The Polynesian
August 25, 1849
A Romance of the Ocean

The following facts relating to a young American girl, I think cannot but interest your readers, especially as they are too well authenticated to admit of a doubt of their having taken place, in the manner to be mentioned.
    The American whale ship Washington, which arrived here on the 12th inst., reports the whale ship Christopher Mitchell at Paita under the following circumstances.  The C.M. had touched in at Paita for the purpose of putting ashore letters for home, and again left for the cruising ground; but on the second or third night out, when the watch was called, one of the crew was discovered to be a young girl, instead of a fair-haired boy, which created no little excitement on board, and caused the Captain to put back again to Paita to land his female sailor, to seek some more congenial way of earning a livelihood, than using a tar bucket and a marling spike.
    She is a native of Rochester, N.Y., was seduced, like thousands of others, from her home by a villain who promised to make her his lawful wife, but who abandoned her in a short time and absconded to parts unknown.   Returning to her parental roof, she was met by her parents with bitter scorn and driven from her home.   Too proud to ask assistance from strangers, and not so far lost to virtue as to think of subsisting by the only means which might now seem left to her, she put on male attire and for two months earned her living by driving a horse on the canal.  Tired of this, she determined to go to sea – first engaged as a cabin boy at $4 per month – but was told by the shipping master that she could make more by a whaling voyage, and consequently proceeded to Nantucket to look for a ship.   It was with some difficulty that she obtained a berth, her youth and delicate appearance being much against her.   One of the shipowners, at a place where she applied (an old Quaker,) at last became so much pleased with, as he expressed it, “ the good face of the boy,” that he persuaded the Captain of the M. to take her on board.   She performed her duty faithfully for the seven months previous to her discovery – never shrinking from going aloft, even in the worst weather, or the darkest night.  She also pulled her oar twice in pursuit of whales, but the boat in which she belonged had never been fast to one of the monsters, or perhaps her courage might have failed her.   She was a general favorite on board, never mixing with the crew any more than was absolutely necessary.  Her quiet, inoffensive behaviour had also very much prepossessed the captain and his officers in her favor.   When summoned into the captain’s presence, immediately after the discovery, she made a full and voluntary confession, whereupon she was taken into the cabin, a state room set apart for her use and every attention shown her that could be extended to a female on board ship.—When landed at Paita, the excitement and fatigue had somewhat overpowered her, but in one or two days she was quite well and much elated with the prospect of soon reaching home in a vessel about to sail.  Only once previously to her final discovery, did she run any risk of being  exposed;  but on the occasion alluded to, by suddenly working in a more bungling manner, she escaped detection.  The cause of attention being drawn toward her on the above occasion, was the quickness with which she plied her needle – being more than a match for the other sailors in that respect.  The fact of her being on board and doing her duty well, cannot be doubted.   
    Her name is Miss Ann Johnson, and her age 19 years.