One August day in 1896, on a steamship just arrived from Lisbon and docked in Erie Basin, custom officials found stashed in the cabin of a stewardess, four boxes of Spanish thread lace, one box of lace and lace embroidery as well as children's and women's clothing.

Aside from the story of this stewardess, is the evidence that in a limited capacity, women were working aboard ships sailing to and from Red Hook's piers. The role of the stewardesses, typically ranged from serving meals and, and cleaning officers' cabins to handling the ship's finances.

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Text of the article:

New York Herald, August 15, 1896

SPANISH LACES SEIZED

Inspectors Sullivan and Hussy, of the Special Treasury Agents' Staff of the customs service, made a seizure of lace yesterday from the steamship Peninsular, which reached this port from Lisbon on Saturday and docked at the South Central pier, Erie Basin, Brooklyn. The Inspectors found concealed in the stewardess' room four boxes of Spanish thread lace, one box of lace and lace embroidery, and articles of children's and women's wearing apparel, the whole valued at $500.