New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-02
COOK WAS PANIC
AT ISLAND POST
Her Screams Only 'Hyster-
les at Governors During
Jersey Explosion.

Apparently The Tribune was in error
describing as "hysterical" the excite
ment among the women of Governors
Island when Black Tom blew up.
What The Tribune's informant took
for chorused entreaty for help by
women members Of the officers house
holds was seemingly only the screams
Of loyal, though misguided, negro
cook. An Irish maid, also seized by
panic, Joined In, but tainted.
The cry OF 1.-THE Germans!" was
raised, though. 1t was the negro cook
who did the raising, and because all
Manhattan did not receive the message
is no fault of hers. She rushed along
Brick Row proclaiming:
"De Germans got u.s. For Gawd's
sake git yo' clothes on and git off dis
island"
This mistaken Pauline Revere's
whereabouts is a mystery. She was
last seen shouting her warning and
scampering for a pier.
Here is an account of what hap
pened on the island, from the pen Of
an army woman, who elects to sub
scribe herself NJ. c. B.:
"ln to-day's Tribune I read with
surprise: Governors Island Women
in Mysteries
GAS regards the Black Tom explo-
sion, which caused an eventful night
the goth, permit me to correct your
error. Seventy women of Governors
Island did not run out screaming,
many of them in Mysteries One
colored cook did run out screaming,
am told. One Irish maid also screamed,
but as she tainted, did not run out
screaming
"As the wives Of officers, it was up
to- the army women to meet the situa-
ton. and | think we did so. | confess
to feeling of something other than
startled surprise when about a. m.
Sunday | would seem to have been
suddenly parted from my bed. The
proceeding was unceremonious also
quite unexpected.
This was occurring while uncanny
visions of light and deafening roars-
detOnations - danced through my
head
Though there was noise in album
dance, it did not proceed from the 'hys-
terical screaming women of Governors
Island
"A strange hush was on the island.
Busy women were preparing TO receive
and comfort army sisters from Bed
loes Island, whose lives were in ter
rible peril.
Never shall forget the impressive
figure in the wee hours of that fright
full night. An army woman refugee,
calm and whitehead as the Statue Of
Liberty. A lovely little barefooted boy
in tiny pajamas was in her arms.
Mother, he said, is II Mexico? Be
hind mother and child crept terrified
little maid. She, too, was sustained by
the calm-faced mother. The husband
and father was doing his duty in Ari-
IONA.
"She said quietly, we will leave New
York tomorrow. | asked rather
thoughtlessly: Where is your home?
in the same way she answered; i
have none
Another woman, who prefers anonym-
ity. tells the story Of the negro cook,
and adds:
GAS the wife of an officer and sleep
ing on a piazza in Brick Row, am IN
a position to know that at the time Of
the explosion the most of US were
aroused from sleep or hurled from our
beds. But there were no Mysteries Of
any description.
zone of our number was a woman
seventy-three years old, and she started
back into the building to rescue miss
ing Pomeranian when she was halted
by an officer who performed the ser
vice for her.
Governors Island women stood
ready 70 be Of any assistance necessary
in caring for the women and children
our boats brought from Bedloe's
Island.
Army women have too many vivid
experiences to become hysterical in the
face of any calamity"
q