The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-09-10
Capt. Mary Miller i.

\ representative Of the New Orleans Picdy-
Hs has had tho following chat with Captain
Mary Miller, Of the staunch little steamer ST.
lima, the first woman licensed to command a
steamboat.
Mrs. Miller is trim bonny little woman,
whom nobody would credit with years enough
to be the mother, as she is, Of a family Of four
children, two of whom arc almost grown. The
reporter was made welcome with the oif-hand,
hearty hospitality that seems natural with al
most all steamboat folks, and being seated in
another rocking chair-sure evidence Of a wo-
mans management-the talk naturally turned
to Mrs. Miller's unusual life. 81 come Of a
steamboat family" said the lady. "My father
was steamboat man.. and after married
Captain Miller-that was seventeen years ago
i, Of course, spent much Of my time on the
river. We have a beautiful home at Louis
vile, and my little ones are there now, but for
the past four years l have been living mainly
on boat. My husband used to do nothing
but pilot, and l spent much Of my time in the
pilot house, and learned 10 manage boat, and
how TO navigate certain rivers, in spite Of my
self. There is no reason why woman should
not know or learn how O manage boat, as
well as a sewing machine" women often
lack confidence in their own ability" hazarded
the reporter She stared bit, aud then. Yes,
that is true. They know what to do, but pre-
fer to stand by and tell some man how do it
for them. But as was saying, learned how
to handle boat as well as any man on the
river, and several years ago 1 had an occasion
to test my ability. Once my husband fell i'll
with fever, and we had a run Of half hundred
miles to make, with several landings, in very
crooked bayou. took the boats wheel and
got through all right, although you would have
laughed at the Amusement Of the natives to see
a woman plotting. Several years ago we had
to 60 and take off loaded barges from a large
boat stuck on a sandbar above Cairo. My hus-
band had to leave our boat and stop on the
other. which was leaking badly, and SO took
the deck and had the barges made fast to
us, turned the boat around and carried her
down to Cairo. Captain Cannon said then
had as good right to a captains license as
yourself all the time, Mr.. AIiller2" asked the
reporter. "Well, manage all the money mat
| tiers. when we are up in the parishes | buy
and load the boat with cotton seed, which
buy after inspecting samples, and bring to New
Orleans and sell out to merchants, We carry
other freight, of course, and buy all the pro-
visions for the boat, and provisions also to sell
! to the plantation hands up the country. l do
all the collecting and banking business. AT
| first the merchants thought it odd to see a wo-
man come in collecting, but have yet never
been treated with anything but courtesy and
kindness; and besides, they never halloo out
to ne to call again, as they might to man.
Possessed Of your captains license, what do
you mean o'do?" 81 shall keep on Just as
am moving, except that l shall be oftener on
deck and looking after tho boat when she lands
or puts freight of or on. wanted a license
because had earned it, and wished to UNDER
take, when necessary, the free duties Of a
steamboat captain. You must not think my
life has been eventful. We have never had
any accidents happen to us since we have been
on the river and l am not afraid Of any Ours
is thousand mile trip, and sew, read, write
to the children, make out bills and take tho
deck when necessary. Not many boats take
our route. 1t is through beautiful billy
country, and the people we meet at the land
ings all know me. Most Of them call me Cap
tain Miller already" ''Do you think steam
boating would be good profession for a wo-
mani" Certainly not, unless it had come to
her, not she to it-as in my own case. Steam
boating was forced on me, and the happiest
thing it has taught me is that whatever man
may learn to do, moman may also, providing
it is not question of MUSCLE" Somebody
poked an inquiring head in at the door and
asked Mrs. Miller if she had taken out that
circular saw for the Wilderness" Mrs Mil
Ter donned her business air, and the reporter
withdrew.