Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-13
SHE CAV SAIL 4 DIG SHIP.
Has second. Mates Papers Now. ana
VIII Apply for "a Masters License.
San Francisco Chronicle.)

Csan Francisco Chronicle)
The sight Of dainty, sylph-Iike wo-
man, clad in flowing drapery, her face
protected from rough winds by gauzy
veil while she does her trick at the
| wheel" is not yet sufficiently common TO
escape the notice OF those who travel Dy
sea. a sight which Induces more pro-
tracted reflection UPON wOmans end-ot-
the-century achievements IN nelds OF IN
dustry hitherto monOpolzed by the stern
er sex Is that of woman commanding a
vessel.
Pilots OF the female sex are not yet
sufficiently numerous TO threaten displace-
ment of men I'm navigation, but there Is
scarcely a land-locked shipping centre
that cannot boast OF at least one woman
! licensed TO guide steam craft within q
| certain district.
\ woman versed in the laws of naviga-
! ton, and possessed OF sufficient eSpo-
rience to secure sailing masters papers
| is indeed novelty, and the fact chat
such woman is visiting the port OK San
! Francisco is attracting attention.
Mrs. James Powles has for seven. years
carried second mates papers, ana Is pre-
/ pared TO undergo examination for mas
! ter's certificate when she returns TO her
| home. i'm England. She is the wife or
Captain 7. Y Powles. master or the pig
| British ship James Kerr, recently arrived
| IN this port from Newcastle, New south
Wales. with n cargo of coal. For eighteen
| years Mrs. Powles has been at sea with
her husband, accompanying HIM on every
voyage he has made since they were mar
| riCd, during which period they have en-
| circled the globe nineteen times, ana
| visited every seaport OF note on the face
Of the earth. and great many more that
are not of note Mrs. POwles has been
/ q student of navigation ever since she has
| been at sea, and her husband declares
! that she is competent as he is to sail the
! big ship on " hich they live.
! Mrs. PoNles has been In command OF
lanes IN
! sion, proving herself a cool and competent
master. She is always a favorte with the
: crew, no matter from what nations they
/ hail. and cheers greet her when she 1p-
pears on the bridge or takes a turn at the
wheel Captain Powles has great conll-
4 dence In his wife's ability. and, more Tor
! the novelty of the thing than from any
other motive, he has often urged her 80
I take out a masters papers. Mrs. Powles
will, therefore. present herself Tor the re-
| quired examination when opportunity Of
/ fers.
Mrs. PowIes Is the daughter OF the Rev.
! NJ. Plummer rector of Stratford Tony
parish. Salisbury, England Snc Is
] charming and accomplished woman,
| speaking and reading nearly all modern
| tongues with ease She has acquired since
marriage an enviablC knowledge OF more
| than one science. 80,
An hour spent In the big roomy cabin
| of the James Kerr is a delightful expert
| ence Captain Powles IS an enthusiastic
/ albums full of pictures from every sec
ton Of the globe attest his many journeys
on sea and land. Every picture mas us
| bit OF interesting history or romance, ana
these Mrs. Powles relates charmngly,
with lust touch Of sea lore Tor coioFlhS.
: Mrs Powles sits at the plano ana accom-
panies the Captain I'm roilicAing sea
ditty until the deckbeains overheah PuiFer
: from the resonance Of his tones.
The British ship Prince Oscar was Mrs.
Powles's frs. home at sea. but she IS
/ most strongly attached 10 the snip JONI
! o. Groat. 10 which Captain Po"ies va
! transferred soon after marriage. On the
| latter vessel their first and only chiid was
horn. on a voyage from Calcutta to san
/ Francisco october 70 1851: lie was S nils
/ tened in this city by the Rev Dr. iAhes,
and has always lived AT sea WIN MS
/ ngrents until two years ago. when ne was
placed on the training ship conway. az
liverpool. The young man mas nhisneu
his course there. and is now on ms WY
t0 this city TO become a" ap NJ. I'll, In
tho James Kerr. lie viii arrive carry III
Ia bis twenty-seven years experience as
n master CAPTAIN Powlos has never lost
n ship or experienced serious tisa Isl. s,..
His vess.la1r. known among sailors rs
| 'good-living" inv and the ere" - al
Cantain and Mrs. Powies are fond Of
dogs, and have hali oozeh on , Dvni ~,
lust now their affections are centred on
! some fine Australian Kangaroo honhu-.
There are other pets aboard among them
| a dozen cages full OF s0ng-birds ana tho
| Bme- Mountain hill pebio, wing u soloi't
found only IN the gladcs Ot Austfalla.
| Captain and Mrs. Powles are not VISIT
ing San Francisco for the hrst tine.
| Tarlv i'm the seventies the Captain. while
hunting In the bay, shot sea-lion weigh
ing one and "A half tons which was de-
| clared at the time TO be the largest ever
| sen In these waters. NeWspaper. ciip-
| ninas detailing the exploit are stu pre-
| served in the family archives. during
one OF his former soiourns mere captain
| Powles adorned the yardarms or MS snip
with lanterns one dark night and hoaxed
| a pedantic doctor who was aboard tne
| vessel and anxious 20 see and investigate
ST. Elmo lights. A boy was sent abort
and Instructed TO enact a mock perform
ance of touching the light ana railing IN
sensible across the yard. The Doctor pup.
Ilshed n long account or his sclentlhc
researches on the subject when he landed;
but Powles refuted him by the truth. Jhe
best part Of the Joke was that the doctor
went 10 Australia on the steamer yea
landia. and her master. a particular
friend Of Captain POwles, perpetrated the
same Joke The doctor afterwards wrote
n rather sharp note 20 Powles, saying
that he had enjoyed the pleasure OF
making the homeward voyage wish q
"gen'leman" who had shown him real
90. lf..I.Ha