New-York tribune., 1908-10-05
LIVED Is YEARS AS MAN
Woman Wore Disguise Until Halted
at Ellis Island.

sfter travelling about the country FOR fifteen
years in male attire the sex OF Mary Johnston, %
New orleans was discovered yesterday al kl4Is
Island when the immigration doctors decloeo 10
examine her for tuberculosis. Miss Johnston is
fifty years old slight of build and of saloW CON-
plexion. Her manner and conversation snow re-
.inelnenf and some culture She won the sympathy
OF sil the officials at Ellis Island who heard her
story yesterday, following the disclosure mat she
was woman. She arrived here Saturday IN
the steerage of the American liner New YORK rom
Southampton. Miss Johnston was born IN Cahioa
OF English parents, both Of whom died when she
was twenty. Nature had blghted her with a thlck
bIac, 7,4lsfsche and an unusually low toned voice.
and il was in accordance with these unweicohe
haudicaps that she WAS forced TO disguise hersell
as q man. associate with men and earn her INlng
IN occupations usually followed by the male sex
Her sallow cheeks became scarlet yesterday when
she vras picled out Of a group Of men in the male
detention ward on Ellis Island ani toll that she
nas suspected Of having tuberculosis.
The woman protested that she was in perfect
health but the examining surgeon said he wanted
70 he sure. and ordered her TO the hospital Tor
examination.
Tne woman tried hard TO control her nerves, but
when the surgeon said, y shall have 10 ask you 10
remove your clothng. Mr. woodruff, Miss John
Eton wept-
oh. please don't examine me- she pleaded 1
might as well tell you all am a woman, and
have travelled IN male attire for fifteen years L
have never been examined by a doctor In all my
life. and beg Of you not 10 make an examination
Of ne now 7 know woman is treated with re-
spect and courtesy in this place. and I ask that
you send a woman to make the examination
Surely this consideration IS due me as an honest
and respectable woman
The surgeons called in a matron AT the woman
request. but they examined her lungs TO make
sure she was not tubercUlar. II was found that
she was in good health, but not rugged. She was
an alien. net undesirable and had it not
been Tor the clothes she might have been admitted
10 the country. The case. however, called TO
the attention OF Commissioner watchorn. who viii
hold Miss Johnston until further examinations are
made into her history
Commissioner Murray, who was at the island yes
terday, asked Miss Johnston why she had travelled
as man. The nervousness preceding the exam
snstion had passed and. with the unfegned ease Of
q man. the woman tilted back her Fedora hat we'll
over her black short cropped hair, thrust her hands
slowly and forCefully: 4 was left alone in the
world when I a girl of twenty. ! tried 10 get
employment q woman. but everywhere went my
COW pitched voice and my mustache weTI against
me. and I could not get on. For fifteen years
struggled along in the field Of female employment,
but il Of avail.
I have been honest woman all my life and
have never violated any law. I am sorry that it is
violation Of the law for to dress a man, but
did not know it I have become so accustomed
70 acting as that it viii be difficult for me
live a TO go back woman's
apparel and 1rx TO nay living would be
ceedingly hard for a of my years.
Miss Johnston said that after leaving Canada
she went California, where she remained for ff-
teen years. As Frank WoodhuI she sought employ
1nent IN the country. and worked on several big
ranches She lived with ;he ranch hands associat-
ed with them. but the identity Of her was never
discovered.
Miss Johnston has more than enough money with
her 10 entitle her 10 escape the public charge"
clause OF the immigration law. The officials con-
slider her thoroughly moral person, her health
her deportation and is generally be
lieved she VIII be allowed the island pro-
vided she adopts clothing befitting her sex