The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-04
SMALLPOX ABROAD.
Little Schooner Alert.
Gallant Captain Godett OF the Tight
A Bit OF Seafaring Experience From
Real Life.

A sea captain is supposed to be q grufi
sort OF an individual, old, grey-haired,
full bearded, voice something like a fish
horn, and, in fact, to be a disagreesble fel-
low, but ii any OF the citizens should hap
pen TO peet Captain Wallace Godett OF
the trim three -masted schooner Alert,
which recently laid at Hopkins dock, they
will find a much different person. Cap
tain Godett Is rather unuer sized, pleas
ant face, bright eye, feshionably dres.
sed, has soft, musical voice, dark hair
and most companionable sort OF a. man.
OF course there ''are Others" just as
good as Captain Godett, but he Is but "a
years old and has been master of a vessel
for IL years. The Alert was built six
years ago in Weymouth, n. s., but every
stick and nail in her is owned by New
York people. She has been commanded
by MIR. Godett ever since she was built,
and during the past six years she has
been engaged in foreign trade.
Captain Godett has during his time
been accompanied by his wife, a most
charming lady. She, like her husband,
comes from Nova Scotia, but they have
both decided that yankees" are the
people, ana have become "white washed"
and claim Uncle Sam q country for their
home, and have house at 81 Sullivan
street, South Brooklyn, N. Y.
Mrs. Godett mas spent the greater part
OF the past SIX years on the water, but
the last trip that the Alert made she pre-
ferred to remain on land, but was in
Providence to meet her husband as soon
as the schooner was docked. The happy
couple can tell of many incidents that
have happened to them both ON land and
water, but the most exciting is the. sick
ess of Mrs. Godett. Here is the story
as they tell IL: The Alert left New York
April 2, 1892, and when 10 days out Mrs
Godett was taken sick and the symp-
toms were those of scarlet fever. The
second day of her sickness proved that il
was smallpox. This alarming state of
affairs did not daunt the husband and
captain, for he was somewhat proficient
in medicine. He cared for his WIFE, and
In such a manner that her life was
spared, and but few marks are on her
face to show that she had the dreaded
disease. Night and day he watched over
her. On the fourth day, as the sun was
sinking out of sight, the captain thought
that his wife was dying, and 30 informed
his mate William Burns, and asked him
II he would like to see her before she leo.
As MIR. Burns was a native Of Weymouth,
and had known Mrs. Godett ever since
she was baby, he said that he would.
The captain and the mate, with tears in
their eyes, won't into the ca bin to see the
young woman die, but she did not, for
after this she rallied.
The next day the mate compla ined OF
being sick, and the captain knew at once
what he had to contend with, for he was
sure that his faithful mate had contract
ed the disease from Mrs. Godett. Then
he had two patients on his hands. and If
anything the mate was in a worse con-
dition than his wife He cared for them
both, and saved their lives. Mrs. Godett
was sick 10 days, while the mate was sick
but eight days, which is said by physi-
clans to be something remarkable.
The captain was asked how the rest of
he crew acted when they found out that
here was smallpox on board, and said:
"Why, bless your soul, they did not
know II, for IL they did some of them
would have jumped overheard. fumi- |
gated the schooner three or four times
lay and did not allow any of the crew |
N the after cabin. The steward would |
cave our meals at the cabin door. My |
wife had my berth, and the mate had
mattress in the dining room. Both were /!
'razy for number of days, and / had |
NY hands full"
The Alert has gone 10 New York. where
he will be loaded for Augusta, at the
read of Orinocco River where she will be |
discharged, and loaded again for this
country, and will probably come 10 Prov
denoe this winter with a cargo of log
wood.
Captain Godett gave another specimen
u MS ability as competent sea-g ong
nan by coming into the har Dor at night |
without ala OF pilot or tugboat, which
, perhaps something that cannot be said
u any other captain coming TO this port
or the first time.