Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-07-18
GIRL SERVED WITH
MARINES IN 1872
And Lucy Brewer Returned
From Fields of Conflict
o Hero"
From the st. Louis Star.

Who will be this wars heroine in
trousers:
A Deborah Sampson in 1870 laid aside
her petticoats for a Minute Mans uni
form without any OF h stern Puri-
tans being any Tho wiser, and a Lucy
Brewer. IN 1872. donned a jackie's cos
tune. enlisted in the marine corps. and
after a thrilling career in naval battles.
where she conducted herself as a
nero returned home, resumed her
hoops and brocades and married "a per-
!ectly respectable man.
UP To the present, so far as is known.
there are 40 fellows wearing the olive
drab of the navy blue who should be
attired in Georgette crcpS waists and
serge skirts.
Adventurous damsels who might be
tempted to emulate the xa1nple of
either OF these early feminine fighters
VIII find the entire details of Iucy's
adventures and her methods of mascu-
line camouflage in her OWE account OF
ner experiences.
Like many u man patriot. Miss Brew
er entered the war to escape an UNI
happy life at home. At II years old
had an unfortunate love affair, and
her unfeeling father ordered her out of
her home. Her parents were we'll to do.
living In a small town in plymouth
county. about 40 miles from Boston.
She d the name of Louisa Baker,
and went to Boston.
When war broke out between the
United States and Great Britain she
induced an officer of an American pri-
vateer, then lying in the port of Boston,
10 obtain for her q sailors suit. She
cropped her hair and donned it.
Lucy must have been what would be
called in these days "a mighty good
Entst ~ FOr h
TO see II she could get by" as a a
I'm the pamphlet which she issued after
her discharge from the navy she de-
tails her first days adventures thus:
"Eeing CARRIED completely in Il sailors
suit. 1 quit, unnoticed. my lodgings and
passed into the public street. From my
awkward appearance III attempting to
assume the character OF a man, ] was
not without my fears that / should be
suspected. Nor were my approximations
relieved until, passing through Court
street, 1 ventured to accost II of my
own sen. She answered with IL ready
Yes. sir which strengthened my conf
dence that 1 should pass for a man.
i then bent my course TO the old
maIket where. entering a victualing
cellar. 1 procured my breakfast.
"The remainder Of the day spent
pleased in being enabled to visit public
places where women would not nave
been admitted"
h u woman sailor" then OBJ
tanned lodgings without difficulty"
and the next morning sought a passage
southwark. But the harbor was closely
~blockaded n no vessels ventured
abroad. SO she had to give up the idea
Of a southern cruise. She says:
Passing through Fish street I en-
tered a house where there was a public
rendezvous for the enlistment of men to
go aboard one of the United States
frigates then lying in the harbor. and
shortly bound on a cruise. 1 viewed
this as a favorable opportunity to try
my fortune in the public service of my
country, provided l could avoid the
search which new recruitS generally
undergo. This / succeeded in doing by
an artful strategem and entered as a
marine. receiving my advance money
and clothing, and h mex day / was
AXE aboard"