Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-03-03
GIRLS WHO TROD THE DECK
Some Who Have Braved the Horrors
of War and Others Suffered
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 II 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 a 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 banter 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 II. as in the case of Poll Wells,
who was once 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 ac-
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 1t.
too, for her courage was Of just as much
service to the ship as her humanity and
attention were TO the unfortunate SUI
ferers who had been wounded.
For the most part, however, the girl
coats and kept their sex a secret. In
many cases IL was for the sake OF a 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.
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 that one of the boys who had begged
to be taken on board seven weeks be-
fore had performed the duties OF his
station like other boys was really fine
girl of Is, who had taken the step in
order TO escape from the neglect of her
father.
IL 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 handsome collection. made for
her by the officers and ships company
Probably this maiden had seen enough
Of the sea; but that was not the case
with one woman in the disguise of a
sailor who was pressed with a number
of men in Shadwell, in 1903.
She answered all questions put to her
in true seafaring style, and when dis
proper dress, she declared she never
would until she had given drubbing 70
the French
Flogging must have been terrible
strain on the determination of these girl
sailors to keep their secrets.
Several instances are recorded in
which girls under sentence to be fogged
disclosed their sex 10 the officers, and
escaped the service with whole skin on
their backs
The bravado was sometimes kept up
until within sight Of the instrument of
torture, or until their backs were ac-
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 il for
granted that in several cases no whisper
Of the real truth escaped.