The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-02
AN ABLE NAVIGATOR.
The Remarkable Career of Mrs.
John Worthlngton.
BORN ON A SHIP IN THE INDIES
Saved Ship and Grow From n Watery
Grave-Received Special Honors From
the British Government--stirring Id
ventures at Sea In storms.

New YORK, Jan. 2-Mrs. John Worth
ington has resigned her position as assist
ant matron on Ellis Island and has re-
tired from service.
She is better known as Mrs. Annie f..
Wilson, as her second marriage Is recent,
and she is distinguished female naviga-
tor. She received special honors from the
British government for saving q vessel
and its crew from destruction during a
gale at sea.
She was born on board ship In the East
Indies In 1850. Her father, Emil Jacqua,
was the owner OF the vessel. Her mother
was native of Paris, and died two days
after the birth of her child.
Little Annie was brought up at sea, ac-
companying her father on his voyages.
The hrst time she was ever on land was at
Calcutta.
"While on board the barge bound for
Ellis Island to deliver her badge to the
authorities and take leave of her asso-
ciate workers, Mrs. Wilson talked about
her voyages at sea-,
"When was 10 years old, she said, ave
We're sailing in bark called the Jane
Kimball, and were wrecked off the Cape
OF Good Hope. For
Four Nights and Three Days
we were in an open sailboat; then we were
picked up by German bark and landed
ct st. Helena.
Mrs. Wilson said she married Capt. Will
son when Is years old. and for several
years went with him on his voyages over
the seas.
On Feb. IA, 1872, the ship Sharon, 1900
tons, left New York for Liverpool, under
the command Of Capt. Wilson. The young
m int
gale on the Newfoundland Banks. 1t
struck the vessel With great force, tearing
her sails Into ribbons, and, as a tremen-
dous wave struck her, the cargo, mostly
grain In bulk, shifted, and the vessel was
thrown on her ends.
"My husband" said Mrs. Wilson. "cut
the rigging to right the ship, the miyzen-
mast below decks swung out and part of
the mainmast fell. In his efforts to aid
the man at the wheel Capt. Wilson was
tumbled backwards over the deck, strik-
ing two iron cleats, breaking his collar
bone and shoulder blade and injuring his
hip;
were disabled also. The ship was in i'm
ms-iiste danger OF being wrecked, and
there was no officer to command" Then
Mrs. Wilson displayed her courage and
ability. She assumed charge OF the ves-
sci, gave orders for the sailors to clear
away the wreck, divided the crew into
four watches and had pumps worked, for
the
Vessel Was Leaking Badly.
She told the men she intended to take
her husbands place and would bring
them safely to port. They gave a rousing
cheer and obeyed all her orders.
6he shaped the ships course for Bermu-
da, but having but little sail left and only
the foremost complete, rugged jurymast.
The wind blew the vessel out OF her
course, and she could not reach harbor.
Her husband lay in the cabin, delirious
and in high fever. Finally she steered
for st. Thomas where she arrived in q
days. The entire crew fully obeyed Mrs.
Capt. Wilson,and declared they owed their
lives to her.
The people of st. Thomas showed their
for the plucky little woman,
and the British consul presented her with
q gold chain and medal having a ship In
full sail on one side ahd her monogram Oh
the other.
When the Sharon sailed for Liverpool
two and half months later canons were
fired on the island and al! shipping |
dipped their flags in Mrs. Wilson'S honor |
When Capt. Wilson died, his widow |
came to this country, and in 1877 she was |
appointed custom house inspector Mt the |
request of all the steamship agents and |
shipping men.
In 1880 Mrs. Wilson was married to Mr.
John Worthington OF this city, and now, |
in accordance with his wish, retires to |
private life at his home in East New |
York.