Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-10
A FEMALE SEA CAPTAIN.
The Captain Of q ship Taken Sick and
HIS Vessel Brought from Calcutta by
HIS Wsfe-A highly Interesting Mar

HIS Vessel Br0aght from Calcutta h
HIS Wsfe-A highly Interesting Ma
Fative.
From the New York Herald. March 4.
| The deeply thrilling narrative q
the sea that seemed, in the excitin.
interest of its details, more like
wild legion of fiction than a plan re
eital of simple facts-how Mrs
Patten, the wife of a sea captain
upon the death of her husband as
sumed command of the ship, anC
how she safely took the vesse
through series of severe storms
from San Francisco to Valparaiso
is still, though it happened years
ago, fresh in public recollection. A
case presenting some parallel fea
lures to this, though happily devoid
of that painful link, the death of bel
husband, and the element of inten.
styling interest, a specially tempest.
uous voyage, has just occurred
The heroine in this latter case-fol
heroine she is, and thus richly de-
serves to be designated-is Mrs
Mcguire, wife of Capt. Mcguire, o.
the ship Chieftain, which arrived al
this port on Tuesday evening from
Calcutta. The following are the
facts regarding this latter case as
yesterday obtained on board the
Chieftain at Harbeck stores, Brook
Ign, where she is now lying:
The Chieftain is ship of about
300 tons burden, full rugged and
stanch. She sailed from Philadel.
phia, where she is owned, a year ago
last September to Liverpool and
thence to Calcutta. At Calcutta che
loaded with linseed, jute and gunny
cloth. She left Calcutta ON the 23d
of last October, but did not get out
side Of Sands Head-the Sandy
Hook of Calcutta till November 4.
The crew numbered %, including a
second and third mate, the first be-
ing off duty and Capt. Mcguire in
command. Everything went on
well ; there were fayoring breezes
and the ship made good Roadway at
the commencement of the return
voyage. At the end of five weeks,
however, Capt. Mcguire was pros
trated with Calcutta fever. Both
mates were comparatively inexperl-
enced and neither had ever com
manded q vessel.
"You have been with me twenty
years on my voyages" he said to
his wife, calling her to his berth
81 want you should take command
of the ship. viii you do it ?"
Il will, she answered.
Il am commander of this ship by
my husbands orders she said to
the crew; "you will obey me as
such"
Promptly she took command, and
faithfully and we'll the crew Obeyed
her Allied to this prOmptness was
bravery, and underlying this brave
ny was confidence in her own abili-
ties to discharge the duties she had
assumed. She knew every spar and
rope and sail on the vessel. She
knew every word of command. She
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 de facfO
the Captain. But in the midst OF
her manifold duties, she never failed
in her attentions to her sick hus-
band Here the wOmanly tender
ness of a devoted wife showed it.
self in soft and soothing words OF
comfort and in giving him his medi-
cines, under whose benefeent work.
ing she was pleased to note a gradu.
al mastering of the disease that kept
him through thirteen long weeks
completely PROSTATE and helpless
On deck she was stern, unyielding
peremptory. Happily the crew had
been well disciplined and there was
very little trouble with them Most
loved their Captain as much as they
obeyed her. And it is a beautiful
incident in connection with this, the
tribute of devotion these stern SER
wants of Old Neptune, these rude,
coarse-mannered men of the
sea-With hands hard as
iron, but hearts as soft as
children's-paid to their sick
and loved Captain. They walked
down on tiptoe,' said Mrs. Ma.
guire, "and spoke only in soft whis.
pers." What better encomium could
be pronounced than this !? On the
10th Of January the vessel stopped
at St. Helena and remained thert
five days. Mrs. Mcguire speaks il
the highest praise of the kind atten
tons shown her, and particularly
her sick husband, by Messrs. Solo
mon, Moss, Gideon d Co The
had her husband taken from tn
ship, and, with herself and son,
bright eyed boy of eight year
accompanying them on the voyage
taken to private house, and th
best of care given them, and best o
medical attendance given her hus
bsnd. From st. Helena here Their
was nothing special to mark tn
voyage The weather, as from Cal
cutta to St. Helena, was most of tn
time exceedingly favorable. At 81
Helena, however, the United State
Consul Gt being the opinion of tn
physicians there that Capt. Maguir
| would not live) desired to put al
other captain on board, but sh
resolutely joined her husband in ol
position to any such disposal of tn
command of the vessel. AS has al
ready been stated, she brought Il
vessel here safely, and the New Y OF
consignees, Messrs. Charles ]
Wright & Co, of No. Sc Sout
street, expressed themselves highl
pleased at her having retained I'll
command.
| The above is not the first tin
Mrs. Mcguire has commanded
vessel. Several years ago her hui
band commanded brig, and he an
the crew were sick with yeilo
| fnrnr Shn tnnk command nf II