The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-03-11
HEROIC CONDUCT OF A WOMAN,

tetuoH. hDefal discount Will De made 10
those who adyer!ise BY The year:
HEROIC CONDUCT OF A WOMAN,
li;codaf Of Mrs. Martha Ann Panen, Young
Lady Ttoenfy Years of Age, scho Commanded
a Esssei. Niy-siz Days, During Her Hus-
bands Nlaess.
The readers Of The Herald will Fsmsinbsr
an account taken from one Of the California
papers, relative to the heroic conduct Of Mrs.
Martha Ann Psiien, wife Of Capt. Paitsn, Of
the ship Nep,une's Car. Who, during her
husband's illness, took charge OF the vessel
and navigstsd II safely into San francisco.
The lady, together with her husband, who
10 now so sick that he is not expected to
live, arrived in this city in the George Law,
and are now stopping at the Battery Hotel.
Her story is an Interesting and painful one,
and shows how much . weak, delicate wo-
man can do when great emergency calls
out ber powers.
Mfs. Patten was born In East Boston Of
wealthy parents, and received an excellent
education, and was in every respect iendedy
nuHured and cared for. She 10 now but
twenty years Of age, de petite tsills, hes small
hands and features, delicate blonde com.
plsxion, soft blue eyes, and altogether gives
one an idea of femenins sofiness and wo.
manliness that il is impossible TO associate
with the daring nerve and decisive qualities
she exhibited in remarkable degree. Al
eighteen years she married Capt. Paiteu,
then but twenty-five years Of age, be having
been master Of vessel the bark ST. An
drew, which Piled between New York and
South American porls--and was taen of duty
waiting I'LL the Conelia Lawrence, a new
ship, was ready for sea. Shorty afier he
was married the master of the ship Nep-
times Car sickened % che was about 10 pui
10 sea for vo, age around the world, and
The owners, Messrs. Foster and Nickesson,
offered the post to Capt. Paiisn, but he hest.
tsied as he did not wish TO leave bis young
bride. The owners, however, gave him per.
mission 10 lake her with him and !. s.-ei~e
hours alter the first notification the young
couple were on board, and The vessel getting
ready 10 leave the dock. The NepIune's
Car fist sailed for San Francisco, thence 10
China, from China TO London, ard finally ar
riSed in New York, after an absence Of sew
enieen months. During this lime Mrs. Pat.
ten amused herself BY helping her husband
10 his nautical observations, worked up the
time from the chronometers, and occasion.
ally kept the reckoning. of the ship. Last
August the Neptune's Car again put 10 sea,
and IL was on this voyage that Mrs. Psite1's
misfortunes commenced. As the vessel
nesred the straits ci Magellan, her hus-
band was taken with disease in the head
which finally developed into bfa,n fever.
He attended 10 bis ship as long as he was
able, and when II was impossible TO give
any personal orders, he found 10 his dismay
that his first mate was wholly incompetent
to take charge Of the ship, and that there was
no officer on board qualified to lake The YES.
eel into port. He found that the first mate
was anxious TO run the vessel into valpa-
raiso, bu, this be earnestly forbade, a. the
crew might oil leave and the cargo be de.
s,royed before the cousiguees could send for
the vessel. In this emergency Mrs. Patterns
rare qualities DEVELOPED themselves. She as
suuied command Of the vessel hsEself, ard
the nautica observations she once made In
sport for passtime she now undertook NJ q
duty. Her time was spent between her de-
lifious husband and the writing desk, work
ing up the intricate calculations incident tc
nautical observations making entries in the
log.hook In her own delicate penmanship,
and tracing ont with accuracy the position
Of the ship from the chtrts in the cabin
The rough sailors all obsyed the "little wo.
man." 40 they called her, with viii, and
eyed her curiousla and afIec.ionaiely through
the cabin windows while deep in her calcu.
ialions in which her life and theirs depended
There was one person on bosrd, however
who viewed her course with jealousy and
misisusi. He wroie her letter waning bel
of the responsibility she was assuming and
prodering advice, but she spiri,edly repliet
that "asr husband would not trust him whils
he was uell, and she could no, do so no~
mat he was sick.n For fifty Says Mrs. Pat
ten did not undress herself and took very
liais sleep, working day and night and
never leaving her sick husbands room. He
hbors are The more surprising In view Of ths
fact, thai she was all this lime in delicate
roadilicn, and soon expects to give birth Il
het fisst child.
Ths Nepluns's Car arrived safely at Sar
Ffatcisco on the 18th OF November last, i
having been for fiity-six days under The
command Of 4 .dslicsts fsmaIe not twenty
years Of sse. Whss splendid ,sxt Tor the
wopah's rights people.
Mrs. PaIten 10 now at The Baisary Hote
with her husbsnd, Who, il ID supposed is ID
d dsinf condition. The fever has never left
him, and for some time past hb has beer
blind End deaf. They did expsci to Ieavs
10 Tie boat fot Boston yss,erday for her owr
home; bit be ras TOO sick 10 be moved.
hin. kAtisn's case i one Of The most re
nnssksbl6 On record, and adds one TO ihs
many instances that history Tenofds Of female
devotion and hsfoism.--Ras York Herald.