THRILLING STORY

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 13 July 1917, Page 1

THRILLING STORY

FIRST WOMAN IX THE U.S. NAVY,I WHO BAFFLED DETECTION FOR SIX® YEARS. \ f' Oh, the British shot flew hot, but the Yankees answered not Till they got unto a distance they called handy.. Oh ! Then the first broadside they poured took her mainmast by the board, For the Yankee bov for fighting is a dandy. Oh! The song was written in 1812 to commemorate a spectacular achievement of the infant American Navy—the victory of the frigate Constitution over the Guerriere—but we know now that the song is not quite correct. One of the *' Yankee boys" was a girl, and her name was Louise Baker, of Massachusetts. It was necessary for Miss Baker to disguise herself as a man. but in return she was rewarded by a share in the most—well, perhaps not the most, but the earliest—brilliant feat of the American Navy. The forcing of Mobile Bay, the forlorn hope of the Confederate ram Tennessee, ana the

sinking of the collier Merrimac may be matched with the Constitution's actions' against the Guerriere, the Java, and the C-ynac and Levant. Still there is enough glory for Misk Baker. The 44-gun frigate Constitution is certainly 'the most famous

vessel of the Navy, and she was one of the crew during the cruise which established its reputation. Her-story is told by ' Mr E. S. Maclay, the historian, in the "New York ' Evening Post': — Being of an adventurous disposition, Miss Baker determined to disguise herself ■ in a sailor's suit and "soe the world." ] While iu Boston in the summer of 1812 j she endeavored to ship 011 a coasting 1 vessel going south, but, owing to the rigor ] of the blockade, she could not find a , suitable berth. At that time the Con- j stitution was Jit-Ling in Boston, after her t memorable escape from the British squad- ) roil off Sandy Hook. " Being completely garbed in a sailor's suit," she records, j "I quit .'my lodgiugs one morning im- t noticed, and passed into the public street. f From _my awkward appearance in at* \ tempting, to assume the character of a j male, I was not without? my fears that I f would be suspected. Nor were my appro- ] hensions relieved until, passing through < Court street, I ventured to accost one of 1 of my own sex, who, answering with, a j ready 'Yes, sir,' strengthened my confi- • dence that- I should pass for a male." 1 Our heroine's confidence was further in- i creased when she entered a "'victualling ■■ cellar," and, on ordering breakfast in < mannish style, was served accordingly. • She passed the remainder of the clay ''rambling about the town," and" was much relieved, when night came, to find that she had no difficulty in securing lodgings. The next morning she made earnest search for a berth aboard some vessel about- to sail southward, but was disappointed. " Passing through Fish street," Bhe records, " 1 entered a house where there was a public rendezvous for the enlisting of men to go aboard one of the United States frigates then in the harbor and shortly bound on a cruise." This was the Constitution, refitting after her miraculous escape from the British squadron. Miss Baker describes her enlistment in this ' famous ship as follows Encouraged by the active part which one of my sex (Deborah Samson) had taken in the Revolution without revealing her identity, I viewed this as a favorable opportunity to try my fortune in the public service of mv country, provided I could avoid the search which new recruits undergo. This I succeeded in doing by an artful stratagem, nnd entered as a. marine, receiving iny advance and clothing; and the next day was taken ou board; The Constitution sailed from Boston on the 2nd of August. Miss Baker recalls "'a little seasickness" the first day or two at sea, which was all the illness she experienced as long as she was in the service. 'I he daily drills for the marines were,, kept up at sea, and Miss" Baker profited by the constant instruction to such an extent that she writes: "In the use of my arms I soon made great proficiency, and I soon learned to load and discharge my musket- with an expertness not surpassed by any in my corps." Soon she was called to put her skill to the proof. Of her first battle, Mr Maclay writes: After cruising a few days off the Gulf of St. Lawrence the Constitution headed south, and. on August 19, had her action with the 38-gun British frigate Guerriere. As a marine, -Miss Baker was stationed in one of the Constitution's tops. Describing, her feelings 011 entering her first battle, she say's: It is frequently observed by those who have - been in battle that at the commencement of an engagement the most resolute feel daunted to some, degree. But I can solemnly declare that li never felt more composed, as all persons on board, even the youngest lad, are on such occasions anxious to distinguish themselves at their posts. So I felt- an extreme desire to render myself conspicuous, and to perform that- which woman never before achieved. In the height j>i the battle, when, the Constitution and Guerriere were at close quarters, she describes herself as " busily employed in the top, plying my faithful - musket with the best success whenever the smoke would permit me to see a bluejacket of the enemy. ]n the heat of the action a grape-shot struck and splintered the butt of my musket. It was noticed by one of my comrades who stood within a few feet of me, who, patting me 011 the shoulder, exclaimed: ' Never mind, George; you have won laurels sufficient to recommend

