The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-11-26
NUMBER 40.
WOMEN AS SAILORS.
Instances OF the Heroism Of the Cent?.
Sex at Sea

Instances OF the Heroism Of the Gentle
SEX at sea.
Owners Of ships forbid. following an
old theory, that captains take the.r
wives out to sea, because they are afraid
the wife would demand some OF the hu=-
bands attention when the ship requires
all ot it. This theory Is UufOuuucl and
happily has many opponents.
/ remember the case Il the frsi-ht
steamer Edgar, bound from the Sene-
Ea. 10 London. a fever breaking out ON
board laid low the whole crew. exceut-
Ing he captain AMI the mate These
two men took charge OF the engine
room, while the captains wife steere4.
IL she had not shown her ability
70 do so the ship would have been
lost
During the first days OF the California
gold fever the heroiCI Mary Patten
sailed round Cap Horn with her huz-
band. He ieI ilI and his brave VIE
took his place on the quarterback.
The crew was composed of land lub-
bers, who could not tell the difference
between q scNtaEt and a molasses Jug.
the mate being no better. Mrs Patton
kept the log, took the sun, and led the
ship without mI9adveutUra to san Fran
cisco, nursing her husband when below
and OF duty.
The fact that the British brig Cleotus
was naviga-et by Mss Bessie Miller
tOI many years, is not less remarkable.
Her father was an owner Of ships at
SaltcoatS. Having no sons, he TOOK the
daughter into his business. and was
frequently accompanied by her when
business brought him TO the docks She
gathered 50 much information concern
ing ships and LaVI-ariOu, and imbiheI
such "a desire Tor 90 genuine sailors Ike
that papa made her captain OF tie
a fH4a "a #H
built for her.
For more than twenty years she uavi-
gated her craft in the waters Of the con-
liUeut and on the stormy coast OF Gse e
Britain, constantly be=ieSej by and re-
1.s.ilE .he Cttere OF aeaMeB, who had
been las mated by her courage. After
her la--er - death she re ir.a from t.s
Sea To take charge Of his business.
Aary Reed, an English girl, was rr.t
into boys clothes LE H-r mother. tH..-
h-r guIth might be- free from the care-
and wants which tie mother had
suffered
Mary at first entered service as valet.
then she went as volunteer into tho
Guards. Falling in love with another
volunteer, she confessed her sex aud
was married to him in the presence Of
the whole regiment.
The husband dying a few years later.
Mary dOnned mems clothing again and
went 10 sea. Captured by pirates, she
Joined their band and fell in love once
more.
The man Of her heart became en-
brOIled IN a quarrel with a shipuate.
rd Mary feared for his lie Not
icing well able to prevent a due Mary
sought quarrel with the same aJvers-
ary OF her lover, compelled b I'm 10 fight,
and vanguIShed him two hours before the
time at which he was TO meet the
lover.
She ha iu the meantime Messed
her sex To the ter, and as a proper end
OF This chapter iu her career, she
was married t. him by the priest Of an
isolatet island.
The man was subsequently killed, and
Mary Joined the crew OF the celebrated
pirate Captain Eackmau, who was ac-
cumia....sg ly mother fem ie Anne
BuuUeE. also a former sailor and pirate.
May .a& again dom rrrr, T-a.z.
AMI t-sI-J-.. usU Er.v.r. ard aaI r.
.n ..- .H -. lie cS. ima.Le- e. uer e.a.-
Faafons.
Captain Rogers. q 'he Ro-al y v-.
c3I tarc- taa a.i-aatUe ealla.GC ..v
rumHlct, the .Lolo crew was s.rta-a..f
TO the gaiow=. Mary. aawcvar dis
closed her sex, and mlEat have escaped
], lever hal no- ended her advs targus
life
Rackman and eight of his companians
w-re cNccut-d- IHa fl-e O.. Anne Bon
uey Is uuEuowu.-lI Translated from
90 Ahoi."