The Republican journal., 1897-08-05
Captains Wife and Mate,
She Helps to Man Der Husbands ship and Has
Been in Charge,


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 no.
tice of those who travel by sea. A sight
which induces more protracted reflection
on woman's end of the century achiev-
| ments fields of industry hitherto monopo-
lied by the Sterner sex is that of woman
commanding vessel.
Pilots of the female sex are not vet suf-
ticently numerous to threaten displace-
ment of men in navigation, but there is
scarcely landlocked shipping centre that
cannot boast of at least one woman lcens-
ed TO guide steam craft within certain
district
A woman versed in the laws of naviga-
| ton and possessed of sufficient experience
to secure sailing masters papers is, in
deed, novelty, and the fact that such
woman is visiting the port of San Francis
co is attracting attention, says the Chron-
cle of that city.
Mrs. Jane Powles has for seven years
carried second mates papers, and is pre-
pared to undergo examination for mas
ter's certificate when she returns to her
home in England. She is the wife of
Capt. I. Y. Powles, master of the big
British ship James Kerr, recently arrived
at this port from Newcastle, New South
| Wales, with a cargo of coal. For Is years
Mrs. Powles has been at sea with her hus-
band, accompanying him on every voyage
he has made since they were married, dur
ing which period they have encircled the
globe 10 times and have visited every sea-
port of note on the face of the earth. Mrs
Powles has been student of navigation
ever since she has been at sea, and her
husband declares that she is as competent
as he to sail the big ship on which they
live
Mrs. Powles has been in command of
the James Kerr Oh more than one occa-
sion, proving herself a cool and compe-
tent master. She is always favorite
with the crew, no matter from what ma
ton they hail, and cheers greet her when
she appears on the bridge or takes turn
at the wheel. Capt. Powles has great
confidence in his vife's ability, and more
for the novelty of the thing than from any
motive. he has often urged her to take
out master papers. Mrs. Powles will
therefor present herself for the required
examination when opportunity offers
Mrs. PoWles is the daughter of the Rev
NJ. plummel, rector of Stratford Tony
parish, Salisbury, Eng. She is charming
and accomplished woman. speaking and
reading nearly all modern tongues, with
knowledge OF more than one science.
An hom spent in the big roomy cabin of
the James Kern is a delightful experience
Capt Powles is an enthusiastic amateur
photographer, and several large albums
full OF pictures from every section of the
globe attest his many journeys on sea and
land. Every picture has its bit Of inter
esting history OF romance, and these Mrs.
Powles relates charmingly, with Just a
touch of sea lore for coloring. Mrs. Pow
les sits at a piano and accompanies the
captain in a rollicking sea ditty until the
deckbeams overhead culver from the re
sonance of his tones.
The British ship Prince Oscar was Mrs
Powles' first home at sea, but she is most
strongly attached to the ship John O.
Groat, to which Capt. Powles was trans
ferred soon after his marriage On the
latter vessel their first and only child was
born, on voyage from Calcutta to San
Francisco, Oct 20, 1880 He was chris
tened in this city by Rev. DR.. Lines, and
has always lived at sea with his parents
until two years ago when he was placed on
the training ship Conway, at Liverpool.
The young man has finished his course
there, and is now on his way to this city
to become an appretice on the James Kerr.
He will arrive early in January.
In his - years OF experience as mas
ter Capt. Powles has never lost ship or
experienced a serious disaster. His YES
sells are known among sailers as "good
living" ships, and the crew is always we'll
treated.
Capt. and Mrs. Powles are not visiting
San Francisco for the first time. Early in
the seventies the captain, while hunt
ing in the bay, shot a sea lion that weigh
ed one and half tons, which was declared
at the time to be the largest ever seen in
these waters Newspaper clippings de-
failing the exploit are still preserved in
the family archives. During one of his
former sojourns here Capt. Powles adorn-
ed the yard arms of his ship with lanterns
one dark night and hoaxed pedantic
doctor who was on board and anxious to
see and investigate the st. Elmo lights A
boy was sent aloft and instructed to enact
a mock performance of touching the
lights and falling insensible across the
yard. The doctor published long account
of his ''scientitic' researches on the sub
ject when he landed: but Powles refuted
him by the truth. The best part of the
joke was that the doctor went home to
Australia on the steamer Zealandia, and
her master, a particular friend of Capt.
Powles, perpetrated the same Joke. The
doctor afterward wrote a rather sharp
note to Capt. Powles, saying that he had
enjoyed the pleasure Of making the home
ward voyage with gentleman who
had shown him ''real St. Elmo lights