The Hillsborough recorder., 1857-03-11
THE YOUNG HEROINE WHO HAS sDoU.
BLED CAPE HORN"

THE YOUNG HEROINE WHO HAS sDoU.
BLED CAPE HORN"
We gave few week since a short acconnI
Of the brave and heruic conduct of Mrs. Mary
A. Patton, who SO admirably has proved
herself not only true wife and skilful nurse
bu; scientific navigator. aud a heroine oi
undaunted nerve and courage. lis lady was
burn IN East Boston, aad wls tendeIly nur.
lured and well educated. s. . is aheut twenty
slight To stature. with large, dark lusiruus,
eyes. pleasing face. aud Iady-iike softness
OF manner that seems impossible 10 assoeiste te
with such qualities Of decisive daring as she
has lately exhibited in so remarkable degree.
At eighteen years ot age she married Captain
Patton, sho was at thar time but :wen y five
+, years old, and master Of the bark st. Andrew
then plying between New Yurk and South
American ports. Soon after his marriage.
Messrs. Foster and Nickerson offered him
the command Of the ship Neptune's Car. AM
with his young wife for companion he put to
sea for voyage around the world. The
Neptune's Car first sailed for San Francisco,
thence to China, iron China to London. aud
i finally arrived in New York, after an absence
Of seventeen months. during this time Mrs.
Patten amused herself by helping her hus-
band 10 his nautical observations. she worked
up the time from the thermometers. and occa-
sIonally kept the reckoning of tile ship. III
August Of 1856, Captain Patton, accompani-
ed by his wife, left New York fnr San Fran
cisco. in command Of the Neptun-'s Car.
They had not been long at sea before the
sullenness and insubordinatinn Of the first
mate imposed 50 many extra cares aud 50
much watchfulness upon the captain, that bS
the time he had reached CAPE Horn he was
worn out with anxiety and fatigue. The
mate was fund on several occasions a,iee D
in his watch. with the ship under shortened
sail, when the wind and weather we're most
favorable for making the run. repetition
of these misdemeanors finally decided Capt.
Patton to put him OF duty. which was done
about the time fhey doubled the Cape. The
increased difficulties which this unpleasant
state Of things oceasioned. brought the captain
down with lever about the time they passed
the straits Of La Mare. lie struggled against
X for week. aud was then compelled 10 quit
the deck.
From that time up 10 the periuL oi her ar.
rival al San Francisco. Mrs Patton was both
nurse and navigator. When her husband was
taken sick, the ship was given 10 charge of
the srcOHd mate. lie, however. was but an
indifferent navigator. aud although he knew
how TO take an observation. he could not work
up the reckoning. Mrs. Patton. therefore.
unassIsted, t0Ok up tie sextant. made tie
necessary observations, and, keeping the run
Of the ship. gave due order. as 10 the course
Il must be s;sered. also performing most 81
the other duties de,olsing upon the captain
Of the slip. At the same time she applied
herself ndelaugaby TO the treatment u her
husbands case. studying medical books iur
authority. Meantime her husbands illness
assumed the form d brain fever. lie grew De.
liriogs. and has eoufageou, wife, promptly
shaving his head. devised every means 10 her
power 10 render MIN comfortable, and 10 keep
The ship in that order for which, under his
care. Il was 10 Noted.
Tie di.greced mate, about a week after
the csptaln leii sick, sought 60 excite 4 mu-
tlny among the crew, insisting upon carrying
the ship into Valparaiso. but D this he was
iDilrd. Mrs. Patton assembled the sailors
upon Tie quarter deck sDd erplainel ta aihem
the heiples. condition Of her hu .bau,, at the |
same uiue appealing 10 them tD stand By her
and the second male. 10 tho. appeal each
man responded BY PROMISE 10 obey her 10
every command. The mate lost his power
over the crew from that hour, and the brave
lady, without rival, directed every move.
meHi on board. During the past week, Mrs.
Patton and her Invalid husband arrived 10 this /
cats ~ The George Law. They put up al the
Battery Hotel, Sic assidgousiy attending %
her husband, as she has done for ~ many
noaths, his situation, however, preeluding
~ hope 81 his recovery. On Friday thel
left Ior Boston. Beiore reaching ssD Fran.
cisco, Capt. Patton lost his eyeslght. and be-
lore leaving thst city, he entirely lost his
hearing; and be is now insensible TO every.
hing around him save The tsnder care of his
devoted vile, Who. though sorn ont vith her
lnresting exertiOns 10 be behalf and on the
i'e oI taking upon hsrsslfs new relation 10