you to the prettiest girls when you return to port.'" Returning to Boston after her action with the Guerriere, the Constitution remained several months in that port undergoing repairs. It was then that Miss Baker frequently went ashore, and'so complete was her disguise that those who had known her us a woman failed to recognise her. At this it was common for sailors to let their hair grow long, tied in a cue or "club" at the back of the neck, so it -was not necessary for Miss Baker to cut off lier hair when assuming her disguise. She records: " In more than one instance I was actually in company with girls who were lately my associates, but who did not identify my person, so artfully did I disguise myself." It- was in her second buttle, that between the Constitution and the Java, which took place oil the coast of Brazil in the following December, that Miss Baker came nearest to being found out. Stationed, as usua; „f the tops, she

I says: "I discharged my musket 19 times, winch, as I now had learned to take aini pretty exactly, must, I think, havo done some execution. After the engagement was over, and while descending from the top I made a mis-step, and fell from the shrouds overboard. Not knowing how to swim, I sank immediately. A boat was sent to my relief, but before they could recover me and get me oh board life had become nearly extinct. As soon as thev succeeded in getting me on board, as I had not strength to do it myself, some of mv shipmates' were ordered to strip off mv clothes and to furnish me with a dry suit And they had nearly divested me 'of mv outdress when I mustered sufficient, strength to beg' of them to desist as I then felt able to effect it myself." Miss Baker tqok part 'in- two more ciuises as a marine on the Constitution, during one of which she participated in the action with the Levant and Cynac. Each of these vessels had nearly the armament of the American frigate, and both set npon her at once; but by superb sailing thev wore outmanoeuvred and outfought, and both wore compelled to surrender® When .Miss Baker returned home after nearly six jears at sea she drew several, thousand dollars m wages and prize-money. She then decide® to go home. . Sho h:ld » 0 "' been absent from her home mx years, her .parents not having heard from her all that time. She determined to visit them. ' "To furnish myself with a few necessary articles of clothino- I went records Miss Baker, " shopping,°as the ladies call it. Having made a purchase of an entire suit in Cornhill, with the- of a milliner. I was once more to appear in my original character " Setting out the next dav. Mips Baker visited her parents in a town about IV miles distant. " I entered my parents' home," she writes, "at noonday. Tliey were at dinner. I smiled. They gazed, but did not know me. By my mother f incited to partake with them, and not until I had thrown out hints relative to some past family affairs did thev recognise their long-lost child." Tn a second edition of her published narrative Miss Baker tells how, after her return home, she _ once again put on male attire. While riding in a stage from Providence to Boston she had occasion to display her martial prowess on a young midshipman, who, under the influence of liquor, was making himself exceedingly obnoxious to the women passengers. Miss Baker challenged the obstreperous youngster to step outside " for a few moments," •syhen she gave him a sound trouncing, which resulted in his good behaviour during the remainder of the journey. Afterward Miss Baker was married to a merchant in her native town, and became the respected mother of a family of children, many descendants of whom are living in Now England to-day. The name " Baker" was not her own, but was assumed to hide the identity of the familv.