

The records of the British fleet contain
many references to women who, in the
old days, when no man was safe from
the press-gang, braved the dangers and
discomforts of sailors life -
Nowadays, says Smiths Weekly, the
deception would be discovered as soon
as it was attempted; but when we were
at war with France, and Lord Nelson
was the apple of the nations eye, naval
officers were not so particular. They
bundled new hands on deck in very
unceremonious manner.
A quid in the cheek, a cool swagger,
and pair Of breeches were all the evil
dence Of the sex they wanted. And cap
ital sailors they made. such of them as
lived through the war TO disclose their
real condition.
Their messmates used to rally them
for their beardless faces, and many an
uneasy moment must the bantel>have
caused; but for the rest they could reef
and steer with any man, and took to the
rigging like cats.
Sometimes there was no concealment
about It, as in the case Of Poll Wells,
who was once a familiar: toast in the
taverns Of every seafaring town in
England.
Poll fought bravely on board the MARI
borough throughout one of the hottest
engagements of the French war.
When the vessel left Plymouth she
refused to part from her sailor, and &C.
tually bore the horrors and confusion OF
the battle, standing by her gun with all
the resolution of hardy veteran.
! Polls share Of the prize money for the
Marlborough capture came to three
pounds, which she received like an ordi-
nary seaman; and well she deserved it,
too, for her courage was of just as much
service to the ship, as her humanity and
attention were to the unfortunate suf-
;ferers who had been: wounded. - 49, -
For the most part, however, the girl
sailors of the fleet dotted their petit
coats and kept their sex a secret. In
mauy cases:it was for the sake OF sailor
lover on board the same ship More fire.
quently, however, the girls were driven
to this resort to escape a wretched fate
on shore. - -,"s: 49,. Vi. :, 49,
In the summer of 1900 the crew of his
majesty's ship Actoeon were laughing
over an incident of this nature.
This was. none other: than the discov-
cry thatOAe of;the boys, who had begged
to be taken on 6oard seven weeks be-
fore, had performed the duties of his
station like other boys, was really a fine
girl Of 1S, who had taken the step in
order to escape from the neglect OF her
father.
1t was said that no one on board the
Actoeon had the slightest suspicion of
her sex; and SO much did the men relish
the joke that when she went ashore
again, dressed in proper clothes. she took
with her ahandsome collection, made for
her by the officers and ships company.
Probably this maiden had seen enough
of the sea; but that was not: the casa
with one woman in the disguise; of H.
sailor who was pressed with numbsr
of men in Shadwell, in 1903. - .
She answered all questions put to her
in true seafAring style, and when DIS
charged, a1d advised to assume Aer
proper dsess. she declared she never
would Until she had given drubbing to
the Freuch.
Flogg1ng must have been q terrible
strain on the determination of these girl
sailors to keep their secrets.
Several instances are recorded in
which girls under sentence to be f1ogged
disclosed their sex to the officers, and
escaped the service with whole akin on
their backs. * s..x, ,
The bravado was sometimes kept up
until within sight OF the instrument Of
torture, or until their backs were &C.
tually barred for the singing cuts Of the
lash.
Save when in such desperate straits,
however, they lived through their trou-
bles bravely. and We may take 1t for
granted that in several cases no whisper
Of the real truth escaped. &c..
Tashion's Penalty.