New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-02-18
A HEROINE OF THE SEA.


may claim prominent position. Mrs. Patton is a ma
tive Of Boston and bur 20 years of age. Her husband
Cspt. Joshua A. Patton called from this port in July
last for San Francisco, as commander of the clipper
ship Neptunes Car of Foster s. Nickersons line and
il was during this voyage that his wife rendered her
self 90 distine uished Capt Patton is well known in
th. port, and at the eastward, young and r.siog
seaman and the vessels under his and have made
some of the swiftest passages on record. He took
command oftne Neptune's Car about two years ago
and made bis first voyage in her to san Fran
cisco in 20 days. On that occasion Mrs Patton
accompanied him to San Francisco, China, London,
and back TO New York His next voyage was tina. Last
year to San Francisco in which his wife agaia accom-
panied him. The Nepunes Car left port at the same
time with the clippers Romance Of the Seas, Intrepid
and two Others the of which we do not remem-
ber As usual with commanders IN the Pacific trade,
Capt. Patton wished to get his ship into pert ahead of
his rivals He coon found, however, that his first
mate slept during bali his watch on the quarter deck,
while he kept the ship under reefed courses, and
after repeated demonstrates had proved unavalins
be found il necessary to remove him. After that he
undertook TO discharge the mate duties as well as his
OVID and in consequence of fatigue was taken sick,
while pas sing 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 Frsr cisco, Mrs. Patton was both nurse and navi
gator When her husband was taken sick the ship
was given in charge of the second mate. He, how
ever was but an indifferent navigator, and although
be knew how to take an observation, he could not
work up the reckoning. Mrs Patton, who, on her
previous voyage had studied navigation as pastne,
now took observations, worked up the reckoning by
chronometer time, laid the ships courses, and per-
formed most of the other duties Of The captain Of the
chip During this time her husband was deirous with
the ftver and she shaved his head and devised every
means in her power TO soohe and him. To this
end che studied medicine to know how to trest his
Gaze iIenigently and in of time succeeded in
carrying him sye through the crisis of his complaint.
About one week after the Captain fell sick tbs mate
wrote a letter to Mrs. Pattan, reminding her OF the
dangers of the coast and the great responsibility she
had assumed and offering to take charge of the ship
She replied that in the judgment Of her husband, he
was unfit 10 be mate and therefore she could not con-
slider him qualified TO Gil the post of commander. Stuug
BY this rebuff the fellow tried to stir up the crew to
mutipy sgainst her; but she called the other mates
and sailors aft and appealed to them to support her IN
her hour of tia. To taey resolved to stand by
her and the ship come what might Ii was pleasant to
witness II cir cheerful obedience to her ORDERS 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 what recovered
from the fever although far too weak for any mel tai
or ply steal exeron and the mate, under promise Of
doing better in future, had partially resumed duty
But Mrs. Patton discovering that he steering the
e -.
priced her husband Of the fact. The mate was
moned below and asked TO explain his conduct, which
be did by saying that he could notkeep The ship
her course. Capt Patton then had his cot moved to
a part of the cabin from which he could view the
"tel.tale" ofthe compass, and soon found that the
mate was still steering for Valparaiso. He then sent
for the four mates and the sVrs and fo may deposed
the frst mate, promoting the second officer to his
place. Then he gave orders that under no ci'cum-
stances was his ship to be taken into any other port
than San Francisco. Soon after he had relapse, and
for p DAYS before the vessel reached port he to-
tally blind. At length San Francisco was reached in
safety, after short voyage Of 10 days, the vessel
beaiiI three ont Of four Of her competitors.
The safety of the ship and the preservation Of her
husbands life were wholly due to the constant c.re
ard wstchfuness of Mrs. Patton. 90 her arrival she
informed the coDssnee Of the vessel that for fifty
rights previous she had not undressed herself.
Some time in December lsst we published the only
account Of ths remarkable instance Of female forti-
tude which had beer given, in an extract from
mercial letter 10 the in this city. Yesterday
we received note from shipnews collector, stat
pp that Ms Patton and her husband were n this city,
having arrived in the steamer George Law. We
found the 81 the Battery Hotel, and obtained TO-
teryiew with Mr.. Pe.tor. She sssduousy a.teod
ing her husband az heretofore; bat his situation s
,uch a. 10 preclude al hope recovery Before lesv
ipe San Francisco, deafness added 10 his other
sciors snd be now lies upon his couch nsensible to
everything but the kind offices OF his beloved CON-
papjop and weak that be may expire at any moment.
Occasopay De speaks TO BIZ wife, sometimes lucidly,
but oitener in a Wild and nconerent manner Mrs.
pattsns brother Mr. Brown, We believe, who is fore
man of sbip-yard in Boston, is il attendance upon
III. sister and broth er-r-i.w. From him We learned
that Capt. Patton had been taken care Of by his
bnther MssOns II san Francisco ard DR.. Harris,
of the fraternity, mad watched over him on his way
home. On leaving san Francisco, he seemed 10 rally
considerably, but on reaching warm latitude he
r,lspsed and has sunk to the hopeless state in which
We found him. The Masons of this city, having been
advised from Sar Francisco OF hi intended departure
for tcme, were waiting for the George Law on her
a1ival ard brought him litter 70 the Battery
Hotel where they have since watched over him.
With tina; modesty which generally distinguishes
true merit, Mrs. Patton begged to be excused from
speaking about herself. She said that she had done
DO more than her duty ard the recollection OF her
trials snd suerirgs evidently gave her pain, we could
not DO otherwise than re'pect her fsel.Oss Few per-
sor. would imagine tia. the woman who behaved 50
brsvey and endured so much for her husbands cake,
is slender New Epslard girl, scarcely twenty years