The New York herald., 1869-03-04
A FEMALE SEA CAPTAIN.

Vno Captoin OH q snip T0ken SICK ana His
Vessel Brought from Calcutta 20 This Port
by His Wife-A Highly Interesting Mar.
raflve.
That deeply thrilling narrative Of the sea that
seemed In the exciting interest OF its details more
like wild legion OF fiction than plain recital Of
simple facts-how Mrs. Patten, the wife OF Q sea
captain, upon the death Of her husband assumed
command Of the ship, and how she safely took the
vessel through o series OF severe storms from San
Francisco to vaparaiso-is still, though 1t happened
years ago, fresh In the public recollection. case
presenting some parallel features to this though
happily devoid Of that painful link the death of her
husband and that element OF intenslfying interest,"
specially tempestuous voyage has just occurred.
and thus richly deserves to be desgnated-is Mrs.
Mcguire, wte OF Captain Mcguire Of the ship Chief
tain, which arrived at this port on Tuesday evening
from Calcutta. The following are the facts regard
ing this latter as yesterday obtained on board
the Chiefrain at Harbeck stores. Brooklyn, where
The Chiefain is ship OF about 1900 tons burden,
full rgged and stanch. She sailed from Philadel-
pnie wnere she 10 owned year ago last september
she loaded with hnseed, Jute and gunpy cloth.
she left Calcutta the 2sth Of last October but dd
Calcutta-til November 1. The crew numbered
twenty-three. including second and third mate,
the first being on duty ana Captain Mcguire in CON-
mand. Everything went on we'll; there were favor
ing breezes and the ship made good headway at the
commencement OF the return voyage. At the end OF
| nve weeks, however. Captain Mcguire was pros
trated with Calcutta fever. Both mates were COM
paratlvely inexperienced and neither had ever CON-
.nanded vessel.
you have been with me twenty years on my voy-
ages" he said to his wife, calling her TO his berth,
81 want you should take command OF the ship. Will
sI will,n she answered.
81 am commander OF this ship by my husbands
orders" she said 70 the crew. 'you will obey me as
Promptly she took command, and faithfully and
well the crew obeyed her. Allied to this br0mpt-
was confidence IN her own abilities TO dis
charge the duties she had assumed. she
vessel sss kneM every word of command
made all the observations herself She kept the log
book. she was on deck at all hours Of the day and
night. She watched the barometer. She noted the
| shifting clouds and varying breezes. She was dc
faco the captain. But In the midst OF her MANIFOLD
band. Here the womanly tenderness OF . de-
voted wife showed itself in soft and
his medicines, under whose benedcent working she
was pleased to note gradual mastering Of the dis
ease that kept him through thirteen long weeks
completely PROSTATE and helpless. On deck she was
had been wel disciplined and there was very little
mucS as they respected and oSsyed @ % her. 1pa is Is
beautiful incident In connection with this, the tribute
Of devotion these stern servitors OF Old Neptune,
hands hard as iron, out hearts as soft chill
dren's-paid TO their sick and loved captain.
Mcguire, and spoke only in soit whispers" what
better encomium could be pronounced than thiss On
the 10th OF January the vessel stopped OF St Helena
and remained there nve days Mrs. Mcguire speaks
In the highest praise OF the kind attentions shown
her and particularly her sick husband by Messrs.
solomon, Moss Gideon Co. They had her husband
taken from the ship and with herself ana son, q
bright-eyed boy Of eight years accompanying them
on the voyage, taken 70 private house and the
best Of care given them and best Of med
ical attendance given her husband. From
st. Helena here there was nothing special
to marx the voyage. The weather, from Calcutta
to st. Helena, was most Of the time exceedingly
favorable At st. Helena, however, the United
there that Captain Mcguire would not nve-desired
TO put another captain on board. but she resoutey
joined her husband In opposition to any such dis
posal OF the command OF the vessel A has already
been stated she brought the vessel here safely and
the New York consignees Messrs. Charles l.. Wright
highly pleased at her having retained the command.
The above IL not the first time Mrs. Mcguire has
commanded . vessel. Several years ago her bus-
band commanded 9 brig, and he and the crew were
vessel; In fact, to indulge in Hiberncism was the
| only well man on board, and was captain, crew,
COOK nurse and everything. In our conversation
with her, we asked n she knew Mrs. Patten, the
LADY alluded 70 at the commencement OF our present
| narrative II knew her well, !" she answered; ''she
| was as good seawoman as ever went TO sea.
i knew her husband, too. Both are dead now.r
4 MIS- hag1re - thoroughly sensible woman, with
| undoubtedly good deal OF the masculine In her
composition, but yet entirely and pleasingy
| but though strong and able bodied shows none oi
those pay sca peculiarities and angular ponedness
chsractefisdc OF our modern school OF strong minded
| women Captain Maguire IL convalescent and able
70 be about, though still weak and unable TO attend
10 his duties as commanding oficer OF toe ship MS
health promises to be fay restored In a short time