A STRANGE STORY.

Evening Post, Issue 271, 20 December 1865, Page 3

A STRANGE STORY.

An incident ia just now being discussed in military circles, so extraordinary that were not its truth capable of being vouched for by official authority, the narration would be certainly deemed absolutely incredible. Our officers quartered at the Gape between fifteen and twenty years ago may remember a certain Doctor Barry, attached to the medical staff there, and enjoying a reputation for considerable skill jn his profession especially for firmness, decision, and rapidity in difficult operations . This gentleman had entered the army in 1813, had passed, of course, through the grades of assistant surgeon and surgeon in various regiments, and had served as such in all quarters of the globe. His professional acquirements had procured for him his promotion at the Cape. He was clever and agreeable, save for the drawback of a most quarrelsome temper, and an inordinate addiction to argument. He was excessively plain, of feeble proportions, and labored under the imperfection of a ludicrously squeaking voice. Any natural « chaffing" with regard to these, however, especially roused his ire, but was at length discontinued on his " calling out" a persevering offender, and shooting him through the lungs. About 1840 he became promoted to be medical inspector, and was transferred to Malta. There he was equally distinguished by his skill and by his pugnacious popensUies, the latter becoming so inconveniently developed upon the •lightest difference of opinion with him, that at last no notice was allowed to be taken of his fits of temper. He proceeded from Malta to Corfu, where he was stationed for many years, still conspicuous for the same peculiarities, When our Government ceded the lonian Islands to Greece, and our troops, of course quitted tho territory, Dr. Barry elected to leave the army, and take up his .residence for the Test of his days at Corfu. He died there about a month ago, and upon his death was discovered to be a woman! Very probably this discovery was elicited during the natural preparations for interment, but there seems to be an idea prevalent that either verbally, during the last illness, or by some writing perused immediately after his(for we must still use the " masculine") death, he had begged to be buried without a post mortem examination of any sort. This, most likely, only aroused the curiosity, of the two nurses who attended him, for it was to them, it appears, that the disclosure of this mystery is owing. Under the circumstances, the fact was deemed so important that medical testimony was called in to report upon and record its truth. By this investigation not only was the assertion placed beyond doubt, but it was equally beyond a doubt brought to light that the individual in question had at some time or another been a mother t This is all that is yet known of this extraordinary story. The motives that occasioned and the time when commenced this singular deception are both shrouded in mystery.— Home Paper.