A Girl In Boys Clothes, Sunday Dispatch (Article, 1863)
Full Text
A GIRL IN BOY'S CLOTHES.--
SHE WANTS TO SHIP AS A CABIN BOY.--Roundsman Whitmore, of the Twenty-Seventh Precinct, found last week in West near Liberty street, what appeared to be a young boy, who informed him that he had been taken to a place in Liberty street by a runner, where they had fleeced him and detained his clothes. The Roundsman shrewdly suspected that all was not exactly as represented and divining that the supposed youth was of the female sex, he took her to the station-house, where, on being questioned by Captain Helme, she made a full confession, the substance of which is as follows: Her name is Annie McDonald; she was born in Canada; is 17 years of age, and resided at Hornellsville, Steuben, New York. She left home on Saturday before last, in male attire. The reason she gave for thus unsexing herself was that she had been sickly for some time past, and that the doctors had pronounced her complaint as an affection of the liver, and also said that the only cure for her would be a sea voyage. Having no means to defray the expenses of a trip across the ocean she determined to don the male attire, come to this city, and then endeavor to procure a situation as a cabin boy in some sea-going vessel. Accordingly she carried out her project and came to the city. On her arrival here she was picked up by one of the runners that infests the dock and railway depots and taken to a place called the "Golden Fleece," in Liberty street. Here they took possession of her traveling bag, and told her that they would look out for a berth for her as a cabin boy, they not for a moment suspecting her sex. They then took her up stairs, and refused to let her come down again to get her clothes. Become suspicious of their actions she finally made her escape from the house, and, accosting the police officer, told him her story. Doubtless Annie has had enough experience of New York life to cure her of romantic notions. She was sent home.
