The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-03
A WOMAN PILOT.
Mrs. Gordon Green Tells of Her Expert
ence ON the River.

enct ON INC NANtEs
Since Mrs. Gordon Green, wife Of
Captain Green, of the Wheeling Pitts
bursh packet. II. X. Bedford. took out
papers making her a fully authorized
PILOT on the river between
Pittsburgh and Marietta, there
has been much interest in the in
cident. The Pittsburgh Post prints an
interview with Mrs. Green. in the
course OF which she tells her story NJ
follows:
''well. It was very easy: you see, /
spend good bit of time in the pilot
house with the captain-my husband,
you know-and II IS only natural that
should get 10 know the river. OF course.
he took n great deal Of pains to show
me everything and often let me try my
hand at managing the boat In the
course OF the five years OF our mar
ried life have seen great deal OF
the river. and It seems very natural
that should learn something OF II. 1t
requires only good memory to know
the channel and. as for learning to
ring the bells. and how to handle the
boat. that is comparatively easy.
you see we have never gone to
housekeeping yet. This boat has been
my home ever since the captain and l
were married, anod nearly always
stand watch with him. Five years as a
striker ought 10 qualify almost any
one for pilot, even II they had q less
able and willing Instructor than l had. y
But do you like the river? Is your
floating home as pleasant aS one on
the bank would be?" asked the report
er.
"oh, yes. I like the river ever SO
much, The captain has to be with his
boat nearly ali the time. and II we were
keeping house we would be practically
separated. Then have very nice
rooms here. and when ! want to get
away from the passengers can retire
to them. There Is constant change
of scene, which Is very agreeable. and
people that one knows. A great deal
of my time is spent In the pilot house
though. and altogether, think It very
nice to live on q boat.
do you intend TO stand a regular
watch on the boat?" queried the re-
.,No. indeed; I didn't get my license
for that. We have a pilot and MIR.
Green stands one watch. so there Is no
necessity for my doing anything OF
the kind. wanted my license because
! felt that / was entitled to II. Then /
can help the captain when he Is on
watch, or take the wheel for awhile for
amusement II ! like II we should be
lest without n pilot for a time could
take a turn IN the pilot house until we
could get someone else. That Is all the
plotting expect to do"
''But don't you find Il hard work."
"Oh, Il is easy to handle the Bedford.
II Is q small boat you know. anc by be-
ing careful / have no trouble. Some
times the wheel throws me around 8
little. but always manage TO keep II
under control"
Are we to infer from your entering
the ranks OF pilots that you look with
favor on the new woman tdel?"
"several OF my friends have asked
mo that since l got my license" she
said, laughing. II always tell then
that I don't bother much about such
stuff, am contented 10 be Just what
am, a woman, in the good old-fashlon-
ed way. don't think there Is any
thing unwomanly or advanced In my
being able to steer bont, and / am
contcnGed to let the captain do the vot-
ing for the family"
Tho captain has far higher opinion
OF his wIfe'S abilities than she has her
self. In response to query as 10
whether he was not a little proud OF
Ills new pilot, he strnlghtened himself
up, and said In a way that was clo-
guent OF his earnest sincerity:
you bet ] am"
Mrs. Greene was Miss Mary Becker
before her marriage. and her home IL
on Little Musklngum creek, six miles
from Marietta. Her father was ehe
proprietor OF n prosperous country
store, and before Captain Greene won
her. at he age Of twenty-five. she had
proved herself a shrrfvd business wO-
man One of hcr brothers In a promi-
merit physician OF Cincinnati. and the
family are at least wcllto-do.
Mrs. Greene Is the only woman who
ever took out her initial license Mt the
Pittsburgh office. Mrs. CnIlle French,
however. renewed her papers as pilot
at this port last year. She is the wlfG
OF the proprietor OF the FTeneh's show
boat, and is said to be the best pilot
that ever turned the wheel on the Ruth.
the little craft that pushes the show m
and down the rivers, Mrs, 7. =. Leath-
ers Is licensed an a pilot at the New
Orleans office. and stands a regular
watch on her husbands boat. tho r. J.
IeathcrR, running out OF New orleans,
A Mrs. Miller, formerly held pllOtH
IitcaTc at Cincinnati. but ig not now