Volcano weekly ledger., 1857-03-28
A Heroine of tae Sea,

ferlng, have won for themselves mperlshabe
fame, Mary A. Patton may claim promi-
nent position. Mrs Patton is native of
Boston, and but 20 years of age. Her hus-
band, Capt Joshua A. Patton, sailed from
this port in July last, for San Francisco as
commander of the clipper ship Neptune's
Car, of Foster & Nickersons line, and it was
during this voyage that his wife rendered her.
self so distinguished Capt Patton is well
known in this port, and at the eastward as
young and rising seamen; and the vessels un-
der his command have made some of the
swiftest passages on record He took COM
mand of the Neptune's Car about two years
ago. and made his first voyage in her to San
Francisco in 80 days On that occasion Mrs.
Patton accompanied him to San Francisco,
China, London, and back to New York
His next voyage was that last year to San
Francisco, in which his wife again accompan-
led him. The Neptune's Car left port at the
same time with the clippers Romance of the
Seas, Intrepid, and two Others the names OF
which we do not remember. As usual with
commanders in the Pacific trade, Capt. Pat
ton wished to get his ship into port ahead OF
his rivals He soon found, however, that his
first mate slept during half his watch on the
quarter deck, while he kept the ship under
reefed courses, and after repeated remonstran-
ces had proved unavailiug he found it neces-
sary to remove him. After that he under
took to discharge the mates duties as well
as his own, and in consequence of fatigue was
taken sick, while passing through the Straits
of Lemaire, around the Horn, and in short
time brain fever developed itself.
From that time, up to the period of her
arrival at San Francisco Mrs. Patton was
both nurse and navigator When her hus-
band was taken sick the ship was given in
charge of the second mate. He, however,
was but an Indifferent navigator, and al
though he knew how to take an observation,
he could not work up the reckoning. Mrs.
Patton, who, on her previous voyage, had
studied navigation as pastime, now took
observations, worked up the reckoning by
chronometer time, laid the ships courses, and
performed most of the other duties of the
captain of the ship. During this time her
husband was delirious with the fever, and she
shaved his head and devised every means in
her power to soothe and restore him. To
this end, she studied medicine to know how
to treat his case intelligently, and in course of
time succeeded in carrying him alive through
| the Crisis OF MS complaint.
About one week after the Captain fell sick
the mate wrote a letter to Mrs Patton, re-
mnding her Of the dangers Of the coast and
the great responsibility she had assumed, and
offering to take charge of the ship. She re-
piled that, in the judgment of her husband,
he was unfit to be mate, and therefore she
could not consider him qualified to fll the
post of commander. Stung by this rebuff,
the fellow tried to stir up the crew to mutiny
against her; but she called the other mates
and sailors aft, and appealed to them to sup
port her in her hour of trial. To man they
resolved to stand by her and the ship, come
what might. 1t was pleasant to witness their
cheerful obedience to her orders, as each man
We'd with his fellows in the performance of
his duty.
BY the time the ship came nearly up to the
latitude of Valparaiso, Capt Patton had
somewhat recovered from the fever, although
far too weak for any mental or physical ex-
ertion, and the mate, under promise of doing
better in future, had partially resumed duty.
But Mrs. Patton discovering that he was
steering the ship out of her course, and max
ing for Valparaiso, apprised her husband of
the fact. The mate was summoned below
and asked to explain his conduct, which he
did by saying that ne could not keep the ship
nearer her course Capt Patton then had
his cot moved to a part Of the cabin from
which he could view the "tell-tae" of the
compass, and soon found that the mate was
still steering for Valparaiso. He then sent
for the four mates and the sailors, and for
mally deposed the first mate, promoting the
second officer to his place. Then he gave or
ders that under no circumstances was his ship
to be taken into any other port than San
Francisco Soon after he had a relapse, and
for 25 days before the vessel reached port he
was totally blind. At length San Francisco
was reached in safety, after short voyage
of l20 days, the vessel beating three out OF
four of her competitors.
The safety of the ship and the preservation
of her husbands life were wholly due 10 the
constant care and watchfulness of Mrs Pat
ton. On her arrival she informed the con-
signee of the vessel that for fifty nights pre-
vious she had not undressed herself.
Some time in December last we published
the only account of this remarkable instance
of female fortitude which had been given, in
an extract from commercial letter to the
owners in this city. On Tuesday we received
a note from our ship-news collector, stating
that Mrs Patton and her husband were in
this city, having arrived in the steamer
George Law. We found them at the Bat
terry Hotel, and obtained an interview with
Mrs. Patton She was assidiousy attending
her husband as heretofore; but his situation
is such as to preclude all hope of recovery.
Before leaving San Francisco, deafness was
l.: III A. 4 L ~.