A STRANGE LIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5651, 27 December 1879, Page 7

A STRANGE LIFE.

The following is from the yew York Times : —"Delhi, New York, Oct. G.—News of the death of Lucy Ann Lobdell Plater, kuown throughout the Delaware Valley as the 4 Female Hunter of Long Eildy,' has been re* oeivecl here. In ISSI, Lucy Ami Lobdell, daughter of a lumberman, was married to a raftsman named Ueorge Slater. She was then 17 years old, and was km»wu f«r and wide for her wonderful skill with the ritfe, iios ouly ia target-bhoofcing, but in hu itiug deer and other game, for which the valley was then noted. After a year of married life, Slaterdeserted his wifeaudhasneverbeen heard from since. Mrs. Slater's parents were poor, and she laid aside the habit of her aex, donned male attire, and adopted the life of a hunter. For eight years she roam-d in the woods, making her home iu the wilderness, where she erected rude cabins for her shelter. She never appeared at the settlements except to procure ammunition and needed supplies, for which ehe exchanged skins aud game. Her wild life wan one of thrilling adventure and privation, and it was not until she wa* broken down by exposure and hardships of it that she returned to the haunts of civilization. In a book she wrote at that time bhe stated that she had killed IG3 deer, 77 bears, one panther, and uumbttrless wild cats and foxes. For a time bhe resumed the clothing of her sex, bat after recruiting her health she again put on her male attire aud disappeared. She did uotreturuto the woods, but, assuming the name of Joseph Lobdell, went about the eouutry making a living a* a music tt-acher. While in teaching a singiug scho)l at Bethany, Pennsylvania, where she was not known, she won the love of a y>ung lady scholar, a member of one of the leading families of t'je village. The two were engaged to be married, but the sex of the teacher was accidentally discovered, and she was forced to Hy from the place iu the night to escape heingtarrcl and feathered. Shortly after this she returned to Long tiddy, put on woman's clothing, and, being again in failing health, applied for aduii£ tance to the alms-house in bhis place. In the spring of ISGS, a woman about 25 years of applied to the poor authorities of Delaware County for admittance to the alms-house. She was in miserable health, but was apparently of more than ordinary intelligence, and to ail appearances respectable. Sh-; said her name was Marie Louise Perry Wilson. She was taken into the aims-house with the understanding that as sos>n as she was able she should communicate with her family and have them remove her. She recovered her health, but in the meantime had made the acquaintance of Lucy Aun Slater. A strong affection sprang up between che two women, notwithstanding the difference in their habits, character, and intellect. They refused to be t-eparated, and in the spring of 1809 they left the poor-house together, ai:d for two years they were not heard from in Delhi. In the summer of the above year a couple, calling themselves the Uev. Joseph Israel Loblell and wife, appeared in the niount'iin village of Monros County, Pennsylvania. For two years they roamed about that section, living in caves and cabins in the wo-ds, subsisting on game, berries, and on the charity ut the lumbering foresters scattered about in thin region. They generally appeared ab the rtettiement leading a bear which they had tamed. The man delivered meaningless harangues on religious subject s ?, and pro claimed himself a prophet. Finally, they became public nuisance*, and were arrested as vagrauts, in Jackson Township, and lodged in tli3 Stroudsburg goal. While they were in goal the discovery that the supposed man was a woman was made, aud soon afterwards the prisoners were recognised by a raftsman from the Upper Delaware as Lucy Aon Slater aud Marie Louise Perry, the paupers of Delhi. They were returned to this place. Thoy remained here some time, when they again left, and until IS7G roamed the woods of northern Pennsylvania, leading their vagrant life, and insisting that they were man and wife. Iu IS7G they were living in a cive in the Moosic Mountain?, near Waymart. Lucy Ann continued her use of male garments. She was arrested one day while preaching in the above villige, and lodged in the Wayne County gaol. She was kept there several weeks. Her companion iinally prepared a petition to the Court for the release of her * husband 1 from gaol on account of Miis' failing health. This document was a remarkable one, aud is still ia the records of the \Vayne County Court. It was couched in lauguage, which was a model of clear and correct English, and was powerful in its arguni-ut. It was written from a pen made with a split stick, the ink being the juice of pokeberries. Lucy Ann Lobdell was released from gaol. The two went to Damascus Township, and in 1577 purchased a farm, which they occupied and worked together until a few days since, when Lucy Ann Slater, or Joseph Lobdell, as she insisted on being known, died after a brief illness/'